Saturday, september 17, 2016 binder1

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CHIBOK GIRLS

OONI OF IFE

Govt should shift attention to agric, youth devt

Why swap deal with Boko Haram failed –FG

l Ex-spokesman rearrested in Ndume's house

Pg. 11

Pg. 6

SATURDAY Saturday, September 17, 2016

NECO RESULTS

88.51% candidates make 5 credits

Pg. 9

MARIAM ELISHA

Participating in beauty pageant was hell for me

Pg. 1 9

Vol. 3 No. 941

Pg. 8

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

62 nigerians committed suicide in 6 months –police

l Attempt is a felony –Yusuf Alli l Ogun, Lagos record highest cases

PAGE 5

FG steps up plans to rescue economy

l Governors back Buhari's economic policy l Forget IMF loan, Dangote advises President l Utomi: Nigeria's recession, policy-induced Pgs. 4, 7 & 9

N13.31bn: We didn't use mercenaries against Patience Jonathan –EFCC Pg. 19

Pg. 7

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17 SEPTEMBER 2016

KALU HOSTS, FETES DIPLOMATS, A former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, recently hosted some diplomats and delegates to the Caritas International Conference to a dinner party in his house in Abuja. Here are some photographs from the event as recorded by MUDASHIRU ATANDA

Kalu, welcoming the Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Israel, Nadav Goren

...with France Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer

With American Ambassador Charge de Affairs, Martin Brennan

With Minister of State for Education, Prof. Tony Gozie Anwuka

L-R: Gauer, Anwuka, Kalu and Ireland Ambassador to Nigeria, Sean Hoy

Kalu (l) with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from Manila Philippine

L-R: Bazilian Ambassador to Nig. Joao Lima, Afonso Alvan from Angola Embassy, Kalu's daughter, Zina and the host

Kalu with Lima

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

CARITAS CONFERENCE DELEGATES

Kalu [l] welcomes Bishop Tarziuo Ziyaye

Kalu with some delegates

L-R: Kalu, Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Gauer

L-R: Hon. Chukwunaenye Godwin, Hon. Nnanna Kalu and another guest

Onaiyekan [l] with Cardinal Lvis Antonio Tagle from Maila Philippine

L-R: Hon Chibuke Jonas, MD of First International Bank, Sierra Leone, Madam Haishtu and Onaiyekan

L-R: Kalu, Jonas and the MD of Sun Heaven hotels, Michel Pinder

With Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Bishop Lucius Ugorji

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

Recession: Governors back Buhari’s economic policy

Anule Emmanuel

G Abuja

overnors of the 36 states of the Federation under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) have endorsed the policies initiated by the present All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration which is geared towards reflating the economy.

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

A

s part of Federal Government’s contingency plans to lift the economy from recession, the sum of N350 billion (capital allocation) is set for release next week to the various Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

Also confirmed for implementation this month, in line with the strategic plans to quickly put the economy back on track, is the implementation of social intervention programmes.

These include the disbursement of N5,000 monthly stipend to vulnerable poor Nigerians and feeding of school pupils in the nation's public primary schools.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, gave these

Zamfara State governor, who is also chairman of the NGF, Abdul'aziz Yari, stated this yesterday at the end of an emergency meeting of the forum held at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The endorsement by the NGF is coming barely one week after the National Council of State (NCS) comprising former heads of states threw its weight behind President Muham-

port the Federal Ministry of Health to fight the scourge.

“We are going to engage the Federal Ministry of Health so that urgent attention will be given to the issue of Lassa fever.

“It has been an endemic problem for a long time since the 50s. We will discuss and find a lasting solution,” he said.

To address this, he said: “Following the resurgence

of polio in parts of the country, members agreed that this must be treated as National emergency. The governors are to activate states task force against polio to be chaired by deputy deputy governors.

“Governors are also committed to pay their counterpart funding to meet their obligation to polio eradication,” the governor noted.

FG steps up plans to rescue economy

procurement, it would not give all Nigerians an equal opportunity. For instance, a ministry has a contract and nobody knows about it, they will only reveal it to people they know.

“We are trying to get away from that culture and enthrone culture of transparency. We are working with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to fast track the process to see how the money can quickly trickle down to the ordinary Nigerians,” the minister noted.

She said government was committed to ensuring the recession is over as quickly as possible.

“What we are looking at, we don't think is going to be a long recession considering some of the initiatives we have put in place which will begin to bear fruits soon."

madu Buhari’s economic policies assuring Nigerians that if well implemented, the country will soon be out of the current crisis.

The Federal Government recently confirmed that the country was in recession as Nigerians continue to face hardship.

Addressing State House Correspondents after the NGF, Yari explained they would encourage President

Buhari and his team to pursue existing economic policies vigorously.

“Governors also resolved to encourage government to continue in line to reflate the economy and get the country out of the current recession,” Yari added.

He said the meeting also discussed the resurgence of Lassa fever in parts of the country and agreed to sup-

…says MDAs will get N350bn capital allocation soon confirmations yesterday in Abuja, while briefing journalists on what was being done by the government to address the economy which is currently in recession.

With an additional N350 billion billed for disbursement next week, the sum will push the total amount of capital disbursement to MDAs to N770 billion out of N1.8 trillion capital allocation outlined in 2016 budget.

Accompanied by heads of key agencies in the finance ministry, Adeosun explained that key projects in power, housing, transport, airports, water; defence, agriculture and avia-

tion would get the largest chunk of the disbursement.

The minister explained that, the rationale behind giving priority to key projects was in line with Federal Government's resolve that, the quickest means to revive the economy entails re-directing expenditure to funding key infrastructure that will impact on the economy.

Of the N350 billion capital allocation due for release next week, she said N60 billion was allocated for implementation of the social intervention programmes.

While commending Nigerians for their resilience in the face of current hardship,

the minister said the current administration was working hard to re-direct the economy from being a consumption economy to productive one, just as she assured Nigerians that the government has what it takes to achieve the goal.

“We have a strategic plan that will take us from current recession. We are raising money. As you know the Euro bond is on, we are about to appoint advisers. We are about raising additional $1billion.

Two weeks ago we approved the borrowing plan and that is very important as we will be borrowing the cheapest money first. We have approved that plan from World

Bank, AfDB with interest rates as low as 1percent and tenor as low as forty years.

“We are intervening in specific areas which include agriculture, health, the railway project and these are very key to what we are doing. The issue with fiscal initiatives is that, there is always a lag; there is always a lag between when you release money and when it has effect. What we are trying to do now, is to see how we can shorten that lag.

“As for delays in procurement process, we are working with the ministries, we are working with other agencies. As we always said, if we don’t go by open

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17 SEPTEMBER 2016

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62 Nigerians committed suicide in 6 months – Police

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Isioma Madike he official confirmation that the Nigerian economy is in recession by the Federal Government on August 31, appears to have further stimulated more suicide cases across the nation.

In the last six months, seven out of the 36 states of the federation sampled, have recorded over 62 cases of suicides according to statistics from the various police commands. Ogun and Lagos states have the highest figures of 25 and 12 respectively.

Although, psychologists had predicted this, while citing financial and economic troubles that many Nigerians are currently facing, many are still surprised at the huge statistics.

The poor economy has compelled companies to close shop because of harsh operating environment and difficulties in sourcing foreign exchange.

Consequently, many have been thrown into the Labour market, thereby increasing people's anxiety, depression and frustration.

According to Saturday Telegraph investigations, many are now embracing suicide as short cut to end hardship and economic nightmares not minding that Nigerians consider the act a taboo.

With this, their supposed misery and suffering brought about by the prevailing recession are buried with them.

Ogun The Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, has confirmed 25 awful statistics of suicide deaths in Ogun State.

On Tuesday, August 16, a housewife identified as Mrs. Omolola Atejioye hung herself inside her apartment in Ilishan-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state. The tragic incident shocked many residents as the deceased did not leave behind any suicide note.

Atejioye, aged 35, tied herself to the ceiling in one of the rooms in the building located along Ago-Iwoye road in Ilishan-Remo. The husband of the deceased, Ayodele, reportedly returned from work about 5:30pm and found her wife dangling in the room.

Why she took her own life could not be ascertained as neighbours gave different accounts about the incident. While some point to health challenges, others claimed she incurred some debts and was struggling to pay back, without success.

Lagos In neighbouring Lagos State, the PPRO, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent

…Ogun, Lagos top list l Attempt is a felony –Yusuf Alli

Olisa Nwakoby shot himself

Comptroller-General of Prisons Service, Ja'afaru Ahmed

of Police, also confirmed that 12 suicide cases and five attempts were reported to the command in the last six month. Worried by this trend, Badmos said, what is important to the police is to find out why people would want to commit suicide.

She said there is the need to educate those that did not succeed to see reason that killing oneself is not the best way out of any problem. “We can prosecute anyone who made attempt to kill himself or herself but that seemed not to be the solution.

“The real solutions lie in finding out from such persons the reasons for such an act and talk them out of it.

We always advise victims’ families of victims to monitor them closely because those who commit suicide do so out of depression and frustration ranging from marital, economic, loss of job and some other vices.”

to his mother, Nkpuma, Ogonna, popularly called Best finished his secondary three years ago and moved to Lagos to join his brother but developed mental problem along the line.

She told Saturday Telegraph that Ogonna had tried to take his life with knife and was saved on many occasions. “I left Ogonna with the father in the house and when I returned home, I could not see him.

“I started looking for him and raised the alarm which attracted our people.

We searched for him and later saw him dangling on a tree.’’

Earlier in January, a 19-year-old teenager girl, identified simply as Chiamaka, also committed suicide. She was said to have been impregnated and abandoned by her lover boy. Chiamaka took her life in her residence at No. 17 Nwike Street Abakaliki.

Ebonyi Also in Ebonyi State, no fewer than 10 persons have committed suicide with the latest being a 36-yearold man in Mgbaleze Isu Community, Onicha Local Government Area of the state, Chijioke Ani, who hung himself in his farm.

The state PPRO, DSP George Okafor, confirmed the incidents. ‘’Yes, it is true that a man killed himself at the farm. He did not leave any note behind so, it was difficult to ascertain what could have led him into the act.”

Before Ani’s case, Ogonna Obaji, a 22-year-old man from Umuezeukwu Community of the same local government had equally taken his life. According

Delta In Delta State, about four reported cases of suicide were recorded by the state Police Command. The PPRO, SP Celestine Kalu, confirmed the incidents.

Those reported were that of a 26-year-old student of Delta State University, Abraka, Evelyn Mogekwu, a woman, identified simply as Jane, who was said to have committed the act after her fiancé abandoned her for another woman.

The other incident was that of a student of the Delta State Polytechnic, OtefeOghara, Miss Oritsegbubemi Udu. While Evelyn was studying Microbiology at DELSU, Oritsegbubemi was an ND II student of Otefe-Oghara polytechnic.

The name of the fourth victim was not given.

Jane, a graduate of Economics from University of Benin, allegedly took her life due to frustration after she was jilted by her unidentified boyfriend of seven years.

Oyo Oyo, like other states, recorded four cases of suicide within the period under review. On June 26, a 10-year-old girl, Kudirat Raji, was said to have surprisingly committed suicide in Ibadan. She was residing with her sister at 19, Bumoye Street, Benjamin area, Eleyele, the Oyo State capital.

Raji was sent on an errand within the house, but did not return on time. She was later found to have hanged herself with a rope tied to the window burglary in the house.

Just like Raji, a 35-yearold commercial motorcyclist residing in Oyo town, Jimoh Yusuff, also committed suicide on July 2, after reportedly killing his wife, Adeola. Yusuff was said to have strangled his wife to death after which he ingested rat poison and died at the General Hospital, Oyo. There was yet a similar tragedy on August 4, when 48-year old ex-NEPA staff committed suicide in his house at Ayegbami Zone 7, Idi Ose along Akanran Road in the Ona Ara Local Government Area of Ibadan.

Adepoju was disengaged from the establishment at Abeokuta two years before his death, but his wife said he had not been paid his entitlements. The deceased however left a three-sheet suicide note indicating that

he was suffering from a chronic disease.

Aside that, another 54-year-old woman, Oluwabunmi Oluwafemi, also toed the same shameful route on August 29, in Ibadan, by hanging himself on a tree.

The deceased who used to reside in Bembo, Apata area of Ibadan, was said to have gone to spend the weekend with her first child, Opeyemi, in Olugbode, Odo-Ona area of the town before the calamity.

Ondo Unlike other homicide offences, suicide cases are not usually reported to the law enforcement agencies in Ondo State, according to the police. Nonetheless, the PPRO, Femi Joseph, confirmed one reported case in the last six months to the State Police Command.

The deceased, whose name was not given, was a male from Owo Local Government Area of the state. Joseph told Saturday Telegraph that the man was found dangling at the ceiling of his one room apartment in the town.

The PPRO, however, said people are not reporting such cases to the police because of the traditional perception about suicide as, according to him, they prefer to report such incidence to traditionalists.

Kano And in Kano State, about six victims were recorded, according to police statistics. The six cases had to do with depression, the police further said.

Sara Imoleayo, a 400 level student of Bayero University Kano, was among those that took their lives. Another, who was identified simply as Dauda was overheard complaining of economic hardship on many occasions slaughtering himself with a sharp knife.

The remaining ones, Kumbotso, Madobi and Kwakwachi, one of our correspondents gathered died because of excessive poverty.

Psychologist However, a socio-psychologist at the University of Lagos, Dr. Alex Igundunse, said that suicides are upshots of anxiety. “It borders on how people adjust to what is happening in the country. Issues like how am I going to feed my family; take care of my children, continue the house I am building and all that.

“So, it triggers an anxiety and in such situations, what people really need to do is to calm the nerves of such individuals as much as possible, assuring them that

there are solutions to some of these things. That is just one of them.

“It can also lead some people right into depression because if the economy is depressed, also trying to translate their thinking can lead to the psychological depression because it gives their hopes in terms of how they can quickly loose it and all that kind of thing.

“But, if these issues are not properly handled, those that attempted suicide and fail would definitely try it again and in most instances, they would succeed the second time. So, close relatives should keep an eye and constantly feed such individuals with soothing words so as to reconfigure their thinking towards positives.”

Clerics According to an Islamic scholar and lecturer at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Dr. Alayinde Yusuph, suicide is Haram; it is forbidden. “You shouldn't kill others let alone yourself.

“Among the prohibited things in the Holy Quran, suicide is one of them because before the advent of Islam, the Arab used to kill their daughters to run away from hardship and all sorts. But the Holy Quran frowned at it. It is called Wabil jannat. So, the Holy Quran forbids it totally.”

Also, the Senior Pastor, Transformation Chapel, Emmanuel Ohere, told one of our Correspondents that as Christians, taking one’s own life is wrong and not biblical. "No man has the right to take his or her own life; the messages and admonitions from the church have really helped in curbing the ugly incident,” he added.

Law For Yusuf Ali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), suicide is an offence against the state. “But that's only if it is an attempt. So, the state criminalises it. If you succeed, there'll be no one to charge you for anything.

It's an offence under the criminal law.

“It's felony. A felony is an offence that is punishable with imprisonment of not more than seven years. But, it is when you attempt and fail that you have committed an offence under the law. In that instance, the state takes up the charge,” Ali said.

Reported by Taiwo Jimoh (Lagos), Kunle Olayeni (Abeokuta), Dan Atori (Minna), Dominic Adewole (Asaba), Sola Adeyemo (Ibadan), Uchenna Inya (Abakaliki), Babatope Okeowo (Akure) and Muhammad Kabir (Kano)

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17 September 2016

Buhari wants Jonathan arrested through me –Tompolo alleges l Berates president over state of the economy l Says Army’s molestation led to his father death

Ndubuisi Ugah with agency reports

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new twist to the ongoing crisis in the Niger Delta emerged last night when a former “operations commander” of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), accused the Federal Government of planning to use his arrest to get at former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tompolo, who made the allegation in a rare exclusive interview, which was obtained by an online news portal, SaharaReporters, alleged that the former president was the primary target of the Buhari administration.

It would be recalled that Tompolo, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleged that the government’s plan to arrest him was a ‘smokescreen’ to get at Jonathan.

Speaking also, Tompolo alleged that his father, who died last week, was physically assaulted by Nigeria’s security agents on May 26 when they invaded Kurutie town in the Gbaramatu Local Government Area where his late father, Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo, resided before his death.

The former militant said the soldiers who attacked his aged father also ransacked his and others' homes in the community.

According to him, his late father suffered serious bodily inju-

ries which resulted in the amputation of his lower limbs.

“I am just a victim of circumstances. I am just a perceived enemy of the government. The intention of the government was to arrest former President Goodluck Jonathan. But they feel that arresting Jonathan without arresting me may be difficult, that was the reason why they are after me,” Tompolo alleged in the interview.

While offering e more details on his father’s death, Tompolo stating, “It happened in the early hours of Saturday May 28, 2016 when the Nigerian Army, under the guise of looking for members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and of course my humble self, who they have accused of being behind the activities of the group without any evidence, invaded Kurutie town, where my father, Ekpemupolo, was staying.

“They ransacked the whole building and brutalised him. He sustained an injury in one of his legs. We took him to Warri for medical attention after one week of the incident, due to difficulty in movement from the village to Warri because of the activities of the Army. He was admitted at Lily Clinic, where thorough medical tests were conducted on him.

“The doctors later advised that his lower limb should be amputated because complication had set in as a result of the injury. We agreed to this and that was done.

However, he later died in the clinic after two months.”

The former militant leader described claims by security forces that he has been sponsoring the dreaded militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), as “base-

Ibeku monarch weeps, apologises to Kalu over TA Orji’s ingratitude Igbeaku Orji, UMUAHIA

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he paramount ruler of Ibeku Kingdom and the Ogwurube 11 of Ibeku, Eze Samuel Onuoha, yesterday wept as he apologized to former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, over the ingratitude meted out to him by their son and immediate past governor of the state, Chief Theodore Orji.

The monarch, who was flanked by his entire cabinet, said at the residence of the traditional prime minister of Ibeku, Chef Uche Akwukwaegbu, where Kalu was hosted that the entire Ibeku clan were pained and disappointed by the conduct of Orji.

The monarch said it was unfortunate that Orji bit the finger that fed him and that of his Ibeku people.

Onuoha said: “To repay good with evil is the height of wickedness; you are the one who gave Ibeku people the opportunity to become the governor. Anyone who fails to appreciate the good of others is not a good person.

We decided to invite today to apologise to you. On behalf of Ibeku people, I say forgive, God will reward your kindness to us if man does not.

“It shall be well for you anytime. You should not be surprised at the behaviour because even the Bible acknowledged that the heart of man is deceitful and wicked.”

Responding, Kalu urged the people to put behind them whatever that happened, saying he decided to honour the invitation because it has been too long.

“No one knows everything and no one can please everybody.

When I was here many did not appreciate what free education for our children meant; they did not know the pain of being owed salary or sacking of non indigene,

when I was governor.”

“I have forgiven T A. I don’t have any grudge against him, there is nothing for me to be jealous or envious of about him. T A was my house boy, I brought him and made him governor. It was BAWAS, Ukasoanya and Igwe Ohuhu that begged me to make him governor. I believe that whatever anyone sows that he must reap also. I paid everyone before I left. When I was governor, Abia people took good roads for granted.

“Since I left as governor I have kept to myself even though I was labelled as influencing governance, but a liar is a liar, whatever you do to him he will still lie.”

He, however, said he would not treat Governor Okezie Ikpeazu the way Orji treated him.

Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Ohuhu, Igwe Laz Onwuneme, said the conduct of the former governor was personal to him and the consensus of the entire people of Umuahia and assured Kalu of their support.

In his remarks, the pioneer chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Tony Ukasoanya, said the visit marked a new beginning for the state and urged the people to sustain their steadfastness and support.

Commenting also,Akwukwaegbu said all the legacies that Kalu left behind had been eroded by the administration of their own son.

He also apologised to Kalu to forgive him for pleading for Orji to made the governor.

Akwukwaegbu said: “I am sorry, forgive me for introducing T A to you to be made the governor as Ibeku son. You finished here as governor without taking any land or building now the former market has been taken from us, the timber market has been taken from us, the ministry of works is taken from us. People who were doing business in the market have all let the city because of the relocation. I am indeed very sorry.”

less and a wicked allegation.”

He said: “I have refuted the allegation. Even the government knows that I am not a sponsor of the Niger Delta Avengers. They are only looking for something to nail me.”

He further took a swipe at the judicial system, which he said kow-tows to the government in purely legal matters.

Tompolo also advocated that the judiciary should be indepen-

dent in order to be effective in serving the people, especially in matters involving “perceived enemies of the state.”

“I was the first person to sue the government and the EFCC because my company’s account was restricted unjustly, but till now, the court has been playing funny, as the court has refused to hear the matter.

“Instead, it has been adjourning the case at every sitting. I pray that the Nigerian Judiciary should be independent, otherwise it is difficult for a perceived enemy of the government to get

justice and judgement,” he said.

Tompolo, who also criticised President Buhari for not having a clue about how to manage the economy of the country, as evidenced by Nigeria's present economic situation.

“Now Nigerians have seen the way the government has run the economy aground because they are clueless, and only chasing shadows. It is difficult to give what you do not have,” he said.

He threatened to return to the creeks as a militant because the Federal Government has failed the people, adding that the only

way he could help his people may be to go back to the creeks and lay among his people, as he had done in the past.

“That is where I come from, and the whole of my life I have stayed there. This is just a temporary setback as I prefer to stay in the creek than any other place.

“That was why I led the struggle for a better living condition for the people so that, in the shortest possible time, the creek is urbanised so that the people will live like their counterparts in the urban areas,” Tompolo added.

Former Abia State governor, Dr. OrjiUzor Kalu (right) and the paramount ruler of Ibeku kingdom, Eze Samuel Onuoha (Ogwurube 11 of Ibeku kingdom), during a visit to the residence of the traditional prime minister of Ibeku accent kingdom, Chief Uche Akukwaegbu, in Umuahia… yesterday

Chibok Girls: Why swap deal with Boko Haram failed –FG Onwuka Nzeshi, ABUJA

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he federal government, yesterday said that its efforts towards rescuing the over 200 Chibok girls through a swap deal with Boko Haram insurgents have been marred by mutual distrust and the inability of the leadership of the terrorist group to adhere strictly to the terms of the deal.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on assumption of office in May 2015 directed security agencies to urgently fashion out strategies to trace, locate and ensure the safe and successful release of the Chibok girls from captivity but more than one year after only one out of 219 girls have been rescued.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who gave reasons for the delay at a press conference in Abuja, said a major obstacle in the process has been that many of the persons or groups posing as negotiators actually had no veritable intelligence nor the reach to facilitate the release of the school girls ab-

ducted by Boko Haram in April 2014.

“The efforts were clouded by persons with very partisan interests and whose main objective was solely to score cheap political points. It was obvious their approach had no relevance to the release of the girls; Some informants or persons volunteering to be negotiators or facilitators saw and treated the girls’ fate and indeed the situation as a conduit to enrich themselves, thus making the whole thing a pecuniary venture; and as a result of the conflicting and partisan interests, issues were muddled up to the extent that reasonable and fruitful leads either failed or simply came too late for any useful action,” he said.

The minister recalled that the security agencies, comprising the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Navy, Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) commenced action in June 2015 but lamented that their efforts were yet to produce the desired results. Based on the difficulties encountered in the process of securing their release, the DSS established a special tactical unit to review the gamut of actions so far carried out to establish why the action

has recorded no success and to present a roadmap.

Mohammed reaffirmed its commitment towards rescuing the over 200 school girls said there was the need to identify those with relevant intelligence on the groups holding the girls, as well as establish sources of contact in touch with the group.

According to him, it was not an easy exercise particularly when those holding the Chibok girls also perceived a high level of mistrust, as they too found many approaches or groups claiming to be in touch with them as false or unreliable.

The minister, who gave a detailed account of the series of attempts made by security agencies noted that government received a lot of offers ranging from credible, not credible to outright off-mark information on the girls and pursued a number of them but to no avail.

“Some international bodies and countries also provided leads. It was out of this that relevant security agencies were able to strike a chord. By the third week of July 2015, a contact group was in touch with credible assets who had the reach, and who at-

tested to the fact that some of the Chibok girls were alive. Mr. President was then briefed of these assets and intelligence and he gave his assent for further negotiations on the Chibok girls.

“Precisely on July 17, 2015, the DSS opened negotiations process with the group holding the Chibok girls. However, in return for the release of some of these girls, the group also made some demands. These included the release of some of their fighters arrested including some involved in major terrorist actions, resulting in several fatalities, and others who were experts in manufacture of locally assembled explosives.

“This was difficult to accept, but appropriate security agencies had to again inform Mr. President of these demands, and its viewed implications. Again, Mr. President gave his assent believing that the overall release of these girls remains paramount and sacrosanct.

“Meanwhile, following the above development, government and the security agencies had sufficient leverage to work out the modalities of the swap. These included creating the safe haven, or necessary place of swap and working out the logistic details."

Only right policies can pull Nigeria out of recession – Kalu

A

former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate policies that will bail Nigeria out of the current economic recession.

Orji told journalists in Umuahia yesterday on the sideline of a reconciliatory meeting organised in his honour by an Umuahia socio cultural organisation, called Igurube-Egwuasa.

He expressed regrets that the recession had resulted in the closure of many companies and manufacturing concerns, while many industries were producing below capacity.

The former governor also advised the president to intro-

duce “stimulus” that could help to stimulate the manufacturing and industrial sectors of the nation’s economy.

He said, “The president should push for an emergency law that would help to stimulate economic growth and bring the country out of recession.

“The moment the manufacturing sector attains full-capacity production, there will be less dependence on importation and this will shore up the value of the naira.”

Kalu said the activities of Niger Delta militants further aggravated the nation’s dwindling revenue, leading to a full-blown recession.

He said he first noticed the signs of economic recession in the country in 2014, when the Federal Government borrowed to pay the

salary of federal civil servants.

He said: “At that time, I raised the alarm that Nigerian economy had gone into recession but nobody believed me, instead, I was abused and castigated.”

Kalu, founder Progressives Peoples Alliance, after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party in the twilight of his administration, said that the party was still relevant in the nation’s politics.

He said, “PPA is not struggling, it is as good as other parties in the country.”

The PPA’s senatorial candidate for Abia north, also reacted to Thursday’s National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal judgment which dismissed his petition in favour of Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa of PDP. He said the tribunal, headed

by Justice James Abundaga, “erred in law” in its judgment that his petition lacked merit.

He said: “The tribunal erred in law but I will seek the opinion of a higher court. We will appeal the judgment.

“And I am confident that another court will have a different opinion from that of the tribunal in our favour.”

On the reconciliatory meeting, Kalu said that he had forgiven all those who offended him politically or otherwise, including his successor and immediate-past governor, Sen. Theodore Orji.

The former National Chairman of PPA, Chief Larry Essien, who was at the meeting, commended the conveners and expressed delight over their disposition to enthrone peace in the area.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

7

Robbers on revenge mission kill 13, injure five in Benue Cephas Iorhemen, MAKURDI and Musa Pam,

A Jos

t least 13 people were last Wednesday killed by a gang of the wanted criminal popularly known as Gana when they went to rob at Senga village, an interior part of Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

The killing spree, however, occurred on a day the Special Task Force (STF) which is saddled with the responsibility of keeping peace in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi states, paraded six suspected armed robbers, four drug users and a car snatcher.

But Saturday Telegraph

l Army parades six suspected robbers in Plateau

learnt that a mob in Benue State had killed two of the robbers, including one simply identified as Chemical (not real name) as well as a lady who was harbouring them.

It was gathered that the other robbers escaped to Gbishe village, where Ghana hails from and mobilised for reprisal.

They did not, however, gain access to Senga, a neighbouring village because the youths of the village had mobilised to protect their area and had gathered at Kenvenger community.

But the robbers eventually penetrated the village and shot dead ten persons on the spot including one Terseer Akaya, a driver from Katsina-Ala who went to convey farm produce.

They also killed an eight Month old baby, an eight year

old child with their mother and six others, while five other persons who were injured were rushed to the hospital for medical attention at NKST hospital at Kera, Katsina-Ala local government area.

The command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Moses Yamu, told journalists that men of the command have already been deployed to patrol the area to prevent further breach of peace.

Security operatives in the state had declared Gana wanted for the various criminal activities committed and placed a N5 million ransom on him for anyone with useful information that could lead to his arrest. He is still being hunted by security operatives in the state.

Meanwhile, the STF disclosed that the robbers who

were said to have been terrorising Langtang, Wase road were arrested with two locally fabricated rifle along Langtang General area, in Langtang local government area of Plateau state while the other suspected car snatcher was apprehended with one locally made pistol on Saturday along All airport junction area of Jos South LGA of the state.

The Commander of the Plateau STF, Major General Nicolas Rogers, while parading the suspects, said the arrest came out of the command's effort to ensuring peace and harmony in the state, assuring that his men would had intensified effort to ensuring that criminality was dealt with at all course in every angle of the state.

On what the command

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (third left), flanked by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Ayo Adesugba (second left), Special Assistants, Segun Adeyemi and Williams Adeleye and a Director in the ministry, Mr. Peter Dama, at a press conference in Abuja …yesterday

Recession: Forget IMF loan, Dangote advises Buhari

A

frica’s richest businessman and industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to embark on the sale of state assets to shore up the nation’s cash and foreign exchange reserves, instead of seeking to borrow from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as his government seek ways to turnaround the recession-hit economy.

The businessman’s advise to Buhari came moments before Nigeria’s credit rating was downgraded to B from B+ by S&P Global Ratings.

Aliko told an online news

lUrges president to sell state assets as S&P downgrades Nigeria

portal, CNBC Africa, that the sale was an easier route to boosting the economy.

“I think the real challenge for us is now for us to have the political will in terms of selling some assets.

“I think it’s an easier route than the IMF (International Monetary Fund or the World Bank to borrow money, because what you need to do is actually to beef up the reserves,” he told CNBC Africa.

He told CNBC that Nigeria, which rivals with South Africa to be the continent’s biggest economy, should have been diversified a long time ago.

He lamented its over reliance on oil.

However, he was optimistic that Nigeria would exit recession in the fourth quarter of this year and said the country “had all the answers” to bounce back to health.

He urged the government to sell assets in some of its joint ventures with the private sector in an open tender process.

He said that Africa Finance Corporation – a development finance institution established in 2007 – would fetch close to $800 million.

He said policymakers should also look to sell 100

percent of the country’s stake in Nigeria LNG Limited, a natural resources firm.

“If I had challenges in my company, I would not hesitate to sell assets, to remain afloat, to get to the better times, because it doesn’t make any sense for me to keep any assets and then suffocate the whole organisation,” Dangote told CNBC. On its part, S&P said in a report on the downgrade that, “Nigeria’s economy has weakened more than we expected owing to a marked contraction in oil production, a restrictive foreign exchange regime and delayed fiscal stimulus.”

We didn’t use mercenaries against Patience Jonathan –EFCC Onwuka Nzeshi, ABUJA

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied hiring mercenaries in prosecuting a case of suspected money laundering to the tune of N13.31billion brought against, Mr Waripamowei Dudafa, a former Special Assistant to former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and officials of four companies involved in the controversial transaction.

Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said yesterday that those arraigned in court were the bona fide

persons whose names appeared on the documents of the companies linked to the transaction.

Uwujaren made these disclosures when he called as a guest on Political Platform, a current affairs programme on Ray Power FM, Abuja He said there was no evidence in the documents of the said companies to suggest that the former First Lady had any links with the companies, adding that she jumped the gun by going to court to claim the money in the accounts of these companies.

He said it was wrong for people to think that they were trading words with the former first lady as they were still investigating the matter and had not reached the stage of asking her any questions.

“To say that EFCC went to court to use mercenaries, I think t is laughable but the matter is before the court and if she is not comfortable with what happens in court, she has the prerogative to approach the court to seek redress. I think the Nigerian judiciary based on their records can giver justice.

“The facts of the matter is that the Commission has a case which is still under investigation even though some persons have already been arraigned in court. Through intelligence report the Commission got wind of certain transactions masterminded by the prime suspect, Waripamowei Dudadafa , the former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

“In the course of investigat-

ing the matter, it came to light that he registered some four companies and it also came to light that the documents used in registering those companies as well as those whose names appeared on the board of the companies were forged.

"The Commission also traced those whose names were used in registering those companies and they denied knowledge that their names were used to float companies even open accounts for those companies. It also emerged that Waripamowei Dudafa got some officials of Skye Bank to open those accounts without even having biometric identification numbers for those accounts. The names of those that were used to open the accounts were not the operators of those accounts."

was doing to curb proliferation of guns and ammunition in the state, the commander said: “We are intensifying our operation both within and outside metropolis. We believe that what we are right now would go a long way stopping armed robbering in Plateau. We are also calling on residents of Jos to help us with relevant information on criminals terrorising their areas. That would help a lot in curbing armed robbery

“These would soon be handed over to the police for prosecution and would push the matter to make sure that the suspects are brought to book.”

Chidebere Oduru who is the car snatcher and confessed to journalists to have attempted to snatch Honda Civic 2000 model with registration no Plateau JJN 683 NC said this is the first time of engaging in such criminality and was acted on Evil force.

Wike okays Army, DSS, Police in Amnesty plan for criminals

…recalls suspended cabinet members, HoS Emmanuel Masha, Port Harcourt

R

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated the state’s Amnesty Programme Committee, including officers of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in a bid to check the activities of criminals in the state.

Wike while speaking at the inauguration, noted that the amnesty programme was not politically motivated, but was designed to promote the security of all communities in the state.

He stressed that any cultist or militant that fails to accept the amnesty after 60 days will be prosecuted, just as he urged the committee to interface with different cult groups and retrieve their arms.

He declared: “Anyone who has surrendered his arms and has followed through the process laid out for the amnesty will be pardoned. Such a person will not be prosecuted.

“This committee has 60 days to complete its assignment. After the 60 days, any cultist or militant who fails to subscribe to the amnesty programme will face the full weight of the law.”

The committee will be headed by Mr. Ken Chinda, the Governor’s Special Adviser (Amnesty) and has as secretary Dr. George Nweke, who is the permanent secretary, Special Services BureauSecretary, It equally has as members Lt.Col. Timothy Opurum of the Nigerian Army; Flt Lt Gabriel Folorunso Ayeyemi

(Nigerian Air Force), Lt Cdr Segun Adebajo (Nigerian Navy); Mr. Daniel Uzor (DSS); ACP Imo Sam Orok - Nigerian Police.

Wike, who introduced the amnesty programme a few months ago following the activities of kidnappers, cultists and armed robbers, has also led security operatives to demolish their abodes, especially kidnap kingpins, who are also cultists.

In another development, Wike has approved the constitution of the State Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which members include Emma Aguma (SAN), Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice(chairman), Prof. Israel N. E. Worugji, Dr. Bob Yellow and Venerable Alex Usifo.

Other members of the committee are Dr Mrs. Ngozi Ordu, Prof. John Ikimalo, Glory Chukwu and Mr. Alu Long-John.

Meanwhile, Wike has announced the recall of the four suspended commissioners, the Head of Service and the Special Adviser on Lands.

Information on the recall is contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, made available to journalists yesterday in Port Harcourt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Wike suspended the commissioners: Dr John Baziafor (Chieftaincy Affairs), Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyide (Culture and Tourism), Dr Fred Kpakol (Finance) and Mr Boma Iyaye (Sports).

Also suspended were Mr Godwin Rufus (Head of Service) and Mr Anugbum Onuoha, the Special Adviser on Lands.

I’ve right to give my pet any name, man who named dog ‘Buhari’ insists

A

…asks court to dismiss case

Nigerian man, Joachim Iroko, whose pet dog shares the same name as President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday asked the court to dismiss criminal charges against him.

In a statement issued by his lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Iroko said he had a “legal right” to name his pet whatever he wanted.

He said: “The name is not exclusive to the president, Buhari can just be a name given to any living creature just for identity.”

Iroko had appeared in court in Ota, Ogun State in August after being charged with “conduct likely to cause breach of peace” after naming his dog Buhari, Adegboruwa said.

Although he was due back in court on September 19, the Police had alleged, however, that Iroko wrote the name ‘Buhari’ on the sides of his dog to antagonise his neighbour, whose father’s name is Buhari.

Ogun State police spokesman, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said: “The man was not arrested for naming the dog Buhari but the conduct surrounding the attitude or the actions of the man.

“The man has been having issues with one of his neighbours whose father's name is Buhari, it has nothing to do with the president.”

Iroko denies the claims, with Adegboruwa insisting that the animal was usually chained near his warehouse to deter thieves.

8

News

Abdulwahab Isa, Abuja with agency reports

N

igeria’s monthly inflation sustained marginal rise in the month of August settling at 17.6 per cent as against previous month's figure of 17.1 per cent.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which confirmed the figure yesterday in its monthly inflation update obtained by our correspondent, noted that the current rate was 0.5 per cent higher above July rate due to what it said was fuelled by increase in prices of transportation, electricity, housing among others.

The development, however, came on a day the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said the country’s power generation has increased from 3,810 megawatts recorded on September 8 to 4,285.90 megawatts.

But the NBS in its report stated that: “Increase were recorded in all COICOP divisions which contribute to headline index reflecting higher prices across the board. The major divisions responsible for accelerating the pace of the increase in the headline index were housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel, education and transportation system.”

The agency noted that, food index rose by 16.4 per cent (year on year) in August up by 0.6% points from 15.8 per

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

Increase in house rent, electricity, others push inflation to 17.6% in August –NBS

lTCN: Power generation hits 4,285 megawatts cent recorded in July. Also during the month under review, all major food groups contributed to the increase in the food sub sector.

“However, the pace of increase was slowed by fruits,

potatoes, yam and other tubes as well as oils and fats which reported slower increases during the month,” NBS report added.

Nigeria economy slipped in to recession following consistent negative economic growth

in 2016. The country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has declined to -2.06 per cent while inflation jumped to an all time high of 17.1 percent as of last month figure released by NBS. Similarly, the population

those within the working age population willing, able and actively looking for work increased from 78.5 million in Q1 2016 to 79.9 million, representing an increase of 1.78 per cent in the labour force.

L-R: Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; his Adamawa State counterpart, Bindow Jibrilla; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwa and Kastina State Governor, Aminu Masari, during a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at the State House, Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

FG must shift attention to agric, youth devt, says Ooni

Andrew Iro Okungbowa

A

s the nation seeks a way out of its economic recession, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwuis, Ojaja II, has called on the three tiers of government to focus on agricultural development and youth empowerment programmes as panaceas to quick recovery from the economic crunch.

