Saturday, september 10, 2016 binder1

News

EDO GUBER

Feature

How security agencies 'blackmailed' INEC to shift poll

l I'm most pained by postponement –Obaseki l INEC only postponed APC's defeat –Dokpesi Pg. 6

SATURDAY Saturday, September 10, 2016

EID-EL-KABIR

Muslims opt for goats as rams' prices soar

l 'Ram sellers will lose millions of naira' l Goat also an option, says cleric Pgs. 24, Pg.33, 11 34

Vol. 3 No. 934

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

INDONESIAN EMBASSY:

EXECUTED DRUG PEDDLER MARRIED, HAD KIDS IN PRISON

l Felix was an importer –Family GRAZING RESERVES

FG, states in secret pact Ministers dangle emergency funds as carrots

PAGE 3

PAGE 9

l l States confiscate land for project l Don't complicate issues –CAN

Pgs. 5, 45-47

'Troops destroy 74 illegal refineries in Rivers, Bayelsa' Pg. 7 Pg. 19

KSA

I never had crush on Onyeka Pg. 13

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

Comment

Drug and crime

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he alarming rate of insecurity in the country should rattle the Federal Government in its bid to create a conducive environment for rapid development. One area that deserves more serious attention is the prevalence of hard drugs in all nooks and crannies of our society.

To a few of our countrymen, it sounded wicked when Indonesia continued its maximum policy that has seen about seven Nigerians executed for drug related offences on Nusakambangan Island, Central Java. There were pockets of demonstrations in the Federal Capital Territory condemning the executions.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has refused to be swayed by such demonstrations and appeals even from the West. Attorney General Muhammed Prasetyo defended the executions. “I would like to say that an execution is not a pleasant thing. It is not a fun job. But we must do it in order to save the nation from the danger of drugs.

We are not making enemies of countries from where those executed came. What we are fighting is drug related-crimes,” he said.

In April 2015, four Nigerians were among eight drug traffickers who faced execution in the same country. Jamiu Owolabi, Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Okwudili Ayatanze and Martin Anderson rendered songs of praise as they were prepared for a firing squad.

Worldwide outrage especially by Australia which lost the duo of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan did not matter. What mattered was that those who led the infamous Bali Nine had to pay the supreme price.

In July 2016, three more Nigerians, Seck Ousmane, Humphrey Jefferson and Michael Titus were shot in Indonesia. Earlier, the Nigerian Senate had debated the worrisome trend of compatriots filling the jail houses of Far East countries following drug related offences. Gbenga Ashafa and Jibrin Barau were concerned that about 158 of our country men were awaiting death is such far flung places as China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Although the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency [NDLEA] has been busy apprehending offenders around the country, the penalty for drug trafficking is like a slap on the wrist.

We make bold to say that the Federal Government must review the penalty for drug trafficking. If what it will take to fight drug traffickers is life jail, it will help the society. The fact that couriers walk in and out of Kirikiri and Ikoyi Prisons has not helped in the fight against drugs.

While we do not support the death pen-

alty, we are all out for tougher measures that will keep the polity safe. Bringing back the death penalty will take everyone back to the days of military dictatorship when the trio of Bartholomew Owoh, Bernard Ogedegbe and Akanni Ojulope faced a six-man firing squad at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison in 1985.

The issue at the time was not the offence but the wickedness in the punishment. A retroactive decree was promulgated by the junta to kill young men who in their confession admitted possessing drugs but would not have been into it if they knew they were going to die for such offence.

The executions were halted over 30 years ago. Today, drugs have come to assume a dangerous place in our national life. With the economy going down faster than the speed of sound and the corollary high rate of unemployment, more Nigerians are taking to drugs as the crime rate soars. And it has gone beyond cocaine, heroin and opiates.

In every corner of the inner city, drug joints abound like market stalls. Motor parks are full of drinking spots. Even beer parlours appear so only to the uninitiated. Behind the façade, drugs can come across the counter.

It does not have to be the brownish white substance. Some come in form of drinks and bear very funny names.

We need to be asking ourselves why there are deadly cult groups fighting for supremacy even in primary schools. Boys now kill without looking back. A pass at someone’s girlfriend is just enough to ignite a cult war. And the truth is that most of these fights are induced by drugs which are available so easily.

The drug fights assume a higher dimension when emboldened by their Dutch courage, the youth turn to terrorism under the guise of militancy. It was not so easy to behead fellow humans in our country in the last decade. Today, if it is not Boko Haram, it is a nephew beheading his uncle or a man axing his spouse.

Government must take a tougher stance on drugs. In a letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007, shortly before the execution of two Nigerians, Amara Tochukwu Iwuchukwu and Nelson Okeke at Changi Prison, the Singaporean Prime Minister wrote, “Mr. Tochi’s family will find Singapore’s position difficult toaccept, but we have a duty to safeguard the interest of Singaporeans, and protect the many lives that will otherwise be ruined by the drug syndicate.”

While we expect a review, government must also begin to revamp the economy by providing jobs to young Nigerians who are forced into drugs mainly because they have been rendered idle by bad leadership.

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

Managing Editor, South n Emeka Madunagu Managing Editor, North & Abuja n Laurence Ani (Leave of Absence)

Editor n Ayodele Ojo Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare Deputy Editor n Vincent Eboigbe

Contents | 10.09.16

Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam News Editor, Saturday n Ndubuisi Ugah

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun Head, Arts & Creatives n Ugochukwu Nnakwe Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

Bardot’s back

INSTYLE

Fashionistas have collectively proved that a swoop of fabric from shoulder to shoulder is the best and sexiest way to show some skin without going over the top. So, it is no wonder that the Bardot trend resurfaced recently and fashionistas with smooth and spotless upper part are gracefully showing some skin in this strikingly alluring neckline

}15

Mystyle

Chisom’s affair with shoes Chief Executive Officer of Torchblaze Media Consult, Amanda Chisom, talks about her love for statement shoes, fashion philosophy and her penchant for dressing up a little bit different without following trends or high fashion. She just does what suits her and makes her look different from everyone else

}17

Interiors

Sleek wardrobes liven up rooms In a bedroom that lacks sufficient closet space, a wardrobe can be a practical addition to the space as it helps stores important items while giving the room clean and fresh vibes. The right wardrobe can also add a decorative element that livens up the room. If your wardrobe is a little too plain, you can give it an instant makeover by decorating it in a variety of ways

}18

SHOWBIZ

Adunni Ade’s zone Although fast-rising actress, Adunni Adewale, otherwise known as Adunni Ade in showbiz, may look entirely Caucasian, she’s more Nigerian than many realise. She’s endeared to many by her flawless code-switching from Queen’s English to Yoruba language. She provides insight into her career, nationality, life as single parent and more

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SPORT

Osimhen’s regret Victor Osinhem has traversed the entire gamut of national teams from U-17 to the Super Eagles. The 2015 cadet World Cup winner relives the difficulty of growing up in Lagos being from a humble background and how football has ensured he is able to fight back. He rues the fact his mother is no longer around to see him doing great things

}27

THE ARTS

Araism Movement anniversary

The 15th exhibition series of the Araism Movement opens today at the Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos.

The exhibition which will run till September 17, parades 13 members of the movement led by its founder and inventor of the technique, Mufu Onifade and two guest artists. The show celebrates the movement’s 10th year anniversary

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News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

3

Pictures that tell stories

COSMIC TRANSFORMATION FROM GIRLHOOD TO WOMANHOOD

industry followers see the Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2009 Africa Movie Academy Award as a woman who has been able to carve a niche for herself along with an even finer impression as a movie Funke at one producer.

Ask adherents of the Yoruba section ans will always remember Funke of Nollywood and they are bound to reel Akindele as Bisi, the young charac- off blockbusters to her credit as producer. ter she played so well in now rested Among these are Ija Ola 1 &2, Egun, Ekuro United Nations Population Fund 1 &2, Maku, Agbefo 1 & 2, Ojó ketàlá 1& 2 (UNFPA)-sponsored TV series, I Need To and the intensely successful Omo Ghetto Know between 1998 and 2002. However, 1&2 as well as Jenifa and Return of Jenifa.

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And as it’s usual with successful people, the personal life of the 39-year old has been under the spotlight as much as the professional side of it.

Many of her fans must have heaved a sigh of relief when she got married to Kehinde Oloyede on May 26, 2012. However, barely a year later, she separated from her then husband, citing irreconcilable differences.

Not scared of trying again, the University of Lagos Law graduate recently walked down the aisle with famous Nigeria rapper, Abdulrasheed Bello popularly known as JJC Skillz.

A recent picture

With her equally well received Jenifa’s Diary is currently running on TV stations across the land, while it has been a great journey for Funke, you can bet the beat will go on for much longer.

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Nigerian drug peddler married, had kids in jail –Indonesian Embassy l Family: Our son was an importer Okegwo Kenechukwu and Ebere Ameh

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resh facts have emerged as to how Mr. Felix Izuchukwu Ezimoha, one of the three Nigerians convicted for drug offences and recently executed in Indonesia, was able to marry a wife and raise a family while in jail in that country.

Third Secretary for Information and Social-Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Indonesia, Abuja, Wanry Wabang, said that under the Indonesian law, prisoners still have some rights, though they are in jail. He explained that being in prison did not mean that a person had lost all human rights.

"One of those rights is to get married and be given leave, maximum one day, to see their families. Sexual intercourse is allowed of course during this time. All of these rights are subject to strict terms and conditions," he said.

Wabang also explained how the body of the executed Nigerian was flown home for burial. He said there must have been a request by the family of the deceased to release the body to them. When there is such request, he said, the body is usually released.

On the wife, her relatives and children coming to Nigeria for his burial, he said he was sure there was an understanding between the Nigerian Embassy there and the people concerned.

"As for how the body was released, like I mentioned before, usually the authorities allow the family to decide whether the body will be buried there or sent back to the prisoner's home country. In this case, I believe, a request was made to send his body back to Nigeria. Perhaps, you can consult your Embassy in Indonesia. Regarding how the family of the executed Nigerian came to Nigeria, I think you can also contact your Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, for further details," Wabang said in an email sent to our correspondent.

Meanwhile, Ezimoha’s immediate family members in Ezigbo village Orsumughu, Ihialla Local Government Area of Anambra State, have berated the Federal Government, saying it has no respect for human life.

The family who spoke through one of their members said the death of their son was a colossal loss to the entire community and beyond, because of his humility, hospitality and philanthropy.

The spokesman who said he did not want his name mentioned in print was obviously angry with our correspondent who visited the family’s compound, saying: “Why should the government want to know about our late brother, who was killed in cold blood for doing nothing?”

He added: “He was an importer and they know

Ezihoma before and after his execution verdict was announced to him by the Indonesian jury. Below: Ezihoma's mansion in Ezigbo village Orsumughu, Ihialla Local Government Area of Anambra State

he also exported clothes.

They claimed that he was a drug baron and yet nothing was found on him. Everybody read on the internet how the boy exonerated himself and how he said he was made to confess under duress in the social media. What do you want us to say again? The Federal Government did not in any way assist us when we were crying aloud that the boy was not a drug dealer and now he had been killed and people are questioning why we gave him a befitting burial on social media.

“Please go, we don’t want anybody to remind us about his death. He is dead and nothing can bring him back.”

Another woman said if there was anything they could do to save him, the entire community would have done that because everybody in the community

could vouch for him.

“We know it was a conspiracy but we cannot question God. Let God fight for us. You see his immedi-

ate younger brother is an Okada rider, yet people think he (Ezimoha) had so much money. The only thing about him was his hu-

mility and love for others.

Please, we don’t want to talk anymore”, the woman said, while sobbing uncontrollably.

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News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

Sallah: IGP orders massive deployment

Emmanuel Onani

...as Civil Defence deploys 30,000 personnel

s part of measures to ensure a hitchfree Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has directed zonal Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs) as well as commissioners of Police (CPs) in charge of state commands, to ensure massive deployment of personnel, to cover praying grounds, recreation centres and other public places.

This is as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said yesterday that it would deploy 30,000 of its men during the Sallah celebration.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), noted that personnel will be drawn from the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), among others.

The statement read in part: "In order to ensure adequate security and guarantee utmost protection of lives and property during the celebration and throughout the public holidays, the Inspector General of Police has directed the Assistant Inspectors General

of Police in charge of zonal commands and all the commissioners of police in the state commands to deploy adequate personnel to cover all the Eid-El-Kabir praying grounds, recreation centres, public places, public infrastructure and utilities, and other points and venues where the celebration will take place.

“Similarly, the police commanders are directed to

A Abuja

collaborate with sister agencies, cultivate intelligence, interface with community leaders to monitor the activities of undesirable elements in the society who may take undue advantage of the public holidays to cause mischief and disturb public peace.

“The Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Units, Explosive Ordinance Department and personnel and of Criminal Investigation and

Intelligence Department would also be deployed to all the locations mentioned above. Sustained surveillance and special attention would be paid to flash/ vulnerable points and other identifiable hotspots to prevent criminal activities during the Sallah celebration and beyond.

“The Nigeria Police Force is confident that the operational strategies being ex-

ecuted for the Sallah festivities will guarantee a peaceful and hitch free Eid-El-Kabir celebration. The IGP therefore wishes the Muslim faithful and all Nigerians a happy celebration. He however implored them to be vigilant and to continue supporting the police to prevent crimes in their localities.”

On its part, the NSCDC said the Commandant General, Mr. Abdullahi Gana

…security operatives ‘battle ready’ in Ilorin Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

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un wielding security operatives paraded the streets of Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday in a show of force, preparatory to the 2016 Sallah prayers holding on Monday.

The stern looking operatives, made up of policemen, military and paramilitary officers, rode round the city in about 30 vehicles blaring sirens. The move, it was gathered, was part of efforts by the state police command to forestall a breakdown of law and order during the prayers which was marred last year by the activities of people described as hoodlums.

Apart from the moves by the security operatives, leaders of Ilorin community, especially under the aegis of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), have also been sending advocacy messages to youths and other elements in the community who may feel aggrieved over the political situation in the country and desire to vent their anger on politically-exposedpersons during the prayers.

The move seems to have started yielding results as some community associations had gone on air to warn youths against violence and had even mentioned names of suspected hoodlums in their vicinities to the police for monitoring

during the festivities. One of them was alleged to have finalised plans to celebrate his annual ‘Hemp Festival’.

It was gathered that about 5,000 policemen would be drafted to cater for the security of lives and property during the festivities in various parts of the state.

On Thursday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, issued a statement warning wouldbe law breakers, miscreants and the likes to shun unruly acts during eid-el Kabir celebration in the state or face severe penalty.

According to the statement, the Eid el Kabir celebration is not an avenue to ventilate displeasure over

any government policy.

It pointed out that the eid praying ground was not a campaign ground and as such singing praises of political gladiators would not be tolerated since the Emir of Ilorin is the symbol of Sallah celebration.

He also advised youths in the statement in their own interest to shun any act inimical to peaceful celebration, saying that respect must be accorded to “our fathers as symbolised by our royal father, the Emir of Ilorin.”The statement added that: “the police and other security agencies were prepared to ensure safety of lives and property of law abiding citizens before, during and after the celebration.

Muhammadu, had since ordered the deployment of 30,000 men of the service, just as he wished the Muslim faithful a happy celebration.

According to a statement by its spokesman, ACC Emmanuel Okeh: “The Commandant General of NSCDC in a special Sallah message has ordered the deployment of 30,000 personnel to all nooks and crannies across the nation.

“Muhammadu directed the zonal commanders, state commandants as well as operational officers at the FCT and headquarters to ensure effective deployment of personnel to strategic places such as the praying grounds, market places, recreational centres, parks, shopping complexes/plazas, car parks and other black spots that are prone to attack, entry and exits points and to beef up security around critical Infrastructure and national assets, against vandalism.

“He has also authorised the use of sniffer dogs and specialised forces in addition to the regular personnel deployed, hence there is no hiding place for vandals, criminals and miscreants who take advantage of festive periods to perpetuate their nefarious activities,” the statement partly read.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

Grazing reserves: FG, states in secret pact Olalekan Osiade and Musa Pam

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here are strong indications that the Federal Government might have entered into a secret pact with some state governors in order to create grazing reserves in states across the country as a way out of the perennial clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Investigations by Saturday Telegraph revealed that some ministers were mandated to approach their state governors and persuade them to key into the project, by wooing them with the Lake Chad Basin Fund and other emergency supports funds which would be paid in millions of dollars for those willing to create grazing reserves within their territories.

Highly placed sources within government circles confided in Saturday Telegraph that some state governors that entered into the pact, will have to cede part of their lands to the central government for the purpose of the project.

It was however gathered that thousands of hectares of land, forcefully taken over, had already been earmarked by some interested states, and in return, the Federal Government will not only boost the economy of the states with agricultural supports, it will also handpick indigenes of those states to be among commissioners in the yetto-be inaugurated Grazing Reserve Commission.

The issued had not only sparked reactions from notable Nigerians, it has also led to a sharp division among the political class, who were hitherto in the process of mending fences since falling apart after the April 2015 general elections, which saw to the exit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

While the All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari believes that it is worthwhile for states to cede land to the Federal Government for grazing purposes, most Emmanuel Onani Abuja

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested one of its drivers, Mr. Nasiru Isa, over alleged attempt to steal from a sealed property allegedly owned by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd).

The commission, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Isa belonged to a “criminal syndicate” “that attempted to break into a sealed property by the EFCC, with the intent

5

l CAN calls for caution l ‘Bill violates Section 315 (5) (d) of 1999 Constitution’ stakeholders are against the proposed National Grazing Reserve, a project that the Federal Government is bent on seeing to success.

The Federal Government had conceptualised the idea to end the frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in some parts of the country, but many citizens, groups and organisations as well as analysts have opposed the initiative, citing likely breach of citizens’ rights when implemented.

The 2014 National Conference organised by the Goodluck Jonathan administration had also kicked against the grazing reserves idea and called for the adoption of modern rearing techniques by individual herders against the usual wandering style of grazing.

One of our sources, who is a friend to some of the governors and a frequent caller to the Aso Villa seat of government, said it is a worthy venture that would stop the current frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

“This largesse and financial support from the government is in return for land.

The states will enjoy the benefits of the Lake Chad Basin Fund and they would be supported with other funds that are domiciled within the agricultural sector.

“Already, some governors have keyed into the project, because they need the assistance. You know what some of them are going through, they cannot even pay salaries. So, this is an opportunity for them to revamp their economy.

“And in any case, the land is just there in most states, lying fallow. Since they have no need for it, it is better to give to the Federal Government. The project is a good idea, it will stop all these herdsmen attacks and everyone will live in peace, even the farmers complaining now, will have cause to be happy, because there will be no cow to trespass on their farms.

“Are you aware of the Central Emergency Re-

sponse Fund? The CERF alone gave out about $ 13 million in June to over 200 people in the North-East?

The money was to help them start their lives all over again after the Boko Haram carnage in the area.

So, there are many of such monetary gains that will come the way of any state that agree to support the Buhari administration in stopping this Fulani herdsmen crisis. And the only way is the grazing reserves, which we hope the Senate will look into.

Notwithstanding the seemingly positive outlook of the project, some states in the southern part of the country, such as Ekiti, have opposed the idea and have vowed to do everything humanly possible to stop the project in their states. The state governor, Ayodele Fayose, had even gone ahead to sign into law, a bill prohibiting grazing in the state.

In Plateau State for instance, Saturday Telegraph reliably gathered that state government had earmarked 55, 000 hectares of land for the purpose, an issue that had not only generated tension, but also pitted notable stakeholders against one another.

In its wisdom, the state government had argued that the project is a welcomed idea, as it would afford the state to benefit from some money, such as

the Lake Chad Basin Fund, which the Muhammadu Buhari administration is said to be prepared to use in assisting cooperating state to meet the challenges of the economic meltdown.

While Governor Simon Lalong believes that the project should be cited in his state, a group of notable individuals led by the immediate past governor, Senator Jonah Jang, and some members of the national and state assemblies, have said that the monetary reward is a Greek gift, calling for a total rejection of the proposed project.

But despite the outcry against the idea, Lalong said grazing reserves and ranches are a blessing and an opportunity that the state could not afford to miss.

The governor had recently confirmed the benefits accruable to the state during a chat with newsmen, saying that, “it is something that is very good, because when we are talking of agriculture, when we are talking of huge sums of money lying in the bank, when we are talking of opportunities for people to access loans at very low interest rates for the purpose of agriculture, if we take our eyes away from it, others will take advantage of it and by the time we realise it, we will say 'oh, if we had known, we would have gone into it".

Lalong added that the state had benefitted from similar projects in the past and was billed to benefit from the Lake Chad Basin fund among others, which was enough reason to expect the best from the programme.

However, Jang, who opposed his successor on the issue, condemned the moves by Lalong to agree with the Federal Government to implement the policy in the state, noting that, he did not and would not support the implementation of any such programme either on the floor of the Senate or at any forum where the issue is discussed.

“The issue has generated a lot of controversy among Plateau people because the government has decided to play politics with issues that affect the very fabric which defines the heritage of our people, their culture and their land.

"Why would a government which claims that its greatest achievement in the last one year has been in the area of peace, be courting a policy that has the capacity to reverse all that gain. The clear message Plateau people want to send to those within and outside the state is that, Plateau people say no to grazing reserves", Jang had said.

Also, a former Minister of Sports, who is now the Plateau State PDP chairman, Damishi Sango, described the policy as a time bomb that

READ MORE ON PAGES 45-47

L-R: National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. General Babagana Monguno (rtd); Senate President Bukola Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari, after the Jumat prayer at the Presidential Villa in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

EFCC arrests own driver, policemen for fraud of (allegedly) carting away goods suspected to be proceeds of money laundering.”

The syndicate, according to the statement, includes "a mobile police officer, Corporal Aliyu Ismaila, Abubakar Jibrin, Abdulsalam Ado, Ibrahim Babangida, Reuben Dauda, Hassan Aliyu, Sani Yusuf and Murtala Mohammed.”

The statement reads: “A driver with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nasiru Isa, has been arrested by

should be carefully studied, urging state governors not to rush into an agreement with the Federal Government without due consultations with all stakeholders.

On their parts, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) called for caution.

COCIN president, Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri, had during a recent church service to mark Lalong's first year in office at the Rayfield Government House chapel in Jos, condemned and opposed the bill, while calling on the National Assembly to uphold the trust and responsibility bestowed on it by avoiding the ‘colonisation’ the bill intends to give herdsmen over other citizens.

The Plateau State chairman of CAN, Rev. Dr. Soja Bewarang, had equally call for wisdom in the pursuit of the bill in order not to further complicate issues in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, had earlier at a news conference confirmed that 11 states have provided 55,000 hectares each, to establish the project. The states include Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Katsina, Taraba, Niger, Adamawa, Jigawa, Sokoto and the FCT.

operatives of the agency for offences bordering on criminal breach of trust, attempted theft, conspiracy and impersonation.

“The driver, who joined the commission about 18 months ago, is a member of a criminal syndicate that attempted to break into a sealed property by the EFCC, with the intent of carting away goods suspected to be proceeds of money laundering,” the commission stated.

The anti-graft agency

further noted that the said property, which is located in Garki, Abuja, “is currently under investigation by the agency, and became a subject of interest, in the aftermath of findings into the N3.9 billion (alleged) fraud case involving a former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd). The property was also linked to the wife of the former CDS.” The EFCC further disclosed that, “Investigations

by EFCC operatives re-

vealed that shortly after the property was sealed, some individuals moved about 12 bags believed to contain items linked to money laundering offence, into the property.

“On August 30, 2016 operatives of the EFCC as part of monitoring activities on the sealed property, had gone to site to execute a search. However, members of the syndicate took to their heels on sighting the operatives of the antigraft agency. A carpenter,

Yakubu Muhammad, who was hired by the syndicate was left behind and was subsequently arrested by the operatives.”

The statement further said: “The carpenter, who has been cooperating with operatives, confessed that he was not in the know of the illicit activity, as he was only brought in by the syndicate to assist with the use of his carpentry tools to break into the property. Investigations revealed that one of those in the know about the goods was the brain behind the scheming to steal them."

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News

Onyekachi Eze, ABUJA

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acts emerged yesterday on why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reversed its earlier decision not to postpone today’s scheduled governorship election in Edo State.

The commission had announced that it was going ahead with the election despite advice by the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to shift the poll due to alleged security threats.

The police and the DSS at a

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Edo guber: How security agencies ‘blackmailed’ INEC to shift poll joint press briefing on Wednesday noted that: “Credible intelligence available to the agencies indicate plans by insurgent and extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets with high population during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations between September 12 and 13. The state is amongst the states being earmarked for

I’m most pained by postponement –Obaseki l We can’t quantify our loss in monetary terms –APC chairman

Temitope Ogunbanke and Cajetan Mmuta, BENIN

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s mixed feelings continue to trail the postponement of the Edo State governorship election, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said yesterday that he remained the most pained by the sudden decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reschedule the election to September 28.

Obaseki, made this declaration during a world press conference at his campaign organisation office in Benin City, Edo State, said he had devoted energy and resources to the campaign more than any of his opponents in the contest.

“I am most pained by the postponement. I ran a primary that was like a full blown election; so I have actually been in the field for the last eight months campaigning while my opponents have not done as much work I had. So, if anybody will feel the pain of the postponement, I am the one that is pained most,” he said.

Also speaking, the state APC Chairman, Mr. Anselm Ojezua, said the cost of the postponement of the election to APC is not quantifiable in terms of naira and kobo.

Ojezua, while reacting to allegations that APC was behind the postponement of the election, said it was idiotic to accuse the party of being behind the postponement.

He said: “If there is anybody that is pained by the postponement, APC is the one that is pained. I think that it’s very idiotic for anybody to allege that APC was behind the postponement because it doesn't make sense. The postponement does not confer any advantage on APC by the virtue of what we are losing.

“In actual fact, APC is the only party that has traversed the entire nooks and crannies of Edo State. PDP made attempts to campaign but their campaign is nothing compared to what we have done.

“APC is the only party that has been in government and has evidence of governance in every part of the state.

I challenged the PDP to mention a single project that they were able to put in place that endures till now in the 10 years that they were in government.”

Ojezua also expressed displeasure on the method adopted by INEC in postponing the election without wide consultation with major stakeholders in the election.

“We believe that the timing and mode of communication by the security agencies could have been better handled having regards to the very hard work and huge resources deployed towards the election by all concerned.

“On our part, we have traversed the nooks and crannies of the State in the course of our electioneering campaigns and we have been able to effectively market our candidates and our manifesto.

“However, having regards to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral act, we are obliged to defer to the decision of INEC particularly when ”security threats” have been cited as the reason for the postponement.

“Although we do not have the details from the security agencies we have, in the past, drawn attention to the influx of militants into Edo State from neighbouring states during the Continuous Voters Registration exercise.

As a matter of fact some of them were arrested at Ologbo in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area and charged to court but many others made it without detection; those ones must be lurking around various locations within our state even as we speak.

“Data capturing machines were found to have been given to unauthorised persons to carry out illegal registration; a case in point is that of Alhaji Nakowa, a known PDP chieftain in Etsako Central, who was arrested with some unscrupulous INEC staff while engaged in illegal registration acts in a private residence in the middle of the night.”

these planned attacks by the extremist elements.”

The statement was signed

by Don Awunah, for the police, and Garba Abdullahi, for the DSS. But INEC said it would not be “teleguided”, adding that the cost of demobilising, after reaching at least 97 per cent readiness level, will be immense.

The commission’s National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity (VEP), Solomon Soyebi,‎ assured Nigerians that INEC: “Would not do anything that would mortgage Nigeria’s democracy.”

But less than three hours after the statement, INEC reversed itself and said the election would no longer hold.

Soyebi who said the commission had been officially communicated by police and the DSS, added that: “the commission notes the request of the security agencies and, considering the security implications of proceeding with the election, the safety of eligible voters, electoral officials, including ad hoc staff, and other stakeholders, has decided to reschedule the Edo governorship election to Wednesday, September 28, 2016.”

Investigations, however, revealed that INEC was practically coerced to shift the poll.

According to a source, the DSS and police were not happy with the decision by the commission to go ahead with the election despite the security advice.

The INEC source alleged

that there was a plan to sabotage and punish INEC for "its stubbornness.”

“There is no security to escort (ad hoc staff and electoral materials) simply because they are unavailable... At the moment, it is no longer feasible to deploy and conduct the election.

“NYSC has advised us that many parents called to withdraw their children from the election duty. Since they form the bulk of the election duty personnel, their withdrawal is a major challenge.”

The source added that INEC reasoned that it does not have enough personnel to conduct the election if corps members pulled out.

“And you know if there are no security personnel, the

10 September 2016

incidents of ballot box snatching will be high. We foresaw a situation where violence would characterise the election, and that is what we don't want.

“These are the reasons why we postponed the election, otherwise, just like the commissioner said, we were ready to go ahead and conduct the election,” the source stated.

Another source added that security agencies saw the decision by INEC to go ahead with the election despite the advice, as a slight.

“Last year, elections were postponed based on security reasons, so why not this time?” the source queried.

When reminded that the concern was only for about two or three states in the North East that were under the control of Boko Haram, the source said intelligent report showed that Edo State is one of the states being targeted for attack.

“We didn't want to take chances. There had been reports of political thugs being ‘imported’ from other states,” he said.

L-R: A staff of Netherlands Embassy, Mr. Harry Pukter; his counterpart, Angelique van der Made; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and Mr. Jos Schuit, during a courtesy visit by foreign election observers to the governor at Government House in Benin City...yesterday PHOTO: EDO STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE

PDP good in rigging elections –Oshiomhole l Dokpesi: INEC merely postponed APC’s defeat Ndubuisi Ugah and Cajetan Mmuta, BENIN

E

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is accustomed to rigging and can't boast of a transparent election in other states in the South-South geopolitical zone.

He said the state was the only one that had been able to dismantle the PDP rigging machine and was, therefore, poised to do so on September 28.

The Independent National ElectoralCommission(INEC)had fixedSeptember28fortherescheduled governorship election which was previously fixed for today.

Speaking while receiving a team of European Union (EU) observers led by Ben Llewellyn-Jones of the British High Commission in Abuja, at the Government House, Benin City, Oshiomhole said: “We do appreciate the interest of what I might call friends of Nigeria, those who help us to continually and continuously remember that although there are different nation states, but the world has increasingly become one small village such that events in any

part can affect the whole. So, we do not underestimate the import of this election even as it is limited to this state.

“Edo State as we speak is the only State that can boast of a record of transparent elections since I came on board in 2007.

Since I came, my campaign slogan was, we must dismantle the rigging machine.

“Having been a union member all my life, I couldn’t condone the situation where people are imposed at various levels, and our people gave up on democracy in this state, just like the rest of the South-South.

“The confusion yesterday, nobody is as troubled as me, first because we are fighting a people who have a lot of money and we simply don’t have such money and we made our preparations.

Even as a sitting governor, I have combed every village; we have 192 political wards across 18 local government areas in three senatorial districts. I have gone round all 192 wards.”

In the same vein, Oshiomhole also alleged that some governors in the South-South had perfected plans to rig the governorship election in the state through the recruitment of 8,000 militants from those states.

Speaking while receiving

the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Idris Ibrahim, at the Government House, Oshiomhole said: “Our opponent unable to find local thugs to help them perpetrate violence which they have done between 1999 and 2007 when I took over, resorted to liaising with my brothers in the sub-region, Delta and Rivers, in particular, to export criminals and militants into Edo State in order to make peaceful election impossible.

“In line with my tradition, I have always tried to speak out on any matter that I am worried about. I first raised this alarm on the eve of INEC Continuing Voters’ Registration exercise, an exercise that has been designed to register those who have become eighteen between the last registration and the current one.”

On his part, Idris said the state’s governorship election was a big challenge to security agencies in the country.

While urging the policemen to remain neutral, the IGP said: “Remain neutral so as to ensure that the electorates, party agents and INEC officials believe in our neutrality even as he cautioned the officers against accompanying politicians to polling units for whatever reason. Don't take money from anybody. The Fed-

eral Government has paid us.

We are going to pay you before the election but make sure you are available for election duties.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the PDP, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has described the decision of the INEC to postpone the state governorship election as “unfortunate”.

In a statement by Omor Bazuaye, media aide to Raymond Dokpesi Campaign Organisation, Dokpesi said it is a shame that once again Nigerians are subjected to this kind of gross impunity and flagrant abuse of power that is currently being exhibited.

Dokpesi, who is a contender for the national chairman seat of the PDP, said he received information about the postponement just as he led a last minute campaign for PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu in Etsako East; where he took the campaign and the message of a better future from his own ward 1 deep into zone 4.

Dokpesi said what INEC had done was to postpone PDP’s victory at the polls and delay the inevitable defeat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

He said no matter how many times and how long INEC postpones the election, the people in his Etsako East have rejected APC and have made up their minds to vote PDP.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

No plans to relocate Nnamdi Kanu –Nigeria Prisons

Onwuka Nzeshi and Johnchuks Onuanyim

I

n spite of the recent riots and attempted jailbreak at the Kuje Medium Security Prison, Abuja, the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) has ruled out the possibility of relocating the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, from the facility.

There were speculations in the wake of the last disturbances at the prison that Kanu was the prime target and would have been eliminated by some unknown persons if the riot had not been quelled promptly.

However, Saturday Telegraph gathered that the prison authorities lacked the powers to relo-

cate prisoners as only the courts could determine where a particular convict or suspect awaiting trial could be kept.

Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Prisons Service, Mr Francis Enobore, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the issue said he was not aware of any plot to kill Kanu while in prison custody. According to him, there was no iota of truth in the speculations that Kanu was no longer safe at Kuje Prisons and that the authorities were planning to transfer him to a safer and more secure facility.

Enobore, a Deputy Comptroller of Prisons (DCP), disclosed that from the investigations conducted by the prison on the incident, there was no credible

evidence that Kanu or any other prisoner was being targeted by anybody for any reason.

“I hope you know that Nnamdi Kanu is awaiting trial. It is the court that determines where he should be kept for proximity to the place of hearing of his case.

Besides that, l want to tell you categorically that there is no iota of truth in all they have been putting in the newspapers. For instance some papers have published that all the attacks are targeted at Kanu.

“We have all classes of prisoners in all our facilities all over the country.

Kanu is not the only high profile prisoner that we have in our facility and in any case, from the preliminary investigation and final

investigation from the areas these things have occurred none has pointed to the fact that any one prisoner was being targeted for any reason.

“The reason for riots and jailbreaks has always been as a result of agitations among those awaiting trial that they are over staying in the prisons and nobody is listening to them.

They seem not to know their fate that was why l said last time that close to 98 per cent of the troubles that we have been having in the prisons have always been orchestrated by those that are awaiting trial. We have never had problems with all those convicted prisoners,” Enobore said.

About two weeks ago, there were reports of heavy shooting in the Kuje Medium Prisons following a protest by the inmates.

L-R: Former Executive Director, National Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Mohammed Shehu; State House Administrative Officer, Dr. Bashir Gwandu; Alhaji Abdullahi Maikano and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House in Abuja…yesterday.

A

Why flooding persists on Lagos-Ibadan expressway –FG T

he Federal Government has explained why there was flooding on some portions of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which it stated was caused by structures built on water channels by some companies along the road.

It has, therefore, directed the contractor handling the flooded portion to provide more palliatives to ameliorate the difficulties caused to motorists by the development.

This, however, came on a day a contractor with HiImpact Hotel and Parks and Buildwell Plants and Equipment Company was directed by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), to carry out more palliative works to reduce the effect of the flooding.

A statement issued yesterday explained the cause of the flooding at a portion of the road opposite the Mountain Top University (MFM) in Ogun State where construction is currently ongoing.

The government said the

tional guidelines to prevent breach of security within and around the prisons.

“Some inmates tried to resist the exercise which led to an altercation between the search party and the inmates. This was quickly put under effective control.

No prisoner was injured, no property damaged and the yard is calm and peaceful.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), have begun a partnership aimed at decongesting Nigerian Prisons and addressing the rising spate of jailbreaks in the country.

The Country Representative of UNODC, Ms. Christina Albertin, said at a workshop that the partnership is "aimed at enhancing the functioning of the justice sector including reducing undue delays, improving prison conditions and reducing backlogs which is one of the main causes of very high numbers of awaiting trail detainees in prisons across Nigeria.

Ezekwesili, Amadi, others for CSJ’s launch

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Olaniyi Aderuku

According to prison sources, the sporadic shooting by security operatives was designed to avert what could have been another jail-break at the prison located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

However, it was learnt that the security operatives only shot teargas canisters to disperse the inmates who were protesting alleged unhealthy condition of living at the prison.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command of the NPS, Mr. Chukwuedo Humphrey, revealed that what seemed to be a security breach, resulted from an alleged resistance from the inmates to routine “cell-search”.

The statement read in part: “The Controller of Prisons FCT Command, Daniel Odharo, has confirmed that there was no crisis in Kuje Medium Security Prison.

“At about 1000hrs on August 29, 2016, staff of Kuje Prison carried out a routine cell-search which is a part of the Prisons opera-

7

structures blocking the channels include those built by Hi-Impact Hotel and Parks and Buildwell Plants and Equipment Company as well as various Warehouses.

It said the flooding at the portion became severe because the various structures built along the road had blocked the water channels through which runoffs were to flow away from the road adding that the water retention spot of the whole

area had been blocked off by building on the wet zones.

The statement explained that these locations, which are now built up, were the drainage basins where surface runoff was directed when the road was built about 40 years ago.

According to the statement, the flooding has also been accentuated by the fact that some of the communities in the area discharge their runoffs to the road, while the runoffs

were spots where drains were yet to be provided.

It added that the rains have also been unusually heavy in the past few days, thereby undermining the palliative efforts recently done by the contractor.

Meanwhile, Fashola has appealed for patience and understanding among motorists and other road users as rehabilitation and reconstruction work on the Expressway progresses.

Troops destroy 74 illegal refineries in Rivers, Bayelsa –Army Emmanuel Onani Abuja

T

he Nigerian Army yesterday said troops of 2 Brigade have destroyed 74 illegal refineries in Rivers and Bayelsa states, in the course of a field training exercise codenamed “Operation Crocodile Smile.”

A statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, further disclosed that camps allegedly operated by suspected militants and kidnappers,

were also destroyed during the operation.

“Troops of 2 Brigade Nigerian Army conducting field training exercise code named "Operation Crocodile Smile” have within the last 48 hours discovered and destroyed 74 illegal refineries and quite a number (of) militants and kidnappers camps in various parts of Rivers and Bayelsa states using swan buggy and other specialists equipment.

“On September 7, troops of Sub-Sector Bravo in re-

sponse to a tip off on the presence of suspected kidnappers at Akupoku community carried out a raid at the location. But no arrest was made as the kidnappers have fled the area.

“However, the team also raided the community, at the verge of the Atlantic ocean where they discovered and destroyed an illegal refinery. The troops recovered and destroyed three large cooking pots and 20 tanks filled with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO).”

bout 20 civil society groups, including a former World Bank vice president and coordinator Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG), Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and the immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, will in Lagos brainstorm on Christianity and the struggle for social justice.

Besides, the duo of Ezekwesili and Amadi will speak at the launch of a new non-governmental organisation (NGO), Catalyst for Global Peace and Social Justice Initiative (CGPSJI).

While Ezekwesili will

chair the launch of the new NGO, Amadi will deliver a key note address entitled ' Christianity and the struggle for social justice.

A statement issued by CGPSJI, the organisation which was set up by committed and credible Christian leaders, will focus on how President Muhammadu Buhari-led government will ensure good governance and protection of Nigerians' rights in a nascent democracy.

Also, the organisation would ensure resolution of conflicts, social justice, humanitarian and welfare services in a country torn by insurgency.

INEC: We’ll pay 19,000 staff all over again

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it would make fresh payments to 19,000 staff as a result of the postponement of the Edo state governorship election.

The commission’s deputy director for voter education and publicity, Nick Dazang, who disclosed this, said INEC had already confirmed its readiness for the election, and only the last stage of preparation was left at the time the security agencies advised it to shift the poll.

“We are calling back about 19,000 staff, we have to pay them again and we might consider retraining them ahead of election, so that they will remember some of the things that we have taught them. That is money.

“We have to pay them for the allowances. We have to pay them allowances for coming back to conduct the election.

“We might have to reprint one or two of the sensitive materials to reflect the new date. Thankfully, as of the time our attention was called to the advisory, we had not distributed some of the materials,” he said.

He said the development would not in any way affect the conduct of the election, as the commission always made provision for such contingency.

“The postponement of the election did not in any way change our preparedness for the election, neither has it changed our resolve to conduct free, fair and credible election,” he said.

News Ondo South battles for deputy governorship slot

8

Babatope Okeowo, Akure

T

he battle for the deputy governorship slot ahead of the gubernatorial election began in Ondo State yesterday as a group, Ondo State Solidarity Congress (OSSC) called for the zoning of deputy governorship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Ondo South senatorial district area of the state.

