Sunday telegraph sunday, june 19, 2016

Incredible! buhari should Ogun River drop some }5 ministers dries up

lVandals storm Ikorodu communities, kill 7

–ango abdullahi

SUNDAY Sunday, JUNE 19, 2016 Vol. 3 No. 851

Marie Abia-Bassey

Why I won’t work with Cynthia Morgan }42

NEWS

Elegushi family shuts beach, insists UNILAG students flouted order }10

‘We now need prayer permit in Redeemed Camp’ }4

}28&29

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

MASSOB: We’ll support Boko Haram if... lWhy we back Avengers lKanu vindicated -IPOB

lJonathan’s associates using Avengers –MEND

SEX SCANDAL

Prove allegations, Dogara challenges US lAs pro-democracy group slams FG’s

fresh Senate forgery suit

}5

2

SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Contents | 19.06.16 BODY & SOUL

Ace journalist Popular journalist and publisher of Yes International! magazine, Azuh Arinze, shares his inspiring story

}20&21

POLITICS

PDP on cliff-hanger The intractable leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party will jeopardise the party’s chances in the September 10 governorship election in Edo State and many more

}23

BUSINESS

Tomato war Against the backdrop of alleged failure of NAFDAC to check dumping of unwholesome food and drugs in Nigeria, local producers and importers trade blames over alleged presence of substandard tomato paste

}43

FAITH

Challenge before Ayokunle Keeping one love and unity is the challenge before new CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle

}31

SPORT

Euro 2016 Though the Super Eagles of Nigeria have crashed out of the 2017 African Nations Cup, five Nigerians are flying other countries' flag at the ongoing Euro 2016 Nations Cup

}54

Magazine

Family eating culture The culture of eating together with family members as was the case of old is fast fading away

}8&9

SUNDAY

Editorial

F

Habre dazed in Dakar

ormer Chadian maximum ruler Hissene Habre is on his way to eternal detention following a landmark judgement delivered by the Special African Chamber [CAE] sitting in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. The Toubou Warrior escaped to Senegal through Cameroun shortly after he was ousted by Idris Deby in 1990.

The Special Tribunal found Habre guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, rape, forced sexual slavery and kidnapping. Tagged ‘Desert Fighter’ Habre was as notorious in the war against Libya as he was cruel at home where he could have eliminated over 40,000 of his country men mostly from the Zaghawa group.

Habre who holds a doctorate in Political Science, trained in France before picking his battle field ideology from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya. Back from Tripoli , he teamed up with Goukouni Oueddei in the National Liberation Front of Chad [FROLINAT]. Both parted ways in 1976.

Three years later in 1979, Oueddei toppled General Felix Malloum. Habre had been made Prime Minister in 1978 by the general but the partnership crumbled as soon as it began. By 1979, their armies were engaged in battle in Ndjamena.

Oueddei seized the opportunity to dethrone Malloum who later found home in Nigeria. The year 1979 was a bad one for despots all over the globe. Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, was overthrown

by Ayatollah Khomeini and his muslim fundamentalists. In Nicaragua, Anastasio Somoza [Tachito] Debayle was flushed out by the Sandinistas and Idi Amin was driven from Kampala by rampaging Tanzanian forces.

The coming of Oueddei was more than enough fight for Habre. In 1980 he ran to Sudan to re-strategise. Two years later he drove his former friend out of the seat of power. Chad which was ruled for over a decade from Independence in August 1960 had seen three new leaders in quick succession and blood bath had become part of national politics.

Pioneer President, Francois N’garta Tombalbaye , a medical doctor, had ruled the country more like a witch doctor. Mentored

by Haiti’s Jean Claude Duvalier [Papa Doc], the Chadian leader believed in the use of blood to sprinkle his stay in power.

When soldiers led by Maloum came for him 1976 and ordered him to jump into a waiting truck, Monsieur President simply walked away, muttering ce’st finis as he was mowed down by lethal shots.

His blood, splashed across the presidential grounds raised more years of bloodbath and even war with Libya in the North. Out of all these bloodletting emerged Habre.

Habre was like a bloodhound from the onset. In 1974, fighters under his control had abducted three Europeans in Bardai. The German, a physician known as Christoph Staewen lost his wife, Elfriede in that disturbing incident. Ransom was paid before he was released. Of the two Frenchmen, Marc Combe escaped while Francoise Claustre spent the next three years in custody.

It is instructive that inspite of his antecedents, Habre received the support of the French and the United States as he clung to power by hook and crook. The West was afraid of Gaddafi’s rising interest in the Chad Basin and also had commercial interests in the area.

With support from these super powers, little Chad was able not only to shake Libya, twice Gaddafi was humiliated. The height of it all was in 1987 when Habre sacked Libyan forces from Koro Toro which the North Africans had annexed in 1983.

With America and France on his side, Habre began the brazen annihiliation of the opposition. His main targets were the Zaghawa, the Sara and the Hadjerai.

Like Adolf Hitler’s Gestapo, the Chadian leader set up a secret police known as the Documentation and Security Directorate [DDS]. Their methods of torture differed.

Chadians could have gas sprayed across their faces or get burnt with exhaust fumes if they were perceived as scheming against the government in power.

In 1990, Deby whose ethnic nationality, the Zaghawa had suffered so terribly in the orgy of torture rose against Habre and caused him to flee. At last, the ‘African Pinochet’ became a fugitive.

His evil deeds followed him. Attempts were made to make Habre face trial. Belgium tried through their War Crimes Law between 1993 and 2003. The European Union backed the Belgians in 2006. Then pressure came from his home country and by 2007, the African Union joined the fray.

A year later, Senegal bowed to international pressure The coming of Macky Sall as Senegalese President in 2012 tightened the noose. In 2013, Habre was arrested and charged to court, his trial began in 2015 and on May 30 ,2016 the court jailed him for life. The life sentence comes as a reminder to dictators that judgement will always come after their misrule.

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

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

Managing Editor, South n Emeka Madunagu Managing Editor, North & Abuja n Laurence Ani

Editor n Ayodele Ojo Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare Deputy Editor n Tunde Sulaiman

Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam Asst. Editor, News & Politics n Biyi Adegoroye

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

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How To Bank With *770*0# Check Balance *770*0# Transfer Funds *770*AccountNumber*Amount# Dial 4 Cash *770*8*Amount# Self Recharge *770*Amount# Recharge Others *770*PhoneNumber*Amount# Dstv *770*1099*Smartcard No*Amount# GoTv *770*1088*Smartcard No*Amount#

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4

SUNDAY 19 JUNE, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

NEWS

MASSOB: We’ll support Boko Haram if...

Steve Uzoechi and Charles Onyekwere

L

eader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Comrade Uchenna Madu, has explained the rationale behind their support for the Niger Delta Avengers, declaring that MASSOB is not apologetic for its stand.

Speaking to Sunday Telegraph yesterday Madu, said: “Beside the fact that your enemy’s enemy is naturally your friend, the Avengers have openly declared support for the Biafran struggle and for the release of Nnamdi Kalu.

They have a right to pursue whatever is their grouse against the Nigerian state and how they do it, is their choice. What we know is that we have found points of agreement with the group; our approaches may be different, but our pursuit for an independent identity is similar.”

Madu explained that the Avengers have been consistent in their struggle and said he cared nothing about how the Niger Delta group chooses to fight their battles.

“Our conviction is that Nigeria as one nation is not accommodating every integral ethnic nationality and as such, is not working and cannot work. So we support anything that can accelerate the independence of oppressed ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. If the Niger Delta wants independence, let them get it because it contravenes no national or international law; if the Middle Belt wants their own sovereign state, let them get it; if the South West wants its own and is ready to fight for it, let them get it also. We will be ready to also support Boko Haram if they seek self-determination and not these cheap killings along ethno-religious lines.”

The MASSOB leader stressed that if a government chooses not to listen to peaceful agitation; it makes violent agitation attractive for other interest groups.

Madu explained further: “Nigerians should not be surprised at the proliferation of militant agitations from across the country.

Common sense would suggest that ethnic agitations henceforth may be militant because people will reason that the road to non-violent agitation is long and slow and would rather settle for armed agitation and we will not blame any group for their methodology. But for us, we are non-violent and will remain non-violent. If they have refused to listen to us as peaceful as we have been, then let them listen to the Niger Delta Aveng-

•Why we back Avengers ers and other aggrieved militant groups that will be forced into the struggle by the rampant injustice in the land.”

Kanu vindicated, IPOB declares he Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has declared that their detained leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has been vindicated in his prophecies concerning happenings in Nigeria.

The group, in a press statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, and media and publicity officer, Emma Powerful, said almost all the predictions Kanu made about Nigeria, misconstrued ‘preaching’ hate by Nigerians, have come to pass except the total emancipation of Biafrans that is still lingering.

“It is important to remind the people of the world that almost all the prophecies of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Director, Radio Biafra, have come to pass. The only one remaining today is the total restoration of the state of Biafra which is around the corner,” the statement said.

The ‘successful prophecies’, according to the statement, include the plans to Islamise the country; the plan to kill unarmed civilians because of hatred for the people of Biafra; the plan to use the Fulani cattle rearers/herdsmen as foot soldiers to attack the people of eastern Nigeria in Biafraland.

The statement added, “We in IPOB family worldwide condemn those individuals and groups who know the truth of what happened on that faithful day May 30, 2016 and know that IPOB members do not carry arms but they refused to tell or say the true position of the killings of unarmed civilians when they were visited by foreign observers and international human rights organisations.

“More so, we urge all IPOB family members worldwide to be resolute and be prepared for what is about to come because the Federal Government has perfected plans to kill and annihilate the people of eastern Nigeria and the Biafra restoration has been internationalised and it is the high time we put in more efforts to make the independent state of Biafra a reality.”

And in another development, MASSOB, frowned at the leader of the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike,

T

for not supporting the approach adopted by the Niger Delta Avengers in their agitation for the actualisation of Biafra.

MASSOB pointed out that whereas they are backing the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), BIM leadership is angry at MASSOB for supporting the Avengers’ cause.

A statement signed by MASSOB National Direc-

tor of Information, Comrade Samuel Edson, said by not supporting the Avengers, it means that the BIM leader, Uwazuruike, has compromised in the struggle for the actualisation of Biafra.

Jonathan’s associates using Avengers to destabilize Buhari’s government – MEND Meanwhile, the Move-

ment for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has accused associates of former President, Goodluck Jonathan of using new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, to destabilise President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

The defunct militant group made the accusation in a statement by Tinipa Jenkins Okponipere yesterday.

The statement reads: “The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is the vehicle currently being used by Niger Delta political elite and associates of former President Goodluck Jonathan to destabilize President Buhari’s Government. It was these political juggernauts who are loathe seeing President Buhari gain a foothold in the region.”

L-R Mrs. Leton Nwauba; Mrs. Ifunanya Uzor Kalu; former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, with two other guests at the birthday party of Kalu’s children, Olivia and Nicole in Abuja recently

We now need prayer permit -Redeemed Camp occupant Camillus Nnaji

R

efugees who are still hiding in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, auditorium located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway are now required to obtain official permit to access the worship centre. According to them, they had been asked to obtain prayer permit from the code of conduct department, of the church, before entering the auditorium. The new directive came after about 236 people living inside the auditorium were evacuated by the RCCG camp security in collaboration with the police This was apparently in reaction to Sunday Telegraph’s publication a fortnight ago, about life in the auditorium where cases of immorality, stealing, kidnapping and rape were rife among poor people living in deplorable condition.

Ogun State Police Command said they arrested 236 suspects when they raided the camp. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, a Deputy

Superintendent of Police, said, “The raiding of the RCCG auditorium was carried out by our men around 2.00am today (Thursday).

Our intelligence gathering showed that some people of questionable character had taken the auditorium for hideout. Among those arrested, 165 are males while 71 are females. We are screening them and those among them, who could not properly identify themselves, would be prosecuted.”

It was learnt that some Pastors of the church had earlier announced that every person dwelling in the auditorium should leave, subsequent to damaging reports linking them to those crimes.

A visibly angry refugee, who identified herself as Mrs. Obiageli, said innocent people who had genuine reasons of prayer and obviously in need of assistance were made to pay for the sins of hoodlums and prostitutes who invaded the auditorium.

She said: “Many innocent people were evacuated in

place of the criminals and hoodlums staying here. The truth about this is that they have informants among workers in the camp, who would always inform them when the task force would be raiding the auditorium.

Just like the raiding that happened today (Thursday), the real criminals desecrating the auditorium with immoral life and stealing were not apprehended. They got the information and they all fled. Some of them were not apprehended. They have friends among the workers in the camp.”

Obiageli disclosed that some of the girls were into immoral relationships with some camp workers whom she claimed were responsible for their pregnancies.

Obiageli, a mother of three, said they had come to pray for God to intervene in the health of her sons but because of the recent evacuation exercise, they would be relocating to Assembles of God Church camp along the same Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“We heard they are giving accommodation there,

so we want to move over to their camp.”

Another sojourner, who craved anonymity, disclosed how hunger and very poor standard of living had made some children vulnerable to predators.

“It is very unfortunate that when children in this auditorium see you drinking Garri, they look at you ‘as someone eating banquet’.

Extreme hunger is here. I have stayed here for three months. I thought I would get work at RCCG’s Cannanland canteen. When I did, I was offered N300 per day. Can that provide a meal for me?

However, a source from the camp said they were worried about the increasing negative reports about the behaviour of people who ordinarily were presumed to be praying.

“We have been hearing and had witnessed so much about people who stay back in the auditorium.

Obviously, the auditorium is free and open for all, but we must not allow people of questionable character to be there,” the source said.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 19 JUNE, 2016

NEWS

Chukwu David Abuja

A

s public anger over the allegation of sexual misconduct levelled against three Nigerian lawmakers by the United States government continues to rage, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has responded by asking the US to provide fool-proof evidence that the lawmakers are guilty of the allegations.

According to the US allegation, Mohammed Gololo (APC-Bauchi State) was accused of grabbing a hotel maid and soliciting sex, while two others, Samuel Ikon (PDP-Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC-Benue State) allegedly requested a car park attendant to help them arrange the services of prostitutes during a visit to Cleveland for the International Visitor Leadership Programme.

The allegations were contained in a June 9 petition to the Speaker by American Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle.

The three lawmakers denied the allegations separately, describing them as ‘totally false’, ‘calculated attempt to rubbish the National Assembly’ and ‘a case of mistaken identity’.

However, in a series of tweets, Saturday, via his Twitter handle, @speakerdogara, Dogara, in response to questions from concerned Nigerians over the allegations, replied: “He who alleges must prove.”

“That’s the law.”

“As we speak, no evidence has been put forward other than the letter sent to my office and copied to many others.

“Together with the US Embassy in Nigeria, we will get to the bottom of this matter and until then, let’s

Sex scandal: Prove allegations, Dogara challenges US

•As pro-democracy group slams FG’s fresh Senate forgery suit not be judgemental.

“Under our laws, an accused person is deemed innocent until proven guilty and he enjoys the benefit of any doubt.”

Dogara said the concerned lawmakers had indicated they were ready to stand trial in the US. “They are ready to do that at their own cost,” he tweeted.

In further tweets, Dogara, however, warned of consequences for the lawmakers if proven guilty.

However, one of the lawmakers, Ikon, has dismissed the allegation as untrue, saying his identity had been mistaken.

Ikon told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday that the allegation was in bad taste.

He said that he was happy that the lower chamber had commenced the process of investigating the allegation, and expressed confidence that he would be cleared.

He also said that he had briefed his lawyers to initiate legal and diplomatic steps to get to the root of the matter “to clear my name and the institution I represent”.

Meanwhile, a pro-democracy group, Centre for the Advancement of Literacy and Leadership (CALL) has described the fresh forgery suit by the Federal Government against the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu,

Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar, being received by former Ambassador to Indonesia, Alhaji Ibrahim Maisule (Right) and Alhaji Kwairanga Jada at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after a short foreign trip, at the weekend

as a “witch-hunt and mischief”.

It also described the recently reported letter by the Police inviting Ekweremadu and some leaders of the last Senate for interrogation over alleged forgery of Senate Standing Orders 2011 as mischievous.

In a statement by the Executive Director of the Centre, Mazi Bismarck Oji, and made available to Sunday Telegraph, it recalled that the Assistant Force Public Relations Officer (AFPRO), Mr. Abayomi Shogunle, told newsmen at the Force Headquarters on July 6 last year, that although the police team met with the

Incredible! Ogun River dries up

A

part of the popular Ogun River, which flows under the Kara Bridge around Ojodu Berger area of the state, has suddenly gone dry.

Unidentified green plants are seen on the river bed while the water body has disappeared.

A staff of New Telegraph said the Kara Cattle Market community under the bridge along the LagosIbadan Expressway has become a Mecca of sorts with residents of the community and passers-by trooping to see the dried section of the river which once provided water for the nearby Kara cattle and ram market.

Road Safety officials had a hectic time getting traffic to move as inbound Lagos commuters slowed down as drivers and passengers tried to catch a glimpse of the unusual phenomenon.

Before the unusual incident, the water body once served as means of transportation for canoe owners but residents say they woke up to see the channel blocked on Saturday morning.

There was initial suspicion that this could have been as a result of water hyacinth but the surface of what used to be the flowing river had become a firm ground.

Some people were seen testing the solidity of the green that has taken over

Photo: Channelstv

the waterway by walking across the river and some found it a readymade recreation ground.

Surprisingly, on the other side of the Kara Bridge, the river was seen flowing freely.

Environmentalists have, however, warned that residents keep off the blocked channel for the risks of it opening up unexpectedly and advised relevant authorities to find a means of clearing the plants.

ex-Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Salisu Maikasuwa, they neither invited nor interrogated Senator Ekweremadu.

Wondering the difficulty in sending an invitation to Saraki, Ekweremadu, Senator David Mark and others directly, instead of pretending to invite them through the Clerk, the Centre contended that it was untoward to file criminal charges against people on serious allegation as forgery without

any active attempt to extract statements from them.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government has filed charges at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, against Saraki and Ekweremadu, over the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules, about a year after the submission of police report to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation by the police.

Others also charged to

court are the immediate past Clerk to the National Assembly, Abubakar Maikasuwa, and the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Benedict Efeturi.

However, missing on the list of those charged are the President of the 7th Senate, Senator David Mark, and former Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, who had since defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

FG moves to rescue Nigerians stranded in Kuwait

•Backs Kuwait govt’s plans to deport migrants Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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he Federal Government has commenced the process of rescuing some Nigerian women stranded in Kuwait. Some of them have had their passports seized while others are being kept in refugee camps.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that the women apparently went to Kuwait in search of greener pastures, hoping to secure lucrative jobs only to be turned into house maids and prostitutes.

There were complaints, last week, that the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait had failed to address their issue even when they stood the risk of being jailed or deported from that country.

However, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, yesterday, disclosed that the Nigeria Embassy in Kuwait is already

intervening to ensure the women returned home on time.

“As illegal immigrants (and many with various offences I am informed) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Nigerian Embassy to prevail on the Kuwait government to speed up the deportation traveling arrangement. As you know, it is Kuwait that is responsible for deportation.

“While we are pained by the situation they are in, we appeal to Nigerians to avoid getting into illegal activities.

Countries like Kuwait are very very strict with their, laws and they more often than not do not listen to appeals or pleas for leniency once an offence has been committed even with their own citizens,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

Every year, Nigerians get stranded in many foreign countries usually on account of illegal migration or

involvement in drug trafficking and other related crimes.

Early this year, the International Office of Migration (IOM) provided Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) services to two victims of human trafficking from Nigeria and Sierra Leone, while the same agency, last week, helped over 150 Nigerians return from Libya.

The two women had been living at Kuwait’s Government Shelter for Foreign Workers for five months and became IOM’s first AVRR cases from Kuwait.