The monarch who made

this remark while receiving the management team of the New Telegraph Newspaper led by its Managing Director/ Editor–in– Chief, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, in his Enuwa Palace, said the blame game by the leaders of the country should be put to an end while focus placed on how best to fix the problem of the country, calling for a return to agricultural development programme and youth development as quick fixes.

According to the Ooni, Nigeria is a richly blessed country and therefore advised that government should focus its

SOKOTO

Eid-el-Kabir: ‘6,250 tonnes of waste generated in Sokoto’

The Managing Director, Sokoto State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Alhaji Ahmed Rufa’i, yesterday, said 6,250 tonne of solid and liquid wastes was generated in Sokoto city and its environs during the just-celebrated Eid-el-Kabir.

He made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto, adding that: “The waste was generated between the eve of the Sallah on September 11 and 14. We have, therefore, embarked on a five-day special environmental sanitation to evacuate the waste.”

Rufa’i said: “This is to further sanitise the city and its environs with a view to preventing the likelihood of the outbreak of any communicable diseases.”

attention in area of agriculture, citing the focus of his palace on agriculture and youth development.

Noting that the youth formed over 70 per cent of the country’s population, the monarch advised that they should be meaningfully engaged in productive ventures so as to avoid implosion by those who are becoming more restive by the day.

“We are number in agriculture, everything about agriculture are number one, we are blessed with good soil from the South to the North of the country.’’

OWERRI 300 farmers for oil palm plantation training

The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) yesterday said it would fund the planting of oil palm plantation for 300 selected farmers in Imo. The beneficiaries, expected to be drawn from each co-operative society in Onuimo, Orsu and Ngor Okpala Local Government Areas, would provide half hactre of land and labour for the project.

A member of the Technical Committee, BATNF, Mr. Fatai Afolabi, who launched the initiative at Logara Onyeghalanwanneya community, announced that the project would last for one year.

Afolabi said the project, tagged “Good Practice on Oil Palm,” is to improve the living standard of farmers, adding that the project will be executed under a tripartite initiative.

He however lamented the fact that the land has been neglected and that no one is encouraging and inspiring the youths to meaningful ventures.

It is for this reason, he said that he has taken it upon himself to inspire and encourage youths by introducing them to agriculture, cultural tourism, tradition and heritage of the people, which he said has been fully embraced by the people.

He pointed out that his focus is on cocoa as he said that it has a very high potential for yielding foreign revenue for the country and the people

FCT Buhari off to America for UN General Assembly meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari will today depart Abuja for New York, United States of America to participate in the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

A statement issued yesterday by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari will deliver an address on Nigeria’s position at the opening of the General Debate of the Assembly, on the theme: “The Sustainable Development Goals: a Universal Push to Transform our World.”

The statement said President Buhari will also attend a high-level summit, hosted by the UN, on “Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants”, while the meeting will hold from September 19 to 23.

NEWS IN BRIE F

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Ex-Boko Haram spokesman rearrested in Ndume’s house

T

he self-proclaimed spokesman for the Boko Haram sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, who was sentenced to three years imprisonment, has been rearrested at the residence of Majority Leader of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume.

An online news portal, SaharaReporters, reported that Konduga, who is also known as Al-Zawahiri was recently

released from incarceration.

According to a family source, Konduga’s father and family had claimed he is mentally unstable and snuck into Ndume's house the night before Sallah at 8pm on Sunday.

He insisted that he wanted to see the Senator who was in Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj exercise.

Sources said Konduga was identified, beaten beyond recognition, and rearrested on Wednesday after he snuck

into the Senator's House for the third consecutive time beginning from Sunday 11th September 2016.

Konduga was arraigned before Abuja High Court along with Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South), whom Mr. Konduga accused of sponsoring him to undertake Boko Haram activities. Mr. Ndume had pleaded not guilty to charges of passing classified information to an unauthorized person and of criminal

intimidation.

“As luck will run against him, Konduga came back again to the house on Wednesday at about 4pm, where he was identified by some close associates of Ndume who used to accompany the senator to the Federal High Court in Abuja then.

“Policemen in charge of G.R.A police station were alerted and rearrested Konduga.

He is now in police cell, while Ndume has been informed.”

and that it is labour intensive and requires less input in terms of mechanised farming.

Earlier, Egbemode described the monarch as indeed a royal father of the source with his effort in seeing that peace and harmony are restored in Yoruba kingdom.

She disclosed to the Ooni that the New Telegraph Newspaper is business and politics oriented, as she affirmed that the management would continue to support the noble efforts of the monarch toward achieving his progressive mandate. ‘‘We are proud to be associated with the throne and wants to be the voice of the throne to promote the progress of the monarchical institution,’’ she said.

In its second quarter report on GDP issued last month, NBS said the nation’s GDP lower by 1.70 per cent points from the growth rate of –0.36 per cent recorded in the preceding quarter, and also lower by 4.41 per cent points from the growth rate of 2.35 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015.

According to the report, nominal GDP was N23,483,954.78 million (in at basic prices during the period which was 2.73 per cent higher than the Second Quarter 2015 value of N22,859,153.01 million.

This growth, the report said, was lower than the rate recorded in the Second Quarter of 2015 by 2.44 per cent points.

The contraction in economic growth on two consecutive quarters was a reflection of negative growth in Africa's populous nation.

Nigerians have come under sever hardship with, with majority of her working and able population lacking jobs, prices of consumable and services doubling and key infrastructures on their lowest ebb.

Meanwhile, TCN said 4,285.90 megawatts was the total output by power generation companies, and had been transferred to the 11 distribution companies across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the power generation record was reported in the website of “Nigerian Electricity System Operator”.

Electricity generation in the country had been stable in the last two months, rising from about 2, 983 megawatts to over 4, 000 megawatts.

Although power has improved, many parts of the country have remained with supply owing to problems with the distribution companies, including provision of pre-payment meters.

Acting Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Anthony Akah, had recently disclosed that no fewer than four million electricity consumers in the country were awaiting supply of the meters.

Makarfi, Sheriff must work together to save PDP –Daniel Kunle Olayeni,

F

Abeokuta

ormer governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, yesterday declared that both Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff factions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must work together for the party to regain its lost glory.

Daniel, who spoke in a live radio interview monitored in Abeokuta, expressed regret that the opposition party lacked spirit as currently constituted.

The former governor also noted that the PDP crisis deepened because the party now lacked a father figure contrary to what obtained in the past.

He said he was not sympathetic to any of the factional leaders struggling for the national leadership of PDP.

He explained that he had relationship with both Makarfi and Sheriff while serving as governor but was interested in ensuring both unite for the progress of the party.

Daniel said: “I have relationship with all of them. So, the issue for me is not to say I'm in one side. The issue is if the party is going to regain its lost glory, the two sides must work together. And that is what I have always maintained.

“The road to victory has no room for divisionism and once a party is not in a position to resolve the line of division, then we are wasting time.

“Look, don't let us forget that there is also a big crisis in APC. But I give it to that party. Why? Because they have managed, one way or the other, to keep that division in-house. Of course, you and I know what the facts are but all of them behave in public. And that is actually the key to victory."

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

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NECO: 88.51% candidates score five credits pass …as exam body releases June/July results Dan Atori, MINNA

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he National Examination Council (NECO) has released the June/ July 2016 Senior Secondary Schools Examination (SSCE) results with 88.51 per cent of candidates getting at least five credit passes.

The examination body also noted that Ekiti State recorded the highest of 96.48

per cent while Katsina State recorded the least with 72.59 per cent.

The NECO Registrar, Prof. Charles Uwakwe, who announced the results yesterday, in Minna the Niger State capital, said 905,011 (84.54 per cent) candidates got five credits and above in English Language and 812,846 (80.16 percent) got five credits and above in Mathematics.

He said the comparative analysis of candidates per-

formance in the examination for 2015 and 2016 shows that there is one per cent increase in the general performance of candidates in 2016 (88.51

per cent) as compared with 2015 (87.51 per cent) He said 1,022,474 candidates in Nigeria and other countries sat and wrote

Emmanuel Onani, Abuja

A

former Governor of Katsina State, Mr. Ibrahim Shema, yesterday sub-

mitted himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over allegations bordering on abuse of office.

A highly placed source informed Saturday Telegraph,

PHOTO: ATIKU MEDIA GROUP

1966 military class have captured Nigeria –Utomi

…says Nigeria’s recession policy-induced, self-inflicted lAdebanjo, Ezeife, Briggs restate call for restructuring

A

Professor of Political Economy, Prof. Pat Utomi, has lamented that a group of young military officers 'class of 1996' have literarily held Nigeria into a state of capture since 1966 and therefore called on eminent Nigerians to speak out to save the country from dying.

He also admitted that the recession that had left the economy almost prostrate as was induced by the policies of government.

Speaking at the second edition of the Tunji Braithwaite symposium in Lagos yesterday, Utomi said Nigeria’s present economic crisis is completely self-inflicted and policy-induced recession.

The management expert, who said Nigeria had become more divided in the last few years than the time of the civil war because of bad leadership and poor economic policy, noted that since the civil war between 1967 and 1970, Nigeria had never been as divided as it has

become in the last one year.

“The economic crisis and conflict we are facing in the country were completely selfinflicted; a policy-induced recession and yet people are not raising their voices on matters and challenges of now because they don’t want to be for or against the government; and they want to watch our country die. The time is now to wake up and speak the truth to people in power.”

Utomi, who was the chairman of the symposium organised in memory of Braithwaite, who was also the founder of Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), said: “We need to think about the subject of state capture; the capture of Nigerian state by a group of people. The subject of state capture is define by the class of 1966; a group of young military officers, who have held Nigeria literarily into a state of capture since 1966. The elements within this class have defined a little bit where our country should be going.”

Also speaking on the theme of the symposium ‘Nigeria in crisis: The imperative of a new socio-economic order,’ Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former governor of Anambra

EHIME MBANO

Anglican bishop backs ‘Change Begins With Me’ programme

The Anglican Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese in Imo State, Dr. David Onuoha, has urged Nigerians to support the recently launched “Change Begins With Me” initiative of the Federal Government.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at his Ehime Mbano Bishop Court, yesterday, Onuoha said attitudinal change was a joint task for both government officials and the citizenry, stressing that Nigerians should not trivialise, sectionalise or politicise the programme.

He noted that: “It was corruption that exposed Nigeria to the present economic hardship. Instead of picking holes with the programme, it is necessary to come out with honest views and suggestions on how to make this work for the good of us all.”

adding that the results of candidates involved have been cancelled.

He called on candidates who sat for the examination to access their results on the NECO website.

Alleged N74.6bn fraud: Shema submits self to EFCC

L-R: Senator Danjuma Goje; former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Muhammed Uwais and former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar, at the end of prayers at Asokoro Jumu’at Mosque in Abuja… yesterday

Temitope Ogunbanke and Adedayo Odulaja

the examination out of the 1,027,016 who registered.

Uwakwe disclosed that 43,905 cases of malpractice were recorded, and that number of schools involved in mass cheating were 194,

State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and environmental activist, Ms Anniko Briggs, reinstated the call for restructuring of Nigeria and implementation of 2014 National Conference report.

Adebanjo, Ezeife and Brigss, who were delegates at the 2014 National Conference, said the implementation of the National Conference will address the various problems in the country, nothing that Nigeria would not progress without solving the National question and restructuring the country.

Adebanjo said there is leadership crisis in Nigeria because many people in leadership positions don’t know how to implements ideas that can move the country forward, adding that the solution to Nigeria’s problem is restructuring and constitutional change.

He said those against restructuring are mischievous.

“Restructuring is for those who want Nigeria to be in peace.

We must compel our leaders to know that unless we solve National question, there won’t be a way forward,” he said.

Ezeife said the military ruined the country having used religion, ethnicity and tribal-

ism to destroy the country and therefore called for restructuring of the country to resolve all the problems militating against the growth and development of Nigeria.

The former Anambra governor, who proffered political and economy restructure and implementation of the 2014 National Conference as solution to Nigeria’s problem said the country should go back to regional government.

Briggs said Nigerians must work toward the implementation of the 2014 National Conference, which addressed the basic problems of Nigeria for every ethnic nationalities and regions in the country to live in peace.

A professor of Political Science and Director-General of the Electoral Institute of Independent National Electoral, Prof. Abubakar Momoh, while delivering the key note address, said the struggle of the 21st Century is waged along political and economy knowledge and therefore urged government to invest in education for development.

Also speaking, the founding National Secretary of National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr. Femi Aborishade, urged all Nigerians to rise up and defend the country democracy and called on Federal Government to reverse all privatisation policy, which he described as looting from the country’s common patrimony.

IKEJA VICTORIA ISLAND YCE host memorial lecture for Idika Kalu for Etteh’s HID Awolowo annual lecture

The first memorial anniversary lecture series organised by the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) in honour of its founding chairman, the late Chief HID Awolowo, will hold in Lagos on September 20.

According to a statement signed by the YUF Secretary General, Senator Anthony Adefuye, the memorial lecture titled: “Eternal Sustenance of Yoruba Language and Culture”, would be delivered by erudite scholar and Chief Consultant, Centre for Language Education and Development, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Adebisi Afolayan.

The statement stated that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) will be the special guest of honour.

The second edition of the Etteh’s annual distinguished lectures series has been scheduled to hold September 22 at the Sheraton hotel, Lagos.

The theme of the lecture is “Managing the Challenges of Infrastructure Deficits in Nigeria: A Cross-Country Analysis of the roles of Engineers in Economic Development”, with the President of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Otis O. Anyaeji as chairman.

Presenting papers at the lecture are the former minister of finance and economic planning, Dr. Kalu Idika and a Fellow of the NSE and a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Setonji David.

N EWS I N BRIEF

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that Shema arrived the commission’s headquarters in Abuja at about 10: 00am.

It will be recalled that the EFCC had, on Wednesday, declared the former governor wanted in connection “with a case of (alleged) criminal conspiracy, inflation of contract, abuse of office, diversion of funds and embezzlement running into billions of naira.”

But Shema, who was governor of Katsina State between 2007 and 2015, had berated the EFCC for declaring him wanted without any formal invitation.

However, the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for comment.

Shema in a letter addressed to the acting chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said it was unfortunate that the Magu-led organisation has chosen to embarrass him when he had already honoured the agency’s invitation in the past.

“Without any formal invita-

tion to me, the EFCC purported, by a letter dated June 17, 2016, sent to a wrong address of Wole Olanipekun & Co. asking the law firm to make Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema available for an interview with the undersigned on June 28, 2016. The letter was signed by Hyecinth A. Edozie.

“Despite the incongruity in the way and manner the invitation was extended to me through a counsel – and also through a wrong address of the same counsel, and notwithstanding the fact that I was already billed to travel to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj (Umrah) on the appointment day, I cancelled all the engagements to honour the invitation with my counsel on June 28, 2016, only to be informed, around 10a.m. on that day that the interview could no longer hold, as Mr. Hyecinth A. Edozie was out of Abuja, and that a new date, after Sallah, would be communicated.”

Court strikes out suit to unseat Customs boss, Hameed Ali

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Akeem Nafiu ustice M. S. Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out a suit seeking to nullify the appointment of Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, had in November 2015 filed the suit seeking the interpretation of the court as to whether the president could appoint anyone as comptroller general of customs without complying with section 3 of the Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the Gazette made on March 25, 2002, it was stipulated that only those within the rank of Deputy Comptroller General of Customs can be elevated as substantive Comptroller General.

The lawyer is seeking an order of the court to nullify the appointment.

In its response to the case, the NCS filed a preliminary objection dated April 29, this year, challenging the locus standi of the applicant to file and maintain the suit.

However, in his judgement, Justice Hassan held that the president is empowered under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution, to exercise all executive powers, either by himself directly or through officers delegated for that purpose.

Kalu: PPA faults tribunal verdict

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he Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) has faulted the tribunal verdict which struck out its candidate, Dr. Orji Kalu’s petition against Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the ruling as judicial theft and undemocratic.

Speaking with journalists yesterday during a solidarity visit to the former governor at his Igbere country home, PPA Chairman, Abia North, Mr. Ralph Ukoro, who led a mammoth crowd of party stalwarts, vowed that the party would reclaim its stolen mandate at the Appeal Court.

According to Ukoro, it is not out of place to say the judgment was manipulated by some bad eggs in the judiciary, noting that the merit of the whole case was not properly considered by the tribunal.

“We have our reservations on the tribunal verdict and we shall not give up until we reclaim our stolen mandate.

“It is a known fact the PDP and its agents snatched ballot boxes and manipulated results

of the rerun poll.

“As a law-abiding party, I wish to appeal to PPA loyalists, supporters and followers to remain calm and committed to the party.

“We strongly believe in our leader, Dr. Orji Kalu and we will continue to support him in all his political pursuits.

“It is not over till it's over”, he declared.

In a similar development, Abia North Youth Association, ANYA, has described the ruling of the tribunal as a scam, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) used Abia State resources to buy the judgment.

In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Nneka Okonkwo, she said: “It is a clear fact that Dr. Orji Kalu of the PPA won the race based on his popularity and acceptability in the zone.

“It is unfortunate that the judiciary which ordinarily should be the hope of the common man has now turned to cash and carry.

“Abians want Dr. Kalu at the Senate and I know the voice of the people is the voice of the Lord, so shall it be.”

10 Voices What's the most upsetting thing your spouse did to you ? p.12 Charles Onyekwere

T ENUGU

he leadership of a pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has told President Muhammadu Buhari that Biafrans are not itching for war with Federal Government but wants to be granted independence as a sovereign nation.

In a statement signed by IPOB’s spokespersons, Messrs Emma Mmezu and Clifford Iroanya, the group noted that if a referendum is conducted today, Buhari would see that Biafrans do not want to be part of Nigeria any longer.

To drive home this point, the organisation mentioned nations of the world that parted ways because of incompatibility such as the old Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and others.

On a statement credited to Buhari recently where he told National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Daura, Katsina State, that he fought for Nigerian unity in the 60s, the organisation pointed out that Buhari did not avail himself of the true facts about Nigeria before making the offensive and odious statement which was reported by some media organisations.

“What rankled the organisation most is that Buhari told Nigerian youths that those fighting for Biafra had better forget it. To IPOB, this is sacrilegious,” he said.

Speaking further, the group added: “Retired Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was one of the group of Northern Nigerian soldiers that assassinated MajorGeneral J.T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, a Biafran, on July 29, 1966 and he was the same person that committed treason on December 31, 1983, when he violently overthrew a democratically elected Nigerian government

City & crime update

Biafra: We want self-autonomy not war, IPOB tells Buhari headed by Alhaji Aliyu Usman Shehu Shagari.

“After the assassination of Aguiyi-Ironsi in 1966, Buhari, in conjunction with some Northern soldiers, massacred two million Biafrans at Owerri in 1968. In return for his acts of savagery on Biafrans, Buhari was recently rewarded with the presidency of Nigeria even though he did not have the educational requirements to contest for that position.

“It was on the platform of the president of the colonial creation named Nigeria that Buhari delivered a speech to a group of graduates who are on a one-year compulsory NYSC assignment.

“The first question is: why can't Buhari come to Biafraland to lecture Biafrans on unity rather than mouthing it every time he visits his cow ranch in Daura or someplace in Northern Nigeria? Is Northern Nigeria the only place that a President travels to? Can anyone point us to a single visit that Buhari has made to Biafraland from May 29, 2015 till date?

“Buhari has more regards and affection for his cows than the average Biafran because he finds time to visit animals rather than those he claim to be his fellow citizens.

Buhari has made 30 foreign trips as at the end of May 2016 as well as countless trips to the Northern part of Nigeria including Boko Haram controlled regions but he has not set his feet on Biafran soil since he was sworn in on May 29, 2015,” the

Sallah: NTIC Foundation distributes meats to 20,000 families

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s part of its tradition for the celebration of the Eid-elKabir, the Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) Foundation has distributed meats worth of millions of naira to over 20,000 families across the country.

The distribution of the meats for the indigent families took place across some states on Monday and Tuesday.

According to NTIC Principal for Ogun State, Ercan Yilmaz, the motivation for the meat distribution, which has been on for more than 10 years, is to ensure that every family, irrespective of colour, race or religion is made happy on the occasion of Sallah.

“For more than ten years, we have been involved in this event on yearly basis reaching out to thousands of people of all faiths on Sallah celebration like this. We believe everybody, irrespective of colour or faith should feel the spirit of celebration,” he said.

At the NTIC Lagos/Ogun centre in Isheri, which serves as zonal head for South-West, more than 60 cows were slaughtered and distributed to over 3,000 families

SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2016

in Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Kwara states also got the own cows that were slaughtered and distributed across the states.

Similar, a number of cows were slaughtered in Abuja, Kaduna, Yobe and Kano states.

While stating that the economic situation in the country caused some setbacks, Yilmaz said a larger amount of cows would have been slaughtered to reach more families.

“As a foundation, we get our monies through donations but in the last two years, we have been getting far less than what we used to get.

“Before now, the donations we get from Turkey is about 95 per cent and just little from Nigeria but now we are getting absolute nothing from Turkey due to the political situation out there and if you add the economic situation in Nigeria you will see that we struggled to raise the money.

“We are, however, optimistic that very soon things will improve in our normal life both in Nigeria and Turkey so as to reach out to more families in more states,” Yilmaz said.

group alleged.

“Buhari intentionally refused to inform the graduates that during his trekking experience from Degem to Biafra’s boundary with Ambazonia (Southern Cameroon), he committed genocide along the way and this includes the two million Biafrans he killed at Owerri in 1968.

“Because Buhari was a junior officer in the Nigerian Army, it is understandable that he was not privy to the motive behind the war of genocide on Biafra which had the backing of our colonial masters. It may interest Buhari to know that in August 1967, the British Com-

Kanu

Ndubuisi Ugah with agency reports

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he poor state of infrastructure in the North-East is on the brink of causing famine as five million people are in urgent need of food assistance, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) an arm of Red Cross, has said.

Nigeria’s country director at the IRC, Sarah Ndikumana, said the situation needed urgent attention from all the tiers of government, according to a report by an online news portal, Sahel Standard News.

In a statement issued yesterday, the IRC director called on, “all actors, including the international community, the Nigerian government, and the UN to acknowledge the scale and address the humanitarian crisis and shift away from a perspective of large scale recovery and returns in nearly all of Borno State.”

She noted that: “The IRC reclassified the emergency to its highest levels and is significantly scaling up its response, both in scope and in reach, to save the lives of those caught in the middle of Boko Haram’s war.

“The numbers are staggering and IRC medical teams on the ground are reporting incredibly high levels of admissions with Se-

monwealth Minister George Thomas informed the British Parliament that: “The sole immediate British interest in Nigeria is that the Nigerian economy should be brought back to a condition in which our substantial trade and investment in the country can be further developed, and particularly so we can regain access to important oil installations”.

“Buhari should now understand that oil is the main reason why they got the support of Britain.

It was because of the control of oil in Biafraland that Britain in 1968 alone supplied hundreds of armoured personnel carriers (APCs), 10,000 machine guns, 20 million rounds of ammunition, 3,000 bayonets, 10,000 rifles with grenade launchers, 15,000 pounds of explosives, 21,000 mortar bombs, 42,500 Howtizer rounds, 5,000 submachine guns and other weapons of mass destruction deployed, in one year alone. “ Wi t h o u t this one-sided military support from the British to

Nigeria while at the same time denying Biafra access to weapons, even Buhari himself knows that there was no way in a billion years Nigeria could have defeated Biafra in a war.

“Buhari must understand that a nation develops organically and is predicated on the commonality of shared value systems.

“Buhari should also understand that unity cannot be force-fitted or enforced by one region on other regions within a geographical expression. This is why David Cameron, immediate past British Prime Minister, did not deploy troops to Glasgow or Edinburgh with rules of engagement (ROE) to kill innocent Scottish people in the quest to preserve “One Britain“.

“If Britain, our colonial masters and the creator of Nigeria, can allow the Scots to determine their fate, how much more their product Nigeria refusing the nation of Biafra the same right.

“Therefore, the assertion by Buhari that Biafrans must stay together with the rest of Nigeria is not enforceable under any known law on this planet earth. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) makes it clear that Biafrans have the inalienable right to be on their own as a sovereign nation," the organisation points out.

“The right to self-determination is not synonymous with war or violence. Buhari should therefore, not juxtapose self-determination with war because the two are not interchangeable. The least he can do is to use the instrument of Referendum to test the resolve of Biafrans in their quest for the restoration of the nation of Biafra.

Red Cross: 5m people risk death as famine looms in North-East •184 children will die each day -UN

vere Acute Malnutrition (SAM).

Available evidence indicates that a food security Emergency (IPC Phase 4) is occurring for more than one million people in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States, with the possibility of Famine (IPC Phase 5) conditions in particularly affected areas.”

The IRC explained that: “The real impact of Boko Haram’s reign of terror is emerging as the IRC gains more access to affected areas. The clearing of Boko Haram from these areas was just the first step in a long journey for the people who have been trapped for nearly seven years “184 children will die each day in northeastern Nigeria in 2016 due to causes related to acute malnutrition, according to the UN. “Despite real security risks, the IRC is significantly scaling up its humanitarian response to our largest complex emergency of the moment.

“It is time for the Federal Government and the international community to acknowledge the scale of the humanitarian emergency and put resources in place to address this

chronically underfunded crisis – before it is too late.

“The security and infrastructure is not yet in place for recovery, rehabilitation, and returns in Borno State. The gaps between funding and needs will only grow as new areas become accessible over the next year” the humanitarian organisation affirmed in a scary picture of the situation across North-East.

Quoting the Organisational Chart Housing Analysis, the statement said: “65,000 people are already in Phase 5 in Borno and Yobe states, while additionally, 3.3 million are in Phase 3 (crisis) and at high risk if not reached soon.

What is most upsetting is that this looming famine is entirely man-made. We are seeing countless children under five on the verge of death because they were given no other option than to be caught in the middle of this war.

“The international community simply cannot wait until it is too late to respond to one of the biggest and most under-funded crises in the world,” Ndikumana said.

City&crime update

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

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Ndubuisi Ugah ith the present rate of volatility in the nation’s economy snowballing into recession, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has said over 18,919 Nigerians have lost their public sector jobs between October 2015 and March 2016.

The NBC, which reported a sharp decline of 84.1 per cent in total employment against the figure in the last quarter of 2015, said only about 79,469 jobs were generated in the economy in the first three months of 2016.

This is against about 499,521 jobs created during the corresponding period of 2015, which translated to a negative employment generation figure of -4,288.

The agency said in its quarterly job creation survey in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), that the figure was 83.1 per cent lower than the 389,605 jobs created in the corresponding period last year.

Although about 5,867 new public sector jobs were generated between October and December 2015, the Bureau said about 10,155 jobs were

Recession: 19,000 Nigerians lose public sector jobs in six months •FG must create jobs, make money available –NLC lost during the period in the public sector of the federal, state and local governments.

Also, while about 5,726 jobs were created between January and March 2016 in the public sector, the Bureau said about 8,764 jobs were lost during the period, with a negative employment generation figure of -3.038 for the period.

The NBS said the drop by 27,246 in formal employment in the last quarter of last year and 21,477 in the first quarter of 2016 across all the economic activities was as a result of the slowing down of economic activities in the wake of the economic recession.

“This sharp decline in employment generation in the first quarter of 2016 is strongly correlated to the weakening economic output within the period, where the Nige-

rian economy recorded a negative growth of -0.36 per cent,” the statistics agency said.

An analysis of the jobs created for the quarter showed 21,477 came from the formal sector, consisting formal professional services with less than 10 employees.

About 61,026 jobs came from the informal sector in the first quarter, made up of mainly low skill, low paying blue collar jobs in agriculture, light manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade businesses.

With the economy actually in recession at the moment, following the recent formal confirmation by the NBS, analysts say the employment situation would likely worsen, except government took steps to spend on strategic capital infrastructure to reflate the economy.

The Lead director, Centre for SoL-R: Former Special Adviser to the late President Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi; immediate past Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Ruben Abati and Special Adviser to PresidentMuhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, during the funeral service for the late Director of Information State House, Mr. Justin Abuah, at our Lady Queen of Nigeria in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: STATE HOUSE, ABUJA

cial Justice (CENSOJ), Eze Onyekpere, said declining employment figures in an economy in recession was not surprising, as firms were closing up and reducing their workforce, in the face of declining gross domestic products (GDP) and high inflation.

“Decline in employment is to be expected in a recession. With companies profits declining, their retrenchment of workers, and not hiring to replace them, the figure will keep going down.

“The challenge is not in the recession, but for government to spend its way out of it, not as Nigerians talk about it, but quality spending in a way to help regenerate the economy.

“Spending is not about borrowing to pay salaries of workers, but spending on strategic capital investments and projects to improve the ease of doing business, ensure availability of infrastructure, like power, roads, works and housing, for people to run their businesses,” he said.

Commenting on this, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba, said the concern of the labour union was on how government could create new jobs for young Nigerians who constitute the most affected population by the crisis.

Wabba said the best way for-

OWERRI

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ife of the Imo State governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, has decried the prevalence of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the state.

She also expressed regret that the practice has continued to deny women the right to sexual health; inhibiting sexual urge among married women and leading to complications during childbirth.

The governor’s wife added that

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victims were exposed to excessive bleeding and recurrent infections.

Dismissing the practice as a form of violence against women predicated on unfounded myth and baseless tradition, Okorocha disclosed that the state, according World Health Organisation findings, have one of the highest FGM prevalence rate of 68 per cent.

She added that intervention by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) through the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development had focused on four LGAs in the State

– Ikeduru, Ohaji/Egbema, NgorOkpala and Oguta.

To remedy the situation, Okorocha said arrangements had been concluded through her pet project “Women Of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI)”, which had secured partnership with the UNFPA to address the challenges of the FGM in the state as part of the national campaign to end the practice which, was launched by the wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari.

She said all was now set to launch the campaign against FGM in the state on Monday.

ward was for government to ensure manufacturers continue to access raw materials and produce even though most manufacturers were finding it difficult to survive.

“Many of them have closed. They cannot afford the cost of raw materials, because of the difficulty in accessing foreign exchange (forex) and the pressure from the free fall of the Naira,” he said.

He said government must ensure forex was channelled to the manufacturer’s to enable them to import raw materials they cannot find in Nigeria.

On the recession, he said the best way was for the government to make money available in circulation to drive economic activities.

“Government can also establish modular refineries to ensure money used for the importation of petroleum products would be saved and used to develop the economy, by providing the infrastructure required to drive productive economic activities to create jobs for the people,” he said.

The NBS earlier this year reported that the number of unemployed in the labour force, increased by 518,102 persons, resulting in an increase in the national unemployment rate to 10.4 per cent in Q4 2015 from 9.9 per cent in Q3 2015.

The Bureau also reported that unemployed and underemployed persons in Nigeria surged to 22.45 million in the fourth quarter, Q4, 2015.

Court bars FUTO, host communities from disputed land Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

Female Genital Mutilation has 68% A prevalence rate in Imo –Okorocha Steve Uzoechi

11

n Owerri High Court has ordered the Management of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and its host communities to steer clear of a large expanse of land measuring about 3500 hectares which is a subject of litigation, until the substantive suit is determined.

The order which was contained in Suit No/772/2013 also affected the Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, his proxies and any agent of government from encroaching into the land.

The land dispute has lingered beyond a decade and the host communities were compelled to drag FUTO and Governor Rochas Okorocha to court owing to the sudden conceding of a land already ceded to the host communities back to FUTO. However, the recent order be-

came necessary following the activities of some alleged land speculators who without waiting for the pronouncement of court, were already clearing, partitioning and selling the disputed land with the impression that they had the backing of the governor.

Speaking on behalf of the nine FUTO host communities, Chief Sam Anokam said, “We needed to secure the court order to exonerate us from the unlawful intrusion into the land by some persons connected to the Imo state government. Their actions are not in line with our disposition so far on this matter.”

Consequently, five persons believed to be behind the intrusion into the land have been served with Form 48 notifying them of the consequences of disobedience to court order. Among them are Christian Anokwuru, Victor Onyewuchi, Uche Onyeagocha, Barnabas Ohaegbuchulam and Mike Uluma.

Farming: Jigawa targets 150,000 hectares for rice, other productions

igawa State Government yesterday said it was targeting 150,000 hectares for rice, wheat and tomato cultivation during this year’s dry farming in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Kabiru Ali, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

Ali said 50,000 hectares would be dedicated to each of the three selected crops.

He explained that the programme would be implemented through the Anchor Borrower Scheme introduced by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The commissioner said that

the Federal Government had earmarked over N20 billion to millers to serve as up-takers when the farmers must have cultivated the land.

According to him, any miller who has good mill can access the loan, give to farmers and up take their produce after cultivation.

“If a farmer produces at the end

of the season, the person (miller) that facilitated the loan will up take what he produced,” he said.

Ali told NAN that the state government was partnering with Flour Mills of Nigeria and others on wheat production.

“We are in consultation with Flour Mills of Nigeria and others; they are coming to partner with

us in the production of wheat,” the commissioner said.

He added that: “on tomato production, Rot Peller Foundation is also coming to work with us.”

He explained that the foundation would give support in tomato production, particularly in post harvest processes and marketing.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Voices

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

What's the most upsetting thing your spouse did to you?

His disheartening chat with another lady on Facebook It happened before our marriage. I bumped into a chat that he was having with another lady on Facebook because I had his password. The content of the chat was disheartening but I had to let go. It was on the 5th of August, 2013; a Monday. I'm an historian, that's why I still have the date at heart, not that I haven't forgiven him. .

When she says to me my food is on the stove They like to do things their own way irrespective of what any other person's decision could be. That being said, there are times when she comes home late or she cooks dinner late and then she says to me that my food is on the stove and I could go for it when I wish to.

—Atobatele Babasayo,

business manager

—Joy Tosin, sales promoter

Taking my money without informing me There are a lot of things my husband has done to me but the one that I can never forget was the one that involved money. I kept some money for an event sometime ago and he took it without informing me which was very wrong. If I was the one who did that to him he wouldn't have taken it from me so why do it to me?

—Mrs. Adeyemi Tobi, trader

She accused me falsely The most upsetting moment was false accusation from my spouse.

It really hurt my feelings then.

—John Prince, businessman

None so hurting yet

There hasn't been any so hurting. It's just the normal inevitable argument that happens between couples that we also experience and we get to settle it within a very short time. Although on very few occasions, he comes home late for dinner when he knows that we ought to eat together by 8pm, however this hasn't been a cause for a major scuffle.

—Bukola Lamidi, sales promoter

When my wife claimed to be the breadwinner

Reporting me to his friends

The most annoying thing he ever did was reporting a disagreement we had to his friends. It made me feel stupid whenever I

see them around.

—Fatima Raheem, civil servant

Embarrassing me in public transport

It was at a time when my wife brought money for foodstuff and she said she had been the one bringing money since, just because she was trying to assist me financially during that period. It was indeed sobering.

—Uchenna Anyoha, businessman

Screaming at me I can remember sometimes ago I called her that I will be working late and that she should not lock the gate. I work in the media house. When I got to the house at about 11pm she opened the gate and she was angry.

She screamed at me. I was so angry but she later apologised.

—Mike Joseph, accountant

The most upsetting thing done by my spouse was embarrassing me in a public transport. If not for love,i would have divorced her after that.

—Uche Chidi, businessman

Slapping me at the bus stop

The most annoying thing he has ever done was slapping me at the bus stop. I did not expect it. We were having an argument in the bus and I did not know it was going to result in him hitting me. I couldn’t see for complete five minutes.

That was the most annoying thing because he actually left me there and walked away. That was the end of the relationship.

—Juliet Nwosu, financial adviser

Buying a car without informing me The most annoying thing my ex has done to me was buying a car without telling me. I could remember him telling me that he didn’t have money only for him to buy a car. I was like I don’t even trust this person for him to be doing things without seeking my opinion because there were other things we could have done with the money.

—Amaka Onyia, financial adviser

She lied about something I am aware of

Took money meant for project

My wife took the money I budgeted for a project without my permission and I really needed it that period but what can I do?

It was the most upsetting

thing to me then.

—Ben Chioka, civil servant

The most upsetting thing was telling lies about something I ought to know and still denied it was a lie.

My dear I wouldn't have moved on if not for God's love o.

—Isaac Udoh, engineer

compiled by: NGOZI OGBOLU, OGE NDUBUNMA, ESTHER SODEKE AND OLANIYI ADERUKU

WeekendBliss

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

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I CHANNELLED MY POLITICAL ENERGY INTO PRODUCTION Mrs. Grace Christopher Ekpenyong is an industrialist par excellence. In this interview with TONY ANICHEBE, the wife of the former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Christopher Ekpenyong, narrates how she started her journey into manufacturing and her attempt to create a positive brand for products indigenous to the state and much more. Excerpts…

Amazing Quality products are quite amazing; could you explain the vision and how it all started?

The vision started as far back as my university days. When I was university, I just felt a deep urge one day to wear what I sew - a nightgown.

I decided that instead of going to buy a readymade product, I would go to the market, buy the accessories to make a nightgown that I would wear. That is where it started; and one weekend I just left the campus and went to the market and bought those things. I had no machine, no formal training as a seamstress, but I just said I wanted to wear what I sew. You would ask ‘what is the basis, from where?’ But I did it. I went to the market in Ibadan and bought those things, got to my friend, an ex-permanent secretary, Mrs. Okon, because she was off-campus then and I made use of her neighbour’s machine.

Before you knew it, I had done what my heart desired and I had some satisfaction.

That’s where it started, and I didn’t know that there was much more I could do by myself without any direction from anybody. So when I now finished at the university, on my first appointment, I remembered I assembled something and later with my own machine started it again. I assembled materials, started cutting and sewing. I took them to work, showed to my colleagues and some of them bought.

It progressed from there until I went back for my post-graduate and registered with a fashion designer then at Yaba, Lagos. The teacher was a lecturer with Yaba College of Technology.

I learnt some basics in sewing formally because

Instyle

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Sleek way to 'slay' jeans with casual effect

p.15

initially I was sewing like a person driving without licence. But with the training, I was better equipped. Soon after I finished, I started a fashion design business.

Then in 1999 during the political impasse, I came across a newspaper advert on learning some other skills like soap making. I obliged and went in for a one-week intensive programme.