Even when the crisis over the emergence of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is yet to abate, the group said giving the slot to zone would assuage the feelings of the people who think it is their turn to produce the next governor.

The group said since both the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and opposition APC have picked their candidates from Ondo North and Central Senatorial districts respectively, the South should be considered for the position.

While PDP has picked Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) from

Central senatorial district as its candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) from Ondo North is the flag bearer of APC for the November 26 governorship election state.

The Ondo South has three federal constituencies and six local governments including Ilaje/Eseodo, Irele/ Okitipupa and Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/ Odigbo.

A statement by the Chairman of OSSC, Chief Samuel Ikujuminu, said the slot should also be given to former members of PDP in the Southern Senatorial District who decamped to APC before the 2015 general election.

He said: “The APC worked very hard for the development of the party in the senatorial district. You know that ours has been the stronghold of the PDP. But we have been working hard to develop the party in the zone.

“If we are given the Deputy Governorship slot, we have the assurance that the APC will defeat the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election.

Rumours of cow poisoning untrue –Butchers’ association Victor Mba, Aba

T

he effect of the menace of herdsmen in South-East has assumed another dimension as consumers of cow meat are now afraid as a result of rumours that the herdsmen have resorted to poisoning their cows.

Saturday Telegraph gathered that cow meat sellers in Aba, Abia State, now have low patronage as consumers now resort to goat and chicken.

At the Ariaria International market, a meat seller, Innocent Ogbunu, noted that the rumour has adversely affected their sales.

“I use to sell half cow but now I go for a quarter of it due to low patronage. In fact our business is suffering.”

Another seller at the Ngwa Road market, popularly known as Ahia Ohu meat seller, also complained that consumer of cow meat now

prefer goat meat as a result of the rumour which they said circulated in all the nook and cranny of the city.

Mr. Ejike Okoh said if the public is not properly educated, as the rumour is a figment of somebody’s imagination, cow meat sellers maybe thrown out of business.

Dispelling the rumour, the state Chairman of the Amalgamated Butchers Association (ABA), Emeka Okoh Toti, said there was no iota of truth in the rumour.

He said every cow that comes to Abia State is first certified fit for consumption by veterinary doctors.

Toti said: “Apart from certifying it fit for human consumption at the entry point the professionals inspect the meat even after it has been killed at the Abattoir.

He expressed surprise at how herdsmen could poison the cows that take about three days to come from the North to Aba.

Ijaws: Deployment of troops won’t solve N’Delta crisis Emmanuel Masha, Port Harcourt The Ijaws have faulted the federal government’s stance on the crisis in the Niger Delta, noting that the ongoing deployment of troops and heavy military equipment to the region is unnecessary, because the issue at hand demands dialogue rather than the use of force.

They also kicked against the categorisation of the militant groups in the area as “terrorists” and deserve to be treated like the Boko Haram insurgents spreading death and violence in the North-East, despite the fact they (militants) are agitating for “equity, fairness and justice” in the country.

President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Boma Obuoforibo, who spoke on behalf of the Ijaws at a briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the comparison was misguided and capable of “aggravating the crisis in the region.”

He said the time was right for the country to be restruc-

tured so that the federating units have greater control of the happenings within them.

According to him, such move would guarantee growth and progress to take place among the federating units or states.

Oboforibo said the people of Niger Delta were facing annihilation, and faulted a recent report that “over $40 billion have gone to the Niger Delta region without visible impact,” arguing that the author(s) of the report should have equally mentioned the amount generated from the region to “develop the Federal Capital territory, the cities of Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and indeed the sustenance of the rest of the nation.”

He said: “At this challenging moment of our nation’s history, it is imperative that every patriotic Nigerian, irrespective of his or her region, or political persuasions, should direct their knowledge, experiences and energies towards engagements and discussions that would stimulate national unity."

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) and Ife kingmakers, at the logo unveiling ceremony for the Olojo Festival, in Ile-Ife, Osun State…yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Recession: Balarabe, Babatope, Okei-Odumakin, others slam Oni Temitope Ogunbanke

E

minent Nigerians and members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Segun Oni, for stating that his party was elected to do the impossible.

A former governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa; former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and National Secretary of National Conscience Party (NCP), Ayodele Akele, spoke to Saturday Telegraph.

They argued that it was wrong for Oni to state that his party was elected to do the impossible despite many promises they made to Nigerians before last year election.

It would be recalled that Oni while addressing journalists at APC's secretariat last week Tuesday urged Nigerians to be patient, saying his party was elected to do the impossible.

He said the economic difficulties currently being experienced by Nigerians would have been worse and that the country would have virtually packed up if the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) had returned to power.

But in a swift response, Balarabe advised the APC government to stop giving excuses and face governance.

“APC knew the state of the country before they contested the 2015 elections. So, there is no reason for them to give any excuse.

“They should do the needful and stop giving excuses. They gave a lot of promises during last elections but they are yet to fulfill any promise.

“We don’t want any more promise and we don’t want any more excuse. They should face the job, which they wanted to do and which they were voted for.

“They should do their work and stop giving excuses,” he advised.

Also speaking on the issue, Babatope noted that the Muhammadu Buhari administration, having spent over one year in office should blame itself for Nigeria’s problems.

He said: “APC have been in government for over one year, therefore, let them blame themselves for Nigeria’s problems.

“They are the problems of the country now. People are hungry; people don’t have food to eat and they are blaming the PDP. “Why would they blame the PDP for the problem in

FCT Minister: Violence won't solve Nigeria’s problem

NEWS IN BRIE F

ST

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the resort to violence will not resolve the Niger-Delta issue, hence calling on those disenchanted with the plight of the region to embrace peaceful tools of seeking redress.

In his comments at the command screening of the action thriller movie ''Oloibiri' in Abuja on Thursday night, the Minister said that in violence, ''there are really no victors, for whichever end of the divide one falls, there remain only the wounded and trauma of bloody memories.

He said: “In its essence, 'Oloibiri' the movie speaks of the Niger-Delta to us Nigerians; to our essence as humans, as a nation, as students of history and hopes of our tomorrows.

the country? We left power about one year and three months ago. What has APC done?

“Buhari has been in power and all we are hearing is war against corruption.

“How many PDP members are being tried for corruption? I am not a customer of Buhari and the APC; they should blame themselves.

“They should go and put food on the table of Nigerians and stop putting the blame on the PDP. When PDP was in government, Nigerians were able to feed better, move better and think better.

“What has APC done; they have done nothing, absolutely nothing.” he said.

For Okei-Odumakin, the APC Deputy National Chairman’s position is quite unfortunate.

“I think the comment by Mr. Segun Oni is quite unfortunate because if there are things to be done, there is a way someone can appeal to the conscience of the people and also live by examples.

“That is why I will throw my weight behind the question of security votes. All the security votes that were not accounted for can be channelled towards the welfare of the people.

“I believe all of us will

OSOGBO Sallah: Osun free train ride begins today

As Sallah holiday makers get ready for the 2016 Eid-el-Kabir festival, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has announced free train ride for those wishing to travel home.

In a statement by the Ministry of Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, the free train commences conveyance of people coming for the festival from Lagos to Osogbo from today till tomorrow by 10 am each day.

The train will return to Lagos on September 17, with take-off time slated for 11 am.

The statement said Aregbesola’s administration had been doing this in the last six years to facilitate easy movement during festivities.

continue to brace up as long as we also see sacrifice on the part of people concern,” she stated.

Akele on his part said it would be unfair for anybody to be blaming past administration for present state of Nigeria, because many of those holding public office today, according to him, were part of that government.

“They (APC leaders) never told Nigerian people what they are saying now during the 2015 elections.

“They painted a good picture of the economy for everybody in the country and they promised that they are going to deliver.

“They promised that they are going to revive Nigeria. They promised four refineries, two million jobs per annum, 24 hours electricity supply, N5,000 benefit for unemployed jobless graduate and host of others.

“Now they have reneged. APC is talking nonsense; they are unserious and it is failure.

“Instead of admitting their failure and leaving office for somebody who is competent to assume leadership position, they are grandstanding.

“They should stop blaming past administration because 80 per cent of those in APC government were part and parcel of the PDP administration.”

IKOYI Southern Sun Hotel to fete guests

As Muslim faithful celebrate Eid-el-Kabir next week, Southern Sun Ikoyi is set to host families and individuals to a special Eid-el-Kabir treat with discounted room rates attracting full buffet breakfast for one, a complimentary breakfast for accompanying children under the age of five and 50 per cent discount for children between six and nine years.

Also, 10 per cent discount on Friday Night Sea Food Dinner Buffet Extravaganza and Champagne Brunch on Sunday September 11.

A delightful menu of cocktails and choice wine selections at the bar with a complimentary sauna and steam room relaxation is also available at the hotel with an additional 35 per cent discount voucher for a leading spa located nearby and inclusive of a complimentary pick up and drop off.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

9

Unemployment challenges over in Kebbi –Bagudu

Abubakar Abdul, Birnin Kebbi

K

ebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu,

has said there is no more unemployment challenges among youths in the state.

He stated this yesterday at a two day Sensitisation Pair organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sensitise

farmers on boosting rice production in the state.

The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Birnin Kebbi, Mohammed Arugungu, dis-

closed that youths in the state have been engaged in farming activities except for those who chose to remain unemployed.

The governor further stated that over 70, 000 rice farmers benefited from the Anchor

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (second right); with Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lola Akande (third right), being conducted round the exhibition stands, at the maiden scientific conference of the Association of Female Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AFMLS), Lagos State branch, in Ikeja… Thursday PHOTO: LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT

Osogbo

O

oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, has charged Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) to be more security conscious and pro-active while battling with criminal acts in the society.

The monarch gave this charge at his palace yesterday when the group’s offi-

cials led by its Commander General, Alhaji Aliyu Sokoto, paid him a courtesy call.

The group which solicited for the royal father's support on its pending bills at the National Assembly to regain full autonomy in the security circle, sought for his quick intervention on the matter.

Sokoto remarked: “We appeal to you to intervene on our request for the quick passage of the bill which has gone through the second reading at the floor of the

National Assembly.

“If the bill is considered, the group would work harder to see that lives and properties of all and sundry in the country are better secured.”

He said their job would be easier as well for they believe that after the passage of the bill, they would be well - equipped by the government to combat crimes in the society.

“We assure Nigerians that we will work round the clock to see that every one of

Dickson: Dialogue key to N’Delta peace Pauline Onyibe,

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Yenagoa

overnor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has identified dialogue and a clear roadmap for development, as key to achieving lasting peace, security, law and order in the Niger Delta region.

Dickson, who stated this yesterday during a courtesy call on him by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-General Tukur Buratai, stressed the importance of peace and security to the overall development of the state.

He noted that the state

government had been working in close collaboration with the security agencies to ensure the security of lives and property as well as the protection of critical national assets.

The governor commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for its efficient and effective disposition and acting as the bastion and ultimate guarantor of the nation’s constitutional democracy.

He also added that the officers and men have discharged their responsibility of defending the sovereignty of the country.

He said: “Security can only be achieved when you have an effective and robust

collaboration. This state understands the role of security which is the cornerstone of any meaningful and lasting development and that is what we are doing, working with the intelligence and law enforcement agencies, mobilising our community leaders at all levels.

“We have drawn up at all levels a dynamic synergy between all to ensure that our state and our region remain safe.

“If you are talking about security and stability in the Niger Delta region, you know that it has to start with Bayelsa because this is the epicentre of all the issues, challenges and all the contradictions that we have to deal

BIRMIN KEBBI Fayose refunds over-deducted FG commences work on Jega-Yauri Road money to teachers ADO-EKITI

Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday signed the documents directing the Accountant General of the state to immediately refund monies inadvertently over-deducted from the salaries of teachers who had bought some facilities from the government during the previous administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Samuel Akosile, said the over-deductions from the teachers’ salaries has been a perennial problem but when brought to the notice of Fayose, he promptly set up a committee to look into the complaints and gave them an ultimatum of 30 days to bring their report.

with and all those issues are basically development.”

In his remarks, Buratai said his visit is part of the activities of the military operation in the region code named “Operation Crocodile Smile”.

According to him, the army has deployed about 3, 000 officers and men, as well as equipment for the exercise, pointing out that the number of personnel will be increased to 10, 000 by next year.

Buratai further disclosed that the exercise is aimed at training officers in marine combat operations as the state was largely riverine and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, which could be prone to external aggression.

IBADAN Oyo celebrates Aso Ofi on Tourism Day

Oyo State Government has rolled out plans to celebrate the locally fabricated textile popularly Kebbi State Federal Controller of Works, called “Aso Ofi” from the Iseyin area of the State, Mr. Muhammed Goni, has said the Federal as the highpoint of the 2016 edition of the World Government has commenced reconstruction Tourism Day celebration on September 27. work on the 186 kilometres Jega-Yauri Road in With the theme: “Tourism for all - promoting Kebbi State.

Universal Accessibility: special focus on Aso Ofi”, Goni, who disclosed this yesterday while the celebration will come up between Septembriefing journalists in his office in Birnin Kebbi, ber 25 and 27. said the state had no abandoned projects Speaking during a press conference held at the other than the road project, which President film theatre of the Ministry, the State CommisMuhammadu Buhari’s administration had sioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, captured in the 2016 budget.

Mr. Toye Arulogun, said the state government He further listed other federal projects in the was collaborating with the Iseyin Weavers and state to include the establishment of the Marketers Association to showcase the Southnew Federal University in Birnin Kebbi, which West ceremonial fabric as a fashion tourism, construction work has reached 80 per cent youth empowerment and entrepreneurial completion. engagement.

Cephas Iorhemen,

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them sleeps with their two eyes closed without molestation from any quarter.”

The monarch, however, assured the Vigilante group that he would work on their request but charged them to be more virile on their job to make the society a crime free one.

Oba Adeyeye described security of lives and properties as important in any given society and appealed to them not to relent in seeing that citizens’ lives are well protected.

NEWS I N BRIE F

ST

“The various initiatives of the CBN based on monetary policy, modernisation of the payment system, development financing programme and financial literacy are designed to revamp, reposition and re-engineer vital sectors of the economy,” he said.

He further said that the fair is planned to mobilise the low income but economically active people, especially women, youths, farmers and financial service providers to come together, interact and create synergy towards enhancing access to finance, increase productivity, generate employment, create wealth and engender sustainable growth.

New Tor Tiv: Assembly passes Chieftaincy Bill MAKURDI

Ooni of Ife tasks vigilance group on security Adeolu Adeyemo,

Borrower Loan programme of CBN last year while over one million metric tonnes of rice was produced by the benefiting farmers.

“Therefore, youths have no reason to remain unemployed, as the Central Bank of Nigeria has pledged to continue to support the rice farmers with soft loan,” he added.

In his remark, CBN’s Deputy Director, Alhaji Aliyu Katuka, said the main objective of the sensitisation fair is to create awareness about CBN’s activities as it concerns economic development initiative of the bank with a view to explaining opportunities available and how every citizen can take advantage of them.

ith the prolonged vacuum created in the Tiv kingdom eleven months after the demise of the paramount ruler, Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, the coast for the appointment of a new Tiv monarch appears to be clear as the state House of Assembly has passed the bill for a law to make provisions for the Amendment of Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Councils, 2016.

The passage followed two days of extensive clause by clause consideration of the bill in the committee of the whole assembly.

Shortly before the passage, the Assembly had resolved to refer the issue of determining the true descendants of the two major component units of Tiv - Ichongo and Ipusu back to the Supreme Council of the Tiv people known as Ijir Tamen so as to guarantee peaceful coexistence.

Furthermore, the state lawmakers agreed that the Selection Committee for the Tor Tiv stool be comprised

of six First Class Chiefs, 14 Second Class Chiefs and the 28 Third Class Chiefs in Tiv land to bring the total number of the committee members to 48 for fair and equitable representation in line with the Tiv custom and tradition.

The House took these decisions while debating the report of its joint committee on Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs and Judiciary, Ethics and Privileges on the Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Councils amendment bill.

Speaker, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, who read the resolutions of the House, stated that the sharing formula where the two Tiv sons coexist should be between Ichongo and Ipusu and not by geopolitical division or electoral constituencies.

Ikyange also urged the Idoma Area Traditional Council to adhere to the restructuring of the traditional stools in the state especially as it concerns the creation of a district for each council ward which is meant to broaden grassroots participation rather than insisting on the original 22 districts that existed in Idoma land during the colonial era.

Hajj: Airlift of pilgrims to Nigeria begins Sept 17 Ibraheem Musa,

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Mecca

he National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has rolled out a departure schedule for Nigerian pilgrims from the Holy Land, two days before the actual hajj exercise begins at Arafat.

Speaking at a pre-Arafat meeting yesterday in Mecca, the Commissioner of Operations, Alhaji Abdullahi Saleh, said the return journey would commence with the airlifting from pilgrims of Kwara and Kogi states.

According to him, FlyNas airline is ready

to commence the return journey, adding that Kogi and Kwara states pilgrims should be ready to return home immediately after the Hajj exercise.

Abdullahi said: “Airport will be open on September 17 for airlift. We have got readiness alert from at least one airline, which is FlyNas airline. We have got schedule of FlyNas as at today while others of Med-view and MaxAir are to follow suit soon.

“We call on state leadership for collaboration, dialogue and consultation with operators. They should exercise patience and cooperate with the operators.”

10

City & crime update

Confessions of ex-convicts

We formed car snatching gang in prison

number, he called and it was agreed that he would be one of the robbers supplying stolen cars to Alhaji. The deal would however kick off only after Ogbonna leaves prison.

Ogbonna said: “When I was released I travelled to East. I later called Tosin and Alhaji that I had been released. I told Tosin I had no gun. He asked me to come len. I was arrested, but Uchenna escaped. to Lagos. He said he would get one for I was taken to Customs’ office in Ikeja.” me. I informed Raheem about the deal.

Customs officials tracked Uchenna to He said he was ready to join me. When I his village, but they still couldn’t arrest got to Lagos, I lodged at a hotel in Aguda, him. He escaped through the bush when Surulere. The next day, Tosin brought a he saw the officials. Ogbonna was later double barrel locally made pistol with five charged to court and remanded in Kirikiri cartridges. I called Raheem, Chisom and Maximum Prison. one David, who is from my state. I asked Ogbonna recalled: “When I got to them to meet me in the hotel.” prison, I met Chimobi and Raheem. I When the men met Ogbonna at the knew them at Aguda. We used to smoke hotel, they planned a robbery operation together. They knew me as a taxi driver. and immediately went ahead to execute it.

They said they were arrested for robbery.

Ogbonna explained: “We went to Since we came from the same Aguda, we Ojuelegba in Surulere and snatched a became very close.” taxi from the owner. We also went to Ago In May 2016, Chisom and Raheem Palace and snatched a Toyota Corolla car were released on bail, while Ogfrom a guy.” bonna regained his freedom in He said that after snatching the July. cars, they went to the Cele area of Now that I have While in prison, Ogbonna tried Lagos to meet Alhaji where he was to connect with Uchenna. He been arrested, I waiting to receive one of the stolen wanted Uchenna to assist him to cars. The next day he called Alhaji strongly feel very leave prison earlier, but Uchenna to ask for payment, but the man didn’t have time for him. In fact, bad. I know that wouldn’t pick his calls.

Uchenna told him that he was fleeHe said: “The next day, Tosin crime doesn’t pay. ing the country. Uchenna told Ogcame around. I brought out the bonna that he was leaving Nigeria stolen taxi from where I parked it I want to join the because many of his gang memand we went to snatch cars. We bers had been killed by the police.

Nigeria Police snatched a Honda Civic car at Kilo.

Ogbonna recounted: “I told I gave it to Tosin. We also snatched Force.

I want to Uchenna that he was the one who a Camry car, 2003 model at Agugot me into trouble and should asfight crime. I can da. After that operation, we left sist me to get out. When I persisted, the stolen taxi, which we used as make a difference he switched of his phone and later operational vehicle in a street. We changed his mobile number. I beparked the Camry car in another came angry. I was the only one facing the street, where we knew it would be safe. problem. I decided that I would go fully “By Friday, we used the Camry car into armed robbery.” to snatch a Honda car in Akelere area of It was in prison he met one Amos who Surulere. We also went to Ajao Estate to linked him to Alhaji and Tosin. The said snatch a Toyota Mosul. At that time, I had Alhaji used to buy stolen cars from robthree cars in my possession and later Albers. haji picked my call. He said that the car When Ogbonna got the Alhaji’s phone I gave him was tracked. The following

•Police swooped on gang in posh hotel

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Juliana Francis hree suspected car snatchers have revealed how they met in Kirikiri Maximum Prison and formed a car snatching gang.

The suspects, Mr. Francis Ogbonna, 27, Chisom Joseph, 22, and Oloko Raheem, were rounded up in a posh hotel at the Suruele area of Lagos State, while attempting to sell off cars snatched at gun point to a buyer. The men confessed to have once snatched six cars within four days in Lagos State.

The gang was smashed by operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris’s Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

According to the police, the gang has been terrorising the Aguda, Surulere, Ijesha and Ikotun areas of Lagos State for long.

The IRT operatives, led by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr. Abba Kyari, recovered four exotic cars and a locally made gun from the gang.

A police source said: “The gang was formed in the Kirikiri Medium Prison.

The gang, within a space of four days snatched a total number of six cars from their owners at Ajao Estate, Surulere, Ijesha and Ikotun in Lagos State.”

It was gathered that the downfall of the suspects started after Idris deployed the IRT to hunt the gang, which was becoming notorious. The gang seemed to be elusive until IRT operatives took over the investigations and swooped on it.

Ogbonna, alleged leader of the gang, narrated how he joined crime, went to prison and later formed the gang. He said that after he finished secondary school in Abia State he moved to Surulere, Lagos State. He worked as a cab driver for a while before moving back to the East.

He recounted: “I went into crime last year November. One of my friends, a secondary school class mate, Uchenna, begged me to assist him in driving stolen cars from Lagos to Owerri. Yes, I knew Uchenna was an armed robber.

I also knew the cars I drove for him were stolen. Whenever I moved a car for him, Uchenna would pay me N50, 000. There was a time I assisted him to deliver a Camry Tiny Light car and a Sequoia SUV. I was moving a Lexus 330 car for him when some Customs officials flagged us down. Uchenna was with me in the car.”

Ogbonna continued: “When the Customs officials stopped us, I showed them the vehicle papers. They saw a telephone number on the customs licence paper and called it. The owner of the car picked. He told them that his car was sto-

Suspects

SATURDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2016

week, I checked into another hotel in Ikotun. Tosin came with policemen and I was arrested. They found the guns and the car keys with me. Now that I have been arrested, I strongly feel very bad. I know that crime doesn’t pay. I want to join the Nigeria Police Force. I want to fight crime.

I can make a difference.”

Joseph, on his part, claimed that poverty drove him into crime. According to him, he lost his parents at a very tender age and had to fend for himself.

He said that one of his friends, Ifeanyi, aka Tigana, who was killed recently by policemen during a robbery operation, initiated him into crime. He resides at Ijesha in Surulere. It was in his area he met and became friends with Ifeanyi.

One of the things that attracted him to Ifeanyi was the way the latter used to spend money. Joseph, a barber, said Ifeanyi was one of his customers and used to give him money.

Joseph said: “One day, when I was with him at the place where we used to smoke, I told him that I wanted him to teach me how to fish. He took my phone number. He called me one day and asked me to meet him at a hotel. He called Raheem and two others. We drove to Victoria Island. Raheem was the one driving the taxi. We robbed a man of his car, money and phones. The car was given to a certain Hausa man called Steven. In September, Joseph called me. He was in a hotel with Raheem and two other guys. We left and snatched a taxi. We used the taxi to snatch two cars. Ifeanyi had a Toyota Corolla car in his possession. We were waiting for Steven to come and pick the cars, when we saw him with policemen. They arrested all of us and charged us to court. We were remanded in Kirikiri Medium Prison. In June 2015, Francis Ogbonna was brought to prison and we became friends. When I was released, I reconnected with Francis.

We snatched five cars together.”

The third suspect, Oloko, described himself as a driver. He said he was introduced into armed robbery by his friends.

He also blamed the economic situation in Nigeria for taking to crime.

Oloko, who said he is a father of three, said he used to work in a car washing company, but the money just wasn’t enough for him and his family. Sick and tired of the constant struggle to keep the wolves from the door, he decided to take to crime. He was working with Ifeanyi before he was arrested and sent to prison.

Like others, he met Ogbonna in prison, they discussed and sealed their alliance.

After he was released he went to join Ogbonna’s gang in car snatching.

City&crime update

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

11

Ambode and the rot in Lagos Taskforce unit The redeployment of 104 police officers attached to the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offence Unit has undoubtedly generated controversies. MURITALA AYINLA takes a look at the unfolding developments

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he time was few minutes past 12:am on September 3, the officers under the Surveillance Team of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offence Unit set out for the routine raid across the state metropolis.

The Chairman of the Taskforce, Supol Saheed Olayinka Egbeyemi, had left office. So, was his Second-in-Command, SP Taiwo Adeoluwa, but the officers went all out to carry out a 'routine' raid, which landed them in trouble.

Saturday Telegraph's investigation revealed that Adeoluwa was informed of the plan to go on the raid around 8 pm on Friday before he left the headquarters.

The team numbering about nine went on the raid sometimes past mid night and harassed innocent citizens. They picked women and men, young and old and others citizens who probably might have been outside their homes for lawful social functions and activities.

It was learnt that these officers way-

laid and molested both the law-abiding citizens and suspected criminals among the over 100 people arrested. They scolded the young and harassed the old.

Saturday Telegraph also gathered that among the women arrested were married women who were in a 2016 model Pathfinder Sports Utility Vehicle and heading to a popular restaurant in the heart of Ikeja for a function.

According to the women they were harassed and conveyed round the city before the 'heavily drunk' officers returned them to their Alausa headquarters, where they allegedly paid between N10,000 and N15,000 before they were released.

But in less than 24-hours after the ugly scenario, the report of the incident filtered into the social media and spread like a wildfire.

One of the victims reported her ugly experience to her husband, whom our correspondent learnt was an influential citizen in the state and posted the report

Policemen interrogating a suspect

Over 80% inmates awaiting trial in Nigeria –Report

•Lagos harbours 5,653 •488 held in Jos Ndubuisi Ugah and Musa Pam Jos

F

resh facts emerged yesterday that over 80 per cent of prison inmates in Nigeria are awaiting trials, due to the unwholesome criminal justice system in the country, the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) has revealed in a report released.

But the report, however, emerged when the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) spokesman in Lagos State, Mr. Biyi Jeje, confirmed that about 5,913 inmates are currently awaiting trial in Lagos prisons.

Elsewhere in Jos, the Plateau State capital came a similar disclosure by the state’s command of the NPS that a total of 488 inmates are currently awaiting trial as at the time of filling this report on Thursday.

The CCC, which released the report to mark its one year anniversary, noted that the NPS sits at the very heart of the nation’s security architecture and, therefore, should not be toyed with as the agency statutorily responsible for holding convicted offenders.

The Executive Secretary of the centre, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), who made the report available to journalists, said the remaining 20 per cent represented convicted prisoners.

He explained that apart from the convicted offenders, the prisons also provide abode for those who are still awaiting trials for various crimes and offences ranging from pick-pocketing to terrorism.

It noted that the prisons were indeed very sensitive and important security institutions that must be accorded their place of priority and strategic importance in the overall interest of the society.

The centre, which expressed dismay over reported cases of security breaches that led to attempted and actual prisons breaks across the country, stated that an assessment of a number of Nigerian Prisons revealed a dire situation across the various prison facilities in the country.

It observed that apart from the obsolete and debilitating state of most of the prisons, there is an apparent shortage or inadequacy of the hold-

ing facilities resulting to congestion and most times over stretched with mostly Awaiting Trial Inmates (ATI).

It called on the authorities to carry out reforms to make prisons across the country more habitable, noting that the staggering ratio of actual convicts to the ATI is indicative of a systemic failure in our criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, Jeje while giving a breakdown of the of the number of inmates said out of 6,921 inmates in the prisons, only 1,008 were convicts but said both the minimum and medium prisons have exceeded their capacities.

Jeje, who is also a correction officer, said despite the challenges, the prisons have adequate correctional facilities.

“In all Lagos prisons, there are hospitals, clinics, churches, mosques, extra-curricular sports centres, different educational systems from primary to the university and other standard facilities found in a community for such inmates to live a normal life.

“Convicts are also entitled to acquire skills such as laundry, welding, tailoring, carpentry, hairdressing, art and craft, theatre art and other skills that will enable them to integrate into the society after discharge.

“We, together with our partners, provide them with the tools to start a trade and monitor them properly so that they don’t go back to crime,” he said.

The Maximum Prison, with a capacity for 1,056 inmates, presently has 1,234 while the Medium Prison, with a capacity for 1,700 inmates, currently has 3,820. On the other hand, Ikoyi Prison, with a capacity for 800 inmates, has 2,277 inmates; the female prison, with a capacity for 211, currently has 240 inmates, while the Badagry Prison, meant for 160 persons, has 350 inmates.

In Jos, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Diana Ajeh, an Assistant Superintendent of Prison (ASP), who spoke to Saturday Telegraph, said daily the inmates are taken to courts for trials.

According to her, the number of inmates awaiting trials reduced everyday as result of being taken to court for trials.

Out of the total of 488 inmates awaiting trials, 486 are male while two are females.

on the Facebook.

On the Facebook one of the arrested women narrated: "At exactly 12:15 am on the 3rd of September, my friend and I stepped out of the car on Isaac John Street GRA Ikeja in front of Skye Bank precisely next to DE Place restaurant and the next thing that happened was some group of men rushed at us, grabbed us with a policeman armed and started started dragging us towards their truck. The armed policeman with service number 393208 shot several times into the air. They were drenching in alcohol and I thought they were kidnappers because they were harassing, scaring and driving like criminals. From Lekki to VI, from Maroccaine, Akin Ogunlewe, back to Alausa Task force office. Ladies were picked up and molested, beaten and thrown into dirty gutter. We got to their office and were told to write our names, I refused to write my name, asking them to tell me my offence. When we all refused, we were locked up for 11 hours before we were released after paying N10,000 each to a policewoman in charge of the case. I am calling for justice. We are not safe in Nigeria."

The above, statement was a testimony to the rot in the system and what many innocent Nigerians experience on a daily basis in the hands of most policemen in the country.

But miffed by the stories of unethical conduct by the taskforce members, the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, requested the redeployment of the 'unethical officers' with about 100 other officers who had spent about five years in the unit.

This, Saturday Telegraph learnt, has been generating controversies not only in the state secretariat, Alausa but also on social media. While same blamed the leadership of the unit on the extortion and unethical practices by the police,

We were locked up for 11 hours before we were released after paying N10,000 each to a policewoman in charge of the case. I am calling for justice. We are not safe in Nigeria

others said Supol Adeoluwa shouldn't be blamed for the attitude of the policemen.

According to sources in the Taskforce, who pleaded anonymity, Adeolu shouldn't have been portrayed as if he was the one who ordered the police to carry out a raid on innocent citizens.

"This is what transpired that night, when the taskforce chairman, SP Egbeyemi, left the office around 11 pm, his second-in-command, SP Adeoluwa, also left few minutes later but I was aware that around 8pm on Friday that same night, the leader of the team that went on the raid, Bukky, a female officer, informed Adeoluwa that they would be going on raid. But I'm not sure whether Adeoluwa told the chairman about the raid."

Another source, however, said that Adeoluwa said that team deceived him that they had informed the chairman before embarking on the raid, adding that the second-in-command could not have stopped the team from embarking on the surveillance, which he said was a routine operation every Fridays and Mondays."

It was also gathered that Ambode was bent on sanitising the state enforcement unit, the development, which Saturday Telegraph gathered, made him to appoint three chairmen for the taskforce in less than a year.

Meanwhile, the mass redeployment officers is already taking its tolls on the unit, as the once busy office has been deserted.

When our correspondent visited the taskforce headquarters yesterday, the ‎entire office was deserted as most of the redeployed policemen are yet to be replaced by the state Police command.

Meanwhile, Ambode in a statement issued by the state's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, expressed the State Government’s heartfelt apology to the affected person, saying that government would not condone any act(s) of high-handedness, extortion and disregard for human rights on the side of any law enfecement agencies and any public official as the State has sworn to protect and guarantee the rights of its citizens.

The governor added that his massive investments in security and Light Up Lagos Project was meant to create a 24-7 economy that encourages businesses to thrive, saying that the government would not fold its arms and watch any overzealous officer derail the vision that has earned the government applause.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Young Telegraph with DEBORAH OCHENI

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

TOPIC

12

Culinary skills, a major determinant for making a good wife

It’s minor

It’s one of it

I will not say it is solely, but it is one of the things that make a good wife in this part of the world.

Ifyou love a woman and all that concerns her, knowing how to cook or not is minor.

AMAH AKON

ANN EDIBO

Cooking is the essence of marriage

Cooking is major in marriage

All men by nature like food, eating food that is prepared by your wife binds you both more. A good wife must know how to cook well.

I can’t even imagine marrying a woman that cannot cook, what is the essence of marriage if a woman cannot cook?

HABIB RABIU

JUDE IGWE

You are not ready if you don’t know how to cook

It’s not a big deal

Personally, I don’t think it is a big deal because I am a good cook, ifI love her, I will teach her how to cook.

For a woman not to know how to cook, it simply means she is not prepared for marriage because I can’t imagine seeing my husband eating at restaurants.

NAT ADEMOLA

CATHERINE ACHIMUGU

Marriage is an exclusive reserve for those with culinary skill

In Africa cooking is an attribute of a good wife

I can’t imagine it

It depends on individuals, but in Africa cooking is an attribute of a good wife because the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

What will I tell my mum? It is something I cannot even imagine because I cannot present such lazy woman to my mother

JANEL VENTY

SAM ONOGWU

It doesn’t matter

You don’t have any business with marriage if you cannot cook; marriage is an exclusive reserve for those who can cook.

To me it does not matter if you can cook or not, for crying out loud, there are so many professional cooks out there.

If you love her, lack of culinary skills shouldn't be a barrier.

JOY OMADA

RUTH MOSES

WeekendBliss

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

13

N O P U E S O CL ADE KING SUNNY

I NEVER HAD CRUSH ON ONYEKA ONWENU Dyed in the wool songwriter, singer and percussionist classed one of the pioneers of world modern music, Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, and famous with the moniker, King Sunny Ade (KSA), is waltzing into the league of septuagenarians in days. As he turns 70 on September 22, the self-taught, self-inspired and self-mentored multiple instrumentalist, who’s also a three- time Grammy award nominee, is bringing the world to Nigeria. This is evident in a special number his old time friend, Stevie Wonder, had waxed for him and for which he would be sharing the stage with Senegal’s legendary singer, Youssou N’dour and a host of other music stars at the grand finale of the month-long festivities. KSA reminisces life at 70 in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA. At 70, is there any fear you’d nursed these past many years?

At this age, the only fear that frequently hits me is that I don’t know when God would say ‘stop giving fans what they want’. Otherwise I have no other fears because God does His things His own way. If He wants me to sing many more years to come, I will still be singing and giving you what you’ve always loved. If I don’t sing, what happens to all my fans who derive so much in what I do with my talent?

The duet you had with Onyeka Onwenu on the song, ‘Wait for Me’, (a 3 minutes and 55 seconds campaign son) stirred so controversies years ago and it doesn’t seem to have fizzled out out-

right. Did you have crush, date the lady or any other female singer of your time?

On the song I did with Onyeka Onwenu entitled ‘Wait for Me’ (which opened with a subtle whispers of romance, “I love you, I want to marry you (KSA)…I love you too but I’d promised to wait till after our marriage and I know you would wait because you love me (Onyeka Onwenu)" at that time, it was a gimmick. It was actually something different that we wanted to launch. We really wanted to launch a campaign to make children abstain from sexual intercourse till they come of age. It was to discourage the incessant unwanted pregnancies and it was organised by Hopkins

Instyle

Jaw dropping Bardot neckline © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

p.15

continued on page 14

The Arts

Hospitality

p.37

p.41

New direction as Araism movement commemorates anniversary

Villa Angelia Hotel: Offering a homely treat with a difference

TV & Radio

Part-time legislature: A timely option

p.36

14

Close Up

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

'Another wife at 70 is a curse' the show I did in the US recently and the ones I did years ago is the eventual meeting with the man Nigerians in Diaspora had longed for. Now they saw me- the ovation was loud because they could finally meet me in person.

...sharing stage with Onwenu recently C o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 1 3

University of America. Their idea was to find a man and a lady to deliver the message through a song. How would they get the message across? That was what brought them to the choice of Onyeka Onwenu and King Sunny Ade. The press helped us make the gimmick work. It worked because people were at loss as to whether we were dating or getting married. Even before then we had played together on so many stages. But that was quite a different experience because of the suspense it created. I didn’t have a crush on her or any other female singer of that time. She was a good girl. Recently, we performed together again two and a half months or so. Before then you’d probably remember that the day I played with Wizkid, she also came onstage to sing her style of music. So, we’re just colleagues and we do shows together.

What’s your take on the dimensions music take in Nigeria today, especially with the likes of Wizkid leading the pack?

First of all, Wizkid is one of the musicians in this country that are on the same page and in-line for collaboration with me. I have 9ice and Dare Art Alade as some of the guys I would be singing with, they’ve made their requests and I’m working on it. My door is opened for everybody to come as long as you know what you want to do with me.

Yesteryears music has come to stay and the new generation singers are coming up well. In my own generation, parents were very reluctant to allow their children to do music. Today families would call on me and say, “Sunny, this boy wants to study music, can you help me put him through?” This never happened in our own time but we concentrated on the passion we believed in. Music was never seen as a serious business, but I’m proud of what the industry is becoming in terms value placed services. I’m an indigenous music player while most singers of today play their music on computers. That’s a huge difference. So much goes into my shows because they are crude use of the instruments and I’m not doing this because I cannot use the computers to achieve music. But I have to be very careful what I use the computer for.

Nowadays, they’re playing music for as long as the press promotes them and

put them on the shows. I cannot say this is the best way to do Nigerian music, anything that goes well with Nigerians, if you sell it and Nigeria buys it, that is alright. Any music that you cannot do with your natural skill, that you cannot dictate with your hands and other parts of your body necessary, but with a computer, may not meet deliver sufficient melodies the crude percussions and the rest would achieve. But the use of digital music has come to stay, the world embraces it and I do too.

You were supposed to travel with your band to accomplish a US tour last year but you were denied visa, how were you able to remove the obstacles that inhibited your plans last year as you had just completed a tour of America?

In the last two years, I didn’t go with my band on the tour because we were told by the American embassy that they had some technical problems- my band was not only the one affected. It affected others all over the world. They also had it on their website that due to circumstances beyond their control, they couldn’t give visas to bands. But this year, we were given the visas without questions at all. We were lucky to have that. There were two reasons we went to the United States. First of all to redeem our image, because before the tour there was a rumour in the papers that KSA is dead. And I quickly refuted it and claimed I’m alive. So, we have to quickly go and correct that widely held but erroneous impression. And I’m very happy that every show we did this time, we got congratulatory handshakes. Some of Nigerian artistes also came to see and attested they were very good shows. The difference between

NB: The Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, gifted him a garb he decided to wear publicly for the reason he explained as follows; “Please help me thank Ooni. For a man like him to send me a white garb like this with my name etched on it for my 70th birthday, it’s an honour beyond description. I belong to at least 79 clubs and all of them want to celebrate me one day after the other. So, if we begin the celebration from September, we’re not likely to end it before the year runs out.

But I heard about the plans for the palace to celebrate me and I will honour that.

Last year, you won a 30-year-old legal battle against African Songs and its subsidiary, and you were awarded over N500million plus the recovery of your master tapes. Have you redeemed your rights and if not, what exactly is happening?

The case was won by me by God’s grace and they were told to give me N505million and they’re yet to redeem that, but the next thing I saw was an appeal. That’s why I cannot say more than that now. I wish they just give me my master tapes which are worth more than the money court asked them to pay me. Master tapes are for life, so, if I get it and join it to N505million because I also need money, that’s something to smile for. But the matter is with my lawyer who had been proper briefed.

You’ve been playing music since the 1960s and you’re still very relevant, most singers now rarely get that longevity. What do you think is responsible?

There are good musicians in this country today that are not as lucky as I’ve been. This is because the media is also part of the showbiz community because if you don’t report this beat no music will go anywhere. When the press is behind a singer, even if the work isn’t splendid, he gets fair reviews that encourage people to go after the song or music video.

If you’re lucky as a singer, you could become a star just like that.

But I tell those who come to me is that my generation has made certain mistakes, please don’t repeat them. Please check what we have done wrong- remove and replace the wrong decisions we made with the better ones, join it to yours, you would have a blast. Our forebears too made some mistakes, we learnt from them, remove what they did wrong and added what we were convinced were better and the industry is better for it now.