However, attempts by Sunday Telegraph to get reactions from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on the Kuwait situation were not successful as the spokesperson for the Service, Mr. Kings Ekpedeme, Deputy Comptroller Immigration, did not answer his telephone calls or respond to text message sent to him on his phone.

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SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

news

Lagos, Tarzan battle over N5bn waterway investments

T

Wole Shadare

he Managing Director of Tarzan Marine Enterprises, Mr. Ganiyu Balogun has accused the Lagos State Government through the state’s Waterway Authority of attempting to put the company’s N5 billion investments in jeopardy.

Balogun, who spoke in Lagos, accused the Lagos State Waterway Authority (LASWA) of persistent victimisation and harassment despite fulfilling all the agreed terms before commencing ferry services in the state in 2004.

Balogun alleged that LASWA officials without recourse to the existing agreement of 25 years with the state government gave the company 24 hours’ notice to seize operations or risk eviction sometime last month.

This is coming as the Lagos State Government said it served Tarzan Marine Enterprises eviction notice on its operation in Ijede and Badore jetties as the company could not validate its claims of a purported 25-year concession that the operator allegedly entered with the government in 2006.

Balogun, whose compa-

ny provides water transportation to Badore, Ijede, Oke Ira Nla and Ibeshe inhabitants all within the state, stressed that his company paid all the agreed financial terms to the government before commencement of operations and wondered why the same government would threaten to evict the company even when it has not violated any part of the agreement reached.

He decried that if agreements duly signed by representatives of governments and private investors are continually upturned and disregarded by new governments, it would put Public Private Participation (PPP) at risk not just in the state, but in the country at large.

The government through a statement by the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Ms Abisola Kamson explained that the Babatunde Fashola-led administration had investigated the claim by setting up a Task Force in 2010 to validate the claim that it made two payments totaling N2.1million to the defunct Lagos State Ferry Services for a 25 years concession, but the claims by the company could not be validated.

Waku hails Buhari’s anti-graft war, wants Obasanjo probed Cephas Iorhemen

C MAKURDI

ontroversial Senator, Joseph Kennedy Waku yesterday applauded the on-going war against corruption embarked upon by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, saying it was fair and not biased.

Senator Waku, who represented Benue North-West in the Senate between 2009 and 2013, told journalists in his Makurdi residence that the fight against corruption is a step in the right direction as it would sanitize the polity for the benefit of the upcoming younger generation from which future leaders of the country would also be produced.

He advised the President to also probe the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo from May 29, 1999 to 2007, believing that the sufferings Nigerians are passing through began dur-

ing that administration, and stressed that if that is done, most people who contributed to the impoverishment of the citizens would be unearthed and brought to justice.

“Buhari should probe Obasanjo. Obasanjo has to be probed because all the corruption we are witnessing in the country today started during his administration.

Buhari is fighting corruption in order to sanitise the system for the benefit of all and the upcoming generation, and he is doing it without any bias,” said Waku.

He maintained that corrupt politicians who are leaving the Peoples Democratic Party in droves to ‘take refuge in the governing APC’ for fear of being probed after amassing wealth for themselves, were heading to a wrong place because their sins cannot be shielded by the current onslaught against graft.

“It is unfortunate that most of the supporters in PDP

who perpetrated high level corruption have now realized that the on-going fight against corruption is not going to spare any sacred cow, and are leaving the party to the APC. But I want to say very clearly that such people are handing to a wrong place because their sins cannot be shielded at all,” Waku stated.

While lamenting the hardship Nigerians are passing through in the face of the deepening economic down turn, Senator Waku implored Nigerians to be patient with the present administration, and expressed optimism that better days would come.

On the agitation for Niger Delta and Biafra states, Waku said such agitations were ill-timed, and noted that those mobilizing for the splitting of the country were out to distract the Buhari administration from performing.

“Agitations are allowed in a cooperate existence of a

country, but such agitations must have a human face of what are their demands and not going into criminalities by vandalizing the state apparatus that at the end of the day, they too will benefit from.”

Senator Waku also condemned the incessant attacks on innocent citizens of the country by suspected Fulani herdsmen where hordes of people have been killed, and lauded the position of the some governors including Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom that ranches was the only panacea to ending the intractable conflicts.

He implored the federal government to support the National Assembly to enact stringent laws to check the activities of herdsmen in the country who carry unlicensed sophisticated weapons to harm other people with a view to melting out appropriate punishments to them to end the crisis once and for all.

Verification: Niger uncovers N800m fraud at HMB Dan Atori MINNA

T

he ongoing verification by the Niger State government led by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has uncovered over N800million monthly fraud carried out through bloated staff salaries aside from ghost workers.

The Sunday Telegraph that the state government embarked on the exercise to authenticate the state workforce and minimise wastages.

The consultant saddled with civil servants verification in the state, Sa’adat Bakrin-Ottun, it was gathered in the cause of her assignment, requested for the nominal rolls which states the job description of each employee and ascertaining the salary scale used for their earnings so as to put them in proper perspective.

Consequently, our correspondent discovered that the administrative de-

CHANGE OF NAMES OWOYEMI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwatoyin Hellen Adejuyigbe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Owoyemi Oluwatoyin Hellen. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

partment, especially those saddled with card issuance to see doctors and other groups, earned CONTTESS instead of department Grade Level (GL salaries).

This, according to findings resulted in the loss of over N800 million per month at the HMB alone and the affected staff with the medical doctors and dentists who are only consultants to the state government.

Furthermore, our correspondent learnt that a medical record staff, who only issued cards to patients to see doctor, at the Hospital Management Board earned over N332,000 monthly instead of his original salary of N56,821.

The real problem of blotted salary of Niger State government, it was gathered, was not only that of ghost workers but a secret deliberate and wrong placement of certain categories of civil servants on wrong salary scale on the payroll and the deliberate addition of money to some workers’ salary from the state Ministry of Finance.

The Sunday Telegraph was reliably informed that a 230page document of people wrongly placed on salary scale was forwarded to the consultant just as a conversion of only five pages worth over N800 million was saved which is a misappropriation of placements.

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), his wife, Bolanle (2nd left); Vice Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr. Didier Reynders (2nd right); and Curator, Mr. Azu Nwagbogu (left) during the 2016 Summer Photography Exhibition at the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels, Belgium on Friday.

Nigerian Army, British military in joint training T he Nigerian Army said on Saturday that the essence of joint military training with British Military Advisory Training Team was to introduce the military to contemporary training methods.

Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff made this known while speaking as the Reviewing Officer at the 74 Regular Recruits Intake Passing Out Parade (POP) held at Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria.

Buratai was represented by the Chief of Administration, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. A. B. Abubakar, said, ``The joint military training conducted with the British Military Advisory Training Team is aimed at modernising the initial training.

This is to ensure that you are introduced to contemporary training method and improvised explosive devise awareness training and survival skills to make you a strong force to be reckoned with.’’

According to the COAS,

this training is very important particularly given the security challenges currently confronting the nation.

He charged the newly graduated recruits to exhibit high sense of disciple, loyalty, integrity, selfless service

ontrary to claims by former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro that he cannot be extradite back to Nigeria from the United States, where he is currently residing, a top US official has said this is not true.

According Peter Carr, an official at the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), the US government is duty bound to extradite the former Minister based on a treaty signed between the

Obanikoro can be extradited – US

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United States and Nigeria.

Carr, in an email response, noted that Obanikoro, who is currently in the cross hairs of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could be successfully extradited “within [existing] statutory and treaty framework, US practice is, generally, to extradite its citizens, assuming that the requirements of the treaty are met.

courage and respect for others. Buratai advised them to imbibe and retain the mental, physical and spiritual training given at Depot and others they would be exposed to at their respective units, formation and corps.

“The fact of dual nationality with Nigeria would be irrelevant in this context.”

According to online news medium, Sahara Reporters, Obanikoro, who served under the government of former president Goodluck Jonathan, has recently dared Muhammadu Buhari to extradite him to Nigeria to stand trial for fraud charges filed against him.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016

News Cajetan Mmuta

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BENIN

ncumbent Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu, Chief Chris Ogiemwonyin, Mr. Godwin Obaseki were in early lead yesterday when about 2, 582 accredited delegates of the All Progressives Congress cast their votes to elect the party’s candidate for the September 20 governorship election.

Other aspirants like Professor Ebegue Amadasun, Mr. Arigbe-Osula Emma, General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) all from Edo-South and Mr. Kenneth Imasuangbon, Mrs. Tina Agbara, Comrade Peter Esele, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, Mr. Austin Emuan (five from Edo Central) also participated in the race.

The primaries were held amid tight security provided by heavily armed anti-riot and regular policemen, officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, DSS and soldiers at

Odubu, Obaseki Ogiemonyin lead in Edo guber primaries the venue of the contest.

The delegates who were conveyed from various accreditation centers into Samuel Ogbenudia Stadium looked frayed after hours of waiting for members of the APC National Committee headed by Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State who also arrived late for the all important exercise.

Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun was conspicuously absent and no reason was given for that and his name was never mentioned at the event.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that Oyegun shunned the process to avert the alleged wrath of some aggrieved party faithful over misgiving of the state and national officials of the party in the smooth conduct of the primary exercise.

He was said to have

strongly opposed Governor Oshiomhole’s choice of Mr. Godwin Obaseki even as he is touted to have rooted for the candidature of Chief.

Chris Ogiemwonyi.

Governor Oshiomhole was first to kick start the process as he cast his vote to elect the party’s candidate at exactly 5:55pm amid cheers by admirers and supporters at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium venue of the exercise.

The chairman of the committee, Alhaji Aminu Masari said members of the committee were in the state to ensure a peaceful, free, fair and credible party primaries and thanked members of the party for their conduct and efforts at making the process a huge exercise.

He disclosed that out of 2, 771 total number of APC delegates, 2, 582 were duly

accredited to cast their votes for their choice aspirants who would be elected as the party’s flag bearer.

He also reminded that 12 governorship on the need to imbibe the virtue of courage, sportsmanship and understanding as only one person amongst them would finally emerge as the candidate of the party in the state, adding that each of them was desirous and was qualify to serve the state and that the conduct of the aspirants would help demonstrate true leadership.

The delegates cast their votes in alphabetical order according to their local government areas, as Masari insisted that all ballot papers must carry the signature of chairman of the committee, and anyone without it was deemed il-

Governor Adams Oshiomhole displays his Delegate Tag and Permanent Voter’s Card after his accreditation at Imaguero College Centre as a delegate during the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State…yesterday

Blasphemy: Senator wants FG to intervene, stop trend Chukwu David Abuja

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enator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North) has urged the Federal Government to stop the current rampant cases of killings of innocent citizens on flimsy allegations of blasphemy particularly in the northern Nigeria.

Senator Utazi, while clarifying his recent point of Order to Sunday Telegraph at the weekend, lamented that his constituents had fallen victims of such reckless killings in the past.

He cautioned that if the Federal Government did nothing to stop the unfortunate development, it might bring unprecedented calamity upon the nation, as those who loved ones were killed might be tempted to retaliate.

The lawmaker, who came under Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rule last week

Thursday, had expressed sadness over the lynching to death of his constituent, Mr Ikechukwu Anigbo, a commercial motorcycle operator by mob action on an allegation of blasphemy.

According to him late Anigbo was accused of committing blasphemy by his killers, when he had argument with his colleagues over the fare to pay, upon which his colleagues attacked him, beat him to death and set his corpse ablaze in Apo district of Abuja.

Utazi also narrated another incident of extra-judicial killing against another constituent of his, Mr Chimaijem Ugwuanyi an 18-year old boy, who was lynched at Pandongero in Niger State on May 29, for sharing on his Facebook Wall a post, sent to a mass number of Facebook users which a section of the populace in that area considered blasphemous.

He lamented that, just like Ikechukwu, Chimaijem was beaten to death and set ablaze while the homes and shops of his parents and neighbour to whose house he ran to for protection, were razed by the mob muslim fanatics.

He noted that at the time of his death, Chimaijem was waiting for an admission into the university as he already passed his JAMB examination, with impressive score of 268.

The politician, who was visibly infuriated by the trend, which he described as prevalent in the north, regretted that the suspects that were arrested as perpetrators in cases involving Ikechukwu and Chimaijime were since released by the Police after a brief detention.

He said: “I am worried that the sentence of blasphemy is as spontaneous and as nebulous as the

whim of the person making the allegation and the law should aggressively discourage such unconscionable display of barbarity.

“The citizens should have confidence that the law, even if grinds slowly, certainly takes care of any infraction on the rights of others”.

Utazi further lamented that given the rate of killings by jungle justice, it seemed that accusing someone of blasphemy was the shortest route to being lynched in a society whose grand norm guarantees freedom of religion, thought and conscience.

The legislator stated that a thorough and speedy investigation of the various reported cases of extra-judicial killings in Nigeria, and the prompt prosecution of the perpetrators would save the innocent citizenry of this country from the present ordeal.

legal, invalid and therefore cannot count in the contest.

He pointed out that the change mantra of the ruling APC stands and is expected to start with the Edo governorship process.

Meanwhile, Governor Oshiomhole said the primaries remained a critical factor in the government and governance processes and expressed appreciation at the smooth and transparent manner of the exercise.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after he cast his vote, Oshiomhole described the APC governorship contenders as “12

angels” who were chosen to contest for one position, pointing out that only one person was required and therefore it was a game of chance which one might win or lose in line with democratic principles.

Oshiomhole stated that party members have made their rights to exercise their choice and it was expected that anyone who participated in the race must accept the outcome.

He said the way forward for the ruling APC was dependent on the trust the party has earned following government’s hard work.

Vandals storm Ikorodu communities, kill 7 Mojeed Alabi

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gain, hell was let loose in the early hours of yesterday within the Lagos-Ogun boundary communities of Elepete, Kojola, Imagbon, Ereko, Glorious Land, all within the Imushin Areas of Ikorodu, as hoodlums attacked the communities killing not less than seven people.

According to an eyewitness, who craved anonymity, the attackers, who were suspected to be oil pipeline vandals, were reportedly retaliating the alleged killing of two of their members by men of the State Security Services at a hotel within the neighbourhood.

Men of the SSS were said to have raided the area on Thursday evening and engaged in a shoot-out with the vandals at Topcat Hotel in Elepete village, where two of the alleged vandals were killed and their corpses allegedly taken away by the security men.

The source explained that the attackers numbering more than 100 had stormed the communities around 11pm on Friday shooting sporadically, and killing many people including a Muslim cleric simply identified as Ya Allahu and his unnamed son.

“Ya Allahu and his son whose name I can’t recollect were shot in their home. There is also one Mr. Oladele Ogundare who was returning from his office on the Lagos Island but ran into them and was killed right there in his car.

When policemen arrived at the scene, it was discovered that one Waheed Buhari was found dead, while his daughter, Mariam, who sustained gunshot injury was receiving treatment at press time.

“The DPO of Ogijo Police Station had been here today and was there when one of the victims was being buried. About two men were also killed in an uncompleted building where they were sleeping. It was just a kind of merciless attack because houses were bungled and they were indiscriminate in their shooting,” the source explained.

Confirming the report, Police spokesman in Ogun State, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, (DSP) said three people including one Waheed Buhari and two others lost their lives in the attack. He said the attack was carried out by some unidentified hoodlums who invaded the communities, but he failed to confirm that they were vandals.

Army to hold field shooting exercise in Lagos

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he 243 Battalion of the Nigerian Army on Friday said it will hold a field training which will involve shooting of guns in the Badagry neighbourhood of Lagos State.

This is contained in a statement signed and issued by Lt.-Col. Kingsley Samuel, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, in Lagos.

According to the statement, the 243 Battalion, Nigerian Army, is scheduled to hold a field training from June 20 to

24 at Ibereko, Badagry. ``The general public, particularly locals as well as farmers around Badagry to Kakon general area, are please requested to keep off the entire exercise area. ``They are not to panic on hearing gunshots while the field exercise lasts. The exercise is part of the training to keep the soldiers in shape. ``It is a routine exercise to keep the soldiers physically and mentally ready,’’ the statement said.

The Sunday Magazine

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Supremacy tussles, fear destroy •My sister poisoned my food to take over my fiancée The mores of family members eating together is fast waning, owing to mutual fear and suspicion among family members, CHIJIOKE IREMEKA reports

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e, eat together or eat food served on a dining table when I’m not there? I confirmed the scripture that says that the heart of man is desperately evil in my family. I stopped eating together with my siblings when my younger sister, the same mother, the same father poisoned my food to take over my fiancée,” said Felicia Agbado.

Felicia is one of the few people, who have stopped eating with the rest of her family members for fear of being harmed. According to this mother of two, she stopped eating with her siblings, following her younger sister’s attempt on her life because of her fiancée. She became wary, living with her other siblings until she got married. Today, the memory still haunts her as she has become suspicious of every move around her.

She said, “I was almost gone if not that my elder sister caught her. She slept with my fiancée, Ade, thinking he would marry her. But as God would have it, he dumped her and came to apologise to me. My sister confessed that she was ready to kill me and marry Ade, but when God aborted her murderous plan, she was caught, and she came begging for forgiveness.

“It was terrible, how would one possibly expects me to forgive and marry a man that came to me first, and went behind to sleep with my younger sister? If not that God was with me, may be, I would have been forgotten by now. If anybody had told me that such evil could enter my sister’s heart, I won’t believe it.

“After the event, my parents and other siblings pleaded with me to forgive. They tried to reconcile us, which I accepted but with caution. Of course, I have to stop eating food not prepared by me, or even the one prepared by me, once it’s being dished out by another person, especially that my younger sister until I left the house.

“Sometimes, when I remember that, I will be wondering why my sister would want to kill me just for a man. This is a sister I did everything for. It tells you how wicked humans can be. That taught me a great lesson that I will never forget in a hurry. I look at people with caution. That if my blood sister could imagine such great wickedness in her mind!

Today, I have two children but that my sister is still unmarried. I left the senseless Ade for her, but they couldn’t marry.”

Mary Williams is another lady, who like Felicia, said she cannot eat any food presented to her, if she wasn’t there when the food was prepared. Mary has three unmarried older sisters, who are in their late 30s. She said each time a man visited their home with marriage intentions, the man would go and never return. She was advised to be careful.

She said: “If I come back and see food covered, that it belongs to me, I will not touch it for some security reasons. I really want to know where these misfortunes are coming from. This is the second time a man has visited my house with the intention to marry me, but after the man visited home, he will not come back or even call. They have never said the reasons they left.

“I met with a spiritualist and she told me to be careful of people I eat and drink with.

I was asked to avoid a number of things in order to know where the problem is coming from, whether it’s from what I eat or what was projected in the air against me. So, since then, though we are not quarreling, I find a way to avoid what another person cooked.”

A 65-year-old doctor of Philosophy, Johnpaul Ikwuemesi, blamed the waning culture of eating together as a family on the activities of fake religious leaders, saying in most cases, the fake prophets deceive the innocent miracle-seekers and those with itching ears for ‘thus-saith-the Lord.’

He said: “With their ears itching to hear something, anything Satan puts through the mouths of these people, they will assimilate it and take it hook line and sinker. Most fakers will tell one that one’s father or mother or even somebody close to one is the source of one’s problem. At this point, you will find a different being in him, having been deceived.

“Such a person from that moment will begin to view his mother or father as a witch or wizard respectively. Those are the lies from the pit of hell. Satan uses this technique to fight homes. So, if these fake pastors, Imams and other spiritualists would stop destroying our homes, marriages and unions, people will return as one family in love. This is a satanic projection.

“Having said this, the busy schedules in the cities, especially Lagos, do not allow all family members to eat together at the same time. This is because, while some are still sleeping, others have gone to work and while other are eating, some are still coming back from work. So, with this, you find it difficult to get everybody at the dining table at the same time, may be, only on Sundays.”