At the point, I said I wanted to know all types of soap making. I wanted to know how to make bathing soap, liquid soap and of course that is the foundation for what you see here. I finished that and it didn’t just end there. With the least opportunity I had to learn, I would go in and learn. I learnt soap making at Federal Institute of Research in Oshodi. I was just opening my senses to learn anything useful, knowing that as I learnt, the skills and knowledge would be stored pending when they would be needed. I learnt how to knit and acquired the skill in doing baby wears, the cap, coat, trousers and everything about that, and even adult sweater. In that aspect, I remember after learning, I went in for job in my daughter’s school and other schools around. I had some small contracts in making cardigans for students, and the joy of all these was the satisfaction. I brought in that aspect to Akwa Ibom when we came in here to work, finding people who were ready to learn but hardly could I find some serious people because anything you are learning, seriousness and determination are the key to success.

At what point did you diversify into agriculture, as there are a lot of agro-processed products here?

Like I said, while in Lagos I had a template of what I could do. When my husband became deputy governor of the state. I asked myself, ‘what would I be doing?’ At least I should have something that I could also do with the women. And that was where the agricultural aspect came in, and it wasn’t just an overnight business. I started first of all processing cassava and it was not from my farm.

I always picked what was available around me and started from that level; from small level, and when I got the result I then expanded. Women around me came most times for financial assistance. I didn’t have money and that is not even the way to help; the best way to help is give the person a net and he goes fishing. So I encouraged them and gave them some money to buy partially processed cassava at

N O P U E S O L C ENYONG

GRACE EKP

continued on page 14

The Arts

Hospitality

TV & Radio

p.37

p.41

p.36

Oloibiri resonates on screen

Crownedge Hotel: Offer of a royal treat

Weekend File: Right of way

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Close Up

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

'I started sewing clothes without formal training'

their workshop so that we can keep pace with modern technology and have safe products to eat.

C o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 1 3

Odukpani. We had a place that I assembled them to do their processing from but at the end of it we wouldn’t have much because of the water-logged area where the cassava came from. By the time they finished processing into garri, a greater part of it will be wasted; so we didn’t have much left for me to even give them part to feed and perhaps sell. So just concurrently we came across some piece of land in Obio Akpa. I advised them to do a trial on the upland and see what happens. The harvest was huge. I remember one tuber of cassava that would be so big. This became part of the campaign for the second term of that regime as dividends of the first tenure.

I made the women carry the cassava harvest around the trip, just to create some fun and ease tension during the campaign trips.

I was so encouraged. We never applied fertilizer to this cassava.

It was just organic; it came just like that, naturally from that land.

I was surprised and I said ‘now we can disprove those saying that cassava cannot do well here.’

That encouraged me to go into cassava cultivation and at the end of the year when we were to have harvest; the thought came to me to introduce the version of processing. I said, I am not going to sell the cassava, the raw tubers, we should be able to process so that there will be a wider range of employment. We will have producers and processors and of course we can also think of some technologists, educationists, people that are going to work on the machines, because as we progressed we upgraded to packaging from one stage to another. We stated with ordinary polythene bags, to even see the product’s acceptability as I had in my mind. It was not the beauty of the package, the package might be beautiful but when you buy it, you can’t take it the second time, so you can’t go back to buy.

We have been busy for years, in fact, almost six to eight years, working, going through the quality and as I finish I would send it to the agency to do their independent investigation. These are the foods products that I eat so I have to be sure that what I am eating is good enough for other people, what I don’t eat, I cannot sell. You can investigate and confirm this with NAFDAC. Sometimes it will take them up to three years to certify a particular product. Most of the products have been certified without my knowing and my product file would be lying there.

In fact, that is my satisfaction. There is no other way I go about the certification, I just give to them and tell them when you are ready, inform me and that is what they do. Like this one (Moringa tea), if you go to NAFDAC it is there, they just came for inspection and picked the sample. What I am waiting is to hear ‘your sample has passed our test.’

So you have a ready raw material base for it; and where do you get the machine from?

We started from the first step, and that has been the ideology, then we moved to others. As at the time we started, we were trying to showcase so that people will know, we started from that level and now we are growing up to full processing. I will say I had to encourage those producing, for instance, cassava. We cul-

What is the level of acceptability of these products?

You know our people used to believe that it is only products that come from places like Malaysia or Dubai that are of high quality. The perception is fast changing now as our products are competing favourably with those from outside. Those who have tasted our products want us to advertise so as to create the needed awareness.

But that is not our immediate concern. Our problem is how to handle the influx of demand that will arise from the awareness campaign. We need new and sophisticated machines for mass production to meet with the expected demands and that will amount to millions of naira.

Grace with husband, Chris Ekpenyong

tivated hectares. The labour in it is not a small one, because I have to sponsor the clearing of all stages of the farming till the harvest comes out. Unfortunately, about three years ago, we had cultivated and ready to go and harvest and what we saw there were herdsmen menace, cows had consumed the entire farm. That was not a good encouragement for us to continue cultivating in that land again. And if I had to continue, it means to fence round, which would not even be a guarantee because in the night when nobody is there you cannot say what would happen.

Therefore, I resort to getting the raw materials from the clusters-cassava producers proper who just concentrate on producing, and of course they will know how to scare these herdsmen whether human, cow or rodents. So we get from them and in the process encourage them in their own trade.

With regard to the machines, we go out and source. When I travel out, I also get even in a place like Lagos. I have some machines I got from there because I like to encourage our indigenous fabricators. My idea is first, ‘is there anybody that is doing it here that can give me satisfaction as good as what I can get from China?’ I remember when I started bakery in Uyo, in Akpan Andem Market, I had an option of getting somebody in Lagos, a non-indigene, but I decided to encourage a next door neighbour here who said he could do the fabrication, and I accepted but the end of the story was not palatable and not really encouraging. I have been very careful in selecting, but no doubt, I have got machines from Lagos fabricators, but recently we got some from China, because you have to explore when you are producing for the best.

You talk about how you get cassava as raw material, what about other products?

We have our market for cocoyam, unfortunately we don’t have that species in this state which is a challenge I am throwing to farmers so that we don’t have to order cocoyam from Malaysia.

Something like cocoyam, formerly they saw it as poor man’s food, but I tell you that it is grade one product on the table today. Because of the research I am doing on some of them, I have something which you will not find anywhere.

Madam, are you saying you get cocoyam from Malaysia?

Actually, it is not in Akwa Ibom. This very species, once Malaysia gets hold of it, we may have to be importing it because they are not here and I don’t find it to buy.

Do you think that will be cheaper for your production?

What will you do when you do not have it here? Because I must produce, I have to get it where I will get it, but maybe the price will be high.

We have a lot of cocoyam, are you saying the species are not good enough?

Yes we have cocoyam here, but this particular species is hard to come by. And even if we have it here, it is not enough.

What is so special about this species of cocoyam?

It is very nutritious as it contains a lot of minerals and vitamins.

Why can’t we cultivate it in commercial quantity?

The challenge is for our farmers; we should now get down to the real thing and know what is needed. It is not even the farmers alone; the relevant government agencies like AKADEP should guide our farmers.

It seems you do not cultivate anything; do you buy everything from farmers?

No, we do not buy everything. We have farms for some products like plantain and moringa.

How many products do you have farmers for?

I have plantation for moringa tea and for soya beans. But I think soya beans could do better in the North because their soil favours the cultivation of beans. I cannot go about trying everything because production is very tedious and if I want to maintain standard and quality, I have to be there all the time.

I thank the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) who came in here and we really made use of them.

They contributed immensely to our getting odourless cassava ‘foofoo’. I must give them that credit because of the technology, and I do send my people to

How many people do you currently have in your

employ?

As at the last count we have 80 staff and they are involved in different sectors of the production including packaging.

What plans are you making to export these products in large quantity?

I have an invitation this year, in fact, this month. I was invited to be in Florida for exhibition. They added about 64 countries they have invited me to visit.

But when I look at my physical strength and the enormous work in the factory, I have be fair to myself.

These people that called me in Florida I bluntly said no because of certain things and logistics; in the end, I need my energy to concentrate on processing, while I am also interested in export.

But let somebody come out and say I will buy this thing and then take over.

On this other side of the border, there is so much I am doing to encourage export.

Somebody must be there to also take on the process of exporting on the other side and by so doing both of us will do well.

From this interaction you are a very busy woman, how do you combine this with your domestic responsibilities as well as being a politician?

All the energy I have for politics is in production. Why I am saying this is that in my own perspective of politics, I think before you talk of leadership you must consider the less privileged.

How you can bring them up to have a voice where there is none, and it starts with the stomach.

The people I work with, when you see them, are so occupied with their hands and brains.

When you are not hungry the aggressiveness to do anything without caring who you hurt or kill will not be there. This is how I interpret my own politics. We should be able to feed because we are producing food.

The other day when we were laying the foundation of my factory, youths listed a lot of things which they demanded and I told them that they are the ones who will be employed there to work. So when you raise your hand, do you see negative politics there? To build and to destroy, the choice is ours to make because you are in politics when you are building. So my own politics is let us work together so that we will not be aggressive. For the devil provides work for the idle.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

15

TIPS zz With jeans, you can get away with a lot, but not quite everything, when it comes to smart casual footwear. Tasselled loafers, monk straps, brogues, boots, Oxfords, and boat shoes are all viable options. zz Bold tones or unique details can be a fun way to make sure your outfit doesn’t look like it strolled straight out of the office.

More casual slip-ons or Converse can also work for less formal occasions, but save your trainers for the gym. zz Ripped jeans are sophisticated and perfect for nightlife. zz Black jeans are appropriate for the daytime, but where they really excel is after hours. Look for a pair with an extra-slim cut and then top them off with a classic, fitted polo shirt. For a hint of formality, pull on a pair of Chelsea boots.

Sleek ways to ‘slay’ jeans with casual effect Deborah Ocheni

J

eans. You either love them or hate them although many favour their versatility as they are considered a much-needed staple in any fashion buff’s closet.

It is safe to assume that most young men have a couple pair of jeans, some T-shirts, a sweatshirt or two, and maybe a few button-down shirts in their wardrobe. If you don’t have those, you are either unusually well-dressed or very inventive.

Jeans are pants made from denim or dungaree cloth. They were invented

by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss in 1873 and are worn still but in a different context. Jeans are named after the city of Genoa in Italy, a place where cotton corduroy, called either jean or jeane, was manufactured.

Jeans are an effortless way to slay smart casual looks, they come in diverse colours and designs. The key to putting together a great smart casual look is to simply stay comfortable in a clean pair of jeans, the aim is to look good and feel great in what you are wearing.

For casual everyday looks, you cannot go wrong if you pair jeans with loose t-shirts and simple trainers but, always keep in mind the taper of the jeans and the way it looks on your body overall.

Trust your instinct and choose styles that flatter your proportions and features. Straight-cut skinny jeans will add a refined touch and can be dressed up for evening looks.

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Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

ACCESSORIES TO LIVE FOR

Keep fierce style with turbans Deborah Ocheni

I

f you would rather put the emphasis on your face, try wrapping a printed scarf into a turban. Accessorising with turban gives a fierce yet chic and sophisticated looks to any apparel. Little wonder fashionable women are replacing hats with this statement accessory in their closets.

The turban is essentially a headgear that uses fabric of varying width and length, which is twisted and turned around the head. The wrapped folds derived produce a "fitted effect" akin to a stitched or an engineered head covering.

Turbans are easily but creatively created by winding cloth around the hair.

They fit all face shapes; there are different varieties of turbans and are traditionally worn by men.

Turbans are new staple in women’s wardrobe because of the glamorous effect they add to any outfits.

There are a multitude of reasons people wear turbans. Some wear them for religious or cultural reasons, while others just want to be fashionable. The common thing about turban regardless of your reason is the fact that you cannot go unnoticed.

They come in a variety of forms and can be worn as cap or wrapped with scarf. Turbans as headdresses are gorgeously fashionable, and style icons are making a huge fashion statement with them.

The more colourful your turban is the more attention you grab.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

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Interiors

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

TIPS

Personalise your dining with glass top table

T

Deborah Ocheni

he glass top dining table serves as an essential focal point in many homes, particularly those with open floor plans that provide views of the dining area from the living room, kitchen or entryway.

With all these benefits attached to it, it is important to keep the look

fresh and sophisticated by decorating your glass top dining table with functional and stylish pieces that are appealing to the eyes.

Dining rooms are an important part of the home when you are gathering with family or friends, so try to give your dining table some personality.

The tried and true centrepiece for any style of dining table decoration remains flowers. For a formal look,

try a bouquet of long-stemmed roses in a porcelain vase and a bold tropical blossom in a tall glass vase that provides an interesting twist on a classic design for a playful alternative.

You could personalise the focal point by abandoning those flowers for something raw and rustic, like wooden or metal dish holding lined with river stones, a glass bowl filled with lemons and limes to add a burst of colour.

zz Candles or lanterns can add mood lighting to your glass dining table while serving as centrepieces. Candlesticks are great because when you light candles, they add sparkle and make everything festive. zz Keep dining room table decorations seasonal by incorporating what is currently blooming in your compound into the centrepiece. zz Choose something that’s sculptural and quirky such as a piece of coral, a glass orb, or a small jar to express your personality. zz Some fresh-cut flowers add life and easy-to-change colour to the glass top table. zz Top off your glass top dining set with something decorative and alluring.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

I don’t care about people's reaction to my comment on Freeze –Bovi p.20 Accomplished model and budding fashion designer, Mariam Elisha, owns Ricaoto By Me, a fledgling fashion company in Nigeria. She shares her journey to the top with LANRE ODUKOYA. You got a fantastic rating at the recently concluded Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, tell us about the collection entitled Colour Blast?

The collection I showcased at the Africa Fashion Week was tagged Colour Blast. I did a combination of colours, working with a lot of very light fabrics and I put a lot of detailing in our dresses. It was very detailed and impressively colourful.

What was the response like?

The audience was excited and a lot of people liked it. I got lots of orders after the show which was fantastic.

What number of your collection was that?

I’ve had others in the past but that was like my fast major fashion show in Nigeria.

Being your first major show, what would you say the experience was like?

It was different because the audience was not as expressive as the foreign audience but then, I really liked it because I felt at home. I had my friends and family members around watching me showcase.

How about the ones you did abroad?

The ones I had abroad were more official because there I was feeling like I don’t belong here but let me see where the market goes. But then they accepted the Nigerian and African designers like every other designer out there.

How many times have you showcased abroad and where in particular?

I’ve showcased in Washington DC Fashion Week, Maryland Fashion Week, Dallas Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.

How exactly did it dawn on you that you’d make a living from fashion designing?

I’ve always loved fashion. When I won Miss Valentine Beauty Pageant, Nigeria in 2007, I had the opportunity of wearing very expensive and beautiful dresses from top designers within and outside Africa. So, it was just natural for me having worn so many dresses, I felt that we need this kind of look here in Nigeria that should be accessible and affordable for people to purchase.

Then I thought I should do it. And I have a foundation called Save Tomorrow Today, I needed a way to generate income for it.

Despite the fact that I have other sponsors, I believe in working hard to finance whatever I do. It’s not just good enough to look for sponsors all the time, it’s fair enough to be able to do something for the charity organisation you float. So, I thought of fashion business as something I love doing; since then it’s been amazin. It’s been six years now and I’m proud of how far we’ve come.

Are people still buying luxury dresses in this recession?

Honestly, it’s affecting me because we have clients slashing prices on the products from the actual amounts we were making the dresses. They now slash into two, they want most dresses half the usual prices. They would say, ‘please sell it to me, you know things are difficult now.’ They love what they want and if I feel it’s convenient for us to do it, we would go ahead and do it. It’s been difficult to get fabrics because we have to deal with the cost of exchange rates. We have to change naira to dollar to buy fabrics but we keep on trying to cope and we hope it’s going to be just for a moment.

Where are your outlets in Nigeria?

We don’t have a particular showroom yet

ShowBiz

19

Celeb spinsters fans can't stop talking about p.21

Participating in beauty pageant was hell for me –Mariam Elisha in Nigeria but we have a massive factory and we produce here in Lagos and export to different places and different stores. The factory is at Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos. Our designs are usually very detailed, they speak for themselves, very glamorous, maybe sometimes extravagant and unique.

Don’t you do casual dresses?

We actually don’t do so much of everyday wears; we’re more into the production of red carpet dresses, wedding gowns, bridals and occasional dresses. We do casual only for people who request for them. We use African prints, not so much, we use them in form of linings and blend our English fabrics with African ones.

Do you design or sew yourself?

I sew and I can design myself. I love to do it because it’s something I did as a hobby before it became my business.

Did you later on get any formal training?

Yes, I attended New Jersey Fashion School after learning with normal machine at home.

When I was in school, I would just go back home and stitch some things and sketch some clothes so that when I start I would be outstanding. It’s been like that and it grew into business.

What’s the meaning of Ricaoto?

It’s actually my name and it means fruitful.

I’m from the northern part of Nigeria, Kebbi State precisely and that’s a tribal name. So, when I was looking for a name for the brand, I thought of Mariam, but no, that’s my name that everyone knows. So, I asked people what they feel about using Ricaoto, an uncommon name for the brand. And some said it sounded Italian, others said it sounded French. Then I thought it was okay to settle for that.

How much of Hausa do you speak?

I speak Hausa language so well and there’s a bit of cultural consciousness in everything I do.

hell for me because my dad was very strict and he doesn’t like anything that exposes the body and the fact that I was going to be the cynosure of all eyes. He believed going into modelling is a way of selling yourself to men. But I had to make him realise that it’s a different ball game and knowing the fact that I went into modelling with the support of my mum, it turned out to be that the choice didn’t affect me as a person. I still went to church, was a worker in the church and dressed decently, I never went to places he didn’t want to see me.

How many years have you put into fashion business?

It’s about six to seven years.

What’s the toughest business decision you’d taken so far?

Well, I won’t say that I’ve had any one to make that was that tough, because I’ve had contracts with different companies and there was nothing complicated.

You won a juicy modelling deal

with MTN at a time, would you please tell us how that happened?

I started modeling at a very young age so, to me it was just something that my instinct convinced me to go into. And I grew to love modelling and I won Miss Valentine and the pageant in 2007 was very big. I was given a car, a trip to South Africa and a huge amount of money which as a young girl was a lot.

So, when I won MTN deal and of course the V-Mobile deal I won was a lot of money and my sister had to sign for me because I was under-age. I just totally felt that at a point in time, 1 should go something more professional. You don’t have to stick to one line of career, you should explore other things as well. I was just a regular girl working with slippers on the road and an agent saw me and said I would be good for modeling.

He took me to the agency and they signed me. And a contract worth N40m came out of it for me, and my sister had to go because I was underage to sign for such a whopping sum of money.

I didn’t even know anything, I was 16 and all I wanted was to see my face on the billboards. The agency where I won the deal was Rosabel Courts Agency and it was when V-Mobile came to Nigeria.

How do you handle the cultural inhibitions when clients ask for revealing dresses?

In fashion, everything is about individual’s personal style, if you tell me I’m Hausa, a Muslim and want all my body covered. I know exactly how to make sure you have that look you want in very stylish ways. So, it’s not all about exposing your body or showing off your back that says you’re beautiful. There are classy ways you can dress and still look fabulously outstanding. Fashion has more to do with individual styles than culture. If I know the client’s personality, it would be easy for me to know what to do and how to deliver the person’s best style.

Did your parents allow you go into fashion without questions?

No, my parents didn’t want me to do fashion. They wanted me to be a lawyer. That was the dream they had for me. I studied English Language, I also wanted to study law but what I got was English. They wanted me to be a lawyer and it took them so long to accept the fact that I was going into fashion designing because they felt people looked down on designers. They felt it wasn’t a serious business; one had to do something more serious with one’s life.

But now they loved it.

How did they come to terms with you coming on the runway?

Participating in beauty pageant was

Elisha

20 Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

I don’t care about people's reaction to my comment on Freeze –Bovi Top comedian, Bovi Ugboma, in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA speaks about his career, supposed beef with radio personality, Freeze, and more.

How have you been able to sustain the tempo of your annual comedy show, Bovi Man on Fire?

I try to work hard, I believe I work hard and I have been lucky. I am selling a product and people are buying so that’s why I’ve been able to deliver and touch lives.

Bovi is just one comedian out of so many talented ones and then you have that almost cult-like followership, what would you say is going for you?

I stick to the tenets of stand-up comedy and the primary tenet is being able to stand and crack jokes and make people laugh for 30 minutes to 1 hour. If you don’t have that ability then it’s something you should strive for as a stand- up comedian. I try to keep it fresh, I try to tell the jokes based on what is going on in the society so people enjoy the reality I bring into my delivery. So I think that’s what makes me accepted.

tell me 'oh you have five minutes or you have only 10 minutes when this is what I love doing.' I want to get on stage and talk for 30 minutes, I want to go on stage and talk for one hour. If I don’t have that then you are shortchanging the audience, you are shortchanging me as well and it is a business, you must not forget that it’s a business so I can’t do charity work for everybody. Let’s say I am appearing on your show and I am cracking jokes and people go home and gain satisfaction from me cracking jokes and you that called the show by your name, all you did was introduce one or two people and you go home with all the money, that’s robbery. That’s stupid.

Let’s also talk about this perception that there are cliques in

There was a time we used to see you at a lot of shows and events, but we don’t see much of that anymore, what explains that?

I try to keep it real. They say too many cooks spoil the broth, so you can’t see me in every show, and too much circulation makes the price go down.

Most of these shows have pretty much become the same thing, so it’s like garbage in garbage out. So I don’t want to go on stage everyday repeating myself saying the same old jokes every time. So, if I don’t have new stuff I don’t see any reason why I should come out, that’s it basically.

How about when your industry friends need you to lend a hand?

This is a business, if I say I am doing Bovi Man on Fire, I stand and I entertain people for one hour, every other person who calls a show by their name should be able to stand and entertain the world for one hour at least.

If you are doing a franchise show like Night of a Thousand Laughs, that’s not written in somebody’s name, you don’t expect me to be on every show that carries a comedian’s name and he is featuring every Tom Dick and Harry. It doesn’t work that way. We need time to express ourselves as stand-up comedians, so I can’t go on stage and you

the comedy business, AY has his people, Bovi seems to be permanently with Basketmouth and Julius Agwu has his own acolytes. It’s only Ali Baba that doesn’t seem to belong anywhere, why is this happening?

I don’t know if there are cliques, I don’t know if there are not cliques, all I know is for comedy as a business, what counts is who is funny and who is not. When you have a show and you go out there the audience wants to know who is going to make us laugh. They don’t want to know w h o belongs to this party or who belongs to this clique, nobody is interested in that.

There a r e

people who I don’t see every day, I mean comedians who I don’t see every day, when we see we have a good time, we have a good laugh, we have a drink or two and we go our separate ways. I don’t need a fellowship, I don’t need to belong to anybody or any camp to express myself as a stand-up comedian. If that’s what obtains probably the whole Lagos will say you are not from Lagos, so don’t stay here.

So, if there are cliques I don’t see the essence of it. Basketmouth is my friend, he is my very good friend, so I would rather spend time with Basketmouth than someone who is not my friend. If that makes us a clique fine, anything they want to call it they should call it but the bottom line eventually is who is funny and who is not. That you belong to a certain group or clique does not make you funny, you get what I am saying?

Recently there was jibe you released on Freeze, the onair-personality and then it began to trend that you said the man ‘is a lion on social media but a cat in real life’, was that supposed to be a joke?

I never said that, I posted a picture and named it freeze. Any interpretation you want to give to it is fine. If you feel I was talking to Freeze it’s fine, if you feel I wasn’t talking to Freeze, it’s fine, but basically I said “this made me freeze” that was a sentence. Freeze as in I froze in shock.

Bovi

You lost your mum a while back, how are you getting over that?

I am trying, I am healing every day you know I’m trying to get over it but she lives in me. So, I will accept that.

There is nothing I can do but move on.

Are you beginning to find traits of yourself in your son?

Yes, I mean he is my son.

I mean traits like being funny?

I don’t know; it’s too early, he is interesting. My kids are interesting you know, they are an interesting bunch and that’s fine by me.

What does Bovi do back home?

Actually I play. I just play with my kids and I read Do you do any chores?

Hmmm, not really, I take my children to school and 'umm' there is no time for that, I have people who do that. Every once in a while I cook. I spent all my bachelor years cooking and I continued that but if I have something that I love that I feel they won’t do it perfectly well for me, I do it myself and share for everybody.

What has been the most embarrassing cooking blunder you have ever committed?

Will I say embarrassing or broke?

When I was living alone, I was so broke I used to buy groundnut oil from the market in this water bottle. So, there was this day I was broke, I had this head of yam left. This was like 2005 by the way. I had this head of yam, I had some slices of tomatoes and one cube of Maggi you know it was the last supper, so I diced everything put oil and started to fry it. But the oil was foaming so, I went back to the oil and I checked and I saw it was engine oil. How it got into my kitchen, I didn’t know and I had tasted it, so I pretty much fell sick and that was what I was supposed to eat that evening. I was so broken. I just went outside, I had one cigarette, I lit it and I smoked it on an empty stomach and I cried. So, that was my most embarrassing situation. It would have been better to eat my raw tomatoes and my head of yam, but I wanted to make a sauce. That was how my last supper was wasted.

Most Nigerian celebrities have their grass to grace stories, what’s yours?

To be honest with you, I have never suffered, I have always been lucky I have always been favoured, I have always been blessed. Every obstacle I have had was temporary and even if it didn’t seem temporary I lived in the moment, I cherished it because I knew that where I was going would not going to be like that forever, you get. I was privileged to be born in a home where I could get quality education, parental love, I went to good schools, I was monitored by my parents, I have been lucky. I worked once, I got a good job working for Richard MofeDamijo, when I left I went on TV, from TV I was successful. Everything I have touched has been successful, I have been favoured. I can’t even complain, I don’t really have a grass to grace story. I can’t readily remember that moment when things were readily down because I have a lot of positive energy.

There is also a part of you that loves soccer Yes, absolutely! Every Tuesdays and Thursdays, even my teammates were at my movie premiere ( a movie dubbed ‘It’s Her Day’) You play?

Yeah I do, I am a member of an amateur team made up of lawyers, medical doctors, pastors, stock brokers, bankers, entertainers. Frank Edoho is in my team, so yeah.

Are you a fan of any of the leagues?

Yeah I am an Arsenal fan for long and when Nwankwo Kano joined I became happy too. I have always been an Asernal fan.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

Celeb spinsters fans t u o b a g in lk a t p o t s can't

ll over 30 and are still an entertainment that are we eri Nig in s ure fig le tab no n, e There are som d commanding ample attentio an nt ue affl s, eer car ir the in insters. not married. Thriving e of Nigeria's most notable sp som on es us foc ma un ub Nd Ogechi

Bimbo Akintola An accomplished Nigerian actress with well over 50 films to her credit, Bimbo Akintola, is widely respected within and beyond Nollywood as a good interpreter of roles.

A sexy actress by all standard, she's over 40 and still single and tell whoever cares to listen that she does not need Bimbo a man to be a compete human being.

With the newly premiere film, 93 Days, among her latest efforts, Bimbo Akintola has thrilled fans with her acting skills over the years but people still wonder why she is unmarried.

In terms of rumours, she was linked to Dede Mabiaku in the past but nothing concrete came out of it.

Genevieve Nnaji If Nollywood was a kingdom, then you can say Genevieve is the queen. Also a producer and singer even if her music career died almost the very time it started.

She started acting at a Genevieve very young age in Ripples and has remained active in the industry that brought her fame and fortune. Now 37, Genny is a single mum and was rumored to have been in a relationship with Kokomaster, D’banj, at a time along with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, at another time.

With a clothing line of her own, St. Genevieve, as well as her acclaimed self-produced movie, Road To Yesterday, the pretty woman is still single but very much on top of her game.

Widely desired by many men in Nigeria and beyond, Genny has an endorsement deal with Etisalat and Amstel Malta.

Rita Dominic Another Nigerian actress who has been in the industry for over 15 years, Rita has grown from a young actress into one that combines the role well with producing movies.

Her first movie, The Meeting, produced along with Mildred Okwo, was well received by her teeming fans and her follow-up effort, Suru L’ere is still gathering a lot of buzz.

Having dazzled with movies like Run Away Prince, White Waters, True Lies, Iyore and Rita others, Rita recently celebrated her 41st birthday and she is still one of the most beautiful women in the industry.

Agbani Darego Since winning the Miss World crown in 2001, Agbani has become part of everyday discourse in Nigeria. The coffee-skinned model has worked with many designers and brands across the globe including L’Oreal, Oscar de la Renta, Vogue, Chistian Dior, Ralph Lauren

and Tommy Hillfiger.

The 33-year-old, who is also an ambassador for Arik Air and Nature’s Gentle Touch, is still glowing. And despite Chocolate City president, Jude Abaga, once expressing desire to marry her if she permits and Ruggedman doing same in a song, she is still very single.

Agbani

Rukky Sanda A list like this would usually be dominated by actresses so it is not surprising to find actress and filmmaker, Rukky Sanda here. The light skinned actress sparkled in movies like Gold Digging, Keeping My Man, Rukky Campus Love and many others.

Despite flaunting a grand personality and being incredulously linked with Senegal-born American superstar, Akon, once, she is still single.

Ebube Nwagbo Like others on the list, she is pretty but stands out on account of being curvaceous and very controversial.

An actress of over a decade's standing, Ebube was allegedly responsible for wreckage the marriage of Hip Hop star, Kcee, and has refused to acknowledge.

Once on the chubby side, Ebube is now a proudly curvy woman and with men always fighting over her, she might Ebube not be single for much longer.

Linda Ikeji Linda Ikeji is Nigeria's leading blogger and one would look at her Linda and think she has it all - fame, money and perhaps, a blossoming, altarbound relationship -but the last is at best an assumption.

Linda reportedly dated popular On-Air-Personality Dan Foster but has not been linked with anyone else since then. Having taking to blogging once her modelling career took a tumble, she has since become the queen of blogging.

With a fabulous life, 10 of millions every month, a multi-million mansion at the choice Banana Island and an army of visitors every day, if there is anything missing, it would be a man to call her own. And even she has admitted as much.

Chika Ike At 30, Chika Ike is a popular Nigerian actress smiling to the bank regularly; She's a UN ambassador with

a foundation of her own called Chika Ike Chika Foundation.

The screen siren was once married to a man called Mr Eberibi but their separation was inevitable after Chika claimed he assaulted her physically, leading to a miscarriage.

Munachi Abii Most recognised for emerging winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant in 2007 and subsequently modelling for Lux upon signing an endorsement deal with Unilever in 2011, Muna is a darling of young Nigerian men on social media.

Now a Rap/Hip Hop act striving to make a Munachi name in the intensely competitive Nigerian music industry, she was rumored to be in a relationship with Peter Okoye but nothing came out of it.

Far too beautiful and endowed to still be single, as many men would readily attest, Muna is very much on the market.

Empress Njamah Another actress who has been in the game for a while, Empress is still single after all said and done.

An actress of many years' standing who is now based in Abuja, she has her own foundation called House of Empress for special children although she has become very Empress scarce in movies.

Since bagging a nomination at the 2012 edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Empress seems to have become more involved with business.

The actress, whose brother, John Njamah, achieved fame with Amaka Igwe-produced Fuji House of Commotion, has acted in many movies including The Liberian Girl.

After her relationship with celebrated Nigerian act, Timaya, hit the rocks in controversial circumstances, Empress has been discreet with her affairs but she is not married yet.

Essence Expected to do great things in the Nigerian music industry, former Kennis Music act, Essence, released a number of songs before fizzling out of the scene. None, however, was like the mega hit she collaborated with Jaywon to deliver to her fans titled "Facebook Love."

Not forgetting her delivery of the theme song for popular soap opera, “Super Story,” the former protégé of Kenny Saint-Best is now in her late 30s and has not walked the aisle to the altar yet.

Essence

21

22

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Social Media Craze TravelTourism

17 September 2016

Trending

Gist

Photos Controversies

Adedayo Odulaja

Between Harrysong and Wizkid

W

hen posting a photo of himself and the pretty Tania Omotayo, Harrysong would have thought of a likely backlash but social media being social media, he was soon to find out he’s got something coming.

We all know Tania Omotayo is Wizkid’s former girlfriend but we also know the Ojuelegba singer has since moved on - rumours say – to a pretty young American singer known as Justine Skye but his fans don’t seem to care. Harrysong shared the photo with the caption: “I have great respect for this beautiful Lady. More grace to u mami @taniaomotayo” but fans of the currently high-flying Wizkid did not take long in urging the Five Star Music act to back off, with a few going as far as tagging Wizkid in the comments. @Chijy101 wrote: “Na you wan take over fro Wizkid…Baba for the girls.” @emem_uduak was more comical: “*coughs* what’s going on here o@wizkid

must not catch you. Hmph!!” @bimpe_lareine’s message was more stern: “Oga, isn’t she too young for you?

Plus#Wizkid will have your neck o. Abeg free.”

Having been a part of Wizkid’s story almost from the time we got introduced to him, fans have become addicted to the relationship matters concerning Wizkid and Tania but it became clear to everyone in late 2015 that they have gone their separate ways.

Apart from being pretty and the daughter of a wealthy man, Tania is the Talent Bookings and Celebrity Endorsement Manager at Upfront Bookings Talent Agency owned by Paul Okoye (not the one of Psquare). So being involved with some of the biggest endorsement deals in the Nigerian entertainment scene, especially those involving MTN and PEPSI, Tania can be seen with any musician and there may be nothing to the photo or hanging out with Harrysong.

How Nollywood actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu, celebrated wife’s birthday

I

t was never going to be just any other birthday for Maureen Ezissi, who recently became the wife of Nollywood actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu, and the popular actor made sure the day was grand for his dashing wife.

Having conducted the traditional aspect of their wedding in December 2015, Maureen celebrated her birthday on September 11 and her husband took to Instagram to post a birthday message for her. Along with the truly heartmelting message for his wife, Blossom also released some of the pre-wedding pictures of their white wedding billed to come up later this year.

“I love you to forever and back and I will even after eternity. Your storms I will ride with you to bring you rainbows cos that is what you’ve brought to my life, COLOURS!!! In my mistakes and wrongs, you have found and brought beauty with the sweetness of your soul. You have stood, by me in trueness of spirit. Its really not so much what I say but what I DO, so all I ask God is to make me a BETTER MAN for you. To LOVE

you like my life depended on it, ‘cos it actually does. To help you fulfil your CALLING, PURPOSE and DESTINY in Christ for the Kingdon of heaven. To ALWAYS make you smile. Unusual they say we are but REAL we KNOW we are. You got me, and I got you. To you Bubba I’m SOLD OUT, INFINITELY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY WIFE, MY BLESSING, MY SUPERSTAR. You are God’s CUSTOM-MADE for me, specially reserved. THANK YOU RED FOR NEVER LEAVING. I LOVE YOU,” he wrote.

How often does a man in this part of the world refer to his wife as ‘God’s custommade’ Not long after he posted the message, which was intended for his wife, social media reacted to it, lapping it all up and ultimately making it one of the day’s trending topics.

So much was the love for The Visit actor on social media that day that he was trending on a day everyone around the world had their attention fixed on the 15th anniversary of the September 11,2001 terrorist attacks on the United States of America.

Harrysong and Tania Omotayo

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

Investigations

23

TUSSLE FOR POWER

EKPAN COMMUNITY IN TURMOIL Ekpan appears to be synonymous with mayhem and horror at present.

Peace, it seemed, has literally taken flight as indigenes currently live in fear. Many have been displaced from their homes and businesses in ruins. Death also, according to DOMINIC ADEWOLE, who visited the community freshly, has somewhat become a common occurrence

E

kpan, a community around the Effurun axis, in Uvwie Local Government of Area of Delta State is in deep crisis. At present, maiming and burning of houses, have somewhat become a new pastime of the people. Properties worth billions of naira have also been destroyed. By the time Saturday Telegraph’s visited the community, over 18 houses, belonging to perceived enemies of the warring factions, have been reduced to mere rubbles.

The crisis, however, assumes a new

Isioma madike

Editor, INVESTIGATIONS isiomamadike69@gmail.com 08090896879 © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

dimension on a daily basis. For instance, a young man, identified simply as Moses, was allegedly murdered in his father's house on August 22. His family, Saturday Telegraph gathered, was instantaneously forced by the perpetrators of the heinous act to bury him in a shallow grave within his family compound.

However, the ragging chaos is said to be linked to the leadership tussle of the Chief Liaison Officers (CLOs) to the oil company (JBN/Nestoil) operating within the Ekpan community.

Trouble stated, according to findings, when the immediate past CLO, Chief Napoleon Newyear Iffie’s tenure, allegedly expired on June 11, 2015. A letter to that effect, dated May 13, 2015, was suspected to have been written on the instruction of High Chief Newton Agbofodoh, to JBN/Nestoil Plc. and the other companies.

In his place, Vincent Abrakata, was appointed as the new CLO to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. This, however, appeared to have set the community on a coalition cause against the state.

Usually, the CLOs are appointed by the traditional leaders for a period of two years and posted to various multinationals to regulate the conduct of the companies in the interest of the community. Their briefings included ensuring employment opportunities for the youth and promoting community infrastructures among others.

However, this new twist appears to have forced the government out of its shell. A letter dated February 20, 2013, by the then chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area now Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Bright Edejewhro, had put a lie to the two-year tenure specification.

The letter titled: Re: Security meeting resolutions of February 18, 2013, was addressed to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ekpan Police Station. It stated that all CLOs from Ekpan including Iffie would spend three years in office with the appointment letter issued to them by the Ekpan community.

Edejewhro added that the government had directed Iffie to return as CLO to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. without infringement. The DPO, he said, should invite Chief L. M Torey, Chief Agbofodoh, Chief J. E Ikogho, Chief Gift Edejewhro and Chief Peter Akemu to explain the reason for making Abrakata the CLO to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., a move that contravened the order of the then Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Incidentally, the Security Adviser to Uduaghan, Rear Admiral John Kpokpogri (Rtd), had allegedly written what many termed a confusing letter dated August 28, 2012. He was said to have informed the Base Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. that Iffie had been relieved of his duty as the CLO of Ekpan community to the company.

The decision, according to him, was taken due to the crisis that engulfed that office for over one year.

However, there was another alleged letter in which he said that series of meetings and consultations with all stakeholders were held during the period Iffie was away from office. He was quoted to have also said that the leadership of Ekpan community and Uvwie Palace representatives were consulted.