Before you can say a song has good quality- it depends on how it’s being recorded, where it is recorded and what you use

The reason I am wearing this garb publicly is because the late Oonis had extended similar gestures to me and I wore them in the open as a mark of acceptance. Late Oba Aderemi Adesoji sent me a full regalia (a cap, shirt and agbada made of aso-ofi) on one of my birthdays and the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade had also sent me his signature cap to celebrate one of my previous birthdays- I wore all of them as they handed them to me right there in the public. I don’t want anyone to think that I begrudge any of these revered monarchs.

to play it. Music is always there and those who play music do it genuinely.

It’s sometimes left for the producer to find that sound that would make the music sooth the ears of the listeners.

The equipment are also a matter to worry about. For instance, in Nigeria to you can count how many good studios we have. Unlike those day when we had so many good studios everywhere- Philips, Decca, EMI and so many in the East and North too, but today everybody has a small studio in their basements. Then suddenly we realise that many of our stars are going to South Africa to mix in order for the sound of the music to have the quality they desire.

Who is your favourite singer in the new generation?

I love all of them for a simple reason - they’re all unique with their styles of play. I cannot compare them to each other- you can only use one name to address them and that’s ‘hip hop’. Wizkid’s sound is different from Korede Bello, Korede Bello is different from Kiss Daniel. Even in Juju music, our styles aren’t the same. My style is not the same with Dele Abiodun and his is not the same with Dr. Ebenezer Obey.

But Juju music unifies us.

Will you be taking a new wife sooner or later?

A new wife? Are you praying for me or cursing me? If you see some of my grandchildren, you’d marvel and that’s the reason I sometimes forbid them from going out with me. A lot of times people had said, “good afternoon madam, how are you madam?” to some of them and I would interject, “she’s not madam o, she’s my grandchild.” And they’d argue it cannot be true. I believe I clocked 70 on September one because if I die today, they’d say he dies at 70. But the media guys would say ‘he dies a few days before his 70th birthday.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

Jaw Jaw ddrro ppiningg BBaardrdotot F nneecckklilinnee

Deborah Ocheni ashionistas have collectively proved that a swoop of fabric from shoulder to shoulder could magically make your dĂŠcolletage look like the best and

sexiest way to show some skin without going over the top.

So, it is no wonder that the Bardot trend resurfaced just recently and fashionistas with smooth and spotless upper part are gracefully showing some skin in this strikingly alluring neckline.

Any place that is teeming with

TIPS

zz A Bardot neckline exposes the neck, shoulders and collarbone; so if you're feeling a bit too bare, just downplay the expanse of skin with long hair extension that waves around the shoulders. zz Try an elegant getup with bohemian style, white decent full sleeves lace top with ripped boyfriend jeans for looks that are contemporary and chic.

zz Stay away from neckpiece for vibes that are chic and fresh. zz Ankara off shoulder blouse and shorts will make this jaw dropping neckline appropriate for casual events. zz The Bardot can also look downright awkward as if someone has yanked down your top and your arms are now trapped; keep accessories minimal.

style-conscious women these days is also teeming with Bardot neckline outfits; this style of neckline is commonly known as off-the-shoulders neckline.

The Bardot is a neckline with pitfalls starting with your armpits. The trend is aimed at flashing flesh, so many styles show

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more back/torso/arm but the unique thing about the Bardot neckline is that it’s appropriate for all body size and it can be made with any kind of fabrics.

Bardot neckline delivers fresh vintage silhouette and the effect is just intoxicating as it exposes collarbones that are sexy.

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Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

ACCESSORIES TO LIVE FOR

5 must have accessories for business men Deborah Ocheni

D

o you want to be a step ahead in the corporate fashion game? There is no limit to what accessories can do. In today’s competi-

Necktie To kill it for your next business meeting, there is need to ensure your fitted suit is well coordinated with a statement necktie as this will instantly stand you out of the crowd.

Watch More than just a time piece, the right watch can make for great conversation starters. You will be surprised what a good wristwatch will do for bringing you the right kind of attention, but in doing this, make sure you invest in good quality watches.

tive world, business or corporate men are not taking it easy on their style sense, and it is amazing how minimal accessories can transform an ordinary suit into a unique yet stunning one thereby standing you out among your peers even when

wearing same outfits.

An extremely important reason to pay attention to your accessories is that even though they may feel insignificant, wearing the wrong ones will completely undermine your attempts to look stylish and well dressed.

Belt You will look like an even better-dressed man than you would otherwise if you coordinate your shoes with belt. After all, it shows that you pay attention to the way you combine your accessories.

Shoes No matter how formally you are dressed; ensure your shoes are also on point as it is probably the first thing that catches attention.

Don’t forget that one of the first things that makes you well dressed is the quality of the shoes you are rocking. Make black and brown your favourite shoes colour and you will never go unnoticed!

Briefcase Another important accessory worthy of businessmen’s consideration is a briefcase; a briefcase does not only add glam to a man’s looks but also help in keeping important documents safe and tidy. Matching it with your belt and shoes will give you sleek edge.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

The Chief Executive Officer of Torchblaze Media Consult, Amanda Chisom, speaks with Deborah Ocheni about her love for statement shoes, fashion philosophy, the need to encourage creative people and more.

What is your sense of fashion?

I love to dress up a little bit differently, I do not do trends or high fashion; I just do what suits me and makes me look different from everyone else.

Would you say your physique works to your advantage?

Most definitely yes; I like to say my body was designed to suit me, everything came in moderation and nothing is over board.

Do you consider any fashion item indispensable?

YES!! I think you cannot be fashionable if your shoes are missing.

What determines the kind of outfits you wear?

Moods; sometimes I am in the mood to step it up and sometimes I am in the mood to do something subtle. Then again it depends on where I am going to.

Is there anything you are not likely to be caught wearing?

A lot of stuff actually but sometimes I can do an unlikely outfit and it turns out very nice.

I said I will not be caught dead wearing a crop top but one day I wore it and it worked.

What is the most expensive fashion item you ever bought?

I don’t really like the price questions, but ranging from my jewellery to my bags and shoes and dresses there are items that are really expensive but I am not saying.

What is your ready to go outfits?

Pants and shirts work all the time for me and my body con dresses too.

How do you love your shoes and hairdo?

When it comes to shoes, I have to admit I am a little bit over board; I buy a lot of shoes in fact I am a shoes extremists. If the economy was good, I should have another room for shoes. I am not really so particular about my hair, I go for very simple and easy to manage hairstyles. My signature hair is bangs, it makes me look beautiful and sophisticated.

Which jewellery appeals to you most?

Pearls and simple silver necklace Who is your best designer?

Not sure I have a favourite when it comes to clothes; I go for beauty but for shoes it has to be Christian Louboutin and Giuseppe Zanotti.

Are you a label freak?

I do not believe in labels, you can find a good item in Aba or in flea markets.

Do you have any signature perfume?

I use a lot of perfumes because I get them as gifts but if I have to buy myself then it has to be Ma vie by Hugo boss and la vie est belle by Lancôme.

While shopping which fashion item catches your fancy?

Mostly shoes and costume jewellery.

How easily do you get your fashion items in Nigeria?

Depends on what you are looking for; bags and shoes not so easily, so I still buy them abroad.

With clothes I go both local and international; anywhere I see what I like I buy it.

If you were to be a fashion item, what will that be?

It just has to be a fantastic pairs of stilettoes; I won’t have it any other way.

MY STYLE

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I am an extremist when it comes to shoes – Amanda If given the opportunity to alter a part of your body, which will you change?

I do not know if this sounds vain but I really love my body. If I change anything it might be in excess so I’d rather keep the body I have; clothes look better in it. But if given the chance I would remove the scars from an auto accident.

I think that is all I would want to remove.

How has your status in the society affected your style sense?

Expectations are high now, I can no longer just wear anything I like to the mall because someone may just walk up and say: “you are Amanda right?” And I am looking like a drag queen. Now I have to comb my hair and look decent every time I step out although I can’t still get used to wearing make up all the time Which fashion items take up most space in your wardrobe?

Every fashion Item is well represented except bags. I have a few bags because bags are costly, so I just buy it once in a while and use until I can afford another one.

Media Consult offering differently from others?

I can assure you that we do things differently; the first thing I tell my clients after they take us on board is that “I am now your guardian angel’’, that means we instantly become

What is your idea of colour combinations?

I love experimenting with colours, so you can be sure I am always popping colours; I love black and neutral colours.

Would you say your background influenced your decision to set up Torchblaze Media Consult?

Somehow you could say that. I grew up as the daughter of philanthropists and we had people always coming to my parents with one problem or the other and asking for help; so some of that rubbed off on me, I guess. I had always wanted to do something about helping people. Before I started Torchblaze I was going to get a law degree to become a lawyer and another degree in social psychology. So let’s just say the dream had always been a career that would help people and that is what we still do at Torchblaze, helping people.

How did come up with the name ‘Torchblaze Media Consult’ and what's the message behind it?

Torchblaze is an inspirational name, it represents everything I am. It is really about the impact I want to make, it is about the many territories I hope to conquer and the many firsts I want to be and the dreams I want to achieve. Funny thing but the company was initially ‘’Trailblaze‘’ so when I had issues with a former investor and broke off on my own I wanted to keep the name and what it represents to me.

Amanda

your fairy godmother who fix every fixable and make the impossible possible. So, I think we are not just bringing content creativity and innovation to the field, we are giving it a personal touch that screams ‘we love you and we do care about you’.

Would you say you are satisfied with where you are now?

I won’t say I am satisfied with where I am right now but I am definitely on my way.

Would you say government has done enough for creative people in the society?

Not really; we focus too much on getting

Beauty

What is Torchblaze

degrees here and funny thing, we do not use those degrees most times and we neglect the vocational aspect that should be an integral part to national development and economic growth. We need to encourage those in the creative industry so as to contribute to economic growth and development.

What is your advice to younger ones that wish to attain the height you have attained?

Focus and consistency; you need to be principled and ready to learn, unlearn and relearn all the time.

Apple cider vinegar for itchy scalp Deborah Ocheni

D

o you often have to scratch your itchy scalp? This can be embarrassing in public as well as cause a lot of discomfort and even hair loss.

Some of the most common causes are dandruff, dry scalp, sebaceous cysts, excessive anxiety, poor hair care, fungus and viral infections, and poor diet.

There are many ways you can treat an itchy scalp without spending a lot of money. You can use some common kitchen ingredients to treat itchy scalp.

As contained in a do it yourself (DIY) article published in Home Remedy for life, apple cider vinegar contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties which help to kill the virus and yeast that cause itchy scalp. It also balances the pH levels of the scalp to clear the itchiness.

TIPS zz Rinse your hair and scalp and let it dry completely. zz Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water. zz Apply this solution directly on your scalp using cotton ball and massage for a few minutes. zz Put a towel around your head and leave for 15 to 20 minutes. zz Wash off with shampoo and water. zz Repeat once or twice a week.

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Interiors

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

Sleek wardrobes: Effortless way to keep rooms tidy Deborah Ocheni

I

n a bedroom that lacks sufficient closet space, a wardrobe can be a practical addition to the space to safely store important items while giving the room clean and fresh vibes.

The right wardrobe can also add

a decorative element that livens up the room. If your wardrobe is a little too plain, you can give it an instant makeover by decorating it in a variety of ways.

A sleek wardrobe can have the effect of another window in your bedroom and also act as a display case for decorative storage boxes, favourite outfits, or even your fin-

est heels.

Wardrobe may be a decent permanent solution to homes that lacks space it can offer a reasonable solution to keeping your clothes in order. That is to say, it can serve as an additional, portable storage unit in your bedroom. They are mainly made of wood in different colours and designs

TIPS zz It may seem like a minor detail, but using decorative doorknobs, drawer pulls and other hardware is another simple way to dress up your wardrobe zz Ensure that the unit is not overloaded. Even though most wardrobes are more or less durable, they are still designed for storing clothes and linen, not dishes and utensils zz If your wardrobe has shelves, consider giving its interior a makeover by covering them with decorative fabric. Decorating with fabric is an ideal way to give a simple piece of furniture a more elegant, expensive look without spending much money.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

I'm not moved by men's 'toasting' –Adunni Ade p.20

ShowBiz

It was easy agreeing to my husband’s ‘coup’ to get me –Sola Allyson

Sola Allyson remains a creative force more than a decade after she released her smash hit, “Eji Owuro”, as the soundtrack of a movie of the same title. The University of Ibadan music graduate and MTN Project Fame judge says both her life and career are founded on God’s purpose in this interview with Adedayo Odulaja.

How would you compare Lagos and Ibadan from the prism of someone who has experienced both as a person and as an active musician?

The difference between Lagos and Ibadan is in the mind. You could be in Ibadan and live an 'expensive' life and be in Lagos and live a 'cheap' life. I grew up in Lagos, spent 10 years in Ibadan, and now I'm back in Lagos. It's about our core values, who we are deep inside.

It's simply in the mind!

'Eji Owuro' is one of your most popular songs in terms of reach and melody, how would you rate your attachment to it considering it's also your debut?

There is none of my songs I'm not attached to, looking at it from the perspective of fulfilling a purpose. I've never been conscious of becoming a 'star'. I am always writing songs thinking of purpose, which has got clearer and clearer after ‘Eji Owuro.’ So I'm not attached to ‘Eji Owuro’ because of popularity/reach. I would agree if you say in terms of reach because the style was a new thing then, but in terms of melody, I don't agree.

Many, many people who did not know I did ‘Eji Owuro’ know me now by other songs of mine. I am not defined by a song, it's about purpose, what the song does to the minds of people. Different songs of mine have different effect on people. For instance, ‘Gbeje F'ori’ helped many people not to commit suicide and to wait until they get their answers, ‘Obinrin ni mi’ helped some straying girls return to the path of true womanhood, ‘Mimo’ helped someone give his life, ‘Isinmi’ gave someone hope, ‘Temisan,’ etc. I am grateful to God for the privilege of writing ‘Eji Owuro’ and all others I've written and will write.

Noting that ‘Eji Owuro’ was also a soundtrack to a movie of the same title, why does it seem you have not explored more of such opportunities?

That's it! I don't seem to be exploring more of such opportunities after the bang of ‘Eji Owuro’ because it was just an avenue to launch me into my purpose! Not purpose in itself! The answer to this question is in my previous response.

As both a musician by calling and music expert by training, how do you relate with modern Nigerian music which many opine lack much substance?

Hmmm... It has always been that way! As you find those which do not have substance, you find many which have substance! It's always been like that. Since

Sweet romance tales in Nigerian showbiz p.21

19

Allyson

the days of our fathers, KSA, Ebenezer Obey, IK Dairo, etc., there were other musicians too whose songs lacked substance, I'm sure. That's why those few are the ones that are relevant from that generation. It's always been so. There's no way we wouldn't get to have such. We all think and see life differently, which determines what we churn out.

contribute to other lives in discovering their potential.

Chidinma, Ayo, Tolu, Yetunde Omo'badan, Adetoun, Oyinkan, Olawale, Jeffrey, some from Ghana whose names I can't remember now, and many others had got into the academy with me as one of those that picked them. It's always a thing of honor to me to help in discovering other talents. Purpose!

Having worked with notable stars like Ayefele, late Gbenga Adeboye among others, who among the lot do you feel contributed most to your rise?

And as a person, how has it affected your outlook on Nigeria and the country's teeming youth population?

No knowledge is lost! All of the people I'd worked with before, I learnt something from; it's all a process, which is necessary in the walk of destiny. Everything is all intertwined, one step leads to another. I never forget where I'm coming from because I know all had been in the plan of The Creator who orchestrated my rise!

As much as you might not like it, fans compare you to Tope Alabi a lot for obvious reasons; is it something you have thought about?

It never crossed my mind until journalists started to ask me the question! Fans are people who are entitled to their own opinions because of their values and dispositions. And as someone in their faces, I must strive to work out my own standing in life, not to be swayed about by what they think or do not think!

There's no reason for comparison between us. Baba KSA and baba Ebenezer Obey are of the same genre, in the same generation, but they're different. Late baba Barrister and baba Kollington Ayinla were of the same genre and generation, but different.

We both use the pentatonic scale because of our love for our "Yorubaness" but we're totally different in arrangement and delivery, based on our technical experiences and exposure in music.

And despite areas of differences, do you see Tope Alabi as a peer or

someone you adore either from afar or at close quarters?

Technically we are contemporaries, when we're doing oyinbo ‘tins’ and speaking English. But she is not my peer. She is an ‘egbon’ to me. She's someone I respect and honour. She's my senior colleague in the industry.

Beyond the fine details of your contract, what would you say the MTN Project Fame has done for you as a musician?

As I said earlier, everything is working together to get us to where exactly the Creator wants. My being one of the audition judges on Project Fame since season 2 has helped me to

Many, many Nigerian youths are talented!!! And many of them think music is the only way to "bling" and shine.

Many more are deceived in thinking music is play.

Having had to relate with the good, the bad and the ugly through Project Fame in the last few years, what do you consider the best advice for young, aspiring musicians now?

Know exactly what you're made to do. Do not want to be like those you see on TV. Everyone is peculiar. Do not allow their own ‘shining’ to dim your glimpse into your own destiny. You can only do well where you're made to be!

What impact would you say the change of denomination has left on you and your activities in recent times?

A true child of God keeps getting better. The path of the righteous is like a shining sun that shines brighter and brighter... As long as the motive of moving is right, in line with His plans, it keeps getting better. It's not about denominations, it's about where He wants you to be at a particular time, in line with purpose. Understanding of these things is necessary. It's about wanting to know and do more in pleasing Him.

While the quality of your offerings are assured, what do you think you can add to inspire your fans more?

I am not the one who inspires my fans. It is The Giver Who dispenses inspiration through me, I'm just a vessel, an instrument in His hands. So what I always do is to strive to always be where He wants me to be at all times so I could get what I should get to give to my world. I would live my life to please Him, not people. Many creative people have lost direction because of wanting to please 'fans'.

I appreciate the love and honour of people, but I live to please the One who saw me as honorable in the first place.

How do you relax and get entertained as a person?

Being with family - my sweetest times! I am a big fan of Nollywood #unapologetically! I read. I sleep.

As a person who has always been involved in music almost all your life, do you sometimes yearn for something different?

No! I yearn for nothing more! This is what I'm made to do! Sing and speak to impact and impart and influence and be blessed myself! I always just want to get better, to be more pleasing to God in my purpose! *and wanting more money*! Oh, I said that, okay, it's true.

At the point of meeting your husband, what was the first thought that came to your mind?

First thought? Do people remember all those details?! I can't remember o. We were friends for a couple of years before the real "somtin" started!

I just knew we were complementary in purpose, even as friends, that made it easier to agree to the ‘coup’ he planned in making me his girlfriend!

What is one decision regarding your life you would take again and again?

One decision regarding my life I would make again and again is to lay my all before the Creator! To change my old ways! To give my life to the destiny Moulder! The decision gave direction and shape to my destiny, it brings me honour and blesses my life!

20 Showbiz From how you are seen in the movies, you carry a dual personality- one as a Caucasian and on the other hand, a Nigerian who seamlessly switches from the Queen’s English to Yoruba language.

What’s your nationality really?

I’m part American, I had the privilege of growing up here but I wasn’t born here. I was born in America but I had the privilege of growing up here and learning the culture and the ways of life. And at some point in my life, I also grew up in America so it’s 50-50 for me. I am a fast learner and I guess I just adapted to the Nigerian culture and it works for me, but it never even seemed like a problem in the past because it just comes out. I just speak and it’s recently people tell me and I know how to relate with everybody, if it is Yoruba I will speak and if it is pidgin I will also speak.

However I can relate with anyone for him or her to comprehend what I am saying.

How long did you live in the U.S. and how long have you stayed in Nigeria?

That’s the reason I said it’s 50-50, but I have been back here for almost three years Which of your parents is an American?

My mother; she is American, but she is of German and Irish decent. And that’s where I get this look and natural hair from. A lot of people thought I wear weave-on, (she led the reporter’s hand to the base of her hair), you can see it yourself. I can’t deal with heat that’s why I always put my hair in a ponytail, you just see me put my hair up in a doughnut or a ponytail. Even if I do my hair, maybe once or twice a year, every other time my hair is in a ponytail, I don’t like that heat, I get hot easily.

I am really warm blooded. I just braided my hair What’s been the story of your career?

I wanted to be in the fashion industry, it was always fashion. My step-mum is a fashion designer and she had this big showcase in her store and I would just get dressed and put make up on and pose as a mannequin for hours and people would just stand and look at me. So I was like a Barbie doll growing up and I just loved the whole fashion world and then as life would have it I became an actress.

But at least, I started off my career as a model.

What did you study at the university?

I studied accounting.

So what have you done with that degree?

I have never used my accounting degree. I studied at the University of Kentucky.

In the States my job always had to with helping people, so I worked in the State of Kentucky at the housing department where we gave people with low income housing.

I worked with the housing authorities in Kentucky providing homes. Then I worked with the health insurance department in Maryland where we provided medical insur-

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

I'm not moved by men's 'toasting'

–Adunni Ade Although fast-rising actress, Adunni Adewale, otherwise known as Adunni Ade in showbiz may look entirely Caucasian, she’s more Nigerian than many would imagine.

She’s endeared to many by her flawless code-switching from Queen’s English to Yoruba language. And of note is also her sense of humour. In this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, she speaks about her career, nationality, life as a single parent among sundry issues.

Adunni

ance and medical aids to those who couldn’t afford it and also the elderly ones. So I enjoy helping people.

What exactly is your fascination with Nigeria knowing the difference between America and Nigeria?

The thing is I can adapt anywhere you put me, I can live my life anywhere you put me. I love Nigerian culture, it’s tiring but I love it. And it’s just amazing how our things are done here and how crazy the system is, but people still become successful in this country and that’s a big motivation for me; I have really dealt with life in a very difficult way, so nothing surprises me. I can survive anywhere. Kos i nkankan to jo mi l’oju (nothing shocks me anymore).

What was the toughest situation life had thrown at you?

No difficulty really fazes me.

My main focus is just to keep growing in my career and keep being the best mother that I can be to my kids.

How did you cut your teeth as an actor?

Well, it started from my comedy skits and my comedy started from me trying to just express the part of me that’s funny. And it was also a time when I was just working with my 9am to 5pm life. That was all, there was nothing special about it. I don’t know how exactly this thing started but I know that when you have that gift, when God blesses you, you’d better use it, otherwise he would take it away.

When did you do your first skit?

It was in 2012, my first movie was 2013 with Saheed Balogun. It was

entitled ‘You and I’, a Yoruba movie.

Which medium of expression do you feel more comfortable with, English or Yoruba language?

Any one is fine. There is nowhere I can’t blend as long as I love the script; as long as I can translate the script I’m good to go.

What kind of lady is Adunni Ade back at home?

Adunni is very laid back, forget all those crazy stuffs, Adunni lives just in her room. It’s like I stay in my room 24/7, I am not so much of a people person. Don’t take that the wrong way. I’m not saying I don’t like people, but I am very shy, people don’t know that, but when you’re in this business, I’d rather let you see me in the positive light than you calling me a snub. So, I’ve learnt to be friendlier and more outgoing with people, but at home I keep to myself. I live in my room and just listen to songs. I’m a very laid back kind of person. I think I live a boring life.

Do you do chores like cooking and washing by yourself?

Oh, yes I cook, but I also have a

nanny, so we do it together.

Are you giving marriage a thought at all?

I have never given up on love but for now it’s just me focusing on Adunni, focusing on my children, trying to raise more money and work harder.

I never say never to love.

Oh, you have two kids already?

Yes, I have kids. I have two children.

They are boys.

Are you married?

No, I’m not married, I am a single

parent.

What’s life like as a single parent?

Life is life, you keep moving. You don’t let one hiccup stop you from attaining your best, so there is nothing to see to it or ask like ‘how are you dealing with it?’ I have been doing it for a long time, so it’s fine.

How old are your boys?

My older son is nine next month and my younger is five.

What happened to your first marriage?

No, I have never been married before.

Are you in a relationship?

No, I’m not What’s your favourite meal, the one you prepare the most?

It’s actually rice.

Could you recall your most embarrassing cooking blunder?

There is no embarrassing cooking moment. Anyway, that’s normal, you do mistakes, no there’s none. I take my time.

So how do you deal with men who stalk you in the name of love?

From a very young age I’ve been so numb to it that I don’t see it, even when a man is ‘toasting’, me I don’t see it.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

Sweet romance tales in Nigerian showbiz

Showbiz

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Despite many cases of divorce and marriage breakups, numerous almost too- good-to-be-true romance tales abound in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Ogechi NdubuNma, takes a look at some of the most interesting romantic stories of Nigerian celebs.

Cynthia and Ebuka

Osas and Gbenro Ajibade

Osas and Gbenro Ajibade They are both Nollywood actors and you won’t be wrong to say they blew many away while acting on popular soap opera, Tinsel. People believe that there must have been something hot going on all the way, both on camera and off as the two are now married with a child. Gbenro was surely one of Nollywood’s most eligible bachelors until the hugely pretty Osas swept him off his feet. Gbenro and Osas, who is also a presenter, got married on June 20, 2015, in New York. Though married, their union remains definitely one of Nollywood’s sweetest romance stories.

Annie and 2Baba

2Baba and Annie Idibia 2Baba and his African queen have been in limelight for a long time and are regarded by many as the apt definition of old time love.

They started their romance over a decade ago and although a lot of things got in the way, they are now married and have two beautiful girls to call their own. One of the cutest couples in the entertainment industry in Nigeria, both are very active with 2Baba being one of Nigeria’s best in the music arena while Annie is a Nigerian actress who has featured in more than 20 movies.

Ice Prince and Maima This particular romance has not been without some drama but Ice Prince and his girlfriend, Maima, have stayed together. Maima is a Ghanaian model while Ice Prince is a leading Nigerian rap star.

The Chocolate City rapper is a BET award winner and has been involved with at least two other ladies, Yvonne Nelson and Eva Alordiah. He even has a son, Jamal, from yet another relationship while Maima is also rumoured to have cheated on the rapper before.

But in spite of all, they remain an item.

Chris Attoh and Damilola Adegbite Made up of another Tinsel pair, the tales of romance concerning Chris Attoh and Damilola Adegbite have been on for a while. So it was not exactly shocking when they confirmed the many reports that they were in a relation-

Damilola and Chris Attoh

ship.

The chemistry has always been evident, to the annoyance of many Nigerian and Ghanaian ladies who wish they could be in Damilola’s place. At least that is evident in Michelle Bello-produced movie, Flower Girl, even if they didn’t act alongside each other in Tinsel.

As if to rub it on the faces of those wondering if the Ghana-Nigeria union would work, they went on to get married on Valentine’s Day in 2015 and are still going strong.

Lilian Esoro and Ubi Franklin MMMG boss, Ubi Franklin, got married to the love of his life, Lilian Esoro, on November 1, 2015. Ubi, who has acts like Tekno, Iyanya, Selebobo on his label, and the Clinic Matters actress had been seen together at various events but confirmed nothing until they surprised us all with the announcement of their engagement.

Ubi, who claimed to be unaware that Lilian was an actress until a week after their first meeting, welcomed his first child with the beautiful actress July this year.

Ubi Franklin and Lilian Esoro

IK Ogbonna and Sonia Morales IK Ogbonna is another Nollywood hottie many ladies would like to call their own before he sealed his union

with the beautiful Sonia Morales. IK, a Nigerian actor and model, is now married to the Colombian model with a son to show for it.

Sonia, an ambassador for London-based fashion line, DFNG and a translator who works with a women and children-focused NGO in third world countries, first became friends with her husband on Instagram.

Having been introduced by a mutual friend, they later became love birds before getting married on June 29, 2015.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Cynthia Ebuka is a lawyer and media personality married to then Cythia Obianodo, an HR manager and fashion enthusiast.

First it was a rumour but the Rubbin’ Minds host and his beau soon confirmed it by announcing their engagement on social media and went on to sign the dotted lines on February 6. Sealed with a truly beautiful wedding, their story is one of the sweetest in Nollywood.

Timi Dakolo and Busola Having been married since 2012, not even crossing the proverbial five-year lane has done anything to dull the strong romance between singer, Timi Dakolo and his wife, Busola. Bayelsa State-born Timi does not miss a chance to show off his beautiful wife and even took it a step further by featuring her in the video of his popular romantic song, “Iyawo Mi.” It is one thing to be gifted with a voice as powerful as Timi’s but many say Busola is a lucky woman to have a man so charming yet so proud to show her off.

Tolu Oniru and Tunde Demuren How can you put a list like this together without devoting ample space to Tolu Oniru (Toolz) and Tunde Demuren. They are now married like many of the amazing romantic tales we have of celebs, but rumours of their relationship started as far back as 2013.

A union between two prominent Nigerian families, the royal Oniru family and that of former FAAN DG, Segun Demuren, their wedding was a most romantic one.

With Toolz being a popular OAP with Beat FM and Tunde being co-owner of Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) alongside Banky W, their fans and friends have a wonderful story to tell.

Busola and Timi Dakolo

Tunde Demuren and Tolu Oniru

OC Ukeje and Ibukun Togonu Half of a Yellow Sun actor, OC Ukeje, got married to his damsel, Ibukun Togunu, on November 8, 2015 and although they mostly live apart with Canada-based Ibukun away from Nigeria most of the time, they are still very much in love.

They celebrated their one year anniversary recently, and from the look of things, the fire of romance that burns between them is strong despite the distance.

Tonto Dikeh and Olakunle Oladunni Churchill Usually controversial, Tonto Dikeh, took almost everyone by surprise when she announced her engagement to the man she used to refer to simply as Mr Churchill. Despite her many controversies, the new mother has one of the most amazing relationships in the industry with she and her husband boasting great pictures of their story.

They recently welcomed their first child, and Tonto cannot seemingly get enough of her man. Apart from that, they sure look good together and it is just romantic to wish them well.

Tonto Dikeh and Churchill

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Social Media Craze TravelTourism

10 September 2016

Trending

Gist

Photos Controversies

Fans react to Basketmouth's robbery incident Nigerians slam COZA pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, for flaunting N1m bag

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few days ago, on Tuesday, September 6 to be precise, Pastor Bidodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth Zion Assembly (COZA) was a major trending topic on social media. The flamboyant pastor was in the news moments after he posted a picture of himself on Instagram.

For the controversial Pastor Biodun, he was doing nothing more than posting a selfie taken in a car on social media but people soon turned it into something else when the focus shifted to the Gucci WebAnimalier GG Supreme Tote bag he had by his side. The bag, said to be worth a whopping $2,500, sent the social media plane, especially Twitter, into a meltdown as many Nigerians reacted.

Already well known to Nigerians since a former member of his church in Abuja, Ese Walter accused him of sleeping with her multiple times and warned her not to tell anyone about it, Pastor Fatoyinbo remains a controversial in the eyes of many. That view was further established when he hosted a lavish all-white birthday party on a yacht along with a dinner at the BurjAlArab Hotel in Dubai. It doesn’t matter to those who have an axe to grind with the COZAfounder that people at the event featuring not less than 70 individuals, included international preacher, Mike Murdock and singer, Tyre Tribett.

With Nigerian undergoing a recession that many agree was caused by the insensitivity of thoise in government, either past or current (depending on which side of the fence you sit), many feel a pastor has no business flaunting such a luxury item and they made their voices heard.

A Twitter user who goes by the name, Emenike Nikee, and tweets through the handle @CaptainNikee wrote: “For a pastor, this guy (@BiodunFatoyinbo) is so vain it hurts.”

Another, who calls his name, A Big

T

Basketmouth

F

Nwa@Oddy4real said: “Awon Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo defenders. Keep sowing seeds while you trek around the whole of Abuja. Your Pastor is driving the latest machines.”

Perhaps overwhelmed by it all, KafKaf @Sisi_Eko15 wrote: “This Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo man is just ridiculous.”

Sir T Ramoni Jnr @FolaRedDevil wrote: “What else does he (Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo) do, aside being a pastor?”

Making his contribution to the whole matter, Cool FM OAP, Freeze wrote: “This was trending earlier on social media! Is that a N1m Gucci bag in this recession? My congratulations pastor!!! I think it’s high time we reevaluated our belief system. Jesus handed very clear instructions to his disciple; Mark 6:7-8 KJV. “(7) And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; (8) And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:…”

Of course, the said pastor has some people on his side. One of these, Ololade Olatunji@loladeville wrote: Nigerian twitter users and inanities, Biodun Fatoyinbo carried 1m bag. So? Should a man of God reek of poverty?

Femi Apex@femiapex wrote: You need to understand that You were made for God…not the other way round”!@ BiodunFatoyinbo #TakingNewTerritories The man at the centre of it all, Biodun Fatoyinbo was not left out. Tweeting through his handle @BiodunFatoyinbo, he wrote: “Don’t let people’s opinions stop you from doing new things” before adding not long after: “Your prosperity depends on who you serve!”

with Adedayo Odulaja

he scenario that played out in the Lekki home of popular Nigerian stand-up comedian, Bright Okpocha better known as Basketmouth on Wednesday was not funny in any regard. The influential comedian and members of his family were robbed at gun point, according to his close friend and colleague, Bovi.

Taking to his Instagram account, Bovi made it known that Basketmouth and his family were unhurt after the sad incident although the bandits carted away valuables and even the CCTV in the building. “@basketmouth was robbed this morning in his home in lekki phase 1 between the hours of 2am and 4am, 7th of September 2016.

He and his family were held at gun point while the sad episode lasted.

Nobody was hurt. Valuables were taken including the cctv device. A report has been made at the police station. He can't be reached at the moment but will be back on as soon

rom all indications, young Nigerians are not happy with the recently launched #ChangeBeginsWithMe campaign by the Federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari.

Launched on Thursday, September 8, the campaign was launched at the Presidential Banquet Hall in Abuja with the purpose aimed at national reorientation.

Geared towards engineering a holistic attitudinal change in Nigerians, the highlight of President Buhari’s speech at the event is “Before you ask: ‘where is the change they have promised us?’ You must ask yourself how far have I changed so far.”

But according to Nigerians making their views known via social media, government is looking to abdicate its responsibility to Nigerians by launching this campaign.

For raphaEL via his Twitter handle@ iDURalph, “Another Nigerian government wants to hand their responsibility to me.

Light, security, roads begin with me, haba. #ChangeBeginsWithMe” Another, IbadanCityAnouncer@ibcityannouncer has an advice for government: “Pay all outstanding salaries and arrears of civil servants, up to date.”

as possible,” Bovi wrote.

Moments after, fans of both comedians started commenting on the issue, with most urging the comedian to take heart and be thankful for being fine and unhurt despite the visit of men of the underworld.

Fans have commented on the Basketmouth robbery saga, urging the popular comedian to stay strong while thanking God for his family.

On Instagram, lamolzzwrote: "Held at gun point and no one was hurt, enuff to be thankful for."

Also, eazye_meewrote: "Thank God for your life Bright. They only made away with valuables and noting else. Bigger blessings are coming your way bro. Also thank God for friends like @officialbovi in ur life too."

On his own, cj.d9iceguysaid: "Much love u're showing there@ officialbovi Tnk God for life @basketmouth stay strong."

Twitter users criticise FG's #ChangeBeginsWithMe campaign Also writing on the trending hashtag, Akintomide@tomyboiz wrote: “We won’t let Buhari shift responsibility on Nigerians with any #ChabgeBeginsWithMe rubbish, he was the one who contested and promised CHANGE.” For Orente@Inzaghi1, it is “Told us change has come, like if we were in Ajegunle before we will move to Lekki (example) but now we have moved to Ifo. #ChangeBeginsWithMe.” The Twitter user added soon after: “Everything about this government is tiring…

What the hell is #ChangeBeginsWithMe? Who promised us change?” and as at the last count, both tweets have garnered 17 retweets and 7 likes.

Dupe Killa@dupekilla also has this to say: “There is a time for everything, and a reason for every activity under the heavens” – Eccl 3:1. This #ChangeBeginsWithMe thingie is ill-timed.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

Riveting musical collabos everyone's talking about

Here are some of the most enchanting musical collaborations on the lips of many with massive online following. Ogechi NdubuNma writes.

Kidogo - Psquare and Diamond Platnumz Diamond Platnumz, whose original name is Naseeb Abdul Juma, is the most popular music act from Tanzania and he scored a major hit with the song, “Number One” featuring Nigeria’s Davido. “Kidogo,” produced by Shirko and Laizer, was mixed by V-tek and comes with a video shot on location in Johannesburg, South Africa by Godfather Productions.

It’s got a fresh and different felling and boasts 4,331,249 views on YouTube at the time of writing this.

On the song, Harrysong decided to feature 4 other amazing Nigerian acts and the song was the better for it. With 4,514,531 views on YouTube, the massive hit of a song produced

by Doctor Amir, is still very popular in clubs and at various events.

Kidogo - Psquare and Diamond Platnumz

Oya Come Make We Go - 2baba and Sauti Sol

No Kissing Baby - Patoranking ft Sarkodie Shot on location in the UK, this jam by Nigeria’s Patoranking and Ghana’s rap star, Sarkodie, has 4,017,971 views already. It was produced by Gospel On Da Beat.

Born Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, Patoranking is a Nigerian reggae-dancehall artiste and songwriter who recently released his debut album, God Over Everything.

Africa by Yemi Alade and Sauti Sol Here we have Sauti Sol on another one with the King of queens, Yemi Alade who broke barriers with the massive hit, “Johnny”. As the name suggest, this song talks about what makes the African continent unique. It was produced by “Beats By Emzo” while the music video was directed by Ovie Etseyatse in Nigeria, Kenya, United Kingdom and The United States of America.

It currently boasts more than 1 million views on YouTube.

Reggae Blues - Harrysong ft Olamide, Kcee, Orezi and Iyanya This is a major one by Harrysong, a Nigerian singer, songwriter and instrumentalist who rose to fame after releasing a song that pays tribute to late South African statesman and former president, Nelson Mandela.

My Woman, My Everything - Patoranking ft Wande Coal Patoranking is on the list again and this time, he featured the boss of Black Diamond Records, Wande Coal. A love song by all means, the song was produced by DJ Breezy and comes with a video shot by Mr Moe Musa in South Africa. It presently has a whopping 11,837,407 views on YouTube.

Indomie Remix - Mastakraft ft Olamide, CDQ and Davido Indomie remix is a club banger that was produced by Masterkraft himself, a producer, songwriter and pianist and mixed by Zeeno Foster. With the addition of artistes like Olamide, Davido and CDQ, the song gained ample traction along with a video shot in Lagos and directed by Adasa Cookey of Squareball media. The video has over 800,000 views on YouTube.

Oya Come Make We Go - 2baba and Sauti Sol The song, which is simply telling people to believe in their dreams and work towards their desired destination, sees one of Nigeria’s finest, 2Baba pairing up with Kenya’s Sauti Sol. with 2baba regarded as a legend and Sauti Sol, a Pop band from Kenya gaining recognition internationally, “Oya come make we go” is a really inspiring tune that keep gaining popularity. The song was produced by J-sleek and mixed/mastered by Maqai. The video was shot on location in Kenya.

Fada Fada - Phyno ft Olamide Less than two months after it was released, Phyno’s latest tune already has 3,171,538 views on YouTube and is played in almost every event in Nigeria.

From Nigerian rapper and producer who delivers rap verses in his native Igbo language most times, Fada Fada is a song through which the rapper speaks to God, thanking the creator for his remarkable success and assuring him he has not forgotten where he is coming from. Phyno’s friend and usual collaborator, Olamide who like Phyno, raps in his native Yoruba, joins him again on this one.

Produced by popular Nigerian producer, Masterkraft, the well-loved tune talks about how God has lifted a man that was once poor to a high and better place.

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No Kissing Baby - Patoranking ft Sarkodie

Jagaban Remix - Ycee ft Olamide It was a major hit in the year 2015 and the hype that came before the song was definitely not overrated. The song, was produced by D’Will, topped charts and gave young act, the needed tonic to come into the category of leading Nigerian acts.

The colourful video accompanying the song, has over 1 million views on YouTube.

Ejeajo - Psquare ft TI This song was a much anticipated one with all the hype that came with it. Psquare featured TI, an American hip hop recording artiste who majors in rap. The song, definitely a major Psquare hit in the year 2015, was produced by Vtek.

The video, which was shot in Nigeria and Atlanta, boasts over 2,742,210 views on YouTube at the moment.

Fans Mi - Davido ft Meek Mill The video of this song has over 6 million views on YouTube, the most by any song released just a year ago. The song, which was well appreciated and loved by fans across Africa and even in the United States of America, also topped various local charts.

The song was produced by Davido’s right hand man, Shizzi.

Fada Fada - Phyno ft Olamide

Reggae Blues - Harrysong ft Olamide, Kcee, Orezi and Iyanya

Soldier - Falz ft Simi The song was a fresh introduction this year.

It tells the story of a soldier who rescues a girl and tries to win her over. Falz and Simi have good chemistry and the song only brought more attention to that. Simi is a Nigerian afro-pop, soul and R 'n' B artiste.