Corroborating Ikwuemesi, Oluebube Amaiwe went to a certain ministry, where a supposedly fake pastor told her that her mother was responsible for her two years of childlessness. Oluebube, whose mother died five years earlier, was furious because the man, who claimed to be a clairvoyant, had just lied to her. She was taken there by her friend, Bidemi.

She said: “I went to one useless ministry

that my friend, Bidemi introduced me to.

When I got there, I was told that my mother was responsible for my childlessness. I couldn’t imagine it. I pretend to be flowing with him. Even, I saw the looks of disappointment on my friend’s face. Could you imagine what would have happened if my mother were to be there or alive?

“This fake man didn’t know that my mother died before I got married. She died five years ago. These are some of the problems we have today. There are many fake preachers out there, destroying the people and their families. But I’m not alarmed because Bible says they will come and we can see them everywhere.

“If care is not taken, they will deceive knowledgeable people. To me, this can cause problems among family members and trust is gone. It can only bring about mutual suspicion and nothing more.”

A cultural activist, Fred Okoro, is of the opinion that the break down in the core norms and values in Africa as a whole, and Nigeria in particular, is responsible for the waning culture of families eating together.

He said: “Cultural break down in Nigeria is responsible for the situation. System of bonding among African families has collapsed on the thresh hole of civilisation.

Right from time, Africa has the culture of eating together with bare hands. We eat rice with bare hands and other food stables.

Today, people eat fufu with fork and knife, even eba the same way.

“Sharing meals among our children and drinking water from the same cup is now prohibited. Those days, we put rice in a tray for our children. I also ate from the tray with my other siblings. We didn’t have dining table but we sat together on the ground and ate. We didn’t remain food for anybody.

“When it was the time for lunch, everybody must be around and if for any reason, anyone wasn’t available, he would be waited for. If the person was in the neighbourhood, his name would be screamed and he would come back home for lunch. But in the cities today, such does not happen. City life has killed everything African in us. Today, when a child cries, the mother will dish out his own food separately on the pretence that

the older siblings eat more than he does.

“Those days, you have to learn how to eat fast. We didn’t remain food for anybody.

Things have so changed that even when you remain food for a child, the child would not eat. He wants his own. When he remains water in a cup, the next child throws it away and gets his own. This is where it started. It continued until it became a problem. Everybody is guilty of this, including me.”

In this argument, Femi Ogunbunmi said: “Those days, we looked forward to weekends because my mother usually took us to grandpa’s house on weekends. What I enjoyed most was eating together with my siblings. Grandma would put food for us in a big bowl and everybody would be eating. We drank water from one cup and remained for others.

“While eating grandma would be there supervising and smiling at us and anybody that was eating too much would be asked to slow down. It was enjoyable. I looked forward to going to grandma’s house. These things have a way of bringing the family together. But today, one fight or the other has destroyed the unity African countries enjoyed from time immemorial.”

Also speaking on how fun and binding it is to eat together as one family, Esther Ngadiuba said: “I enjoyed eating with my father, mother and my aunty because they allow me to eat as much as I wanted. Even till now, I still like to eat with them. We ate together in the house until we got to a point when we refused to eat together again. The reason I don’t know. But I can also say that some people eat more food than others. So you wouldn’t want to eat with such person.

“We started demanding that our meals be dished separately. Those days, it used to be fun. After eating, sometimes, we start dragging the meat. One person would use his teeth to cut some part of the meat and sometimes, everybody would use teeth to their. It was fun. We do not fear anything, whether disease or being killed by anybody.

“Sometimes, the sharp ones among us will want to cleverly steal the meat. Some times they succeed and other times, they were caught. This made my elder sister to always separate the meat from the food before eating and shared it after the meal.

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Sunday Magazine

Nigerian families

Anambra market where only Nigerian made goods are sold Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

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There was nothing like knife in the sharing of the meat, it was done with our teeth and nobody complained.

“I wish the world would go back to that position. My daddy would always ask my mum to put his food and ours together. It helped to hold us together. But that has stopped now. The reason I can’t tell. Everybody now wants independent life. But it was fun.”

Recounting his experiences in a polygamous family, Alex Ufodiama said in most cases, the battle for supremacy and who controls the wealth of the parents, between the children of the first wife and that of the second wife estranges the ‘one family spirit’ and prevented the family from eating together.

He believes that certain selfish siblings would like to be worshiped and as a result, try to suppress the rest but when they are resisted, it draws a battle line between the children of the same father but different mothers in a polygamous home thereby creating an irreconcilable crisis in the home.

He said: “Battle for supremacy, especially in a polygamous family can create a situations of threat and hate. I’m from a polygamous family and I can tell you that we don’t eat together and we don’t share things in common. My father married two wives but the children of the both women don’t relate and don’t eat together.

“If any of the combatant family gives food to the other, they won’t eat because each group looks at the other with great suspicion. In my family, one side is rich but the other is very poor. I can tell you that the battle for supremacy is intense, not only between the children of the both wives but even among the children of the same mother,

they do not agree.

“I belong to the rich side but I can tell you that the eldest on my side and his immediate younger don’t 'follow the same road'. Both of them are rich. Of course, the children of the poor wife believe that we are the one killing them and will do nothing to eat whatever we give to them.

“They have also tagged my brothers, cultists because they have money. So, in this regard, you can’t be talking about eating together in the house. Our father is dead, my mother is dead too but their mother is still alive. They also have their internal battles.”

But such experience differs from that of the Managing Director of Merit Healthcare Ltd and Ultra Logistics Ltd, Dr. Ojo Adeniyi Obalolu, who said: “We were very happy because our father was a strong man. He was able to control his family. We didn’t have any issue to contend with but polygamy is not what I will recommend for anybody. Things have really changed.

“With all honesty of purpose, we didn’t suffer any thing because we are from polygamous family. We lived in a big house and worked together. My father has grandchildren that are older than I am. It was challenging economically but the social aspect of it was good. Polygamy didn’t affect our peaceful coexistence.”

However, Clement Ugwu, a fairly rich man said he still eats with his family at the dining table, though as a young family, the children are still young to make demands of how they want their food dished out. “Many families in the highbrow areas of Lagos still eat together on the dining table, but I can understand that those without dining can’t be discussing eating on the dining together,” he said.

he Building Material Ultra-Modern Market Ogidi is one of foremost markets in South Eastern Nigeria amenities and other infrastructure one can see in many markets across the country. It has over 10,000 lockup shops and with another 2,000 makeshift shops for low income traders.

The market was constructed by traders of the Building Material Dealers Association in Onitsha over two years between 2001 and 2003 with the objective of promoting indigenous products through commerce and trade. It is situated along the Enugu/Onitsha Expressway.

Following the construction of the market, hope is now rising for the emancipation and consolidation of Nigerian made goods in the national and international markets following the pragmatic measures that have been adopted by the Anambra traders at home and in the Diaspora to make Nigerian products compete favourably with other goods imported into the country.

This is because about 85 per cent of the products sold in the Building Material Market are Nigerian made goods. They include Zinc, nails, doors, hinges wire and plumbing materials among others.

On investigation, Sunday Telegraph learnt that the products are mostly manufactured

The present government should borrow a leaf from us and introduce policies that will promote industrialisation and create employment so as to restore confidence of the people in Nigerian made goods

by some industries within Nigeria and it is the policy thrust of the owners, to make the market the first indigenous market in Nigeria where only Nigerian goods are sold to promote trade and commerce in the country.

It was learnt that it is even outlawed for any trader in the market to display any non-Nigerian made product in their shops.

Mr. Jude Nwankwo is the treasurer of the Ogidi Building Materials Dealers Association and according to him, what Nigeria needs now is to formulate economic policies that will promote local commerce, trade, industries, mines, power and agriculture.

“Why we survive here is that about 85 per cent of the goods sold here are not imported.

The few ones that are imported do not survive competition here, especially with the present free fall of the naira which has made them expensive. The made in Nigeria goods are made in compliance with the standards approved by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) - so Nigerians goods can stand the test of time,” he explained.

Speaking further he said: “The present government should borrow a leaf from us and introduce policies that will promote industrialisation and create employment so as to restore confidence of the people in Nigerian made goods.

“Ogidi Building Materials Market had over 15,000 traders before now, but the economic hardship in the country has sent many packing. There is no country of the world that can thrive without indigenous manufacturers and products because they are the employers of labour and productivity.

“The earlier we feel we can provide for ourselves the better. We are blazing the trail in the promotion of indigenous products and what we are doing today was what China did over 50 years ago and today they have taken over the economic power. Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and material resources. All we need was to pray for a Messiah who will come and turn this country into another China.”

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news

Elegushi family shuts beach over drowned UNILAG students Mojeed Alabi

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n honour of the two drowned students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, and towards improving the safety and management standards at the beach, the Elegushi Royal family of Ikate Land, owner of the facility, has announced the official closure of the beach.

Addressing a briefing on behalf of the family at the Elegushi Palace in Lekki yesterday, the Asiwaju of Ikate Land, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi, while condoling with the family of the late students, noted that apart from the support already accorded the families of the deceased up till the time of their burial, the management of the beach deemed it right to close the beach in their honour.

He, however, refuted

the claim that the death of the victims was caused by the poor safety facilities at the beach, saying every necessary safety measure including the provision of lifeguards, flags as well as security and ambulances were usually on ground at the beach.

“We may not have the best practices when it comes to beach management, but I can tell you that the safety measures at the Elegushi beach will be difficult to see about anywhere else around. This is evidenced by the prompt response of our lifeguards who quickly dived into the water to rescue the victims. None of them died on the spot as being peddled around.

“Two things happened and it is unfortunate that we may have to reopen wounds here again; the red flag was up as at the time the victims were going our guards did warn them, but

they insisted. Apart from that, immediately they were rescued, rather than allowing the experts to do their recovery work, their friends hijacked them from our team and drove them away. It is very sad and we once again commiserate with the family,” Elegushi explained.

He noted that many horses are on ground at the beach for surveillance and added that henceforth, apart from abolishing touting completely at the beach, the management is working towards bringing on board insurance system that would cover any form of accident recorded; saying safety of life and property is highly respected by the family.

It would be recalled that the duo of Adesola Ogunmefun and Funmilayo Odusina, who had joined their friend, identified simply as Bolu, to celebrate her birthday on Sunday, June 5, had been

submerged by strong tides which swept them into the Atlantic Ocean.

But in his reaction to the development few days ago, the state Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, had alleged that recklessness on the part of the management of the hotel had led to the unfortunate incident, adding that that the government would thenceforth mete out heavy punishment to any operator that fail to comply strictly with the standard safety measures.

Meanwhile, the family has noted that the development is an eye opener towards improving the standard, saying while awaiting the proposed investigation by the state government, the family has saddled some individuals the responsibility of looking round the world to learn about the beach and resort management.

INEC blames politicians for inconclusive elections Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that politicians should be held responsible for the recent spate of inconclusive elections recorded in some parts of the country, noting that those seeking elective offices often use every means necessary including bribery, violence or intimidation to ensure victory in an election.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu made this known in Abuja at a Civil Society/Stakeholders roundtable meeting, organised by the Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISMG) with the theme; “Inconclusive Elections: The Facts and The Myths”.

The INEC Chairman explained that an inconclusive election occurs when after polls; no candidate meets the condition precedent for the declaration of a winner of the election.

Represented by the INEC Director, Voter Education, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzy Professor Yakubu stated that though the Commission did not want the stigma of being referred to as an Inconclusive National Electoral Commission, stressed that

INEC would be subverting the law if it keeps on declaring or is in haste to declare elections concluded.

“For as long as the law remains as it is, and for as long as our elections remain competitive where every vote counts and every vote is counted, successful candidates will most likely only win marginally.

“For this reason, disruptions by way of violence, intimidation and bribery of poll officials and voters, the spectre of inconclusive elections are likely to hang over our process. Where there are no such disruptions or distortions by the political class, inconclusive elections will all but be eliminated, save for elections into the office of governor or president where no candidate meets the Constitutional criteria or in cases of natural disaster or other emergency,” he explained.

He emphasised that a candidate must satisfy all conditions stipulated by law before he could be declared a winner, noting that he or she must satisfy all legal requirements; score the majority of lawful votes cast at the election in which all eligible voters have been given the opportunity to exercise their franchise and, for executive positions, the stipulated spread in the constituency.

Ikpeazu assures of judicious disbursement of N1bn loan T

L-R: President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Mr. Tola Faseru; Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at the official flag off of the 2016 Cashew Planting Season in Osun State recently.

Senator offers free ICT training

N EWS I N BRIEF

The Senator representing Ogun Central, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso, has initiated an information and communication technology (ICT) aid programme for applicants in the 500,000 teachers scheme of the Federal Government.

Tejuoso, who is the chairman, Senate Committee on Health, said the ICT programme is free and targeted at unemployed graduates.

Speaking yesterday through the coordinator, ICT Department of his constituency office, Mr Segun Shennaike, the senator said no fewer than 1,500 applicants have registered since the portal opened last Monday.

It will be recalled that the President Muhammadu Buhari launched the initiative, nicknamed N-Power Teach, to provide two-year paid employment for job seekers.

‘APC stole our mandate in Plateau’

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Barkin Ladi Local Government in Plateau State, Hon. Philip Jwe, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government stole their mandate, and expressed readiness to reclaim power in 2019.

According to him, the APC has nothing to show after one year, saying the PDP in the local government is putting everything in place to recapture all PDP positions that were taken.

Hon. Jwe stated this during the inauguration of PDP executives of 11 federal wards held in Gashish, Ropp, Fan, Foron and Heipang District of Barkin Ladi Local Government of the Plateau State.

The PDP chieftain condemned the illegal dissolutions of elected structures in the 17 local governments of the state by Governor Simon Lalong, replacing them with appointed politicians and dared the APC government to conduct council elections in the state to receive the shock of their lives.

NRC appoints Akintola Manager, S’West Zone The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has named Mr Akinwale Akintola as the new Railway District Manager (RDM) for the South-West Zone.

This is contained in a statement signed by the District Public Relations Officer, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, on Saturday in Ibadan.

Unyimadu said that Akintola was the District Manager (North) in Zaria until his deployment to the South-West Zone of the company.

The statement said that Akintola was a former Assistant Director, Operations at the Ebute-Metta station in Lagos.

He succeeds Mr. Rasheed Gbadamosi, the former RDM South-West Zone, who has been re-deployed to the headquarters as Assistant Director, Electrical.

Akintola who is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, was born in 1962. He has since resumed duty.

he Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has assured farmers in the state of judicious disbursement of the N1billion Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme Loan which the state recently obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He gave the assurance while rendering his one year stewardship in the state to the people of Abia Central Senatorial District, as part of the ongoing town hall meetings in the state.

According to a release by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, Governor Ikpeazu spoke yesterday at Umuahia South and Isiala Ngwa North Local Government headquarters.

He decried the declining federal allocations to the state, but assured that his government will ensure that the current economic crisis will not affect his infrastructural development programme and payment of workers’ salaries in the state.

He however told the people of the state that he should not be pitied, over the harsh economic situa-

tion, stressing that he believes God has reasons for whatever circumstance He (God) allows.

“I want you to understand that we are in tough times in the state. I am sure you’re aware of the economic hard times in the country that has occasioned the drastic drop in our monthly allocation to as low as N1.7billion “Out monthly allocation as at today cannot support payment of workers’ salaries, not to talk of executing other projects. This has also impacted on our IGR as a state.

“Don’t pity me because of the tough times. I know that my God is able to handle the situation. But let me assure you that amidst this obvious challenge, our government will continue to improve on our infrastructure and also pay salaries as we can, but I ask for your understanding and support in this hard time.

“We do not have any other option than to improve the infrastructure in the state, especially at Aba, the commercial-hub, to motivate people to pay taxes thereby improving the internally-generated revenue of the state.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016

OPINION 11

Setting the records straight: Nobody is misleading President Buhari Ayantunji Benjamin Gbenro

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his article is a response to Dele Momodu’s article titled “Before They Mislead President Buhari”. The article like most of the writer’s recent articles is a subtle castigation of Buhari’s administration and support for the corrupt and dirty past that brought us to this position as nation. To appeal to his audience, which presently is populated by the disciples of the old order and ignorant young men and women, the writer employs often half baked truth, intellectual manipulation and sometimes outright lies. These are what I intend to set straight.

Let me start by stating my respect for the person of Egbon Dele Momodu. I may not agree with him always but I respect his personality and brand. Here is a man who dragged himself from the lowest rung of the society to the pinnacle of his career. I must confess that he is good at what he does. His work and talent has opened doors of kings and queens and have taken him to places where mere mortal can only dream.

Saying I am supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari will be stating the obvious. Anybody that follows me on any social media and read any of my articles before, during and after the last election will already know this. One thing that may not be known is that I have not always been Buhari’s supporter not because I don’t believe in him but because of other constraints that may have nothing to do with his ability to perform. My father is a politician and my family suffered a direct impact of Buhari’s tsunami in 1983.

I am an ardent reader of Dele Momodu’s Pendulum every Saturday. His grasp of national issues is apt. However, his write ups have significantly drifted in the past months. Sometimes he tried so much to be politically correct that you are at a loss about

his stand. This should not be a surprise; a man of his standing in PR job should not be seen to be directly at loggerhead with potential clients. His most recent article titled “Before They Mislead President Buhari” is a typical example of his recent misinformation riddled articles with subtle castigation for the current administration and support for the corrupt class the administration is trying to rid the nation of. In a divided society like ours, coupled with high degree of ignorance among the populace, any lie can fly and hence the high degree of followership.

These lies should be demystified not for the sake of the mischievous, who see anything against Buhari as a cause they must identify with, but for the sake of the ignorant, especially the young ones that need to be put in proper perspective.

Lies often repeated begin to assume the semblance of truth. Every right thinking Nigeria should guide against allowing the enemies of progress dictate our narratives at this critical stage of our national development. The fight against corruption of Buhari’s administration is not about the President alone. If anything, it’s more against the President, because, he is setting a very high moral standard on which he and his aides would be judged after living the office. The fight is about the soul of the nation. What is going on is a class war. A war between the haves and the have nots. A war between the privileged and the downtrodden. A war between the forces of evil and good. But the consolation is in the maxim that “The victory of evil over good is temporal”. In this battle, the good will definitely triumph.

The first fallacy in the said article is in the first sentence of the first paragraph where he said “let me say categorically and emphatically that our dear beloved country is dangerously hemorrhaging again and this perfidi-

ous drift must be halted urgently before we all end up in perdition”. This statement is far from the truth. How can a nation where the financial leakage of the past is being blocked be said to be hemorrhaging? How can a nation recovering stolen assets be said to be drifting? When a nation that has just recovered back it lost territories to Boko Haram is described as drifting, when a nation that is clearly steering its economy away from a single source of income and diversifying into hitherto neglected areas is described as drifting, it’s either the person making the description does not have the understanding of the unfolding events or chose to be mischievous. If the change mantra is misconstrued, it’s probably due to lack of understanding of what change actually means. Change means doing things differently.

I also disagree with the insinuation that the world is worried about Nigeria. If what we read and saw in the international media is anything to go by, world leaders from America to Canada to UK have recently applauded the effort of the present administration. Where the worry is as expressed by the writer beats my imagination.

The President’s campaign was based on the tripod of security, fight against corruption and job creation/economy. Let’s not forget also that at the point of assumption of office of the present administration, Boko Haram was ravaging the country, seventeen local governments were effectively under the control of the insurgents. Bombs were going off in various locations across Nigeria including Abuja as if explosions were going out of vogue.