The meeting, it was said, resolved that Iffie’s appointment as Ekpan CLO to JBN should be reinstated and all his arrears and entitlements paid. “It was also agreed that the office of the CLO should be run for three years tenure,” Kpokpogri allegedly said.

This was the position until he purportedly made a U-turn and started supporting Abrakata. When contacted on his telephone number, 08033118xxx, a female voice who picked it said Kpokpogri left his phone charging, promising that he would call when he continued on page 24

24

Investigations

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

‘It’s madness to think that

c o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 2 3

is back. Unfortunately, the call didn't come as at the time to sending this report.

The seeming confusion, however, prompted Iffie to respond in a letter dated June 4, 2015, to Agbofodoh, explaining the conditions of his appointment letter. He said that all correspondence regarding the issue unmistakably confirmed his unconditional reinstatement as the CLO to JBN/Nostril.

Iffie stated what he said was the standard practice and norms prevalent in the Ekpan community. To him, once someone is selected and recommended, the person (s) so selected and recommended, holds such position for the duration of the project.

This subsists, he said, until the subsequent demobilisation of the company from the community premises or land as the case maybe.

Following Iffie’s letter, the Delta State Government through the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, wrote a supporting letter dated July 1, 2015, to the Managing Director of Hi-tech Construction Limited, Ekpan.

Titled: ‘Appointment of new community Liaison Officers (CLOs)’, the letter purportedly withdrew the appointment of the new CLOs, directing instead that the old officials be permitted to continue to hold their positions until further notice. The SSG said the decision to allow the old CLOs to remain was because the changes created social tension in the community and environs which was inimical to general security and public safety.

In view of the above, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe I, wrote to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, on the suspension of the appointment of the CLOs made by the leadership of Ekpan community and replacing same with the old officials. The monarch wrote: “I have been inundated with several telephone calls from concern indigenes of Ekpan and Uvwie in general about

this directive.

“Of course, I had no response since I had no iota of clue over the matter.

I wish to express my disappointment that such far-reaching directive which has the capability of breaching the peace in part of my kingdom could emanate from government without any prior discussion/consultation with me.

“My immediate investigation showed that the Unuevworo of Ekpan (Head of Ekpan Community) was also not contacted. The executive chairman of Uvwie Local Government Council who is the Chief Security Officer of the council also claimed ignorance of the directive. While I acknowledge and revere your authority, it should be noted that the directive has the capacity to destroy the administrative structures we have put in place over time in the various communities in the kingdom.

“To take such a serious decision without consultation with the leadership of the kingdom is not healthy for peace. Our role as royal fathers is to create a peaceful environment for you

to govern. The administrative structure of Ekpan has been effective. A new Ekpan Development Committee was inaugurated on May 1, 2015, after the previous executives completed their three years’ tenure.

“A new Community Relations Committee (CRC) for PPMC, WRPC and NGC was also put in place on June 2, 2015, after the old committee completed their tenure of three years. These transitions took place peacefully. While should that of Community Liaison Officers be an issue? The administrative structure of Uvwie is that the tenure of CLO should be three years to enable it to rotate among qualified indigenes.

“We have structures for resolving disagreement arising from appointments. Whoever the aggrieved persons are, in this case, have not exhausted such medium,” the Ovie said.

However, it was alleged that the monarch’s intervention was ignored as the state authority refused to reverse its decision, which, invariably led to another round of protest and acrimony in the community.

Irked by the government’s inaction, the community forwarded a Save-OurSouls (SOS) letter, dated July 29, 2015, to President Muhammadu Buhari. It was titled: 'Save the Soul of Ekpan Community from the Gross Impunity and Harassment by the Delta State Government.' The community appealed, among others to Mr. President, to stop the state government from using security agencies to harass and intimidate the leadership and innocent citizens of Ekpan.

They appealed for the unconditional release of those illegally arrested, allow the administrative structures/organisations in Ekpan to function without interference from the state government as long as they did not breach any laws of the land and advised all aggrieved parties to go to law court to seek redress as done by Ekpan community instead of resorting to jungle justice.

A similar letter was sent to the Inspector General of Police, dated September 7, 2015, in which the community leaders alleged that policemen on September 29, 2015, loaded two pick up vans and stormed the premises of Daewoo Nigeria Limited, Ekpan. They had come in company with many thugs.

One of the thugs was alleged to have hit Abrakata with a key which left a big cut on his forehead and allegedly bundled him into one of the Hilux vans and taken to police headquarters, Asaba with blood gushing out of his head. They also alleged that the same policemen stormed the community on August 3, 2015 and September 4, 2015, claiming to be acting on the ‘or-

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

Interview My national team injuries mysterious – Makinwa p.27

Ajibade Olusesan and Adeolu Johnson

S Abuja

Sport Splash

25

News Don’t put Iheanacho under pressure – Bewarang p.32

n r u t e Eagles r

uper Eagles Head Coach Salisu Yusuf has said that the technical crew cannot force former Super Eagles skipper and goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, to return to the team after the goalie rejected new manager Gernot Rohr’s overtures to have him change his mind.

Rohr has been making calls to see how he could persuade the Lille FC of France goal tender out of retirement but has not got positive replies yet, Salisu confirmed.

"I spoke with Vincent Enyeama, but I think he is not ready to come but we have a good relationship, he talks as a mature man and he respects me but when the time comes for him to come he will," he said.

A source close to the player also told our correspondent that Enyeama was still angry over ‘poor environment’ in Nigerian football.

“Enyeama quitting the national team was not just about former coach, Sunday Oliseh. He was fed up with the system, he heard about the intention of the coach and if conversation I had with him recently is anything to go by it will be hard to convince him to come back to the Eagles.

“He is still angry over the role played by the NFF chieftains in the saga with Oliseh and how they have generally handled the welfare of the team. Enyeama certainly loves his country but he also believes his return may unsettle the stability in the leadership of the squad,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Yusuf has said that his team will be ruthless in the vital area when they face Zambia in their 2018 World Cup qualifying series opener in Lusaka next month.

The Super Eagles were wasteful in their first game under Rohr when they converted just one of the many chances they created against Tanzania.

The coach said that the technical crew was unperturbed over the players’ prodigality in front of goal, saying Nigerians will notice the difference when the team file out against the Chipolopolo.

“We are not bothered they missed those chances. We are more interested in the allround play of the team and we were satisfied to an extent with the conditioning of the players. We would have been worried if they were not creating those chances and now we know we have to work on the finishing. Nigerians will certainly see changes in our next game,” he said.

He said the trip to Lusaka was going to be a tricky one but his boys were up to the task.

“We have commenced preparation already; we may have one or two players from the league in the team that will face Zambia. We know that the Chipolopolo are a very good side and we must be ready for them. I don’t have a doubt we will go there and give a good account of ourselves,” he added.

e c r o f t ’ n a c e W u s i l a S – a m a e y En

ard o b ’s k ic n in P h it rk w o w o t h c y a d o a c e r s t y o a s n , e ia li b a o m •G t Za s in a g a s s le h t u r •Team will be

The Team Ajibade Olusesan l Co-ordinator

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Enyeama INSET: Salisu

xxxx

Sport

26

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

Nigerian League Rendezvous

BY CHARLES OGUNDIYA

Wikki, Rivers in fierce title battle

Ezeaku

R Rangers to play three finals, says TM

T

he Team Manager of Rangers of Enugu, Amobi Ezeaku, has revealed to League Rendezvous that his team is facing three cup finals as they draw closer to winning their first league title in 32 years.

According to him, the game against Sunshine this weekend will be the start of three finals with the other two against Ikorodu United and El-Kanemi Warriors coming up in the next two weeks.

“We have been taking all the matches as finals since the beginning of the season,” he said.

“But we are taking the remaining matches more seriously because any slip up will destroy all the hard work we have put into the team.

“The ambition has been to win the league and all what we have to do is to concentrate on our games and not to think of our opponents.

“A victory against Sunshine will put us a step closer to our goal, and hopefully we can get the needed result away to Ikorodu United.”

Ezeaku added that the club would have been celebrating the title by now, but lost some crucial points especially at home to Shooting Stars and Heartland, but they are being careful to avoid such scenario in their remaining games.

Speaking further, he said the matches would be tough but they would be going for total victory.

The coach Imama Amakapabo-led team currently sits second on the league table with 54 points from 33 matches, two points behind Rivers United.

MATCHDAY 36

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

ivers United will boost their title push if they claim their first away point(s) in three months when they battle Wikki Tourists this weekend in Bauchi.

Rivers United currently top the league table with 56 points from 33 matches, while Wikki are fourth with 51 points from same number of matches.

The home team knows that anything short of victory in the game against Rivers United would put an end to their dream of winning the league as a win for the visitors will draw them closer to the title.

The technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma, said they have to play with belief to get anything from the game.

“I cannot predict the outcome of matches before they are played. I'd rather work towards getting a positive result from the game,” Eguma said.

“I recall that when we got our first away win of the season (against Warri Wolves on May 8), no one expected it.

NPFL LEAGUE TABLE

“I agree that Wikki Tourists are a good side but it is possible that they can fall in Bauchi, and that is what we are plotting.”

In some of the other matches to be played this weekend, Rangers will be hosting Sunshine Stars as they draw closer to their first league title in 32 years.

Plateau United will be at home to Ikorodu United while Warri Wolves and Abia Warriors continue their battle against relegation with home games against Shooting Stars and Nasarawa United respectively.

IfeanyiUbah’s quest for a continental ticket will see them taking on Lobi Stars in Markurdi while Enyimba welcome MFM to Port Harcourt.

Kano Pillars will hope to put their scandalous 4-1 defeat against Ikorodu United behind them as they play at home against El-Kanemi Warriors. Heartland and Tornadoes match in Owerri might be postponed due to the recent road accident involving the Naze Millionaires, leaving some of their players and officials hospitalised.

Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

1 Rivers Utd

33

18

2

13

36

27

9

56

2 Rangers

33

15

9

9

45

36

9

54

3 IfeanyiUbah

33

15

8

10

35

30

5

53

4 Wikki

33

14

9

10

42

27

15

51

5 Sunshine

33

13

11

9

43

33

10

50

6 Lobi Stars

34

14

7

13

37

34

3

49

7 Enyimba

33

14

7

12

33

31

2

49

8 Nasarawa Utd

33

16

1

16

38

37

1

49

9 Kano Pillars

33

14

6

13

45

38

7

48

10 Akwa Utd

34

13

7

14

42

42

0

46

11 Tornadoes

33

14

3

16

36

38

-2

45

12 El-Kanemi

32

14

3

15

35

37

-2

45

13 Plateau Utd

33

12

9

12

32

35

-3

45

14 Shooting

33

13

5

15

39

45

-6

44

15 MFM FC

33

11

8

14

34

37

-3

41

16 Warri Wolves

33

10

9

14

27

37

-10

39

17 Abia Warriors

32

9

11

12

28

36

-8

38

18 Heartland

32

9

10

13

21

28

-7

37

19 Ikorodu Utd

33

7

11

15

31

51

-20

32

20 Giwa FC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Ikorodu Utd go down fighting

T

Ikorodu United's Chinedu Onyelonu (left) vies with Tornadoes' Iliyasu Isyaku

heir sojourn in the Nigeria Professional Football League was brief as Ikorodu United would be playing in the Nigeria National League next season.

However, resurgent club has decided not to go down without a fight as they’ve been able to put together a five-match unbeaten runs.

Latest to suffer from the outfit’s new-found form are the defending champions of the league, Enyimba, who lost 3-2 in Abeokuta, the new home of the Oga Boys the Lagos-based side are called.

The unbeaten run started when they defeated Niger Tornadoes in one of the Matchday 32 matches before getting their first away victory against Heartland in Owerri.

A 1-1 home draw against El-Kanemi Warriors followed before a back-to-back victory against former champions, Kano Pillars, who

were battered 4-1 before the thrilling encounter against Enyimba in a rescheduled game.

The General Manager of the team, Dele Gbajumo, said they had learnt their lesson but plan to return to the top flight immediately.

“It was big learning process for us but we have decided to move on,” he said.

“There were so many forces that worked against the team from the beginning of the season, both internally and externally, and it took us so long to get our form.

“Although we cannot escape relegation again, we want to show everyone that we have what it takes to play in the NPFL. “The recent results have shown that we can play against any top team in the league. Maybe if we had started the season same way, it would have been a different song we will be singing now.”

Stakeholders task LMC on final round of matches

S

ome Nigeria Professional Football League lovers have urged the League Management Company to monitor the remaining three matches of the season to prevent some dubious results.

General Manager of Warri Wolves, Moses Etu, who find his club fighting seriously to escape relegation said on no account must games involving the bottom clubs be played separately as this would

give room for manipulation.

“We are believing that Warri Wolves will escape relegation but I will want the LMC to monitor the remaining games,” he said.

“It is not just about the relegation teams but also the teams at the top of the table because more than four of them are still fighting to win the title.

“Let all the matches be played at the same time to forestall any hanky-panky by some teams and also

match officials because we are at a very crucial moment of the season.”

Also during the week, the President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Honour Sirawoo, tasked the LMC to pay particular attention to the last rounds of matches involving the main contenders in order not to jeopardise its achievements so far.

He argued that the league title was still within the range of about five teams, emphasising that at a

time like this, desperation is bound to set in leading to critical stakeholders taking actions that could unconsciously or otherwise thwart the emergence of a deserved winner.

The SWAN boss urged the LMC, referees, security agencies and sports writers to raise their game toward ensuring that the remaining matches involving the major contenders pass through fair play and officiating test.

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

My national team injuries mysterious – Makinwa

27

Makinwa

Ayodele Makinwa came into national reckoning at about the same time his childhood friend, Obafemi Martins, was hogging the headlines for his exploit with Inter Milan. Although he was not as successful as Martins, Makinwa who is fondly called Lagos Tiger still held his own. Lingering injury problem forced him into retirement; he spoke with Saturday Telegraph’s Emmanuel Tobi on his new passion.

How has life been after active football?

It has been a long time. Life after football has been interesting but not too different because I still remain part of the game as an agent now. I am working closely with players, many of them are my friends. We have an academy that we are working together on. I have been quite busy.

Hungary and he is doing well there.

What inspired you to become an agent?

Right from when I was playing, I used to send my friends to professional clubs and I found out that it was quite natural.

It is something I enjoy doing; I have a passion for this, so decided to go into it fully after I stopped playing football.

You certainly will be worried about the decline in Nigerian football?

I am worried but I cannot do much.

I believe our football should have gone far. Just imagine what is happening now, we did not qualify for the Nations Cup and U-20 and U-17, that is crazy. In Africa, when you are talking about football, Nigeria must be mentioned. But now if you are not talking about

Who are these friends that you have worked as agents for?

Starting with Ogenyi Onazi. We played together at Lazio, I tried to help him as a young player that just came to Italy and he appreciated my efforts. After I stopped playing and started working as an agent he was happy to use me as his agent and his words to me were ‘’senior man, when we were playing together I held you in high esteem not to talk of now that you are my agent.’’ I appreciate him for that statement because not everyone knows how to appreciate people for the good things that they have done. Those words were nice to the ears and I am happy that we are working together.

I have Ezekiel Henty, who actually was the one that pushed me into this. Aside from the passion, we played in the same team. Unfortunately for me, I had this problem of not playing regularly, except in the weekend matches. Then he was always with me in my house even though he had his own apartment. He was always asking me to stop playing football so that I could be able to manage him and do this job. After sometime, I told him that I wanted to be given till March so that I could take my decision.

He was the first player that I signed because he was the one that pushed me to this. I started with him and now he plays for Locomotiv Moscow. Then we had Blessing Eleke, we were also playing in the same team in Slovenia. Of course, that was my last team as a professional footballer. We also have Martial Johnson, he is in Dubai. There is Amarachi also. I have Stanley Amuzie who I signed when he was playing in Nigeria’s U-23 team when was about to move to Italy but was not sure. He signed with Sampdoria, but so many people were in his head. I heard of him through Blessing and then there was this my friend who took him to Italy who told me that Stanley didn’t want to come back and was skeptical about the move. So I called him and told him that I would take care of him and treat him like a brother. He agreed and that was how we started working. I have Izunna Ogechukwu playing in Odense, Denmark, then there is Ekenne in

Who are your partners in this business?

I am actually with my brother, because he is an agent too. Then I have some friends that I talk to because the job is about connection, but I work mainly with my brother.

Nigeria in 2017, then there is a problem.

It did not just start today, it has been there a long time. I hope and pray that things change. Sincerely, politics is a big problem. As a former player, I know how they run football in developed countries. We have to take examples from developed countries, because their football is business and it is not run by politicians. They allow professionals run the game. For example, they know that if I am a sporting director, then I should be the one doing the job. We should seek professionals to run our sports.

What is your assessment of the U-23 team at the Olympics?

The team did very well, I learnt from my player that they did not train for two days before the start of the tournament because they did not know when they were going to travel. Despite that they were able to succeed. Credit must go to the coach and the players. Samson Siasia should be rewarded, and then players too, because it is not easy to play under such conditions. Psychologically it was a mess because football is about mental alertness, if you are not in the right frame of mind, you cannot be focused. I see a lot them doing something good in the nearest future.

What is the reason behind Nigerian players' struggle in europe?

Sincerely, playing in European clubs, you have to be 100% professional. Football in Europe is big business and there are lots of distractions and attractions. For sure, anybody that is going to play professional football and is not focused, then there is a huge problem. You will get to a point where you cannot move forward anymore. You must be hardworking. Just take a look at all these stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, you can see him always having his personal training aside from his club’s training. You have to be disciplined; many times what they complain about African players is integration. So many African players do not want to mix with foreigners when they are in their countries. They always want to stay on their own. Some of them don’t know how to adjust quickly to situations; this makes it very difficult for them to blossom. As you all know, football is a team sport. So as a player, if you are not in a good relationship with your fellow players, they will not be connected with you and it becomes a problem. Our professionals are extravagant sometimes. There is nothing bad in looking good, but being focused is another thing. It is not something that affects your game, but if you want to show off then some people will notice and not like your kind of person.

Is Onazi’s move to Turkey the best Makinwa for him? during Well, I think that was the best ophis Super tion we had. It was the closest, conEagles sidering that it was the fastest way da y s for him to achieve his dreams. He wants to play in the UK someday, and I believe it will be that way and where

he is right now, he is already a leader. It is a different thing to play as a leader than as one of them. He is actually a leader as he is one of the stars of the team. That is a very close step to achieving his goals. He has achieved a lot and he wants to achieve more.

Is the deal financially rewarding?

Financially far better than what he earned at Lazio. That also is another factor.

How do you relax?

Sincerely, every spare time I have, I try to spend with my family. Every now and then we like travelling. So we look for every opportunity to relax.

Would you encourage any of your children to go into football?

Yea, my son is already in Lazio academy. He is seven already. He likes football a lot. I did not influence him, in fact, it was surprising. In class, because he schools in Rome, he just developed interest in football. He started saying ‘’ boo Roma’’ and ‘’ Lazio yea yea’’ and I said wow. Then he started mentioning some of his friends that supports Roma, while also saying he hates the Red jersey. Since then, he has taken a huge interest in football. He used to train with Onazi.

What is your best drink and food?

I like good food. Maybe I used to have much of it but now I have been conditioned as when you are a football player you don’t eat much and it has become part of me. My wife is a very good cook and I eat anything she cooks. It is always boring when you eat the same thing over again, so my wife invents a lot. We actually eat Nigerian food. I like fried rice and turkey and fried fish. I am not a big fan of chicken.

I always take sprite and water.

What is the best holiday spot that you have visited?

The best is yet to come. Maybe the best was in San Francisco. Maybe because we have a friend there and the person made it memorable for us.

What is the best tournament you have played in?

The biggest was in the Champions League.

The best goal scored?

The one I scored against Inter when I was playing for Palermo. It was a header from an impossible angle. It was like the first time Palermo were able to beat Inter Milan in a long while. It was a big game against Obafemi Martins.

What role did your family play in your career?

I lost my dad when I was very young.

It was only my mum who was there to do everything for us. Luckily, we turned out to be successful. We are only two boys.

My brother is also married. I am married with two kids.

CONTINUE ON PAGE 31

Argentines in spotlight as Inter TACKLE Juve

Bale

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a Liga leaders Real Madrid have won all their games this season and are three points clear of Barcelona.

They play away to Espanyol on Sunday with Gareth Bale doubtful after he sustained a knock on his hip during his team's 2-1 home victory over Sporting Lisbon in their Champions League opener.

A last-gasp header from substitute Alvaro Morata handed Real victory on Wednesday.

Morata is expected to start against Espanyol in place of Karim Benzema, who earned his first start of the campaign in midweek but failed to shine against the Portuguese side.

Espanyol, coached by former Real Madrid player Quique Sanchez Flores, have collected two points from their opening three games.

Atletico Madrid host Sporting Gijon on Saturday following a 1-0 win at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

Saul Niguez scored for Atletico, who had won their first game of the season in a 4-0 triumph at Celta Vigo last Saturday.

Valencia have lost their opening three games and coach Pako Ayestaran is feeling the pressure ahead of Sunday's game at Athletic Bilbao.

Bale doubtful as Real travel to Espanyol

S

combined to score six of Barcelona's goals in their Champions League group opener.

Only Neymar started in Barcelona's 2-1 defeat by Alaves last weekend, the club's first loss at the Camp Nou since April 17.

"The three of us together we do a great job," Neymar told reporters on Thursday.

Neymar, Suarez and Messi scored a total of 131 goals in all competitions when Barca retained the La Liga and King's Cup trophies last season.

"It's not easy to score so many goals," the Brazilian said.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique understandably wants his renowned attacking trio playing from the start whenever possible this season.

"I think we are going to have a great season," Neymar said. "We are working towards that."

Leganes were 2-1 losers at Sporting Gijon last weekend, their first defeat since gaining promotion to Spain's top flight.

B

Pohjanpalo

M

anchester City are aiming to maintain their perfect start to the season when they welcome AFC Bournemouth to Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola's side claimed the spoils in the Manchester derby last weekend to record a fourth consecutive English Premier League win of the campaign and City are the only team in the top-flight to have picked up maximum points from their first four games.

Furthermore, City cruised to a 4-0 Champions League triumph over Borussia Monchengladbach in midweek, with top scorer Sergio Aguero

Hapless Bournemouth face merciless City

ayer 04 Leverkusen will be hoping from more magic from supersub Joel Pohjanpalo as they travel to face Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon .

The 21-year-old Finn is jointtop of the Bundesliga scoring charts with four goals, all of which he has scored after coming on as a substitute. Last week, his rapid-fire hat-trick gave Bayer a 3-1 win over Hamburger SV, but he faces stiff competition for a starting berth with Kevin Volland back in

No Clubs 1 Real Madrid 2 Sevilla 3 Gijon 4 Las Palmas 5 Barcelona 6 Eibar 7 Atletico 8 Villarreal 9 Alaves 10 Deportivo 11 Leganes 12 Sociedad 13 Real Betis 14 Bilbao

LA LIGA

TABLES P 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Pts 9 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3

contention.

Frankfurt were one of several Bundesliga teams who conceded late goals last week – but Sandro Sirigu’s 90th-minute strike will have particularly stung, as it handed their Hessen derby rivals Darmstadt a 1-0 win. Niko Kovac’s side – who beat Schake on Matchday 1 – are now keen to get back to winning ways, against a team who beat them 3-1 at the Commerzbank Arena last season.

Leverkusen hope for more Pohjanpalo magic in Frankfurt

triker Neymar believes Barcelona's 7-0 demolition of Celtic on Tuesday shows how well the club's three world-class forwards operate together and has set them up nicely for domestic challenges.

The Spanish champiand Messi ar m ey N , Suarez ons meet promoted Leganes in La Liga on Saturday.

Against Celtic, Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez started together for the first time this season and

Enrique's unleashes attacking trio on Leganes

Global Football Special www.newtelegraphonline.com

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28

Sport 17 septemb

SATURDAY

M

W

ednesday night was one to remember for Leicester City Football Club as they marked their Champions League debut with a 3-0 win in Brugge.

Riyad Mahrez was on fire, firing in a brace which included an unstoppable free-kick. Marc Albrighton scored the other, remarkable considering just one year ago he was deemed surplus to requirements to the now Championship-playing Aston Villa.

Islam Slimani should make his Premier League debut, leading Mahrez

4:30PM

Espanyol VS Real 7:45 PM

Villarreal VS Sociedad 5:30PM

Bilbao VS Valencia 3:15PM

Osasuna VS Celta Vigo 11 AM

SUNDAY

Las Palmas VS Malaga 7:45PM

Eibar VS Sevilla 5: 30PM

Atletico VS Gijon 3: 15 PM

Rafael Nadal has maintained his strong and hard-line stance on doping in sports, especially tennis, in light of the recent reports of Russian hackers ‘Fancy Bears’ breaching World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) data to reveal Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Petra Kvitova have been using Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) drugs which are part of the banned substances list of WADA.

Rafael Nadal

La Liga SATURDAY

Leganes VS Barcelona 12:00 PM

FIXTURES

SATURDAY Lazio VS Pescara 5:00 PM Napoli VS Bologna 7:45 PM SUNDAY Udinese VS Chievo 11:30 AM Cagliari VS Atalanta 2:00PM Crotone VS Palermo 2:00PM Sassuolo VS Genoa 2:00 PM Torino VS Empoli 2:00PM Inter VS Juventus 5:00PM Fiorentina VS Roma 7:45PM

Serie A

SPORT BRIEFLY

Tottenham VS Sunderland

Sthampton VS Swansea 2:15 PM

C/ Palace VS Stoke City 2:15 PM

Watford VS ManUnited 12PM

SUNDAY

Everton VS M'brough 5:30PM

West Brom VS Wes Ham 3PM

Man City VS B'mouth 3:00PM

Leicester VS Burnley 3:00 PM

Hull City VS Arsenal 3:00 PM

Saturday

EPL

No Clubs 1 Bayern 2 Hertha 3 Wolfsburg 4 Cologne 5 Leipzig 6 Leverkusen 6 Freiburg 8 Dortmund 9 Frankfurt 10 M’gladbach 11 Augsburg 12 Darmstadt 13 Hoffenheim 14 Mainz 05 15 Hamburger 16 Ingolstadt 17 Schalke 18 Bremen

P 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Mariko Kipchumba will return to defend his title at the Beijing Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Saturday (17).

The 42-year-old Kenyan veteran, who ran down runners nearly half his age to take the title in the Chinese capital one year ago, will be gunning to become just the fourth man to successfully defend the Beijing crown.

Pts 6 6 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 0 0

Pts 9 7 7 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 0

2 2 1 1 0 0

BUNDESLIGA

No Clubs 1 Juventus 2 Roma 2 SSC Napoli 4 Genoa 5 Sampdoria 6 Udinese 7 Bologna 8 Pescara 9 Chievo 10 Lazio 11 Inter 12 Torino 13 Fiorentina 14 Atalanta 15 AC Milan 16 Empoli 17 Sassuolo 18 Cagliari 19 Palermo 20 Crotone

P 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3 3 3

SERIE A

15 Espanyol 16 Malaga 17 Granada 18 Osasuna 19 Valencia 20 Celta Vigo

Mariko Kipchumba

Berlin VS Schalke 04 4:30 PM

Augsburg VS Mainz 05 2:30PM

SUNDAY

Mo’gladbach VS Bremen 5:30PM

Hoffenheim VS Wolfsburg 2:30PM

Hamburger VS Leipzig 2:30PM

Frankfurt VS Leverkusen 2:30PM

Dortmund VS Darmstadt 2:30PM

Bayern VS Ingolstadt 2:30PM

SATURDAY

Bundesliga

De Bruyne

grabbing the headlines once again with his second hat-trick of the season in the competition.

Aguero, who missed last week's derby clash at Old Trafford after being handed a three-match Premier League ban, will again sit out of this Saturday's showdown and, while Guardiola's side showed against their city rivals that they have sufficient quality to cope without the 28-year-old striker, the absence of the Argentine international will be keenly felt against a Bournemouth side that has conceded just two goals in their last three Premier League fixtures.

The Cherries were battered in both of the meetings between these two teams last season, with City winning 5-1 and 4-0 respectively.

Despite Aguero's absence, Guardiola has a fine array of attacking talent at his disposal and the strength in depth available to the men from Manchester was highlighted by the eye-catching performances of both Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho against Jose Mourinho's men. ber 2016

Juan Francisco Estrada has vacated his WBA Super World flyweight title, the sanctioning body announced this week.

Twenty-six-year-old Estrada has fought out of his native Mexico since 2008 (33-2, 24 KOs), winning the WBA belt (as well as the WBO World flyweight title) in April 2013 by beating Brian Viloria via split decision. He successfully defended five times, most recently last September by knocking out Hernan Marquez in the 10th.

Juan Francisco

the line with Jamie Vardy.

Burnley are just one place above the champions, in 15th, but in fairness to Sean Dyche's side they have already had to face both Liverpool and Chelsea.

Steven Defour is looking an interesting prospect from midfield. He has a goal and key contribution from his first three appearances, but it's Andre Gray (£4.5m) that remains the Clarets' most-attacking threat and his decent value has helped him keep his place in 8% of TFF managers' teams.

Rejuvenated Leicester seek consolidation

Sanchez

A

rsenal are chasing a hat-trick of Premier League wins for the first time in 2016 when they travel to take on Hull City at KCOM Stadium.

The Gunners are the dominant force in this fixture, having won six of their last seven EPL meetings with the Tigers, while more than a century has passed since Hull were last able to celebrate a home league win against the men from north London.

Without a permanent manager and with only an injury-ravaged squad for caretaker coach Mike Phelan to choose from, the Tigers were written off in many quarters before a ball was kicked this sea-

son but Hull defeated champions Leicester City in the campaign's curtain-raiser and Saturday's hosts have repeatedly defied the doubters thus far.

Robert Snodgrass' last-gasp equaliser at Turf Moor last weekend ensured that Hull have lost just one of their five competitive fixtures thus far this season, while there was late drama, too, at Emirates Stadium as Santi Cazorla's 95th minute penalty saw Arsenal squeeze past Southampton..

Arsenal chase hat-trick of wins to Hull City

looked by Argentina, winning a single cap in 2013.

Higuain and Icardi have scored three goals in the first three league games this term with the latter's late double against Pescara on Sunday earning a 2-1 win, Inter's first of the season.

Juve new boy Higuain netted two early goals in a 3-0 victory over Sassuolo in their last Serie A game but failed to make an impact in the 0-0 draw at home to Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Sunday's match is a major test for Inter who have one of the strongest squads in the league but have made a stuttering start, taking four points from three games.

Kickoff: 5:00pm

auro Icardi will get a chance to upstage fellow Argentine Gonzalo Higuain when Inter Milan host Juventus in a heavyweight Serie A clash on Sunday.

Higuain has hogged the limelight recently, scoring a league record 36 goals for Napoli last season before moving to Juve in the third most expensive deal in soccer history.

Icardi's performances are not to be downplayed either.

The 23-year-old was Serie A's joint top scorer two seasons ago with 22 goals and Inter's leading marksman last term with 16, when he was also handed the captaincy.

However, he often provides fodder for the gossip columns rather than the sports pages thanks to his marriage to Argentine media personality Wanda Nara and he has been regularly over-

Y TELEGRAPH

29

Sport

30

Lifestyle of Sportsmen

STAR MODEL WISHES TO JOIN LONDON CLUB S tunning Suzy Cortez has put London football managers on red alert by revealing she wants to join one of the capital’s clubs.

The winner of Miss BumBum 2015 is an avid footy fan and is looking to crack the English game at amateur level.

Suzy, who was pictured showing her support for her local favourites Sao Paulo, said: “I love practical sports and played football in Brazil.

“I want to find a club here in London where I can play. I’m playing just for fun and to keep fit as I live in London.

“I’m going to find an amateur team I can go to sometimes when [I am] not modelling or outside Europe.”

But the Queen of Curves admits if she had her pick, she would join Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

She added: “If I was picking a team in England [it] would be Manchester United.

The rest don’t play so well!

F

Rafaella INSET: Neymar

•As Barcelona star set to release song

N

Liverpool goalie denies dating star actress Davis

previously with model Annelie Alpert, for a month.

A source told them: “Steph has fallen for Loris and can’t get enough of him.

“She needed someone to take care of her and accept her for who she is and he has done that.

“After Jez she hit rock bottom but it’s like she’s a new woman.”

However as well as Loris denying knowing her, he also clearly has an arm covered with tattoos, unlike the mystery gent who keeps on popping up in her photos.

The man in her images has a completely ink-free arm and the only defining factor is the Apple Watch which is always on his wrist.

17 september 2016

Neymar’s sister threatens his status as most popular person in Brazil

Cortez

ootballer Loris Karius has been forced to deny knowing Stephanie Davis after he was labelled her ‘new man’.

The Liverpool goalkeeper was linked to the pregnant star, who has spent months dropping hints that she had found love again, but today he took to Twitter to deny he’s ever even heard of her before.

Stephanie has been hinting that she has met someone new.

The sports star – who signed a five year – deal with the Premier League team for £4.7 million – tweeted: “It’s interesting being linked with a person, you’ve never heard of before.”

According to the Daily Star Steph has been dating the hunk, who was

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Davis

eymar’s sister is threatening to overtake him as the most popular person in their native Brazil.

Rafaella Santos has been stealing the limelight from her superstar brother with a series of sexy snaps on social media.

Barcelona whiz Neymar, 24 – who claims to be a ‘super saiya-jin Dragon Ball Z warrior’ – is a hero in his home country among many fans who treat football like a religion.

So local reports suggesting Rafaella is catching up with her sibling in popularity comes as a shock.

The beautiful brunette - who often posts pictures alongside Neymar - has already accumulated more than 2.4 million followers on Instagram.

Though she is still some way off her bro's impressive following of 59.2 million.

The Barcelona star has announced the launch of his music career.

Neymar is known to be one of the most fashionable footballers, an urban trend setter and is set to go another level with the launch of his music career.

The Brazil international took to his social media to make the announcement.

In a post to his fans through his official Twitter account, Neymar writes, “Wednesday (September 14) I begin my music career and I’m going to release my first song on Facebook.”

“We will have ‘Neymusico’. Share it”, the forward added.

Balotelli pictured enjoying lunch with mystery brunette

T Balotelli

hings have started pretty well for Mario Balotelli as he relaunches his career in France.

First he scored a brace on his debut to help Nice to a 3-2 win against Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

And to wind down following his exertions, Balotelli was spotted enjoying a lunch date with a pretty, mystery brunette.

The Italian striker and his dining partner went for a bite at Avenue 31 restaurant in Monaco.

The principality is only around a half-hour drive from Nice in the south of the country.

Balotelli arrived at the up-market restaurant, that spe-

cialises in fresh fish and meat dishes, in a navy T-shirt and sunglasses.

His dining partner rocked up in salmon-coloured jeans and a black top.

And after bagging two goals for Nice at the weekend, the controversial striker even claimed he could still win the Ballon d'Or. He told Canal +: “Of course. It’s not too late.

“I think I could have already won it by now, but by working hard in training I could still win it in the next two or three years.”

Stories courtesy : Dailymail

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

e u g a le r u o in y la p 't n a c 'You and be successful' CONTINUEd from PAGE 27

What are your kids’ names?

Ayokunle and Opemipo? But they like to be called Michael and Gabriel, because in school it is difficult for other children to call them by their native names. My wife is Funke.

What is special about her?

Everything is special about her. She is a beautiful woman, intelligent and caring. If you have a woman who doesn’t support you, then there is a problem. I am hardly around and she always encourages and calms me down.

Makinwa

H

that tells you that something is wrong and you have to adjust.

What message do you have for upcoming players who want to be successful?

I think focus is key and then ability to believe in oneself. When you believe in yourself and wherever you are, try to adjust to the conditions. Unfortunately for us, you cannot play in our league to be successful.

What we earn here is not what we want to earn. The dream of every young player is to play in Europe where you can earn well and be very successful. If you are in Europe, try to adjust to every situation and do what they do there. They like you, because they believe you are part of them. Your hard work will also push you further.

What has helped you to stay away from scandals?

She trusts me a lot. There is that trust.

Luckily I am simple, reserved and very shy, even though as men, sometimes you might see something, but I am always able to control myself. I think I am a nice person and easy going.

Who is your best Nigerian musician?

Sincerely, I have a lot of them. And I appreciate them. Their music motivates me especially when I am driving in Europe.

Well lately, I like P-square but I don’t know what is going on with them. We have Tuface, Olamide, Wizkid, Davido and they are making us proud. Right now I can say Kiss Daniel tops the chart, that guy is fantastic. Phyno is fantastc. The fada fada song is mind- blowing; the Laye song is fantastic with the Baba God o by Adekunle Gold.

What was that thing that attracted you to take her to the altar?

She has a beautiful smile and her beauty is notable. The smile is always fantastic except when she is angry and is not smiling;

Which was the most challenging club for you?

It was when I went to Lazio that I discovered a cartilage problem, that is a hole in my knee. It was difficult to compete as I

had just signed for the club. With two, three days after pre- season, after training, my knee would be swollen and I won’t be able train for days. It was difficult to compete.

Which club did you enjoy most?

Before Lazio, every club was fantastic.

It is not that Lazio wasn’t fantastic, but my injury affected me there. An unforgettable experience was at Atalanta because the fans were shouting that I should be the major player there. They called me Makinwasindaco . The fans hailed me so much, it was incredible.

Did expectations from Nigerians prevent you reaching the heights expected of you in the national team?

I was mainly disturbed by my knee problem. Then I had this recurring knee problem, it gets swollen during the time I am supposed to resume for the national team. Sometimes, I would ask myself why it would wait until when I am called to the national team, before it gets swollen. Then as soon as the list comes out, it gets swollen.

It was a mystery. Many times I played with this problem. Many times I would come early and go to the physio for checks. After traveling, that would always make it worse because when you spend hours flying, it worsens the knee and it takes time to heal as I had to play with it like that just to avoid sitting on the bench.

But fans did not know this and they wanted you to prove yourself?

At times you need to look at the situation, because some tournaments, when you play fifteen minutes, people will expect you to make an instant impact.

Best NBA players who were born in Africa

1. Hakeem Olajuwon

akeem Olajuwon was always a fascinating player, from his Houston Cougars days in college to his great NBA career with the Houston Rockets. Hakeem the Dream was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1963, and went on to play for 18 years in the NBA. He was one of the top centers to ever play the game.