Falz, on the other hand, is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter, actor and presenter. The video was shot and directed by Clarence Peters here in Nigeria and has over 900,000 views on YouTube already.

Mamacita - Tinie Tempah ft Wizkid This song is sizzling hot. Tinie Tempah is an English rapper, record producer, songwriter and singer who decided to feature Wizkid, a Nigerian singer, songwriter and performer on the song and that has resulted in over over 24million views on YouTube. This song is topping charts and is played constantly on both radio and television and at events. It was produced by Bless Beats. We think this song will still top charts as it is one of the best collaborations in 2016.

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Special Feature

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

Eid-el-Kabir: Rams in l Muslims opt for goats

The yearly Muslim festival, Eid-el-Kabir, is two days away. But ram sellers are not excited. The animal is available. But buyers are few. Its price, like other food items, especially rice and groundnut oil appears to have gone beyond the reach of the common man.

ISIOMA MADIKE in this report noted that only a few customers could purchase ram as sellers groan under low patronage

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lhaji Sulaiman Ado lives at Shangisha, Ketu, a suburb of Lagos. He is what one can describe as an emergency ram dealer as he trades on the commodity only during Muslim festivals, especially the Eid-el-Kabir, popularly known in this part of the country as Sallah. He usually looks forward to this festive period as that often translates to more money for him.

But, not anymore!

Ado has been complaining to no one in particular. “Walahi, people are not buying plenty, he told Saturday Telegraph in his paltry English Language at the popular Kara Market, Berger, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. A ram that was sold for N40,000 before this period now cost between N70,000 and N80,000. Smaller breeds that one could get for N25,000 in the past is now being sold for between N45,000 and N50,000.

With this reality, many Muslims who could not easily afford the cost of ram are now opting for goats as substitutes. “We decided to go for goats like many other families because we could no longer buy ram due to the economic situation in the country today. Everyone knows that we are in recession. So, we have just decided to manage what we can afford,” said a man who refused his name in print.

At Kara, many cannot afford to buy at exorbitant prices because they sell to people who resell to the final consumers. “But, we encourage people, particularly the Muslims, to patronise us; we believe that our prices are fair compare to what obtains outside this market,” one of the sellers who spoke in Hausa language through an interpreter explained.

Ado, however, is not the only one complaining. Many others too! For instance, Umar Ali, traversed many markets in Lagos metropolis hoping to get a ram that he can afford. His N40, 000 could not get him the type he slaughtered last year.

“I was hopeful such amount could get me something reasonable. But, unlike the previous year, I was shocked not to find what I wanted. What that means is that we may not be able to slaughter any ram this year. This will be the first since over 10 years that we won’t be slaughtering ram. It is hard to explain to my kids, but that is the way things are today,” Ali remarked, painfully.

As signs of the effect of poor economy, the stands for ram traders in Kara, like many other markets in Lagos, are scanty. It was a sharp contrast compared to the previous years when the markets were bubbling with buying and selling activities many weeks to Sallah. Most traders attributed the situation to the current recession in the country. There is evident of low flow of money in Nigeria at present

and many are squealing.

According to one ram dealer, who identified himself simply as Yusuf, “I was only able to display a few rams for sale. Everyone knows that lack of cash flow is the reason why more rams have not arrived Lagos. Though, we are optimistic that the situation will change.

I believe before Sunday, I and my colleagues would have cause to smile as more rams would have arrived for us to sell. We also believe our customers will manage to pick their choices at affordable prices, Insha’Allah,” he said.

With barely two days to the Sallah celebrations, prices of rams and other food items, especially rice and groundnut oil appear to have gone beyond reach as both sellers and buyers groan under the circumstance. Many attribute the hike in prices this year to recession, exchange rate and the increased cost of transportation by traders. But, civil servants and workers in general, have blamed their inability to buy goods, particularly ram on the fact that their take home pays can no longer take them home.

Yet, ram sellers are not the only ones complaining, market women are also groaning over hike in prices of foodstuffs. The Iya Oloja of Ibafo, Chief Mrs. Fausa Ikumapaye, said market women are not happy because they have not been able to sell their goods.

“No sale and this is because of the situation in the country today. As the Iya Oloja of this market, I have tried to compare the prices of food items to what obtains about this time last year.

I found out the difference is very high.

You can see how scanty the market is; no money and people are not shopping like before,” Ikumapaye told Saturday Telegraph.

Joseph Chidera, who sells foodstuffs sat the same market, also said poverty smells everywhere and as such people do not have enough to get what they need. “Last year we sell a bag of rice for N9,200 but now we are selling the same at the rate of N17,000. Vegetable oil is also twice the normal price. Sales have really been bad this season.”

In Osun State, residents are opting for goats for the Sallah. Hopes of Muslims that are keenly preparing for the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir in the state

Ram is the best specie of the animals considered because it was exactly what was given to Prophet Ibrahim

appear to be hanging in the balance as prices of cooking ingredients have gone to the roof tops in the markets.

As a result of this, sellers of rams at power line area of Osogbo, the state capital where such business prominently thrives, were disappointed as they received scanty number of people as customers. Aside recession, however, many have attributed the low patronage to the state government’s inability to offset workers’ outstanding salaries.

“It is worse here because Osun is a civil servants state,” said one middle aged man, who claimed to be a civil servant in the state.

Another ram seller, Mallam Abubakar Umar, said: “We are not also enjoying this situation. And no one should blame us; it’s what we bought that we’ll sell.”

It is the same lamentation in Niger State. Many though agreed that recession, exchange rate and the increased cost of transportation by traders, are taking its toll on the already improvised civil servants and workers. They, nonetheless, blamed their inability to buy rams for the Sallah on government’s failure to bring about change it promised Nigerians.

A visit to the Kure Ultra-modern Market, Minna, showed that the prices of food items, have also increased as a bag of rice which sold for less than N10,000 in 2015 now goes for between N20,000 and N21,000. The same thing

for a bottle of groundnut oil that sold for N220; it sells for between N360 and N400 at present.

A civil servant in the state, Danladi Abdulkadir, said the current recession has affected so many things including the Sallah and has brought hardship on the people. According to him “what is happening in the country is an indication that many of us may not buy ram this year.

Another worker, who identified himself simply as Alhaji Mustapha, said with the present economic situation he will not buy ram except he is given for free. “If someone buys one and gives to me, fine and good; I will slaughter it and we will celebrate with it. Anything outside that, count me out,” Mustapha said.

One of the ram sellers, Mallam Bala Sani, revealed that customers were only coming to window shop without buying anything. “People have been coming but most of them only price and go without buying. They are saying that the rams are too expensive; there is no money and that government has not paid them salaries for some months now.”

Another seller, Nura Garba, said unlike in 2015 where one person could buy five, 10 to 20 rams, no one has been able to buy as many this year. “I understand that things are hard in the country now, but exchange rate and bring-

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

Global United, City clash set to ignite season p.28

Sport Splash

25 News Iheanacho can shock Man United – Adepoju p.31

It's sad mum's not here to reap the fruits of her labour -Osimhen Victor Osimhen burst into international limelight with his electrifying pace and precision in front of goal at the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile where he scored a record 10 goals as the Golden Eaglets won the championship for the fifth time. He is the first member of that group to be invited into the senior national team and the 18-yearold told AJIBADE OLUSESAN in an exclusive interview at the Super Eagles camp that he was ready to continue making Nigerian fans happy with his performance. from Ogenyi Onazi. He is such a wonderful person, he told me I should not allow anything put me down and should not get intimidated by anything. He said to me that wherever I find myself in a goal position I should make sure the ball gets into the net, that I should always work for the team. He advised me so much; I just want to keep the momentum and where ever I am in this world, will always remember all those things he said to me. This was not the first time he was saying these things to me, even when I was in the U-17 team, I was calling him and he used to advise me a lot. When he was in Lazio, I was calling him and up till now he hasn’t changed in advising me. He is a good person.

After exploits in the U-17 and U-20 national teams, you have now been invited into the Super Eagles, how have you settled into the team and how did your senior teammates receive you?

All of them have been so good to me; I think Elderson Echiejiele particularly has been so great in terms of relating with me; they have generally brought themselves so low to my level considering where they have played and what they have achieved in football which is unbelievable.

I am sure some of them gave you words of encouragement Oh of course, many of them did.

Which of those words have made major impression on you?

I am most moved by those words

In this current Eagles, we have CONTINUE ON PAGE 27

The Team Ajibade Olusesan l Co-ordinator

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Osimhen

Sport

26

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

Nigerian League Rendezvous

BY CHARLES OGUNDIYA

Rangers set for first title in 32 years

Title: Shooting Stars hold the aces

S

hooting Stars of Ibadan might be directly involved in deciding the team that will win the Nigeria Professional Football League title this season.

Shooting will this weekend host leader, Rangers of Enugu, while also hosting Wikki Tourists in another home game in two weeks’ time.

However, the players of the Oluyole Warriors are not looking at the team’s influence on who wins the league as they are preoccupied with their fight against relegation.

“All what we are thinking about is how to escape relegation,” the team’s striker, Sunday Adetunji, said.

“The games against Rangers and Wikki Tourists are the two remaining home games for us and we must win them to escape relegation.

“For now, we are thinking of the game against Rangers, and when the time comes, we will think about Wikki because we cannot do two things at a time.”

He however revealed that the technical crew led by Gbenga Ogunbote had made them (the players) to understand the importance of the remaining games in the season.

Adetunji added that shooting would do all it takes to escape the dreaded drop as they have their destiny in their own hands.

•Wikki, Rivers Utd, IfeanyiUbah, Enyimba still in the mix

R

angers of Enugu will not have a better chance to end their 32-year wait for a title as the run in of the Nigeria Professional Football League favours them than the other title contenders.

With four matches till the end of the season, the Flying Antelopes have two home games and two away matches with one of the away games against Ikorodu United, a match they can win.

Ikorodu United are on the brink of going back to the Nigeria National League, although they have shown that they will not go down without a fight with their 1-0 away victory against Heartland at the weekend.

Rangers will be away to Shooting Stars this weekend, another inconsistent side, and the visitors will be hoping to get atleast a point that will maintain their position at the top with their rival, Wikki Tourists, playing away to Nasarawa United.

The Imama Amakapabo-led team will be hosting Sunshine at home before their trip to Abeokuta to face Ikorodu United while ending the season with a home game against

El Kanemi Warriors.

For Wikki Tourists, the 2-1 loss to Enyimba in a rescheduled match put a big dent in their quest for their first title as they will be battling with Nasarawa United in Lafia this weekend, with tough home game against another title contenders, Rivers United, coming up immediately and two other tricky games against south west teams, Shooting Stars (away) and Sunshine Stars (home) to follow.

The 4-0 bashing by Rangers has put the title hope of Rivers United in jeopardy, but they have promised to fight till the end.

They have their work cut out starting this weekend against Warri Wolves while they have Wikki (away), Abia Warriors (home) and neighbour Akwa United on the last day of the season.

IfeanyiUbah and defending champions, Enyimba, still have faint hope of winning the title but it will be a tall dream for them to be crowned champions at the end of the season.

We’ve put Rangers’ loss behind us – Rivers Utd

T

itle contenders, Rivers United, have put the scandalous loss to Rangers behind them as they prepare for the showdown against Warri Wolves this weekend.

Speaking with League Rendezvous, the Media Officer of the team, Sammy Wenjinya, and loanee Enyimba defender, Idris Aloma, both agreed it was a bad game for them against Rangers and they have to bounce back immediately.

Rivers United lost 4-0 to Rangers and will be hosting Warri Wolves this weekend in Port Harcourt.

“The players were not happy, the fans were not happy, likewise the government, but we have to bounce back immediately,” Wenjinya said.

“For two days after we came back, the players were down psychologically, but the team psychologist has worked on them and they are rearing to go against Warri Wolves.

“The players understand that they have to put smiles on the faces of the fans again and they have promised to do that this weekend.”

For Aloma, the expectation before the game against Rangers was high and they let their fans down by falling to their biggest defeat of the season.

He however said with Warri Wolves, they just have to come up with the goods

and make their fans happy again.

He said: “The point is, we were second best against Rangers, but that is football for you. All the players believed the game would be easy but it proved otherwise.

“We can’t afford to fail against Warri Wolves this weekend. The game is not going to be easy because they are fighting relegation also, but the important thing for us is the maximum points and good display.”

Keumian Guy of Rivers (down) vies with Okey Odita of Rangers (white shirt)

MATCHDAY 35 El-Kanemi vs Heartland Ikorodu Utd vs Kano Pillars Sunshine vs Plateau Utd Shooting vs Rangers Rivers Utd vs Warri Wolves Nasarawa Utd vs Wikki IfeanyiUbah vs Akwa Utd MFM vs Lobi Tornadoes vs Enyimba

NPFL LEAGUE TABLE Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

1 Rangers

32

15

9

8

44

34

10

54

2 Rivers Utd

32

17

2

13

33

26

7

53

3 Wikki

32

14

9

9

41

25

16

51

4 IfeanyiUbah

32

14

8

10

33

30

3

50

5 Lobi Stars

33

14

7

12

36

31

5

49

6 Enyimba

31

14

7

10

31

27

4

49

7 Kano Pillars

32

14

6

12

44

34

10

48

8 Sunshine

32

12

11

9

40

32

8

47

9 Akwa Utd

33

13

7

13

42

40

2

46

10 Nasarawa Utd32

15

1

16

36

36

0

46

45

11 Plateau Utd

32

12

9

11

31

32

-1

45

12 El-Kanemi

32

14

3

15

35

37

-2

45

13 Tornadoes

32

13

3

16

35

38

-3

42

14 Shooting

32

12

5

15

37

44

-7

41

15 Warri Wolves

32

10

9

13

26

34

-8

39

16 MFM FC

32

10

8

14

31

36

-5

38

17 Abia Warriors

32

9

11

12

28

36

-8

38

18 Heartland

32

9

10

13

21

28

-7

37

19 Ikorodu Utd

31

5

11

15

24

48

-24

26

20 Giwa FC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Heartland face first relegation ever H istory is about to be made as Heartland are on the brink of being relegated for the first time in their history.

The 1-0 home loss to already relegated Ikorodu United compounded their woes and they will be hoping for miracle to escape the dreaded drop.

Heartland, with local rivals, Enugu Rangers, are one of two Nigerian teams that have never been relegated, but that is about to end this term.

With four matches to the end of the season, the Naze Millionaires are currently occupying the 17th position, the final relegation spot with 37 points from 32 matches.

A trip to Maiduguri this weekend will see them taking on El-Kanemi Warriors, before two

home games against Niger Tornadoes and Kano Pillars. They will end their season with another away game against Plateau United.

“We know we are in a very precarious situation, but we have to fight on,” the media officer of the team, Cajetan Nkwopara, said.

“The players and the technical crew have vowed to continue fighting to survive, and I believe they can do it. We are not losing hope at all.

“We are going to give it everything and hopefully the team will escape relegation at the end of the season.”

Apart from Heartland, Abia Warriors, MFM, Warri Wolves and Shooting Stars are also in a difficult situation with any of them likely to join already relegated Giwa and Ikorodu United.

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

27

'It was tough growing up... we're fighting back' CONTINUEd FROM PAGE 25

big strikers who are more senior to you such as Odion Ighalo, Brown Ideye, Ahmed Musa and so on; when you arrive the camp, were you jittery about contesting for shirts with these big players?

My ambition in the national team is not to go there and compete for anything with anybody. These are fantastic footballers I look forward to. When Ighalo plays for Watford, I stay glued to my TV set to watch him play and pick something from him and when Ideye played in the Champions League I looked at those tricks he displayed and I try to combine the two to see how I can become a better player.

Like I said I want to keep learning from my senior mates; I still have a long way to go and what I learn from them will help me a lot.

What is your impression about the Eagles win over Tanzania?

I am very happy for those players that were on the pitch because they kept the momentum, they never relented in piling the pressure on the Tanzanians even when the goal was not coming, so it was a big relief that we finally scored, I am really happy.

But we missed several scoring chances and as a striker, do you think you would have put some of the goals away if you were on the pitch?

Of course, every striker will tell you I want to score goals and it is also possible to miss so many opportunities like that in a game because football is funny. Goals are so important in football because they usually win matches, and I am happy that Kelechi Iheanacho’s effort won the game for us at the end of the day. The team played well generally and I think the fans were happy just as I was, it could have been my debut but there is always another day.

But were you disappointed you did not play?

Not disappointed at all. As I was coming out for the match, the coach told me something and I think I will go with him because I am still a young boy and if I am given the chance I am going to show the stuff I am made of.

But I just want to take things gradually and wait for my time because I know my chance will come Two years ago, you would not have imagined playing for the Super Eagles but after spells with U-17 and U-20 teams you are in the senior team. How do you feel about this?

Up till now I really can’t describe the feeling because I don’t know w h a t I have done to God to be so favoured.

I think He has destined me to be where I am today and God himself is making me realise my destiny.

Two years ago, I never imagined this but now that I have gone

this far, I never want to relent, I want to keep working hard, I want to keep the momentum and do what I love to do best. ...vies with Brazilian counterpart during a match

I spoke with a lot of your childhood friends and those coaches that helped moulded your career from the scratch and many of them said so many things about you, who is Victor Osimhem?

Well, maybe I should start by saying that I am the last born in a family of seven. I grew up at Olusosun, very close to the biggest dumpsite in Lagos. I had a tough beginning, trying to be somebody in life but I did not allow the circumstances of life to weigh me down. It was indeed a rough journey for me and my family but I am happy today we are able to fight back and God showed His mercy upon us.

God has helped me open a chapter now and I want to stay focused and see how I can help the Super Eagles and make the fans happy

Your elder brother, Andy, told me you are understandably devastated anytime you remember your late mum is not around now that football has brought fame and fortune to your family It is painful mum is not here. That is why anytime I score a goal I will raise my hand and look into the sky with a thought in my mind that ‘mum, you are there looking at me, you see your boy doing this in your honour’.

It is so painful that m u m w h o

...during training with club, Wolfsburg

suffered so much for me is not here today to reap the fruits of her labour. Anytime I remembe what we have been through and see my family today without my mum it brings tears to my face but, I know that wherever she is today, she will be very proud of me

One of your friends told me there was a time you were not training again and coach Chinedu had to come in to bring you back to football ….In life, there are times you want to try your hands on something else because you feel something is not working out well but God has a way of bringing you back to your dream and I am fortunate to have people around who really helped me. I have passion for football and it is great to see that it is giving me so much joy today.

...with the golden boot and silver ball

Let us talk about the U-20, the majority of you guys graduated from the FIFA U-17 World Cup winning team side but you will not play at the next U-20m World Cup The day we lost to Sudan was the worst in the career of most of us because we did our best to make sure we qualify for the tournament. We did well at the U-17 level and we wanted to repeat that

at the U-20 but it was never meant to be. God has the way He does His things and I know He did not want us to do something at that level.

However, I cannot dwell on that anymore, I have put it behind me and I look forward to more opportunities in the national team, God has helped me open a chapter now and I want to stay focused and see how I can help the Super Eagles and make the fans happy.

As an emerging talent, you will be full of so many dreams about what you want to achieve in life, do you see yourself competing for maybe African Player of the Year Award in five years’ time?

I have always believed that winning laurels with your team is the most important thing to a footballer, it is what a good player wants to think of and once you put your team forward, your individual honours will certainly follow.

I recollect when we played U-17 Nations Cup, I was the tournament’s highest goal scorer but I would have loved to sacrifice my award for that title because my team did not do too well apart from qualifying for the World Cup. But in Chile, I worked more for the team and I am happy I won individual award too and we also won the tournament. In life, you look at people around you and bring them closer and try to do something that will impact their lives positively, the blessing of God will just come upon you.

You are in Wolfsburg, this is a big club; you are still young and do you think you are in the plans of the coach now?

Yes I am in his plans, when I was called for this match, he actually did not want me to go but we jokingly sorted it out because I told him it was always an honour and privilege to be invited into the national team. It has been a wonderful experience since I joined them more than four years ago; the club is a big platform for me to achieve my aims, they have a big plan for me but I will rather keep them to my chest because it is going to be a surprise.

ottenham make the trip to the Potteries on Saturday afternoon looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season, following a win and two draws in their opening three matches.

In truth, Mauricio Pochettino's men have yet to really get going with the side looking particularly sluggish in their most recent match which finished 1-1 against Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

Spurs were perhaps fortunate to claim a point from that encounter and the manager will be looking for an improved performance against the side who begin the weekend bottom of the table. Stoke have a solitary point claimed against newly promoted Middlesbrough in their opening match, and will remember the last time they received a visit from Pochettino's side who claimed a memorable 4-0 win back in mid-April.

T

Tottenham, Stoke set for low scoring match

Kane

TABLES

No Clubs 1 Genoa 2 Juventus 3 Sampdoria 4 Roma 5 Pescara 6 SSC Napoli 7 Torino 8 ChievoVerona 9 Lazio 10 Fiorentina 11 AC Milan

SERIE A

P 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

No Clubs P 1 Las Palmas 2 2 Barcelona 2 3 Real Madrid 2 4 Sevilla 2 5 D/La Coruna 2 6 Sporting Gijon 2 7 Leganes 2 8 Eibar 2 9 Real Sociedad 2 10Malaga 2 11 Alaves 2 12 Atl Madrid 2 11 Villarreal 2 14 Espanyol 2 15 Osasuna 2 16 Granada 2 17 Real Betis 2 18 Athletic Bilbao2 19 Celta Vigo 2 20 Valencia 2

LA LIGA

Pts 6 6 6 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3

Pts 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0

No Clubs P Pts 1 Man City 3 9 2 Chelsea 3 9 3 ManUnited 3 9 4 Everton 3 7 5 Hull City 3 6 6 Middlesbrough 3 5 7 Tottenham 3 5 8 Arsenal 3 4 9 Leicester City 3 4 10 West Brom 3 4 11 Liverpool 3 4 12 West Ham 3 3 13 Burnley 3 3 14 Swansea City 3 3 15 Southampton 3 2 16 Sunderland 3 1 17 Crystal Palace 3 1 18 Watford 3 1 19 Bournemouth 3 1 20 Stoke City 3 1

Premier league

SUNDAY Bologna vs Cagliari 11:30am AC Milan vs Udinese 2:00pm Atalanta vs Torino 2:00pm Chievo vs Lazio 2:00pm Genoa vs Fiorentina 2:00pm Roma vs Sampdoria 2:00pm

SATURDAY Juventus vs Sassuolo 5:00pm Palermo vs SSC Napoli 7:45pm

La Liga SATURDAY

S

with Jamie Vardy (£6.3m) seeming to have a place nailed down and Ahmed Musa (£4.7m), Shinji Okazaki (£4.6m) and Leonardo Ulloa (£4.6m) also fighting for the other.

TFF managers have similar problems predicting Liverpool's line-up.

They have a wealth of options in attack with Daniel Sturridge (£6.5m) and Divock Origi (£5.5m) on the fringes with midfielder Roberto Firmino (£5.1m) preferred to head a false nine.

5:30pm

Leipzig vs Borussia Dortmund

Wolfsburg vs Cologne 2:30pm

2:30pm

Ingolstadt vs Hertha Berlin

2:30pm

Freiburg vs Moenchengladbach

furt 2:30pm

Darmstadt vs Eintracht Frank-

2:30pm

B/Leverkusen vs Hamburger

SATURDAY

Bundesliga

S outhampton’s search for their first English Premier League win under the stewardship of Claude Puel continues when the Saints travel to north London to take on Arsenal.

Despite having garnered just two points from their opening three Premier League fixtures thus far this term, the visitors may make the trip to Emirates Stadium in relatively confident mood, having chalked up a clean sheet in each of their previous three meetings with Arsene Wenger’s men.

Furthermore, Saints have been beaten in just one of their last six games against the Gunners – a 1-0 defeat in December 2014. Arsenal, though, will come into this match buoyed by a hugely impressive 3-1 win against Watford at Vicarage Road before the international break, while the hosts will take confidence from their remarkable run of 21 consecutive home league matches without defeat against Southampton – a record that stretches back to 1987.

clash betw ee posedly th n sup- three games most ex e two been transf and moods have pensive ormed. lin overseen b eups in history o Mourinho spent up wards y two of th f 145 millio n decorated e coaches w most million) in pounds ($193.58 the close ill end the phoney sig sea w Premier Lea ar and ignite the P ning the likes of son ogba whil gue season e Swedish Paul when Man for real Z st chester Un la ta n Ib ra h ited host imovic, wh riker Mancheste dubbed Gu r City on S o once aturday. ardiola a 's Jose Mouri pin co City, under nho's United and le ward', joined for free eless the comman aving Paris a old adversa d St Germain fter ry Pep Gu of his .

"H e is th e ar have enjoy ed 100 perce diola, masterbrain mastermind, the ," n as tens of millions of t starts of Mourin Ibrahimovic said ho, who h pounds worth of su e played for at mm But much er buys bed in. wh Inter Milan. "He kno at he needs w more will known ab to do to win s be ou ning creden t their title-win- 1 Guardiola has spent ar ."

7 ti o whistle sou als when the final cr 5 million revamping und City's nds on the eaking sid time kicko lunch- d e ff at O efender Jo with English h From the m ld Trafford.

German w n Stones and oment th ing ture list was published e fix- among those er Leroy Sane in June, the contin already exp added to their ua ensi frosty and o tion of the often ccasionally While City ve ranks. volatile Mourinho 's Sergio Ag will be s -Guard uero

Giroud

Arsenal’s fans, too, will hope that Saturday’s clash will give them a first glimpse at new signings Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez, both of whom completed big-money moves to the Gunners towards the end of the transfer window. Perez, however, may be forced to settle for a place on the bench against the Saints, with Olivier Giroud understood to be in line to make his first start of the season for the Gunners.

Southampton chase first win to Arsenal

United, City clash set A to ignite season

aturday's late kick-off features two sides that have a win, draw and loss to their name after the first three weeks.

The champions' form has shown improvement, while Liverpool's has gone the other way, and a 2-1 win against Swansea last weekend will give the Foxes' plenty of confidence going into their match at Anfield.

The arrival of Islam Slimani (£4.9m) also raises question marks as to who will start in Claudio Ranieri's attack, Vardy

Granada vs Eibar 5:15pm

Valencia vs Real Betis 3:00pm

Gijon vs Leganes 11:00am

SUNDAY

Barcelona vs Alaves 7:45pm

Sevilla vs Las Palmas 5:15pm

Malaga vs Villarreal 5:15pm

Real Madrid vs Osasuna 3:00pm

12:00pm

Celta Vigo vs Atletico Madrid

FIXTURES

Liverpool host champions Leicester

Liverpool vs Leicester 5:30pm

West Ham vs Watford 3:00pm

Stoke vs Tottenham 3:00pm

3:00pm

Middlesbrough vs Crystal Palace

Burnley vs Hull 3:00pm

Arsenal vs Southampton 3:00pm

3:00pm

Bournemouth vs West Brom

12:30pm

Man United vs Man City

Saturday

EPL

Serie A

Global Football Special www.newtelegraphonline.com

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28

Sport 10 septemb

SATURDAY

Higuain

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

3 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 0

familiar story is already unfolding in Serie A where Juventus are dominant, Napoli are trying to reinvent themselves, Palermo embroiled in chaos and the Milan clubs have made indifferent starts.

Although only two rounds of matches were played before the first international break, there was already enough to suggest that little will change from the previous seasons.

Juventus, runaway favourites to win a sixth successive title, flexed their muscles by winning two difficult opening matches against Fiorentina and Lazio, continuing where they left off last season.

"Today, Juve are on another planet from every point of view," former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini told Gazzetta dello Sport this week.

Juve host Sassuolo on Saturday .

Napoli, runners-up last season, are rebuilding after Juve snapped up their prolific forward Gonzalo Higuain, himself hired three seasons ago after Edinson Cavani departed.

A

12 Udinese 13 Sassuolo 14 Bologna 15 Palermo 16 Cagliari 17 Inter Milan 18 Atalanta 19 Crotone 20 Empoli

Mourinho

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, and his predecessor, Wladimir Klitscko, will once again be sorting out the pecking order of the division at the Manchester Arena on October 29th. in what will be a spectacular night of boxing, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

Fury-Klitschko II has been billed as Repeat or Revenge.

There is also an intriguing contest booked on the undercard that could well leave Tyson dealing with a pleasing conundrum, courtesy of cousin Hughie.

Tyson Fury

SPORT BRIEFLY

Wilshere

Guardiola's Barcelona vs Mourinho's Real Madrid Meetings: 11; Guardiola wins: 5; Draws: 4; Mourinho wins: 2 Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid — La Liga, November 29, 2010 Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona — La Liga, April 16, 2011 Barcelona 0-1 Real Madrid — Copa del Rey, April 20, 2011 Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona — Champions League, April 27, 2011 Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid — Champions League, May 3, 2011 Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid — Spanish Super Cup, August 17, 2011 Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona — Copa del Rey, January 18, 2012 Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid — Copa del Rey, January 25, 2012 Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid — La Liga, April 21, 2012

A

home match against a newly promoted side is exactly the kind of fixture that Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane would have wanted after the international break, and Los Blancos should feel pretty confident ahead of the visit of Osasuna on Saturday.

While 14 Real players away on international duty there were some notable faces who remained in the Spanish capital with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo,

Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah feels he has unfinished business with the marathon.

Farah won gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the London Olympics in 2012, and then repeated his success in Rio - the 'double double'.

Mo Farah

Karim Benzema and Keylor Navas all staying behind.

Those players will have used the break to work on their respective recoveries from injury and it is worth remembering that Los Blancos have won their opening two La Liga matches without some of their most important players. The aforementioned trio could all return on Saturday and on the face of it a high scoring home win looks on the cards.

Guardiola

Osasuna in Real trouble

Overall record Meetings: 16; Guardiola wins: 7; Draws: 6; Mourinho wins: 3

Guardiola's Bayern vs Mourinho's Chelsea Meetings: 1; Draws: 1 (Guardiola won on penalties) Bayern Munich 2-2 Chelsea (5-4 on penalties) — UEFA Super Cup, August 30, 2013

and on-the-pitch celebrations, the pair have become the best of enemies in some of European football's biggest fixtures.

This weekend welcomes the latest instalment of the Guardiola-Mourinho rivalry on a new stage. Here, is how it has played out in the past between the pair.

Guardiola's Barcelona vs Mourinho's Inter Milan Meetings: 4; Guardiola wins: 2; Draws: 1; Mourinho wins: 1 Inter Milan 0-0 Barcelona — Champions League, September 16, 2009 Barcelona 2-0 Inter Milan — Champions League, November 24, 2009 Inter Milan 3-1 Barcelona — Champions League, April 20, 2010

S

Kickoff: 12:30pm

diola rivalr su has been ea y jured, spended and Sane in gerly the two star The chance -anticipated. ting lineup are likely to to land an ea s blow in th fe at u rl re six o y 12 e fi of the seaso rst seismic clash E most expensive play f the n will be irre er nglish foo tball history s in sistible.

Both club the der-achieved s chronically un- u total value of the 22 with to p finishing ab last season -- City m expected to be arou line nd 600 o illion poun difference ve United on goal d s. in fourth.

It should p roduce the But after o f kind sp in ectacle to stalling trophy hun ters in the serial surroundin justify the hype g re tive manag erial hotsea spec- mier Leagu this year's Pree in which making a ts a n d se sp C a, both have lurge of signings C under new coach A helnto won their onte, are opening also 100 p nio after three ercent games.

Mourinho vs Guardiola

aturday's Manchester derby is the first meeting of Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho on English shores but the history between Europe's two top coaches stretches back across 16 matches, seven years and five clubs.

In press conference warfare, touchline rows

to be thrown straight into the action as Tony Pulis' side continue their favourable run of fixtures.

Following Bournemouth they have West Ham (H), Stoke (A) and Sunderland (A), which will encourage the Baggies who have already kept two clean sheets this season.

Allan Nyom (£2.8m) was another arrival over the summer from Watford and the natural right-back could provide competition for the regular back four of Gareth McAuley (£3.0m), Craig Dawson (£3.0m), Jonny Evans (£3.1m) and Jonas Olsson (£2.6m). Definitely one four TFF managers to keep an eye on.

Lewis Hamilton refused to accept blame for the dreadful start in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix which scuppered his hopes of a 50th career victory and blew the world championship wide open.

Nico Rosberg moved to just two points behind Hamilton after he took advantage of his title rival's slow getaway to claim his second victory in eight days.

Lewis Hamilton

ddie Howe's Bournemouth sit in 19th after a difficult start to the season but will hope the arrival of Jack Wilshere (£4.3m) from Arsenal will give them the spark they need in midfield.

His introduction could also bring new life to £4.3m rated striker Benik Afobe, the pair coming through the Gunners' youth ranks together before they made their respective moves down south.

West Brom broke their record transfer fee to bring in Nacer Chadli (£4.0m) from Tottenham and the winger is likely

th u o m ' B nts on E cou here for Wilsval at revi t Brom Wes

Familiar story unfolding in Serie A

The Potters are generally thought of as being a tough opponent in their own stadium yet since the turn of the year they have won just four of the 11 Premier League matches they have hosted, and three of those victories came against sides that were relegated.

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Lifestyle of Sportsmen

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R Real’s Asensio l e d o m s t e g girlfriend

eal Madrid wonderkid Marco Asensio has had a superb 2016 so far, making his Real Madrid and Spain debut, but he’d already bagged himself a winner off the pitch, cosying up to stunning Marina Muntaner.

The Spanish attacking midfielder, 20, is not only scoring sensational goals on the Bernabeu turf – netting a wondergoal in his side’s 3-0 win over Real Sociedad – but he’s also managed to net blonde beauty Marina.

obert Pires used to be flying up and down the pitch at Highbury.

But these days, the former Arsenal winger takes a more relaxed approach to life.

Pires appeared at the Emirates for a charity match between Arsenal and AC Milan legends last weekend.

And after scoring the fourth as the Gunners romped to a 4-2 win, the Frenchman wasted no time in jetting off to the gorgeous island of Mykonos with glamorous wife Jessica.

The former model posted a number of sizzling snaps to her Instagram page, with one showing her topless and frolicking in the sea with her hubby.

In another picture, Jessica can be seen soaking up the sun’s rays in crystal clear water, while a similar image shows her posing seductively for the camera.

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eter Crouch took advantage of the international break to get away for a relaxing break with wife Abbey Clancy.

The former England international has not played for his country since 2010 and has long given up sitting by phone waiting for the FA to call. Instead of holding out for the phone to ring the 35-year-old decided to take his lengthy limbs to Mallorca for a short holiday.

As England's footballers toiled away for a late 1-0 win in Trnava, the Stoke forward and his missus enjoyed the sunnier climbs of the Balearic isle.

The likeable 6ft 7in forward was playing the gentleman as he and Clancy shared some quality time on a private yacht. Crouch ensured his model wife got down to the water and into their waiting transfer vessel safely, taking Clancy's hand before clambering aboard himself.

Once on the water, the pair looked the picture of holiday bliss as they let their feet dangle off the edge of the yacht and sipped bottled water to stay cool.

Crouch has previously joked that he would be single if he were not a footballer and there can be little doubt he was considering himself a lucky man as Clancy sunned herself in a series of stunning swimsuits.

Cheating: Bolt's girlfriend criticised for sticking with him

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sain Bolt kicked things off by winning another three gold medals at the Olympics in

Stories courtesy : Dailymail

Asensio and girlfriend

Crouch takes break with wife

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Brazil.

He then celebrated in the company of some beautiful young women.

And now, despite rumours and seemingly evidence – in the form of photos (admittedly not of him physically in the act of love-making) – that he cheated on stunning girlfriend Kasi Bennett, he still has a happy partner.

Kasi, who is engaged to marry Usain, shared the below photo on her personal Instagram account on Wednesday.

She accompanied the loving photo with the captain: “All that matters”.

It seems to be a show of defiance, screaming to the masses that she and her man remain strong.

However, Kasi has been criticised for the post, with many of the comments shaming her for a perceived show of weakness.

One Instagram user wrote: “Embarrassing!!!!! He disrespects you, cheats and you go back SMH money can’t buy you happiness”.

10 september 2016

The Real ace confirmed his relationship to local media and the pair recently posed for pictures which they shared online with their many fans and followers.

Web users have been widely commenting on their snaps with many saying they could not believe their eyes when they saw the beautiful Spanish model.

Many wrote comments such as ‘take a bow, son’ and ‘that girl’s unbelievable’ while another added: “Beautiful couple!”

Arsenal legend Pires in cosy holiday with stunning wife

Pires and wife

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Clancy

Ex-Eaglets player set to wed Hausa movie star, Sadau

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Bolt and fiancee

igeria youth international Musa Yahaya is set to marry Hausa movie star, Rahama Sadau, in a ceremony in Kaduna.

Unconfirmed reports have it that the couple who have been dating for months, will tie the knot in Kaduna.

According to her Wikipedia page, Sadau is a Business Administration graduate of Kaduna Polytechnic.

She joined the Hausa movie industry (Kannywood) in 2013 and has gradually become one of the biggest names in the industry.

Yahaya, 19, plays as a midfielder for Portimonense S.C. in the Portugal's LigaPro. He played for the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and Flying Eagles at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He reportedly had ties with Premier League side, Tottenham, before joining Portimonense S.C in the Portuguese second division.

Sadau INSET: Yahaya

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31

Top EPL debutants who are looking to hit the ground running After the international break the Premier League kicks back into gear this weekend and these new boys will be hoping to make an impact. Plenty of players will be making their debut this weekend The Premier League returns this weekend following the thrills and spills of the international break. If that wasn't exciting enough, there is plenty of new faces, as those transfer deadline day signings get to work for their new clubs.

The window slammed shut on the night of August 31 following a hectic conclusion to the summer sales which saw more than £1billion spent by Premier League clubs.

But who will hit the ground running in their new clubs? Here are some potential debutants this weekend...

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Jack Wilshere (Bournemouth) erhaps no move during the transfer window was more surprising than Jack Wilshere’s loan move to Bournemouth.

With 22 offers for the England midfielder, it was quite the shock that Wilshere elected to join Eddie Howe’s men, but the Cherries took effectively all their rivals out of the equation by offering to pay Wilshere’s £100,000-a-week salary as well as a £2million loan fee.

Wilshere needs games desper-

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Wilfried Bony (Stoke City) ark Hughes has been looking for a bonafide centre-forward capable of both linking Stoke’s creative types - Marko Arnautovic, Bojan, Xherdan Shaqiri - while also being capable of scoring 15-plus league goals.

In Wilfried Bony, he may just have that man.

The Ivorian’s £28million move to Manchester City, quite frankly, didn’t work out. There was never really a spot for him in their best XI, and he never really looked like the partner Sergio Aguero

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David Luiz (Chelsea) ntonio Conte spent much of the summer prioritising the signing of a new centre-half.

Kurt Zouma’s return from injury is almost complete and the experienced pair of Gary Cahill and captain John Terry both remain fine stoppers.

But the Italian wanted a fresh face, so he returned to two years ago, and splashed £34million on David Luiz, himself now 29.

There have been no great tears in Paris at the Brazilians departure. His last appearance for PSG saw him get caught in all kinds of mess in defeat at Monaco, and his departure allows for the promotion of Marquinhos, an altogether steadier players who has been tracked by Barcelona.

So David Luiz is back after his Parisian sojourn, and may be thrust straight into the Blues lineup at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday. His arrival, teamed with that of another new purchase, Marcos Alonso, allows Conte to revert to a back three, should he deem necessary.

ately and his desire to play weekin, week-out and remind the country that there is one hell of a player in there somewhere is seemingly behind his desire to leave the Emirates for the rest of this campaign. Wenger didn’t want him to go, but Wilshere insisted.

Therefore, he’s set to make his Cherries debut against West Brom on Saturday. Already Howe is talking up the player’s talent, about the added quality he brings to a side committed to playing attractive, attacking football.

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Jason Denayer (Sunderland) ettyDenayer is looking for first-team action at the Stadium of Light The Belgian international has insisted that he is ready for first-team action in the Premier League and having once more not been trusted at the Etihad, he’s now hoping to impress at Sunderland.

Denayer has previously been out on loan at Celtic and Galatasaray, and walks into Sunderland looking to tighten up David Moyes’ back line.

The Black Cats have taken just one point from

their opening three games, and while Denayer is a centre-back by trade, he may find himself in the Wearsiders’ problem position of right-back, particularly with Lamine Kone having remained at the club - he’s likely to now strike up a partnership with £8million arrival Papy Djilobodji.

Moyes faces a reunion with former club Everton on Monday night, with the Stadium of Light certain to demand an improvement on the loss to Middlesbrough in their last home game. If Denayer can keep Yannick Bolasie quiet, it’ll go some way to a first three points of the season.

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Islam Slimani (Leicester) aving already broken their transfer record with the signing of one forward this summer (Ahmed Musa - £16million), Leicester committed a considerable £29million to take Riyad Mahrez’s Algerian international teammate Islam Slimani from Sporting Lisbon.