On the economic front, twenty eight states of the federation owed between three to eleven months salaries, about N600 billion owed petrol importers in subsidy payments, the country’s reserves were almost com-

Like Giwa, like LMC

Oluwatomiwa Babalola

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ost people, apart from the Chris Giwa-led group have commended the League Management Company (LMC), for expelling the Jos-based side from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Impressive what the LMC has done, at least it will ensure that sanity is maintained in the Nigerian top flight despite the ‘nobody-cantouch me’ attitude some club owners put up in and outside the pitch in recent time.

But, what they don’t know is the fact that the NPFL is the most important thing that has happened to Nigerian football of late, and a lot of us who cherish the resurgence of the league through the LMC will not allow some uncultured people bring it to disrepute.

We know that the decision to expel Giwa FC from the league must have been a daunting task for the Alhaji Shehu Dikko-led LMC. The LMC chairman, who also doubles as the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, ‘did not look Uche’s face ‘like my friends from the east often joke.

Obviously, this is not a matter that we can joke about, and that’s why we are addressing this issue at this point through this channel, for unruly club owners to be aware that they may be rich and influential; the fans of the game will never allow them drag the name of the Nigerian league into the mud.

We are strongly advising Chris Giwa to take his battle of the NFF presidency to Amaju

Pinnick, and not destroy the career of players, who signed for his club due to his lack of vision.

We also appeal to him to release these players in time, as they can no longer play for the club due to the expulsion, baring in mind that these other clubs respect the rule governing the game.

This whole thing started on match day 12 of the Nigeria Professional Football League, when Giwa FC fans disrupted an ongoing game against Enugu Rangers in Jos, and it was later stopped around 78th minute.

The LMC then moved the remainder of the game to the Abuja National Stadium complex to be completed, but, Giwa failed to show up, and he never tendered any excuse for his action.

Following that, the LMC ruled that since Giwa was found guilty of the abandoned game, they must play three games in Ilorin, which they had ample time to appeal but they never did.

The Jos-based club then deliberately ignored the ‘two home games’ in Ilorin in succession, while they went to play against Abia Warriors in Umuahia, hoping that they had resolved never to miss another.

But their greatest undoing was the fact that they never planned to honour their match day18 game against Enyimba on May 18, and, instead of Giwa to have sent a notice to that effect 72 hours before the game, they waited until a day before the game, and the said letter didn’t arrive until about 15 minutes before the game,

demanding that the match be rescheduled, and also a change of venue.

So, without any fear or favour, we believe that Giwa FC merits the punishment it is serving at the moment, and we hope that it will serve as a pointer to other club owners, who might be thinking of going the same route.

Finally, since rules are rules, and the LMC followed the rules to the point of expelling Giwa FC from the NPFL, the body should also ensure that they enforce the law on any club erring on their financial obligations to their players.

We know a handful of the clubs in the NPFL are owing their players - and yes, we agree that these players are naive and they won’t speak out, but the LMC can go beyond waiting for the players speak out, and help them get what duly belongs to them from the scavengers, who call themselves club owners.

Looking at the LMC’s rules over salary issues, we discovered that there’s a loophole that an average club owner can hide under even if they fail to remunerate their players as at when due; and this can be found under players’ Remuneration of the LMC’s rules 9.45.2, which states that: “Any club found to have delayed a due payment for more than 30 days without a prima facie contractual basis MAY be sanctioned in accordance with paragraph 4 below.”

The article “May” in the statements has weakened the LMC from taking appropriate action over erring clubs because the welfare of these players, who are running kilometers

pletely depleted and oil price was spiraling downward at an alarming rate. Stealing was not corruption at the point of assumption of the administration and the ‘goats’ were having a field day with the ‘yams’. This was the summary of the state of the nation when Buhari came in.

The current state of the Boko Haram insurgency will make every objective mind to agree that the President is doing something and did not take Nigerians for granted. We now take it as aberration to talk about bomb blasts or Boko Haram attacks. This shows the President is actually doing something. New security challenges such as herdsmen attacks, militancy in the Niger Delta and Biafra in the Southeast. The herdsmen case I believe is getting solved looking at the decrease in such attacks in recent times. Also attackers of Nimbo community in Enugu State have been apprehended, the attackers of the Igbo lady in Kano were also promptly apprehended, and the killers of the kidnapped army Colonel in Kaduna have been apprehended.

Every nation has lived through its terrible moments but no nation progresses by pretending that the terrible moments never existed as being suggested. Nigeria must internalize our recent past. We must learn from the mistakes made, punish those that took the country for a ride and put in place a system that ensure the mistakes will never be repeated. “We have a President that stands head and shoulders above all else and he clearly leads the way”.

We owe the country the duty of supporting the President irrespective of ethnic, religious or party affiliation. All it takes for evil to thrive is for men and women of goodwill to look away while evil is perpetrated. Nigeria is certainly on its way to greatness once more.

Ayantunji Benjamin Gbenro (PhD) tweets from @bengbenro

on the pitch, is our concern.

So, we advise the LMC to do their home work well, obtain valuable information from players, who are victims of clubs owing them salaries and act accordingly- because we believe these players won’t talk for the fear of intimidation and prejudice.

We also believe that if the clubs in the NPFL pay their players via the LMC, or through their bank accounts, it will not be easy for the clubs to lie about salary payments and all other benefits.

So, we task the LMC to ensure that salaries of players are routed through them, or better still, force the clubs to pay their players through their bank accounts to track their records of payments.

We finally hope that this piece will spark up a positive drive towards the improvements of the welfare of players plying their trade in the domestic league.

Just the way Giwa has failed to respect the laws binding the NPFL, the LMC has also failed to enforce its laws guiding the welfare of the players - this has led teams owing players several months of their wages.

So, we suggest that LMC respect its own rules to the letters, so that club owners, who are still in the league, can respect the rules.

Thanks for reading and please don’t forget to drop your opinion after reading this peace. @TomiwaBabalola +oluwatomiwababalola oluwatomiwababalola@gmail.com

12

Sunday Mail

SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

@

EMAIL

thesundayletters@gmail. com and sundayletters@ newtelegraphonline.com

MAIL BAG

* Letters to the Editor

The Sunday Telegraph

Herdsmen and the unfinished matter Dear Editor, It is no use jumping into conclusion without looking back on our past and present.

The North and South have been together since the amalgamation by Lord Luggard in 1914 through independence era. There has always been Fulani, the herdsmen, grazing around the length and breadth of Nigeria, even when our economy was predominantly based on agriculture. Then, we had the groundnut pyramids in the North and cocoa in the Southwest, fisheries and some form of agriculture in the South. Then, there was no problem of herdsmen grazing on peoples’ farms, destroying their means of livelihood. What then could be responsible for the present state of chaos? Can we now say that the herdsmen, “the Fulani” suddenly became wicked to other tribes or can we say that desertification had encroached so much that the so called herdsmen are now being forced southward to destroy farms? The “herdsmen” now move around, including the under-aged among them, fully armed with AK 47 and other dangerous weapons under the watchful eyes of our law enforcement agents. Is it lawful now to carry firearms without proper licensing, including the minors among the herdsmen? Has the law exonerated the herdsmen from illegal firearm possession?

Confidently the herdsmen now invade all nooks and crannies of Nigeria destroying property and maiming unarmed people particularly in the rural areas. All state governors are advised, not just the Eastern states, against handling the situation with levity. It is a very serious challenge that the security forces should be prepared to tackle without delay. It may be Boko Haram’s new tactics to continue unleashing terror on unsuspecting farmers.

In other words, the Boko Haram intelligence is at work pretending to be “herdsmen”.

President Buhari must not handle the problem lightly so that it does not escalate to ethnic war. Before, cattle herding involved just a few persons, sometimes teenagers.

Now, they unleash such havoc without hindrance. Herdsmen indeed! We need both the original herdsmen and farmers to co-exist. We should encourage farming more than ever before. A continued invasion of farms can be suicidal for all parties. Let the security operatives do more to disarm the herdsmen before the situation degenerates further.

(

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08037613380 Normal message fees apply

Ese Oruru: A show of shame!

Dear Editor,

The nature call

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Also, the land must be gainfully utilised for farming and industrialisation.

Titilayo Oba, Lagos.

Insecurity in army barracks Dear Editor, I wish to bring to the notice of the authorities and the whole world what in happenning at the Army Cantonment, Ojo, Lagos State in terms of security of lives and property. From time immemorial, the security of lives and property of all inhabitants of any barracks (be it Police or Army) is often placed in soldiers or policemen as the case may be, who comprehensively ensure that the barracks community remains a dreaded zone to hoodlums and people of shady characters. However, events of recent times have made nonsense of this.

These days, it is common to hear and experience cases of abduction, kidnapping, burglary, raping, stealing and robbery in the Ojo Cantonment. What makes the occurrence more worrisome is not the trend per se but the impunity with which these dastardly acts are perpetrated. Culprits are hardly apprehended and even when they are, the cases are handled with levity. This begins to make one wonder if these criminals have some people in the “office” providing cover for them.

In the course of this, many

barracks dwellers have lost their children, valuables and assets as well as decent rest at night. People now sleep with their eyes open. It is so frustrating that the once revered, respected and dreaded barracks is now a den of criminals. What principally triggered my curiosity is the absurdity in the security arrangement put in place to counter this criminal invasion. Where exactly lies the hope when unarmed civilians are forced (not compelled) to organise themselves into vigilante groups for night security patrols in place of soldiers right there in the barracks? These men who are mainly civilians, who find themselves as residents in the barracks either by being relations to military personnel or by virtue of where they serve are being coerced into this absurdity and they are threatened with ejection if they dare refuse. Obviously, some forces who constitute themselves into coordinators of this unpopular security arrangement are doing so to gain favour or recognition from the cantonment commandant who is believed to know his job well and would not want to be part of this porosity. This is an arrangement deadly enough to endanger the lives of these poor civilians who are neither trained for security jobs nor possess any arms whatsoever to do a reprisal against the armed robbers and hoodlums or defend themselves in the face of danger during these security patrols.

Dada Okunnu, Cantonment, Ojo, Lagos.

Catholic bishops can be more cautious Dear Editor, The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) ended a meeting recently and paid a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB). I heard their President on Radio Nigeria, praising PMB on behalf of the others. He said the CBCN was proud of Buhari for fighting corruption, crimes and immorality. But, in what way is PMB fighting corruption?

The utterances of the Bishops betray selfish interests. They said they would continue to partner with government in such areas as education and health. Yet, through their schools, Christian missionaries recreated Africans, and now very many Africans lost knowledge of African culture, including the beauty and glory of African Traditional Religion (ATR). Christian and Muslim missionaries keep fragmenting Africa, and the centre no longer holds. Christian and Muslim clerics are feeding fat, while ordinary Nigerians wallow in abject poverty.

Every Sunday and every day, they milk Nigerians, and resist tax payment. Yet, Jesus and his apostles paid tax. If the CBCN knew what ordinary Nigerians are going through, it would have told PMB some prophetic/liberation-loaded words, rather than praise-singing all the way. During the military era of Sani Abacha, Chief Gani Fawehinmi called Archbishop (now Cardinal) Olubunmi Okogie, a military apologist. The Bishops praised PMB, and then asked him for what matters most to them:

using schools to catch African children young, and hospitals which are forms of investment.

Some researches revealed that some hospitals sell drugs donated to them from overseas to patients even when they are not the needed ones, but to ensure that the drugs are exhausted before expiration dates. Power and money are primary and essential to being church and being mosque.

Now as always, ordinary people are at the receiving end.

Pius Abioje,

Importance of education in life Dear Editor, Education plays a very important role in one’s life. For living a luxurious life or for living a better life, one should be educated. Education is that which transforms a person to live a better life and even in social wellbeing. It helps a person to build his mind and spirit. It gives one a lot of knowledge, in whatever aspects of lives. Education plays a vital role in one’s success in the personal growth.

The more you have knowledge the more you grow. Being educated and earning a professional degree prepares you to be a part in reputed organisations, companies or institutions. For determining what is good or what is bad for you, education makes man a right thinker and correct decision-maker. It is the only fundamental way by which a desired change and upliftment in the society can be taken into effect.

Taiwo Kemi Ruth, 300 level student of International Relations, Landmark University

Truly, many Nigerians don’t know shame. Tell me, how does a 14-yearold abducted girl, Ese Oruru, delivering of a baby girl (or boy) call for celebrations? I can’t imagine the message the wife of Bayelsa State governor, Mrs. Rachael Dickson, appearing on the front page (or even inner page) of a daily carrying Ese’s new baby, with smiling Ese’s mother, Rose, by her side, intended to pass to the Nigerian teenage girls seeing her. It is that these girls should take Ese as their role model? I can’t just understand? And is Ese’s mother not disturbed that her 14-year-old kid, instead of being in school with her mates studying, is being shown on TV and on the pages of newspaper carrying a baby? Does it ever occur to her that such undue publicity being given to her child could ruin her chances of getting a decent man to marry her in the future? Or perhaps the parents would make do with Dahiru Yunusa, alias ‘Yellow’, the commercial tricycle driver who abducted her and raped her, as the bona fide husband of their daughter! Shame!

Shame!! Shame!!! The same show of shame is now being played out by the Federal Government with the rescued Chibok girl Amina. We all saw the other day how service chiefs, ministers, governors, etc, in a motorcade accompanied Amina, carrying her own baby girl too to Aso Rock to see the President and his wife! I am confused! Can somebody please tell me what is going on here! What has led us to lose our sense of judgment?

Sly Edaghese, Lagos YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD! SEND YOUR LETTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO THESUNDAYLETTERS@ GMAIL.COM. LETTERS SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 200 WORDS AND MUST HAVE THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE SENDER

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016

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Execut ve You have achieved quite a lot at 80. How did you start your journey through life to get to this enviable position?

Well, let me start by giving you a background of my early life history. I was born in 1936 in Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, where I started my elementary school. After my elementary school, I proceeded to Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongida Ora, where I got my Cambridge School Certificate. After secondary school education, I studied Communications Engineering at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. Thereafter, I joined the service of Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, later known as Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in 1957 as Engineering Assistant. I moved to mainstream broadcasting in 1960, when among other roles, I became a producer and presenter of famous programmes as ‘The Big Beat’ and ‘Stereo Jazz Club.’ I participated in setting up and pioneering Radio Nigeria 2, now known as Metro FM in 1977. The high point of my career in broadcasting was my transfer to FRCN Training School, where I was the Principal Lecturer and Training Officer, Programme Production for eight years before I retired in 1992. After retirement, I contributed critiques, opinion and commentaries to many major arts-related journals in Nigeria and abroad. In 1996, I was formally invited by The Guardian Newspapers Ltd, Lagos to write for the newspaper. I maintained three columns every week – ‘Evergreen’ on Wednesday, ‘Sound and Screen’ on Fridays and ‘All That Jazz’ on Sunday.

SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

I’m Burna Boy’s director of music – Benson Idonije Benson Idonije is Nigeria’s most revered music critic and first manager of Nigerian Afro-Beat legend, late Fela Anikulako Kuti. He’s also the grandfather of Burna Boy, a Nigerian reggaedancehall singer and songwriter, whom he never wanted to go into music. Today, grandpa is the grandson’s music director. He speaks to CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on his early life as he’s being celebrated by Burna Boy, Committee of Relevant Arts (CORA) and Culture Advocates Caucus (CAC) at 80 country and they put it together to honour and reward me for hard work and honesty. It would also help Nigerians to know that there is a reward for hard work and honesty. It has been a very big event and busy programme that ran from Thursday till today (Sunday). There are other events that start in the evening at Freedom Park with Burna Boy and friends. It will run till night. Burna Boy will be performing around 8pm.

On the lighter note, how did you meet your wife?

I met my wife in Surulere, where I lived.

I like her and spoke to her.

A lot of things seemed to have changed today; so, how did you propose to her?

Not in any different way but in the usual way and we got married. There was no special way to do that. When you meet a woman and you become intimate with her, it leads to marriage. There is no special proposition. Except as well, you give a woman a ring ahead of marriage. These are the ceremonies that I don’t think have changed. When you meet her and tell her about your intentions, she wants to be secured and you solemnise it in the church. I got married in 1966 and I have male and female children.

How do you feel, being celebrated by CORA and CAC today?

I feel great and fulfilled. I'm grateful to be surrounded by amazing colleagues, friends and family as I enter a new year.

This platform will help us adapt to the ever evolving music industry. It is important for us to collectively engage ourselves as stakeholders, and more important as members of an evolving community fly, to bring about the desired industry structure. I'm grateful to CORA, Nigerians.

What are your hobbies?

I started playing Lawn Tennis since I came into Festac. I read anything that is interesting

You look so strong at 80. How did you do it?

It’s grace of God. I cannot give the credit to myself. I’m in all, grateful to God. Hard work and honesty brought me this far. Of course, love your neighbour as you love yourself and be happy. Ensure you don’t do evils.

Your favourite meal is what?

There is my native food called Oko, cooked grounded corn with special vegetable soup prepared for it. I love it. I used to eat it from childhood. I grow up to like it. I like Kenke too, a Ghanaian delicacy.

What will you say about your engagement with the late Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti?

My relationship with famous Fela was very impactful. I learnt a lot from Fela class of music. I’m happy that eventually, what I believe in has been accepted by all today. When I started to manage Fela, there was no hope even Fela himself didn’t have hope, but today you see where we are. I believe in his music and today, perhaps, Fela is one of the biggest musicians in the world. I feel fulfilled on part of the fact that I was with him as he got to the peak of his career.

Born: 1936 State: Edo State Profession: Communications Engineer/ Broadcaster/ Writer Current position: Music Director Previous position: Training Officer, FRCN Training School Marital: Married

Initially, what was people’s reaction to the music?

When we started, the music was not popular. Also with that and highlife but there was no much impact until after many years, we began to make an impact. So, it was not until we watered down the music from jazz to opera in 1971 that things started happening.

And this is the journey that started in the early 60s.

Your landmark in life will be considered as what?

If we are talking about landmark, I will first consider that of the stint I had with The Guardian. I have a lot of landmarks even my stint at the Training School as lecturer and as a training officer, equipping broadcasting to all part of Africa.

Those were landmarks.

How do you feel to have a grandson like

Burna Boy? Well, I feel great, especially when I see that he has talent and he is brilliant.

He is unique from others, I think I feel good. At first, I didn’t want him to play that kind of music, I wanted him to go to school but when he came out with the first single, I began to give him support.

In fact, right now, I’m his director of music, when he plays life music, I direct the music. I get the artistes together to practice and back him up. So, I support him now. His own style is different.

When you see him on the screen performing, what goes into your mind?

I feel happy that my grandchild is doing well.

What do you intend to achieve with the lineup of events announcing your 80th birthday?

The event was being put together by the Committee of Relevant Arts to mark my 80 years birthday. They felt that I have made some impacts in arts in the

What were the things you learnt from your parents and how have they helped in shaping you today?

Hard work and honesty and those have helped me in life. I have been working and displaying honesty and that is why I am being celebrated today.

Do you belong to any professional body?

In 2012, I was a recipient of the Life Time Award for Journalism Excellence from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, and I’m also, a fellow of Adam Fiberesima School of Music and Conservatory, University of Port Harcourt.

As an elder statesman, what is your message to the country?