Hakeem won two NBA Championships, and was named NBA Finals MVP both times in 1994 and 1995. He also won two rebounding titles and led the NBA in blocks per game three times. He was NBA Defensive Player of the Year in both 1993 and 1994, and he was a 12 time allstar. Hakeem Olajuwon was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

S

3. Steve Nash

teve Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1974, and grew up in British Columbia, Canada.

Nash just completed his 15th NBA season and has a career scoring average of 14.6 points per game, to go along with 8.5 assists per game. Nash is a two time NBA MVP and has led the league five times in total assists and assists per game, including in 2010-11.

The only knock on Nash is that he has yet to win a championship.

2. Luol Deng

L

31

uol Deng was born in Wow, Sudan in 1985. He grew up in England, and then went to high school at Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey. Blair Academy is a private high school located not too far from where I live. It's a beautiful place, think of a sunnier Hogwarts from the Harry Potter movies. Lots of lush, green and wellmowed fields, complete with a lake and a waterfall on the campus, surrounding the majestic looking main building.

Deng got a lot of media coverage

D

4. Dikembe Mutombo

when he payed at Blairstown Academy, and he was a great high school player. He was considered by many as the second best high school player in the country, behind LeBron James(notes), when both graduated from high school in 2003.

Deng went to Duke University for one season and then joined the Chicago Bulls. He has averaged 16.0 points per game so far in his career during the regular season, and 17.8 points per game in 25 playoff games.

5. Michael Olowokandi

M

ichael Olowokandi was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1975. He went to college at the University of the Pacific and then played in the NBA for nine years. He averaged 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

ikembe Mutombo was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1966. He went to Georgetown University in college, and then played in the NBA for 18 years.

Mutombo was a great rebounder and shot blocker in his career. He averaged 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. He was a four time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

He led the league four times in total rebounds, and twice in rebounds per game, and also led the league four times in total blocks, and twice in blocks per game.

M

6. Manute Bol

anute Bol was born in Gogrial, Sudan in 1962. He played for 10 years in the NBA, and is the only player in league history to have more career blocked shots (2,086) than points scored (1,599). Bol averaged 2.6 points and 3.3 blocks per game. He led the league twice in total blocks, and twice in blocks per game.

X

32

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

Don’t compare Olympics with Paralympics, Aliu tells Dalung Ifeanyi Anyaka

F

ormer African champion Deji Aliu has said it is baseless comparing athletes to the main Olympics with those at the Paralympics, saying the former competition demanded more seriousness than the latter.

Team Nigeria athletes to the Paralympics, as at press time, had won eight gold medals, a performance that has drawn comparison with their counterparts to the

Aliu

main Olympics who came back into the country from Brazil with a solitary bronze medal.

Sports Minister Solomon Dalung is leading those praising the special athletes, saying they have proved to be more determined than their able-bodied counterparts.

But Aliu said although he would not take anything away from the success of the Paralympians, it was wrong to castigate those who attended the main Olympic Games.

Don’t put Iheanacho under pressure – Bewarang

StarTimes broadcasts over 50 live matches weekly Charles Ogundiya

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igeria’s digital television company StarTimes has said it has further scaled its sports offerings and package to excite sports loving Nigerians as it now broadcasts over 50 live matches weekly across eight dedicated sports channels.

The company said in a press release that it was still looking forward to getting more live matches for its numerous subscribers.

“We are going all out to get more for our subscribers who are very excited about sports,” the statement reads.

“Now we have a high number of live soccer matches on our platform

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Charles Ogundiya he recent performances of Super Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, has put him on the lips of Nigerians after scoring in his last three matches for both country and club.

However, the Nigeria Football Federation’s Technical Director, Bitrus Bewarang, has called for caution, advising that the 19-year-old should not be put under unnecessary pressure.

The former chairman of Plateau United said the player still had a lot to learn and the best thing for him was to continue growing in the game.

“We are privileged to have someone like Iheanacho as a Nigerian,” he said.

“But we all have to be very careful not to put too much pressure on him because he is still very young and has a lot ahead of him.

“I noticed that fans are expecting a lot from the young boy, looking up to him to churn out five star performance weekly, but that will not be possible.”

Bewarang added that with time the former junior international would become a world star, winning laurels for club and country.

Bewarang said: “Manchester City’s coach, Pep Guardiola, has trust in him and that’s why he has been using him in matches.

“Apart from playing well for the Super Eagles, he has been able to score in his last two games despite not playing for the whole duration, a rare talent if I may say, but we all must pray for him to avoid injuries.”

Iheanacho became the youngest Man City’s striker to score in a Manchester derby when he scored the second goal in a 2-1 defeat of Manchester United. He also scored his first champions League goal during the week when City defeated Borussia Moenchengladbach 4-0 after coming in as second half substitute for hat trick hero, Sergio Aguero.

Iheanacho

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Hamilton

and subscribers are able to enjoy all Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Chinese Super Ligue and one EPL match per week live.

“All games on other leagues like MLS, Belgian Pro League, Scottish League etc are also available on Fox Sports and Fox Sports 2 LIVE. “StarTimes keeps growing as a very strong football platform and sports powerhouse in terms of soccer broadcasts where Nigerian subscribers are now assured of over 50 LIVE soccer matches per week which explains our move to have the eight sports channels available to our subscribers to ensure they enjoy robust sporting entertainment actions.”

Mansur seeks funds for women teams Charles Ogundiya

Hamilton looks to recapture momentum in Singapore ewis Hamilton insists he is unconcerned by the slim points' margin between himself and Nico Rosberg coming into the Singapore Grand Prix after finishing behind his title rival and team-mate in Belgium and Italy.

Though Hamilton was always likely to finish adrift of Rosberg at SpaFrancorchamps by virtue of his back row of the grid position, a fluffed start from pole left him playing catch up at Monza as his Mercedes counterpart eased to second straight win.

Despite this, Hamilton remains unconcerned by the shift in momentum with seven races of the season remaining, choosing instead to focus on the way he has already bridged a 43 point deficit to his team-mate this year.

“I still have a positive mind. I was 43 points behind at one stage, so I feel pretty good still and we are still leading the championship despite all the engine penalties I've had and not the

He said: “A lot of people are making a lot of comparison and I think it is odd. The event as we all know is not as competitive as that of the Olympics. I’m not saying our paralympians are not good, they are great; they are all champions and should be celebrated. But I get a little bit worried when we try to create a comparison.

“The able body competition is very hard. We need to be really prepared for us to be able to measure up with what is expected at that level”.

greatest start in the last race. But the speed is there and I'm still in the lead, so I feel pretty good still.”

With a focus on starting procedures once again following the Monza mistake and other poor getaways in 2016, Hamilton remains relaxed about future repeats.

“It's pretty hard to start the races but it has been the same for years. It's just more difficult now in terms of getting a consistent getaway because you're not allowed to have certain feedback you were allowed before – in terms of clutch temperatures – so you don't have that. Sometimes you arrive at it gives you not enough torque, sometimes it gives you too much torque and you're none the wiser – you don't know if it's going to give you more or less.

“I'm sure the team can explain to you in Monza, but as I told you before I had too much torque than what was predicted.”

F

ormer assistant coach to the Super Falcons, Abdullahi Mansur, has appealed to government and the Nigeria Football Federation to release funds to the national female teams competing in various tournaments in the remaining part of the year.

The national U-17 team, Flamingoes, are scheduled to partake at the World Cup in Jordan starting later this month while the Super Falconets (U-20) and the Super Falcons, will be taking part at the World U-20 World Cup in Papua Guinea and Cameroon respectively before the end of the year.

“I want to appeal to government and the NFF to release funds on time,” the Warri Wolves coach said.

“Apart from the U-17 that are currently in camp, the other two teams are yet to be called to camp and there's no information on the team’s programmes, which is not encouraging at all.

“The girls have been making us happy in recent years and the government needs to look towards them and support them like they have been doing with the male teams.”

The coach who was part of the U-17 team that lost 5-3 on penalty in the quarterfinal stage of the 2012 edition in France believes the team going to Jordan has what it takes to progress to the last four.

According to him, the experience of the technical crew that led the team four years ago would come in handy.

The Flamingoes will be taking on Brazil, Korea DPR and England in Group C of the World Cup in Jordan starting from September 30.

Mansur said: “I expect them to go further and I am happy that the coach that took the team to the quarterfinal in 2012 is the same man handling the team, same applies the goalkeeper coach The experience will be of immense benefit to the team.”

Investigations 33

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

govt is behind this mayhem’ Our ancestral homes have become a trap and a no go area

ders from above’, and shot sporadically into the air for over 30 minutes before driving through the town.

This again made the community to write to the Commissioner of Police on October 28, 2015, to alert him of planned attacks on Ekpan by some disgruntled youths with the aim of causing breach of peace. They stated that the planned attack was to create a sense of insecurity in the area so that government through the Uvwie Local Government Council and/or Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs will query the community leadership, particularly the Unuevworo and head of Ekpan community and subsequently suspend them based on phantom charges.

The plan, in spite of these petitions, was eventually hatched, according to sources close to the community leadership on January 22 and 28 as well as on February 14 and 16 respectively. They alleged that the thugs from their base at an area known as ‘Sharp-Corner’ around Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company took to their acts of rascality. Thereafter, the miscreants, the source said, desecrated the household of Agbofodoh by kidnapping his son, Kingston Newton-Agbofodoh.

“They intimidated two prominent chiefs of Ekpan, Peter Akemu and Roland Amumu, and extorted N150,000 from them, after accusing them of stealing the money from Ekpan community coffers,” said the source who does not want his name in print.

The crisis later dovetailed into a free-for-all among members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the locality.

On June 24, this year, a group of youths at a popular motor park in the locality were allegedly mobilised by a man known as FM Ekpan, to plot to unseat the executives of the union's branch in the area through the backdoor. "In the process, some elderly persons, including a young lady was assaulted and stripped naked.

“They went about boasting and threatening to lynch anyone who dares to confront them. 18 houses, belonging to their opponents were destroyed and properties worth millions of naira looted,” Lady Judith Eyegho, Chairperson of the Shalom Vineyard Initiative and native of Ekpan, alleged.

She continued: “For months now, no media could report the mayhem because of those behind the youth who are committing this atrocity against humanity. The High Chief was remanded at the Ogwash-Ukwu prisons over an alleged murder charge and other charges relating to the breaching of peace that were proffered against him.

“But the question is: If High Chief Newton Agbofodoh was the problem of Ekpan, who then burnt his multimillion naira residence under the watch of security operatives? Our people are living in fear and fast returning to exile

Okowa

Ibrahim

for fear of being attacked. Their ancestral homes have become a trap and a no go area.”

Nevertheless, the state government has been fingered in this whole drama, as being behind the mayhem. This accusation has, however, forced it to react. It stated that those making such spurious allegations are merely chasing shadows.

The Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah, who reacted on behalf of the state government, told one of our reporters on the telephone that the allegations are baseless and unfounded.

He did not stop there. Ukah called it a figment of the imagination of those peddling the rumour, saying that it is unthinkable for his boss to finance a crisis in any community. “What would be the governor's interest in supporting a group to foment crisis? Do you know that for every crisis, it is costing the governor money?

“He spends thousands and millions of naira to mobilise security operatives to the spot. Yet, he is looking for money to develop the state. Somebody should not just make allegation against someone because the person in question is in government. Someone cannot just wake up and ask a group to start killing. What will make him to do that?

“If they alleged that he wants to build political structure in the area, is that why he should ask a group to be killing others, destroying houses and vandalising properties? Can someone build a structure on violence? If you say they fingered my boss or his aides in the crisis that is to mean you have sensed an alibi that is pointing towards him, which shouldn't be so.

“Election is not around the corner, and no controversy. He remains the governor for the next four years. So, why would he boil up the state? I think

what we should look deeply into is how to wade into the crisis and resolve it instead of levelling unfounded allegations. It’s madness to think that government is behind this mayhem,” the commissioner said.

In a similar vein, the state Commissioner of Police, Zanna M. Ibrahim, said: “I am aware of that matter. Arrests have been made about the wanton destruction you are talking about and the forceful burial of a youth in the locality. But, we don't want to jump into hasty conclusion. We are on top of the matter.

“We are not aware that some serving government officials, appointees or private individuals sponsored the perpetrators to commit the crime.

But, I want to assure you, no culprit of any crime will go Scott-free under my watch, no matter highly placed the person is. At the end of our investigations, we will showcase our catch. And if you have any information concerning the crisis I wouldn't mind if you oblige me privately.

“As you can see, one of us (talking about one Sergeant Driver Oghene, F/No. 412365, attached to Aghofure Transport Company), who shot at a moving vehicle and killed the driver (one Efe) will be brought to justice. We are not going to shield anybody. If a policeman is found wanting, he will face the music; how much more a civilian,” Ibrahim said.

Additional reports from Evulukwu Endurance and Farida Ahmed

Sportsplash 34 Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

10 most popular Nigerian songs featuring Olamide YBNL boss, Olamide Adedeji, is also known as Baddo in the Nigerian music industry.

He is arguably the most featured act in the land, a status he has enjoyed in the last two years. In this piece, Adedayo Odulaja focuses on 10 popular songs in which the YBNL boss appeared as a featured artiste.

Nobody’s Fault –Phyno ft. Olamide In the beginning, fans referred to them as the best of opposite ends with Olamide doing most of his rap in Yoruba and Phyno delivering his heavy verses in his native Igbo but such comparisosn quickly disappeared once everyone realised the strong bond they share. This song, released on September 14, is the latest of their storied partnership and surely no one is disappointed as fans have come to know what to expect when these two team up.

The Money – Davido ft. Olamide Produced by Kiddominant, the song was released when the anticipation of Davido’s second album Baddest was reaching its peak. Yes, fans may have become tired of Davido shouting, singing or acutally flashing his cash but “The Money” is such a groovy tune that easily brings them in.

Don’t be so surprised when you hear them even mouthing the song highlighting the ‘good life’ very loudly. The video that accompanied it was shot in London as directed by Sesan Ogunro.

Ghost Mode – Phyno ft. Olamide Released back in September 2012, this is the song that made it clear to everybody that Olamide and Phyno are better as partners and that they should not indulge in any unhealthy rivalry. Hooking up, they both brought their A game to

the table and the result is a song rich on all sides – rhymes, sound bites and rhythm.

Standing Ovation – Tiwa Savage ft.

Olamide It’s a match-up of Mavin Records and YBNL on this one but without any negativity. Released in the aftermath of the Headies 2016 beef that took place between Don Jazzy and Olamide on the first day of the year, the song off Tiwa Savage’s latest studio album, R.E.D, comes is titled “Standing Ovation.”

Produced by Don Jazzy, it came with the captivating video directed by Clarence Peters.

Asiko l’aye –Darey Art Alade ft. Olamide In promoting his latest studio album titled Naked, Darey Art Alade dropped this song along with his even more tantalizing single, “Pray for Me” featuring The Soweto Gospel Choir. Circulated via a promo CD continue two songs, “Asiko l’aiye” that talks about waiting for one’s appointed time of breakthrough while working hard all the way.

Many critics say Olamide is so hot with his vocals that he overshadows Darey in the process. The video that came months after the song was released tells even a better story.

Reggae Blues –Harrysong ft. Olamide, Kcee, Iyanya and Orezi What’s there to say about a song that

can be regarded as the best song of Harrysong’s career safe for his stirring tribute to late South African President, Nelson Mandela? “Reggae Blues” also features stars like Iyanya, Kcee and Orezi in an all-male cast and still thumbs its way through as a club banger. The very reflective video that follows is an icing on the cake.

Bahd Baddo Baddest –Falz ft. Olamide and Davido When word got out that Falz the Bahd Guy, the sensational rapper, actor and comic act, would team up with Olamide and Davido on a forthcoming song, fans went wild with excitement online. This was owing to the very distinct features of each of the trio as a class act.

And when, in April this year, the song dropped, it went straight to the top of the charts, ruling the airwaves and taking over the streets. The highly anticipated song was produced by Sess and five months after, it’s unlikely any Nigerian music fan would he or she is tired of it yet.

Kolewerk Remix –Koker ft. Olamide With the original version having become a favourite of party goers and club enthusiasts in no time, everyone agreed Chocolate City act, Koker, could not have chosen a better act to feature on the remix. Laced

with rhythm, rhymes and word play, “Kolewerk Remix” is an instant hit among Nigerian music lovers.

Jagaban Remix –Ycee ft. Olamide With Tinny Entertainment act, Ycee, having made appreciable impact with “Jagaban” a few weeks before, he needed to make further statement which would convince people of his craft. And not ready to release another song just yet, he went for a collaboration with Olamide and the rest, like they say, is history. It is such a hit that the industry did not just take notice of the dreadlocks-wearing Omo Alhaji but elevated him to a B status.

Powerful, catchy, unrelenting yet packing a punch of punchy lines, that’s how to describe this reinvention of the debut effort by Ycee.

Fada Fada –Phyno ft. Olamide Containing a mix of the prayerful along with a throwback of the ghetto life that inspired him for greatness while paying tribute to people who have helped them on their ways, “Fada Fada” is yet another instalment of the still going strong collaboration series between Phyno and Olamide.

Call it a convergence of West and East and you won’t be wrong, with Governors Ambode and Okezie ikepazu of Lagos and Abia States mentioned in the song among others. Of course, with ultimate praised reserved for the Almighty.

35

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Actors don’t have to drink, smoke, says Charles Okafor

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ce Nollywood actor, Charles Okafor, who has been very evasive in the last few years believes smoking and drinking are not needed in acting. The gentleman actor won’t do these two vices and would not let those who chose the lifestyle continue with it.

He pointed out that except those that really want to take acting professionally keep fit, train their voices and further hone their skills, they would not be able to meet their socioeconomic

KOK takes on Junior Pope, Yomi Fash-Lanso in ProfessorJohnbull

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ollywood actor, Junior Pope, who stars as Churchill, the son of Kanayo O. Kanayo in Globacom’s TV series, Professor Johnbull, was heavily rebuked by his father for falling foul of environmental sanitation laws in the last episode of the programme. Also at the receiving end of KOK’s angst is Yomi Fash-Lanso (Olaniyi) who runs a restaurant in the sit-com.

While Churchill was arrested by sanitation authorities for littering the environment, Olaniyi’s restaurant was sealed off for not having a functional toilet.

After an earlier press release by programme sponsors, Globacom, had given a hint on what to expect in the episode, viewers had waited anxiously to find out if Professor Johnbull who always tows the line of moral rectitude will sing a different tune when his own son is caught on the wrong side of the law.

Of course, the erudite professor did not disappoint. Though he helped secure the release of his son, Churchill, from detention, he told him later that he deserved to be locked up for one week for what he did. He added that if he had known the full details of Churchill's offence, he would not have lifted a finger to help him. “You deserve to be locked up for one week. Oh yes. That you were arrested for littering the environment is a hard nut for me to process," he lamented.

He then turned to Olaniyi. “I have been meaning to ask you, why don’t you have a toilet at your gastronomic laboratory?” As the restau-

ranteur looked on in confusion, the Prof simplified it for him, “I mean your buka.” Olaniyi apologised and explained he once had a toilet facility but that it had broken down and signaled his readiness to repair it.

However, if viewers thought the rebuke from Professor Johnbull would make Olaniyi learn his lesson about proper waste disposal, they were surprised when the same man a short while later ate oranges at the Professor’s gate while waiting for Mercy Johnson (Caro) who he was “toasting” and littered the ground with the peels. He was to learn the hard way as men of the sanitation task force promptly arrested him for his poor conduct. Professor Johnbull refused to help bail him out of the problem “because he refused to learn from his first mistake.”

Funky Mallam (Mai Doya) was equally advised by the retired university don to ensure he got a dustbin for his customers to dispose water sachets, orange peels and other waste materials after patronising him.

Nollywood multiple award winner and Glo ambassador, OC Ukeje, made a guest appearance in the episode which was called Mobile Dustbin. The Professor rounded off the episode by exposing the consequences of filthy environment and the need for members of the public to consciously cultivate the culture of proper disposal of wastes.

Professor Johnbull runs at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays on NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV Channel 251 and NTA on StarTimes.

needs.

His counsel partly reads, “I neither drink liquor nor smoke. Basically, I want to make it clear to my colleagues in the industry who are still into drinking and smoking that the actor’s major tools are his voice and body.

You need to exercise the body to keep it in form, to keep it fit. You need to drill your voice, and cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol do not complement these exercises if you want to take acting as a professional calling from which you will earn your living and attend to your socioeconomic needs.”

Charles Okafor

I had to sell gold jewellery to raise my daughter –Mercy Aigbe

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Mercy Aigbe and daughter, Michelle

ctress, Mercy Aigbe, can easily relate with mothers because she is one. The Omoge Benin actress had her daughter, Michelle, at 22. The journey to stardom for her wasn’t a rosy one because she had to trade some of her valuables as a single mother to raise her daughter, who just celebrated her 15th birthday. "Special shout out to all the single mums...I can relate, hmm I remember when I had to go sell my gold jewellery at Yaba just to pay Michelle 's school fees and for us to feed. I went through 'HELL'”, she recounted.

She further stated, “Please stay focused, be determined, be hardworking and prayerful, put all your trust in the Lord because "we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus" and trust me you will rise above those challenges.

To all mothers, mothers to be , may the Lord continue to strengthen us and may we eat the fruit of our labour IJN. Responsible daddies you ain't left out. Thank you all once again.”

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

TV&Radio

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

with Deborah Ocheni

This weekend AIT

Uzo

Weekend File: Right of way

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aking a look at infrastructure especially utility facilities, such as traffic sign, traffic light parking lots, power cable optical fibre and how people establish markets on the road and others convert road shoulder to parking lots, this edition of Weekend File sees Chukwunwike Uzo, Director Highways, Ministry of Power, Works and Housing talks about how installation of utility facilities has to respect the right of way, the need to sensitise those that convert road shoulders to market/parking lot and more. The programme is aired on NTA every Saturday at 9pm Speaking on sensitising the public, Uzo said: “A meeting was convened by the honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing and it was a very strategic one because the corps marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps came with his entire sector commanders. 36 of them were at the meeting and they shed more light on what we have to do and how to go about it. He has the mandate now to liaise with the local government chairmen, the state governments and the traditional rulers who are residents in some of the places we are having problems because some people establish market right on the road; who gave that permit? May be it’s the local government or may be nobody gave them that permit so they have to go and sensitise the traditional rulers there about the importance of relocating such markets because if a vehicle loses control for instance, it is the citizen that will be killed”.

Uzo added that residents that live by the road side were compensated to relocate. “When we are building a road, we acquire a right of way and compensation is paid; the compensation is not for the land, it is paid for crops and structures in other to define the corridor but what happens is, when we finish construction and leave, gradually you see migration and that is why we need to sensitise the people against such actions,” he stated.

Speaking on the maintenance of highways, Uzo said: “On the reim-

bursement to the state governments on work done on the federal roads, there is a guideline because the Federal Government has to comply with the procurement act of 2007 for us to undertake any rehabilitation or reconstruction contract.

The same guideline binding the Federal Government was tabulated and given to the states that means they have to ensure contract awards follows competitive bidding, they have to advertise and do bid evaluation analysis, and then send all these things to the Federal Government before they get presidential approval.

When the new government came in, a committee was set up in to look at all the documents before the ministry regarding the reimbursement to the state government. It noted that if there was any state that had not submitted, they should do so. They made all their submission and they were sent to the bureau for public procurement to evaluate and advise the government”.

Uzo assures Nigerians on implementation of the right regulations. He said: “We will ensure implementation of right regulation because the present situation is leading to economic loses both to individuals and to the government. We are talking of roads that are of high economic value that convey goods and services that have effect on the economy of the country. One must be aware that they are breaking the law and that is what we want to tell them especially the tanker drivers that park on the shoulders of the road. The road has two components, the shoulder of the road is not as strong as the space, where vehicles ply, which is another component, and it not meant for parking except if a driver has a flat tire and there is need to clear while traffic moves on. But what we have now is people parking on the shoulder, repair their cars and even turn the shoulder of road to parking lot thereby reducing the road, this cannot continue,” he added.

Programme summary

Sunday Cool Request Cool FM 96.9

The Dzigbordi show African Magic Family (Channel 154)

It is a request programme where songs are requested through phone calls and the social media.

The programme interviews entrepreneurs who are making it across Africa and the rest of the world.

Sunays @7pm

Tuesday @ 12:300pm

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

A

Cool FM’s Amanda

manda Douglas is one of the on air personality who never forget their days of little beginnings.

She started from Joy FM 95.5 Benue State to Ray Power 100 FM Abuja to Love FM 05.5 Abuja and currently with 95.9 Cool FM Port Harcourt, where she has for long desire to work. While she was growing up, she watched and listened to other television and radio personalities and wished that one day she would be like them. For Douglas, the journey has been a life changing and enlightening experience as she has learnt a lot along the way.

She hails from Cross River State and is an (HND) holder in mass communications from the federal polytechnic Oko in Anambra state.

She anchors the Midday Oasis from

10am to 3pm every from Mondays through Fridays. She loves to educate and inform listeners about current happenings, news, music and tit-bits on how to live life better.

TELEVISION

TVC

Saturday 8:00 Nickelodeon 9:00 Brights 10:00 Smallvile 11:00 Crack in the Wall 11:30 UAC Soccer Lafflines 12:00 Music Video and More 12:30 Voices 1:00 Indomitable

Saturday 7:30 Business Africa 8:30 Destiny Encounter 9:00 Cartoon 10:00 Super Book 10:30 Sports File 11:30 Snakes and Lizards 12:00 Souncity 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 News Headline 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’s Global Countdown 1:00 Hitz 1:30 Pavitra Rishta

1:30 MBGN Diary 2:00 Adams Apple 3:00 Unspoken 3:30 Boom Town 4:00 Local Movies 5:30 Two Sides of a Coin 7:00 News 7:30 Secrets and Scandal 8:00 My Wedding Story 8:30 Fans Championship 9:00 Local Movies 9:30 Events Diary 10:00 News Sunday 8:30 Brights 9:30 Gospel Rhythms 10:00 St Dominics 11:00 Gospel Symphony 12:00 Walking with God 12:30 Revival in the Land 1:00 The Advantage 1:30 Love Dating and Marriage 2:00 Mountain Top Life 2:30 Impact Today 3:30 Singles and Married 4:00 Chapel of Uncommon Grace 4:30 Elevation Church 5:00 Reel Infotainment 5:30 Gospel Rhythms 6:00 WWTBAM 7:30 Hour of Salvation 8:00 Local Movies 9:00 Entertainment weekly 9:30 Boom Town

2:40 Village Square 4:10 Movie 5:35 Los Rey 6:30 Glam Mamas 7:05 Before 30 7:30 Saints 8:00 Sunday Paparazzi Show 8:30 Spider 9:00 On the Couch 10:25 Omnisports 10:50 Movies

RADIO

Rainbow 74.1 FM Saturday 7:30 You and your Marriage 8:00 Whispers 9:00 Sports Tackle 10:00 Family Life 11:00 Kids on Radio 12:00 Hot Gist and D Sport 4:00 Wazobia Flavour 6:00 Request and Shout 11:30 Icon Saturday

Sunday 8:00 The Word with Interaction 9:00 God Bless Nigeria 10:00 Rainbow Gospel Gig 11:00 Talk your Own 11:30 Story Story 12:00 Classic Music 5: 00 180 Degrees 5:30 House Party Mix 9:00 Akamara 10:30 Afro Classic

Radio continental 102.3 fm

Amanda

Saturday 77:30 Papers Today 8:00 Good Living 10:00 Saturday Sports 12:45 Replay Africa 1:00 Fan Zone 4:00 Me & You 6:00 Entertainment Unscripted 7:30 Afrobeat Tonight 9:00 Single Life 10:30 Old School Groove

Sunday 7:00 Press Report 8:00 Church without Barrier 10:30 Think You Know the Bible 11:00 Country Music 1:00 Chart Busters 2:30 Palaver 5:00 World News 6:00 Youth Connect 8:00 Sunday Evening Groove 10:00 Music

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

The Arts

Oloibiri resonates on screen

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he story of the sleepy community of Oloibiri in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, where crude oil was first discovered and exploited in commercial quantity in 1956, came alive as the film, entitled, Oloibiri, was exclusively screened for a select audience.

Produced by Rightangle Productions, the film screening which took place penultimate Thursday at the Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja, had in attendance the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was the chief host.

Producers noted that, perhaps, Oloibiri may never have been known if not for divine providence of God locating Nigeria’s common wealth, crude oil, underneath its soil. Sadly, 60 years after, the community has nothing to show for the wealth generated from the crude oil from its soil but polluted environment and sundry health, economic and social challenges.

The feature length movie is based on the heart-rending, sad life of the people of Oloibiri community, as crude oil appears to

have brought more harm than good, underdevelopment amidst growing concern for the survival of the people.

Oloibiri which parades rich array of Nollywood best icons, including Olu Jacobs, Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett, Richard MofeDamijo (RMD), Ivie Okujaye, Ifeanyi Williams and Hollywood’s Williams Moses of CSI fame, is a story of the frustration and anger of a people, whose land has been exploited of its resources and abandoned to a life of hopelessness, hunger and poverty.

The producer, Oge Neliaku, said Oloibiri is a collaborative work with Theatron Media Canada, and that it is the first in “the National Heritage Productions Series (NHPS) initiative”. He added that it is “a creative approach to addressing the youth restiveness in the Niger Delta”.

The vision of NHPS, according to Neliaku, is to identify distinct, original, legacy stories and events on Nigeria and produce them into world class movies from the Nigerian point of view.

It is also an initiative to capture and preserve history, build national consciousness, strengthen national integration, enhance

Nigeria’s global goodwill, and attract public-private support for the concerned communities, where applicable.

The remarkable aspect of the NHPS initiative is that part of the proceeds will go to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes - support community development projects in the particular local environment after recovering the cost of production.

Also in attendance at the screening include the Minister of Environment, Hajia Amina Mohammed; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba; some chief executive officers of parastatals in the Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma (NICO), Dr. Ferdinand Anikwe (CBAAC), Alhaji Abdallah Yussuf Usman (NCMM), Mr. Akin Adejuwon (NTN). Others include Nkanta George Ufot (Director, Eternal Cultural Relations, FMI&C), Ms. Grace Gekpe (Director, Entertainment and Creative Industries, FMI&C), and Mr. Tony, Ojobo Director, Corporate Affairs, NCC, among others.

A scene from the film

Hustle, new television series on ‘duality of living’ debuts Tony Okuyeme

H

ustle, a new television series that focuses on the duality of living and hustling in Lagos City, Nigeria’s commercial hub, is set debut on Africa Magic.

Dubbed, first of its kind ‘dramedy’ series', Hustle tells the tale of Dayo, a gullible but optimistic young man who moves to Lagos with dreams of making it big. Dayo quickly learns that it is never as it seems as he comes to terms with hilariously catastrophic neighbours, an antagonistic landlady and a shady yet loyal roommate.

All these characters nonetheless

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share an unwavering hope for tomorrow, and they are buoyed by the “Lagos spirit”, the spirit of the hustle.

On October 2, viewers across Africa can tune in to Africa Magic Urban (DStv 153) to catch Hustle, a new series that focuses on the duality of living and hustling in Lagos City, Nigeria’s commercial hub.

Hustle premieres on October 3. It stars Seun Ajayi as the lead character, and also features veteran Nollywood acts Sola Sobowale and Afeez Oyetoro popularly known as ‘Saka’. Also starring are Seyi Law, Stephanie Coker, , Dorcas Fapson, Maurice Sam, Deborah

Anugwa and John Joshua.

The Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said: ”Hustle exemplifies the traditional Lagos spirit of ‘hustling’ and what many of the city’s inhabitants face in their bid to make it big.

"The show is the first of its kind Nigerian ‘dramedy’, and uniquely combines comedy and drama to show the uniqueness of the ‘Lagos situation’ – suffering and smiling, serious yet funny. We see how our characters tackle situations that mirror everyday situations that are relatable to the average Lagosian, and what everyone faces when they move to the big city for the first time.”

Onuegbu’s book Mysterious Housekeeper set for presentation Okegwo kenechukwu ONITSHA

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journalist in Anambra State and blogger of news48hour.com, Mr. Okechukwu Onuegbu, has published his fourth book and a prose entitled the ‘Mysterious Housekeeper’.

According to him, the 36page short story is very educative, illustrative, descriptive, and narrative.

The artistically illustrated book was edited by Prof Joy Eyisi of NOUN—Abuja centre, Mr. Uche Osunkwo; and Dr. Okechukwu Nwafor (HOD of Fine and Applied Art Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka—NAU); Princewill Chinonso Okolo of ABU Zaria; Henry C. Duru of Orient Daily newspaper; Azidiegwu Amarachi C. of CSMT, Abakaliki; and Mr. Ojo Akinyemi of Jos. While the illustrations was

by Mr. Fredrick Nwogem of NAU Department of Fine and Applied Art; even as its cover was designed by Mr. Simeon Nwogha of Crest Daily and Champion Newspapers.

His other published books are ‘Mirror of the Minds’ (collection of poems), ‘Songs from a Solemn Minds’ (collection of poems), and ‘Diet Guides’ (tips to healthy living through African diets). He also has a movie ‘Romeo without Juliet’ to his credit.

Excerpt from the book reads: “As she was leaving for her farm that fateful morning, she prepared a delicious food for Kosisochukwu, bathed her, and waited on her to eat.

“Do not worry my lovely daughter. I will take you to a healing centre today. Eat and relax, we will go when I return home. Please don’t die. I don’t want to lose you…” Akueke implored her daughter.

Kosisochukwu nodded in approval. She poured some drugs into her cup, handed it over to her, and she drank; squeezing her face.

She then kept the keg of the remaining drug concoctions behind Kosisochukwu’s mud bed, and sternly warned her not to touch it.

The ailing girl was carefully covered with some of her mother’s wrappers as she lay to sleep. Akueke then left for

her farm.

The sun had shifted significantly from its noon stand overhead when Akueke closed from the farm work.

She had successfully cleared the troublesome weeds off several ridges lined with growing cassava, yam and other plants.

Though she still had several ridges to do clearing on, she, all the same, heaved a satisfactory sigh of relief for what she did for the day.

But for the scheduled journey to save her daughter’s life, it was unusual for her to say goodbye to the farm earlier than the dusk.

Akueke sat under Uchakuru tree, brought a dish containing her meal. That was her own portion of the delicacy which she prepared before leaving her home that morning.

Already, an army of black ants had besieged the dish, though it was carefully covered as securely as thought best. She ate as much as she could, and threw the rest on the sand.

She headed for Nwangbara, a stream behind the farm; washed her plates, hoe, cutlass and other farm tools, and bathed.

Back to the farm, she rubbed ude-aki (palm-kernel cream), dressed up and just stood up to go when Ndu rushed up to her with an unusual speed.

"Why are you running like this, is anything the matter?”

Akueke asked her agitated visitor, while studying his body language.

Ndu, still breathing in panic, lied to the woman that while he was preparing his launch, he overheard her daughter screamed thrice and ceased.”

Onuegbu

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FRED NWAOZOR

ShortStory

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unji who just stepped outside his father’s house in the early morning of the day was so numbed that he couldn’t recognise his mother who was very busy on the premises of the building let alone tendering a salutation as courtesy requested. The nightmare he had the previous night was, to say the least, the worst of its kind ever since he realised the essence of dreams; his ever loving father was shot dead by one of his male colleagues in his working place.

“Tunji?” the surprised 51-yearold Madam Ade called as she was occupied with her household chores.

“Yes, mum.” responded the 15-year-old Tunji who happened to be the lastborn of his parents, walked towards her.

This time, they were standing about half a metre away from each other. The woman in question tied a single wrapper up to her chest whilst the poor boy put on only boxers.

“Are you alright?”

“I think I am.” He replied, scratching his head with his right hand.

“You think you are?”

“Yes mum.”

“What’s the meaning of that?”

“Mum, I am fine.”

“Are you sure you are okay?”

He nodded calmly.

“So,” she said. “How come you couldn’t remember to greet your mum this morning?”

He was speechless, head bent.

“Hmm…,” she sighed. “You can go.” She urged, gesticulating, wasn’t satisfied by the responses though.

He quickly took his leave, walked straight to his room.

“No, this boy is not fine.” Madam Ade thought as she watched him depart. “This is not him.”

No doubt, a mother needn’t be told when her child isn’t sound in all ramifications, and Madam Ade wasn’t exceptional. The encounter kept her wondering what actually could prompt such abrupt countenance. She had known Tunji, from day one, to be a happy and well-cultured chap; in other words, he couldn’t possibly forget to greet his beloved mum at such hour of the day. She stood aloof not unlike a sentry as she wondered.

“Oh God,” Tunji exclaimed aloud after a few seconds he got to his room having sat on his bed.

“Was my dad actually shot dead in that dream?” He said.

“What dream?” queried Madam Ade, who followed him to the room hesitantly, having slightly overheard his soliloquy.

He was shocked, never expected his mum’s presence. “What?”

He managed to utter.

She sat very close to him.

“Were you not the one who mentioned a dream right now?”

“Mummy, I have told you,” quoth Tunji. “I am fine.”

“Shut up,” enjoined Madam Ade. “You are not fine.” She added, paused. “It is written all over you.”

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

frednwaozor@gmail.com +2348028608056 Follow: @mediambassador

Just a dream

He kept calm.

“And if you don’t tell me what is eating you up,” she proceeded.

“Your dad will hear about it.”

“Please mum,” he pleaded.

“Don’t tell him.”

His father Chief R.O. Ade was a no-nonsense man who understood the most accurate way to discipline a child whenever he/ she misbehaved or how best to make him/her answerable to, or confide in, his/her parents regardless of the situation.

“Then, you have to start talking,” she urged. “Besides, are you not going to school today?” She added.

The time check was 6.50am.

Their four children were meant to comprehend the essence of going to school early or on time.

“Well,” she rode on. “First, tell me what’s bothering you.”

“I had a dream last night.” He eventually disclosed sluggishly.

“A dream?’

He nodded.

“Last night?”

Tunji nodded again. “But, it was terrible.” He informed. “Very horrible.”

“Terrible?”

“Yes mum.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Daddy was shot dead.”

“What..?” shouted Madam Ade, bemused. “Shot dead?”

He nodded.

“Your daddy?”

He also replied via a nod.

“By who?”

“Uncle Alagbo.”