Last season Slimani bagged 31 goals for Sporting and upon being linked with a move to the Premier League during the off-season.

Claudio Ranieri must now figure how to fit Slimani into the champions starting XI. The player at most threat appears to be

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Ilkay Gundogan (Man City) igned from Borussia Dortmund in the summer despite injury, the German international is finally approaching full fitness and could make his City debut this weekend - in the Manchester derby.

Last week he played in a behind-closeddoors friendly, along with another new signing, Leroy Sane, who has overcome a hamstring injury.

If the Spaniard does take the plunge and

needed.

But before his spell at the Etihad, Bony proved his credentials with Swansea City, having scored 35 goals in 70 games for the Swans, a more than respectable one-in-two record. He was a consistent, effective lone striker, something Hughes has been without for much of his time in the Potteries.

At 27, Bony should be approaching something like his peak. When Spurs visit the Bet365 on Saturday, a rejuvenated Bony will test last season’s Premier League best defence.

throw Gundogan in for his debut, then the question is how?

But with Fernandinho having starred as the lone holder in a 4-1-4-1 formation - with David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne acting as so-called 'free No.8’s' - there appears no natural position for Gundogan. Dropping one of the wingers either Nolito or Raheem Sterling - would allow Guardiola to add more control in midfield with Gundogan alongside the Brazilian, pushing either De Bruyne or Silva into a wide role.

Shinji Okazaki. He doesn’t score a great deal of goals - only five in the league last term but his hard-running style was integral to the Foxes way of playing, dropping into midfield to help out.

Slimani is an entirely different proposition, a No.9 in every sense. Were it not for Vardy’s showings last season, his goals, and his new four-year deal, you could be forgiven for thinking Slimani was joining as his replacement.

So, having still not fully integrated Musa, how does Ranieri utilise his new attacking riches? The trip to Anfield may well provide ansers.

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Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal) t took seemingly all summer and Arsenal eventually paid over the odds - the player having been available for £25million one month previously - but eventually Arsene Wenger signed off to make Shkodran Mustafi an Arsenal centrehalf.

The German international returns to English soil having previously been on Everton’s books as a teenager, but having made a career for himself at Sampdoria and Valencia, he now returns with a reputation as a smart, decisive centre-half and a World Cup winners’ medal in his back pocket.

Arsenal’s need for a top-drawer partner for Laurent Koscielny has been painfully apparent for almost two years - Per Mertesacker is an excellent organiser but his lack of pace puts the whole side at a disadvantage against elite opponents, while Gabriel has shown little to suggest he’ll ever be more than an alternative.

Mustafi is likely to come straight into the Gunners lineup at the expense of Rob Holding, and, on paper, his partnership with Koscielny - one of the league’s most consistent centrehalves - should make Arsenal much more secure.

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Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham) he saga of Deadline Day saw Moussa Sissoko handed the day off by France boss Didier Deschamps and allowed to travel to London to sort out his move from Newcastle.

Everton thought they had him late in the day, having had a £30million offer accepted by the Toon, only for Spurs to come and match it, leaving the player to choose White Hart Lane over Goodison Park.

Sissoko’s move has widely been looked on with scorn by those on the outside looking in, given his level of performance for the Magpies during last year’s relegation campaign.

But if Mauricio Pochettino can get Sissoko firing, and putting in the kind of robust. driving performance that he showed in the summer’s Euro 2016 final - albeit in defeat - then the French international will prove an asset to Spurs.

The question now however, is what role does the Argentine tactician foresee for his new charge?

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Iheanacho can shock Man United – Adepoju

Quadri leads in Olympic icon electoral process

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Charles Ogundiya

Charles Ogundiya

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s part of the new private initiatives to make a difference in the funding of sports in the country, the joint programme of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc in setting up the Nigeria Olympic Fund has yielded some great surprises.

10,000 Nigerians were sent emails including 250 sports journalists, to choose from a list of 25 shortlisted Nigerian Olympians, with table tennis star, Aruna Quadri, emerging top icon.

Other icons voted for are Atlanta Olympics gold medallist in men’s football event, Kanu Nwankwo, 200m bronze medalist, Mary Onyali, and first athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics for the country, Chioma Ajunwa.

Late sprinter, Sunday Bada, 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist in taekwondo, Chika Chukwumerije, sprinters’ Innocent Egbunike and Blessing Okagbare, weightlifter Ruth Ogbeifo-Balofin and Team Nigeria vice-captain to the last Olympics in Rio, Brazil, Funke Oshonaike, complete the 10 icons.

Quadri

“16 million Nigerians will be expected to identify with this project. Upon signing-up, each person will choose their icon from these 10 stars and will be associated with him or her for the next four years. It will cost N100.00 to belong,” the Chief Executive Officer of the project, Olajide Fashikun, said.

“When athletes start to emerge, they will only compete in our championships from these 10 brands’ names. These community-based processes will bring up 1million kids in five team sports (handball, volleyball, baseball, hockey and basketball) while five sports (athletics, weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis and tennis) will make up the numbers.”

“From 2017, there will be youth leagues where these kids will compete at state, zonal and national levels.”

x-international, Mutiu Adepoju, has said Manchester City youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho, has what it takes to shine when he files out this weekend against Manchester United in a Manchester derby.

Iheanacho is in line to start upfront for Manchester City after the suspension of Argentine striker, Sergio Aguero, and Adepoju believes he has what it takes to shock the red half of Manchester on Saturday.

“Although everything depends on the coach if he will start or not, I believe he can handle the pressure of leading the attack for City'', the former Real Betis star said .

“He has shown over time that he is a good player, so playing against United won’t make any difference to him.

“If you look at his performance against Tanzania, you will know he has come of age, and playing in such high profile games will boost his confidence more.”

He however advised the fans not to put too much pressure on him as he still remains work in progress.

Adepoju opined that with support and proper monitoring, the striker will grow into a player that will rule the game for a long time.

He said: “His game has improved tremendously and he can only get better. But he should not be too castigated when he makes mistakes.

“As a young boy, all he need from the fans is total support. Let’s join hand in helping him to become the type of player we all want him to be.”

Iheanacho scored Super Eagles only goal in the 1-0 defeat of Tanzania at the weekend in an AFCON 2017 qualifier played in Uyo.

Hardwork earns me Eagles recall - Ideye Ajibade Olusesan

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lympiacos of Greece striker Brown Ideye has said he worked hard to make a return to the Super Eagles after close to three years of absence.

The former West Brom forward said that it was difficult for him watching the team on TV and he knew he needed to raisehis game to stand a chance of making a return into the squad.

“I must confess to you that it was tough being away from the team. I was invited for the last friendly games and I got a call up for the Tanzania match.

It is good to play for the team in a competitive match, and to end it with a victory is so amazing.

“I worked hard to get back into the team and I am deter-

mined to help the side achieve its aims. It’s been a long journey getting here, the atmosphere is always amazing,” he said.

The former Sochaux of France player also reacted to the match against Tanzania and said that although he did not score in the encounter, winning was a morale-booster for the Eagles as they begin the quest for a World Cup ticket next month.

“The match against Tanzania was tough. Although there was nothing at stake, we needed the victory to get us in good state for the World Cup qualifiers. I was happy with the way the fans stood by us, they showed that they believe in this group, and I am happy we did not disappoint them,” he said.

Iheanacho (right)

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Brook faces tough task against Golovkin

ell Brook has revealed the sense of "fear" he is feeling as he prepares to challenge Gennady Golovkin on Saturday night.

The 30-year-old steps up two weight divisions to middleweight to challenge the IBF and WBC champion, the fighter considered the most dangerous in the sport.

Kazakhstan's Golovkin has never been taken beyond 11 rounds and

has stopped 32 of his 35 opponents.

Brook will fight 13lbs above the division in which he has built his reputation, but remains confident despite his wariness of the task ahead.

"There is fear with me in this fight, but that's going to make me so sharp on the night," he said ahead of the date at London's 02 Arena.

"Having that fear is healthy, and it's going to be good for me to

be sharp and switched on, on the night.

"This is for me to shock the world, and no better person than the most feared man in boxing. Fighters give titles up to avoid him. People talk about me coming up to this weight: what a win that's going to be.

"I can't wait to shock the world.

I'm passionate about doing something no other British fighter has done.''

Oladipo vows to dazzle at Oklahoma Ajibade Olusesan

O Oladipo (right)

klahoma City Thunder defender Victor Oladapo is ready to take his game to the next level with the club.

He has been undersevedly underrated in the NBA but the former Indiana guard said he was ready to prove his doubters wrong.

Oladipo’s first three seasons has culminated in an average stat line of 15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4 assists. But that went unnoticed because he was stuck in an abysmal Orlando situation. Through it all, Oladipo was still able to establish himself as an elite defender at the age of 23.

“I’ve been working on a little bit of everything – a lot of catch-and-shoot stuff,

a lot of on-the-ball stuff and different things like that. I’m always trying to add little things to my game and improve my repertoire. That’s what I’ve been trying to do,” he said.

“I feel like you’re going to see a lot more from me [in Oklahoma City]. I don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface of how good I really can be. I’m getting better every day and I’m looking forward to [showing] it.

I can still grow way, way more. I’ve only been in the NBA for three years and I’m just getting more and more comfortable every year. The game has been slowing down for me every year and I’m just so much more comfortable out there. I’m just looking forward to getting in the lab with the guys and putting in the work.”

Special Feature 33

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

times of recession

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI, DAN ATORI AND ESTHER SODEKE

ing these rams from Niger Republic and other states where we buy them is a big challenge to us. We also feed these rams every day; so, we try not to run at loss.”

To Abdullahi Mahmud, “what is happening now is an indication that the whole sector is in a mess. I will not be in a hurry to buy ram because the prices are too high. I think I will just wait a while, maybe by the time more rams flood the market, on the Sallah day, I will try to buy because then, the sellers would want to sell at giveaway prices,” he said.

Also in Oyo State, it appears this year’s Sallah celebration is going to be devoid of pomp. This is chiefly because of arrears of salaries that the state government still owes civil servants. Many have been complaining of paucity of funds which might eventually affect purchase of household necessities, such as rams for the Sallah.

Unlike the past years, many tailors and fashion designers, who spoke to Saturday Telegraph complained of fast reduction in the number of people that come to sew clothes in preparation for the Muslim annual festival. Prices of rams, like in many other states, have equally been on the high side compared to last year's.

A resident of Bodija, Kazeem Arogboodu, said: “I will not lie to you; this present government has created a lot of problems for me and my family because all these foodstuffs that are expensive

in the markets now are really affecting my family. I don’t know of other people.

Now, I want to travel for Sallah in my home town, Ife, but I have no money for transport, not to talk of other necessary things that we need.”

The lamentation is not different in Ilorin and its environs. Ram sellers had arrived in major parts of Kwara State in preparation for the annual Sallah bumper sales. A survey by one of our correspondents confirmed that the sellers actually opened shops in various areas of Ilorin as well as in towns like AjaseIpo, Omu-Aran and Offa.

However, prices being quoted were scary. It ranged from N40,000 for a very small ram to N70, 000 for what was described as standard ram and N125, 000 for a ‘gift ram’; the one traditionally given to the Imam in appreciation of his spiritual leadership.

Most sellers who spoke to Saturday Telegraph lamented the slow pace of purchases when compared with the previous years. They, nonetheless, attributed it to the prevailing economic situation in the country. According to one Alhaji Usman, who spoke at Ajase-Ipo, most people are only coming to do window shopping.

But some Muslims are only bidding their time before making the purchase.

“If you have followed the trend, people here always almost want to wait till the last day of the Sallah before buying their

rams because you can be sure that the ones they are selling for N70, 000 may sell for far less,” a woman who took the picture of a N70, 000 ram to show her people at home on why she could not buy, said.

A cleric, who identified himself simply as Alhaji Amusa, told our correspondent that this year’s celebration must be done with much modesty because of the prevailing times. Some Muslims who spoke on the issue also expressed doubt whether they would be able to share food with neighbours during the Sallah as the practice in the past.

One of them, Mallam Sule Ambali, said: “As you can see, everybody is just hanging about, many people don’t get salary. I can tell you that this year, the likelihood that some of us will share food, is remote because what we have at home is not even sufficient. This is no time for celebrations; just pray and stay with your family.”

However, an Islamic scholar and lecturer at the Lagos State University,

Ojo, Dr. Alayinde Yusuph, said there are categories of animals that could be slaughtered for the celebration.

Though, he was quick to also point out that some Yorubas do not believe that cows could qualify to be slaughtered for the holy celebration.

Yusuph said: “Ram is the best specie of the animals considered because it was exactly what was given to Prophet Ibrahim when he was about to slaughter his son, Ismail. But, other species can be slaughtered also. In places like Osun and Oyo states, even in Ilorin, so many people actually use goats for this purpose but the best specie remains the white ram. However, if you try that in Lagos State, a lot of people would not understand you. In any case, cows, camels, rams and goats are all alright for the celebration.”

Reported by Lanre Odukoya, Esther Sodeke (Lagos), Dan Atori (Minna), Biodun Oyeleye (Ilorin), Adeolu Adeyemo (Osogbo) and Sola Adeyemo (Ibadan)

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10 SEPTEMBER 2016

There's no punishment for not slaughtering a ram –Yusuph Dr. Alayinde Yusuf is an Islamic scholar and lecturer at the Lagos State University, Ojo. He said in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA that though slaughtering of ram started with Prophet Ibrahim, it is not compulsory for those who cannot afford the sacrifice.

Ram seems to be synonymous with Salah. Would it be compulsory for Muslims to slaughter a ram in these hard times?

There is no punishment per se.

I'm the chief Imam of a central mosque. At one of my sermons, I said, using a Yoruba proverb that "bi eyan o ba daran, araye kii mo iye t'eyan ni l'owo" and I told them not to daran. By buying ram from Mallam without full payment, the seller would be looking for you here and there. To you, you may be trying to observe an important rite, but to others you're putting yourself in problem. It is sunnat, it is not waaji. Waaji means obligatory. Sunnat means voluntary. If you cannot observe this year's, prepare for another year because the economic situation in the country may not allow for it. Even those who slaughter up to four rams may slaughter only one if at all they would.

What are the things that shouldn't be done in the name of celebrating?

The sacrifice shouldn't be extraordinary. A situation whereby you buy beer, alcoholic drinks and the likes, you are not celebrating, rather you are only putting yourself into trouble. All that needs to be done is to sacrifice the ram. It was quoted in the holy Quran that the blood of the ram does not reach Almighty Allah let alone the flesh of the ram. It is your nearness to Almighty Allah in terms of your observations that is needed. When you are celebrating, try to celebrate it accordingly. It must be moderated.

What is the symbolism of the celebration?

It was narrated both in the Holy Quran as well as in other holy books that Prophet Ibrahim while begging Almighty Allah to be given child, he promised that if he is given a child, he would sacrifice the child.

At the end of the day, he was given a child named Ismail. But he forgot what he had said so later on, Allah reminded him that I have given you a child but you also should do what you promised to do. Prophet Ibrahim decided on that and then contacted the child. The child submitted to him saying that if he had made the promise to Almighty Allah then he should go ahead. They were disturbed by Satan. The first time, Satan appeared to him not to go ahead but Prophet Ibrahim shunned Satan. The second time, Satan appeared to the son. The son said, ‘since he is my father, he can do whatever he likes with me.’ So the third time, he appeared to both of them saying that if your father cannot listen, why can't you listen?

The father and the child ignored Satan's advice and decided to slaughter the child. During the process, the child was replaced with a big white ram and that was how it started.

'My people will lose millions of naira this year' Alhaji Usman Adamu is the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Kwara State Chapter. He told BIODUN OYELEYE in Ilorin that it is not compulsory to slaughter ram when you cannot afford one. Excerpts: What is the situation of things in the ram market as Sallah approaches?

Honestly this year people are suffering from lack of money. Everything has jumped up and yet there is no money.

Things are expensive now, especially rams. The rams people bought last year for about N50,000 is now N100,000 and they don’t even have the money to buy.

People are complaining everywhere about lack of money. Even food to eat has become a problem. If you go to the market, one bag of guinea corn is now N10,000 and rice that the poor people used to depend on is today beyond their reach. Yesterday I was at Abuja and even there people were complaining too. To transport rams from the North to anywhere down South is very expensive and my people are complaining seriously. From Jebba to Bode Saadu, that

The rams people bought last year for about N50,000 is now N100,000 and they don’t even have the money to buy

section of the road is very bad. Yesterday I left Abuja about 7.00am and got to Ilorin after 10.pm because of the traffic on that section of the road. All of these add to make these products expensive.

How are your people coping with the situation?

It is a very difficult time for them now. I can’t be specific about the cost of getting rams down here now but I can tell you that everything has doubled because if you have N1 million last year you could get a trailer load of rams but this year you can’t get that even with N4 million. Just go out there and price rams, and you’ll hear the prices they will quote for you. You can’t get a small one for N30,000. They will tell you it is either N40,000 or N45,000. Even at that, people don’t have the money to buy. Except for those who are rich; I think most poor people this year will not celebrate Sallah with rams.

Is ram compulsory for Eid-el-Kabir celebrations?

Well in Islam, God says He will not force someone to do what he cannot do.

So, if you don’t have money to buy it doesn’t go and borrow to get one because God will not be happy with you; God doesn’t like that. If you don’t have money for ram go and buy chicken, slaughter and eat with your family, it is acceptable. If you cannot afford to

Adamu

Yusuph

buy rice, go and buy guinea corn and make local pudding and enjoy with your family. God will not force anyone to do what is beyond him/her.

Will ram dealers lose anything to the situation?

Honestly, some of our people will lose a lot of millions this year. They will lose because you go to the North to buy rams at expensive prices, you hire trailers to bring them down here, you spend money to buy feeds for them and you also hire guards to look after them for you and yet you don’t have people coming forward to buy. How would they not lose millions? One of my friends brought 307 rams from Niger Republic yesterday (Wednesday) and as at the end of the day, he had only sold three. He managed to sell those three to raise money to buy feeds for the remaining ones. Again, if you cannot sell the rams before the Sallah, you have to transport them back to the North again at a huge cost. That is our predicament now.

What is the solution to these challenges?

Well, we can only appeal to the government to come to our aid because people are really suffering. From my experience, every morning people come to my house seeking assistance, and when you give them a token even if it’s N2,000 it will look to them as if it is N500,000. They will pray and pray and pray for you. Government should do something for the poor people because honestly, poor Nigerians are in trouble at present. There are some of our people who borrowed money from banks to do this business but today, they are in trouble because they can’t pay. I just appeal to government to come and help us because when you borrow money from the bank and you cannot sell, the bank only count time and when you fail, the consequence is serious.

Showbiz 35

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY Timi Dakolo and wife,Busola

W

ajo is a dance initiative borne out of a passion to engage and entertain Nigerian working class youth through various facets of dance. Wajo gathers its audience, to teach, inform, entertain them and create an avenue for them to network and bond at no costs.

Wajo takes place every last Thursday of every month at the Freedom Park Lagos. The originator and convener, Seun Adeleye, stages this event which is free of charge currently due to his passion for dance and for the Nigerian youth.

This recent episode saw youths from various walks of life and calibre attend a face-off dance battle by pre-reg-

08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Unveiling WAJO, the social dance initiative istered dancers who battled for the stage title "Lord of the stage 2016" and Cash Prize N150,000 which was awarded to the win-

ner.

The face-off took place on August 25 at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

Locking Sion dance group

Family, friends remember late Okewumi Oyetunde

F

Timi Dakolo, wife, stun as Blue Pictures, Crimson Multimedia hold Sully screening

B

lue Pictures, leading film distribution and consulting company based in Nigeria with a link to West African territories, in conjunction with Crimson Multimedia Limited and Filmhouse Cinemas, held a VIP media screening for the 2016 gripping Hollywood drama entitled, Sully.

The movie screened at the newly opened Filmhouse IMAX Theatre had celebrities like Timi Dakolo, who was there with his beautiful wife. Others were Bryan Okwara, Funmi Holder, Ayoola Ayodeji, Marvelous Odiete, amongst others in attendance. Starring Tom Hanks as Capt. Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, the movie also stars three-time Academy Award nominee, and three-time Tony Award nominee, Laura Liney, as Sully's wife, Aaron Eckhart, Jerry Ferrara, Autumn Reeser, Sam Huntington and Max Adle.

‘Sully’ tells the story of an American pilot, Sullenberger, who heroically glided his disabled plane US Airways Flight 1549 onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers onboard. However, even as Sully was being praised by the public and the media for the unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.

The movie which is based on Sully’s 2009 book, "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters," is produced and directed by Clint Eastwood.

Speaking after the movie, Ben Raynor, General Manager, Filmhouse Cinemas, explained that this is the first IMAX in Nigeria and the whole of

West Africa and that it is the next step; the next big thing in entertainment.

Explaining the edge of the IMAX screen to others, Raynor says, “The view is bigger, the sound is clearer-not necessarily louder but clearer and you feel every part of the movie. Everything is positioned in such a way that you get optimum view. Whether you sit in the front, the back, by the side or in the middle, your whole vision is of the film. And then when you bring 3D to the whole mix, the 3D comes out better with IMAX.” He concluded by saying that Filmhouse will be opening soon with IMAX screens in other parts of Nigeria.

Speaking after the premiere, Season 12 MTN Project Fame winner, Ayoola Ayodeji, said “It was a lovely experience watching Sully on IMAX and I will want to see the technology replicated in every part of the country. To think that the events in Sully actually happened to people in real life is quite humbling especially in a world where millions of lives have been lost due to similar incidents, I am just inspired.”

Filmhouse started operation yesterday and will be opening from 10:00 am everyday while there will be late viewings on weekends. Blue Pictures is a leading film distribution and consulting company based in Nigeria with a link to West African territories.

Since its launch in 2006, Blue Pictures has established a good working relationship with independent studios worldwide and act as sub distribution consultant to the major studios like Walt Disney, Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox.

Okewumi

amily members, friends and business associates of Mrs. Victoria Oyetunde Okewumi (nee Balogun) converged to mark the first anniversary of her transition to glory today. Okewumi, a Lagos businesswoman, died on September 9, 2015. She is survived by her husband, Elder Amos Oluboye Okewumi, and six children – Apostolic Mother Yemisi Akinadewo, Mrs. Tayo Ogoigbe, Mrs. Tosin Adeoti, Mr. Damilola Okewumi, Miss Adedoyin Okewumi and Miss Busola Okewumi.

The memorial service will hold at Christ Pentecostal Evangelical Mission, Ijegun, Lagos while 'Celebration of Life' Party held at Elder Okewumi's residence, Olu Okewumi Street, Ijegun, Lagos. Thereafter a thanksgiving service will hold tomorrow at the same church.

Top socialite, Ajibola Tobi-Lawal, marks 50th birthday with fanfare

I

n a world that sometimes seems to be completely youth-oriented, there's a lot to be said for reaching the age of 50. Life begins at 40, they say. And it only gets better from 50.

It was Mrs. Ajibola Tobi-Lawal’s 50th birthday on Saturday, August 20. And the Lagos society scene stood still for the superlative soiree. The beautiful wife of society

big dude, Tobi Lawal, amidst friends and well-wishers, marked the special day tagged ‘Fifty & Fabulous Highly Favoured’ with pomp.

The event which held at The Knot Centre, Tobi Lawal Street, Herbert Macaulay Road, Yaba, Lagos, witnessed the presence of who-is-who in the high society circuit.

L-R: Hon. Rasheed Makinde, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly; Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; celebrant, Mrs. Ajibola Tobi Lawal with Husband, Mr. Tobi Lawal and Hon. Tunde Braimoh

36

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

TV&Radio

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

with Deborah Ocheni

This weekend TELEVISION

WAP TV

Giwa

Part-time legislature:

T

A timely option?

oday on STV is a current affairs programme where eminent personalities are interviewed; it is aired on Silverbird Television daily at 7am This edition of the programme focused on the process of cutting down the cost of law making owing to the present economic condition of the country and has Victor Giwa, legal practitioner, as the guest speaker.

The current economic reality is the major reason why Nigeria is thinking of part-time legislature; speaking on the process of cutting cost of legislature, Giwa said: “Cutting cost is very simple. First of all, look at the allowances and some of the allowances we have are personal assistant allowance, domestic staff allowance, utility allowance then vehicle allowance.

I don’t know what is utility and vehicle allowance neither do I know the difference between personal assistant allowance and domestic allowance. As a matter of fact, what normally happens is that they get this money within those items and the money goes directly to them.

They also have what is called hard

times allowance, how do you use Nigeria taxpayers’ money for hard times allowance? If those allowances are cut off, it will not affect anything in legislative process because the National Assembly has their staff who are pensionable but for the individual legislator, they don’t need all these staff because some of them are their wives, boyfriends/girlfriends and all of that; so the money still goes back to their pocket. What we need to do is to first of all look at those allowances like newspaper, hard times, wardrobe, sleeping and standing allowances we are removing. So, the best way to go about the whole thing is to reduce the allowances and also reduce the salary to make it less attractive.

Speaking on legislators’ performance if all the things that excite them are removed, Giwa added: “Who say legislators will not do what they are expected to do when we have a part time legislature? The fundamental issue is that it should be service based.”

Giwa stated that the role of legislature is proposing laws, passing the laws and oversight function. “Basically, they make laws by proposing bills, then carry out oversight function but what have we got as a result of

oversight from the National Assembly? How often do they oversight and how has the economy being improved as a result of oversight of members of the National Assembly? Can this oversight not be done periodically?” he asks.

He identified full time legislature as a problem of luxury of corruption.

“It is because we are so luxurious in Nigeria; we have luxury of time, finance, resources and corruption; so what we have as full time legislature is the product of luxury of corruption”.

J

Joyce

Saturday 6:30 Crocadoo 7:30 The Indomitable 8:30 Pocahontas 9:05 Arambara 9:30 Village Square 11:05 Snakes and Lizards 12:00 Soundcity Top Choice

Videos 1:00 Hitz 1:30 Pavitra Rishta 2:35 Village Square 4:10 Movie 5:35 Los Rey 6:20 Spice Most 7:00 Headline News 7:10 Footprints 8:00 Pulse 234 8:30 Spider 9:00 Spice Specials 9:30 Soundcity Party Mix 10:30 Omnisport Sunday 8:00 Hutos 9:05 Arambara 9:35 Village Square 11:05 Snakes and Lizards 12:00 Soundcity Global Count

down 1:00 Hitz 1:30 Pavitra Rishta

2:40 4:10 5:35 6:20 7:05 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 10:25 10:50

Programme summary

Sunday Cool Request Cool FM 96.9 Sunays @7pm

It is a request programme where songs are requested through phone calls and the social media.

The Great Debate Nigeria Info 99.3

Sunday @ 8:30 am It is a current affair programme that focuses on controversial and incisive debates on trending issues.

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

Cool FM’s Joyce

oyce Odichinma Onyemuwa popularly known as Joyce has been in radio for over five years.

She is an avid music lover and pianist and enjoys the opportunity of introducing new perspectives on life through her afternoon radio programme on Cool FM 96.9 station.

This international business graduate of the University of South Africa lives and breathes philosophy

ONTV

Saturday 06:00 Wap-Alaffs Report 06:30 Popular Songs 07:00 Kookoorokoo 09:30 Indomitable 10:00 Sport Arena 11:00 Awokogbon 12:30 Nnena and Friends 01:00 D Beat Zone 02:00 Destiny River Report 02:30 Reel Naija Spare my Life O4:30 Teju Baby Face Show 4:00 World News 4:30 Turning Point 5:00 Personalities Places

and Events 5:30 Our Ladies Our Pride 6:00 Hitlist & Cruzing 6:30 Making of a Chef 7:00 The Valley Between 8:00 AIT News Hour 9:00 Tales of Eve 10:00 Taste of Love 12:00 Sunday Homily Sunday 06:00 Wap-Alaffs Report 06:30 Turning Point 07:00 The Relevant Church 07:30 Kookoorokoo 09:30 700 Club 10:00 Awokogbon Kogbodeye 11:30 X2D 12:00 Indian Series Omnibus 01:30 The Benjamins O2:00 Video Fashion 02:30 Thousand Laugh Xtra 04:30 Reel Naija Spare My Life 6:00 Igbo Series 6:30 Clinic Matters 7:00 I Love Nigeria 8:00 Knorr Taste Quest 9:00 Tales of Eve

although she sees herself only as a thinker.

She anchors Sunday Cool Request with Joyce on Sundays from 7 pm to 1 am. The show kicks off with Cool FM’s recorded show “COOL BEST 20”. It’s a two-hour rundown of the top 20 songs on the charts around the world and rocking Cool FM’s airplay; Joyce then takes over from 9 pm till 1 am by playing only request songs.

Village Square Movie Los Rey Glam Mamas Before 30 Saints Sunday Paparazzi Show Spider On The Couch Omnisports Movies

RADIO

Lagos Traffic Radio (96.1) Saturday 6:30 Regular Traffic Updates 8:00 Sports Programme 8:30 Your Side Mirror 11:00 Automedics 12:00 Lunch Time Waka 2:00 Bosenlo 4:00 Return Trip with Regular

Traffic Update 6:00 Traffic Update 8:00 Music and Traffic Update 9:00 Night Wave

Sunday 6:30 Regular Traffic Updates 8:00 Sports Programme 8:30 Your Side Mirror 11:00 Automedics 12:00 Lunch Time Waka 2:00 Bosenlo 4:00 Return Trip with Regular

Traffic Update 6:00 Traffic Update 8:00 Music and Traffic Update

Nigeria Info (99.3) Saturday 5:00 Rise to Wisdom 6:30 Newspaper Review 7:00 This is the News 7:45 Vox Populii 8:00 News Update 8:30 The Celebrity 9:00 Business News 9:30 World News 10:05 Sports Drive 10:30 Headline News 10:35 The Situation Room

Sunday 5:00 Rise to Wisdom 6:30 Newspaper Review 7:00 This is the News 7:45 Vox Populii 8:00 News Update 8:30 The Celebrity 9:00 Business News 9:30 World News 10:05 Sports Drive 10:30 Headline News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

37

The Arts

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

New direction as Araism movement commemorates anniversary T

Tony Okuyeme

Patterns of Existence - Acrylic on tyre by George Egunjobi

Akachawa - Acrylic on canvas by Bolarinwa Olowo

he 15th exhibition series of the Araism Movement titled Araism Movement 15 opens today at the Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos.

The exhibition which will run till September 17, parades 13 members of the Movement led by its founder and inventor of the technique, Mufu Onifade and two guest artists.

The exhibiting artists include Abiola Mautin Akande, Oludotun Popoola, Oluwanbe Amodu, George Egunjobi, Kesa Babatunde, and Bolarinwa Olowo, Jonathan Imafidor, Adeniran Odumbo, Tope Adebayo, Oluwasegun Phillips. They are joined by two new entrants into the Movement: Olabode Olaoluwa, and Emmanuel Eweje. The two guest artists are Fidelis Odogwu whose exploration of metal gives a new direction to Araism, and Ebong Ekwere, who employs fibre glass to interpret his own idea of Araism.

The show, Onifade said in a statement, is planned to celebrate the Movement’s 10th year anniversary.

“It is the first time in the 10-year history of the Movement that guest artists are included in its exhibition series. The show will parade a total of 61 artworks - 57 by the 13 members, and four by the two guest artists.

Although Araism painting technique, invented by Onifade, was launched in 1988 with his solo exhibition of 32 paintings, the Ara-

ism Movement was established and formally launched on July 22, 2006 with an exhibition of paintings in Araism technique by Onifade who founded the group and five of his disciples namely Olaniyi Omojuwa, Tope Oguntuase, Dotun Popoola, Abiola Mautin Akande and Jonathan Ikpoza. The epoch-making event was held at the Bruce Onobrakpeya’s Harmattan Workshop Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos. That maiden exhibition was employed to re-launch the phenomenon of the painting technique to the sensibilities of artists, art writers, gallery owners, the arts community and the general public.

With the emergence

Alubata Acrylic on dish

by Dotun Popoola

of the Movement and its activities in the last 10 years, it becomes much easier to distinguish between the technique of, and styles in, Araism. This is made possible by an array of styles developed by Onifade and other outstanding members of the Movement.

“In the last 10 years, Araism Movement has developed its membership base, and successfully expanded its scope.

So far, it has staged 14 local exhibitions (nine in Lagos, three in Abuja) and one international exhibition held at the Studio 18 in the Pines, Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA, Onifade in 2014.

We must preserve Yoruba oral narrations – Tela

I

t was an alluring, colourful celebration of the rich Yoruba cultural heritage last Sunday at Ethnic Heritage Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos. The event was the first anniversary celebration of the quarterly cultural programme, Yoruba Lakotun, which was marked with pomp and heavily decorated with the talking drum and the beaded gourd (sekere) because of their significance as royal musical instrument that elicits excitement at all celebrations.

The special guest at the programme, Pa Lasunkanmi Tela, author of Egun Ori Ikunle, who spoke about the way in which Yoruba Oral Narrations have been distorted by many people for their selfish gains, said some of the distorted narrations caused by colonialism and other selfish reasons are Yoruba history, traditions and even the culture.

Tela averred that: “The Yoruba nation should be united since we are all progenitors of Oduduwa. It is unnecessary for people to tweak histories of their communities in order to pursue their selfish ambition because it would mislead a lot of generations after them and engrain hatred. The damage done by the colonialist

still abounds in the ways in which names of communities and families have been changed to suit their understanding.”

He also called for the preservation of various Yoruba traditions which, he said, are gradually fading away. These traditions include building reputable family names cum legacies; respect for elders; background check of the families before marriage; the dignity of hard work and contentment.

Another feature of the evening was the Bata dance class led by Khalid Ayanshina, the renowned Eesa Egungun chant exponent and dancer, from Oyo town.

Ayanshina noted that Yoruba oral chant is a specialist art that has different chants.

Some of the specialist chants are ‘ekun Iyawo’; ‘Rara’; ‘Ijala’ among others. Also, Edaoto Agbeniyi, the renowned guitarist and folklorist, was on the bandstand dishing out melodious folk songs to the delight of the audience.

The host of the event, Olutayo Irantiola, dedicated the anniversary edition to the media houses that educate and inform Nigerians about the different cultures in the country. He encouraged the

(L-R) COO, Lork Enterprise LLP, Mama Iyabo Aboaba; host and convener of Yoruba Lakotun, Olutayo Irantiola; Pa Tela; Khalid Ayanshina; Beriola Ayanshina and Edaoto at the event.

media to carry out investigative research to produce ingenious documentaries that would enhance the knowledge of Nigerians about their immediate environment.

Cultural enthusiasts at the event were drawn from corporate and social Nigeria.

‘Yoruba Lakotun’ is a quarterly live audience participatory programme where different creative arts are done as well as

an interview session with a Yoruba writer.

Ethnic Heritage Centre is a foremost learning centre for the learning of Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and French languages thereby exposing them to the cultural elements surrounding those languages, “promoting and preserving our cultural heritage. This is achieved through a modern, creative and innovative method of learning”.

38

FRED NWAOZOR

Y

oung man,” Mr. Ama Madu interrupted.

“What a hell are you talking about?” He said as he approached where the intruder stood.

The crowd was still in silence awe. Everyone seemed like an electrocuted being.

“Maybe you should ask your wife,” Mr. Kedu unfriendly suggested. “I think that would save us from a big stress.” He added, looking firmly at the face of Mr. Ama who stood about a metre away from him.

“My wife…?” Mr. Ama said, shocked.

“You heard me clearly.” responded Mr. Kedu.

Mr. Ama looked at Chizoba who appeared so devastated as she held her son, Chibuzo firmly.

She attempted to face elsewhere the moment her hubby turned back to take a look at her but she was emotionally trapped, thus she stood still, fearfully facing Mr. Ama. “What a hell is going on here?” he asked her. “Can someone talk to me?” He reiterated, looking around.

Chizoba left the arena immediately and ran into her matrimonial home, carrying her cute baby in her hands.

Mr. Kedu smiled at her reaction. “I guess she cannot withstand the shame.” He thought aloud.

“This drama is turning into something else.” Mr. Ama observed in a loud tone, also left the crowded arena to meet with his departed wife.

Okechukwu who had been watching dumbfoundedly, followed his father into the house.

At this point, everyone in the gathering was left with no option than to take their leave for their respective residents. Mr. Kedu joined them, though followed a different path in order not to mix with any member of the exited crowd.

While the guests were leaving in various groups, they were filled with several thoughts, insinuations, mixed feelings, and what have you. They couldn’t believe such a thing transpired at an occasion they were specially invited to attend.

Notable personalities in their midst felt so disappointed and depressed; according to them, Mr. Ama had been designed with an uncalled indelible mark that could usher any man into his unsolicited early grave. They weren’t really sad that they were embarrassed; rather, they felt for their highly respected fellow kinsman (Mr. Ama) who just witnessed an unspeakable ordeal.

The moment Mr. Ama met Chizoba in their matrimonial room, she began to cry profoundly. By this time, Chibuzo was lying in his cot. “Tell me it’s not true?” He told her.

Okechukwu arrived at the room in a jiffy.

“It is true…” She hinted aloud while seated on the bed, choked by sobs.

Mr. Ama alongside his son was

ShortStory

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

frednwaozor@gmail.com +2348028608056 Follow: @mediambassador

Fearsome melodrama II

so shocked over the hint.

“What is true?” Mr. Ama shouted.

“The child is his,” she eventually confessed. “I am so sorry…”

Mr. Ama was speechless; Okechukwu astonishly left the room for his. “So you have been deceiving me all these while?” Mr. Ama managed to utter while standing closely to where she was seated.

“Honey, is not what you think.” She replied.

“Honey what?” Mr. Ama enquired. “Who’s your honey?” He reiterated, paused. “Before I turn my back, you have packed out of this house.” He urged furiously, dashed out of the room for an unknown destination.

She fell on the floor, continued sobbing.

When Mr. Ama returned to the room from the few seconds selfexile, she was still crying helplessly on the floor. “So you are still here, woman?” He said, went for her luggage coupled with her

Mr. Kedu came to meet with Chizoba to reconcile with her. He was still very much interested to walk her down the aisle other belongings and threw it outside the house.

She went to grab him while he was carrying out the mission but he forcefully pushed her away; that was when the reality dawned on her, thus she needed not to be told by a seer that that was fire on the mountain. In view of this, she sluggishly left the house with her baby as well as luggage.

Mr. Ama Madu who was at this point seated on the bed felt like

strangulating himself, couldn’t believe it was a reality. Within a few minutes, Okechukwu joined him in the room, sat closely with him and began to console him while crossed his right arm on his (Mr. Ama’s) waist. “It’s okay, dad.” he enjoined. “All will be fine, okay?”

Mr. Ama looked at him, felt relieved and nodded. “Thank you, son.” He appreciated hesitantly.

At least, with Okechukwu he still had something to console himself with. Hence, he thought it wise to summon courage and forge ahead with his miserable life, though the injury incurred some minutes back at that event was something that might not heal throughout his lifetime.

When Chizoba got to her paternal home with the baby, her father Mr. Amadi whom was also present at the shameful ceremony alongside his wife felt like disowning her. “You have brought an untold disgrace to this family.”

He ranted as she walked into the compound in a tattered mood.

“You have turned yourself into a forbidden child.” The old man added fiercely.

His wife Mrs. Amadi felt for Chizoba. “Is okay now…” She urged her husband. “After all, she’s still your daughter.”

“My daughter?” Mr. Amadi said, marveled. “Is that all you could say?” He added, paused.

“Is this a conspiracy or what?”

“Conspiracy..?” His wife quarreled. “How do you mean?”

“How can you call such a girl my daughter?” quoth Mr. Amadi.

“Weren’t you at that occasion, or you didn’t see what happened?”

Mrs. Amadi sighed heavily, turned to Chizoba. “My dear, come.” She urged her.

Chizoba walked to her leaving her luggage behind, still carrying her baby.

Her mother cuddled her and took the baby from her.

Mr. Amadi angrily left them at the balcony and walked to his room.

Since she was the one who encouraged her to get married to Mr. Ama despite the fact that she was pregnant for Mr. Kedu, she (Mrs. Amadi) was left with no choice than to embrace her daughter whose plan had crashed unexpectedly.

The following day, Mr. Kedu came to meet with Chizoba to reconcile with her. He was still very much interested to walk her down the aisle regardless of the inconvenience she had cost him.

And he was at that moment ready to settle down having become a bit financially stable unlike when she left him for another man.

When he arrived at her place, she couldn’t welcome him; she was of the view that he had already cost her enormous pains, thus she wasn’t willing to incur more. But Mr. Kedu let her see reason he took that very step; according to him, that was the only way he could reclaim her.

After every altercation, having understood that she really erred coupled with her mother’s advice, she agreed to marry the rejected Mr. Kedu after tendering unalloyed apology to him for her stupidity.

Three months on, they tied the ostensibly inevitable nuptial knots.

Indeed, the fearsome melodrama had turned into a glorious moment, though Mr. Ama Madu was still wallowing in an untold grief.