I want to appeal to Nigerians to give the current government a chance. I know that the ‘change’ that they promised hasn’t come but it will be right to give them a chance. Also, I want the government to dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers with a view to settling the problem. The issue of full force cannot settle that. It’s a serious one.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016

Body Soul S U N D AY, J U N E 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

Patra’s dilemma 8 22 Slay in Ankara jumpsuits 18,39

Why I won’t work with Cynthia Morgan –Marie Abia-Bassey 42

Azuh Arinze: My whirlwind romance with journalism

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SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

SUND AY

GRAP

Contents 19.06.2016

COVER

TELE

H SU

NDAY , 19

2016

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FASHION

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Patra ’s dile mma 22 8 Slay in An kara jump 18,39 suits Wh Morgy I won’t an – work Mari with 42 e Abia Cyn -Bass thia ey

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BEAUTY ZONE One of such phenomena is the vixen sew in which is a method of attaching extensions or weaves to the hair in such a way that the hair looks as close to natural as possible

Az romuh Ar a n c i n ze e w : My ith jouwhirl rna win lism d

MY PASSION I’m not a trend follower; I’m a creative person, so I love to create my own style

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ay that would revenge in a w ng ui rs pu an the object ta eself more th e N ig er D el ili ta nt s in th ly the Niger damage on r. al region, especi s ha ve be en of one’s ange mility to say you are er ng ve g A ta It is false hu D el lations ends up hurtin and gas instal wed fighting a cause that ea l ar oi ur up g yo in vo le in blow and they have ion un- more innocent peop ment you see rn ct in the region ve ru st go de ss e le th ce fa ith e e to continue w oduced in the region. than th emy. What happens to th pr en gion re ta el D til zero oil is -occurring oil pipeline as the er ig re em in the N e Following the eria’s daily oil produc- Eco-syst depend on th ig people who N e , th m r d ihood is pe el s an el liv rr r vandal ei ba 0 th r 00 ries fo d to 680, riverine fishe oil spillage? They suftion has reduce an is e er th e n th he w n caused day. affecting is is the degradatio th , ly om fr nt e or e m th r fe ng Subseque ni se vandalism. nue and wor country’s reve ms the country is al- by pipeline the Niger Delta Avengle e or ob pl pr We im dialogue the day, economic t the end of the window of ment to A pt . ce ng ac ci fa nto s y oa er gr rn read es ve on go l e ra th e fede ses are ormous created by th e unrest in the poor mas eight of the en g the find a lasting solution to th w e th r de un in ing us ca is ta et on. loss this vend the Delta regi la xa ti on ur Su nd ay re yo e country. ak m ysa To of Body is th on of iti d ed ar is Ever he joyable, th en e e th or lighten m to off g ed en packag in g: cu tt in e th e and Soul has be pular journalist and it sp to se no ex- up your day. Po rn at io na l! face? It is an r of Ye s In te he is bl pu ed cover e us th pres si on rinze is on our a Magazine, Azuh A his inspiring stobe ri sc de to eek. He shares terview. Check n e e d l e s s l y this w is exclusive in ge. th self-destruc- ry in r pa t on our cove ti ve , ov er - that ou shion pages have also been fa Other ay leisure. re ac ti on to for your Sund k and Life or a problem. packaged W d Be Our series on ! I’m sure you will It is warnt ns ge is hitting up t on any of it. ai pa ing ag iss ou t not want to m lo us ac ti ng ou bu fa H av e a of p iq u e, sa ead! anes or ag ai ns t week ah

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Patra ’s dile mma 22 7 Stun in ‘all black ’ 18,39 My sale –boobs are n’t An 42 ita Odia for

Richie sat on the toilet bowl. He was shaken.

When they hugged, he felt the bump and was sure he felt the baby moved. It was no longer a dream. There was a baby in his wife’s womb!

te o n s ’ r o t Edi

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T h e Te a m Vanessa Okwara (Editor) Wole Adepoju (Snr. Correspondent) Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent) Abiola Alaba Peters Edwin Usoboh (Graphics) Isma’il Akintunde (Graphics) +234 (0) 818 0515840, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com, julietbumah@gmail.com

Associates

Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016

Body&Soul

Shirley B. Eniang Blog-a-beauty Biwom Iklaki

S

hirley B. Eniang is arguably one of the most interesting Nigerian “vloggers” in the diaspora. Her fashion, beauty and lifestyle tips are a hit with a following of over 400,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 700,000 subscribers on YouTube among other social media platforms. The fashion and lifestyle guru is quite a force to reckon with, with amazing renditions of current trends and fads in the world of fashion. Sometimes, she features her sister or friend or all of the above in her witty videos with competitive themes. Besides product review, tips and fashion advice, she is also known to feature her ‘Get ready with me’ videos (GRWM) which are basically a walk through her process for getting ready for one occasion, outing or the other.

Stylishly, Shirley is a dream to behold with her love for minimalistic styles and monochromatic looks.

She favours neutral tones and shows how you can get them to work for you no matter your colour, size and bank statement.

Her makeup tutorials are easy to follow and to the point, often packing all you need to know on the topic into a concise video. The native of Cross River State also thrills her followers with blow by blow accounts of her various fun vacations to exotic countries with equally exotic sights and experiences.

Here are a few of our favourite looks of our stalking journey.

Body&Soul 18

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SUNDAY, 19 JUNE

Slay in Ankara jump SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Vanessa Okwara

T

he jumpsuit is a style that has been trending for most seasons with ladies wearing different styles in different fabrics. The jumpsuit is also a style to turn heads at any event especially when you are going for the modern chic look. It can be worn to any form of occasion such as weddings, birthdays, etc. Jumpsuits and rompers have become a wardrobe must- have, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon!

The appeal of jumpsuit is simple. They are easy to wear, are an embodiment of all-in-one fashion and come in a variety of cuts and styles which can take a

lady from formal, to casual, moderately conservative with a flair for fun, and very sexy!

Ankara styles are something we can never get enough of; they are being valued day by day. Ankara being made into jumpsuits is an infusion of the ancient and modern for that lady that is always looking for a way to stay stylish and at the same time maintain embrace her African root.

Ankara jumpsuit may seem a little intimidating at times; but once you get into one, you will see how fab this style will look on you. It’s no doubt that Ankara jumpsuit styles go a long way in making a fab statement.

For instance, Ankara combo of two different Ankara

Editor’s current obsession

materials with like sha unique style that will s In wearing an Ankar most flattering to your fi must consider the trous pegged-tops, narrow ta vast lot. It is important tering. Ladies with a fu with wide leg pants w An Ankara jumpsuit pair of heels for that gla colour of most Ankara to your waist with a be

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016

Wine & Dine

How Sparkling wine is made (1)

Ibukunoluwa Kayode

L

et’s talk about something new; we all love the lush taste of wine on the palate from the red, white, and rose to the sparkling ones. But, we have little or no knowledge on how this magnificent mood and taste tranquilizer is produced or made. The most expensive and classy of them all is the Sparkling wine.

A lot of fortune is invested into it as well as strict procedure to get the perfect taste we all love to experience.

Sparkling wine might just be the most technical of all wines in the world; even if it is so easy to drink. The reason most sparkling wine is so complex is because of the need for two fermentations; one to make wine and the other to make bubbles. Since the introduction of this wine from the mid 1500’s, several processes have been developed and each result in a unique sub-style of sparkling wine.

Eggs and veggie frittata Biwom Iklaki

½ bulb onion

ight cooking is anybody’s best friend especially when you work and have the responsibility of cooking for the family. As we approach the long holidays and parents begin to wonder how to make up for or boost the family’s nutritional intake with equal consideration for the hike in prices in the market, here is a meal that could be breakfast or dinner and will meet most of the daily requirements of core nutrients in the family. Remember that this recipe is dynamic and you can tweak it to suit you by using yours or the kids’ preferred veggies.

½ avocado (optional)

L

Ingredients 6 eggs 1 red bell pepper 1 green bell pepper 1 yellow bell pepper 1 medium tomato

3 tbsp. vegetable oil Salt and pepper to taste Preparation Break eggs and whisk in a bowl add salt and whisk some more. In a pan on medium heat, add oil and wait till heated. Add your onions and veggies and keep flipping or turning to prevent burning and until the veggies are soft. This is when you add your eggs to the colourful veggie fest and reduce the heat a bit to limit burning. When the eggs have formed an edge, lift to allow the runny egg form more until all the egg is firm. Flip to the other side and leave to cook for a bit and turn off the heat. If using avocado, this is where you sprinkle the chunks over the frittatas. Cut up in large shapely chunks and serve the kids as a sneaky way to get them to eat their veggies. You could even let them “help out” in the kitchen. Serve with hot cocoa or coffee for adults. Tea is another lovely beverage option.

There are six major methods by which sparkling wines are produced, each resulting in a different carbonation level and, ultimately, a different style of bubbly!

The traditional method, tank method, transfer method, ancestral method, continuous method and carbonation. But we would only talk about the most important two methods, Traditional and Tank.

Also, Sparkling wines have different pressure levels which affect our perception of their taste. The higher the pressure, the more fine the bubbles.

Traditional Method This is the most appreciated method for sparkling wine production in terms of quality, and at the same time it is also the most costly in terms of production. The most important facet of the traditional method is that the transformation from a still to a sparkling wine occurs entirely inside the bottle.

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SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Azuh Arinze: My whirlwind There is no arguing the fact that Publisher/Editor-inChief of YES INTERNATIONAL! MAGAZINE, Azuh Arinze, is one of the most respected and renowned names in the soft sell genre today. A former Editor of Encomium and Reel Stars, he has a first degree in Mass Communication and a second one in Public Administration. Azuh, married to Nkoli and blessed with two children, shares his inspiring and interesting story with BIWON IKLAKI

Who is Azuh Arinze?

I’m first and foremost, a human being. Not just a human being, but a decent one. I was born in my village -Umudiokpara in Azia, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State -but grew up in Nsukka, Enugu State, and Maroko in Lagos State. I’m in my 40s. I read Mass Communication and Public Administration. I’m happily married to a fantastic lady called Nkoli and we are blessed with two children -Nmesomachukwu and Nekenechukwu. I enjoy reading and singing. I also enjoy writing. I have one of my books, ‘Tested and Trusted Success Secrets of the Rich and Famous’, already published. I’m almost through with the second one, but won’t want to disclose the title yet. I’ve been into journalism for about 20 years now. I started with the defunct FAME Weekly, from there, I crossed over to Encomuim Weekly, where I rose to become the Editor; in fact, the longest serving Editor so far and now I publish YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine, one of the best in our sector.

What fired your interest in journalism?

To tell you the truth, I didn’t know I will end up in journalism. Law was my first love, but journalism snatched me from Law. I had gone to FAME Weekly then to do my Industrial Training and my first five stories made the cover of the magazine. Instantly, I was offered automatic employment and thus began my whirlwind romance with journalism. I must confess that I have no regrets.

Journalism has been extra-ordinarily nice and good to me. I became an Editor at just 26 and at 39, I set up shop to publish YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine, which no doubt ranks among the top three in our sector today.

Why did you resign from Encomium?

First, I didn’t have any point to prove there again, having edited the paper and another paper from the same stable called Reel Stars for almost 10 years. Two, I had mapped out plans to do my own thing at 40, even though I eventually left at 39. Three, I didn’t want to be a sit-tight Editor, I wanted those coming behind me to also taste how it feels to be an Editor. Four, I wanted to try my hand at entrepreneurship, by becoming an employer of labour and also taking some people out of the labour market. Five, I wanted to do my own thing and be fully in charge. As the Editor of Encomium and Reel Stars, yes, I was in charge,

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Body&Soul

romance with journalism but not totally in charge. I had a boss who could disagree with my editorial judgement some times. I may want to go this route and he will say, no, we are going that way and I can’t do anything about it. But above all of that, I wanted to do a soft sell journal that everybody will be proud of - in terms of the quality of the paper, the depth of the stories, the calibre of people being interviewed, grammar, etc. And that, I can beat my chest today and say, we have been doing.

What stands YES INTERNATIONAL! magazine out?

You can ask around, we do the best interviews, we write the best stories, we cherish our reputation and integrity, we don’t blackmail people, we don’t publish falsehood, we are professionals; as a matter of fact, we are the only soft sell journal that belongs to the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and you hardly find mistakes in our paper. We are usually thorough, painstaking and detailed. You can’t see a copy of our magazine and not fall head over heels in love with it. It’s not possible. No! Our website,http://www.theyesng.com, is very strong and you can check it out. Just log on to see what we are doing. You can also consult Alexa.com to see our rating.

Why the affirmative name with an exclamation?

On the name, YES INTERNATIONAL!, I wanted something positive and a name that will resonate with everybody. People, all over the world, prefer YES! to NO! That’s another reason we settled for that.

Again, the first name I wanted was just YES! Weekly. But in the course of registration, we discovered that there’s a paper called that in America or so. That exclamation is just one of our styles, and our distinguishing factor.

YES INTERNATIONAL! will be five in a few days time. Any plan to celebrate it?

Well, annually, we organise a Lecture/ Cocktail to commemorate our anniversary, and this year won’t be an exception. The date is Monday, June 20, 2016; the venue is NIIA, on Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos and the time is 10am. Our Guest Speaker is the Managing Director, Rainoil, Dr. Gabriel Ogbeche. He will be speaking on the topic, ‘Running a successful business in Nigeria, My Experience’. The Chairperson is former Minister of Industry and President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Nike Akande. The Guest of Honour is Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa. Ace comedian, Basorge Tariah, Jnr, will be the anchor alongside Prince Bisi Olatilo while music will be supplied by Harrysong and DJ Jimmy Jatt.

Previously, I want to tell you that heavyweights like Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, Sir Steve Omojafor, Mr. Udeme Ufot, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), Mrs. Dorothy Ufot (SAN), Dr. Larry Izamoje, Mr. Femi Adesina, et cetera, have all appeared on the programme.

Which goes to show that the event has come to be well respected, both in our sector and even beyond.

What’s your dream for the magazine?

My dream for the magazine is very, very simple. In fact, it is well encapsulated in our vision statement: ‘To be the first choice of readers and advertisers.’ And I will tell you why. Those are the two most critical stakeholders in our business. Any medium that has the love of the readers and advertisers can sleep soundly, because both of them can make or unmake you. And so far, both

of them, I must confess, have been on our side and we are grateful.

Who are your role models in the profession?

I have a lot of them that I read daily and also enjoy. My boss and mentor, Mr. Kunle Bakare, is one of them. He’s just a damn good writer. The man who gave me the opportunity to write for the first time in my life, Mr. Femi Akintunde-Johnson, aka FAJ, I also like him. Then, Mr. Seye Kehinde; I like his industry and doggedness. I love Bashorun Dele Momodu’s flowery style; Mr. Michael Effiong’s descriptive prowess and Mr. Segun Adeniyi’s story-telling format. Same with Mr. Femi Adesina, Dr. Reuben Abati and Mr. Simon Kolawole. I hardly miss their write ups. Likewise Mrs. Funke Egbemode. I admire her courage and brutal frankness. And not forgetting Dame Comfort Obi. Her ever short and simple paragraphs, but always straight to the point.

What’s your take on the coming of social media?

Permit my language. I think the social media is a necessary evil that we all must embrace or we die. It has come and it has come and there is nothing any one can do about it. It has changed the media dynamics and landscape. The equation is no longer what it used to be, which means that any media house that plans to remain relevant must adapt or perish. Personally, I don’t see the hard copy going totally extinct, only that the impact will be drastically reduced.

The way to go now is digital and the earlier we do that, the better for all of us who are professionals. Because the quacks are almost taking over our territory and we just have to do something about it and very fast too.

How did you meet your wife and where?

My wife and I were members of The Niteshift Coliseum’s Resource Team, and we used to bump into each other every now and then during meetings. The clincher, however, was the day I went to interview FCMB founder, the ever colourful Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun. Otunba says he wears the best pin-stripe suits and on the said day I also chose to wear one so that at least there would be a common ground for the interview to take off.

After the interview, I drove down to The Niteshift Coliseum for our meeting. My wife and others were already seated. She later told me that as I was sauntering in, she told her friend who was with her that

this guy looks cool and fits her picture of a dream husband. To cut a long story short, we drove past each other, days later, on Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos and I couldn’t resist the smile she gave me as well as how pleasant she seemed. I got home, searched for her number, put a call to her and after the call, I sent her a text, asking, ‘Would you be my angel?’ Minutes later, I got her reply, ‘If you promise to be my arch-angel.’ And that was it. It has been awesome being married to her. In fact, I ask myself what I would have amounted to without her. But make no mistakes about it, we also quarrel, keep malice and so on.

Just that we always end up resolving whatever differences we have amicably and effortlessly.

What’s fashion to you?

I dey try, I no go tell you lie.

Again, having worked under a well known dresser like Mr. Kunle Bakare for over a decade and also learn nearly every two months at the feet of another dresser like Mr. Udeme Ufot, then you must be a fool not to dress well. My wife, as a matter of fact, told me that the first thing that attracted her was my style of dressing, so I dey try. Dressing well, by the way, boosts your confidence, gets you instant recognition and like they also say, you dress the way you want to be addressed. I dress well in order to be treated well.

What has life taught you?

Five simple lessons -hold on to God, believe in yourself, work very, very hard, stay humble and don’t look down on anybody.

Do you nurse the dream of going into politics?

For now, no! However, no one knows tomorrow. Only God can tell emphatically and categorically what tomorrow holds or will bring forth.

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SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

Patra’s dilemma 8 Juliet Bumah

P

atra preened in front of her bedroom mirror. The bump was visible. Her boobs were full. She looked very pregnant now. Betty, her childhood friend, was back from her business trip abroad.

Patra had told her the good news but didn’t reveal her worries.

Betty, a dealer in luxury fashion items, had been away for almost four months.

She had travelled to France, Italy and New York in search of unique fashion items for her discerning customers. Betty was happy for her friend. Her two daughters were in a boarding school while her husband, a banker, was based in Switzerland. She had prayed countless times over her friend’s childless state and was, therefore, very happy to hear that their prayers had been answered. They would see this weekend and catch up on old times.

Patra looked forward to that visit. For once, she would be able to pour her heart out to her friend.

Pius would come back from the US in a few days time. She longed to see the man who turned her world around with few fertile thrusts. She wondered how Betty would react to the news that Richie, her husband, was not responsible for her change of fortune.

“Pius,” she whispered and her face lit up with a smile.

One mind told her to pack her things and leave the house before Richie returned and another told her to stay and handle the situation. She decided to obey the latter. She realised that she loved her husband. She would pour out her heart to Betty.

If she didn’t chance upon Richie’s medical report, she wouldn’t have been in this dilemma. She wished this pregnancy was her husband’s but it was obvious it wasn’t.

She had decided to keep the medical report which certified him ‘infertile’. You never know, it could come in handy when the bubble bursts.

Really, the mind of man is evil. How could her husband lead her on to subject herself to all manner of medical tests, drink all sorts of concoctions all in a bid to get pregnant when he knew he was responsible for her inability to conceive?

Another thing she just couldn’t understand was why her husband pretended he was responsible for her pregnancy... the way he pretended to own the strange woman’s children. She was sure the strange woman had given birth because the pregnancy she saw on that fateful day in February was advanced.

“Lord, please forgive me. I have sinned. I never ever wanted this to happen. I prayed for a happy home but see what I got now,” she prayed silently.

She wondered how she would face her husband when he returned.

“I’ll not run away like a frightened animal,” she said to herself, but she nearly fainted when she heard a thud as the door of a car closed outside. ************ The rate at which Richie aged surprised even himself. He glanced at the side mirror of the cab once again and was shocked.

Each time he did that, he appeared to have aged a fraction more. He thought of his life before he met Ruth. His joy was full then even though they didn’t have a child.

He mused, “At what point did the devil

enter my home? When Ruth came into my life? No, the devil had been there. My inability to impregnate my wife is the devil and he has succeeded in tearing my life to shreds. But for how long has my wife been cheating on me? For as long as I had been cheating on her? No! How can I face her now that I have accepted that I couldn’t have impregnated either her or Ruth? I wish my parent or hers were still alive!”

He thought of asking the cabbie to change destination, but to where? He thought of moving to a hotel but rejected it.

“I love my wife. This is one problem I can’t solve by running away. I need to confront this demon,” he mused, but immediately he sighted his house, he had an urgent urge to move his bowel and he started sweating. ********* Patra fluttered forward as the door bell chimed. She threw open the door and was shocked. Richie looked pale and had sweat beads on his face.