She couldn’t fathom the story owing to the fact that the man in question happened to be one of the closest colleagues, if not closest, to her husband Mr. Dada Alagbo was the name of his father’s junior colleague who pulled the trigger in the said nightmare.

“Mr. Alagbo?” Madam Ade said.

Tunji nodded.

“Dada Alagbo?” She reiterated.

She couldn’t fathom the story owing to the fact that the man in question happened to be one of the closest colleagues, if not closest, to her husband – Chief R.O. Ade. “Yes, mum.” responded Tunji, head bent.

“Hmm…” Madam Ade oozed out a huge air. “This is serious.”

She thought aloud.

“I am confused too.” quoth the poor teen.

“Your father must hear this.”

“Mum, don’t tell him,” Tunji suggested. “After all, it’s just a

dream.” He thought it wise.

Madam Ade tenderly looked at him. “I think you are right.”

She said, nodding. “Please, go and get ready for school.” She urged after some seconds, stood up and took her leave.

“Okay mum.” He replied, hurriedly left the room for the bathroom. ****** “Where is the money?” One of the three masked robbers, who just invaded Chief Ade’s house, queried the chief as he lied in his matrimonial bed alongside his wife, Madam Ade. The couple couldn’t believe their eyes; it was just like a mere dream.

This was happening at about 12.06am exactly at the moment Madam Ade was still recollecting the ugly story her son, Tunji shared with her in the early morning of the previous day.

“I said, where is the money?” the baron repeated as Chief Ade coupled with his wife was left speechless.

“There’s no money in the house.” Chief Ade answered, staggering.

Oh,” the other robber said.

“You think we are here for child’s play, right?”

“The money, or …” the third robber who appeared like the gang’s leader added succinctly, pointing his gun at Chief Ade. “Please, don’t kill my husband.” Madam Ade stammered.

“Shut up, woman!” the first

speaker ordered.

Before he could finish, the apparent leader who could best be described as an Iroko tree quickly released the trigger thrice, and the gun’s bullets landed on Chief Ade’s chest.

He passed away instantly.

Madam Ade widely opened her eyes and mouth in awe, couldn’t fathom the scene.

The robbers took their leave in a jiffy.

The moment they left, Madam Ade screamed and screamed, but pathetically the evil had already been unleashed.

Therein, her two children including Tunji who were living with the parents rushed out only to meet their father lying helplessly on the bed in cold blood.

It seemed, all along, they never knew what was transpiring until their mother’s scream came up.

They all collectively sobbed uncontrollably right in the room. The other children of Chief Ade - now late, who were in the university, despite their absence, were ostensibly touched by the gravity of the endless gasping, choking sobs coming from their siblings and poor mother.

What took place thereafter ought to be a story for another day. Or, what do you think? Think about it!

• Nwaozor novelist, playwright and poet, is Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research & Career Development - Owerri

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

Travel & Tourism In love with chillies

CHEF'S CORNER

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Andrew Iro Okungbowa velyn Mahlaba is the Regional Director, Africa for South Africa Tourism and saddled with the task of marketing and promoting South Africa Tourism across the countries of Africa. She is quite familiar with the continent and enjoys her task despite its challenging nature.

While she is not engaged on tours or in her Johannesburg office, Mahlaba enjoys the company of friends and loved ones especially in Soweto, her ancestral home, where she occasionally return to reconnect with her root.

One of the things that she certainly loves is relaxing with jazz music, from some of her jazz favourites. ‘‘I relax with jazz music and a couple glasses of wine,’’ with such great act as Hugh Masekala making her favoured list just like local names as Nduduzo Makhathinc and Baba Maal. ‘‘I hang out with friends a lot and tend to hang out with young folks a lot because I think we need to know their references now so that we can be able to advise, and that is what keeps us going on. ‘‘My family lives in Soweto and I visit them every now and then. I am a secret gardener; I enjoy gardening and have a little vegetable pitch where I grow my own chillies,’’ she discloses.

Besides, Mahlaba likes cooking, especially condiments. ‘‘Because I live alone, I like making condiments, I do my own chillies because when I come back from home after work it is easy to put something together.’’

them to one of her special recipes. ‘‘I had some friends in the house and we were not planning on staying over but you know when you start talking, everything from politics, fashion, socials to music and I said to them ‘look I will put something together for us to eat, some salads, salmons’. I am talking and mixing everything together. I love hot food, so I kept on adding more chillies, and it was looking good and I served it.

I was feeling so proud of myself and my friends were taking pictures and then they started eating and it was so hot, it was so chilly and everybody was like it looks good but could we have more salads. ‘‘So nobody actually touched the salmons. That was my latest blunder.’’

Steinmetz (Hawaii), with Professor Geoffrey Lipman (Brussels) as president while its executive board members include Alain St. Ange (Minister of Culture and Tourism Seychelles) and Feisol Hashim (former ASEAN Tourism Bali).

It focus is to bring community tourism professionals together with global experts.

New local chapters are added every day as it now boasts 14 chapters with 37 universities, 237 corporate members and journalists from 110 known media listed as members while seven travel trade show organisers, including Reed Exhibitions, MITT, ITE, Fairfest, IMEX, Rwanda Investment Forum and the Hawaii Tourism Conference, are part of the ICTP family.

ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA Editor, TRAVEL&TOURISM iroandy@ymail.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

ing up with different vegetable dishes; I enjoy going to my aunt’s because that is where I have Mohodo (A local delicacy).

That is where I get to enjoy it.’’

For someone who loves to entertain and cook, you expect her to be adept at it but somehow it didn’t go her way on this particular day when as usual as she was hosted some of her friends and decided to treat

Given her love for chillies, she has been introduced to the popular Nigerian pepper soup. She enjoys chicken peppersoup a lot and looks forward to it with relish on her visits to Nigeria.

As a gardener, she enjoys the freshness of her home grown vegetables. ‘‘I enjoy fish and I like cooking vegetables; I like the freshness of vegetables and I love entertaining. ‘‘We have amazing produce and in the last few weeks I have been com-

ICTP tourism membership reaches 500 in 134 countries ICTP tourism membership reaches 500 in 134 countries The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) has within its short span of existence witnessed an explosion in its membership with more than 500 tourism boards, associations, tourism industry stakeholders and journalists agreeing on Green Growth PLUS Quality EQUALS Business.

ICTP is setting a new trend in tourism with their new slogan.

Just in the last two months more than 500 likeminded members in 134 countries and territories reconfirmed their membership in Hawaii, Brussels, Seychelles and Balibased International Coalition of Tourism Partners.

It is chaired by Juergen T

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TRAVEL BEATS

NANTA reiterates call for emergency in aviation sector With the country’s aviation sector in a precarious situation and airports challenged thereby eroding confidence of the travelling public and businesses in the sector, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has for the second time within the last few weeks called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps in arresting the situation by declaring a state of emergency in the sector before it collapses completely.

Reiterating this call, NANTA President, Bankole Bernard, catalogued the series of problems that have bedevilled the sector in recent time. This call is coming on the

heels of another power outage experienced at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos last week.

Apart from the issue of incessant power failure experienced in airports across the country, there is the parlous state of the tarmacs as well as inefficient personnel manning some of the posts at the airports.

Just a few weeks back, one of the aircraft operated by South African Airways got damaged on the tarmac at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. The aircraft was grounded for a few days before the airline got it fixed.

Worried by the opprobrium that these inefficien-

ABTA gets new regional manager for Africa The African Business Travel Association (ABTA) has announced a new Regional Manager, Africa, Jeanette Moloto.

Moloto who formally assumed her position last week has previously held the position of Sales Manager, Africa and Airlines, for Protea Hotels by Marriott.

ABTA Founder, Monique Swart said: "We are so excited to have Jeanette on board. She brings a wealth of knowl-

Travel Personality

Taleb Rifai: There is no completely safe country

p.40

Mahlaba

edge and expertise about business travel in Africa, having travelled extensively across the continent over the past five years. Jeanette's exceptional people skills, strong industry network and passion for the travel industry make her an extremely exciting new addition to the ABTA team. We have no doubt that her energy and enthusiasm will help us take ABTA to new heights."

Hospitality Hospitality

Crownedge Westown Hotel: Hotels: Offer Entices of a royal with treat bumper Ramadan offerings p.41

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cies bring on the nation, NANTA stated that it ‘‘maintains that these difficulties, which airlines do not suffer in smaller but more organised systems account for the decision by foreign airlines to recently adopt Ghana as the hub for their activities. ‘‘As an organisation whose over 6, 000 membership are active players in the industry, we call on the Federal Ministry of Transportation and indeed the Federal Government to take steps to remedy the situation at our airports and bring back the days of glory. ‘‘To start with, we ask why the Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian (FAAN) is unable to ensure uninterrupted power supply at our airports in spite of the collection of $50 passenger service charge from every passenger. Questions must be asked about what is done with this money. ‘‘As the umbrella association of people who issue tickets, NANTA is aware that only the (NUC) and the YQ or YR (All of these are taxes) go to the airlines; all taxes collected on behalf of the government and the airport authorities are centralised and now collected from source by IATA through BSP on behalf of the government.

We are therefore confident that this money is being remitted to FAAN. NANTA hereby restates the call on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the aviation sector to avoid a total collapse that will worsen the nation’s economic crisis.

Destination

Nigeria Tourism: Stakeholders Aviation: ‘Stakeholders point pathway to growth are behaving p.42 like cowboys’

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40 Travel&Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

TRAVEL PERSONALITY Tourists could not go to Sri Lanka until 2009 because of the war. How do you open up a country to tourism after a conflict?

In Asia, Vietnam and Cambodia are great examples. I am from the generation that grew up with the Vietnam War and the atrocities in Cambodia, the bloody conflict that gripped the country for so many years.

No one could imagine at the time that today Vietnam and Cambodia are associated only with beautiful things.

It’s amazing and it was tourism that made it happen. In Eastern Europe, we have the example of Croatia and Slovenia. Croatia was at the centre of a civil war when Yugoslavia was dissolved in the 1990s. Today it receives 12 million tourists. At present, only beaches and beautiful places come to mind, not a trace of the war.

Tourists seek safety when travelling.

How do you manage to transform the image as an unsafe place of a country that has suffered a war or an attack?

I always say that what matters, what is most important, is political will. If the government decides that tourism is a good thing for the country, it will go in that direction. It will work. There is no completely safe country in the world. Anything can happen anywhere.

That is why the issue of security is a consideration, of course, but it is not all that is on the table. When you travel you think about how expensive, how beautiful or how attractive a place is, what experiences I’ll take back with me and also about safety.

It does not determine whether you go or not.

They can kill or rob you on the streets of the safest cities in the world.

It should not be something that prevents destinations from promoting themselves.

It is true that today something bad can happen around every corner, but now there are countries that appear regularly in the media as targets of terrorist attacks. Think of Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey.

How does it affect their tourism industry and economy?

No country should be classified as safe or unsafe forever, because anything can happen anywhere. It is a global malady.

But how do we address the fears of travellers who do?

That is why we must ask them to please not make that classification.

Because today’s security is no longer something you can guarantee.

Going back to these countries, how difficult is it for them to fight against the stigma?

Yes, unfortunately some of them have been attacked more than once and seem to have become targets of some of these terrorist groups. The effect has always been dramatic and immediate. When something happens in a country, people stop going there, but it is only for a short period.

Experience shows us that recovery is quick, especially in countries with a long history and experience in welcoming travellers. Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia, does it affect them? Of course it affects them. For how long this will be depend on them. The recovery process can be really fast. Egypt has been a tourist destination for 7,000 – 8,000 years.

That may change for a few months or a few years, but it will come back.

Is there an example of good practice

What happened in Turkey a few weeks ago was highly significant.

When Ataturk Airport was attacked, two things happened that give food for thought.

The Turkish authorities put the airport into operation in eight hours, as active as ever.

TALEB RIFAI

There is no completely safe country United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) secretary general, Dr. Taleb Rifai, speaks on terrorism, its effects on tourism and how best to forge ahead after such an event?

What happened in Turkey a few weeks ago was highly significant.

When Ataturk Airport was attacked, two things happened that give food for thought. The Turkish authorities put the airport into operation in eight hours, as active as ever.

It was an excellent example. If you compare it to other incidents, airports were closed for days, weeks. That is a good way to respond to terrorists.

You want to hurt us? You will not succeed. We are operational in less than 24 hours. Determination and political will are key.

Russia’s reaction! We are accustomed to traditional tourism generating countries that immediately impose travel restrictions. Germany, England, France, Russia, Sweden.

They tell their nationals don’t travel to these areas. Russia did exactly the opposite. That same afternoon it lifted the ban and said we want our citizens to travel there.

So, is that what needs to be done then?

It is the best way to respond. Be-

cause, come to think about it, that is what the terrorists want. They attack airports, hotels, beaches, restaurants and other attractions. They attack tourist infrastructure, like it or not, because they know that is where it hurts.

They cause economic and political damage because they damage the country’s image. When they do it they expect people to stop travelling to Turkey or Egypt. So the only way to defeat them is to continue travelling to those countries.

Send the message that we are back in operation. In fact, the places that have been attacked are the safest in the world right after because security is even greater. To countries I say, please do not rush to issue advisories against tourism. Let’s not fall into that trap.

Has the perception of insecurity following the attacks contributed to the tourism records of Spain?

I don’t agree with that approach.

Our figures prove that what we are assuming, that Spain benefits from the misfortunes of others, is not correct.

All the tourists lost in the three countries are no more than 2.5 million. If they all decided to go to Spain, which is impossible because they go to other places it still would not explain the growth, which is three times higher.

Yes, there may be an effect, but it is not a factor why tourism is growing in Spain. To assume that Spain is doing well because others are doing poorly is unfair to Spain. Spain is performing well because it is doing a good job, not because others are suffering.

Perhaps 10 per cent or 15 per cent of the tourists of these countries may go to Spain, but that does not explain the increase.

Can Spain handle so much tourism because Barcelona has warned on many occasions that it has trouble managing it?

First of all, you cannot say no to tourism. I think in Barcelona sufficient efforts are not being made. As a tourism destination, you have to create other attractions that pull tourists from the city centre, give them alternatives, create new destinations.

Barcelona can do better, and I hope this is not understood as a criticism.

‘We live in the era of travel,’ you said at the conference in Sri Lanka. How does that translate into figures?

In 1950, after the end of World War II, and when the world was beginning to go back to normality, there were only 25 million international travellers crossing borders, according to our data. In 2015 we counted 1.184 billion.

We are talking about 65 years over which we can see how much the number of travellers has multiplied. It is tremendous. People are defying borders and travelling more and more.

And it is not just the numbers, it is the places.

There is no longer any place that people do not travel to. We travel to the North Pole, the South Pole, the Amazon, deserts. The world has opened up in an incredible way. And it happened so fast that we are still adapting.

It is something like what happened with the industrial revolution, 200 250 years ago. People were not aware of living in that era until a hundred years later. I am sure that in 40, 50, 60 years people will look back and characterise our time as the era of travel.

I think, historically, this is the time for people to move. Before it was things that moved, trade was created, and after that capital moved with the creation of financial institutions, then information. Now is the time for people to physically move, which is why I call it the era of travel.

Travel&Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

41

CROWNEDGE HOTEL

Offer of a royal treat ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA writes on Crownedge Hotel’s devotion to offering royal treats to its guests

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ocated on Afolabi Aina Street, off Allen Avenue (Beside former Alade Market), Ikeja, Lagos State, Crownedge Hotel prides itself as one with a difference as it is dedicated to the promotion of the best hospitality culture as a full service city-based hotel.

Sandwiched between residences and business outfits with the popular Alade Market, which has now been relocated some distance away from its former spot, as neighbour, the serene and peaceful ambience of the hotel is one of the unique features that easily catch the attention of a guest to the hotel.

As you take in the unfolding scenery and settles into the hotel’s rhythm, you become accustomed to the hospitality philosophy of the hotel, which is that of royal treatment be given to the guest.

As explained by the Business Relations Operations Manager of the hotel, James Onuoha, every guest is special hence concerted effort is made to offer the best services to the guest.

A guest, he said is not only seen as ‘‘our royalty,’’ but as family, ‘‘we treat our guest as family, our guest is our royalty and king.’’ He insisted that it is a place away from home where you are offered the best homely treat ever. ‘‘The same thing that you are going to enjoy in your home is actually what we try to give you here at the hotel.’’

For the plush boutique hotel, Onuoha informed that its facilities and services are tailor made for corporate and business travellers given its vantage location, which is the heart of the business district of the city. He said it offers easy access to the business traveller while tourists and residents are also welcomed to the hotel.

Rooms The hotel has 16 well-appointed rooms with tasty fittings and furniture, all of high standard and sophisticated flavour reflecting the royal ambience of the hotel. The room categories include Standard room, luxury, Deluxe and Royal suites, all royally polished and equipped with the best of hospitality

gadgets such as king size comfy bed, flat screen TV with multiple satellite channels, internet facility, tea/coffee making machine, safe deposit, en-suite bath and Jacuzzi in some of the suites and rich toiletries.

One of the rooms.

Inset: Onuoha

Restaurant/bar One of the attractions of the hotel for many guests, especially walk-in visitors is its food and beverage offerings, which are specially presented and attract a high level of patronage from the public. It offers a variety of delicacies ranging from Nigerian to continental dishes while the Nigerian ones, especially those rare and unique local cuisines, are the forte of the hotel.

Complimentary continental breakfast is offered to in-house guests while lunch and dinner are special treats for many of the walk-in guests who have made it a tradition of dining out at the hotel. The hotel also offers outside catering services while it has also perfected home delivery of soups and stew for people based on special order.

It operates two bars, a VIP bar, which is indoor with calm and serene outlook, offering wide selection of drinks and the outdoor, bar which provides an inviting presence with airy and breezy mood for people to relax and savour the best of drinks and also catch up on their favourite programmes and live matches on the big screen.

On Fridays, it host Happy Hours from 5pm, offering different treats to people with the drinks heavily discounted. According to Onuoha, plans

HOSPITALITY BIT

HOSPITALITY are afoot to elevate the nature of the outdoor bar and its offerings by making it more appealing to guests especially at nights and weekends.

Conference It boasts a fully equipped conference hall for business and conference sessions as well as social events of different types where class and location matter to the event planners.

Wellness For your wellness needs, it offers a gymnasium that has a number of solid equipment for guests wishing to keep fit and maintain a trendy look and regular healthy regime.

Other facilities/services Concierge, secretariat services, car hire and airport pick up, laundry services, shopping and tour packages are available.

Business According to the business relations and operations manager, the hotel has

endured a number of challenges since opening for business and has been able to stay afloat while offering guests the best available facilities and services.

The hotel, he disclosed, periodically upgrades its facilities and services in line with current trend and also to meet the taste of its guests. With the proposed mega shopping mall on the site of the former Alade Market, Onuoha looks forward to better days for the hotel as it will benefit from its presence.

Although he said business prospect for the hotel is good and promising, he however, lamented some of the challenges which impede the operations of hotels generally; these include constant power outage, multiple taxation and lack of basic support facilities and incentives from the government.

All of these, he said make the cost of operations and maintenance of hotels very high and affect the profit margin.

Going forward, Onuoha’s appeal to the three tiers of government is to make the operating environment less stressful and burdensome for operators especially in the area of multiple taxation, which he said needs to be streamlined, as well as the intractable problem of power outage.

Rezidor’s CEO commends debutant AviaDev’s focus on travel in Africa

As preparations reach top gear for the launch of the inaugural AviaDev Africa conference holding alongside the yearly Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), the President and Chief Executive Officer of Rezidor Hotel Group, Wolfgang M. Neumann, has commended the launch of the conference, calling for a closer cooperation between hotels and airlines so as to boost the travel industry. The launch is billed for October 4 and 6 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Neumann will also be participating at the AHIF’s panel discussing tourism infrastructure in Africa.

AHIF, which runs parallel with AviaDev Africa, will bring together top-level international investors, business leaders, industry experts, government ministers and officials from around the globe.

AviaDev visitors are expected to meet and network

with 30 airlines, 40 airports and over 500 delegates in 1,000 meetings.

Neumann said: “The success of airlines and hotels are inextricably linked. The two industries have worked closely together for decades and it’s important that this dialogue is maintained. We keep a close eye on what’s happening with new routes and flights as these are ultimately a reflection of consumer demand.”

Neumann said that Rezidor has seen a surge in growth in Africa “more than anywhere else in the world,” and added: “Scheduling a new airline route development conference alongside the Africa Hotel Investment Forum is a smart move and bound to attract more decision makers to shape the future of travel in Africa,

and facilitate a meaningful discussion on the issues and opportunities in the region.

The two conferences will provide a platform for airports, airlines, governments and tourism authorities to plan future air connectivity in Africa and to discuss those plans with the hospitality industry. They will also be able to discuss the main issues confronting economic growth in the region that have been recently compounded by the threat of terrorism and the outbreak of Ebola.

The Managing Director of Bench Events, which is organising the two events, Matthew Weihs, said: “Hosting these two co-ordinated events provides a unique opportunity for everyone involved in the aviation and hotel industries. We have some exceptional speakers, as well as plenty of opportunities for networking and forming mutually beneficial partnerships.”

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

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29, OROLEYE CRESCENT, OFF ABEL ORENIYI, OFF SALAVATION RD, OPEBI, LAGOS

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42

Travel&Tourism

DESTINATION

T

Andrew Iro Okungbowa his is trouble time for the nation’s aviation as the industry, which ought to be deployed to the development of the nation and that of the country’s tourism industry, is almost comatose because it is still at a fledging stage.

Today, the aviation industry is challenged by a litany of issues ranging from poor infrastructure with a number of the airports across the country in bad state and poorly managed.

Situations are abound where regulations and standards are compromised with the regulatory authorities almost helpless.

While the airlines are poorly managed resulting in inefficient service delivery, passengers’ rights and that of the various workers in the industry, including pilots are infringed upon by the airlines while the regulatory bodies look the other way.

Added to these are shortage and high cost of aviation fuel and the crunch in the economy, which has placed most of the airlines in financially weak position.

A situation which has seen two international carriers (Iberia and United Airlines) exited the country while two domestic carriers (Aero Airline and First Nation) recently announced the suspension of scheduled flight operations.

Air travel has almost become a risky affair in the country with the grim situation of the industry and the government appears to be at a crossroads not knowing how to intervene to rescue the soul of the industry from the abysm.

Many concerned groups and individuals, including operators in the industry, have continued to lament its poor state, thus blaming it on poor regulation, lack of monitoring, bad policies and lack of political will on the part of the government.

However, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Broadlink Aviation and Tours Services Limited, Lagos, Captain Mike Omokore, who is a seasoned travel operator and pilot, is one of those not happy with the way things have gone awry in the industry, admitting that the industry is in a state of decay and suffering from long years of neglect.

The solution, he says, is for the restoration of integrity in the industry and for the regulatory agencies, particularly the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to rise to the occasion while the airline operators operate as responsible business among others. Excerpts: There is decay in aviation I must tell you that there is decay

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

Aviation: ‘Stakeholders

and a lot of people won’t want to say it but it is the truth. I have seen aviation industry over the last 30 years in Nigeria and there is decay. Decay is not whether there are no planes, decay is not whether there is no safety, decay is not whether there are no runways, decay is not whether the aircraft is old and decay is not whether we don’t have airports.

No, decay implies that we don’t have integrity; there is no honour, there is no respect again in the industry. The industry is completely in a state of despair. I am sorry to say this because the way it is right now, it is like many of the players are cowboys.

What do I mean by cowboys? People who do not have integrity right from time, they join the industry and they make a mockery of it. You tell anybody

that you are a pilot, an aviator or an engineer from anywhere and they look at you and say what is the big deal?

Because there is no honour in the industry, it has not been polished and it has not been given the necessary look that it is supposed to be given. And it is just typical to Nigeria.

NCAA powers whittled down to safety issues only I have had a couple of meetings with people in authority, the government, the NCAA and the ministry. For instance, the NCAA gives licences to airlines to operate; they give licences to air traffic controllers and they also give licences to pilots to operate. They are the licensing authority.

That tells you that the umbrella that you are operating under is called NCAA.

NCAA might be under the government but the truth is that you are under the NCAA than the airline that you are working for.

Who is going to revoke your license?

Who determines the creditability of your operation? It is NCAA but now we have reduced that NCAA to just a minor of the major functions in the airline, which is safety and safety only.

But NCCA is the governing body of the industry, if NCAA does not maintain the integrity of the industry the industry will die because it will get to a point where they would not even find anybody to give licence to again.

Because at the end of the day people would say what is the big deal? I get the license and what? I work for this person and he doesn’t even think I am impor-

Ooni of Ife rebrands Olojo Festival, unveils logo

L-R: Akinola, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adediwura and Olumoko during the signing of MoU

S

ince assuming the throne of his forefathers last year, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, has given a new meaning to the culture of his people and the promotion of tourism as a veritable tool for

ing converts to the zone in the form of investments in different projects and events to the town.

As part of this re-awakening process, the Ooni has shifted his attention to the revitalisation of one of the aged – long cultural festivals of his people, Olojo Festival.

Beginning with this year’s edition, which is billed to hold between October 14 and 17, the yearly cultural fiesta, would witthe creation of peace, unity and wealth. ness a new colouration and element To this end, he declared Ife as a tour- as its scope and content have been ism zone in order to accelerate the frui- improved on by the Ooni. tion of his vision and has not stopped The process leading to the reat that as he has continued with his branding of the festival as a focrusade thereby winning and attract- cal event for the people, which

is meant to draw attention to the town and improve on its tourism economy, was jumpstarted last week by the unveiling of the newly created logo of the festival and the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the newly appointed festival administrator, Infogem Limited, which is headed by Otunba Ayo Olumoko.

Speaking at the colourful ceremony, which was held at his palace with Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, being represented alongside a host of other dignitaries, Oba Ogunwusi said it is a new dawn for the festival and the people:

Travel&Tourism 43

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

are behaving like cowboys’

Minister of State for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika

Omokore

by the Department of State Service (DSS). We know a lot of them and how come the DSS don’t know about them and they give them license to operate.

Then they mess up the industry, embarrass the country and embarrass the people.

It only creates decay. We have a banking industry and it is being regulated.

You have reports that airlines don’t pay their workers' salaries for months, they prefer substandard facilities and they will rather buy cheap products, cheap parts, where are we going to?

tant because he doesn’t bother paying me and this is because nobody has put integrity into it.

So, the kind of people that you are now going to have are half-baked people and it has nothing to do with market supply and demand. It just has to do with preserving an industry. The industry is not being preserved, especially in time like this.

The industry needs to be preserved Passengers’ rights are part of preserving the industry but it hasn’t happened.

You see passengers waiting timelessly at the airport. The best thing that the industry can really do is to ensure that NCAA is empowered to ensure that there is no rot in the industry.

Price control and service delivery He said: “What we are doing is indeed a new one, we have improved the branding and we want to show the landmark uniqueness of Ile-Ife as a tourist centre.

Both government and private entrepreneurs should begin to use tourism for unity and economic development. Tourism is about movement. It is like a mandate that draws people from every part of the world.

“It will bail us out of economic recession. It is a product that will provide lasting solution to economic challenges in the country. We should not rely on downsizing certain sectors alone.”

On his part, Aregbesola, who was represented by the Director General in the Office of Economic and Partnership, Dr. Charles Akinola, commended the monarch for his visionary leadership and the promotion of the culture and tradition of Yoruba land.

“The cultural renaissance and social economic development that is taking place in Ile Ife is unprecedented and the

are actually controlled by the government because most of the government airlines, anywhere in the world, they are not really there to make money but to provide employment.

The reality is that aviation is like the gateway or the entrance for most businesses, like tourism, so what I would suggest is to put a system in place or a board or department within the NCAA to take care of such things as passengers’ rights, service delivery, customers service, crew and license personnel, defend their rights and the integrity of the airlines.

Very few people own airlines today and they don’t care about the industry.

Ownership of the airline is very key. In the past before you can be given a license to operate you have to be checked conscious effort of the monarch will restore the notion that the state of Osun is the foremost cultural centre of the world.

“Festivals are veritable tools of promoting culture and tradition and we must not relent in our effort to raise the consciousness of Yoruba people all over the world and at the same time use it as an avenue to develop our economy,” the governor stated.

The governor described the festival as one of the oldest festivals in Yoruba land, expressing the hope that with the rebranding, the festival will resonate with everyone and attract the much needed economic gains for the state: “Olojo Festival is one of the oldest festivals in Ife and celebrated all over Yorubaland as Ogun, the god of iron, noted for creativity. It is perhaps the most famous of the festivals in Ile-Ife which echoes reverberate all over the world. It is proper therefore that it is being branded and presented in modern form. It is going to reinforce the notion of Ife as a foremost cultural centre,”

On marginalisation of Nigerian pilots But in terms of whether they (pilots) are marginalised or not, the reality of the whole thing is that I can’t say that they are marginalised because a Nigerian pilot can go anywhere in the world to fly.

All he needs to do is to rectify or do an exam or so to make sure that his license is in order to fly that particular airplane.

You see, the thing about it now is that a Nigerian pilot having a Nigerian license is compelled to fly a Nigerian registered airplane.

Now people bring in their airplanes here, you can bring an Australia plane and fly it in Nigeria so long as you are abiding by the regulations. But the reality of the whole thing is for Nigeria to force you to register the plane here as a Nigerian registered is killing the industry.

Because you now limit the numbers of planes that would come and to prevent double taxation there is a system in place that allows you to fly anywhere and also the pilot if you want to fly a

Aregbesola said.

While the chairman of the festival organising, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, said the logo signified the commencement of the 2016 edition of the festival and then went ahead to explain in details the various features of the new logo.

According to Obalufe, the contents of the festival’s logo includes Aare Sacred Beaded Crown, appearance of the new dawn - Ojo; Ile-Ife, the Ori Olokun insignia, year 2016, purple colour and the red ribbon.

He also revealed that, “the Olojo Festival commemorates the descent of Oduduwa to Ile-ife and is the celebration of the first dawn, the first afternoon and the first night in creation which is only celebrated in the land of expansion, Ile-Ife. “The appearance of the new dawn is what Olojo basically signifies as the day of creation and references can be sighted from evolution in science and the holy books – Quran and Bible where the cre-

South African airplane or Australian airplane, all he needs to do is do an air law for that and do some exams and then he can fly that plane.

Airlines are treating pilots badly But talking about pilots or aviators that are not being paid in Nigeria, I must tell you that a lot of the airlines are not treating them well. Why is that happening? The pilot pay is not peanuts and aviation is capital intensive industry and you find out that a lot of operators don’t have the right perception and value for the pilot or the crew or the aviation staff.

Why? Because they themselves are not properly trained to recognise that this is a professional institution, you are either for it to make sure that the professional institution is maintaining its standards of quality and control, standardisation is maintained or you are not even ready to run an airline.

It is not like going to the market to sell biscuits, it is not like you are selling milk and it doesn’t work like that.

So when you are parting with money to pay salaries and you think that it is something that you should have kept that means you don’t value the industry.

A man’s value is what you pay him for his time. If you refuse to pay him that means you don’t value his time. If you don’t value his time and the only reason why he is working for you is because he has an NCAA license and if you don’t value the man it means you don’t value NCAA and that is why NCAA has to sit up.

ation of human existence started as cradle of mankind.”

Explaining the role of Infogem Limited as the festival administrator, Olumoko, whose company is also the chief festival administrator of Osun Osogbo Festival, said the role of INFOGEM is to market the festival to the outside world and seek for corporate sponsors for the event.

He expressed delight over the appointment of his company to push for a new frontier for the festival even as he promised to explore the uniqueness and prospects of the festival in attracting patronage and sponsors for it.

“This is our event and we have to make it a success as we are going to work in line with His Imperial Majesty Oba Ogunwusi’s vision of rebranding the festival,” he said.

Apart from the unveiling of logo and signing of Mou, the event also featured special prayer Iwure by the Ooni, homage paying by the traditional chiefs, traditional music and dance by olosirigi, Alabi Ogundepo and others.

Sportsplash 44 Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

Celebrity RÈsume

Waje (acronym for "Words Aren’t Just Enough") Full Name: Aituaje Vivian Ebele Iruobe Date of Birth: September 1, 1982 Place of Birth: Akure Stage of Origin: Edo State Occupation: Singer, songwriter Music Genre: Hip Hop, Pop First Impression: Emerged Runner-up in Advanced Warning (a reality TV show for artists on the verge of a breakthrough) organised by MTV Base South Africa and Zain Nigeria.

Most Distinct Feature: Her vocal range covers as many as 3 octaves Marital Status: Single Awards: Best Female Vocalist (2011) at NEA, Best Female Vocalist (2011) at Hip Hop World Awards (Headies), Best African Art (2011) DEAFA Afro-Europe Awards, Best Vocal Performance (2010), Best Reggae/Dancehall (2013) at Headies Biggest Hit: I Wish Active Years: 2007 till date Biggest Achievement: Sharing the stage with Wyclef Jean in South Africa and headlined the song, ‘Strong girl’ which is the theme song for ONE Campaign's ‘Poverty is Sexist’ campaign in 2015. She also joined Bono in Lagos, Nigeria for the Lagos campaign last year.

Never been signed to any label, Waje has remained a force in the industry on her own terms and was one of the judges for maiden edition of The Voice Nigeria along with 2face Idibia, Timi Dakolo and Patoranking.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Politics

17 september 2016

Buhari is incompetent to lead Nigeria –Jalo

p.46

Dr. Muideen Akorede is the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Communication) to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State. In this interview with BIODUN OYELEYE, he explains some current issues in the state.

NULGE has threatened to drag the state government to court over the operations of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), what step are you taking to address the issue?

I am surprised because NULGE and labour generally have been close to the government not because of anything but because the government recognises them as major stakeholders in the state and relates with them as such. Any time labour has issue with government, the governor sees them personally and explains situations to them, so I am surprised that NULGE could take that route of threatening court action.

Secondly, we are a very transparent government, we are probably the only state that allows labour unions to take part in JAAC meetings but because of the governor’s commitment to transparency he said they should be allowed. So in the last meeting, NULGE was there, NUT was there, JNC, NLC was there. Now let me tell you what happened. There was a N180 million augmentation, after all the money had been shared. Before that it was decided that in line with statutory provision the salary of basic education teachers in form of allocation to SUBEB should be made a first line charge and you know that money was N1.2 billion but still it was short so everyone there including the chairmen of the Local government councils, their treasurers, officials of the ministry of finance and local government chieftaincy affairs and community development agreed to concede 10 percent of the state IGR which admittedly is supposed to be shared by the 16 local governments to the teachers in order to push their money towards that N1.2 billion.

It was that agreement that pushed their allocation to N1.1 billion for that month. When the time now came for the N180 million augmentation, the meeting agreed that the available fund was lower than the previous month and that pensioners were being short-changed again. The amount allocated to them was N109 million out of N300 million so they agreed that another N59 million out of that N180 million should go to pensioners. This is local government chairmen agreeing to do this.

Previously they had agreed to share allocation on the basis of equity instead of

Kwankwaso can't run Kano from Abuja –Lawmaker

p.47

Buhari’s budget support scheme not for LGs – Akorede indices as recommended by the law and this was how local government workers were able to get at least one month salary last month for the first time in this year, leaving the pensioners in the lurch. So, it was agreed that the pensioners should be prioritised this month and give them this money and the local governments will go and share the remaining N120 million.

That was the issue and they said 'okay, you are going to give this to pensioners, you chairmen tell us how would you pay us'. How else were they supposed to pay you? The allocation is there, everyone saw the figures and as at that meeting there was about 60 percent shortfall in the figure required to pay those local government before the N120 million.

So I really don’t understand what they meant by saying they will take Kwara state government to court over the operation of JAAC, which is a creation of law and is enshrined in the constitution. The constitution does not recognise, as far as I am aware, the local government as a distinct and separate tier of government; it says Nigeria shall be composed of the Federal Government and the 36 states and that is why local government funds are routed through the state governments and that is why when the money comes, the Commissioner for Finance sits down with all the local governments and they decide how the money is to be spent.

The ‘joint’ in that JAAC is not a joint between the state and the local governments but among the 16 local governments. NULGE also made a point about the budget support scheme which they

said government should have used to augment their salaries. Number one; there is no provision in this year’s budget for the government to do that. Number two, when the federal government gave that support, they never said anything about local governments. They only said budget support scheme, realising that states would not be able achieve and implement the budget so this support is meant to augment the capacity of the states and it is a loan which is collaterised against future excess crude earnings and so just because other states which are run directly by the state governments have decided to do that, you don’t expect us in Kwara state which has elected executive local government chairmen in place to do that. The day that we have sole administrators in the local governments, if you need a pin in each of the local government, you can come to governor Ahmed and say give me a pin but until we have that you don’t expect the state to use its fund to augment local government funding without appropriation.

Is it true that some companies have left Kwara over taxation?

That is not true. The company being mentioned is Tuyil Pharmaceutical, but I can tell you that Tuyil is happy to operate in Kwara State, its businesses are flourishing and they will continue to flourish. The only tax KIRS has collected from Tuyil this year is PAYEE which is paid by every employer in every part of the country. And which state will Tuyil run to that it will not pay taxes? A neighbouring state shut down a federal airport because of tax and another shut down

The aspiration of this governor is to create a new set of entrepreneurs who will drive the revival of the middle class in Kwara

OLALEKAN OSIADE Assistant Editor 08033076969 lekanosiade@gmail.com lekanosiade@yahoo.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

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Akorede

a federal university because of tax. In any case the story is not true. When somebody posted it on social media and it was going round, the governor called the chairman of Tuyil and the man just dismissed the matter.

Let me also speak about Coca-Cola. That company too didn’t leave Kwarra because of tax, it left because of reorganisation of its operations in the face of current economic situation. It has a major operation in Ibadan and didn’t feel they need another major operation here so it downgraded here to storage and logistic and localised plant operation in Ibadan. And before they took that plan they came to the governor and explained themselves. The governor was concerned about job cuts but they assure him they would absorb their people in Ibadan. All the rumours about taxation are all parts of tax resistance and it is common everywhere all over the world but the KIRS has been doing a wonderful job.

Kwara will clock the golden mark soon.

What brand is government projecting for the state at such an age?