Fascinatingly, that Chizoba’s childhood pal in the person of Miss Dalu who disclosed to Mr. Kedu that she (Chizoba) was pregnant for him, happened to be the chief bridesmaid of the wedding ceremony.

• Nwaozor novelist, playwright and poet, is Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research & Career Development - Owerri

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

Travel & Tourism Jam-ring doughnut

CHEF'S CORNER

T

Oge Ndubunma ayo Bello is a pastry chef with Savry Fast Foods located in Fagba, Iju area of Lagos State. The Ondo State-born chef has been with the outfit in the last eight years and described his working experience as enriching and pleasurable as catering business has always been his first love and business.

He certainly took after his mother, who is also a caterer and under whose tutelage he grew and developed the flair for culinary business.

As a result of this he wanted to study Tourism and Hotel Management but after many failed attempts to get admission to pursue the course he finally settled for Computer Science at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).

Despite this, Bello never gave up on his dream as after graduation he found his way to the sector as a caterer. Also, he did not stop at that as he had developed himself by reading extensively about hospitality. He is currently studying Environmental Science and Resource Management at the Open University.

He delights our weekend palate with one of his special recipes, jam-ring doughnut.

Ingredients • Flour - 500 kilogrammes • Sugar - 100 kilogrammes • Egg - one • Margarine/butter – 50 kilogrammes • Yeast (to raise) - one teaspoon • Milk - two tablespoon

• Salt – one pinch • Water • Oil (Vegetable oil) for frying • Jam Preparation: • Pour the all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, egg(s), yeast, milk, margarine into the mixer then turn on the mixer on low speed. Gradually add the water as you mix.

(Ensure you watch your water as

ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA Editor, TRAVEL&TOURISM iroandy@ymail.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

you add). Continue to check the dough as it mixes until it reaches the texture you want. Then increase the speed.

• Allow the mixer do a thorough kneading of the dough. Knead the dough till it is smooth and no longer sticking to

the mixer bowl. Dust the dough with a little flour in the mixer while it is still kneading so that the dough won’t stick to the bowl.

• Dust your table top with some flour then remove the dough from the mixer to the already dusted table. Cut the dough into smaller chunks. Fold and mold into the size you want, it should not be too big though.

• If you want ring doughnut you can use doughnut cutter to achieve that by pressing down to flatten the already molded dough. Arrange on a flour dusted tray. Leave to proof in a warm place. When the proofing is completed you’ll see that the dough has increased in size then it is ready for frying.

• Heat the oil to about 180 degree Celsius then deep fry the dough in the oil till it is golden brown or brown in colour depending on how brown you want it for between eight and 10 minutes.

• Remember to flip both sides while frying in order to achieve equal brown colour on both sides. Scoop out into strainer to drain the oil.

• Dress with sugar (if you are the sugar loving type). Bore a small hole in the doughnut, pipe the jam into it.

And that’s it.

It is ready to Bello be served.

TRAVEL BEATS

Tour Brokers Int'l introduces Bleisure Travel

A new travel trend, which is known as Bleisure Travel, offering business travellers the opportunity to combine a rich leisure and entertainment treats with their business itinerary is now in the offing with Tour Brokers International (BTI) popularising the trend in Nigeria.

According to BTI, Bleisure which is a most economical way to travel and enjoy the best of any destination, is a perfect fit for Nigerian business travellers considering the present economic situation of the country where every business is looking at cost effective travels.

Bleisure is a combination of business and leisure travels that is a trip that is originally for business but accommodated leisure activities. Business and leisure are placed side by side so that you have even while still on your business, it said, disclosing that it has put together different packages across the different destinations of the world, including Nigeria, for the benefits of business travellers.

39

Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja (middle), with some pilgrims of the first batch of NCPC 2016 youth and family pilgrimage at the arrival point of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, today.

Ethiopian Airlines to fly Moroni, Comoros Ethiopian Airlines is set to expand his global operations with flights to Moroni, Comoros, effective October 30 using its latest acquired aircraft, B737-800 New Generation with sky interior.

Moroni, which is capital city of the Union of Comoros in the Indian Ocean, is the largest city in the country and seat of government. The flights to Moroni will be operated thrice weekly via the airlines hub, Bole International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

According to the Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, the new operation will contribute positively to the development of the continent: “We are thrilled to spread our wings farther to the Co-

Travel Personality Mafo Victoria Waniko: I do what matters to me

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moros Islands. We believe our flights to Moroni and elsewhere in our beloved continent, Africa, contribute positively to the overall development of the continent, and serve as a critically essential vehicle for the flow of investment, trade and tourism. ‘‘Hence, with the new service, passengers to and from Moroni will find convenient and hassle free connection to destinations in Ethiopian wide route network to 95 cities in five continents with a minimum layover at our main hub, Addis Ababa. In the just ended fiscal year, African cities like Cape Town, Gaborone, Goma, Yaoundé and Durban joined Ethiopian vast intra-African network. Moroni will be Ethiopian’s 54th African destination.’’

Gren – Business Dimension’s executive tour to Washington DC Gren – Business has announced its planned executive business tour package to Washington DC, USA. The weeklong tour is in partnership with Private Sector Liaison Officers (PSLO) Network for the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) 2016 event, which is slated to hold between November 13 and 19.

The focus of the trip, according to the Lead Principal Partner of Gren – Business Dimension, Rosemary Akaette, is on exploring opportunities in the agricultural sector. She stated that PSLOs from Alberta, Austria, Chicago, Saskachewan and Spain are involved with the joint mission, spanning an in-depth programme with various IFIs such as the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank.

Agriculture companies from around the world that are looking for partners and details on IFI financed projects in the agriculture sector will be in attendance. The mission is specifically designed to provide an op portunity for the private sector. The sectors on focus, as revealed by Akaette include: Agricultural water management (irrigation and drainage services); building farmers’ preparedness and resilience to emergencies; commercialisation of smallholders and increasing productivity in a climate resilient way and expanding livestock value chains.

Hospitality Hospitality

Destination

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Villa Westown AngeliaHotels: Hotel: Offering Enticesa with homely bumper treat with Ramadan a difference offerings

Nigeria Tourism: Stakeholders Akwaaba 2016: Preps for point pathway to growth a buoyant African p.42 tourism broth

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Growing up he pretty and young dazzling beauty queen, whose look is somewhat a blend of her parents’ looks, admits that growing up she was influenced by her parents whom she is very fond of: “My parents influenced me in a lot of ways and there are elements and a blend of both of them in me.”

But however, she lives her own life and not under their shadows. She says, “I am my own person. I have my own individual distinctive personality,” adding that, “I took certain features from my mother and certain others from my father which make it hard for people to quickly figure out who I look most like and maybe that's why I am probably the most good looking among them.”

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

MAFO VICTORIA WANIKO

I do what matters to me

Mafo Victoria Waniko, a former Miss Tourism International Nigeria 2014 and model speaks to ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on her experience on the world runway and how she is applying it to enriching her life and those of others

TRAVEL PERSONALITY crown she eventually won.

Furthermore, she reveals her altruistic belief in the intrinsic power of a beauty crown: “It was an avenue to add substance in any way I could which is my watchword. It is not all about image and carriage for me and even though my parents did not support me in that aspect as they placed high value on education.

“So, modelling and pageantry probably are frivolous to them but with recent happenings however, they seemed more opened minded about it. I think the opportunity of representing Nigeria at Miss Tourism International World Final seemed to have changed their minds.”

Having the opportunity to wear the beauty crown and then represent Nigeria at the global stage, she says “was very thrilling of course with obstacles here and there but I will always be thankful of the opportunity I was given. It came with its blessings.”

Choice of Mass Communication Her choice to study Mass Communication, she reveals, is something spurred by her innate love for writing, her outgoing and inquisitive nature as well the flair to communicate and express herself both in spoken and written words.

“I wrote as a child. It was a form of expression for me and it gave me the chance to write what I could not say. I wanted to learn how to write and communicate better. I also realised it interested me and seem a good fit for my outgoing and curious personality.

“I like to be knowledgeable about usual and unusual facts of life and things. I like to be insightful about various subjects such as history, politics, environment, nature, health and wellness. So, I didn't mind when my dad told me to put in for Mass Communication in my JAMB after secondary school as I felt it appealed most to me and mirrored more of my personality. ...it gave me a voice “It has been interesting reading the course. It is relevant and gives one a voice in various forms to add value and make an impact in the society. It also helps to increase confidence and assertiveness, learn new things and be intelligent. You also become more objective as that is an important trait a media practitioner should have.”

Being on the world stage exposes you to different opportunities Being on the world stage at Kuala Lumpur with other young women of her age from across the different countries of the world, she admits, exposed her to interesting people and opened a window of opportunity for her.

“Meeting new and interesting people is always fun. Young women from all over the world with their own interpretation and different orientation about life, culture and other issues, you get to understand human beings better and how they behave.

I like travelling and exploring Taking part in Miss Tourism beauty pageant for her seems a most natural thing to do as she reveals that “traveling is one of my hobbies especially somewhere exotic. The feeling of exploring, experiencing new places and making wonderful memories is something dear to me.

“I had been on both international and local trips before Miss Tourism International so I was a bit knowledgeable on Nigeria tourism but being Miss Tourism made me more acknowledgeable about it and I am still getting more information and awareness about it till now.”

Perfect built for a beauty crown and the runway Without be immodest, Waniko certainly flaunts her pretty and fascinating looks as she possess stunning statistics, which even from her childhood made many to refer to her as a beauty queen.

“Aside having the look and appearance of a beauty queen and that of a model which I was told constantly by people, it was a way for me to have a platform; the fashion and beauty industry; to make a mark in the lives of people,” she discloses of her decision to enter for Miss Tourism International Nigeria in 2014, a

BACKGROUND

Waniko

Mafo Victoria Waniko, who was born in Kaduna but has her ancestral root in Kogi State, is beauty and brilliance personified and has never failed to put those qualities and many more innate talents possessed by her to good course. A former Miss Tourism International Nigeria (2014/2015), she represented the country at the Miss Tourism International Beauty Pageant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2014, where she emerged as the only African beauty queen among the top 10 rated finalists.

A Mass Communication graduate from both Abuja University and Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, Waniko, who is also a model, has since devoted herself to the promotion of Nigeria’s rich tourism and cultural heritage, serving as tourism ambassador and completely devoted to the enhancement of the African child rights.

Though born in Kaduna State, she grew up in Abuja with her parents and other siblings, she describes herself as an outgoing person whose love for the outdoors is very amazing.

“I was a sensitive and imaginative child who liked to ask a lot of questions. My childhood and adolescent period had both the mixture of sweet and bad memories,” she says of her growing up days.

“Things like this give you exposure and opportunity to do other things. You get to interact and be acquitted with people you usually won't easily meet. It is an avenue for open doors that will advance you in terms of your goals in life. It just generally makes access and connection to advancing your career and goals easier and better. Like in my case, the best is yet to come and Miss Tourism International was just a stepping stone to greater things ahead.”

I brought smiles to people’s faces Given her life philosophy, which is that of lifting up others, it wasn’t surprising that she chose for her pet project to fight the issue of child-youth rights alongside tourism, which was customary. Reflecting on the work she was able to carry out within the period, she says: “It was good I was able to bring smiles and happiness to the faces of children at the orphanage through donation of various food items and provisions.” However, she has not stopped bringing succour to the people despite relinquishing her crown over a year ago.

“It is still something I do from time to time and I don’t need to announce it.

When people do little and big things they can to bring happiness and joy to the lives of human beings going through suffering they don't deserve and relief them of the pain and injustice done to them without seeking glory, God is seeing it and blessing you in ways you can't imagine.

“I volunteer my time and resources to be of help to people like that especially children as they are often innocent of the circumstances they are going through and should not endure such suffering. I had a lot of ideas on my pet project and I am glad I did and still doing it. It is not easy carrying out a pet project as a lot of resources go into it and if you lack the necessary support you won't be able to do much. I am a resilient young woman who makes sure I do what matters to me.”

Nigeria tourism is pitiable Short of lamentation, Waniko, who in the course of her reign visited over 19 states across the six geo- political zones of the country, says to you that Nigeria tourism is in a pitiable state, insisting that the nation has missed the opportunity to reap from the bounties the industry offers.

“It is pitiable because the environment we are blessed with is so suitable for tourism which can do wonders for our economy.

We are blessed with so many natural gifts and we should live up to our reputation in being the giant of Africa even in tourism and environmental matters. I am a lover of nature and want people to be conscious about issues like this.”

Then she reels off the challenges, which in her estimation have made the industry prostrate: “The challenges we face are lack of infrastructure and developmental plans, even basic amenities we lack. We also have corrupt officials in power who prefer to embezzle and misappropriate funds instead of putting such resources into projects like tourism that will bring honour to us.

“These reasons possess threat to our progress as a nation and till we realise that these are serious problems and start working to develop our nation and be more imaginative and creative then we are fast on our way to doom.”

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VILLA ANGELIA HOTEL

Offering a homely treat with a difference Villa Angelia Hotel offers a plush and serene setting with hospitality at its best for discerning guests, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA

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ocated in the up market Ikoyi in Lagos, specifically Okunola Martins Close, off Okotie Eboh Street, off Awolowo Road, Villa Angelia Hotel, comes with a plush setting that exudes a serene mood with its upscale and sophisticated facilities that boast a homely and inviting ambience.

Hence the well-crafted boutique hotel has styled itself with the sobriquet of ‘home away from home,’ as you are obviously pampered by its rich and naturally serenading atmosphere and delighted by its fascinating make up and personalised services that offer a homely and princely treat.

According to the hotel’s management: ‘‘This boutique brand is designed for the discerning traveller, corporate bodies and families who desire quality service and facilities. Satisfying dining and impeccable service, the restaurant offers African, Continental, Chinese and Mexican cuisines in the relaxed elegance of the dining room or in the comfort of your rooms.’’

That certainly summarises all that this hotel, presents with a tranquil, welcoming and luxuriating feeling, the moment you walk through the door, is all about. It is dedicated to offering the best of hospitality facilities and services with its high range of commitment to the satisfaction of its discerning guests.

Here are samples of its facilities and services: Rooms It boasts 40 luxury bedrooms of various classes and all fittingly furnished and decorated to taste with each category of room dripping with matchless sophistication and amenities devoted to the comfort and relaxation of the guest.

Besides the uniquely styled common amenities, each class of room comes with its own plush setting, appeal and facilities that a guest would find irresistible. The different categories of rooms include: Two Bedroom Maisonette, which is styled for family use and

it has two floors with the first one offering an exquisitely furnished sitting room and kitchenette while bedrooms with a befitting lounge are on the second floor. Complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi services are added benefits.

Deluxe room is tailored made for the business traveller as it offers a wide range of facilities and services for the use and comfort of the guest and it also comes with complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi service; Deluxe suite is romantically spiced and fitted for couples seeking luxury, comfort and romantic treats away from home.

The ambience of the suite with its comfy king-size bed and spatial beauty, is an electrifying one and obviously sets the couple in the right mood for relaxed and appealing retreat. Then of course, there is the Standard room, which is more of a budget offer for the budget traveller or tourist; well fitted and furnished as well with the attendant luxury and amenities.

Dining When it comes to dining and wining, the hotel certainly knows how to spoil its guests for choice as its Fusion Spice restaurant, which is a blend of

One of the rooms

HOSPITALITY artistic sophistication, offers a rich taste of gourmets, taking you on an excursion across the globe with its array of cuisines covering African, continental, Indian and oriental.

No matter your taste and at any hour of day, you certainly would find what you desire when it comes to dining and wining at the restaurant, which does not only live to its billing as a fusion haven but as a class art for the guest to savour a rare and lavished buffet.

Conference As a business hotel, it offers a wellfurnished and equipped full service conference facility for hosting any business or social event of class; and it comes with a lot of packages and incentives for the guests.

Wellness/leisure In this regard, the hotel has a top notch gymnasium that is fully equipped. It also has a spa where

guests are said to be treated to a sublime water therapy while the swimming pool with its picturesque setting and serenading appeal panders to one’s senses and sensibilities as one savours a cool a dip and relax afterwards in the seat out area either sunbathing or on a fleeting revelry.

Entertainment It also treats its guests to top rated entertainment packages especially on weekends and festive periods with such features as Friday night out, dance and pool party among others.

Other facilities/services The list includes shuttle service with professional and courteous drivers, 24 hours power supply, travel advisories, safe and secure parking lot, butler service, laundry and dry cleaning service as well as a guide to shopping, tours and entertainment packages as the hotel is centrally located with ease of access to some of the best shopping, entertainment and tourist attractions in the city.

HOSPITALITY BIT Starwood Hotels adds Four Points Benin City to Nigeria portfolio Starwood Hotels and Resorts has announced a new addition to its Nigeria hotels with Four Points Benin City, a property of Eagle Hospitality and Leisure Limited. Built for the modern traveller with an emphasis on approachable design and stylish comfort, the new hotel is located within a five-minute drive to the airport and no more than 10 minutes from the government and business districts Speaking on its increasing presence in the Nigerian market, the President of Starwood Hotels, Michael Wale, said it is a good way of consolidating its strong business portfolio in the country. “Four Points by Sheraton Benin City will further consolidate our strong Nigeria portfolio, opening up yet another emerging destination for international travel.

“With five hotels operating and another four in the pipeline, including Four Points Benin City, Nigeria is already one of our strongest markets in the region, and the signing of this hotel reinforces the growing demand for affordable lifestyle brands in rapidly developing markets.”

Similarly, the Group Managing Director of PanAfrican Capital Plc and Chairman of Eagle Hospitality and Leisure Limited, Chris Oshiafi, said Four Points Benin City will meet the rising demand for up market facility in the city. “We are delighted to introduce the popular Four Points brand to Benin City and expect this new hotel to meet the rising demand for high-calibre lodging in this fastgrowing market, soon emerging as a leading choice

among business and leisure travellers.’’

The new hotel is expected to feature 176 spacious guest rooms and suites along with exciting food and beverage options including an all-day dining restaurant, a pool bar and the brand’s signature Best Brews programme featuring local beers at the lobby bar and lounge.

Other facilities include a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness centre, an outdoor pool, 400 square meters of flexible meeting spaces and a fully equipped business centre. The hotel will provide the entire brand’s defining elements such as the signature Four Points bed, complimentary bottled water in all rooms and suites, fast and free Wi-Fi, and breakfast with fresh coffee.

NEW TELEGRAPH PARTNER HOTELS B E N E F I TS There are lots of benefits to derive as one of our partner hotels. For enquiries and details on how to join the programme, please contact Andrew Iro Okungbowa: 08023152195, e-mail: iroandy@ymail.com

FESTAC, LAGOS

LAGOS

29, OROLEYE CRESCENT, OFF ABEL ORENIYI, OFF SALAVATION RD, OPEBI, LAGOS

CAPITOL HOTEL, AGEGE

REE DANIELS HOTEL AND SUITES

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Travel&Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 SEPTEMBER 2016

AKWAABA 2016: Preps for a buoyant Akwaaba 2016 brings new dimension to the African travel industry with its series of conferences and new offerings.

ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA writes on the preparation for this year’s travel and tourism trade exhibition in Lagos.

DESTINATION

be a great improvement on past editions as it would be dedicated to celebrating the best of Africa travel even as it has introduced a new dimension to the three days event.

Besides the exhibition this year by the different exhibiting destinations and companies, which promises glitz and excitement as the exhibitors compete for the attention of the buyers and travelling public attending the event, the organisers have introduced a new dimension to the conference aspect of

the travel market, which usually attracts a lot of interest from the people.

Headlining the newly improved outlook of the conference is what they have tagged the maiden edition of Africa Travel and Tourism Conference, which is aimed at delivering knowledge and exposing the people to the new trends and different aspects of the travel industry globally with a series of conferences and noted speakers from across the industry expected to share their experiences and knowledge of the industry.

Speaking on this new development, the head of Akwaaba Travel Market organising team, Mrs. Rita Ikechi-Uko, expressed delight over the prospects of the conference session. She said that it would hopefully be a catalyst that would propel the industry to great heights and galvanise the operators to taking advantage of the benefits of the shared knowledge and exposure to the new trends in the industry.

“I am delighted about the prospects of this new dimension we are adding to

rolling out the red carpet for the family and children, would lay out special local and continental delicacies for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets for people looking to mark the day with a sumptuous dining out with family members and friends.

Besides, places like the National Arts Theatre in Orile-Igamu, Lagos, would be a good harvest ground for fun-filled activities of different favours by both the family and individuals with its expansive grounds lending itself for picnics and other forms of leisure activities; amusement and theme parks across the country would also host different activities for the day with such places as the Millennium Park in Abuja alongside Abuja Amusement and Wonder Park, Maitama Amusement Park, and the various gardens in the Federal Capital Territory, beckoning.

While in Lagos, the remodelled Apapa Park opens to the public on the day; in Kaduna Gamji or Hassan Usman Katsina Park beckons and in Kano, the famous Kano Zoo, among others will welcome guests to their bowels just in the same way as cinemas and theatres across the coun-

try with Silverbird Cinemas located at different Shoprite and other spots would host theatre enthusiasts to the screening of some of the blockbuster Nigerian and foreign films in their repertoire.

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reparation for this year’s Akwaaba Africa Travel Market, a yearly travel and tourism trade exhibition, is on top gear as the organisers of the event strategise to deliver on its 12th edition, which comes with a lot of promises and new offers for the travel industry in Africa, which is its fulcrum.

The event, which is a three-day affair is billed to hold between October 30 and November 1 while the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, its traditional home since inception remains the venue where exhibitors, destinations, buyers and suppliers of travel and different stakeholders and experts of travel from across the Africa continent would gather to network and feast on the rich and vast tourism broth of the continent.

Largely promoted as the spot where the world meets Africa, the organisers, Akwaaba Travel Market (ATM), are confident and upbeat about the potential of this year’s event, which they said would

Mr. and Mrs. Ikechi Uko, organisers of Akwaaba

Eid-el-Kabir: Leisure aplenty to savour M onday September 12 is Eid Kabir Day as Muslim faithful all over the world celebrate the yearly festivity meant to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail (Ishael) to demonstrate his sincere devotion to God. Nigeria will be part of this global fiesta with the day already declared as a public holiday by the federal government to allow for Nigerian Muslims to join their counterparts across the world in marking the day.

Besides the observance of the religious rites, it offers another occasion for people, both Muslim faithful and others, to share in the social aspect and conviviality that signpost the celebration as leisure and entertainment spots across the country

are beginning to wear new look in preparation to hosting their patrons to a number of colourful and dedicated fun-filled activities for their pleasure.

Headlining leisure spots for harvest of rich and promising entertainment activities for people of all ages and statuses are public places and playgrounds across the country where people are free to organise family picnics and celebration of all sorts while across the northern states of the country, palaces of emirs and district heads would play host to visitors where in the past the celebration of Durbar was celebrated but it is not certain if any of the northern emirates would witness Durbar celebration due to security reason.

Hotels and different eateries, particularly fast food joints with most of them

… Ojude Oba beckons in Ijebuland

In the Southwestern part of the country, Ijebuland will throw its doors open to legions of people two days after Eidil- Kabir, which is Wednesday, as its hosts the Ojude Oba Festival, a yearly gathering of the Ijebu across the country and other parts of the world.

The occasion will witness the celebration of the common ancestry and cultural heritage of the people, which will be signpost by a colourful cultural event attracting people of all ages and colours.

On display will be the rich cultural repertoire of the people who are noted for their industrious and business acumen.

The traditional ruler of the people, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who is the chief host will lead his people in

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10 SEPTEMBER 2016

African tourism broth the travel exhibition this year. We are passionate about catalysing change in the tourism and travel landscape in Africa. This new aspect will definitely be an eye opener for many of the delegates and guests and will position Africa on the path of global relevance on most current information in the sector,” said Ikechi Uko. According to her, “speakers during the Travel and Tourism Conference will be addressing

topics dealing with issues such as Travel in Africa: Aviation and Immigration a needed Symbiosis, Immigration as a Catalyst for Growth of Travel and Tourism in Africa.

“The state of aviation in Africa, the state of tourism in Africa, the internet and future of travel in Africa, Tourism Planning: a needed tool for sustainable tourism development, hotel standardisation and classification as a tool for tourism growth, and meeting, incentives, conventions and events in Africa, among other topics.”

She also said that the series of travel conference that would hold on the second day of the exhibition would be opened only to hosted buyers, delegates and tourism practitioners. She explained that the restriction was because it is an industry based conference only meant for the practitioners as this is an opportunity for all knowledge seekers in area of tourism, travel, aviation and hospitality to satisfy their quest.

Given the trend of Akwaaba since its first debuted, Ikechi-Uko said that it had grown from been just an exhibition platform only but rather an encompassing platform offering people different options from display, marketing and promotion, networking, dispensing knowledge and empowerment.

OUTLINE OF EVENTS Details of the outline of the three days event include: Pre-exhibition day Arrival cocktail party: Opened to international and none resident delegates on October 29 Day One Wine tasting; opening ceremony and Travel Award dinner.

Day Two Exhibition continues – opened to hosted buyers and delegates; Africa travel and tourism conference.

One of the exhibitors' stand during last year event

the observance of this yearly religiouscultural celebration that is spiced with dances, music and feasting as well as entertainment of all sorts with the different age groups known as ‘The Regberegbes’ and others, decked in different colourful and befitting traditional attires on parade with their aesthetically decorated horses, taking turns during the festival to pay homage to the oba.

With the theme of this year’s festival tagged our culture, our pride, visitors to Ijebuland on this day should expect a thrilling, entertaining and colourful festivities as the people, taking a cue from the theme, will do everything possible to put on an enchanting showpiece that will reflect the true essence and meaning of their cultural heritage.

Ojude Oba Festival is best described by many as one of most suffusing and effervescent fashion parades ever from this part of the country as all of the people, including their visitors, are expected to be heavily costumed in new attires with each of the groups bent on outpacing the other through their usu-

Day Three Exhibition continues; celebration of countries day; cultural show; and hospitality day.

It is opened to hosted buyers, delegates and the travelling public.

“Akwaaba is emerging as not only an exhibition but also a learning and empowerment opportunity. Global experts, like Dr. Auliana Poon of Tourism Intelligence International, one of the biggest names in travel and tourism research in the world, Eran Ketter, an Israeli communication and media expert and a guru on destination branding, Paul Cohen as well as Bob Bamgboye, a hotel digital exponent, have in the past been lead speakers at Akwaaba.”

Furthermore, she revealed that African Travel Market is the only international travel fair in West Africa, with a population of 270 million people; 15 countries; numerous airports; and the largest number of travellers in Africa.

“Over the years, Akwaaba Travel Market has grown to become the most important travel marketing platform in the region drawing attendance from over 7,000 to 10,000 visitors from 20 countries.

“This Travel Fair not only boasts a large amount of visitors but also excels in the promotion of the exhibitors from the region’s leading hotels, airlines, travel agents, tour operators and similar industry suppliers who participates in the event.

“A vibrant must attend three days Business to Business (B2B) event presenting a diverse range of destinations to Africa and international travel professionals.

It is a unique opportunity for African travel trade market to meet, negotiate, network and conduct businesses with players from elsewhere,” she said.

Akwaaba enjoys the official stamp of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) as the only government approved travel exhibition in Nigeria, listed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a partner event of Africa Travel Association (ATA) and the only member of ITTFA in West Africa with Tour Operators Union of Ghana, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents, African Business Travel Association and the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators, all endorsing it.

A scene from Ojude Oba 2015

ally distinct and complete attires with accessories to match.

Besides, the carnival-like atmosphere that will be created throughout, the day is expected to be electrifying and enthralling with people basking in the different theatrics and excitement on showcase by the different cultural and musical groups taking turns to entertain.

The commercial aspect of the fes-

tival, which is being sponsored by Globalcom and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) among others, will also come to the fore as the people ranging from different vendors of various items from food to personal accessories, will take advantage of the day-long event, which will climax with night party at some of the celebrated leisure spots, to conduct brisk businesses.

Travel&Tourism 43

L-R: Wale Williams, Friday, Ooni of Ife, Prince Wole Fadairo and Bariu Owodunni

Ileya Omo Oodua Festival debuts on December 4 A new festival, known as Ileya Omo Oodua Festival, will make its colourful and befitting entry to the cultural festivals’ landscape of the country with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, leading his subjects and all people of Yoruba, both in Nigeria and the Diaspora, in the celebration of the beauty of their ancestry in Ile-Ife. Billed to span December 4 and 10, the weeklong event, which was earlier planned for last month was shifted to December based on the directive of the Ooni, who counselled that December, which for years has been the traditional month for celebrating Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race, is more appropriate for such a festival, which is part of his dream of fostering peace, unity and prosperity of his people.

According to the coordinator of the festival, Wale Williams, “the Arole Oduduwa is determined to ensure that his effort at bringing together every person born as Yoruba anywhere in the world is achieved, our own job is to ensure that it is well celebrated by all as one people with a pride of rich culture, and language.”

Williams, who is also the managing director of Franchise and Enterprise Concerns Limited, furthermore said, “We were initially concerned about hosting the one-week long festival every August but the king in his wisdom settled for the new date because of the importance of the month of December to every Yoruba person home and abroad and wants to strengthen that symbol to buttress his desire for peace and unity in the world.”

With series of cultural activities expected to unfold during the festival, he disclosed that it would be heralded by seven different large floats coming in from all parts of south west coming into Ile-Ife. This gesture, he said, “Depicts the seven children whose descendants make up the Yoruba race with over 500 million population and descendants in 85 countries of the world.

“We want to rival the Rio Carnival by hosting the most colourful home coming festival ever.” The festival, he said, would also boost the tourist traffic to Nigeria, insisting that with the unrest in most parts of the world and the Middle East, Africa, is the next tourist destination.

“Today, the Middle East is now a no go area for tourism, the world is looking to us in Africa to provide that tourism supplement and now Nigeria is still an untapped tourism haven,” even as he decried the negative appellations that many people give to Nigeria’s cultural elements. “Beating drums, showing colourful dances and displays, and celebrating our people, cuisine and culture are not fetish things that many of us are fond of singing. We need to be proud of who we are and start talking with one voice to show our true positive selves as a race.’’

Williams, who is not new to organising cultural festival, as his company is in charge of the Oyo Festival and Samodun fiesta in Oyo State, said the festival promises to be an interesting one as he revealed some of the other activities that have been lined up: “We will open with the Adura Oodua which will have 50 top Yoruba kings in attendance, the two major religions will be represented by five leaders, 85 international leaders and 3, 000 mothers will pray for the entire Yoruba race and the carnival opens with fanfare.

“The Irawo Oodua awards will be the hallmark of the event while other events like Omidan Oodua will celebrate our amazons. Most of our youths don’t know about Pupupu, Oba Luwo, Emotan, Mino Lalisca, Yeyelagaba and a host of other women. These are Yoruba women that led and became role models for what we are today. Each day, there will be different celebrations depicting us as a people.”

Sportsplash 44 Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

Celebrity RÈsume

Full Name Mercy Aigbe Gentry Date of Birth January 1, 1979 Place of Birth Bariga, Lagos State State of Origin Edo State Occupation Actress, Producer, Entrepreneur and Brand Ambassador Genre Nollywood (Yoruba) Marital Status Married Spouse Lanre Gentry Institutions Attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan (OND in Fin ancial Studies) and University of Lag os (B.A in Theatre Arts).

Children 2 Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Yo ruba) in 2010), Best Indigenous Langua ge (Yoruba) at AMVCA 2014, City Peo ple Entertainment Yoruba Movie Person ality of the Year for 2015 and Fashio n Entrepreneur of The Year Awarded by Links and Glitz World Awards (2015) .

Most Popular Movies Ara, Komfo, Osas Active Years 2006 till present Biggest Achievement Winning the African Magic Viewe rs’ Choice Award for Best Indigenous Mo vie with Komfor in 2014.

Selected Filmography Afefe Ife (2008), Okanjua (2008), Atu nida leyi (2009), Igberaga (2009), Iha mo (2009), Ìpèsè (2009), Iró funfun (20 09), Mafisere (2009), Osas (2012), Victim s (), Oju Ife (2009), Ile Oko mii (2014) and Komfor (2014).

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Politics

10 september 2016

Civil society groups, others will probe budget padding –Epia

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Plateau State has been caught in the web of the controversy trailing the Grazing Reserves Bill following the pronouncement by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe, that about 11 states, including Plateau, have agreed to contribute hectares of land for the purpose of the establishment of grazing reserves. MUSA PAM examines the issue.

OLALEKAN OSIADE Assistant Editor 08033076969 lekanosiade@gmail.com lekanosiade@yahoo.com

Š Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

When justice takes flight: The Abia situation

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Grazing Reserves Bill:

Furore on the Plateau

F

or the people of Plateau State, who had been traumatised by the activities of Fulani herdsmen, it is unthinkable to hear that a portion of thier land had been earmarked for the same people who had wrecked havoc on their communities, for the purpose of grazing reseves.

The issued had not only sparked reactions from notable sons and daughters of the state, it has also led to a sharp division among the political class, who were hitherto in the process of mending fences since falling apart after the April 2015 general elections, which saw to the exit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the state government.

While the government headed by Governor Simon Lalong believe that it is worthwhile to cede over 55,000 hectares of land to the Federal Government for grazing purposes, most stakeholders in the state are against the proposed National Grazing Reserve, a project that the Federal Government is bent on seeing to success.

The state government had argued that the project is a welcomed idea, as it will afford the state to benefit from some money, such as the Lake Chad Basin Fund, which the President Muhammadu Buhari administration will soon dole out. But a group of notable individuals led by the immediate past governor, who is now a Senator, Jonah Jang, members of the national and state assemblies, some youths, as well as churches have said the Federal Government's fund is a Greek gift, calling for a rejection of the proposed project.

But despite the outcry against the idea, Lalong said grazing reserves and ranches are a blessing that the state cannot afford to miss.

"It is something that is very good, because when we are talking of agriculture, when we are talking of huge sums of money lying in the bank, when we are talking of opportunities for people to access loans at very low interest rates for the purpose of agriculture, if we take our eyes away from it, others will take advantage of it and by the time we realise it, we will say 'oh, if we had known, we would have gone into it", adding that the state had benefitted from similar projects in the past and was billed

45

Lalong

to benefit from the Lake Chad Basin fund among others which was enough reason to expect the best from the programme.

However, Jang, who opposed his successor on the issue, condemned the moves by Lalong to agree with the Federal Government in implement the policy in the state, noting that, he does not and will not support the implementation of any such programme either on the floor of the Senate or at any forum where the issue is discussed. “The issue has generated a lot of controversy amongst Plateau people because the government has decided to play politics with issues that affect the very fabric which defines the heritage of our people, their culture and their land.

"Why would a government which claims that its greatest achievement in the last one year has been in the area of peace, be courting a policy that has the capacity to reverse all that gain, if any at all.

"It is unfortunate that plateau people have to bear the hardship meted out on them by the present government but we call on them not to despair as there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It is but a matter of time before true change and rescue will come; what we see today is a degeneration from where we were and had hoped to be by now".

"Those who wish to further emasculate the people in spite of the untold hardship that currently pervades the land, by introducing policies and programmes that create more tension should continue to do so but Senator Jang and people of like mind are on the side of the masses. The clear message Plateau people want to send to those within and outside the state is that, Plateau people say no to grazing

Jang

reserves", Jang said.

In another reaction, different groups such as, Plateau G-17, Youths for Peace and Progress Forum had also kicked against the idea of grazing reserves and ranches, calling on the state government to rethink and retrace its steps and urge the Federal Government to immediately delist Plateau from among the states that have agreed to contribute lands for the purpose. The groups also organised a protest march, stressing that they are keeping fate with the feelings of the majority of citizens, and thereby conveying the feeling of the masses to the government.

The youth cutting across all the local governments recently blocked the road leading to the Rayfield Old Government House while protesting and kicking against the bill, calling on the state government stop the implemetation.

Speaking on the issue, a frontline politician in the state, Dachung Musa Bagos, said, "the state government must be careful not to take decision that would mortgage our future and that of generations yet unborn with the likely consequences of further throwing the state into chaos as the policy had been rejected by majority of the people of the state.

According to him, from time immemorial through the period of agriculture to the period of industrial development, "land has remained the most valuable property in the life of man and his development, because it is a source of wealth and the mother of all properties".

"We therefore wish to state, unequivocally that we stand in protest against any form of land grabbing and exclusive privileges to any group, under the guise of a government sponsored grazing re-

serve policy.

"The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Audu Ogbe, came out with a list of 11 states including the FCT saying that the states have agreed to contribute lands for the purpose of the establishment of grazing reserves for cattle herders and Plateau State was listed as one of the states that have indicated interest in providing land.

"It is in response of this that we are presently gathered to peacefully protest the inclusion of Plateau State as well as demand that the state government under Barrister Simon Lalong rescind it's decision on this obnoxious policy and follow the path of honour by removing Plateau form the list of states that have agreed to provide 55,000 hectares of land, owing to the huge disadvantages the policy will have on the vast majority of the peace loving indigenes who are predominantly farmers".

Bagos argued that Plateau had over the years, witnessed incessant attacks and killings by groups known in government circles as 'unknown herdsmen' and Lalong should therefore not plunge the state into more blood shed due to the insensitivity of embracing a policy that has heightened suspicion and tension across the state.

"Government must thread with utmost care and caution in view of the delicate nature of the policy at hand which must be properly looked into, and people allowed to either accept or reject and not forcefully trying to impose it on the populace".

"We would have expected the government to seek support for the expansion of existing agricultural schemes in the state as a sure way of diversifying its economy and boosting the state's economy rather than endorsing a highly controversial policy that seeks advantages for private businessmen, who are predominantly not natives of Plateau State".

Also, a cultural group, Yendel O Tarok, has also kicked against the proposed reserve vowing that no parcel of Tarok land in Langtang Local Government area of the state would be allowed to be confiscated for the project.

The spokesperson of the group, Miss Tabitha Goselle, said, "we reject the bill in its entirety for the purpose of peace, unity and progress. We have consulted members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, leaders, stakeholders and custodians of the land in Langtang North and Langtang South and by extension, Plateau State, they are shocked at the listing of Plateau as one of the 11 states mentioned by the Minister of Agriculture as grazing reserve areas.

Members of the group were blunt that CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

46 Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

Plateau stakeholders at war over grazing reserves CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45

no inch of the state's land would be surrendered for any grazing reserve, rather, they are expecting an apology from the state governor, for consenting to the idea without any recourse to the people.

The group called on all well meaning Nigerians, devoid of party affiliations to come out enmass and force members of the National Assembly to reject in totality, the National Grazing Reserve Bill, noting that there is already a list of grazing reserves commissioners being bandied around to lure people to agree.

"We, Tarok youths and the people are behind our leaders in the state who are against the grazing reserve and we will do everything possible to stop it and Plateau youths would be mobilised enmasse for an anti-grazing sit-out protest at the headquarters of Plateau Central, North and South, until the policy is reversed".

According to them, the Tarok man has nothing other than farmland, "thus, we are warning trouble makers to steer clear of Tarok land and we suggest that desert reclamation should be carried out in the far North for grazing reserve".

But the Lalong administration is not perturbed as it is said to be considering the adoption of a ranching system as the best option which the governor has said will ensure the modernisation of livestock production and also boost agriculture potential of the state by providing job opportunities for youths and at the same time address some of the underlying causes of violent conflicts witnessed in recent times.

Also adding their to the rejection list are some members of the National Assembly and the Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation BECO, who had all opposed Lalong of the matter.

One of the lawmakers, who is representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Hon. Gyang, had in a statement issued by his media aide, Chuwang Dungs, cautioned the state government against taking actions that can plunge the state into crisis and conflict.

He said no portion of lands within his constituency (Barkin Ladi and Riyom) should be gazetted for such grazing plans because it goes against the wishes of his people.

He reiterated the fact that several individuals and families have been ravaged by previous attacks and that the victims are yet to be rehabilitated, wondering

stituency or any part thereof, should not, why helpless victims should further be ought not and cannot be within the conagonised with a policy that puts fear in templation of housing a grazing reserve". them. He averred that the main concern "Already, there is palpable fear among of the government at this time, should be the indigenous people in my constituseeking to provide justice for victims of atency that the grazing reserves policy is tacks, finding ways of rehabilitating them simply a ploy to legitimise their displaceand exploring ways of fostering peace and ment and forceful occupation of their anharmony in the communities, as opposed cestral land and heritage by herdsmen. to using political tools and instruments to To insist on creating any grazing reserve further divide the people. in this constituency or anywhere near “One issue that has generated conit will rather than solving the problem, cern and heated debate in Nigeria is the create new ones and further exacerbate decision by the Federal Government to the situation it is intended to remedy. It create grazing reserves. This policy deciis therefore not welcome". sion might have arisen out of the desire to He advised that government should seek a solution to the increasing spate of instead of pushing for the creation of herdsmen insurgency that has devastated grazing reserves, adopt and implement many farming communities across the nathe option of animal husbandry and cattion, most affected being the North tle ranching as a viable alternative Central states of Plateau, Nasaraeconomic activity for herdsmen, wa and Benue with extension to saying the option is the much We shall not some communities in Kaduna, needed panacea against herdsZamfara, Taraba, Ekiti and Enugu men insurgency that will engenyield to deceitful states among others". der lasting peace.