Murmured greetings, perfunctory kiss, a brief hug and Richie rushed into the guest restroom.

Patra watched as the gateman brought in Richie’s luggage, took it to the room and went out, closing the door gently behind him. She stood at the door, lost in thought until she felt a movement in her womb

again. The baby had been moving more frequently. ********* Richie sat on the toilet bowl. He was shaken. When they hugged, he felt the bump and was sure he felt the baby moved. It was no longer a dream. There was a baby in his wife’s womb! ******** After more than 20 minutes and he didn’t come out of the loo, Patra moved to the door and with panicky fingers, knocked.

“Are you alright dear,” she asked and Richie jumped.

“Yeah,” he replied, almost in a whisper and turned on the sink tap.

He took another five minutes or so before opening the door. She was standing there.

“My! You look ill,” she said, concern written all over her. Richie nodded, grateful to whatever illness that might have invaded his body in that short while.

She led him by hand to the couch and immediately he sat down, she unbuttoned his shirt, helped him out of his clothes and kissed him tenderly before going to get him something to bite.

As she watched him eat, she wondered if she could leave him. This was the only man she loved. She still loves him but Pius had given her joy! Tears began to well in her eyes.

Richie ate slowly, his heart troubled. He stole a glance at his wife and noticed she was looking so sad. She was lost in thought.

She looked so beautiful and weary. He realised that no matter what, he loved her and wouldn’t want to lose her. He noticed the tears in her eyes.

“It is now or never,” he thought, dropped his cup, stood up and walked to her.

He pulled her up, unzipped her gown and took her to his bedroom.

Patra followed. She didn’t utter a word, not even when her gown dropped to her ankle as they neared the door. She stepped out of it and entered the room.

On the bed, Richie ran his fingers over her full rack and swollen belly. She gasped as he lowered himself gently into her, muttering words of endearment. They rocked to and fro, moved into the past -before their lives were shattered - and relived the joy that only two people in love could give.

Patra was lost in a dreamworld. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sweet feeling that travelled all over her. The man giving her the joy sprouted two heads -heads of the two men who love her so much merged at the neck. Then the heads merged into one again. She didn’t want to wake up.

“Patra,” he moaned and she responded, “Richie”.

“Patra, I love you so much,” he called out again and she replied. It went on and on as he thrust in and out lovingly from the side and suckling from her rack, careful not to harm the baby nestling in her womb. Patra sobbed as the tingly feeling overwhelmed her sorrow.

Then he poured out his heart, “I love you Patra. I’m sorry I failed you. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I love you so much. You mean the world to me. My sweet wife, I’ll do everything to make you happy...my wife...”

Tears ran down his cheeks.

They moved together through the storm.

Suddenly, the cloud started dissipating, and the sky brightened. They cried out together and continued to cry as they convulsed with passion, each letting out passion fluid.

“Patra, do you still love me?” Pius asked gently as he kissed her tears away, while tracing an imaginary image on her tummy.

Patra felt as if she would die. Deep inside her, she loved her husband so much, but she felt something deep for Pius. How could she give love to two men at the same time?

“I love you, my love,” she said truthfully, but inside her, she knew she would not let go of Richie whose seed was growing in her womb. She wondered how she would handle her predicament.

Richie heaved a sigh of relief. The next question he had was about the heavenly gift growing in her womb.

He searched for the right words but couldn’t find them. He knew he must ask that million dollar question. He felt a lump in his throat. He tried to clear it repeatedly and failed.

“Patra,” he began and she sobbed louder. ******** Hmmmmmmm love is really a beautiful thing I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes would you? Join me on Sunday as this moving series continues.

•Send your observations to: julietbumah@ gmail.com

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We‘ve put Jigawa on path of growth –Gov Badaru p.25

The Sunday Interview

Ozekhome: Fiscal federalism is inevitable p.27

Why Buhari should drop some ministers —Ango Abdullahi p28-29

Politics

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

Edo guber: PDP on cliff-hanger The chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 10 governorship election in Edo State is becoming slimmer by the day, no thanks to the intractable leadership crisis in the party, writes ONYEKACHI EZE

T

he meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee last Wednesday was the last effort to boost the chances of the party in the September 10 governorship election in Edo State.

Unfortunately, the opportunity was lost. Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose who briefed the media after the meeting, offered no hope of immediate resolution of the crisis. The governor had told journalists that “Whatever we are going through today is a phase and very soon the whole issue will be over.

“But we need to put it very clearly that Nigeria as a country needs as an opposition party to make the average Nigerians get the values for their votes. And any attempt to destroy opposition in Nigeria is not going to be in the interest of democracy. We stand as a party to condemn interference, scuttle and strategic efforts to destroy PDP in Nigeria. ”We want to make it very clear that international community and well meaning Nigerians that as a party, PDP is prepared to give credible opposition to the government in power that have so far achieved nothing in the space of one year in office office. ”What I want to say very expressly is that the efforts of PDP to put its house in order is our business and we are doing everything possible and want to appeal to the security agencies to please do (everything) within the ambit of law to allow the PDP to put its house in order.”

The leadership crisis in the party has been very disturbing in recent times as it assumes greater dimension by the day.

The latest one is not cheering to PDP supporters in Edo State as they prepare for the election. As at now, party members in the state are not sure if PDP is going to field a candidate for the poll.

Although three governorship aspirants have purchased the nomination forms for the primary fixed for tomorrow, (June 20), it is not yet clear if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will clear whoever that would emerge as flag bearer to contest the September 10 governorship election.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi debunked media reports that the commission has recognised the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee as leadership of the party.

The CPS said although Makarfi and the committee secretary, Senator Ben Obi, attended a meeting of leadership of registered political parties with IINEC, and made useful contributions, the commission has not recognised any of the claimants to the PDP leadership.

Last Thursday, the electoral panel set

Makarfi

up by Makarfi-led caretaker committee for the Edo governorship primary, submitted its report. The committee, headed by former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, said there are 173 statutory delegates and 576 ad hoc delegates who will participate in Monday’s primary.

Perhaps, this is to assure party members in the state that despite the crisis, the processes for the nomination of PDP candidate are on. Makarfi had told leaders of the party, when the committee formally assumed office at the party’s secretariat before its sack last Monday, that the members have been working since they were appointed on May 21 in Port Harcourt.

The PDP primary will be coming two days after that of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which was held yesterday, June 18.

But the concern is that who will authentic the name of the candidate who would emerge from tomorrow’s primary which will be send to INEC? Though the aspirants bought the forms and submitted them at the Edo State chapter of PDP but it is not the duty of state chapter to conduct party primary.

The Supreme Court in a case filed by INEC seeking clarification on the January 29 judgment in Ejike Oguebego vs Ken Emeakayi over the fate of National

Sheriff

Assembly members from Anambra State, ruled that judgment recognising Oguebego faction as the authentic chapter executive committee “did not give the same executive committee the power to submit a list of candidates to INEC.” Justice Inyang Okoro, who read the judgment of the Supreme Court panel comprising Justices Sylvester Ali Ngwuta, Mary Peter-Odili, Datijo Muhammad, Kumai Akaa’h and Inyang Okoro, asked: “Where in that judg­ment did we state that the Ejike Oguebego-led Anambra State Executive Committee of the PDP should take over the functions of the National Executive Committee of PDP such that it can submit list of candidates for election to INEC?” Citing court decisions in Emeka v. Okadigbo and ors (2012) 18 NWLR (pt 1331) 55, and Emenike v. PDP (2012) 18 NWLR (pt. 1315)556, Justice Okoro further inquired: “Is the learned senior counsel for the applicant (INEC) saying that he does not know which organ of a political party is endowed with power to conduct primaries and thereafter submit list of candidates to INEC?” The electoral umpire had through its counsel, Adegboyega Awom­olo, (SAN); sought a review of the judgment, especially as it relates to the position of nine members of the National Assembly from

Anambra State.

Coming under Order 8, Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules, INEC had prayed the court to interpret the import of its judgment for the legislators’ election.

There is the dilemma of PDP in Edo State. Though the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has declared that its May 23 order restraining Senator Ali Modu Sheriff from parading himself as National Chairman still subsists contrary to his claims, the court, however, failed to make a declarative judgment on who is the party’s chairman.

It reserved ruling on the matter to July 4.

Notwithstanding, the Makarfi caretaker is enjoying the support of majority of PDP elders across the country and is in firm control of the party structure. The 12 PDP governors, National Assembly caucus, the BoT and state chapters have recognised the committee and pledged to work with them.

After his invasion of the PDP National Secretariat last Monday where he declared himself National Chairman, Sheriff had invited Edo governorship aspirants to come for nomination forms.

He subsequently named Senator Hope Uzodinma as chairman of the screening committee. But nobody has heeded his call, and no faction of PDP in Edo State CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24

politics We have just passed one year since President Muhammadu Buhari came into power. How have we faired?

First of all, let me thank God that democracy has lasted for the last 17 years without any truncation by the military or even civilian forces, because it is not only the military that can truncate democracy.

Even civilians can truncate democracy through revolution or one act of violence or another. The Nigerian democracy has been growing from strength to strength.

It is has been very worthwhile because democracy is the best form of government no matter how you look at it. I will come back to the one year of the present administration at the Federal level where President Buhari is in the saddle. Within the last one year from May 29, 2015 to May 29, 2016, we have seen the good, bad and the ugly.

The APC government came up with the change mantra and we are still watching the effect of that change. But as a government, their own policy at the Federal level, their own manifesto at the federal level is guiding them. We are yet to understand the headway or the example of the change mantra. Are we heading to change from bad to good or from good to bad? I tell you that the economy is going into recession. I tell you that electricity is no more stable. So many things are happening.

Security is weakening - Niger Delta is in crisis; North-East even in the South-East, there are elements of agitation here and there. Agitations have been pronounced and promoted in the last one year under Buhari administration. I don’t know why but I tell you that generally we will not say that they have not done very well. They are doing based on what they know; they are trying. The thing I have to say is that Nigerians will have to patient.

What have you to say about Enugu State under Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in the last one year?

Wonderful! I am only saying that His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, should be given a national ambassador award for good governance. He is an epitome of excellent service. Gov. Ugwuanyi has done very well. How I wish that the Federal Government can come here and spend one month under studying him to understand what it means to be a leader, a governor. Ugwuanyi is an enviable leader and a hope for the hopeless, succour to those that are suffering.

Ugwuanyi is a good leader. He treats everybody with equal sense of belonging. He has an open door and a listening ear. He takes care of the poor, the rich, the middle class, takes care of the stakeholders.

Gov. Ugwuanyi has kept his promises, has fulfilled his campaign promises. He has done well in physical infrastructure – the Opi-Nsukka Road, Udi-Ezeagu Road, the Enugu-Nike-Ugwuogo Road, the Nyaba Bridge in Nkanu East, Nyaba Road, the Akpugo-Nara-Ihuokpara-Amagunze Road, the Nkerefi-Ugbawka Road; and so many areas, bridges here and there connecting the three senatorial zones; paying of salary on the 25th of every month, etc.

For the first time in the history of Enugu State, all the gladiators are coming together. It is amazing how a governor could do that.

In specific terms, what would you say Ugwuanyi has achieved in the past year?

He has done well in physical infrastructure, payment of salaries and promotion of education. In specific terms, he has done more than eight roads in just one year and these are verifiable. He has continued to maintain the payment of salaries to public servants and civil servants in the state. In spite of the current shape of the economy, he has maintained free child and maternal health care. He has maintained peace in all the 472 communities of Enugu State. He has been paying

SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

‘Nigerians are watching APC’s change mantra’ Hon. Paul Nnajiofor is the member representing Nkanu East Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly. He is also the House Committee Chairman on Information. In this interview with CHARLES ONYEKWERE, Nnajiofor speaks on a number of issues bordering on Nigeria’s democracy in the past 17 years, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, as well as Enugu State under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in the last one year of Representatives member, he knows what is supposed to be done at the right time. We used to put heads together to ensure that Enugu State moves on. It has not been happened like that before. Our former colleagues used to tell us that they did not have that kind of opportunity. He has never interfered with our job. We do our job without fear or favour.

You have spoken glowingly about the governor. Is there no place he has done wrong?

He is a human being. The only area I feel he needs some improvement is in the area of continuously sustaining the relationship with the stakeholders. Another thing is a situation whereby some people will be using the governor’s name. He should be very practical about it. Experiences abound whereby somebody will just come and say that he has been approved by the governor to do this and that. It is not true. At times, one begins to wonder if actually the governor did that.

Nnajiofor

traditional rulers. He has supported the political class to ensure that every community, every ward is moving peacefully well. Look at all the congresses, for the first time in Enugu State, ward congress, local government congress, even the zonal congress, everything was peaceful. So, Gov. Ugwuanyi has done very well.

What’s the relationship between the

legislature and the executive the state?

Very harmonious. Everything is working well because the governor being a former legislator is an advantage, it is a plus to us. He knows the nitty-gritty of legislation. He knows the economic, psychological, social and spiritual needs of everybody including the lawmakers.

He has been there before and a senior colleague for that matter. As a former House

How has Ugwuanyi faired in the area of improving the economy bearing in mind the economic recession in the land?

I think he is a master in financial application management. He is very prudent. He is very transparent. He is a financial manage and this has helped Enugu State a lot. That is why we have not had problem of this or that. Look at, some states have not paid salaries for months but Enugu State has been paying regularly, maintaining roads, traffic lights, maintaining security and at the same time paying salaries. Of course, he is very prudent in managing resources.

My message to them is that they should continue to support the governor. Not only the governor, but all our leaders.

Let’s support the governor wholeheartedly and pay our taxes. We should not vandalise public utilities for any reason.

Edo guber: PDP on cliff-hanger C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

is working with him.

Suswam, who presented his panel’s report on Edo governorship primary to the caretaker committee on Thursday, said INEC monitored the delegates’ election.

Again, this is a morale booster.

But even if PDP is cleared by INEC for the election, what are its chances of dethroning the APC in Edo State? Very slim.

The party would have used the Edo election to make a big statement to APC towards 2019, but it appears it has lost the opportunity. The leadership crisis has taken a toll on the party, making the PDP almost like a rudderless ship!

PDP has lost its voice since its former National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in

January this year.

Except jibes by the Ekiti State governor against the policies of the Federal Government, Nigerians wouldn’t have known that PDP still exists. That is why the party leaders believe that external influence is responsible for the crisis.

Prince Dayo Adeyeye, a member of the caretaker committee in charge of publicity, said Sheriff and his supporters were being used by the enemies of the PDP to destroy the party and to prevent it from reorganizing itself so to provide a credible opposition and alternative platform for the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election and 2019 elections.

“It is also curious that the police claimed to be acting on ‘orders from above’ in allowing Sheriff and his cohorts to gain entry into the secretariat. If we may ask,

who is the authority that issued the ‘orders from above?’” Adeyeye asked.

Makarfi also observed that Sheriff had boasted that the matter is beyond the Inspector General of Police when he was initially denied access to the party secretariat last Monday and wondered what he meant by that.

“We don’t know what he means be beyond the IG but all of you are sensible enough to decide who is ‘beyond IG’ could actually mean. We are at a lost,” he added.

Apart from the Edo election, PDP might face a similar challenge in the November governorship election in Ondo State unless it resolves the leadership problem.

Incidentally, PDP is in power in Ondo State and the loss of the state will be a disaster.

25

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016

politics Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, in this interview explains how he has reduced cost of governance and prevented profligacy thereby putting the state on the path of sustainability One year into your administration, how have you been able to cope with these harsh economic realities as far as what accrued to your state is concerned?

Like I said earlier, we switched to survival mode. In May 2015 we had less than N17 million in the treasury and I’m talking about the total amount of cash that was available to the state. We had salaries to pay, scholarship arrears and examination fees owed to WAEC and NECO, the Hajj operation preparations had started in earnest and the former government after trying unsuccessfully to “borrow” from the contributory pension fund, simply achieved this through the back door by refusing to pay the state’s own contribution for almost 11 months.

To compound issues contractors started demanding for payment of their liabilities which amounted to over N14 billion in vouchers awaiting cash backing in the treasury and close to N100 billion in ongoing projects. I had to call major stakeholders and lay bare the financial situation to them and said gentlemen this is our situation, I believe I have the capacity to deal with this, but it will not be easy or painless. I got the mandate I needed and immediately started a massive cost cutting exercise starting from the Government House.

You see if I say I’m cutting my salary and that of the deputy governor in half it would translate to about N12 million annually and our deficit is in nine figures, so that won’t help our case. We had to look at wholistically reducing the cost of doing government business and it was not difficult to find areas because the previous regime was living in a fool’s paradise, just increasing recurrent spending exponentially in direct proportion to the windfall coming in from the federation account.

Can you give us specific examples of how you did that?

Oh, certainly, in one year protocol expenditure in our Government House was slashed by 88.6 per cent from N325,395,536 in the last 11 months of the previous administration to N37,035,187 of the same time frame in our tenure, while security and related expenditure dropped by 87.9 per cent from N1,825,866,274 to N220,251,850.

Government House expenses dropped by 60.7 per cent from N1,524,115,320 to 598,194,408; while that of the Deputy Governor ’s office was reduced by 56.6 per cent from N456,400,00 toN198,000,000. Overhead expenses for the civil service was also reduced by 47.55 per cent from N1,661,202,000 to N871,253,000 in consultation with heads of ministries, department and agencies.

I’m giving you figures so any one doubting can verify, these are public funds and we are not running a secret society.

Additionally, all government service agreements were also renegotiated with facility management contracts for the federal secretariat and other assets reduced by 50 per cent, with the same contractors agreeing to provide the same level of service at half the cost. We also undertook the 2015 Hajj exercise, adjudged

We‘ve put Jigawa on path of growth –Gov Badaru only N3, 273,193,923.91 was settled by the previous government leaving an unpaid balance of N11.402billion. The sum of N1.996billion.was discounted and we have so far paid out N897.268million leaving a balance of 8.509billion. Apart from these, all feeder roads with a total length of 97.4 kilometers at a contract cost of N1,652,180,784.12 were also taken over, out of which N1,060,903,210.80 was settled by the past government leaving a balance of N571,277,573.32. A discount of N91, 613,696.64 was obtained and N94, 658,984.00 paid by us leaving a balance of N385, 004,892.68 to completion. The sum of N81, 742,616.59 has also been paid on existing road rehabilitation and emergency repairs using the state road repair agency, JIRMA. In summary, we are presently working on 528 kilometers of various road types, and have spent a total of N9.7 billion to get contractors back to site and working. You can get a list of specific roads from the Ministry of Works section of the state’s web portal.

Abubakar

to be one of the most successful and incident free at the cost of N280 million compared to N780 million spent in 2014 exercise. The list goes on, anywhere we can find a cheaper way of doing things without losing quality or value, and we go for it. They call me “Mr. Calculator” and I don’t mind, because I’m applying the same principles of prudence and accountability for the state that I apply in my own business. Go and investigate the lifestyles of some of these people out of government, are they spending their own money with the same profligacy and recklessness that they applied to public funds? I hope you’re also aware that we did all this without the benefit of a salary bailout, even though I wish we had collected it because when the Federal Government suspended deduction of debts for two months now, including the salary bailout, most states got over N2 billion in deductions suspended, my deductions are just about N100 million, so that alleviation didn’t have any impact on our bottom line.

How are you coping with all these contractual liabilities at the moment, and any work going on in the state at all?

Believe it or not it is. As soon as we saw the positive results of our cost realignment strategy, we decided that since we were able to meet our recurrent expenditure we should prioritise the ongoing projects accordingly and this was very difficult politically because the penchant is for supporters to say lets abandon so and so’s work and do our own projects, so I had to be very firm.