There is a committee that will be given the task on 'Kwara at 50' but that committee has not been constituted, so a decision has not been taken. However, you will notice that the governor has been speaking of Kwara as the new frontier of prosperity in the North Central and that is where we are going independently of what the committee might be recommending. This is where you have the best hospitals in the whole of the zone, this where you have the gateway to the whole of the North and the South of Nigeria. This where you have the most organised agricultural business sector in the country, this is where you have privatised tourism opportunities, this is where you have some of the highest number of academic institutions in a state in the whole of the country, this is where you have a lot of commerce, where you have the best infrastructure in the whole of the North Central.

And before the end of this governor’s tenure people will begin to see Kwara in that light. That is the aspiration and that is where the governor is going and part of this is human capital development. So we want a situation whereby when you hear the name of a Kwaran, you see someone who is well educated, who is entrepreneurial, who is very cosmopolitan in outlook who is very skilled etc, and that brand will be visible in our people. The aspiration of this governor is to create a new set of entrepreneurs who will drive the revival of the middle class in Kwara.

As the man in charge, what is the fate of state owned media in the face of the current economic challenges?

When I took over we discovered that the equipment needed to be upgraded but also that the working environment was not suitable enough. So what the governor approved was a renovation and re-modelling plan for all three of them. We started with Radio Kwara and Kwara TV because the challenges of The Herald are easier to solve.

At the moment we are at 50 percent compleCONTINUE ON PAGE 46

46 Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

'Revival of Kwara's middle class, a priority' CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45

tion. When the issue of funding challenge began, the governor said we should prioritise the payment of salary. But now things are looking up so next week we shall go back. Equipment buying will also start before the end of this year. The governor wants to future-proof these media houses against future developments, so whatever equipment they may need to meet emerging developments in the sector will be provided. We are starting for digitalisation in 2017, we will have new staff, new studio. For Radio Kwara we are going to migrate the station from AM to FM because most people are moving to the FM band. If you have a phone now you are not likely to have an AM band on it. The Herald will be repositioned to become the most influential newspaper in the North Central region. It is difficult to compete nationally so we are going to provide a niche as a regional newspaper.

We just appointed a new editor who is going to implement the governor’s vision for repositioning the newspaper to be self-sufficient and rebrand it as a paper the people are proud of. We hope that by the end of this year, we are going to have about 70-80 percent completion.

There is problem of funding but I have the governor’s commitment to that.

How profitable are these enterprises?

The plan is that once these organisations are funded and equipped with the human and capital resources they require we are going to stop funding them. They are expected to raise at the minimum their own cost and then contribute money to government coffers. You look at local radio stations here, some of them have only 20 staff and they make money.

Radio Kwara has 201 and with technology you don’t need that many people

to run a radio station. Herald has about 82; Kwara TV has more than 60. There won’t be job cuts because people will be move around in the service so that we have a lean but efficient workforce. They will be able to be self sufficient and take care of themselves. At least Kwara TV has shown that despite its challenges and we are going to benchmark their salaries against private sector.

We have heard so much about the asphalt plant for the state, when would it actually become operational?

The plant should be ready for commissioning in the next two weeks and when that happens, the governor will flag it off.

The Ministry of Works has listed all the roads that needed attention in the state, not only in Ilorin. Four roads would be taken in a particular area in a particular day and they will cut the roads, do the drainage within that week. On the same day different groups will go and fix roads and like that move to another set of roads. That is the plan and apart from that we also have an asphalt paver which has just been acquired and we expect that before the end of this month all the roads that the people have been complaining about would have been done.

What does it take to communicate at a challenging time like this?

I think the starting point is respect for the audience, in this case the people and being very upfront and honest with them. The administration from the onset had a willingness to be transparent and accountable with the people. It started very early with a retreat in Lagos which was attended by government officials, private sector operatives, international organisations etc to formulate the new direction for the government and that culminated in the Medium terms Sec-

Akorede

toral strategy which drove budgeting and focus of the AbdulFattah administration for the first four years. So essentially that MTSS also dovetailed into the shared prosperity agenda which was a distilled version of the MTSSS. The governor came up with it that we need to have something that people can relate to, that can resonate with the people and prosperity is what everybody aspires to; whether financial, spiritual whatever, prosperity is progress and everybody wants progress and that drove what government was doing to a large extent and people understood where the government was going, what has been done and what was going to be done. If you notice there was a lot of emphasis on what has been done and what was to be done consistently in everything we did. So that has been the approach from inception and that has been the approach even now.

Like you said it is a difficult time but the governor has always insisted that we should let the people know what is hap-

pening. Let people know our finances.

I make bold to say that we are probably one of the most transparent states in the country. I don’t see other states in the country that discloses details of its allocations. I don’t, I am not aware.

But here we publish details of our allocations as it comes from Abuja and JAAC allocations are also published so that people will know what money is available and what is it being used for.

The second advantage is that governor Ahmed is a strong brand; intellectually he is sound, he has integrity that people can relate to, he is liked and people support his administration and that link is there that can then be built on to let people know that the governor feels your pain, he is concerned about bringing development to the state but he’s handicapped by the financial situation.

The third point is that we don’t just talk about problems but we also talk about possible solutions. So you talk about drop in allocation but you also talk about what the government is doing to get the state out of the financial crisis. So there is something for people to aspire towards because if you just communicate problem and you don’t cite solution or your prescription on the way out, then you leave the people informed but disenchanted or afraid about their future. But when you outline where you are going, which governor Ahmed administration does consistently, it becomes easier.

And finally, the governor has always said he wants high levels of advocacy on what the government has done, is doing and intends to do. So he came up with The Governor Explains where he interacts with the people on a monthly basis on radio and television. We have Town Hall Meetings; they are not peculiar with us but they are held here regularly either at the party level or at the general society level. There is also now the State of the State Forum where he meets with stakeholders on issues of the state. He just met with Muslim clerics and it will now be the turn of Christian leaders and from there other stakeholders and professionals.

Buhari is incompetent to lead Nigeria –Jalo PDP wants Buhari to resign as president, what informed the demand?

The issue is simple. Buhari is not competent to lead the country. What we are facing is an economic challenge.

Our output is zero, oil production has reduced drastically due to his poor handling of the crisis in the Niger Delta. If we can get up to 75 per cent of oil production, the economy could be revived and we can move the country forward.

Even the charge by the president on his ministers to think outside the box means the implementation of the international monetary policy is not good for the economy.

If Buhari has been listening to advise he would have succeeded. But he has not been listening. Given his background and qualification he is incapable to move the nation forward.

If the president has been listening, we would not have been in this mess, even if the price of oil in the international market is $40 per barrel because oil production would not have been disrupted. But his approach to militancy in the Niger Delta is not helping matters.

It is not the price (of oil) that matters but the rate of our production.

Ok, see the price of dollar per our currency. Our currency is weak and our oil production is low. We are not

Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says President Muhammadu Buhari lacks the capacity to grow the nation's economy. He spoke to ONYEKACHI EZE. meeting our quota in the international market.

the rest of them. So, is Buhari saying that they are the one that caused the problem?

The president and his party, the APC said the problem was The government Do you think if PDP had won because PDP messed up the the election the situation economy. What is your reachas closed the would have been different, tion? the economy would have borders thinking Let him stop accusing PDP rebound? for the failures of his governthat economic There is no doubt about it. ment. He was not elected to The economic policy of the recovery will give excuses but to provide diAPC is not favourable to Nirection to Nigerians. He has regerians and foreign investors. happen by magic. versed everything PDP had put Foreign investors are leaving in place. Our economy was the You cannot deprive the country because of lack first in African, where are we of confidence on the nation's people what they now? Dollar was below N200 economy. People are keeping when PDP was in government, have without dollars in their houses because how much is dollar now? A bag of the day has no providing alternative government of rice was less than N10, 000 clear economic programme. but today a bag of rice sells at Under PDP it was not like over N20, 000. that, people were very much comfortBut come to think of it, all the people able with PDP government, which in APC government are products of allowed them to run their businesses PDP - Bukola Sarki, Aliyu Wamakko, without government interference, withNasir el'Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal and out intimidation, without harrasement.

The economic approach of APC is what made people to be keeping dollars in their houses, and foreign investors to relocate out of the country.

APC government is running a faceless economy. The government has closed the borders thinking that economic recovery will happen by magic. You cannot deprive people what they have without providing alternative.

PDP also call for the sack of Buhari ministers, don't you have confidence in the ministers as well?

Well, I was the person who said in one of Hausa programmes that Buhari has only five ministers who are working.

Let the president go and assess his ministers to know those who are working, he is the one who appointed them.

He should know those who are competent and those who are not competent.

Can you compare Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala with the present Minister of Finance? She doesn't seem to have sound economic background. Okonjo-Iweala is an international financial expert recognised by the IMF and the World Bank.

Buhari and APC should go for ministers who are respected in the international circle. Among his ministers, I know of only five who can talk to the international community to assist the country.

Politics 47

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

Hon. Baffa Babba-Dan-Agundi represents Kano Municipal Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly and is one of the vocal voices in the state. In this interview with JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM, he spoke on sundry issues.

Excerpt...

Why did you move the motion to remove the former governor's inscriptions from the projects he constructed?

I moved the motion on the floor of the House to clean all names pasted on government properties; the name of a former governor's group. It is an association formed by them and all structures were name after the association. The structures are the ones the former governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso built, the ones he renovated and the ones that were constructed before his election as a governor even before his first term. Now another group emanated in the name of Gandujiyya, the name of the present govenor. Some people decided to create that group and they have begun to write Gandujiyya in all the structures that the current governor is doing.

So, we saw it as not right. When you do something for the state, it is for the state and not for yourself. You will go and leave it. You can't go home with it. It would be better you write the year because all the properties belong to Kano State Government. For instance 2010, 2011, 2012, etc.

With this they would know who built it.

You don't have to be writing your name as if they belong to you. It makes the projects and the state look some how and so l decided to move that motion that nobody should put his name on the structure that he did not volunteer to construct. He used the tax payers money and if we should not write the tax payers name, we should not use the names of those in government and for your information there are lots of structures named after the present governor and it is all inclusive. During the tenure of Kwankwaso, he removed the name of Gen. Abacha and said it was not right. The then military administrator that handed over power to him name Kano State Government House, Gen. Sani Abacha House. When Kwankwaso came he said it was not right to write somebody's name on government property and he removed Abacha's name. He did the same thing to Abubakar Rimi Television. Rimi was the one who initiated that project but another governor came and name the Television House after Abubakar Rimi but Kwakwanso came and removed it.

Shekarau also name the Hajji Pilgrim Centre which he constructed after himself, Kwankwaso came and said it was wrong and removed that name. Now he is writing his name not in a particular project but in all projects done by himself and even the one done by others which he renovated. Is that proper?

What is your take on the political crisis between the former governor and the incumbent?

Kwankwaso decided to run the government from Abuja by telling the governor what he should do and what not to do. That's wrong, he can't run the state from Abuja. In the first instance, you should know that Ganduje was even Kwankwaso's boss before Kwankwaso became a governor. Ganduje was a commissioner in the Ministry of Works and Housing when Kwakwanso was a staff in the Ministry of Water Resources, then Ganduje sponsored Kwakwanso to the National Constitution Conference; Ganduje gave a helping hand for him to be the Deputy Speaker at the House of Representatives. Magaji Abdullahi and

Kwankwaso can't run Kano from Abuja –Lawmaker

Ganduje were Kwankwaso's bosses but a marriage of convenience became necessary for Kwankwaso and Ganduje to become governor and deputy, and Ganduje had been very loyal despite he was his first boss. So, what is there and now you want yo tell him that everything he has to do he must have to tell you and take permission from you. Do you think that the constituency project that l am entitled to that the governor would tell me how to go about it by telling me where to take the project to. Must the governor direct me or tell me what to do with the project. People elected me and l should listen to the people and tell the governor where l want my constituency project situated. The governor cannot tell me l should put this and that projects at this or that place in my constituency on his own because he doesn't know my priorities and that of my people.

What do you make of the crisis that erupted as a result of the planned mass wedding by the Kwankwasiyya movement that led to the sealing up of Kwankwaso's office?

Well, it was a deliberate attempt to destabilise the peaceful co-existence of the people and the government. Off course he, Kwankwaso stopped people from escorting Shekarau to mosque when Shekarau handed over to him. He told the police that he would not allow that and that Shekarau has to leave the state to allow him have a peaceful running of the government. Going to the mosque, Shekarua never announced that he was going to the mosque but people got to know and decide to receive him and escort him back to his house just less than 2-3km and it is just only one route and Kwankwaso and his people started saying that that was a deliberate plan to destabilise him. Now you want to start coming to initiate something like mass wedding. Mass wedding for what? You have an institution under the law to do that, which is Hisbah that is responsible for that programme, why didn't he take it to that institution which he has been working with. So, if really he wanted to put a helping hand that wouldn't have been a bad idea. Take it to that organisation and sponsor whatever number you can. If that mass wedding was not an attempt to destabilize the government, why should Kwankwaso and his group invite Kaduna and Jigawa states governors and others when you have your state governor to be a host or special guest of honour you refused to invite him. The governor cannot just fold his arms and sit down and start looking at things like that. The police actually stopped the programme because he has its own programme. The governor is a

The only way out is for Kwankwaso to realise that he is no more the governor.

He was followed and he should follow now. That is the only way out Agundi

very polite and gentleman, who doesn't like trouble. So, the Police said both Programmes were not going to take place.

I don't think anybody should say to me as a governor and Chief Security Officer of the State that l should not do my programme because somebody had fixed a programme on the same day. The police said they don 't want the other group to think they are selfish. So, they stopped both programmes. You can't do that to me if l were the governor. Nobody did that to Kwankwaso but the governor is very polite, very easy going and he said if we decide to go on with our programme, it might lead to crisis. You don't know how many people may be injured; you don't know how many people would be killed; you don't know what will happen, so let us respect the rules of the law and thank the security agencies for taken this idea. Personally, l vehemently rejected the position of the governor.

Do you agree that you all rode on the back of the former governor to get to your present offices as the slogan was APC-Kwankwasiyya during campaign?

Kwankwaso rode on other peoples back - like the former governor Abubakar Rimi, former ministers, Aminu Wali and Musa Gwadabe. He rode on their backs to become a governor. Riding on his back is not a new thing. So, if you rode on somebody's structure to become a governor, member of the National Assembly or state assembly, would that be a be new thing? It is the old structure that we have been following till now. He put his own helping hand there to maintain the old structure and we rode on that structure but it has been the old structure of our fore fathers, from the Aminu Kano and successively down the line. So, when he was contesting the governor he never had a member of the State Assembly he can claim h e put

in there, a member in the state executive of the party which he put there. He never had anybody, he rode on people's back to become a governor. Let them say they don't believe in Musa Gwadebe, Aminu Wali and Abubakar Rimi.

Some persons believe that the political crisis in Kano State has something to do with 2019 presidential election. Why some are alleging that Kwakwanso is interested to run for the Presidency in 2019, the governor is resisting his interest to support Buhari. As a player in Kano how true is this?

That is correct because what they say now is Kwakwasiyya Nigeria, building the structure to other parts of the country. Even the last contest that he ran a lot of people advised him to support Buhari that probably when Buhari finishes he would support him , he refused and contested with Buhari. Well, fine it is his right as it is not against the constitution of the country but he cannot come and put us in a crisis now right from the day one of this government. Because he has his presidential ambition, then he should ride on the state government resources like what he did in 2014 presidential primaries. He used local government funds to roll his campaign. He wants the governor to do the same thing for him in 2019, otherwise the governor is in trouble. No, we can't allow that.

We have read that Kwankwaso left so much debts in the state. How true is this?

He left over N370 billion debt. Kwakwanso left over N370 billion debt for the state.

Kwankwaso's former Chief of Staff said what you are attributing to debts are not in anyway debts because they are just contracts that had not been completed.

Okay. You should define debt if that is not a debt. He left cash debts and contracts he awarded. Many of the contractors they were not mobilized. Why should he do that? Must he award such contracts? The little he did, people appreciated; l personally appreciated him. l can't because l am in disagreement with him and say he didn't do anything. I can't be that irresponsible. He has done a lot of good things for the state and that does not mean he didn't do bad things in the state that we would not talk about.

On Kwankwaso's investigation by the EFCC, his Chief of Staff said the petition against the former governor was engineered by the present government in the state. Do you agree?

You see when there is a crisis, that is the kind of thing you see. When there is a crisis between me and you, when you go to Abakiliki with your car and hit your car there, the next thing you would do is to say l was responsible for you hitting your car. So, every single thing that would happen to Kwankwaso now, he would say that it is the governor that initiated or instituted it but it doesn't matter, let him say that. We are not afraid of hearing that.

How best do you think the political crisis in Kano State could be resolved that it would not affect the fortunes of APC in the state.

The only way out is for Kwankwaso to realise that he is no more the governor. He was followed and he should follow now. That is the only way out.

48

T

Perspective

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

he historic landing of a cargo plane at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu on Tuesday, August 24, 2016 has been generating a lot of excitement among the people of south east Nigeria but beyond the celebrations, I am convinced it should also give us the opportunity to sit down and aggregate what economic opportunities it should provide for us as a people.

Three years ago, the first international flight landed at the Enugu Airport following its elevation to an International Airport earlier, enabling our people the ease of making international business and leisure travels while also significantly increasing the traffic of tourists to the south east of Nigeria.

South-East Nigeria is a vast market with a population conservatively estimated at N45 million people most of whom engage in agriculture and commerce. But the opportunities the Enugu Airport presents become even more significant when you consider the proximity of the State to the North-Central Nigeria states of Benue and Kogi States through which the other states in the North-Central can be accessed.

What this therefore means is that the Enugu Airport has the capacity to become the cargo hub for the South East and North Central Nigeria. With a combined population of close to 70 million people, it is easy to imagine opportunities this will provide for the people.

During the recently held in April 2016, which had as its theme: “Beyond Oil: Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth & Sustainable Development”, I had made it clear that ours was a government that was determine to provide the critical development enablers that will catalyze the economy of the state in a manner that the living standard of the people will be uplifted.

Since we assumed office on May 29, 2015, I have worked hard to channel resources to areas critical to attracting investment opportunities. These include developing networks of road infrastructure; enhancing access to tools and skills for mechanized agriculture as well as improving the security situation in the state for the comfort of business.

These are vital planks in our quest to ensure that the state is economically secure while also convincing our usually entrepreneurial citizens and investors that the state does not only provide a wide and secure market but also is an incubator for the reward of capital.

While we have been working extra hard in the direction of boosting economic activities in the state, the landing of the first cargo plane at the Enugu Airport has added fillip to our strategic goal of ensuring Enugu is not only a regional political capital but also a business and commercial hub of great significance.

Studies have shown that cargo airports are great stimulants for economic development. A study done in 2005 on the local and regional economic impacts of Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Airport estimates that that the airport generates 28,545 direct jobs. Of these, around 63% (18,000) are in airlines that use the airport. In addition, 3,000 people are employed by freight airlines/freight forwarders and around 2,300 by ground transportation companies.

This is not all. Another 11,264 indirect jobs are generated as a result of expenditure by firms located at the airport, on the goods and services they buy from their suppliers.

My people are great entrepreneurs.

They travel to all corners of the world in search of goods they bring home to meet the needs of the teeming population of people. They are increasingly also becoming producers themselves,

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

'Enugu Airport and the 'cargo' of opportunities for my people'

Ugwuanyi

engaging in commercial farming, most of which are exportable to other countries, especially those where Nigerians are in significant numbers.

What this means is that there are pipelines of opportunities for my people which, combined with the development strides we are making, are capable of transforming the fortunes of the state and its people in a very short time. Although I have mentioned some in previous paragraphs, I will take time outline these opportunities below: Employment generation. With the cargo handling capacity of the Enugu Airport, tremendous opportunities have opened for young people in and around Enugu. The Minneapolis example I cited earlier presents a window to project the boundless opportunities available for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers in and around the airport.

As a government, we have made employment generation a key plant of our democratic deliverable by creating fertile enablers for the expression of the entrepreneurial spirit of our people and ensuring we get priority call for investment destination. The cargo section of the airport has capacity to directly employ a large number of people while others who will engage in logistics and warehousing support services will also benefit.

Trade facilitation. The trade and commerce industry in Nigeria is dominated by the people of south east who travel to all corners of the world for goods and services that meet the needs of well-defined market segments. With a cargo airport in Enugu, the challenges of travelling to Lagos and Abuja to receive imported goods would be significantly reduced and by that token boosting economic activities in the state. It will also improve turnaround time, save money and reduce the fatalities that often happen while moving goods from Lagos to the south east by road.

We also have to look at the agro industries and how this could benefit. In response to the call on our people to invest in agriculture, activities in that sector have been on the upswing. We are looking a t a future when export

of agricultural products will be a major revenue earner for the state and the cargo airport will not only facilitate this but will ensure our products get to the market fresher. And this can only happen by air.

Colombia, for instance, is the largest exporter to North America of cut flowers, with vegetables and clothing also being important air exports. An estimated 16% of the value of merchandise exports from Colombia is by air. Also in Kenya, exports by air of agricultural products (e.g. fresh vegetables and cut flowers), largely to Europe, already constitute one of the country’s largest industries and the second biggest earner of foreign exchange.

These are opportunities that I am sure will not only improve the livelihoods of the people but also spur innovation that I will discuss in the next subhead.

Inspiring Innovation. Research has shown that when there is an opportunity to serve a bigger market, 30% of businesses will substantially innovate while the remaining 70% will marginally innovate. What is important here is that innovation happens across industries when they smell the chance to sell to a larger market opens.

Our people are already exporting fresh vegetables and other farm products to China, Europe and the Americas but I am certain that with a cargo airport now close to them, I anticipate improvements in crops, standardization and better packaging of products.

This, on its own will spurn other indus-

During the last Enugu Investment Summit, our emphasis was on making the state attractive to would-be investors by providing the right infrastructure, security and policy architecture

tries that would provide the material and standards for the packaging and also open widows for marketing and branding opportunities for what were otherwise commodities. This will also impact very strongly to economies of scale as industries cluster, more people will be producing to service a vast export market at significantly lower costs.

Investment enabler. Most air cargo consists of manufactured products or products that will be used in a manufacturing process. It is estimated that 40% of the value of inter-regional trade in manufactured goods is transported by air. What this means is that nearness to seaports may no longer be an inhibitor to investors who desire to exploit to resource and labour opportunities in the state to locate their industries in Enugu State. The cargo airport has helped solve that problem.

During the last Enugu Investment Summit, our emphasis was on making the state attractive to would-be investors by providing the right infrastructure, security and policy architecture. Now that investors are certain their products can be moved to markets without added logistics costs from moving them to Lagos air and sea ports, deciding to invest in Enugu has become a lot easier and already, Government is willing a to provide even more incentives geared towards ensuring there is immediate returns on investment in any industry in Enugu State.

Investors are now certain of improved supply chain management as many industries are assured of shortened delivery times which is critical to most businesses these days.

When all these would have happened, the longer term implications are that: 1.There will be increased competition as more people would have invested in the state, employing more people, creating efficient systems and deepening the skills of the people in wider industries.

2. It will lead to the expedited and delivery of high-value products, especially relevant to modern-dynamic industries, such as the pharmaceutical/biotechnology and telecommunication equipment sectors 3. It will also boost e-business as our people will begin to see opportunities of connecting with businesses around the world, knowing their sales will be lifted from an airport close-by and that their purchases from other parts of the world will be delivered with minimal logistics challenges.

4. It means that as a government, we will also be in a better revenue stead.

As these businesses grow, government will also benefit from the taxes they will pay. It then means we will be in a better position to provide services for our people, deepen the infrastructure base of the state and attract more investors that will help develop the state the more.

It is against these backgrounds that I am calling on the people of Enugu State to look beyond the excitement at having cargo planes land at the Enugu Airport.

There are pipelines of opportunities for us to maximize the opportunity to better our economic circumstances and as Tom Peters said, “If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.”

•Ugwuanyi is the Governor of Enugu State

49

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

Young Telegraph with DEBORAH OCHENI

TOPIC

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Marrying an online spouse

It doesn’t matter where you meet

Online information is fake

I don’t see it as a big deal, it doesn’t matter if you meet your spouse via social media and I think it is same as meeting in restaurant and any other places.

Personally I can’t marry someone I met through social media because most information provided on their online profile is fake.

JUSTINA PAUL

CHINENYE AUGUSTUS

If he is somebody I know

No special thing attached

If he is somebody I know from childhood and eventually lost contact, I will see social media as a link to reconnect us and I will marry him

It depends on individual but I don’t think there is any special thing attached to where and how you both meet. As for me, I can marry him if he possesses the qualities I look out for and I love him.

ROSELINE PIUS

CHINYERE VERA

I will not try it

If he has a family

I will not even try it; no lady is real on social media with all this editing of pictures and all that. I cannot even try it because I can’t tell my parents I want to marry a lady I met online.

It doesn’t matter provided he has a family that I can meet before we proceed to the altar.

CHIKA AMARA

SHEDRACH OMACHI OCHEJA

I can if the guy is sincere

My father did not marry online

I can marry someone I meet through social media if he is sincere and God fearing. The only problem is it will be difficult to know who he really is since online profile accommodates lies.

My father did not marry my mother online so I see no reason why I should consider that.

PATRICK AKAGU

I must know who I want to marry physically

I cannot marry online spouse.

I must see and know you and your family physically before I marry you.

GEORGE NOAH

AMARACHI ODION

Those who are in it are not enjoying it

How can I when those that are in it are not enjoying it The truth is, it is not all the traits that you see online are real and changing him after marriage will be difficult if not impossible. I better don’t try it.

TABS ACHENEJE

50

News Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

Admissions: JAMB Registrar tasks VCs, others on due process A

Police, politicians, journalists in discussion ahead of 2019 election

•Says Nov 30 deadline remains Yekeen Nurudeen

T Abuja

he Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has warned vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions that admissions into all tertiary institutions must be done following due process.

Oloyede, who gave the warning yesterday in Abuja, during the extra-ordinary technical committee meeting on 2016 Admissions, said this year’s academic year would not be done arbitrarily as the November 30 deadline was sacrosanct.

The JAMB registrar, who disclosed that the meeting was for the placement of suitably qualified candidates

into tertiary institutions, called on tertiary institutions to adhere strictly to due process in the admission of students.

He said: “We will not accept whatever is done arbitrarily. I hope that those that are here will make adjustment. They must be able to explain why somebody with high score was not given admissions.

“What we are saying is that people should follow due process, universities have the right to have criteria for admission but the criteria must be reasonable, the criteria must be explicit.”

He stressed that the Board would not initiate or insert any candidates but ensure that no candidate is unjustly treated by any institution.

“I, therefore, restate my earlier submission that the

Senate and Academic Boards of the institutions have the primary responsibility of recommending candidates to the JAMB for admissions,” he warned.

Oloyede also added that the only difference between this year’s admissions process and what has always been the practice, was the policy that there should be no written post-UTME test.

He hinted that the first batch of the 2016 admissions would be out before third week of September.

“What we said was that some of the recommedation the institutions brought earlier were not explicit in terms of criteria and we have asked our colleagues in the universities to send better criteria.

“I have a particular school where the person who score the highest was not taken and the reason was because the university changed it rules. That will not be ac-

cepted.

“You cannot change the rules when the game is on.

You have to wait till 2017 to publish the new rules you cannot have a particular rule and changed to another.

Where things are not done properly, we will not be only doing what is right but we will be seen by reasonable people that we have done what is right,” the JAMB registrar noted.

Speaking on the capacities of schools, Oloyede said the issue remains a national problem, citing instances where institutions admit students over shooting their capacities.

“I think its a national problem where people over shoot their carrying capacity that will certainly be against the rules and it will affect quality of students. Only few institutions are admitting below carrying capacity due to certain issues.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (left) and his Special Adviser on Amnesty, Mr. Ken Chinda, during the inauguration of the state’s Amnesty Programme Committee, in Port Harcourt … yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

T

he Nigerian Army has handed over 566 underaged persons, including breastfeeding children and mothers to the Borno Government after clearing them of being Boko Haram terrorists.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig.Gen. Victor Ezugwu, handed over those held in protective custody to Gov. Kashim Shettima at a ceremony in Maiduguri yesterday.

Ezugwu said the gesture was aimed at ensuring that just and innocent Nigerians did not suffer for the atrocities committed by others.

“It is indeed my pleasure to address this important audience this afternoon on the occasion of the handover of underaged and breastfeeding mothers arrested during operations from Boko Haram camps to the Borno State Government.

“I am happy to state here that for record purpose this is the fourth time we are

Military hands over 566 underaged persons to Borno govt

conducting such an exercise since I took over command of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army,” Ezugwu said.

According to him, this is a clear demonstration of the passionate spirit demonstrated by the Army Headquarters toward ensuring that the innocent Nigerians do not suffer for the atrocities committed by the terrorists.

“May I use this opportunity to state that the counter

insurgency operation being conducted by all the military formations in the North-East is not meant to create hardship for people,” he said.

Ezugwu said the military had respect for the fundamental human right for all suspects in its operations.

“These underaged persons we are releasing today were not detained as suspects or accused persons. But held in protective custody

to prevent them from being radicalised and indoctrinated for use as suicide bombers and other evil antics of the terrorists,” he said.

He said that the detainees, included 149 breastfeeding mothers, 355 breastfeeding children and 62 children.

While receiving them, Shettima thanked the military for the gesture, and promised proper care for them.

FRSC names first female Deputy Corps Marshal

T

he Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Oyeyemi, has approved the appointment of Ojeme Ewhudjakpor as the first Deputy Chief Corps Marshal in charge of operations, the agency said yesterday.

A statement signed by the FRSC spokesman, Bisi Kazeem, said Ewhudjakpor ’s appointment followed the retirement of her predecessor, Abu Adei.

The development came amid a redeployment exercise that has been un-

derway within the agency.

In the exercise, 32 senior officers, who included two Deputy Corps Marshal, seven Assistant Corps Marshals, 13 Corps Commanders and 10 Deputy Corps Marshals, were said to have been affected.

head of the 2019 general election, security agents, politicians and other stakeholders in the Nigerian project have called on the media to help reshape the drifting ship of the nation so as to berth in a safe haven for the country to accomplish its full potential.

That was the fallout of the anniversary lecture marking the one year of an online news medium, Paragon News and the 40th birthday of the organisation's chairman, Mr. Ademola Babalola.

The stakeholders who converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, agreed that Nigeria is still yearning for an entrenched democratic culture as such, there must be a flourishing economic agenda to drive the country out of recession.

In the lecture entitled: "What Roles for the Media Ahead of 2019 Election", the guest lecturer, Mr. Femi Babalola, admonished the media to live up to their billings as

the fourth estate of the realm by engaging in a more serious investigative reporting on the antecedents of the would-be leaders at every level of governance in the country.

The guest lecturer, who is the Chairman of Pentagon Engineering and Jogor Events Centre, articulated the role of journalists at this crucial stage of the nation's national life, regretting the prostrate state of the economy and the lurking social crisis which he said should be of concern to the media. He was emphatic that the media had a duty to ensure that the current economic crisis does not degenerate to social crisis.

"At the setting in of social crisis, we will return to the state of nature where both life and property would no longer be safe or guaranteed as a result of widespread anarchy that will result. ''Both economic and social stability are functions of diligent governance and adept leadership.''

UBA sponsored Ebola Movie “93 Days”premieres in Toronto

“9

3 Days” a movie which depicts the true account of how Nigeria faced its first case of the Ebola Virus and conquered it, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 9. The TIFF has built a reputation for only screening the best films from around the world.

UBA co-sponsored the production of the movie, which is a profound story of courage and sacrifice and the call to duty at the risk of one’s life.

The movie “93 days” is about the men and women who risked their lives and made sacrifices to save Nigeria from the consequences of the Ebola Virus outbreak.

UBA, as a pan - African bank, played a significant role in the fight against the Ebola virus in the sub region and was pleased to support

the story of how the spread of deadly virus was stopped in Nigeria.

In the midst of the crisis UBA kept its banking doors open every day in the three of the most affected countries including Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, an unprecedented act of corporate courage on the part of the bank and its dedicated staff.

The banking halls of UBA were kept open to ensure that the residents of the affected countries were able to sustain economic activities, as there was the risk of a severe economic crisis following the rapid spread of the epidemic.

UBA also donated money and materials to help stop the spread of the virus and through the UBA Foundation, made a cash donation of $1 million to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, which were the worst affected by the epidemic.

Fire razes police barrack in Lagos

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fire outbreak yesterday razed a police barrack in Nigeria’s largest city and commercial hub, injuring one person and once again exposing the abysmal living conditions in the megapolis of 20 million.

“It took the fire service more than one hour before they responded to our distress call,” Inspector Mike, a resident of the Ijeh police barrack has said.

“By the time they came, the fire has reduced everything into a rubble. That’s why we drove the fire fighters away,” he said.

Also, Martina Undie, another resident, said: “You can

see that all the 24 flats have been completely burnt. We could not salvage anything,” Undie said a man who was sleeping at the time of the incident “got some serious burns on his body” and was in hospital.

Charred household items including stoves, fridges, and television sets littered the area. Accommodation is just one of the many problems dogging police in Nigeria.

Many public service workers have not been paid on time due to a crash in oil prices.

The oil-producing country slipped into recession last month with inflation hitting a double-digit high of 17.1 percent at the end of July.

News Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 September 2016

51

Buhari to sanction speech writers over plagiarism Anule Emmanuel, Abuja

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has directed for immediate against some presidency official for wrongful insertion in his public speech.

The President yesterday in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity Garba Shehu said was wrongsul insertion in the address read during the launch of the ``Change Begins with Me’’ campaign last week.

Garba said: “It was observed that the similarities between a paragraph in President Obama’s 2008 Victory Speech and what President Buhari

read in paragraph nine of the sixteen-paragraph address while inaugurating the Campaign on September 8, 2016 are too close to be passed as coincidence.

“There was a mistake by an overzealous staff and we regret that this has happened.”

He said already, a Deputy Director in the Presidency has accepted responsibility for the insertion of the contentious paragraph.

“This serious oversight will be investigated thoroughly and appropriate sanction meted.

The Presidency wishes to state in the clearest possible terms that it regrets this unfortunate incident and will ensure that this does not happen again,” he said.

Akwa Ibom gov endorses IbomFest 2016

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he maiden edition of the Akwa Ibom State heritage festival tagged IbomFest 2016 which is billed to hold from December 15 to 17 has received major boost as Governor Udom Emmanuel announced his support for the festival.

At a press conference which held recently at the Government House, Uyo, the governor enjoined all -would-be visitors to take opportunity of the festival to visit the state and experience the artistic, cultural and tourism opportunities that abound in the state.

He affirmed that the entire machinery of the state government was working in unity towards making sure that IbomFest 2016 would make indelible imprints in the consciousness of all guests.

Udom went on to state that the environment of Akwa Ibom State is remarkably clean and healthy while the peace and security status of our state, even in these turbulent times of terrorism and insurrections the world over, speak volumes about our status as the prime tourism destination in our country.

“Ibomfest, therefore, in the spirit of the Dakkada philosophy of our government, is positioned to contribute significantly towards the enhancement of the revenue base of the state and yield positive harvests to the people and government of the state,” he said.

He further stated that would attract foreign direct investment to the state as well as create opportunity for stakeholders in the tourism industry to showcase their potentials.

Enugu monarchs pass vote of no confidence on LG chair Charles Onyekwere, ENUGU

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raditional rulers in Aku community in IgboEtiti Local Government Area of Enugu State yesterday passed a vote of no confidence on the transition committee chairman, Mr. Malachy Agbo.

They also called on the state governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to commence probe into the financial activities of the council, especially the security vote and allocation without further delay.

A statement made available to journalists in Enugu and signed by its chairman of Aku traditional rulers council,

HRH V.O Attah; Chairman, Aku General Assembly, Mr. Felix Ezikeanyi; Chairman, Aku Welfare Association Federated (AWAF); Chairperson, Ndiomu Aku, Ezinne Chinyere Idike respectively, accused Agbo for not checkmating the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area since his assumption in office.

To this end, the six communities noted that it had concluded plans to stage a peaceful protest at the Government House, against Agbo.

The statement read: “We want to use these opportunity to appealed to governor Ugwuanyi to save us from the hands of the transition committee chairman Mr. Malachy Agbo. He must account for all the monies he received since he assumed office."

I’ll make Edo a role model –Obaseki Cajetan Mmuta, BENIN

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overnorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 28 election in Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki yesterday promised to make the state, a model to be emulated by other states of the federation through viable development programmes.

Obaseki made the promise when he met with mem-

bers of the Association of Salon Operators, in Benin the state capital.

He said the transformation of the state which has already started under the Governor Adams Oshiomhole led APC government would be taken to a greater level when he is elected governor of the state.

He said his government will not only continue with the roads construction, the revolution in the educational sector, and agricultural sector, but will also seek ways to increase wealth creation in the state.

A Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme vehicle which skidded off the OwodeElede Road, in Ikorodu, Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

FG: N100bn saved in ‘ghost workers’ purge …insists recovered funds will be channelled into infrastructure Ndu Mbamanu and Esther Sodeke

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he Federal Government yesterday said it had saved the sum of N100 billion after purging thousands of cost workers from the public service payroll.

According to Kemi Adeosun, about 30,000 staff on the payroll are not on the nominal rolls of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs),stressing that modalities are being put in place to investigate the 30,000 staff as well as expand such investigations to help curtail debt servicing and revenue leakages.

An online news portal, Per Second News reported that the

minister also said efforts have intensified to reduce ghost workers, stating that the Ministry is working on efficiency and channelling of the recovered money into investment in infrastructure.

Adeosun who noted that there is need for a lot of job creation activities, said that savings from clearing of ghost workers has helped to pave way for fresh recruitments, adding that plans are underway to reflate and reposition the Nigerian economy from a consumption to an investment driven economy.

The minister further stated that the sum of N60 billion will be invested in social intervention programmes to help put money into people's pocket through the payment of N5,000 to the poor and vulnerable,

school feeding programmes and the N-Power.

She expressed belief that the youths are parts of the solution to the economic issues, stressing further that the present administration is working to restructure programmes such as the YouWin to help empower the youth.

“We have a very young population and I think the youths are part of the solution.

We are trying to see how we can restructure the YouWin which is a programme that created a lot of jobs and opportunities for young people.

Anything that is working well, we shouldn't interfere with, we should just continue with it and things that are not working well we should try and correct them.

“Things that are being done

well, we have continued, the NSIA, we have continued with the people that are there, project Nollywood we continued with,” she said.