Gyang said for the policy to devices of "It is the globally tested and achave received the endorsement cepted best practice. Cattle ownland-grabbing and consent of some northern ers and herdsmen being introgovernors including Lalong, "one and territorial duced to ranching may seek the would have thought that given prior and mutual consent of their expansion for the far reaching implications of host communities as against the the governor’s decision, he might seeming outright and unilateral the benefit have consulted thoroughly with imposition of the grazing reserves critical stakeholders like the state of 'special policy by government. After all, House of Assembly and the tradithe security and wellbeing of citiNigerians' tional council". zens is the primary constitutional The lawmaker expressed fears responsibility of government as that the contention over the decienshrined in section 14 (2,B) of the sion is ominous given the devasta1999 Constitution (as amended). tion and violent attacks which communi"The same government cannot be ties have suffered from herdsmen leading seen adopting policies that set citizens to displacement from their ancestral haand communities against one another in bitant. hostility, acrimony and violent conflict.

"The Federal Government being aware "As for the widely circulated Grazing that it has no constitutional powers to adReserve Bill at the National Assembly, minister land matters, has resorted to the one need not restate the fact that the bill powers vested on governors under section clearly contradicts and violates the Land 2 of the Land Use Act embedded in secUse Act as embedded in section 315 (5) tion 315 (5) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amendamended) by seeking the consent and aped) and is therefore doomed by reason of proval of willing governors to allocate land its inconsistency. Having been recycled within their states for the implementation for the third time in the 8th Assembly, of the grazing reserves policy". it should suffer the same fate of being "My take on this matter as it relates to thrown out as was the case in the 6th and Plateau State especially the Barkin Ladi/ 7th Assemblies, more so that it affects a Riyom Federal Constituency which I reprematter that is constitutionally under the sent –a constituency that is fast recovering purview of state governments”. from over a decade of violent attacks and a The federal lawmaker maintained people whose lands are still under forceful that the grazing reserve option, either occupation by herdsmen, is that the conby way of a legislative bill or a policy

Some Plateau youths during the protest against grazing reserves.

decision of the government is neither suitable nor feasible given the fact that it will worsen the problem it is intended to solve.

Simply put, private ranching for cattle breeding is the most reasonable policy option in this instance.

He advised the government to accept and adopt the option and facilitate access for herdsmen to loanable funds thus enabling them establish and own private ranches the same way it has facilitated loans for rice and wheat farmers.

The Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) which is strong body of elders in Berom Land had in a statement caution the state government against the idea citing serious tension already generated in the state.

The organisation said it believes that resurrecting such a policy will serve no useful purpose, but generate another round of violent conflict.

In a press statement signed by the General Secretary of BECO, Davou Choji Davou and Chairman, BECO Standing Committee on Media and Publicity, Hon. Sam Godongs, the group demands that herdsmen currently occupying Berom Land forcefully in Gashish, Riyom, and Bachit Districts must be made to leave unconditionally otherwise there is fear given the conflicting position of government.

"The attention of Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) has been drawn to the contradictory and confusing pronouncements by the Plateau State Governor, Barr. Simon Lalong on the vexed issues of grazing reserves in Plateau State. Initially the governor was quoted at a function in ECWA Headquarters as saying no grazing reserves would be created in the state. However, at another instance he declared that President Muhammadu Buhari and some governors were in agreement on creating ranches as a panacea to the farmer-herder conflicts".

BECO said the idea of grazing reserves is aim at carving out territories and domains at the expenses of the natives for the interest of the Fulani, saying the attacks, killings and destruction of food crops in Berom land have recently emanated from the Fulani self-created enclaves and such would therefore be an endorsement of illegitimate and illegal acts.

"BECO wants the government and indeed the general public, to note that it is unaware of any form of consultation, any form of consent given by the Berom nation to the governor as an individual or as government for the creation of either ranches or grazing reserves in any part of Berom Land. Furthermore, BECO wishes to clearly and firmly state that Berom do not and shall never support the creation of grazing reserves on our land, no matter how defined, Berom Land has had its own share of troubles from Tin Mining conglomerates, rapid forces of urbanisation, and campaigns of terror, and we shall not yield to deceitful devices of land-grabbing and territorial expansion for the benefit of 'special Nigerians'. We will however lend encouragement to any individual or group that is predisposed to the idea of ranching on his ancestral or acquired land.

"Audu Ogbeh listed Plateau as one of the states that have agreed to provide 55,000 hectares of land for grazing reserves.

But the specific locations of such land donations were not immediately disclosed.

Some light in the grazing reserves planned for Plateau was however provided by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mohammed Nazif, when he declared that traditional rulers in Langtang and Kanke have donated parcels of land and he believes others will follow suit.

Even to an unsuspecting mind, to stomach these conflicting statements, in the words of CONTINUED ON PAGE 47

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

Civil society groups, others will probe budget padding –Epia

Mr. Oke Epia is the founder/CEO of OrderPage.ng, a multi-media company dedicated to reporting, tracking and providing platforms for citizens’ engagement. He spoke with SONY NEME on executive-legislative relationship in the 'change era', among other issues. Excerpts...

We understand that you are planning a colloquium. What is it all about ?

The colloquium is a signature programme of OrderPage.ng to provide a platform for various stakeholders in the democratic project to cross-fertilise ideas and proffer suggestions and solutions on thorny issues bordering on the triumvirate of legislature, the executive and the electorate.

Let me say that OrderPage.ng is nonpartisan, non-aligned and non-discriminatory; and is founded on and guided by the truth, fairness and the pursuit of equity.

The event is conceived by Nigeria’s premier independent parliamentary reporting portal, to address contentious issues on the budget to help find an acceptable reference point with respect to parliamentary reporting and engaging with members of the parliament.

We intend to achieve this by deploying several social media and offline channels to achieve the broad objective of deepening democracy.

The colloquium is tagged 'The Gallery' and it will bring together, several top government officials from the executive and the legislature to share ideas, perspectives and experiences on the appropriation process as dictated by the 1999 Constitution.

Nigerians need better polity than what we have now, so the solutions are what we have decided to look for. For us, it is enough of lamentations, that won't take us anywhere. So, it's time to reason as one; and move the country forward, irrespective of party affiliations.

To underscore the seriousness attached to this event, we deliberately went for top public officials that have been confirmed to be part of the historic occasion.

What are the main objectives of the programme?

The broad objective of 'The Gallery' is to provide a forum to smoothen rough edges towards better inter-governmental relations and improved cooperation for the ultimate benefit of democracy and the nation in general.

As an authentic and independentlydriven online medium that interface

between citizens and elected representatives, our mission is to deepen democratic growth and development.

The focus is on the budget this month.

It is a deliberate attempt to address fundamental issues that have arisen on the budget especially in recent times. There is need to deepen the debate about which arm of government plays what roles in the appropriation process, and to exactly what extent.

For instance, we need to know where the National Assembly’s power of appropriation begins and ends. We also need to know whether the executive is vested with unquestionable powers regarding the estimates it sends to the legislature as annual budgets.

Or on the reverse, is the legislature conferred with such far-reaching powers as to be able to substantially alter the estimates so received from the president or a state governor? What about the disturbing lexicon of ‘padding’ that has dogged the 2016 budget like a leech?

These are questions to be addressed by a holistic gathering of the executive, the legislature, experts in Constitutional Law; and Civil Society actors, among others invited to attend the colloquium on September 26.

Epia

Who are those you have assembled and what are their roles?

The high-profile event will attract attendance and participation from critical stakeholders in the executive, national and state houses of assemblies, as well as the academia, media, Nigeria’s developmental partners, Civil Society Organisations, community-based organisations, private sector and other stakeholders, including political operators across partisan divides.

Among them are Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Chief Guest of Honour; Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State as chairman of the occasion and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma will deliver a keynote address on the topic, ‘Budget as a Critical

Tool for Effective Executive-Legislative Relations.’

Participants are expected to dissect the budgetary process as a key interface between the executive and legislative arms of government.

What informed the choice of these speakers?

It was deliberate, as the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Tambuwal who was Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 7th Assembly and also been a principal officer of the lower chamber in the preceding tenure is expected to add a rich comparative perspective to the budget debate with his experience across both arms of government.

Speaker Dogara on the other hand, be-

Furore on the Plateau

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 46

Chinua Achebe, "brings great confusion to the mind".

"They said Berom Land was declared a congested area in the 1940s because the landpeople-ratio was about the highest in the country, saying this has gotten worse rather than improve over the years due to population increase, immigration and urbanization.

"This means that the fragile carrying capacity of the land has gotten more precarious and creating grazing reserves is like adding salt to an injury as these would perpetuate food hunger, increase unemployment, and heighten youth restiveness, the livelihoods of the Berom, and their survival would be threatened even further".

Meanwhile all Berom Ministers Forum (BEMFO) had also organised a fasting and prayer session for God to intervene.

COCIN President, Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri, had during a recent church service to mark

Lalong's first year in office at the Rayfield Government House chapel in Jos, condemned and opposed bill, calling on the National Assembly to uphold the trust and responsibility bestowed on it by avoiding the colonisation it intends to give herdsmen over other citizens.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State chapter, through its chairman, Rev. Dr. Soja Bewarang, called for wisdom in order not to further complicate issues in the country.

Following the protest by women groups in the state, the state House of Assembly recently summoned the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Nazif Ahmed, and that of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs. Lynda Barau, to explain government's position on the issue.

A large number of women, who wore black dresses, had stormed the assembly, calling on the House to reject the plan.

The invitation of the two commissioners followed a motion of public importance by the

member representing Mikang Constituency in the state assembly, Hon. Daniel Na’anlong, whose constituency is among the local government areas earmarked for the said grazing reserves/ranches. Na’anlong stated that his people were never consulted on the matter only for them to hear that the local government was among those earmarked by the state government for such a policy.

"It is not an issue of APC or PDP or either tribal issue, but we must, as lawmakers, look at it very clearly so as to avert any crisis that this confusion may bring to the state.“ The Speaker, Hon. Peter Azi, also said the House has not been properly briefed on the issue by the governor as such, the state lawmakers are also blind to the policy as it affects the state.

The PDP chairman in the state, Damishi Sango, on his part cautioned Lalong not to rush into accepting the grazing policy of the Federal Government without due consultations with all stakeholders .

Politics 47 ing a key figure in the 2016 Budget process that has continually been dogged by controversy, is expected to bring his contemporary experience, especially with respect to the concept of ‘padding’ to bear on the conversations on September 26.

On his part, Sen. Udoma as minister in charge of the national budget and one who has been a Leader of the Senate and former Chairman of the Appropriation Committee in the uppper chamber, is expected to deliver a keynote address that will enrich the debate on the budget.

The colloquium is a signature programme of OrderPage.ng to provide a platform for various stakeholders in the democratic project to cross-fertilise ideas and proffer suggestions and solutions on thorny issues .

What informed your resolve on this event?

The challenge came after serving as Special Adviser on Media to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nigeria between 2011 and 2015, a job I was saddled with the responsibility of coordinating media and public relations for the principal and ultimately, contributing towards a positive image and public relations profile for the House of Representatives generally.

Again, dont forget that I am a member of several professional bodies and organisations including the International Reporters and Editors (IRE), USA; Nigeria Society of International Law (NSIL); and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), among others.

So I am driven by a keen desire to contribute to the promotion of good governance, democracy and development in Nigeria and beyond.

My work experience as media manager had hitherto recorded a stint as Special Assistant to the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Delta State, Nigeria between 2007 and 2011.

In that capacity, I played both advisory and implementation roles in the management of official communications and supervision of information gateway channels, including broadcast, print and social media channels of the Delta State Government.

Specifically, I coordinated the True Face of Delta (TFD) project, a specialised publicity project purposefully conceived to highlight, promote and advance the positive values and attributes of Delta State and its people across the world.

Under this project, I was deeply involved in the conception and implementation of Delta Diaspora Direct (DDD), an initiative of the state government that mobilised and galvanised Diaspora resources indigenous to Delta State to help in the growth and development of the home state. I also served as member of a high-level committee set up by the state government to overhaul and revamp state-owned media organisations, including broadcast stations and print media, in 2007.

Before my foray into public service, I worked at Thisday Newspaper, one of Nigeria’s leading national dailies where I was groomed in active journalism and in the process gained sufficient knowledge, versatility and reputation in the profession.

With a first degree in Political Science and Masters of International Law and Diplomacy (MILD) at the post-graduate level, both from the University of Lagos, I have varied experiences in media, public communications and international relations.

I have made presentations to and participated in several professional and academic fora locally and internationally. These include the 2006 international conference by the Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation (CSGR) of the University of Warwick, UK; and the 2007 Global Leaders Summit in South Africa, among others.

48

Perspective

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

When justice takes flight: The Abia situation T Obasi Ubah

he age-long saying that the 'judiciary is the last hope of the common man' seems to be gradually taking flight in Nigeria, if recent pronouncements of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal is anything to go by, in the lingering legal tussle over who should appropriately occupy the governorship seat of Abia State, between Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and Dr. Sampson Uchechukwu Ogah.

The court below had in its judgment of June 27 declared that based on the facts before the court, Okezie was not qualified to take part in the gubernatorial election in the state. The court went ahead to declare Ogah, who came second in the primaries of the PDP as the authentic candidate. After declaring the disqualification of Okezie, the court made consequential order asking INEC to issue Ogah with the Certificate of Return as the duly elected governor of the state.

However, dissatisfied by the judgment, Okezie and his team had approached the Court of Appeal. But, against all know judicial procedure, the appellate court clearly shied away from the issues at hand and not only dwelt on technicalities but also imported dimensions never canvassed in the course of the proceedings.

Whereas the issue has to do with alleged false information not falsification, the appeal court concerned itself mainly with forgery. It also went ahead to use all manner of unprintable words to disparage and terribly demean the integrity of the respected judge.

It is pertinent to take a critical look at the main issue in context. As already known, it has to do with "Whether or not Ikpeazu gave false information to the INEC in his nomination form”. And in the instant case, the 'false information' has to do with "whether Ikpeazu had given any false information in his affidavit or other document especially as regards his tax documents"?

This matter clearly has the protection of the Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which states that: "(5) Any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by a candidate in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false may file a suit at the High Court of a State or Federal High Court against such person seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false. (6) If the court determines that any of the information contained in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false, the court shall issue an order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election.”.

The matter at hand from all intents and purposes clearly has nothing to do with forgery as presently being painted in several articles. Ogah, in his case at the Federal High Court, Abuja, did not allege forgery or tax evasion, he commenced his action under originating summons after obtaining the documents and affidavits of Ikpeazu in accordance with S31(4) of the Electoral Act 2010 and his allegation is that the gubernatorial candidate of PDP, Ikpeazu gave false information (not falsification, not forgery) of his tax payments. This is in accordance with Section 31(5-6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 as Amended. Section 87(10) of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended gives a co- contestant right to approach the court, for a remedy where he or she finds out that the information disclosed by his or her opponent contains false information.

Section 31(6) of the Electoral Act provides that where the court is satisfied with the evidence presented that the candidate has given false information as provided in the act, that candidate is liable to be disqualified. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja examined the affidavit of Dr Ogah and the counter affidavits of Dr Ikpeazu and found out that indeed the tax papers of

Ikpeazu

Ogah

Ikpeazu contained several lies on its face. In one instance, he was alleged to have paid tax when he was not yet employed, in another instance he was alleged to have been taxed on amount that was not his annual salary, in another he allegedly paid more than he is supposed to pay. In all these, the three years tax was paid with one booklet and all in one day! To compound his problems, the serial number of the tax receipts showed that the beginning of the serial number was used for the tax receipt of 2013 and that of 2011 was used for the last serial number, what false information is more than this? His tax documents did not indicate that he paid his tax as and when due in accordance with the tax laws, the 1999 Constitution in section 24(f) and in accordance with the Electoral Guidelines of PDP 2014, Articles 13 and 14.

As to whether tax is a constitutional issue, please see S177(c) of the 1999 constitution.

S177(c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides that a candidate must belong to a party and must be sponsored by that party.

For a party to sponsor a candidate for the gubernatorial election, he or she must have fulfilled all the conditions stipulated in their guidelines including tax payment stipulated in article 14(a) which provides that if the candidate fails to so do, he or she shall be disqualified. Therefore tax is a constitutional requirement since the party's guidelines made provision for it. Ikpeazu also swore an oath after disclosing his tax details that the information therein were from him and

he alone should be held responsible for any false or misleading information that may lead to his being accepted as qualified when he is not. He finally stated under the same oath that if it is found out that the information disclosed about his tax payments were false, he should be disqualified. He signed it, and it was sworn to before a Commissioner of Oath in Aba High Court Registry, Abia State. Ikpeazu's legal team in their counter affidavit got the Board of Internal Revenue to bring in a letter in which they attempted to rationalise all these discrepancies, including admitting that these serial numbers were indeed a mistake! They tried to rationalise the discrepancies in payments by arguing that he was indeed outside the service for the period of January to June of that particular year but that he paid tax as a private person. If that is true, how come in his tax papers they put him under employment of Abia State from January to December of that year. These are false information and they were not corrected in the documents he submitted to INEC. The documents certified by INEC does not contain the after- thought explanation of the board which wouldn't have come from them if not for the discovery that Ikpeazu's documents contained false information. Since the board is appointed by the government of Ikpeazu, would it not be foolhardy to expect truthful information from such persons now that Ikpeazu is allegedly in trouble?

By the way, when does a document become correct and accurate just because the maker say so? If on the face of the document, it is a lie, it is a lie irrespective of what anyone may have to say especially from a known tainted maker, in this case the Board of Internal Revenue working in Umuahia under Ikpeazu who cannot be free to disclose truthful information about his tax papers at least for now until the coast is clear as to who takes over the governor's seat. In any case that information from the Board of Internal Revenue cannot and will not alter what is already submitted to INEC for which he was pronounced qualified to participate in the primary election.

Now, haven been disqualified, was the trial court competent to make a consequential order for the necessary changes that INEC must effect as a result of that finding?

The decision of the Supreme Court delivered on the On Friday, January 18, 2008 in the case of Amaechi VS INEC (a pre-election matter in which no less than the Supreme Court had intervened to ensure that its order disqualifying Omehia who had been wrongly presented by the party was given effect) sheds light on this.

Oguntade JSC (as he then was) in most gracious language pointed out the duplicity of the Court of Appeal in the way it deliberately, not only conflicted with its earlier judgment in the Ararume case, but also over-ruled the decision of the Supreme Court in that case in order to find in favour of Omehia. OguntadeJSC made no accusations and refrained from attacking the justices involved though everyone could guess what was happening at the time. All he said in all decorum was: “The matter however does not end there. The court below which had decided in the Araraume case that the reason ‘error’ did not meet the requirement of section 34 later decided in the present case that the fact that Amaechi had been indicted was good enough a reason for not following the decision of this court and its own in the Araraume case.” Perhaps, if the case had been handed over to other appellate court justices to review, they would import all known and unknown words to demean the towering credibilities of the apex court justices.

No doubt, the Court of Appeal which used to be the pride of the nation has for sometime now continued to degenerate in view of some of its rulings.

The fact that Anambra Centra senatorial zone has remained for almost one year without any form of representation is as a result of the worrisome judgment delivered at the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal which sacked Senator Uche Ekwunife on grounds of improper nomination process by the PDP. While Enugu Appeal Court enjoyed unfettered freedom in prying into what ought to be the internal activities of a political party, the Abuja division which handled the election issues arising from the Taraba State gubernatorial election declared that it was wrong for the court below to have nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishiaku on grounds of improper nomination since the candidate of the APC in the said election, Aisha Alhassan, has no business with the internal affairs of another party.

The Supreme Court has since affirmed that decision by the Abuja Court of Appeal which made it possible for Ishiaku to remain as governor, whereas Ekwunife who suffered same damage did not have the opportunity of heading to the apex court as National Assembly election issues by the provisions of the Electoral Act terminate at the appellate court.

With that issue in mind, it is imperative for judges at the appellate court level to be mindful of their utterances and pronouncements at all times because their actions or inactions have the capacity to cause an irreparable damage to issues which a painstaking efforts would have easily resolved.

The saving grace in the present scenario is that it is still quite probable that the Supreme Court may disagree with the Court of Appeal on all the issues it treated in that appeal and one would have expected that in the best tradition of the profession, the Court of Appeal would have left room for that possibility rather than take on the air of infallibility so displayed in its judgment. It is even quite possible that another division of the court of Appeal may have reached a different conclusion on each of the issues.

The present set of appellate court justices are yet to come to terms with fact that the present Chief Justice of Nigeria has always preferred that substantial justice be done in any case instead of dwelling on technicalities.

The technical issues raised and decided by the Court of Appeal judges were neither here nor there. They raised the issue that the originating summons was not signed. The point to note is that there was a signature.

Signature is a factual thing. It is either it is there or is not there. Mind you, this was a matter that had initially gone up to the Supreme Court and the issue of signature was never raised by the defendants or learned justices of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Nobody contended that signature was not on the originating summons before the matter was subsequently referred back to the lower court for expeditious trial.The issue also raised by the Court of Appeal judges that the matter should have been commenced by way of Writ of Summons instead of Originating Summons is also neither here nor there.

This is a pure documentary evidence matter and the lies on the documents are very visible on the face of the documents, therefore, the process was rightly commenced by Originating Summons.

The issue of procedures on commencement of actions are already established by decided case-laws most especially by the apex court. Most of the issues the Court of Appeal judges raised are issues that should not have mattered in a matter that has to do with serious matter of public interest like this one in which a candidate for the governorship position of a state filed tax documents that were full of lies. The Supreme Court will certainly have the final say on this issue and set the records straight .

Ubah writes from Ohafia, Abia State

News Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

Police parade 38, rescue two Chinese expatriates in Nasarawa Esther Sodeke

N

asarawa State Police command, has rescued two Chinese, Jeng Ai-Jung and Wen So Ping, who were kidnapped as well as recovering five stolen cars.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sadiq Bello, while parading the suspects in Lafia, said 38 persons were arrested

for various crimes in the state in the past two weeks.

He said the two Chinese were rescued following pressure mounted on the kidnappers by the combined effort of police and other security operatives, at about 6pm on August 5.

In another development, the police also paraded two notorious car thieves, Mr. Babayo Abdulkadir and Sani Yakubu, who con-

fessed that they specialise in stealing cars in Lafia.

Five cars were recovered from them in their residence in Jos. Other persons arrested include 419 syndicates who swindled about N8.2 million from high profile politicians and traditional rulers in the state.

All the suspected criminals confessed that they actually committed the crime.

Items recovered in-

clude seven assorted vehicles, one motorcycle, two AK riffles and one locally made pistol.

The Commissioner of Police, warned criminals to stay away from the state, even as he vowed to fish out criminals who may dare the command.

He urged members of the public to cooperate with the police by informing and reporting any suspected criminal in the state.

Chairman, PZWilmar, Chief Kola Jamodu (left) and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, during the signing of MoU between the Nigeria Institute for Oil-Palm Research (NIFOR) and Pz-Wilmar in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

JAMB, NUC vow to end admission crisis Ogechi Ndubunma

T

he Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, reiterated the determination of the commission and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board

(JAMB) to further strengthen their ties to improve the quality of intakes into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

He said: “We have agreed to work together to resolve the problems that are affecting the smooth running of admissions into tertiary institutions.

“We are working for a common goal and that is to improve the education sector in Nigeria."

Rasheed, who congratulated Oloyede on his appointment, described him as a great man and a man of peace.

Earlier, Oloyede called on NAL to support JAMB with a view to realising the

dreams of the founding fathers and delivering on her mandate.

“We are poised to give our best sincerely and as firmly as possible. We want to improve the quality and standard of tertiary education but we cannot achieve that without your support.I solicit your support in this regard,” he stated.

Army empowers 303 unemployed dependants Sabiu Mustapha, JALINGO

T

he Nigerian Army has trained over 300 dependants of army personnel at 20 Mechanised Battalion Barack, Serti, Taraba State, in various skills acquisition to enable them to become self reliant.

The beneficiaries were presented with materials and machines to start the businesses they have

learnt.

The skills acquisition and empowerment programme for unemployed youths and women living in the Nigerian army barracks was conceived by the Nigerian Army Officers' Wives’ Association (NAOWA) and sponsored by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

Speaking yesterday at closing ceremony of the two-week skills acquisition training for the 303 first beneficiaries of the army initiative at the Serti

Barack, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, described the scheme as a “very big morale booster for the soldiers and their family.”

Buratai, who was represented by the Commander 23 Brigade, Brig.

Gen. Benson Akinroluyo, said: “The soldiers especially those in the frontline in crisis areas in the country cannot be professionally responsive if they are worried about the welfare of their families back home.”

The COAS maintained that 'only a well-motivated soldier without any distraction from his family can be well dedicated and committed to duty.”

On her part, the NAOWA National President, Ummul-Kulsum Buratai, represented by Mrs. Olasimbo Akinroluyo, said the programme was timely considering the Federal Government efforts towards discouraging the importation of foreign goods and promoting local content.

49

Minister, parents: How Chibok girls in U.S. ‘are used by NGOs for money’ resh facts emerged yesterday on how some Chibok schoolgirls that escaped from the Boko Haram sect were used by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to get donations in the United States.

According to an online news portal, Premium Times, the parents of the girls and the Ministry of Women Affairs said most of the girls were used by the NGOs to get money from donors, a development which sources claimed may have informed government’s latest position on the protests of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group in Abuja.

It was gathered that after the April 14, 2014 abduction of the Chibok girls, some individuals and NGOs had offered to help the girls who escaped overcome their trauma, about 15 girls offered opportunity to study in the U.S. The Minister of Women Affairs,AishatuAlhassan, on Thursday, visited the parents in Maiduguri, Borno State after which she later addressed the media.

According to the minister, of the 15 girls currently in the U.S., only five are in schools as promised.

Alhassan, who spoke in the presence of some parents of the abducted girls, said the education of another five girls had to be taken over by the Murtala Mohammed Foundation after the intervention of the federal government.

“We have heard reports that some of the Chibok schoolgirls that escaped abduction were taken to the U.S. by some persons under a private arrangement of which the government was not involved.

“We wanted to talk to the parents about these girls in the U.S. because every Nigerian is the business of the government. The welfare of every Nigerian is the responsibility of government whether in Nigeria or abroad.

“Therefore, when we got the information that the girls were being used as tools for making money – not prostitution – but in the sense that they will be taken here and there where they go and relay their experiences during the insurgency, especially the invasion of Chibok town by Boko Haram and how they were abducted.

“After that, people used them to ask for donations; by so doing they make money out of it. So the girls became fed up; and started complaining that they were taken to U.S. on an arrangement that they were going to send them to school and that they were going to pay for their school. But

unfortunately they said they were not allowed to remain in school.

“The Nigerian government of course has business in the welfare of every Nigerian at home or overseas; so officials now went in and did some investigation and found that the case was true. So through the ministry of foreign affairs, my ministry was contacted; and there was a meeting held with the parents who we invited to discuss the matter.

“Now we had gotten a letter from one of the people that took the girls now making some demands pertaining to the girls and that necessitated my coming to meet with the children’s parents so that we talk now that I am in Maiduguri. And I am going back to report to Mr. President who encouraged me to meet with the ministry of foreign affairs and the parents.

“I have briefed them that the government is still doing its best to make sure that the ones in captivity are brought back home safe and sound. And they all appreciated our efforts and today they also dissociated themselves with any group including the BBOG group that tries to use their name in order to insult the government or to undermine the authority of Mr. President.

“Most importantly, I conveyed Mr. President’s regards and how he feels for them as well as the concerns he has over the plight of their girls in captivity,” Ahlhassan said.

Responding on behalf of the parents of the missing girls, Yakubu Nkeki Maiva, who identified himself as the chairman of the parents of abducted Chibok girls, said: “On the issue of our daughters that managed to escape from Boko Haram during the abduction who are now schooling in the US, we want the Federal Government to take over from those organisations and individuals, we want them to now study under the care of the Federal Government.

“When they were taken abroad we were told that they were going there to study and not going on tourism. We want them to return home with certificates and not tourists’ experiences. We want government to come in and take over their education there."

Another parent, Mr. Paul Ali Maiva, said the idea of the girls going abroad for free scholarship came through him when he was contacted by Paul Gadzama.

“I am one of the parents of the girls that were taken to the USA. Our daughters were taken abroad through Mr. Paul Gadzama whom we thanked for his kindness. But I don’t know him I just saw a call on my phone and he introduced himself, then informed me that he wanted my daughter to be taken the US in order to get her education," he said.

all have and rest assured that we will all weather the storm and scale through together.

“Once again, as a country in this period, we will continue to pray. On Sunday, the day of Arafat, we offer prayer for our leaders and president so that we can do what is right, because we feel the pain. We know what the

country is going through.

“Because there is no Nigerian with blood flowing through that will not know that things are difficult now and we pray that with God’s guidance, He will see us through. Once we resume, we will continue to play our own role to ensure that things get better.”

Ndubuisi Ugah with agency reports

F

Nigeria’ll overcome economic challenges –Saraki Anule Emmanuel,

S Abuja

enate President, Bukola Saraki, has assured Nigerians that the country will soon overcome the period of economic recession.

The Senate President

urged Nigerians to be patient with the present administration, stressing that leaders of the country were not also oblivious of the economic hardship in the land.

Saraki, who spoke to State House correspondents shortly after observing yesterday’s Jumat

prayer with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, however, urged Nigerians to support the president in order for him to succeed.

He also wished Nigerians, especially the Muslim faithful, a happy Sallah celebration while promising that Nigerians would continue

see better legislation as the National Assembly resumes plenary later this month.

Saraki said: “With prayer Insha Allahu, we will overcome it (economic recession).

The most important thing is for us to stay together and give the president support and continue to believe in this great country that we

Extra Sportsplash 50 News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

CHANGE AND CONFIRMATION OF NAME

akosu

I, formerly known and addressed as AKORSE GABRIEL TERFA, now wish to be known and addressed as AKOSU GABRIEL TERFA. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public please take note.

adeleye

Formerly VICTORIA YEMISI ADEBAYO now to be addressed as YEMISI ADELEYE. All former documents remain valid. UBA and members of the public take note.

ezeudu

I, formerly known and addressed as UCHECHI JOHN OBIA, now wish to be known and addressed as EZEUDU,SOPHIA UCHECHI. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

abdul

I formerly known and addressed as OLAWALE ADENIRAN now wish to be known and addressed as OLAWALE ABDUL GAFFAR ADENIRAN. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank Plc, First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

effiong

This is to confirm that EDET BASSEY and EDET BASSEY EFFION refers to the same person.

Henceforth wish to be known and addressed as EDET BASSEY EFFIONG. All documents bearing my former name remain valid.

General public please take note.

idomakime

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS JOHN TARILA BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. IDOMAKIME BEKIPIRI TARILA BLESSING. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

banuso

I formerly known and addressed as MISS FATOLA DORCAS ADEYOOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BANUSOMO DORCAS ADEYOOLA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

okon

I formerly known and addressed as INI EMA now wish to be known and addressed as OKON INI EMA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

martha

Recession: CBN urges calm, wants Nigerians to embrace hardwork Steve Uzoechi, OWERRI

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has called on Nigerians to remain calm, hardworking, buy made in Nigeria products and support the apex bank in its bid to stabilise the naira, if the country must find its way out of the current economic recession.

Speaking during a oneday interactive enlightenment meeting with Organised Labour in Owerri, the Imo state capital, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications of CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, urged Nigerians to be positive and confident that “we can get out of the recession as a

hardworking people.”

“There are things we need to do to get out of the recession: we are calling on all Nigerians to be calm, work hard enough and obey simple rules”, he said.

Okoroafor urged Nigerians to throw their weight behind the directive to ban the importation of 41 items that can largely be produced in Nigeria to save the country’s foreign exchange reserve, adding: “We should all support that policy, so that we can allow our people to produce those goods and supply to the people and give employment to our people, instead of importing the same goods from abroad and creating jobs abroad for other people.

“Nigerians should sup-

This is to confirm that the names AGU MARTHA OWO and AGU MARTHA EBERE refer to one and same person.

Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as AGU MARTHA OWO. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, Skye bank Plc and the general public take note.

anyasodor

This is to notify the general public that the names ANYASODOR MARIA-ASSUMPTA and ANYASODOR MARIA-ASSUMPTA AMARACHI refer to one and the same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as ANYASODOR MARIAASSUMPTA. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Tension in Anambra community over arrest of leaders Damian Duruiheoma, NNEWI

T

here is palpable tension in Oba town in Idemili South local government area of Anambra State, following the arrest of the President - General of Aboji Akanano area of the town, Nze Dozie Nweke.

Nweke was allegedly arrested by a team of the Police Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) who stormed his residence around 8am on September 3 in an operation that was said to have been led by one CSP Ben Igwe, who claimed that they came from the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Abuja.

Nweke and four others who were in his residence were said to have been beaten and assaulted by the operatives of SARS who shot sporadically into the air to scare other members of the community.

It was learnt that all attempts to trace the whereabouts of the arrested PG and others by the elders in the community and family members had not yielded any positive results.

Narrating their ordeal to newsmen, wives of other arrested individuals described the arrest as something never seen before in the town.

According to Mrs. Chigozie Nweke, wife of the arrested president - general, ‘‘the policemen came to our house around 8.00 am, my husband was still in his shorts discussing with his brothers and they (the police) started shooting.

R-L Miss Tomi Idowu being congratulated by the officials of Lincoln University, United Kingdom, after being awarded a first class degree in Forensic Sciences and the best Project presentation ...yesterday

Buhari seeks int'l collaboration on economy Ebere Ameh, Abuja

P

resident Mohammad Buhari will at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) holding in New York, United States next week seek the collaboration of the international community to revive the nation’s economy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, who disclosed this at a pre-UNGA press briefing in Abuja, yesterday, said President Buhari will be leading a very important Nigerian delegation to the assembly, enumerated other key areas that Nigeria needs the support of world leaders to include security, anti-corruption, actualisation of the SDGs and Climate Change.

He said: “Mr. President needs the support of world leaders in the area of security, in the area of governance, anti-corruption fight, and also in particular with regards to the economy. We are facing an enormous challenge and it is something that preoccupies the mind of Mr. President.

He appreciates the important opportunity of the assembly to identify with other world leaders how we can best improve our economy through greater trade, greater foreign direct investment, and so on.”

Onyema said the president was mindful of the very difficult conditions that are faced by a very significant portion of our population and is doing everything humanly possible to engage and promote trade, foreign direct investment into the country.

He noted that the delegation will also be taking advantage of the unique platform provided by the US Africa Forum, which has identified Nigeria as a country of special focus; and the UN’s Private Sector Forum, that will all take place there, to attract foreign direct investment into the country as well as develop better strategies to promote and develop the private sector.

The minister further disclosed that President Buhari would also be signing the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in New York, a move, according to him, will send a very strong signal to the international community and the world that Nigeria is fully engaged in addressing the climate change issues.

... to reduce 10 presidential jets

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the reduction of the number of aircraft in his presidential fleet.

The president’s spokesperson on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, made this known on Thursday evening through his Twitter handle.

He wrote in his Twitter

handle: “There is a govt committee already in place, working to reduce the number of aircraft in the presidential fleet.

“Some aircraft will be boarded, some others returned to the Air Force for operations.

The Change is here.”

Some critics of the Buhari administration had claimed that

the government had not done enough to end Nigeria’s worst economic crisis for decades.

Many state governors are currently unable to pay salaries of their workers with many being laid off, while companies across sectors said they couldn’t get enough hard currency to import spare parts or raw materials.

port the Central Bank of Nigeria by ensuring that those sabotaging our efforts and speculating against the Naira are kicked out of this country,” he said.

Commenting on the recently released Quarterly National Accounts (QNA) of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Comrade Issa Aremu, who doubles as a NEC member, NLC, and Secretary General Alumni Association of National Institute (AANI), Kuru Jos, said: "All Nigerians regardless of their callings are damned by the data on rising inflation, double digit interest rates, factory closures and general underdevelopment", adding that Nigerians must collectively confront underdevelopment instead of giving excuses and blaming each other.

On the critical views of the past two governors of the CBN, namely Charles Chukwuma Soludo and Emir of Kano, Sanusi Mohammad 11, on the policy thrust of Buhari administration, comrade Aremu, said the two voices ‘sounded too familiar, predictable but unhelpful’ for an economy begging for solutions, adding, it’s time to ‘‘work the recovery of Nigeria’’ based on 1999 constitution's provision that says the purpose of governance is welfare and security of the citizens.

According to him, after 30 years of structural adjustment programme of privatisation, trade liberalisation and financial liberalisation, Nigeria urgently must replace the

current disjointed policies with sustainable national development agenda consolidated in various national discourses articulated in visions 2010, 2020 and 2014 National conference.

Aremu flayed the current policy of CBN on high interest rate which he called anti-production and urged CBN to review its current monetary policy rate which puts interest rate at double digit, adding that Nigeria cannot run a successful productive value adding economy with the current high cost of funds caused by high interest rates.

He also joined the NLC to call on the government to increase workers salary as well as ensure prompt payment of salaries to cushion the impact of the harsh economic situation on Nigerian workers.

According to him, the smartest way to re-inflate the economy is through wage increase linked with productivity improvement and prompt payment of salaries by states and local governments, adding that President Buhari must urgently constitute the tripartite committee on the review of the current national minimum wage.

Nigerian workers, he observed have long been in depression, insisting that with Naira devaluation and inflation, 2010 negotiated national minimum wage of N18,000 which was about $120 in 2010 has fallen to $42 in 2016.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SEATDESTINY OF AMAZINGFULFILMENT GRACE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY MINISTRY This is to inform the public that the above named body has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)under part "C" of the companies and Allied Matters Act,1990.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES: 1. Dr. (Pastor) Solomon Oluwasesan Oke 2. Evang.(Mrs) Ibukunoluwa Abigael Oke 3. Evang.(Mrs.)Victoria Olakunbi Oke 4. Rev/Dr. Sola Olubadejo 5. Pastor Oluwafemi Emmanuel Afolabi 6. Miss. Kemi Olayemi Ayoola 7. Mr.Aransiola omowonuola Kayode 8. Pastor Akinbode John 9. Mr. Dele Oyebamiji

- - -

President, Secretary, Treasurer

- -

Ex-Officio Ex-Officio

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Propagation of the gospel.

2. Preaching of the Bible.

3. Humanitarian services.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission,plot 420 Tigris Crescent Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street,Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. TUNDE BABASOLA

PUBLIC NOTICE

GERIATRIC CARE ANDGRACE VULNERABLE SUPPORT INITIATIVE SEAT OF AMAZING INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named organization has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. George Andreas Adikibe-Nana 2. Ngozi Anthonia Orusakwe

3. Tim Uchenna Oguamanam

4. Izuchukwu Godwill Unegbu

- - - -

Chairman Trustee Trustee Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To support the old and helpless people above the ages of 70 years and above 2. To support helpless children within the age bracket of 1-10 years of age.

3. To promote healthy lifestyle to the elderly in the rural communities.

4. To support the health and growth of children in the rural community.

5. To support children to go to both primary and secondary schools in the rural community Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: GEORGE ANDREAS ADIKIBE-NANA (Chairman)

News Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 September 2016

51

Group decries destruction of oil facilities in Urhoboland Ola James, Warri

O

ML 30 Community Development Board, comprising representatives of Isoko, Urhobo, Itsekiris and Ndokwas, yesterday decried the destruction of oil facilities in Urhoboland, noting that it was not in the character of Urhobos to employ violence in agitating for their rights.

OML 30 is a body put together by the government and Joint Venture Partners (JVP) by oil companies for the development of host communities to multinational oil firms operating in Delta Central Senatorial District in Delta Sate.

Chairman of the board, Morris Idiovwa, noted in a statement that the Urhobos were still mindful of the fact that not all problems

are solvable through force of violence.

He, therefore, appealed to youths in Urhoboland to embrace peace stressing that they should not turn the area to a battle ground which they might regret later, apparently refering to the activities of the militant group, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate.

“So much as we desire our people and our land to receive the appropriate return for their contributions to Nigeria's national development, through our physical labour and natural resources, we believe there are many routes to access the market.

“Urhobo nation has been patient and peaceful and we believe that we are drawing closer to getting our dues from the Nigerian union, therefore, we want to call on all our youths not to give in to the lure and invitation to violence."

L-R: Sokoto State Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Aminu Bello; Acting Executive Secretary of Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Hajiya Ladi Katagum; Governor Aminu Tambuwal and a Director in NIPC, Mr. Bala Bello, during NIPC management’s visit to the governor…recently

PHOTO: SOKOTO STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE

NDLEA arrests 230 drug suspects in Aba

Stop attacking Fayose, T aide tells Falana

Victor Mba, Aba

T

he Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, has a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), to desist from his unwarranted utterances against Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Olayinka made the comment on the sideline of an allegation made by Falana at the maiden edition of Ekitipanupo colloquium in Lagos on Thursday that Fayose was looting funds meant for the development of the state.