You see some politicians personalise public works to the extent of chastising citizens for failure to show appreciation for projects sited in their vicinity. Can you imagine? As if you used your own inheritance to provide these projects? It hurts me when I see people hiring buses at great expense to go and thank a governor they elected because he has built

a road, or school or provided water. It’s their money and their mandate and it’s the least governor can do. Otherwise you have no business in government house but can go and set up a foundation like Aliko Dangote and spend your own money and expect gratitude.

I had to explain to supporters that the previous government’s projects were started with Jigawa funds and it would be irresponsible of me to abandon them and waste public money to start new ones. So a committee verified the projects and we prioritised them in order of public impact and stage reached. Some that were hurriedly and improperly awarded to friends and family we threw out. I then called the contractors personally and explained our situation to them.

The country is broke, there may not be jobs for any of you for some time, but I am willing to assure you continuity and prompt payment if you will give Jigawa a discount. It was very tough, and I had to assure them that they have my protection and I am not expecting a percentage from anyone and neither is any of my children, commissioner or government official, and if that happens they have my direct line. This was how we got an average of 17 per cent discount amounting to almost N5 billion for projects awarded as far back as 2013 in some cases.

But can we have some specific instances?

Oh sure, I can give you a summary, we inherited a total of 332.04 kilometers of regional roads with a total contract sum of N36,400,692,340.10 out of which the previous government had paid N16,775,054,509.40 leaving an unpaid balance of N19,625,637,830.70. We have negotiated a discount of N2,902,962,126.36 and paid out N8,619,010,396.57 leaving a balance of N8,506,373,044.09 to complete.

We also inherited a total of 98.75 Kilometers of township roads with a contract sum of N14, 675,848,759.24 out of which

Considering the dire financial situation generally, are you not abandoning the other sectors when you focus on completing roads?

We are not abandoning any sector, our focus is human development in all ramifications with the ultimate aim of reducing the poverty level and that is why I told you that even the roads we are continuing were selected based on public impact, opening up communities, providing access to markets for their farm produce and linking major towns and communities. The other critical sectors in this chain are Health and Education.

We must educate our people and as the saying goes health is wealth.

In the health sector we have reverted to a focus on Primary Health Care delivery to devolve smaller facilities spread out at the grassroots level as opposed to mega hospitals that are costly and very inefficient since all cases irrespective of severity are handled at that level. Typically close to 80% of patients can be handled at the primary level for malaria, antenatal etc with only serious cases referred to the hospitals. Most importantly, we can now achieve eligibility in accessing funds from the National Health Fund to augment our efforts at the state level. To strengthen this basic level we have commenced construction of 27 basic health clinics in each local government at the cost of N424, 980,000.00 and 27 units of midwives’ quarters in hard- to-reach primary and basic healthcare centers at the cost of N203, 257,692.00. We have also embarked on renovation and improvement of hospitals in Gwaram and Birniwa with the provision of an operating theatre at the total cost of N194, 918,946 as well as several smaller facility interventions in Sarawa, Majeri, Kununu and Katsinawa and renovation of 25 health facilities worth N25 million in Birnin Kudu, Garki, Gwaram, Jahun and Maigatari local government areas.

Within this period, drugs worth N612, 738,288 were procured by JIMSO under the drug revolving scheme. The construction of the Birnin Kudu General Hospital is also being continued as well as the construction of the main gate and perimeter fence for the new Hadejia General Hospital and the conversion works on the proposed second school of Nursing Hadejia which has reached completion stage.

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SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

politics

The Buhari, Jonathan’s secret bond Villa Notes emmyanule@yahoo.com

I

Anule Emmanuel

n the build up to the 2015 general elections, former President Goodluck Jonathan himself re-echoed the popular saying that ‘in politics, there is no permanent friend or permanent enemy but permanent interest.’

The former President who had featured in the presidential media chat was answering questions about a few aggrieved members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) including some governors who had defected to the opposition party.

In the view of former President Jonathan, the likes of then Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and Governor Rotimi Amaechi who left the party did so mainly based on their own self-interests.

Obviously, as a politician, Jonathan had no reason to worry about their defection but was confident that the PDP was going to win the defectors back.

Hear him out, ‘’although the likes of Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi and others left the party because of their own interest, we are going to win some of them back.’’

Unfortunately, these foes did not return

under the umbrella, a development that would later cost the party fortunes in the elections.

In politics, the former President and his colleague incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari are perceived by ordinary Nigerians as staunch enemies whose path hardly crosses.

Jonathan is first seen by those sympathetic to President Buhari’s political course as someone who had been a hindrance to the emergence of the Katsina-born General as the country’s fourth democratically elected leader in 2011.

This set of Nigerians also believe that after the 2011 election, there had been sustained efforts from the former President’s camp to smear Buhari’s name in order that he was rendered unattractive as a presidential choice in last year’s general elections.

The climax was a media campaign which portrayed President Buhari as a politician without a secondary school certificate.

His final emergence as the country’s fifth democratically elected President after having defeated Jonathan in the keenly contested polls therefore sent jitters in the spines of many that Buhari would go into office with a vengeance, a vendetta mission to prosecute his predecessor and many of his dire heart supporters who ordinarily must be seen as the President’s first enemies.

In the first instance, the Jonathan’s gov-

ernment had already been christened ‘very corrupt’, one of the selling campaign points which the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate had capitalized on to garner the support of Nigerians in winning the 2015 presidential poll.

Although, government recently announced that billions of looted funds from the national treasury are already being recovered, a few Nigerians yet interpret these actions as a direct witch-hunt on members of now the opposition party.

Former President Jonathan himself has confirmed that he is currently being investigated for corruption by the Buhari government. “Of course, obviously, I will be investigated. Yes, investigations are going on,” he told a cable service recently in London.

Aside suspicions that the President is after Jonathan and majority of members of his immediate past administration, Buhari has recently been rather pouring accolades on his predecessor whom he says shocked him to this moment in conceding defeat.

For certain, it is becoming clear that, the President knows for sure that some aides of the former leader currently under investigation by anti-graft agencies only took advantage of Jonathan’s meekness as well as weakness and pillaged the nation’s finances under his watch, sometimes through dubious contracts.

The former leader has, however, been mentioned severally for granting approvals in most of the looted funds being investi-

gated by the present government especially the $2.1billion arms procurement deal.

Indications point to a fact that the two leaders may have entered into an accord not known to Nigerians. In fact, at the Presidential Villa when as President-elect, Buhari was taken on a familiarisation tour of Aso Rock by his predecessor as part of activities lined up for his inauguration on May 29, the two leaders were sighted exchanging a sealed envelope held very close-tight to their chest. No one knows what was the content? It exchanged hands from Jonathan to Buhari and not aides, maybe, there lied the secrete accord.

This is where those who think that these big political wigs have nothing in common aside the negative perception that they are rugged enemies may be getting it wrong.

In the first instance, both leaders are national figures whose abiding faith in Nigeria is not in doubt. While Buhari could be seen from his resilience and abiding faith in the nation’s democracy, Jonathan acceptance of democracy as the will of the people is a historic testimony in itself.

That former President has not been invited or visited for interrogation by anti-graft agencies speaks volume. Jonathan has, however, visited Buhari in the villa twice since he left office a year ago.

What is certain is that the former leader will hardly face any humiliation from government despite his name being brandished in the midst of the anti- corruption war. At least, not at the level so widely expected.

‘Why Tafawa Balewa must be immortalised’ Hon. Muhammed Aminu Tukur is a member of Bauchi State House of Assembly representing Lere/Bula of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.

In this interview with ALHASSAN YUSUF, he speaks on the political history of the late Prime Minister, Sir. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and other issues Having seen that the late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was from your constituency, Tafawa Balewa Local Government, do you have anything in mind that the state government should do to immortalise him?

Well, it is a universal adage that a prophet is never recognised in his homeland. And it is unfortunate that whenever the name of the late Prime Minister is mentioned, it is the only moment that we recall his activities in the country. I want to recall that in 2007, during the term of 6th Assembly, we realised that even the very street in the heart of Bauchi, from the Eagle Roundabout down to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University many years ago named after Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was suddenly changed to something else. I recall that I rose on the floor of this very honourable house and challenged the process. Thereafter, the state government gave a kind of excuse that it wasn’t aware of the change and it is unfortunate that the home base of the late Prime Minister should even neglect him such that even a street that was named after him 40 years ago was renamed after somebody else. Thereafter, I was changed back to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Road. Now, while I acknowledge the fact that the late Prime Minister deserved to be immortalized, I also believe that the family deserves all that it takes to maintain it, to give the house a befitting kind of features such that whoever comes there would really appreciate the fact that this is the house the only Prime Minister that Nigeria ever had to his memory.

The late Prime Minister was a symbol of transparency, a symbol of honesty. Now you will all agree with me that the house left by the late former Prime Minister can simply pass as a house been owned by an ordinary councilor in a local government. And he hadn’t any other house. Renovating it, giving it a modern kind of artifact, a kind of touch of modernity to me is a kind of service to the memories of the late Prime Minister. I will rather insist that the house be left as it was but be maintained, retaining the same features as left by the

Tukur

then Prime Minister. So honestly, I wasn’t happy when the shape of the house, the frontage and many other things were changed during the government of President Ibrahim Babangida. I had wanted a situation whereby the house would be left as it was to serve as a monument that everybody should come and see the house where the first and the only Prime Minister that Nigeria ever had lived in.

However, it has been renovated. Coming to the factor the family been neglected, I have to state the fact that the late Prime Minister was never a lazy man, and he has never condoned laziness. So for his family members to rely solely on his name simply because he is the father figure of that house would mean deceiving themselves.

They should learn to strive as the late Prime Minister strived and excelled, but I have to emphasise that whatever it takes retain his name to give him the best kind of recognition such that in the next one hundred million years we will continue to appreciate that there was a leader known as Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who was the first and the only Prime Minister of Nigeria who led a kind of life that is worth emulating.

What about state and federal governments. Do you think they should come in?

Am emphasising that it is known to all of us that the tomb of Balewa which is not part of his house but part of the Ajiya House should still be maintained by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture as the custodian of that monument. It is a national monument and must be maintained by the Federal Government. I will want to the situation whereby the maintenance and whatever that it takes to maintain it should be done by the Federal Government because he was a federal figure and believe me if the Federal Government is interested in it, certainly there are international bodies and governments that are willing to see that name of the late Prime Minister does not down rather it must be memorialised.

And don’t forget that the name Tafawa Balewa is well respected and everybody is proud of it. Let me tell you, there isn’t anything wrong with the name Tafawa Balewa rather I have rightly observed that it is as said in the age-long long adage known to all of us that a prophet is never appreciated by his own people. It is a universal kind of phenomenon. But I must tell the whole world and whoever is concerned that we must learn to appreciate our prophet, forget about the name. In this case, he was part of this very state, he lived here, he served the country diligently and we do feel proud that he stood tall than anybody in terms of transparency. So, forget about the name but rather let us see to it that he gets the best he deserves. I once again emphasise that his name must remain as a symbol and embodiment of our culture.

27

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2016

politics

Ozekhome: Fiscal federalism is inevitable Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), a renowned lawyer, public commentator, social crusader and nationalist was recently installed as the patron of South-South Pen Pushers Association. He used the occasion to speak to a select journalists on the state of the nation. PHILIP NYAM was there

Ozekhome

As a stakeholder in the Nigerian project, we are aware of the role you played in the 2014 national confab. Today, issues like true federalism and the restructuring of the country as a panacea to some of our problems have dominated discourse. Some people are advocating that we should go back to the era of regionalism. What do you think?

I like the way you frame the question saying I’m a stakeholder in the Nigerian project; coincidentally that is the title of my weekly column in the back page of Sunday Telegraph.

The title is the Nigerian project. I feel that Nigeria Is still an ongoing project, still indolent, not yet congealed or concretised; it is still in a state of flux, like clay waiting to be molded into any shape; what shape Nigeria will take is the issue at stake.

Regionalism, federalism, unitarianism which we are operating under the guise of federalism or confederacy, which one?

I belong to the school of thought that believes in true fiscal federalism where the centre is strong enough to hold the country together but not an elephant or gargantuan enough to terrorise and marginalise the constituent federating units. I do not believe in confederalism because confederalism imports consist of units that are powerful to the extent that the centre becomes too weak to exert any influence of pressure, so the true course is federalism which allows the constituent federating units to have powers each within their constituent states to develop according to their pace, according to their culture, according to their values as against the Federal Government which has a mere supervisory influence. Right now, we are operating a unitary system of government where the federating units which are the states, run to Abuja at the end of every month cap in hand to go and beg for crumbs that falls from the masters table.

The master is the Federal Government that takes 52 per cent of our national resources under Section 162 of the Constitution all the states takes about 35 per cent and all the local governments takes about or just 22 per cent.

So you have a too powerful central government where the influence is, that is where the money is, that is where you talk about corruption, you find that corruption is more at the centre because there is much more to it.

So in discussing true federalism, we are looking at devolution of powers from this powerful centre to the constituents units, the regions, the states, the local governments that have now become so weak that they are like Frank Fanon’s Wretched of the Earth before a big god father at the centre that can afford to

beat it’s chest imperiously and say “c’ etat, c’ etat, c’mour” I am the state the way Louis XIV of France was imperiously declared.

At the 2014 National conference this issues came up before the 492 delegates of that conference drawn from across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. Every segment, every strata of society was well represented. There were times we almost came to fisticuffs. That was the passion with which every constituent came to defend their own turf. But at the end of the day a recommendation that filled 678 pages with 360 specific recommendations on how to re-engineer and retool and remake the weak tottering fabric of Nigeria.

We discussed issues such as federalism and devolution of powers, we agreed that people in the diaspora should have voting rights in every election. We discovered that every state should have a right to create its own a Police Force and community police because no one can know your terrain better than you. We went further to say each state should have its own hierarchy of court system, the judicature up to the Supreme Court of the state as it operates in America. We said there must be independent candidature.

We agreed that there must be separation of powers and offices between the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, while the Minister of Justice is a political appointment the Attorney General of the Federation is a very technical appointment that faces matters of law who will not be a politically inclined person. We also said we must separate the offices of the Accountant General of the Federation from Accountant General of the Federal Government so that there will be a clear distinction.

We said that we were going to create 51 states. We discovered that the various minority groups in Nigeria were clamouring for liberation from the iron grip of the more populated, more powerful neighbours under whom they lived and still live like servants.

That was when I discovered for example that there are more minority ethnic groups in the North than there are in the South. Professor Otite, in his own demographic survey of Nigeria discovered that there are 374 ethnic groups in Nigeria that speak 350 languages. Etsako where I hail from, is one of the languages, in my local government. In Etsako East, there are languages that are spoken and I do not understand them to show how segregated Nigeria is. Akoko Edo Local Government Area for example has been in existence since 1967, it is the oldest local government area in Nigeria, but there will be social disequilibrium and injustice when you allow Akoko Edo to

remain a local government area and you are making resource allocation according to local government areas when Kano State that formally comprised Kano and Jigawa State is today 44 local government and Jigawa having 28 local government areas.

Meanwhile Bayelsa State where the black gold; where oil was first discovered in 1956 in Oloibiri is having only eight local government areas. Wherefore where Edo State is having only 18 local government areas, you can drive for four hours and you are still driving in the state. We, therefore, decided that each state should be allowed to create its own local government areas or even merge together if they so wish.

So do we go back to regionalism?

Regionalism as operated before January 15, 1956 when Major Kaduna Nzeogwu Chukwuma, (that 28-year-old daring military officer played down the first military purge in Nigeria) Nigeria operated a true federal system of government. Each region had its own Constitution, each region had its own system of government, each region pooled its resources, each region took 50 per cent of its natural resources and then paid tax of 25 per cent to the Tafawa Balewa government at the centre and 45 per cent was distributed amongst the regions with the regions that had already taken its 50 per cent against sharing from that 25 per cent.

You will find out under the 1960 Independence Constitution and under the 1963 Republican Constitution to the extent that when the then Mid-West region was created from the Western region in August 1963 through the help of great people like Oba Akenzuwa II, Kensington Momoh, Dennis Osadebey, that become an independent region with its own constitution. I tell you the beauty that emanated from this true federalism. In the northern region, the great Ahmadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto who was a powerful political icon who actually allowed Tafawa Balewa to go to the centre to be Prime Minister because he would have been Prime Minister if he so wished used the resources of the North to develop the North. They didn’t look towards South, West or East. What were the resources?

Hides and skin, cotton, the famous groundnut pyramids: Ahmadu Bello developed the Northern Nigerian Development Corporation (NNDC) that was how he was able to activate and build the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the Yankari Game Reserve, Hamdallah Hotel, Durbar Hotel and many others. Many of the things you are seeing in the North today were actually propelled by Ahmadu Bello because there was true federalism.

In the West, the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, used the cocoa produce of Western region to develop the region. They had only one product, the cocoa. He built the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan; it still stands there till today. He built Cocoa House in Ibadan as far back as 1960. The Cocoa House is still the tallest building in Ibadan. He built the University of Ife now named after him in 1962.

Yours humbly and sincerely is a product of that university. Awolowo went further to build the first television station in Africa, the Western Broadcasting Corporation in 1957; then he developed a network of roads giving them water and light. The greatest asset of it all, he gave free education at all levels to the Yoruba. That is why till tomorrow, Yorubas are still the most educated and most sophisticated group in Nigeria that is predicated on the vision of one person.

In the East, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe before 1960 when he became the Governor General and in 1963 became the President, he was the premier of Eastern region and together with Akanu Ibiam used the farm produce resources of Eastern region to develop the region. They built the stadium in Enugu, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Enugu campuses.

They built Trans Amadi Estate in Port Harcourt, Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, Presidential Hotel Enugu, Obudu Cattle Ranch, a lot of the signature with what they did with the money was from farm produce is there till tomorrow and it was from this farm produce that Malaysia came to Nigeria to pick their palm kernel and today Malaysia is the highest exporter of palm produce in the world. Nigeria shamelessly or should I say shamefully now imports palm produce from Malaysia. In the Mid-West region, which was created on August 9, 1963 from Western region, the leaders used the rubber, timber and palm produce of the Mid-West region to also develop the Mid-West region. How many people know that Nasarawa State has the highest number of natural mineral resources in Nigeria? They have about 38 different types of natural resources, gold, columbite, sapphires, diamonds, coal etc. It is followed

by Plateau State with about 35 different types of mineral resources followed by Kaduna State up to 28; followed by Sokoto State with up to 26; followed by Edo, Oyo, Ekiti states and so on. In other words, everyone in Nigeria has something to contribute. So it becomes injustice of the highest order for the Federal Government to make a constitution that says all resources found under the earth belongs to the Federal Government with the states and the people in whose ancestral lands these mineral resources are buried excluded totally.

What is the way out ?

Nigeria is the only country that flares up to 70 per cent of its natural gas reserve; Britain flares just about two per cent. Nigeria flares about 2.5million cubic feet of gas, we are still flaring it on a daily basis. America just about five percent, Denmark zero per cent. To the extent that Japan does not have a single drop of crude oil but today is one of the leading economies in the world. The way out is to go back to true fiscal federalism. Either we merge all the states to together to six regional blocs or if some states will not agree to be merged, we create all states as propounded by the National Conference of 2014 to free the minorities from the grip of the majority.

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The Sunday

Why Buhari should drop some m One-time Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, is the spokesman of Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) and the Magajin Rafin Zazzau, a traditional ruler. In this interview with IBRAHEEM MUSA, the elder statesman speaks on a whole gamut of national issues, including the one year administration of President Muhammadu Buhari

Sometime ago, you had criticised the calibre of people around President Muhammadu Buhari. He has been in power for one year now, are you advocating that the President should reshuffle his cabinet?