Also, the Head, Continuous Audit Team, Mr. Mohammed Dikwa, said that personnel cost in January was around N165 billion along with pension cost, adding that the personnel cost has been reduced

by N10 billion through the removal of about 40,000 ghost workers.

Dikwa further expressed happiness that N100 billion has been saved for government from personnel cost, adding that plans are on to engage the MDAs on what has been gotten from the forensic audit of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Visa denial: Top Clinton Foundation donor sues four U.S agencies Olaniyi Aderuku

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Nigerian-Lebanese billionaire donor to the Clinton Foundation, Gilbert Chagoury, has sued seven federal agencies Thurs-

day over being denied entry to the United States, saying his reputation was damaged by the disclosure to the Los Angeles Times of reports alleging he may have facilitated fundraising for Hezbollah.

Chagoury, a friend of Bill Clinton, an ambassador to the Vatican and owner of a hilltop mansion in Beverly Hills, said he wanted an opportunity to correct what he said was false information. He said it damaged his reputation and

CHANGE AND CONFIRMATION OF NAME

REVELATION

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS INAIN JOHN MAYOMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. INAIN REVELATION SAMUEL. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

JOEL

I, formerly known and addressed as GAMBO JOEL DANIEL, now wish to be known and addressed as JOEL DANIEL. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

UMA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHINASA NWAOBASI, now wish to be known and addressed as CHINASA UMA. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

OBIOWU

I, formerly known and addressed as TUNRAYO AWOLOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as TUNRAYO AWOLOLA OBIOWU. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Kurakonghan

I formerly known and addressed as KOKO LENIN now wish to be known and addressed as KOKO LENIN KURAKONGHAN. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

ROBERTS

I formerly known and addressed as AGHANTI ANTHONY CHIBUZOR now wish to be known and addressed as ROBERTS ANTHONY CHIBUZOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

jega

I, formerly known and addressed as JEGA BROSS, now wish to be known and addressed as ABUBAKAR JABBO JEGA. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

aborishade

I, formerly known and addressed as ABORISHADE TIAMIYU BADMUS, now wish to be known and addressed as ABORISHADE OLUFEMI DAVID. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Stormberg Engineering and general public note.

mbachu

This is to notify the general public that the names PERPETUA NWAKAEGO MBACHU, AMAKA MBACHU and AMAKA PATRICK refer to one and the same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as PERPETUA NWAKAEGO MBACHU. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and the general public should please take note

Okoro

I formerly known and addressed as NWEZE OGONNAYA OKORO now wish to be known and addressed as COLLINS OGONNAYA OKORO. All former documents remain valid.

Eco Bank Plc and general public please take note.

roland

I formerly known and addressed as SUNDAY BOLA OMOWUNMI now wish to be known and addressed as ROLAND JOY OMOWUNMI. Also, on my bank document my date of birth was wrongly written as July 7, 1975 instead of the correct date which is July 7, 1979. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

zulqarnain

I formerly known and addressed as ISAH OMEIZA MUHAMMED now wish to be known and addressed as ISAH OMEIZA ZULQARNAIN. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Ndefo

I formerly known as NDEFO GODWIN EMEKA now wish to be known and addressed as NDEFO GODWIN CHUKWUEMEKA. all former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

bankrenner

I formerly known as BANKRENNER OLAIDE now wish to be known and addressed as BANKRENNER OLAIDE REGINA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

olufemi

I formerly known as MISS ODENIYI MOTURAYO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUFEMI MOTURAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

prompted a bank in California to close his accounts.

Last month, The Times reported that the State Department denied a visa to Chagoury, a British citizen, on terrorism-related grounds, a broad category that can apply to anyone suspected of providing any kind of support to an extremist group.

According to government documents, the decision was based at least in part on unconfirmed reports alleging that Chagoury was assisting a Lebanese politician in funneling money to Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Chagoury’s suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, names agencies with access to classified information in databases the government uses to track known or suspected terrorists: the FBI, the Justice Department, the National Counterterrorism Center, the State Department, CIA, Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.

He does not name The Times in the lawsuit. “I have always been told that American justice demands due process, yet I was given no explanation for having my visa revoked, and no opportunity to rebut these falsehoods before my reputation was dragged through the mud,”

udeh I formerly known as RUPHINA UKWUOMA OKEKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. RUPHINA UKWUOMA UDEH. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

52

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Perspectives

17 september 2016

When silence becomes golden

veryone living in Nigeria currently knows that things are no longer the same in the country. Cost of living has skyrocketed as the prices of goods and services have continued to head upwards; while sadly money in our pockets is heading in the opposite direction.

Although many believe that some Nigerians are more insulated to the recession that is currently pervading across the land like a plague (which may be somewhat true), however, the reality is that they (rich folks) are feeling the pinch too!

“It’s not true,” I’m sure many Nigerians will say to this assertion but that is the honest truth. Even if they do have sizeable bank accounts or wallets to absorb the shocks have we also forgotten that they will also now have more people depending on them for one form of assistance or the other?

I can definitely not be classified as being an affluent Nigerian, but even at my own level I have noticed the rise in number of requests I’m now receiving from people who feel I’m still better off than them and can thus extend a helping hand.

And so while the major difference between I and the more affluent may be in the fact that I can only squeeze out a few hundred or even a few thousand naira as assistance, the more affluent Nigerian will be expected to fork out much more money and to many more people.

I vividly remember a story a close friend told me years ago about how the now defunct Habib Bank used to give their board members a special monthly allowance in dollars. When I sought to know why, my friend explained that it was the bank’s way of helping their directors live up to their billings as being members of Habib Bank’s board.

I

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

f you are a lady, ripe for marriage but your own husband is yet to meet or approach you, there is hope for you if you are in Christ Jesus. He says: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask WHATEVER you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

However, it is important that you look inwards and ensure that your self confidence is intact. Confidence is one of the major qualities that RESPONSIBLE young men seek in a wife.

It is not what happens to you that matters but what happens in you. You might have on your face, a scar from a fatal or domestic accident that occurred once upon a time. You might be dark complexioned but would have preferred to be a fair lady. Perhaps your legs are not so straight and you assume you are not good looking enough for guys. Maybe you think your height or inadequate educational qualification is a deterrent to young men from approaching you for a relationship. Have you been involved in pre-marital relationships that got broken and you are blaming yourself for the predicament? Do you suspect that your set of teeth or eyes that are not so bright are responsible? Do you despise the size of your body or boobs and assume they are not attractive enough to young men? Is it about poor parental background? Background must never hinder your foreground.

None of the above factors may be your problem because apart from physical appearance, beauty is more about self confidence. If you are a confident lady and you recognize your self worth, you are beautiful.

You are more beautiful than you think; more beautiful than so many other ladies.

IN SOME CASES, if you see a lady that is not beautiful by your assessment and she is getting attention, not as a reward for sin, check her confidence level. Recognize your self worth. Work with what you have. Apart from your dress and physical looks, your

TS from the Sidelines 08050498544 (sms only) tunsul2@gmail.com “Do you know how many requests my father used to receive virtually daily from family, friends, relatives and those that just knew he was a board member?

It was that money (allowance) that he (father) used to change in order to assist such people,” he said.

And that is the way we are in Nigeria – we can complain to high heavens about our leaders; yet at the same time many of us still expect them to meet our financial requests. In all honesty were exactly do we expect them to get the money they give out?

Sadly many of us have become used to having such monies floating around eventually trickling into someone’s pocket – be it the government official or bread seller.

Which is why many people are having nostalgic feeling of the Nigeria of before May 2015 – whether we were heading to financial ruin or not all they remember is that back then a bag of rice was under N12, 000 and not the over N20, 000 it is now. Bread was still in the N70 range not N120 that it is now; cement was N1500 and not N2500 and so on.

But perhaps what has further heightened dissatisfaction towards the current government, apart from the poor state of

the economy, is their seeming reluctance to communicate to the citizens about what they are trying to do to ameliorate the harsh climate blowing across the land.

It was this poor communications allegation that prompted me to put a call through to a friend who is an aide to a minister of the federal republic heading a very sensitive ministry. In order not to put him off, I began by asking him an ‘easy question’ whether government was actually properly funding the work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“Why are you asking?” was his immediate reply.

“Because it is so unlike Berger (Julius) to deploy so few people to their sites, which appears to be the reason for their slow pace of work around the long bridge part of the expressway,” I told him.

“No TS we are properly funding it, the Expressway is one of the priority projects of government so it is not lacking funding,” he insisted.

Hmm. I then turned to the main reason why I called.

“Old boy what exactly are you guys doing now, things are really tough in the country now o!”

“Yes we know we’re all feeling it.”

“You, feeling it,” I retorted with a lot

of sarcasm.

“It’s true, yes we may be in government but don’t we have families? Besides you won’t believe what my salary is. It has been cut drastically so have the allowances been cut.

“You won’t believe that I had to pay for my GoTV…” I cut him off, “GoTV?” “Yes the ministry couldn’t afford DSTV and after waiting for sometime without money being released I had to use my money to get GoTV, I couldn’t afford DSTV,” he said.

He further explained that he was the one now paying for his driver and maintenance of the official car given him.

“TS, you’ve been my friend for a long time I can’t lie to you, things are very difficult here!”

Still not totally convinced I said: “Haba it can’t be that bad!”

“Yes it is. Can you imagine that since joining government I have only travelled once with the minister? Even travels have been severely curtailed. It is only one aide that is allowed to travel with the minister – and even then it is not all the time. Even the minister cannot just travel anyhow. He has to justify such a trip before being allowed to travel.

“So why are you guys not coming out to explain to Nigerians the situation,” I asked.

“TS tell them what? Everybody knows how bad the situation is what they want to hear is when it will be over and right now no one can with all certainty when this will be! So right now we have decided to lie low and only communicate sparsely until the situation improves,” he explained. So if my friend is to be believed silence is the new golden rule of government – at least until things begin to improve!

Wanted: A confident wife Marriage Clinic with Albinus Chiedu 08038117704 (sms only) marriagecanwork@yahoo.com walking steps, added to clarity and firmness in your voice when you speak, combine to present your confidence. You could dress so gorgeously and fantastically and yet, walk like a panicky or scared person and talk like someone who is afraid, thereby displaying a lack of confidence. Many a guy would never consider such a lady as a wife material.

My dear, no woman in this whole wide world has everything. What you see are women who appreciate their self worth and confidently work with what they have in a way that does not offend God, but glorifies him.

For instance, a man asks you to sell your dignity to him by having sex with him, without any official marriage rites. What goes on in your mind? You feel you have to comply in order to get his commitment to marry you. When you do that, you have simply pushed your self respect into the gutter. Apart from the fact that premarital sex lacks the capacity to secure fulfilment of a promise to marry you, even if he eventually marries you, an impression is already established in his mind that you can as well, open your legs for any other man without any marriage rites. Trust, which sustains a relationship may not survive in your marriage eventually.

Sister, you are too valuable to be toiled with. You are the most beautiful woman in the world for YOUR OWN husband that you are yet to meet, see or marry. Do not out of lack of confidence, destroy his golden elements in you before he finds you.

To ensure that you marry your own husband and not another person’s own, you must conquer prevalent fears like the fear of rejection and the fear of never getting married. You fight to keep a premarital relationship alive amidst abuse, pain, torture you might be suffering from it. You feel breaking up, means not being good enough for the guy. So, you struggle for his acceptance in spite of his character flaws and weaknesses.

There is also fear of getting old and fear of personality inadequacy. In some cases, sister feels that because the guy is not pressurising her for sex, she must be below standard.

She holds unto the relationship for so long, waiting for the young man to endorse her value with marriage, as if he is God. But the truth is that men can smell fear. They can sense your motives if you are desperately hanging on to the relationship because of fear. Please, deal with fear. Become more confident in your premarital relationship. If someone is not qualified to be your spouse, the person is not. Don’t hang on to the rela-

tionship because of fear.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2nd Timothy 1:7).

A confident lady loves God and obeys God’s word to the letter because there is place for divine GRACE and DELIVERANCE from demonic influence. She craves for a husband that loves God, prays for him and does everything to draw his attention to the things of God. This is the lady that responsible guys seek as wife.

However, except in the course of official relationships, or as a reaction to a lifethreatening behaviour such as attempted rape, don’t ever use a commanding tone on a guy in a way that portrays you as being disrespectful, especially if you are in a premarital or marital relationship with him.

Self confidence does not mean disrespect or disobedience to biblical instructions. A lady must know where to draw a line between both.

Other attractions to responsible guys include humility, sincerity, trust, focus and homeliness. You could register for our Marriage Preparatory Programme holding from November 10 to 12, 2016 in Lagos. It will help you.

Above all, “trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

For questions, prayers, personal counselling, seminars, wedding ministration, etc, CONTACT: The Coordinator, MARRIAGE CAN WORK MINISTRY Mobile: +234-8038117704 E-mail: marriagecanwork@yahoo.com; marriagethings@gmail.com P. O. Box, 13188, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

53

The disadvantages in Jonathan's needless patience

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atience is a good virtue and as one of the hallmarks of an ideal man, we all know its importance.

But just like too much of everything comes with disadvantages, extreme patience can be misconstrued to mean weakness or even stupidity. That former president Goodluck Jonathan is patient is not in doubt going by his gentle mien and peaceful disposition during and after his tenure.

As the vice president to the late Umaru Yar'Adua, Jonathan could be seen always walking behind his boss with his hands behind his back most of the times when they walked together. To most people, this attitude depicted loyalty,which is key in politics. But too much loyalty could also be a sign of weakness.

Ex-president Jonathan was obviously weak as a leader and this was evident in his lethargic approach to critical national issues. He is also a weak husband to his wife and it may not be out of place to say he has no modicum of control over his wife, Patience, who was good at throwing caution to the wind. Her idiosyncrasies must have utterly disappointed her husband while in office and the $15million imbroglio may just be an addition to the long list of embarrassment that Patience has brought to her husband who is as gentle as a dove. Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry some of the uninspiring utterances of the former First Lady that were obviously poor in content and character.

The video of the meeting between the former First Lady and some stakeholders concerning the Chibok schoolgirls where she gleefully talked about "the blood we are sharing in Borno," "na only you waka come?", "There's Godu o," remains one of the most embarrassing moments that she brought to herself and perhaps her husband. Only an extremely patient person can cope with a garrulous woman who does not know how and when to seal her unbridled lips.

Chief Edwin Clark, foremost Ijaw leader and staunch ally of Jonathan, once spoke about the former president's weakness and lack of political will to fight corruption. He reportedly said : "Jonathan didn't have the political will to fight corruption.

Waheed Bakare on Saturday

09056089320 (sms only) waheedbakare2003@yahoo.com He's too much of a gentleman. Drivers of yesterday are living in palatial buildings now under this government. In advance countries, when you are living above your means, people query you. That's not so in Nigeria. Jonathan meant well for Nigeria, but the willpower to fight corruption was not there."

The gloomy state of our economy now was prognosticated under the Jonathan's administration despite the persistent denials. The Peoples Democratic Party in a recent statement acknowledged that the fact there would be a recession was known as far back as 2011, an indication that our economy was based on assumption rather than reality. While I agree that government is a continuum and any serious administration should concern itself with how to solve problems, the immediate

Patience Jonathan

past administration's profligacy brought us into this peculiar mess. Nigeria was like a buffet and Patience must have also come to the party to have her own share.

This explains why she has $15million in her account. There is nothing wrong in having such amount of money provided she earned it legitimately. I want to believe she has genuine explanation to offer that is why she came out to claim ownership of the money otherwise it will be too bad for her and it will be a dent on her husband's image.

Apart from being a permanent secretary in Bayelsa State, Nigerians are not aware that she has another source of revenue that could make her save such amount of money, and we have every right to know because she was at a time a politically exposed person.

Patience's explanation that she was using the money to settle medical bills while out of the country is a mere narrative that signifies nothing. The source of the money is the only thing that can interest us. There is moral obligation on the former First Lady to explain the source of her stupendous wealth otherwise she is liable to prosecution.

Chief Clark seems to be right that under Jonathan, domestic servants lived sybaritic lifestyles since investigations have so far shown that a houseboy, a driver and other domestic staff of a former special adviser on domestic affairs to Jonathan, Waripamowei Dufafa, were named as directors in the companies whose names were used to lodge the money.

If the account neither carry her name nor her Bank Verification Number as being claimed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, how come she is the

sole signatory to the account?

Did she threaten officials of the Skye Bank to do her bidding? Did she use her position as the First Lady, an influential position, that can be used to make or break anybody, to force the officials to engage in unethical banking procedures?

How about the $5million found in another account and the N10 billion Aridolf Resort Wellness and Spa in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, allegedly traced to Patience? Perhaps, we should not even talk about them since some Nigerians are already insinuating that the Muhammadu Buhari's administration is interested in embarrassing former president Jonathan and his family. I wonder what could be more embarrassing than the former First Lady coming out to claim ownership of the money when she was not known to have any legitimate earnings that could have made her save such amount of money.

Now that the four companies linked to Patience: Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited, have pleaded guilty to laundering $15million for the former First Lady and her insistence that those who pleaded guilty were hired mercenaries of the EFCC, it becomes imperative for us to get to the bottom of how she got the money.

Now that the country is in recession, we need to know how we found ourselves in this cul-de-sac as a way of avoiding a recurrence. Like I have argued in the past, the present administration should find a way out of this logjam but we cannot pretend as if the problems just started overnight.

That former president Jonathan did not rock the boat by conceding defeat to President Buhari has been acknowledged even beyond Nigeria but this should not prevent us from asking questions whenever the need arises.

This idea of "let's move forward" has encouraged and entrenched corruption and it is high time we stopped this sentiment.

Probity and accountability should not be compromised under the pretext that "we need to move forward and need not ask questions." There cannot be a future without a reference to the past.

News Extra

Ize-Iyamu: I’ll grant scholarships, bursaries to Edo students Cajetan Mmuta

G BENIN

overnorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 28 election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, yesterday said he would grant scholarships and bursaries to indigent students of the state if voted in as governor.

He said his desire to grant the welfare package arose given the massive resources at the disposal of the state which should support parents and guardians with children in higher institutions.

The PDP candidate also suggested that one of the ways to achieve this was for the government to have a scholarship scheme for exceptional students in the schools and to give the bursaries for those in higher institutions of learning to enable them break even especially

under the very challenging economic times in the country.

Speaking during a campaign rally at Ekosodin, a satellite community for thousands of University of Benin undergraduates and workers in Benin yesterday, Ize-Iyamu said he was one of the beneficiaries of the

Bursary scheme introduced by the defunct Bendel State Governor, the late Prof. Ambrose Alli, as an undergraduate in UNIBEN. He said: “The bursary helped our parents to a great extent in offsetting such expenses like books and our feeding. Under the Simple Agenda of my government

if by the grace of God you elect me as governor, I plan to pay all Edo students in higher institutions of learning bursaries.

“For those who are exceptionally brilliant we will give them scholarships to attain academic heights because they are a pride to our state.”

While decrying the fact

that Ekosodin gave the APC a high number of votes in the last governorship election, he said it was pathetic that the state government chose to neglect the strategic community with the glaring absence of roads, water supply and electricity.

Ize-Iyamu said: “I am proud to be a University of

Benin graduate. I also lived for one year in Ekosodin as an undergraduate. The place has always enjoyed a very high population of youths and business people. And as a host community of the University, I believe it deserves more government attention by way of development.

What I see here is appalling.”

and will bring together several top government officials from both arms of government to share ideas, perspectives and experiences on the Appropriation process as dictated by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The high-profile event billed to hold on September 26, in Abuja will attract attendance and participation from critical stakeholders in the Executive, Legislature (National and State Assemblies), Academia, Media, Nigeria’s Develop-

ment Partners, Civil Society Organisations, Communitybased Organisations, Private Sector and other stakeholders, including political operators across partisan divides.

Sani and Garba will join other key stakeholders to discuss the keynote address to be delivered by Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, whose paper will focus on ‘Budget as a tool for efficient Executive-Legislature relationship.’

Sani (APC, Kaduna) is serving his first term as Senator having been a renowned civil society activist for many years and a respected grassroots social mobiliser. He will be speaking on a panel on 'role of the media, civil society and development partners in the budgetary process' at the colloquium.

Garba as chairman of constituency outreach committee of the House of Representatives, virtually oversees the distribution and

coordination of constituency projects among members of the lower chamber. He will be speaking in the panel on 'Budget and Constituency Projects' at the event.

The Colloquium will be chaired by Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, while Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, is among other top dignitaries from the National and State Assemblies as well as Executive arm of government confirmed to attend the event.

Sani, Garba to discuss budgetary reforms at OrderPaper.ng Colloquium

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hairman, Senate Committee on Domestic and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu Sani and his counterpart on Constituency Outreach, Lawal Garba, are among panel speakers at the OrderPaper. ng colloquium to chart paths of reform for Nigeria’s budgetary process.

The Colloquium is conceived by OrderPaper.ng, Nigeria’s premier independent parliamentary reporting portal to address contentious issues on the Budget

54

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World News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

Brazil’s Lula da Silva says prosecutors want to end his career

ormer Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has blasted prosecutors who have accused him of masterminding a massive corruption scheme, saying the allegations are politically motivated.

The former president said allegations that he was the mastermind of a huge corruption scheme are "pure fiction".

In an hour-long speech,

Lula repeatedly insisted that he was innocent and had nothing to do with a kickback scheme centred at Brazil's state-oil giant Petrobras.

"If they prove I was corrupt, I will turn myself in and be a prisoner," said Lula, who cried and laughed during his address to reporters, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Federal prosecutors accused Lula on Wednesday

U.S set to issue 10-year visa to Nigerians

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he United States and Nigeria have mutually agreed to increase business and tourist visa validity to 10 years and student and exchange visa validity to five years.

The reciprocity agreement, which will become effective in 2017, governs the period of validity for different kinds of visas, which permit Nigerians to travel to the United States for different purposes.

The agreement, according to Per Second News, provides for the same provisions relating to U.S. citizens travelling to Nigeria in similar visa categories.

The change in the reciprocity agreement will permit the U.S State Department to issue longer-term visas for students, business visitors, tourists and exchange visitors. According to a U.S Consular officer in the know, the new reciprocity schedule does not apply to H-1B or L-1B visas.

The new visa extension is as a result of the success of a bi-national agreement which is the highest strategic cooperation that exist between the two countries, and kick started by the late former Nigeria’s ambassador to the U.S, Ambassador Adebowale Adefuye.

In the new schedule, student and exchange visitor visas will be valid for the duration of the educational program that supports the visa application up to a maximum of five years.

Visitor visas, for both tourists and business visitors, will be valid for five to10 years.

The source also said the impact of these changes is limited. It will not expand the number of individuals who can apply for visas, nor will have any impact on the eligibility of any individual for a visa. It does not extend the ability of Nigerians to stay longer in the U.S. However, it will permit some individuals to avoid the need to apply frequently for a visa.

According to U.S Immigration experts, travellers to the U.S must know the distinction between the issuance of the visa and the right to stay in the U.S.” “The visa is issued by the State Department and grants the right to enter the United States for a specific purpose and a specific time.

The visa governs the period in which the holder of the visa can present himself for admission at the border, it does not govern how long he is permitted to stay.

of being the "maximum commander" of the Petrobras corruption scheme, and charged the former president, his wife, and several others with money laundering and corruption.

In his first public response, Lula said he was ready to cooperate with prosecutors because he had committed no crime and called charges against him "pure fiction" aimed at stop-

ping him from running for office again.

Lula is specifically accused of benefiting from renovations at a beachfront apartment in the coastal city of Guaruja in Sao Paulo state.

The improvements, valued at about $750,000, were made by construction company OAS, one of those involved in the kickback scheme emanating from Petrobras.

Prosecutors also believe

rope's problems in one summit. What we have to do is show in our deeds we can do things better in the realms of security and fighting terrorism, and in the field of defence."

Even though Britain's referendum result is not on the agenda, and British Prime Minister Theresa May is not attending the summit, there is little doubt that Brexit will overshadow the meeting.

French President Francois Hollande said: "Either we move in the direction of disintegration, of dilution, or we work together to inject new momentum, we relaunch the European project."

Donald Tusk is hoping for a public show of unity among the 27 nations of the EU following Britain's vote to

and political turmoil in recent years have hurt his reputation.

Lula's hand-picked successor, Dilma Rousseff, was removed from office by the Senate last month for illegally shifting funds between budgets. Rousseff and Lula have argued that the impeachment push was also politically motivated, a way to weaken their Workers' Party.

An official holding a reserved Zimbabwean currency

Hyperinflation fears as Zimbabwe set to print $75m notes

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imbabwe has announced that it will begin using notes issued by its own reserve bank for the first time since 2009.

The "bond notes" equivalent to the US dollar would be introduced by the end of next month to tackle cash shortages, but analysts raised concerns over a potential repeat of the excessive money printing that led to hyperinflation several years ago.

The country adopted the US dollar and South African rand in 2009 after massive inflation wreaked havoc to the economy and rendered the local currency worthless.

But Zimbabwe has run out of US dollar notes in recent months, and now hopes to ease the cash crunch by printing notes issued by its own reserve bank, starting with small denominations of $2 and $5.

"The bond notes will start

BREXIT: EU in critical situation, says Merkel T he European Union is in a "critical situation", the German chancellor has said, as leaders meet in Slovakia to discuss ways to regain trust after the UK's vote to leave the bloc.

Angela Merkel said they needed to show they could improve on security, defence co-operation and the economy.

But EU countries are deeply divided over how to bolster growth and respond to the influx of migrants.

Meeting in Bratislava without the UK, they will not discuss Brexit talks.

"We need solutions for Europe and we are in a critical situation," Mrs Merkel said as she arrived at the gathering.

"You can't solve all Eu-

Lula benefited from OAS paying the rent on a storage unit to house gifts that he received while president.

Lula says he visited the penthouse apartment but never owned it.

Brazil's president between 2003 and 2010, Lula left office with an approval ratings of more than 80 percent.

However, the Petrobras scandal, recession in Latin America's largest economy

leave in June.

Mr Tusk wants to restore EU stability and credibility with the bloc in the face of a migrant crisis and issues with the euro currency. But European leaders are divided, their voters sceptical.

Central and Eastern Europe want powers back from Brussels. Northern nations view the south as a eurozone liability. Mediterranean countries balk at German austerity edicts.

So on Friday they will stick to subjects they agree on and those they feel are relevant to voters' concerns: migration, security andThe hard stuff, such as a future trade deal with Britain and how to save the single currency, will be left for another day.

Earlier, Donald Tusk, the European Council President, called on EU leaders to assure citizens they had learned lessons from Brexit and were able to "bring back stability and a sense of security".

He urged them to take a "sober and brutally honest" look at the bloc's problems.

The EU response to the influx of migrants is one of the most contentious points among members.

The summit host, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, is one of a group of central and eastern European leaders who object to the EU quota system which distributes 160,000 refugees across the EU. The scheme, for refugees from Iraq, Syria and Eritrea, is aimed at easing the burden on Italy and Greece.

to circulate by the end of October and will be at par with the US dollar," John Mangudya, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, said in the capital Harare.

"We anticipate by the end of the year $75m will be in the market."

The Bank "hopes that the cash injection will boost exports, benefit local businesses and ease the suffering" of Zimbabwe's poor population, Al Jazeera reported.

But analysts said the token currency would not hold its US dollar value and would be seen as a new version of the local dollar, which was rendered worthless by hyperinflation sparked by a decade-long economic crisis.

Some economists also said that printing a new "bond note" would fuel a parallel black market.

"Money is all about trust; if you don't believe in it, you won't accept it, or you're going to accept it at a very deep discount," Harare-based economic analyst John Robertson told Al Jazeera.

"That's the issue which has not been addressed yet, and I don't think anybody has been convinced by the claims made by the government that they are not going to print billions of these things."

With the government again printing its own money, many in the country

fear a repeat of the excessive printing that led to hyperinflation.

"No to bond notes" has been among the regular slogans heard in a wave of protests that have shaken the government of President Robert Mugabe this year.

But Mangudya denied the new bond notes would be rejected by many Zimbabweans.

"It is critical to emphasise that the introduction of bond notes does not mark the return of the Zimbabwe dollar through the back door," he said.

The new notes will be printed in Germany and backed by a $200m support facility provided by Afreximbank (Africa Export-Import Bank), the government has said.

The country's cash shortage has forced the government led by Mugabe's ZANU-PF party to delay paying salaries each month to civil servants and the military.

Zimbabwe once removed 12 zeros from its battered currency at the height of hyperinflation in 2009 when the largest note was the $100tr denomination. Bond coins valued in US cents were introduced in Zimbabwe in 2014 to provide small change.

Further anti-Mugabe protests are planned for Saturday, despite a police ban on rallies in Harare.

Sport Extra 55

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

17 september 2016

FIFA names Grisha for Zambia, Nigeria tie Sport •Bassey on duty in Brazzaville

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ootball’s world ruling body, FIFA, has appointed Egyptian Ghead Grisha as referee for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Zambia’s Chipolopolo and Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Ndola on Sunday, 9th October 2016.

Grisha, 40, has been a FIFA referee since 2008.

He will be assisted by fellow Egyptians Tahssen Abo El Sadat Bedyer (assistant referee 1), Ahmed Hossameldin Taha (assistant referee 2) and Ibrahim Noureldin (Fourth Official).

Also appointed is renown former FIFA referee Zeli Sinko (from Cote d’Ivoire), who will serve as

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referee assessor, while former Ghana FA president Mahamadu Nuru Deen Jawula will be match commissioner.

T h e match has been scheduled to kick off at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola Grisha at 2.30pm and Mikel Zambia time (1.30pm Nigeria

time) on Sunday, 9thOctober.

Grisha, incidentally, was in charge of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations group phase clash between the Super Eagles and the Chipolopolo, at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, which ended 1-1.

The Super Eagles went ahead to eventually win that Cup of Nations tournament.

FIFA has also appointed respected Nigerian official Paul Bassey to serve as security officer for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group E qualifier between Congo and Egypt, scheduled for the Stade de Kintele in Brazzaville on the same day.

Beninoise official Bruno Arthur Didavi will be match commissioner for that game, with the referees from Cote d’Ivoire led by Denis Dembele. Jason Joseph Damoo from Seychelles will serve as referee assessor.

Women AFCON: Falcons to know opponents Sunday

up holders Super Falcons of Nigeria will know their group phase opponents for this year’s Africa Women Cup of Nations when the draw ceremony holds at the Palais Polyvalent des Sports, Yaounde on Sunday.

Already, the Confederation of African Football has announced that the Falcons will head Group B of the eight–nation tournament, starting in Cameroon on

19th November 2016.

Hosts Cameroon will head Group A, with Ghana and South Africa also to avoid each other in the group phase as a result of having the best results in the last three editions of the Women’s AFCON. Egypt, Kenya, Mali and Zimbabwe make up the rest of the field in this year’s finals.

Real to appeal FIFA ban

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eal Madrid has told the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) it will appeal against its FIFA ban on signing players.

Both Real and Atletico Madrid were banned after breaching rules over the transfer of foreign players U-18.

As part of the ban, football's world governing body FIFA said the young players involved were not allowed to play.

However, CAS has agreed to suspend that requirement while the appeal is heard.

Rio 2016 Olympic Qualifier match between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Abuja

Odegbami renames school SOCA

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Ugochi Akwueze former International, Chief Segun Odegbami, has renamed his pet project, The International Academy (TIA). The sports institution is now to be known as Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy (SOCA).

According to a to release issued on Friday, the change of name of the multi sports secondary school has become necessary to reflect the next phase in the school’s development.

The school combines sports to help talented athletes to hone their skills in football,

basketball, tennis and track and field. It is said to have produced and exported talented athletes to colleges and universities in the United States of America since its 10 years of inception.

Also, students of the school have reportedly benefitted from the MTN Scholar-Footballer programme over the years.

The school was nominated for an international award, several years ago, by an international organisation in the UK, Beyond Sports, as one of 35 such institutions in the world using sports to drive social inclusion in the communities they are located.

Court commits Dikko, Abubakar to prison Musa Pam

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Jos

ustice II Kunda of Plateau State High Court Sitting in Bukuru On Friday in his Ruling on the case between Mustapha Abukakar of Giwa FC supporters club against League Management Company and Nigeria Football Federation ordered that the LMC chairman, Shehu Dikko and Chief Operating Officer, Salisu Abubakar, be committed to Jos Federal Prison for 14 days.

He also ruled that the two officials be issued an arrest warrant of commitment.

It would be recalled that Sequel to the expulsion of Giwa Football Club of Jos, a State High Court Jos, Plateau State, had granted the prayers of the club seeking its reinstatement to the Nigerian Professional Football League, but the LMC Chairman and the CEO disobeyed the court order to reinstate Giwa football clubs as well stop the league.

Hon. Justice kunda said the order remained valid.

Counsel to the LMC, Oludele Olujimi, SAN refused to talk to journalists on the ruling whether he was satisfied or not.

However Counsel to Mustapha and Giwa supporters club Sunday Lafat H.S Ardzard and Co. expressed satisfaction with the ruling and said the ruling represented justice for all the parties in court.

Senegal’s Souare could be out for six months

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rystal Palace defender Pape Souare will be out for up to six months after breaking his thighbone in a car crash, says manager Alan Pardew.

The 26-year-old Senegal international was airlifted to hospital after a crash on the M4 motorway in London on Sunday.

The injury also means he will miss the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

"He isn't having the best of times, but we're all very supportive," said Pardew. "We love Pape and can't wait to have him back."

Souare is expected to be released from hospital on Saturday.

When asked how much of the season Souare would miss, Pardew said: "Four, five months. Maybe six, he should be up and running again.

Dikko

Slaming

Adekunle Salami adekunles@yahoo.com 08050498539 (sms only)

Celebrating the heroes, heroines in Rio

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t was really agonising for Nigerian participants especially journalists at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as they spent all days monitoring, and hoping a medal would come from any angle until the U-23 team managed to clinch a bronze for Team Nigeria.

However, at the ongoing Paralympic Games also taking place in Rio, Team Nigeria has been wonderful such that the country has surpassed the six-gold medal feat achieved at the London games.

Powerlifting gave Nigeria six gold medals with the excellent feats of Rowland Ezurike, Paul Kehinde, Lucy Ejike, Bose Omolayo, Josephine Orji while athletics produced gold medals in shot put courtesy Onye Lauritta and javelin through Flora Ugwuna.

The country’s Paralympic athletes have never disappointed. They always make Nigeria proud at all continental and global events. These athletes suffered to achieve glory.

However, the special athletes struggle to go for training on a daily basis at the national stadium in Lagos. Some of them cannot walk properly, some do not have two hands, and some are even partially sighted. Yet, they enjoy coming together to train, keep fit and generally make themselves happy.

These athletes do not have means of livelihood and there are no competitions to keep them busy and make them win prizes like their able-bodied counterparts. It is really amazing the way these athletes excel.

I know, surely that they train always without season. That is they train always even when there are no competitions before them. They enjoy doing so. With or without a coach, they train rigorously because work out is seen as a way of life.

Let me stress that training for them is always with tears.

Most of them do not have any job and so to go out on a daily basis, the only destination is the National Stadium in Lagos.

They struggle to get money for daily transportation and feeding. It is not easy. When one sees a wheelchair athlete as early as 9am at the stadium, one wonders how he or she gets to the place without having a car.

The success story is not strange to some of us who know some of these athletes. They worked hard and toiled almost all alone to attain glory. The gymnasium at the stadium is not wonderful but if one visits the place, the better percentage of people there are special athletes. I was shocked when I also went to a gym in Surulere, Lagos, only to meet some of the national special athletes there. It means they pay so much to develop themselves and keep their shape.

How many competitions did you hear about for special athletes? The All Africa Games, Commonwealth Games and the Paralympics are their major events, and they have never disappointed Nigerians.

The ministry of sports should move towards getting sponsors to stage competitions for them internally. I believe there are many more who are in hidden parts of the country or not rugged enough to sacrifice time and money like those in Rio, in an attempt to make names for themselves and Nigeria.

Special athletes deserve better attention. In this time of recession, do we even know where these people are living and how they cope with life? Almost all the time when you see them, there is determination written all over their faces.

They struggle, work hard to be accorded the respect due to every citizen. Yet I strongly believe Nigeria has not done enough for her special sports athletes. There are plenty of things that could be done to help them. Some of these people could be employed as part of the officials managing the stadium so that they make little money every month. One or two federation vehicles could be assigned to them for their transportation for daily training sessions.

Nothing is too much to celebrate these heroes and heroines currently in Rio. Only recently the sports reform committee submitted its report to the minister and recommended that a gold medallist at the level of the Olympic Games should be given N10m, N5m for silver and N2.5m for bronze. We can start with the Paralympic athletes. The money is huge but the ministry can source funds from the private sector. Reputable organisations will be eager to be part of this glorious feat. Congrats to Team Nigeria.

SATURDAY, 17 september 2016

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Juve bank on Higuain in San Siro •Inter’s Icardi also dangerous

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Ajibade Olusesan rgentine striker Gonzalo Higuain is confronted with his biggest test since his record move to Juventus from Napoli last summer transfer window when Inter Milan host Old Lady in Serie A top of the bill clash on Sunday at San Siro.

Higuain shattered Italian transfer record when he moved from Napoli to Turin in a £77m deal to become the third most expensive player in football history.

He secured the lucrative move following stellar performance for Napoli where he scored whopping 36 goals for last season The former Real Madrid star has not disappointed so far having managed three goals in his club three league matches so far this term but he fired blank in his first UEFA Champions League game for the Turin giants against Sevilla on Wednesday.

He stole the headline on the opening day 2-1 win over Fiorentina and also netted twice in their 3-0 victory over Sassoulo.

With the exception of local derbies, the

rivalry between Inter and Juve are regarded as the most intense in Italy, and Higuain will be the key man for the Old Lady tomorrow.

The Sevilla stalemate is not the right result ahead of an important clash against rivals but Higuain who was caged by defensive-minded Spaniards can shrug off that form to produce a fine moment against the Nerazzurri.

He is expected to form a partnership with Mario Madzuki and together they can wreck any team.

Inter Milan hitman Mario Icardi believes his compatriot is one of the best strikers in the world and merit his mouth-watering move but in what looks like a mind game the forward said Higuian did not come close to Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Higuain is worth the money Juventus paid for him - he scored 36 goals last season," he said. "There's nobody like Ronaldo.

In my opinion, he's the best striker in the history of the game."

Higuain has 90 minutes to prove he belongs to that bracket when he arrives San Siro on Sunday.

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