He said “It is obvious that Falana is driving himself sick because of his personal hatred for Fayose and if care is not taking, his state of mind concerning the governor

may graduate from psychology to psychosis one day.”

Olayinka also said: “Falana should purge himself of his hatred for anything Fayose because he (Fayose) was not the one who scuttled his (Falana) ambition to be governor of Ekiti State.”

He said the self-professed human rights lawyer needed to get the antiFayose cataract that has blocked his eyes removed so that he can see all the developmental strides of Governor Fayose both during his first term and his second tenure, adding that; “particularly, all the dualised roads in Ado-Ekiti (except) two were done

by Fayose. Today, which of the past governors in Ekiti can match Fayose’s achievements?”

Super highway project forces over 1m people to migrate Deborah Ocheni, Abuja

T

he investigation of Rainforest Resource and Development Centre (RRDC) has shown that the acquisition of 10 kilometres to the left and 10 kilometres to the right of the centreline of the superhighway acquired by the government for overriding public interest will remove more than 180 indigenous communities from their ancestral lands.

Aside that, more than one million inhabitants of these communities would turn out to be Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and a potential burden on the people of Cross River State and the federal government.

Speaking at a press briefing recently, executive direc-

tor, RRDC, Odey Oyama, alleged that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report contained no reference to the territory.

The statement added: “This acquisition amounts to 20 kilometres of land for every single kilometre of the superhighway.

“Further analysis of the acquisition reveals that the actual portion of the land that is necessary for the establishment of the right-of-way of the superhighway amounts to between four per cent and five per cent of the total land being acquired for the entire project.”

It added that such omission amounts to unpardonable lack of transparency.

“The RRDC has since found it difficult to rationalise the acquisition of 5,200Km2 of land of a road project that requires only four per cent to five per cent of that land mass.

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command has arrested 230 suspects comprising 214 males and 15 female suspects from January till date.

Speaking during the parade of 15 suspects arrested for being in possession of psycho-tropical substances in August and September, the state Commander of NDLEA, Bamidele Akingbade, said four of the suspects were arrested at a notorious drug black spot known as the Black King-

dom while others were arrested in other black spots.

He said: “We have seized 251.026 kilogrammes of psychotropic substances and we have secured 45 convictions from those whose cases went to court.

“By the time court resumes from recess in September, some of the cases will be continued from where we stopped.

“Twelve new suspects will be arraigned in court in September while the trial of seven old suspects will continue.

“Currently we have 25 drug-dependent persons who are undergoing rehabilitations. Within the year, about 45 clients

had been treated and discharged from the facility.”

Akingbade said that when schools resume this season, the command would visit them to educate the students on the dangers of dabbling into drugs to discourage the practice.

He said: “We are taking this step because we notice a high preponderance of drugs use in the state”.

The Commander said that the command had devised a new strategy for arresting operators of the black spots, adding that the strategy is yielding results.

He also noted that the command lacked enough vehicles to carry out their

enormous task of raiding the many black spots in Abia and called for state government’s assistance.

Nworie Ebenezer, 27, living at Osisioma Industrial Market, “the Black Kingdom” said he was sleeping in his shop when the NDLEA men came in and took him by 3 am.

He said he was selling “monkeytail” with marijuana for “Chinatoman” alias Ejima but said the drugs were not his own.

Another suspect, John Bassey, said he was a wheelbarrow pusher, had left his barrow and wanted to sleep when he was arrested, adding that he is not a drug seller.

Sokoto, NIPC partner on leather export

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okoto State Government’s bid to generate income from its leather works from the international market received a boost when the Nigerian Investment Promotions Commissions (NIPC) said it is working with the state government to realise set objectives.

The acting executive secretary of the commission, Hajiya Ladi Katagum, who spoke when she paid a courtesy visit to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, on Thursday, said the potential of the leather industry

was enormous, hence the need for the country to tap into it.

She said in order to realise their mandate of promoting Nigeria's abundant investment opportunities and attract beneficial capitals into the economy, the NIPC will continue its collaboration with state governments to collate the investment potentials in their area to market them to both local and foreign investors.

According to her, many states have shown willingness to work with NIPC because of its expertise in the area of attracting in-

MECCA Kaduna pilgrims to enjoy telecom services

NEWS IN BRIEF

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The Secretary to Kaduna State Government (SSG), Alhaji Lawal Abbas, has directed the Overseer of the Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Imam Hussain Tsoho, to liaise with the landlords of the houses where pilgrims are lodged in Mecca, Saudi Arabia to provide boosters that will enhance telecommunication services for their accommodation.

Balarabe, who gave this directive yesterday, said that it has become necessary for pilgrims to communicate with their families at home, saying that government is committed to pilgrims' welfare.

Saturday Telegraph gathered that some pilgrims from the state had protested against the limited telecommunication services at their accommodation, a development that has continued to elicit diverse comments on pilgrims’ social platform groups.

vestment.

In his remarks, Tambuwal said his administration has given the leather industry all the attention it deserves, and had recently drawn experts from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) who visited the state to interact with stakeholders.

“We welcome NIPC's interest in this endeavour and together, we will work to fully explore the potential in the sector for the benefit of our state and the country,” the governor added.

Tambuwal announced

the setting up of a committee that will liaise with the NIPC to continue discussion on the issue.

Members of the committee include the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, the state Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Commissioner for Information and the state Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture as well as the DG of the Sokoto Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMEDA).

ISOLO APAPA Attah takes over NLNG from Assemblies of God holds men's week Omotowa The leadership transition at Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has officially ended with the former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Babs Omotowa, handing-over NLNG to his successor, Mr. Tony Attah.

The NLNG said in a statement that Omotowa also declared that NLNG is an inspiration and it is changing the narrative about Nigeria.

In his farewell remarks, Omotowa said: “NLNG is an inspiration and it is changing the narrative about Nigeria; same as Daewoo in South Korea, Mercedes in Germany, Toyota in Japan, among others.

“All hands must be together to protect this jewel. It has been an amazing five years that I have been privileged to occupy the position.”

The Assemblies of God Church, Isolo, Lagos will hold this year’s men's week/day on September 11 at No. 3, Risi Laguda Close by Metropolitan College, Ire-Akari Estate Road, Isolo by 9.a.m.

A statement issued by the organisers noted that the programme has as its theme: “Evidence of Restoration”.

It stated that there will be a ‘Capacity Building Summit’ on September 10 with the President, Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmos Maduka, former Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa and many other speakers in attendance.

There will be weekly activities starting from September 5 to 8 and expected to feature programmes such as total restoration, salvation, healing, drama presentation, recitation, talk show and power packed sermon.

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Perspectives

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10 september 2016

Seventy two hours of hell on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

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nce again our inability to manage critical situations was brought to the fore by an incident which happened eight days ago on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and which left many drivers and commuters with a great trauma.

It began innocuously last Friday when a water pipe located around the vicinity of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles’ Hilltop University ruptured prompting the water to cascade down the slope of the university’s main entrance onto the ever busy dual carriageway.

Initially, the water flowed off the expressway not causing too much problems for motorists; but gradually as the volume of water failed to abate, the surrounding catchment area became saturated and the tide started to flood the highway.

And thus the busiest highway in the nation was reduced from four lanes to just a single lane, which was to carry traffic from both the Lagos end and Ibadan ends of the 127.6-kilometre road.

Least I forget, added to the mix was the fact that Friday was also the monthly Holy Ghost Service of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which usually increased the volume of cars on the route – at least up to kilometre 46 where the church is located.

Besides our well documented driving habits, the flooded portion of the road became a recipe for disaster as the situation worsened with road users struggling for right of way.

And thus the interplay of events that Friday was to kick start almost 72 hours of the worst ever traffic gridlock ever experienced on the expressway in recent times – it was a total bedlam for both drivers and commuters for the duration the nightmare lasted.

Journeys of a few minutes became marathon hour-long terrifying ordeals for those

“M

TS from the Sidelines 08050498544 (sms only) tunsul2@gmail.com living along the expressway or who had anything to do along the route.

Narrating his experience David Alaba, who lives in Arepo in Ogun State but works on the Lagos Island, said he left his office as usual at about 5pm on that fateful day and had expected to be home at the usual time of give or take a little after 7pm.

But on that Friday he did not reach his gate till after 1am on Saturday!

“It was just crazy. I have never seen or been inside such traffic before in my life. Imagine if I had been traveling to the United Kingdom I would have arrived earlier than I did trying to get home from my office in Lagos - a journey of less than 40 kilometres.

“Cars were overheating because at times we were on one spot for more than an hour. At a stage, I had to be switching off my engine not only because of overheating but to also conserve fuel.”

But perhaps what was more worrisome for the engineer was the fear of being robbed while stuck in the gridlock.

“Although, luckily, I was not robbed or attacked, I’ve heard of such things happening especially on the long bridge,” he said.

His position was also collaborated by a journalist, Mrs. Jumoke Ilesanmi, who was going to Ibafo and who was also caught up in the traffic.

“Perhaps, because I am a lady and the only one in the car or maybe God loves me, I saw the boys breaking car windows and robbing people; but three times they came up to my car they looked inside but didn’t do anything to me,” she said.

According to her, the thieves were young boys moving around in groups sizing up cars before stealing from the drivers and occupants of those that appeal to them.

Incidentally, when we got in touch with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), over the nightmarish gridlock and this was their response: “The Command is witnessing Traffic Gridlock on both sections of the Lag-IBD expressways between Warewa (Long Bridge) and NASFAT Turning point (Mowe). The traffic situation is as a result of pool of water that flooded the road on the two sections of the express at MFM Prayer City. FRSC personnel are on ground controlling traffic. Thank you sir.” (sic).

Sadly, harrowing motorists and commuters experienced for the 72 hours could have been avoided had the nation had a proper functioning rapid response/search and rescue programme in place.

I wrote about such a few months ago following the frequency of building collapses across the country and the crude manner we often respond to such.

In fact, I strongly believe that the way heavy duty machines, bulldozers and other earthmoving equipment are deployed to such collapses might often hasten the demise of the victims they are even trying to rescue!

We recently saw on the various international news channels how the Italian search and rescue teams responded to the massive earthquake which struck central Italy recently killing over 240 people last month.

Not only did the Italians have their rescue teams properly kitted, with gloves, helmets and what have you; they also had sniffer dogs and sound gear to help search for survivors buried deep under the rubble of collapsed buildings – in addition to the traditional heavy equipment, like diggers, bulldozers and the not heavy like shovels, pickaxes and saws.

They also had mobile hospitals and food stalls set up on site to provide immediate medical treatment for the injured and nourishment and hot beverages to the survivors.

But perhaps most importantly, it was clear that they also had a plan of what to do, who was in charge and what each person on site had to do to help.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway horror once again exposed how government and its agencies have failed the citizens. There is no way government officials would not have been aware of what was going on over the two nights and yet nothing was done!

Even if they did not have the necessary equipment to have evacuated the flood water, which was the cause of all the hardship, couldn’t the powers that be at least have deployed security personnel along the route to prevent attacks on innocent commuters and motorists.

One can only hope and pray that we shall not observer another 72 hours of hell like we witnessed two Fridays ago!

Who is your marriage counsellor?

arriage is God’s idea. The idea is not from any human being. Every brand new car comes with a manufacturer’s manual.

Any attempt to operate the car outside the manual’s specifications would lead to problems.

In the same vein, any attempt to operate marriage outside the standards of its originator as specified in his word will result in challenges.

If your marriage has a challenge, you need to approach the right source for solution. Seeking counsel or a solution from a wrong source can be likened to seeking the services of a carpenter to mend your faulty dress or car.

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1st Corinthians 3:11).

If your marriage is approved of God, the solution to any challenge in that marriage is not in any other way than the way and method of God as reflected in his word.

Marriage is so important to God that the very first miracle that Jesus performed in Cana was at a wedding ceremony.

“And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said to her, ‘woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever he says to you, do it” (John 2:3-5).

After wedding ceremony, parents are in most cases, eager and wish to fast-forward the process of growth of that marriage.

They want to quickly see their grandchildren. They begin to count nine months from the day of the wedding. This type of eagerness has actually led many parents to pressurize their unmarried children

Marriage Clinic with Albinus Chiedu 08038117704 (sms only) marriagecanwork@yahoo.com into fornication before marriage because they need a pregnancy and a child quickly.

Many couples today are suffering implications of such pressure.

If after nine months of wedding there is no pregnancy, they begin to offer diverse forms of counsel, including counsel that contradict the expectations of the founder of the marital institution who instructed in his word that: “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh" (Matthew 19:5).

Thank God for Jesus’ mother who understood that the only solution to marital problems resided in the word of God. After a fruitless attempt to use human understanding to solve the problem as many people do today, she surrendered to the word of God and the power in it for solution. She said: “Whatever he says to you, do it” (John 2:5). They did what Jesus said and there was solution.

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).

If you have a marital challenge and someone is counselling you, that counsel must be weighed with the word of God. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the

counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).

Don’t make a Human Rights Activist your marriage counsellor except when the counsel received is Bible-based. Otherwise, you will offend God as a Christian. For instance, when your wife or husband offends you and you seek the counsel of such people, they will advise you thus: “Don’t take that shit from anybody because it is against your human right. As a matter of fact, you have a right to end the marriage through divorce.”

God’s counsel is different. The day you accept Christ as your Lord and personal saviour, there is no longer a YOU. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 5:20).

I hope you know that your prayers may never be answered when you mistreat your spouse? (1st Peter 3:7). Your personal relationship with your owner and maker is priority.

“Submitting yourselves to one another

in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for her” (Ephesians 5:21-25).

Every counsel that contradicts the above scripture is anti-God. Besides, before you embrace anybody’s counsel on marriage, endeavour to assess the person’s marital life. If the person’s own is not working or did not work, he or she MAY not be your well wisher, except if the person’s counsel is corrective in nature for a departure from errors occurring in his or her own. Besides, where is the moral qualification for counselling? However, all counsel must agree with God’s standards and expectations.

Having in-laws as your marriage counsellor could be dicey sometimes because of individual interests. For many, the social media is their marriage counsellor. So, they apply personal opinions to spiritual matters and expect positive results.

Even the counsel from your clergyman on marital issues MUST be screened with the position of the Bible on the issue involved. The counsel of God must prevail for your marriage to succeed.

Jesus has fulfilled his promise: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

Your marriage will work if you obey the word of God and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

53

Abrahamic story and happenings in Nigeria

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f there is any agreement among the Muslims, Christians and Jews as regards their faiths, it is the Abrahamic story -the story of undiluted faith, sacrifce, commitment and patience. The adherents of Islam, Christianity and Judaism refer to him as the father of faith. It is not surprising then that Prophet Abraham whom the Muslims call Ibrahim remains a great personality and a reference point whenever the faithful of the three religions talk about dialogue.

It is ironic that Ibrahim who was born and raised by parents who were idol worshippers is still a reference point in resilience, sacrifce, patience and unshakeable faith many hundred years after his death.

Even the most jaded critics of religions still find his story enthusiastic. As a young boy, he watched his father, Aazar, sculpturing stones and woods, which were moved to temples as objects of worship. In his childhood innocence, Ibrahim often wondered why the well-sculptured objects some of which he had played with as toys and kicked like balls before they were taken away from his father's workshop later became what the whole community bowed down before, supplicated to and regarded as their gods.

Out of curiosity and inability to fathom why the people worshipped statues carved by his father, Ibrahim asked his father why the toys were being taken to the temple and his father said: "They are statues that represent our gods. We worship them, we ask favours from them and we offer them presents." Ibrahim refused to buy into such reasoning and distanced himself from the idolaters in the kingdom of Babylon, his place of birth.

Going by the account of the Glorious Quran, one night, Ibrahim went up to the mountain, leaned against the rock and looked up to the sky. He saw a shinning star and assumed it could be his Lord. But when it disappeared, he lost faith in it. He did same to the moon and the sun when it was shinning in the afternoon. Like the star, they also receded under the clouds when it was time for them to recede. He wondered why they appeared and receded if they were God, his creator.

So, when the sun set, he said: "O my people I am free from all that you join as partners with Allah! I have turned my face towards Him who created the heavens and earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah. Ibrahim then reportedly heard Allah calling him: "O Ibrahim!" Trembling Ibrahim then said : "Here I am O my Lord!"

News Extra Clement James Calabar

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he Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is a veritable tool for the development of the area, appealing to the Federal Government to properly fund the commission to enable it Wale Elegbede

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he coalition of ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta, United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), has decried President Muhammadu Buhari’s seeming disdain for peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta crisis,concluding that the federal government appears insincere about desiring to end

Waheed Bakare on Saturday

09056089320 (sms only) waheedbakare2003@yahoo.com "Submit to Me! Be a Muslim!" Ibrahim fell on the ground, prostrated and cried, saying: "I submitted to the Lord of the universe! (Q6 vs 75)" This marked the threshold of a new beginning for 'God's friend' whose search for the truth yielded a positive result for him. He took his discovery home to his people beginning with his father. The consensus of opinion among Islamic clerics was that he used SOFTEST and KINDEST words to talk to his father: "O father! Why do you worship that which doesn't hear, see and cannot avail you in anything? O father, I have got knowledge which you have not, so follow me, I will guide you to a straight path." His father angrily replied: "Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim? If you don't stop I will stone you.

Get away from me before I punish you."

Ibrahim did not treat his father with disdain despite disagreeing with his mode of worship. A few years back, it was learnt that some Nigerian Muslim youths were encouraged to severe their relationship with their parents on account of practising another religion. Some even went to

the extent of buying tins of milk for their mothers as a way of paying them back the milk they sucked from their breasts. Such strange ideology is antithetical to the Abrahamic story of the prophet who refused to worship idols with his parents but did not despise them.

After a futile attempt to convert his father to the right path failed, he talked to the people of the town who did not heed his calls. He then plotted to destroy their idols before the big celebration of the idolaters on the riverbank. He went to the temple, cut all the statues with an axe and hung the ax on the neck of the biggest statue to give the impression that it was the one which destroyed the smaller statues. All fingers were pointed at Ibrahim, who said: "The biggest of them has done it. Ask them if they can speak."

"But you know that these idols don't speak! " They said. "Then how come you worship things that can neither speak nor see, nor even fend for themselves? Have you lost your mind?" Ibrahim said.

The father of faith was declared as heretic and had injured the primordial feelings of the idolaters. Death verdict was passed on him by the King of Babylon, Nimrod.

He was to be burnt. On the day of the execution, the crowd from far and near had gathered. The biggest fire ever seen was lit. It was high up in the sky and the birds wouldn't fly over it out of fear that they could be burnt. Ibrahim was shackled and catapulted into the raging inferno. But God commanded the fire: "O fire! Be coolness and safety for Ibrahim." The miracle happened. The fire obeyed God's commandment, it burnt only the chains and

even trace of smoke was not on his clothes.

This miracle is for real. But how many of such do we have in our society today? Last month, five people whose job is to claim spurious miracles for some churches during crusades and programmes were arrested by the police in Enugu State. "Some pastors use us to grow their churches or ministries.

We are paid later through our coordinator, depending on our roles, " one of the suspects reportedly told the police.

Just on Tuesday, a pastor and three others were arrested at Nkpor and Ogidi communities in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State for allegedly stealing 30 children. About the same time in IjebuIgbo, Ogun State, a herbalist, Tunde Banjo, and a Muslim cleric, Nurudeen Adeniyi, were arrested by the police for allegedly killing a 16-year-old girl, Olayinka. The teenager's breasts were severed, an indication she was killed for money ritual. These kinds of stories are found on the pages of newspapers on a daily basis. This is not Abrahamic story. As some genuine clerics are doing the right things, there are other perpetrating evil elsewhere.

Cases abound where clerics now live a sybaritic lifestyle largely funded by poor and gullible congregants whose minds have been manipulated to believe that clerics cannot be questioned just because they wear cassocks and clerical collars or heavy turbans. Even when certain actions of some clerics are obviously impertinent, it becomes a sacrilege to challenge or even talk about it in the eyes of some religionists.

If religious teachings are based on Abrahamic story, why will clerics be involved in money rituals or be prayer contractors for armed robbers as we often see?

Like all prophets, Ibrahim is important to the Muslims. He is also central to Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam which every Muslim must make to Makkah at least once in their lifetime.

On Monday, the Abrahamic story will resonate throughout the Islamic world as Muslims mark the festival associated with the slaughtering of rams to demonstrate the story of faith, sacrifce, commitment and patience when Ibrahim agreed to carry out his convenant with God that he would sacrifice his son, Ismail (Ishmael). God replaced Ismail with a white ram.

The more of Abraham we have among the Muslims, Christians and the Jews, the better the world will become. Happy Eidel-Kabir to all Muslims and happy holidays to all Nigerians.

Ayade: NDDC, a veritable tool to develop N’Delta fulfil its mandate.

The governor stated this while receiving the Acting Managing Director of the commission, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who paid him a courtesy visit in Calabar.

While commending the commission for carrying out

remedial work at the Calabar-Itu road which, he said, has relieved travellers of the stress usually experienced before now, the governor said such intervention was important for the development of the region.

According to him, the

intervention has not only reduced stress and travel time in that axis; it has saved the state from infusing scarce resources to rework the road.

He said before now, commuters on the road had witnessed unprecedented gridlock thus causing discomfort

to indigenes, residents and visitors to the state.

“The intervention by the NDDC has made it possible for people who will be coming for the Calabar carnival to have a smooth ride. This would not have been possible without your support

… UNDEDSS tackles FG

the Niger Delta imbroglio peacefully and expeditiously.

In a statement issued yesterday by UNDEDSS Secretary-General, Mr. Tony Iprinye Uranta, at the end of its emergency National Working Committee meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the group said the government should em-

brace the peace overtures from the Niger Delta armed agitators, and summon all stakeholders to the negotiation table.

UNDEDSS statement read: “The increasingly excessive and anti-people attempts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to seemingly intimidate and

coerce the peoples of the Niger Delta, via military harassment, into submitting to what is perceived as an attempt to openly steal its resources and rights, worries all right-thinking people of the world; especially since all this is at a time that the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Group has succeeded

in getting the armed agitators to cease fire unilaterally and express their collective readiness to embrace dialogue.

The world should note that the armed agitators have kept faith with their ceasefire, and the creeks of the Niger Delta are relatively at peace, save for the Nigerian military ‘manoeuvrings’.

and it also makes movement a lot easier for the rest of us, notwithstanding the fact that we are no longer listed among oil producing states,” the governor stated.

Ayade, who lamented the current financial situation of the state, explained that although repairing the road is a federal responsibility, the state government was hamstrung by the present economic situation to offer remedial intervention on the road.

“Because of the intervention by NDDC which is not following the orthodox way of doing things by asking about what we are contributing, our revenue has received a boost and life is gradually coming back to that aspect of our economy,” he said.

News Extra

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

41 Nigerian students sue Alabama varsity over ‘racial comments’ Ndubuisi Ugah

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with agency reports

n a lawsuit filed last week in a federal court in the U.S, 41 Nigerian nationals, many of whom are now Alabama State University alumni, alleged that the school overcharged them for books and meals, enrolled them in classes they never took, and more, all because they were black foreigners.

An ASU alumni, Jimmy Iwezu, who claims the university intentionally mismanaged millions from a scholarship fund set up by the Nigerian government that was paid in advance for every exchange student, claimed that: “They called us cash cows. I am a black man and I am proud to be black, but I felt discriminated against.”

The 37-year-old Iwezzu, who is a social work graduate, cited the school’s selfproclaimed autonomy to do whatever it wished with the seven-figure sum Nigeria prepaid back in 2013 for some 41 students to go to the school.

But the students’ Attorney, Julian McPhillips, who brought the lawsuit to court for the second time, the first attempt, back in April, ac-

cused the school of breaching its contract with Nigeria and was dismissed, suggested that ASU violated Title VI civil rights.

The students alleged they were shorted their deserved monies by ASU “because of their Nigerian national origin,” according to the lawsuit.

McPhillips, who told The Daily Beast, contended that ASU hammered the students with exorbitant “billing” and they weren’t “being treated like other students” when the school allegedly inflated the costs of staples like books and room and board, and repurposed the funds to pay for the school’s “bond issues” and to help front costs for “a new stadium,” and, ironically, a centre for civil rights awareness.

“The school acted in a really disingenuous and selfserving way,” he said.

While most college students are permitted to bargain shop for textbooks wherever they wish or dine at different establishments beyond the school cafeterias, the Nigerian nationals at ASU, according to the federal complaint, were boxed in.

The lawsuit claims “they were not allowed by ASU to spend this money, but instead

the money was credited towards certain expenses the students incurred, or towards other expenses ASU incurred that were unrelated to the students.”

“The school compelled us to buy books from the book store and eat only at the cafeteria,” Iwezu said. “I tried to make them understand, ‘Hey, we don’t want to live in the dorms anymore, and we don’t want to eat our entire meals at the dorms.”

He said greed-trumped reason, while also insisting that: “They want our money.” he said.

Iwezu said the surcharge to live on campus was raised specifically for him and his Nigerian counterparts.

“They make us pay $3,000 (a semester) to live in the dorms, and that is more than a mortgage on homes in this area,” he added.

Back in 2013, a geography professor at ASU for almost three decades, Dr. David Iyegha, made a pilgrimage to Lagos State, where he served as the school’s ambassador to recruit fellow Nigerians with a mandate to attract its best and brightest to relocate to Montgomery, Alabama, for their higher education.

“I went to Nigeria with one other faculty member

and recruited these students to be sponsored by the Nigerian Federal Government,” Iyegha told The Daily Beast.

But today, he is withered in regret, saying: “I feel very, very bad because I was the one who was instrumental in bringing these students to the campus.”

Iyegha, whose son is currently on a Ph.D. track at ASU, feels like he let down so many promising prospects.

He said: “(Nigeria) paid for everything, including their books, and all of the money is supposed to be given to the students so they can buy this or that. But the college refused to release any of that money at all for the past three years.

“While the money was prepaid and guaranteed by the Federal Government, that didn’t grant the school carte blanche on how it was supposed to be spent,” he said.

“I asked them, ‘Why are you treating these kids like this? Why are you depriving them?’ and after talking to them at length, they told me they spent all the money and there is no money left.”

An ASU spokesman told The Daily Beast that “since it’s pending litigation against our university, Alabama State University has no comment.”

Rescue helicopter approaching the cable cars

Trapped passengers rescued from French cable cars

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ozens of people trapped overnight in cable cars dangling at 12,000 feet in the French Alps have been rescued safely, officials said yesterday.

At least three children and their families were among 33 passengers forced to spend the night in the cabins after weather conditions and the onset of darkness meant the operation to bring them down was halted late Thursday.

The passengers' ordeal began at about 4:30 p.m. local time Thursday when two cables crossed over each other, a local government official said.

The cable cars became stuck in position, leaving 110 people trapped. French and Italian helicopters were

called in, and rescue teams managed to get 65 of them to safety.

Hours later, workers were able to bring down 12 more passengers, who walked to a connecting cable car that took them to the Italian town of Courmayeur.

But Clement Delisle was among those who had to spend more than 12 hours above the mountain valley.

He said he and his friends and family had been on the cable car for about 10 minutes when it stopped unexpectedly near l'Aiguille du Midi.

"After two hours, we started getting worried, we called and they told us the helicopters were on their way as there was an issue with the wires."

Over 700m adults are illiterates, says UNESCO

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bout 758 million adults around the world have never learned to read or write, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has said.

Speaking at a ceremony here marking the 50th anniversary of International Literacy Day, Unesco's regional representative Katherine Muller-Marin said most illiterate adults -- as much as two-thirds -- are women, making them more vulnerable to unemployment and low wages.

Hajj pilgrims at the Holy Mosque yesterday.

INSET: A man being given electronic bracelets.

Hajj rites begin as 1.5m Muslims head to Mecca

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illions of Muslims from around the world have started arriving in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a central pillar of the Islamic faith that re-enacts the actions of Prophet Muhammad from more than 1,400 years ago.

Worshippers from more than 150 countries began gathering on Friday in the city, one of the holiest sites in Islam, to prepare for the five-day pilgrimage, which starts today.

About 1.5 million people from across the world are expected to perform the spiritual journey meant to cleanse the faithful of sin and bring them closer to God. To address security concerns, nearly a thousand new surveillance cameras have been installed at Mecca's Grand Mosque, which will monitor crowd numbers, and the Jamarat stoning (a symbolic stoning of the devil) will be more tightly controlled than in previous years.

Also for the first time, pilgrims are given electronic bracelets storing personal and medical information that will help authorities provide care and identify people.

Water-resistant and connected to the GPS, the devices will also instruct worshippers on timings of prayers and a multilingual help desk will guide pilgrims around the various rituals.

The religious ritual has also gone high-tech as it is today broadcast live through cyberspace.

"Technology is now part of Hajj," the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia, said Kamel Badawi, an engineer from Mecca who invented an "intelligent umbrella" with Palestinian colleague Manal Dandis. Among its features, the umbrella uses solar energy to cool the user.

Pilgrims are also walking around with arms outstretched to broadcast their Hajj live to family and friends by mobile phone.

Others have their eyes fixed

on prayers they have downloaded.

It's a change that seems irreversible and dramatic. Until recently, cameras were not even allowed into the Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site which draws close to two million faithful for the annual event, which starts formally on September 10.

The annual rite is one of the five pillars of Islam, which capable Muslims must perform at least once, marking the spiritual peak of their lives.

If they need clothing ad-

Unesco Director-General Irina Bokova has described literacy as a tool that can promote "the independence of a society", Xinhua news agency quoted Muller-Marin as saying.

The regional representative also praised Cuba for having launched one of the world's most successful literacy campaigns in the 1960s.

"Cuba is a privileged country, whose education surpasses international levels," said Muller-Marin.

In 1961, the island's fledgling socialist government began a massive and innovative literacy drive that was able to eradicate illiteracy in a matter of months, making it the first Latin American nation to do so.

Cuban educators in 2001 developed a method, called "Yes, I Can", to promote literacy with minimum resources. The programme has helped more than 10 million people in 30 countries learn the crucial skills of reading and writing.

Cuban Education Minister Ena Elsa Velazquez said literacy was a "source of cultural development" and "banner of the irrevocable struggle to defend the poor on the Earth".

Sport Extra 55

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

10 september 2016

officials get Chukwu: NFF needs LMC 'Form 49', flee to re-strategise T

A

Ifeanyi Anyaka

former Super Eagles skipper and coach, Christian Chukwu, has said that the Nigerian Football Federation needs to re-strategise to enable the body to get the desired results in the round leather game. good results will be attained in competitions.

Chukwu in an interview with New Telegraph on Friday urged the NFF to work hard for results because Nigerians are very passionate about the game.

“The NFF needs to go back and restrategise and also plan properly for us to prepare for the next competitions so that we can achieve good results.” he stated.

Following the recent state of defeats in the U-17, U-20 and Super Eagles by qualifying for their respective continental competitions, the former Enugu Rangers coach added: “With this short time we have now, we need to re-organize ourselves and come out with a better team for us to do well in the next tour-

naments.”

The 1980 African Nations Cup winner further said that the idea of having a foreign coach as Nigerian football team coach was based on want the federation wants.

“The NFF picked a foreign coach because that is what they want. A coach is a coach everywhere provided he delivers,” Chukwu stressed.

Chukwu

here was a mild drama at the corporate headquarters of the League Management Company in Abuja on Friday as directors of the company played a fast one on a court bailiff who had come to serve them a committal form also known as form 49 from a Jos High Court.

The directors and staffers of the LMC after receiving the Form 49 the bailiff left the company premises on the presence that they were going to photocopy the letter.

They all escaped from the company premises through the back door with the form leaving the bailiff stranded.

The bailiff, it was learnt, after waiting for one hour with no one to attend to him, invited the police.

The bailiff then narrated his ordeal to the police.

It could be recalled that the LMC had disobeyed a Jos High Court ruling over its expulsion of Giwa Football Club from the Nigeria Premier League.

The court had ordered the LMC to either reinstate Giwa FC and continue the league or suspend the league to pursue its appeal.

MFM defender: Lobi tie key to our survival Dalung to serve-off NCC M Tennis League

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inister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, will serveoff the opening match of the 2016 NCC Tennis League on Saturday (today) at the Abuja National Stadium Tennis Centre.

The ceremony which is scheduled for 10am will precede the sevenmatch cracker between defending champions Team Tombim and debutants Team Offikwu from Kaduna.

The highpoint of the tie will be the match between Nigerian No.1 Michael Moses and Sylvester Emmanuel ranked No.2. Both players are tied on points on the Nigeria Tennis Federation ranking and would look to use this encounter to lay claim to being the best in the country.

Emmanuel holds the Dala Hard Court men's singles title while Moses won the CBN Senior Championship.

The ladies singles match is also expected to be very competitive as Anu Aiyegbusi No.3, now representing Team Offikwu. She will have to defend her ranking against Sarah Adegoke who has dropped to No.4 in the latest NTF rankings.

The second men's singles is expected the feature, Sunday Emmanuel, the USA based former national champion who returned to Nigeria to take part in the league. If he finds the form that made him No.1, Christian Paul and Moses will have their hands full.

Nigeria wins silver in Paralympics

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igeria’s Latifat Tijani has won the silver medal at the ongoing Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

She lifted 106kg to finish behind China’s Hu Dandan who set a new world record after lifting 107kg. The medal is Nigeria’s first at the ongoing Games.

ountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos defender, Julius Emiloju, has said victory against Lobi Stars of Makurdi will boost his team’s hopes of survival in the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League, reports mountaintopfc.com.

The Lagos-based team will host the Benue Army on Saturday at the Agege Township Stadium in one of the match day 35 ties of the NPFL scheduled to hold across Nigeria this weekend.

Lobi Stars FC claimed a 1-0 victory over the hosts in the reverse fixture in match day 15 at the Aper Aku Stadium after MFM FC's Monsuru Bashiru was

adjudged to have scored an own goal.

Emiloju said his side’s objective going into the match was to ensure that they emerge victorious in other to keep alive the hopes of their NPFL status intact.

"We have only one objective as we head into Saturday’s NPFL match against Lobi Stars and it is to win the game because this period is not a time to drop points again.

"A win for us will change a lot of things especially our hope of staying in the league which is the most important thing for us now,” he said.

The Olukoya Boys are 17th on the league table with 38 points from 32 NPFL matches.

Chukwuka Onuwa of MFM vies with Rivers United player

F

Blatter, two others face fresh probe

ormer FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-secretary general Jerome Valcke, already banned from football for ethics violations, are facing a fresh investigation, this time over the salaries and bonuses they received in office.

FIFA's ethics committee said that its investigators had opened formal proceedings against both men, along with former finance director Markus Kattner, for possible ethics violations which included "bribery and corruption."

It said the suspected violations were "in the context of salaries and bonuses paid to Mr Blatter, Mr Valcke and Mr Kattner as

well as other provisions included in the contracts of these three individuals."

They were also suspected of having breached rules concerning general conduct, loyalty, conflicts of interest and "offering and accepting gifts and other benefits."

Blatter, Valcke and Kattner could not immediately be reached for comment, although the three have in the past denied wrongdoing.

FIFA said in June that an internal investigation revealed that the three officials had received 79 million Swiss francs ($81 million) in compensation over five years, calling them "massive payouts".

Sport Slaming Adekunle Salami adekunles@yahoo.com 08050498539 (sms only)

The beautiful ones are here but…

A

s a student, I loved literature. I couldn’t be bored for a whole day if the subject was literature or English. It was not the same for everyone but I was always comfortable in any literature class. Maybe my love for literature led me to journalism. Ayi Kwei Armah is a Ghanaian author of prose and one of his notable works is the novel entitled: “The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born.” As simply as the title is, the novel is so deep and one gets better comprehension after every reading.

Armah in the book wrote about corruption with the conclusion that those who are upright were not yet born since graft was everywhere.

However, the recent poor performance of Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games made me look back at the title of the novel following arguments in some quarters that the country was simply not good enough to face the world. I also want to state clearly from the start that Nigeria is blessed with naturally talented athletes but what we lack in this part of the world is the resources and technical competence to lift the ‘raw materials’ and turn them into world-class athletes.

At the same event where the country failed to perform up to expectations, some of the athletes showed promise. This set of athletes did well but were unable to win medal due to the ‘usual’ Nigerian factor. What is usual? Lack of foresight, poor preparation, inadequate funds, no motivation and bad planning.

For example, Great Britain spent about four million pounds which is about N1.6bn on each medal won at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. They won 27 gold, 23 silver and 38 bronze medals at the games. Looking back, Britain won just one gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games to place 36th while Nigeria won two gold medals to finish 32nd on the table. Twenty years after, Great Britain finished second on the table with 27 gold medals while Nigeria was 78th with only one bronze.

This says a lot about who we are. Between 1996 and now, Nigeria did not move forward with any concrete plans for her athletes. No clear cut policy for the administrators to serve as template for the running of sports in the country. All that has been happening shows that Nigeria is more interested in attending competitions than to actually make impact. Making impact involves so must work with direct emphasis on development from grassroots especially schools.

In Rio, Aruna Quadri did very well in table tennis, Rachael Tonjor was good in swimming, Chierika Ukogu was good in rowing, Blessing Okagbare and Divine Oduduru did well in sprints, Blessing Oborodudu was good in wrestling, Ese Brume was close to medal in long jump just as Efe Ajagba did in boxing.

Quadri emerged the first African to play in the last eight of the games after beating the world number seven Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-yuan 4-0 and Number 13 German star Timo Boll 4-2 respectively. Ajagba had a close fight in the quarters against Kazakhstan boxer, Ivan Dychko. Okagbare also did well but she was not well-managed to at least drop the 200m event for long jump in Rio. The performance of Team Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics was enough indication that huge talents are in Nigeria but they are not having the enabling environment most of their competitors enjoy to excel in major meets.

It is sad that the National Sports Commission was scrapped. That is the professional arm of the ministry of sports. Minister, Solomon Dalung, should find a way of setting a good template for Nigerians to enjoy the ‘beautiful ones’ God has blessed the country with in various disciplines.

At the Rio Games, there were potential Tokyo 2020 medallists among Team Nigeria athletes. It is time to make the beautiful ones count. Countries like Britain, Jamaica and Bahamas have recorded tremendous changes for the better and I strongly believe Nigeria can do same.

Why not? The time to start in NOW.

SATURDAY, 10 september 2016

SATURDAY

Sanctity of Truth

N150

TOURISM

PERSPECTIVE

Abrahamic story and happenings in Nigeria

AKWAABA 2016:

Preps for a buoyant African tourism broth

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Manchester derby

Ibra in grudge match

•De Bruyne, Sterling, Iheanacho also hot

H

Ajibade Olusesan

SPORTS WORD SEARCH

REAL MADRID FOOTBALL CLUB PLAYERS

Ronaldo Rodriguez Bale Pirri Vieira Danilo Jese Kovacic Zoco Benzema Isco

Rames Pepe Kroos Casemiro Modric Nacho Carvajal Varane Yanez Abeloa

e calls himself the god of Manchester, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will prove he deserves the appellation when Manchester United take on rivals Manchester City in the biggest fixture in the English Premier League today.

The striker, who will be 35 next month, has made a good start to his Man United career with three goals in as many EPL matches since arriving on a free transfer from PSG. He will lead United’s attack when Jose Mourinho's side hosts Pep Guardiola's City in this tie which is important to Ibrahimovic not only to maintain a perfect start to the season but to settle score with City manager, Guardiola.

Ibrahimovic played under the Spaniard at Barcelona but the coach fell out with his striker after he claimed the big forward did not fit into his plans.

Ibrahimovic has begrudged the coach ever since, saying Guardiola is a great coach but not a man and will pounce on every opportunity to spite the manager.

If Ibra is in his imperial best, no defence can stop him as he can compare with

other top stars in the world.

His major strength is his aerial ability, if Vincent Kompany is not fit enough to feature in this tie, no Man City defender has the capability to compete with the former AC Milan striker in the air. He is devastating in the box six more especially with his head.

“For me, the big games are the ones that triggers you,” the Swede told MUTV. 'They're the games everyone speaks about.

“I have played in many derby games, I've played in El Clasico, the Inter-Milan derby, Ajax and Feyenoord, which was the big one there, and PSG-Marseille.

“I have played in all of them, the only one I missed was this one. I am very well prepared, confident and focused, and there is a lot of hard work behind that.

In his charismatic manner, the Swedish striker posted a video on social media showing him sending a parcel to new City goalie Bravo ahead of the showdown saying, 'Welcome to Manchester! Here's some training gear, you're gonna need it. See you Saturday.'

The visitors will bank on Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho who is likely to compete with his youthful colleague, Marcus Rashford at one time on the other in 90 mins.

A crunch tie is anticipated.

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by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: WAHEED BAKARE.