Well, at the time I made that observation, it was a reaction to a question about what I thought or how hopeful I was with the coming of the new administration. That was the context within which the question was asked. And that was the basis of making the remark that I made at that time. Of course, it was a few months after the President named members of his cabinet. Then, it was too early to criticise reasons, or adduce reasons why certain things were not going the way that they should or why certain things appear to be going right. I think my reaction obviously was that I was happy or should I say that the Northern Elders’ Forum was happy, that Buhari became President. I went ahead and expressed a personal opinion about him, in terms of his character, his history and achievements in various positions of responsibility that he had held and concluded that the right choice was made as far as I am concerned. But one person alone, no matter how committed or strong a character and so on, as experience has shown around the world, cannot be the sole answer to the problems confronting this country or governance as the case may be. So, I said that while we can attest to the quality of the leader, I am not too sure about the complementary nature of those that he had selected eventually as members of his cabinet. Of course, I said that indications were clear that, we were thinking that the President would come up with a much better team that will tackle the various aspects of the socio-political and economic challenges of the country. And I still stand by that. I wish he had chosen better materials than what we still have on ground. I think, to some extent, I have been vindicated by the comments of other people that have raised this kind of doubt about the individual ministers, their backgrounds, their history, political exposure and even administrative responsibilities that they have held before.

Can you mention some of the ministers who are square pegs in round holes?

No, in this kind of thing, you are talking about a team. Government is teamwork and the captain of the team is the president. And we are on the sidelines. But at the end of the day, the question is, is the team working towards victory in terms of the outcome of the match? So, I will still insist that the issue is that of teamwork and it is up to the captain to deliver and there are no coaches in this regard. So, the President should be able to identify players that are not doing well in order to achieve success. A few weeks ago, when he addressed the press, he asked the media to help him to identify some members of his cabinet that are not doing well, so that he could change them. I don’t know whether it was fair to assign that responsibility to members of the press because the person who wears the shoe should know where it pinches most. If he had consulted

the press before making his appointments, then perhaps he can pass the buck to them and say ‘well, you helped me to choose and now you are criticising my choice, could you now help to identify who I should change?’

So, it is up to the captain to substitute some of the members of the team or change all of them.

Which aspect in the nation’s socio-political and economic life do you think that the President has done well in the last one year?

I have to answer this question by going back to what the President himself had promised, his major policy thrust when he took off are security, the economy and anti corruption. These are the three areas that he emphasised. Now, let me start with the one that I think he is doing fairly well, that is the war against corruption. There is no doubt that he is exerting himself very hard in that respect, to unravel the enormous corruption which has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society for years. And this is what brought Nigeria almost to its knees. The corruption was so massive that resources that ought to have been in government coffers or used to repair infrastructure were not there.

Corruption is staring everyone in the face, power supply is virtually nil, agriculture virtually handed over to Almighty God and so on and so forth. So, the nation’s challenges are enormous and all are linked to corruption or outright stealing or mismanagement, even where there is an effort to apply some of the resources for development. So, this is really a major task which the President confronted and he introduced measures like Treasury Single Account, control of foreign exchange and refusal to devalue the naira which I support 100 per cent, and even his refusal to take foreign loans. So, in the area of corruption and in really trying to instill discipline in the service that he has inherited from Goodluck Jonathan, I think he has done very well.

But people are saying that anti corruption crusade has not really produced fruits because there is still a lot of under hand dealings in the system. Do you agree?

There is still a lot to be done really. Eighty per cent of the structures left by the last administration is still intact. Those structures are what were used to perpetrate all the abuses that I have mentioned earlier. We are thinking that perhaps, with the appointment of ministers, various boards and parastatals that play key roles in the economy will be addressed as quickly as possible, but a lot of them are still there. And if you look inside some of them, it is still business as usual.

But overall, it is very clear that the President has exerted himself and to some extent, successfully, by rejuvenating the anti corruption agencies. I think that is a good score.

How has Buhari fared in managing the economy?

Of course this is related to the anti-graft war. This is really his huge albatross as you can see. His monetary and fiscal policies ought to increase revenue inflow. The bud-

Abdullahi

get of 2016 is ambitious and it is going to be extremely difficult to achieve it. For those of us who are pedestrians in economics, I think that this will be the President’s greatest success, if he ever succeeds in implementing the 2016 budget. There are huge odds against that because most of the legitimate inflows of revenue to government have reduced.

First, there is the crash in the price of crude oil in the international market. Second, there is the economic sabotage in the Niger Delta and of course, the still ongoing corruption in the services. And the reluctance of leaders to really look at themselves and tell themselves the truth by saying it is time for us to sacrifice. If a country is broke or is not likely to get the kind of revenue that will make it possible for them to implement this kind of budget, the boldest thing for them to do is to sit down and say that we have no money.

And there is no indication that we are go-

ing to have enough money to implement this budget. So, how do we tell Nigerians that we are prepared to sacrifice so that we can achieve some results? But what do you see? The indicators are there that everybody wants to keep those privileges that they had in the bad days. Salaries, they don’t want to touch. In fact, workers are asking for more salaries. To my mind, this budget can only be implementable if the public servants address themselves squarely and say ‘look, we should be the first to demonstrate to all Nigerians that we are ready to sacrifice until this economy recovers, before we can think of the luxuries that we used to enjoy.’ Out of the two options that are on the cards, one is extremely difficult. The other one is not too difficult and the public servants ought to accept it. The largest chunk of the budget is recurrent; it is 70 per cent of the entire budget.

Recurrent budget is personnel cost, salaries,

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y Interview

ministers —Ango Abdullahi these cuts, excluding those that are at the minimum base. You can argue that if you can’ t pay N18,000 a month, anybody who is earning more than that, should take pay cut close to that. So, you either retrench staff by 50 per cent, which I don’t support, but I support a salary cut of 50 per cent for those who are earning salaries that more than support life. And the salary that more than support life, according to government, is N18, 000 which they say that they cannot pay.

Honestly, I don’t support Buhari borrowing money to fund the budget. This budget must be funded within Nigeria. Why not?

allowances and so on. So, if there is going to be a huge saving to shift to capital projects, it has to come from the recurrent aspect of the budget. Are they prepared to do that? The only two ways of saving money or creating more money is to reduce staff and that is the more difficult of the two. The second one, which is possible, is if you cannot pay someone the minimum wage of N18, 000 per month, I believe every public officer should suffer a reduction in salary of 50 per cent.

Do you mean political appointees?

Anybody who is working for government should take 50 per cent salary cut.

You mean including those who are receiving N18, 000 per month?

No, no, no. When you are doing this salary cut, you are going to take into consideration the minimum costs of survival and apply

Earlier, the Northern Elders’ Forum had kicked against the budget that the projects that were proposed were skewed against the North. What was your justification for making that allegation?

Yes, from the initial figures that we heard about, or even to some extent, read about, it was that by the time the figures were computed and passed to the National Assembly, the capital budgetary allocation to the North-East constituted only three per cent.

This was the zone where, for five years, there has been a destructive war against Boko Haram. Infrastructure has been destroyed and vandalised, their people have been displaced and there is a lot of work to rehabilitate people physically, structurally and so on, and yet, from what we gathered, the North-East could only be allocated three per cent of the capital budget. We heard that North-West, even though we are the most populous part of Nigeria, with over 44 million people, got eight per cent. The North-Central zone, I understand, got 19 per cent. So, three plus eight, plus 18 is not up to 30 per cent, from simple arithmetic. So, the remaining 70 per cent went elsewhere outside the North.

Whether right or wrong, there was a zone that got 44 per cent, which was more than the entire allocation of the North! So, we asked what happened? We understand that there was one economist within the formation that was arguing for this skewed budget. That in Economics, according to him, you allocate your resources where it is most productive.

So, he argued that the area that got 44 per cent is the area in Nigeria that is the most productive and therefore in his wisdom, Nigeria’s money should be spent there so that more money could be generated for the country. We are happy that some sense went into this quietly, so this matter did not come into the open chambers of the National Assembly for debate because it could have generated considerable amount of political heat in the country. I think some good sense prevailed and both the executive and the National Assembly put their heads together to overcome some of these things.

Initially, they said that only projects that are ongoing will be completed. But how come, when the budget first came, from information, there was nothing like a rail line from Calabar to Lagos. But somehow, somebody wrote it on a piece of paper and wanted it included. And before we knew it, he ran to the media and said that it is a project worth going for but it was being rejected for political consideration. While in some respects, the dredging of River Niger, that will create an inland port, an international port in Baro and some other places, along the River Niger and Benue, had been scrapped. I remember, the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua started it and when Jonathan came, he stopped it.

And they are not able to include it in the 2016 budget. So, you can see why some people began to insinuate motives that are unhealthy for a country that is struggling to unite itself.

And the constitution of this country is very clear; if you go to Section 2 of the Constitution, it says that even development is a major

goal of the Nigerian government, whenever, wherever. How will you achieve even development with this kind of selective allocation and padding of the budget? It was very clear that it was intended to serve special interests.

Like you earlier mentioned, one of the challenges of implementing the 2016 budget is sabotage. Militants in the Niger Delta have been blowing up pipelines and they have even spurned government’s overtures for dialogue. What in your view should be the best approach towards dealing with the issue? should government continue to hold dialogue with the militants or roll out the tanks as some people are suggesting?

I made some comments on this some weeks ago about Avengers. They were very categorical in their pronouncements and in terms of their objectives. I don’t want to pretend about this because their objectives are clearly stated in their mission statement: those northerners should move out of their area, particularly those who are engaged in oil business. And the pipelines that they are hitting are those that supply crude to Kaduna Refinery. This has been confirmed. From my own understanding, Avengers have a political motive that has nothing to do with revenue sharing or the development of their area. They cannot justify their position on that basis because over the years, since the days of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, there had been a special provision for oil producing areas, since 1958 when oil exploration started. When Yusuf Maitama Sule was Minister of Petroleum, the Prime Minister immediately took decisions to make sure that as oil exploration expands, concomitant measures are taken to protect the environment. And this policy had continued up till today. OMPADEC was established in later years by northerners, the 13 per cent derivation, then Ministry of Niger Delta, then the NDDC, all these were established by northerners. All these were done in fairness to the nation and the areas where this oil exploration is going on. As I speak to you, I have done some analyses of the 2016 budget of various states in the country.

There are six so-called oil producing states, that by virtue of this 13 per cent derivation alone, their budgets exceed the combined budgets of the 19 northern states. So, what is it that these people wanted, other than a politically motivated intention to destabilise this country? After all, the Avengers, as the name implies, are avenging something. And my simple interpretation is that, when their son was President, there was Boko Haram and they thought that it was northerners that created it, to make the country ungovernable for him. And it is now time for them to create an environment that makes it difficult for Buhari, a President of northern extraction, to succeed. This is my simple interpretation of the crisis. You may disagree. So for me, Buhari has a choice. First, he talked about securing this country. As he is fighting Boko Haram here to a standstill, then he has the same duty to treat the Avengers in the same manner because they are clearly politicallydriven, to disrupt the peace of this country.

And it is his duty as Commander-in-Chief and Chief Security Officer of this country, to secure the boundaries of Nigeria and peace within the country.

You also came to the stout defence of Fulani herdsmen recently, when Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State said that they should not stray into his state. Given the alleged killings associated with Fulanis all over the country, don’t you think that Fayose was taking precautionary measures with his statement?

Well, Fulanis are Nigerians. Do you agree?

And they have rights like every other Nigerian, to free movement, to free pursuit of legitimate business for their livelihoods. Do you agree? If an Ibo man can go to Sokoto in search of money and will set up a chemist or one sort of trade or the other without molestation, why not the Fulani man? Mark you, the Ibo man didn’t set up in Enugu or where he was born, but he thought that another place is a more lucrative place than his own. So, it is the same with the Fulani man, with his lifestyle of pastoralism. The climate of Nigeria is such that there is a rainy season where every part of Nigeria could be green, but there are also times of the year when you have dry season in certain parts of the country like the north. But there will still be greener pastures elsewhere in Nigeria. So, the Fulani man has the task and people don’t really appreciate the task that he undertakes on behalf of Nigerians. He moves from 1,000 to 1,200 kilometres up and down the country every year, trying to get his animals to feed. And from these animals, you people get cheap meat and at the same time, saving the country millions of dollars in foreign exchange by avoiding massive importation of chicken and beef.

And if you look at the breakdown of the contribution to the economy, particularly, the agricultural sector, it is very huge. So, the basic point is that Fulanis are Nigerians and they are totally and completely free to move around the country, in search of their livelihoods like anybody else. That is basic. If in the course of pursuing their livelihoods, they infringe on the rights of anybody, then that person has a right to seek redress. This has been with us for decades. I am a traditional ruler now; I settle this kind of disputes virtually every week.

Sometimes, it is a complaint about a young Fulani girl who was unable to control her cattle and they strayed into a farm and ate crops. And the Fulanis are always compliant in paying compensation, especially where damage of crops can be established.

What is actually happening in some areas is not so much of cattle eating crops in farmland but ethnic and political undertones which are aimed at destabilising the country, using the Fulani as an excuse. One thing that they don’t know about us the Fulanis is that, don’t ever fight us. If you do, you are doing it at your own peril no matter how long it takes. This fact was attested to by Lord Lugard himself; I will give you the excerpt from his diary. He mentioned 10 reasons why you shouldn’t fight the Fulani. The Fulanis have been taking so much of injustice in recent years from the Nigerian state. We have denied them their cattle routes which politicians have taken over and given to their supporters. They have no access to water points.

They have no access to veterinary services that they used to have during the colonial days and soon after. They are being treated as non-Nigerians. Certainly this is not acceptable. There are about 18 million Fulanis in the bush, forget about us who have settled in the urban areas. And they are well coordinated. If they want to fight, they will do so effectively in order to defend themselves because they are not being defended.

Every security agency tends to blame the Fulani during attacks whereas they always defended themselves from attacks. These are all fabrications and these fabrications must stop. Governor Fayose, who is saying that Fulanis should not go to his state, should be prepared for the people of Ekiti State not to be elsewhere in legitimate pursuit of their businesses. All these rubbish must stop. We want peace in the country but not peace at the expense of other people, and not at the expense of Fulani or anyone else.

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Body&Soul

Crossword puzzle

The Stone Cutter

O

nce upon a time there lived a stone cutter ,in a small village. All day long he worked hard, cutting the hard stones and making the shape which were needed by his customers. His hands were hard and his clothes were dirty.

One day he went out to work on a big stone. It was very hard to work and the sun was very hot. After spending several hours cutting the stone, he sat down in the shade and soon fell asleep.

After sometime, he heard sound of somebody coming. Walking up he saw a long procession of people.

There were many soldiers and attendants and in the middle, in a palanquin, carried by strong people at the king .

How wonderful it must be to be the great king thought the stone cutter . How happy I would be if i were the king instead of a poor stone cutter.

As he said these words, a strange thing happened.

The stone cutter found himself dressed in silk clothes and shining jewels. His hands were soft and he was sitting in a comfortable palanquin.

He looked through the curtains and thought, How

easy it is to be a king, these people are here to serve me.

The procession moved on and the sun grew hot.

The stone cutter, now the king ,became too warm for comfort. He asked the procession to stop so that he could rest for some time .

At once the chief of the soldiers bent before the king and said Your Majesty, only this morning you swore to have me hanged to death if we did not reach the palace before the sun set.

The stone cutter felt sorry for him and ordered the procession to go on its way again.

As the afternoon wore on, the sun grew hotter, and the king became more and more uncomfortable.

I am powerful, it is true, but how more powerful the sun is, he thought I would rather be the sun than a king .

At once, he became the sun ,shining down on the earth.

His new power was hard to control.

He shone too strongly, he burned up the fields with his rays and turned the ocean into vapour and formed a great cloud which covered the land.

Gags: Why don’t you see giraffes in elementary school?

Ans: Because they’re all in High School!

Which is the longest word in the dictionary?

Ans: “Smiles”, because there is a mile between each “s”!

What did the painter say to the wall?

Celebration

Another set of excited children during the Children’s Day celebration. There was so much fun and merriment in an unforgettable experience

Ans: One more crack like that and I’ll plaster you!

Why do golfers wear two pairs of pants?

Ans: In case they get a hole in one!

Why did Goofy put a clock under his desk?

Ans: Because he wanted to work over-time!

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016

News Participants recount supernatural encounters as Kumuyi hits Somolu p.32

Interview My passion is to help people – Nkwo p.32

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sermon

You can walk on the raging seas p.50

FAITH

Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph © Daily Telegraph Publishing

Pastor commends Lagos government on road, street light projects Stanley Ihedigbo

P

Ayokunle

Asake

CAN election: Asake dares critics •Says: ‘Let them do what they want!’

T

Tai Anyanwu

he election, which produced Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle of Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and Elder Prof. Joseph Otubu of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) as President and Vice president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) respectively has come and gone.

But while the winners are yet savouring their victories, there are indications that all is not well with the apex Christian body following traces of rejections, grudges and threats to the unity of the body of Christ in the country.

The reverend gentlemen emerged as successors to Pa Ayo Oritshejafor and his vice, at a two-day National Executive Council Meeting of CAN held on June 14 and 15, at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

Announcing their election in its communiqué, CAN said: “The meeting, which was well attended, had in attendance the National Officers of the Association, all the five (5) Heads of blocs, the Zonal Chairmen, the States Chairmen and delegates representing the five blocs of the Association; Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Christian Council of Nigeria(CCN) Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/ Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria(CPFN/ PFN), TEKAN/ECWA, and Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC).

The meeting conducted a successful election that produced Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle, candidate of the CCN as the President

Elect and Elder Prof. Joseph Otubu, of the apex Christian body until relevant issues OAIC as Vice President Elect for the Asso- are sorted out.

Already, a Northern-based newspaper, ciation who will be inaugurated after the General Assembly Meeting of the Associa- Peoples’ Daily, last Friday published an article titled: ‘Christian elders, youths, rejects tion to be held at a later date.

Giving his acceptance speech ahead of Tuesday’s CAN election’.

The article read in part: “The Coalition the inauguration, Rev Ayokunle said that he aspired to lead CAN to facilitate an at- of Nigerian Christian Elders and Nigerian mosphere where the member churches that Christian Youths have dissociated themmade up the body would have a more ef- selves from the just conducted Christian Asfective fellowship and dialogue on Christian sociation of Nigeria (CAN) elections which Faith, its defence in Nigeria and all over the produced Rev. Supo Ayokunle as the new President, saying ‘the election is worthless.’” world.

“I intend to facilitate a fellowship where The group had issued a statement signed love flows and peace prevails in all the by its Public Relation Officer, Peter Jacob, in member churches. To this end, all would Jos, and described the election as flagrant be done to see that CAN is a united body abuse of office by the CAN President, Pastor and all wrangling within the body would be Ayo Orisajefor and his cohorts, and called on addressed for unity of purpose. This would church leaders and Christians in general to be priority number one. Without unity in discard the purported election.

Stating their reason for calling for rejection CAN, there cannot be progress,” he added.

Events that trailed Ayokunle’s victory in of the election, the group stressed that there the election that was conducted are contending issues concerning the elecwhile the a case challengtions. ing the process was According to the groups, the Let them go pending in a law contending issues said to be within the TEKAN/ECWA court by supportahead and do whatever ers of the ECWA bloc was artificially and misthey want. We have held chievously created by CAN President, leadership.

Dr. Jeremiah the election and we were Gado, who “There were clear evisuccessful. For the first time, dences of plan to deny or was apparently NEC was 100per cent in disenfranchise some contesprevented from tants the right of participation contesting the attendance, so nobody election, shows in a free and fair CAN elections. was left out that there can be no CONTINUED ON PAGE 51 peace and love in the

astor Chidi Nwankwo, of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has commended Lagos government on its road and street light projects in the state.

Speaking at the church event to mark Democracy and children’s day recently in Lagos, Pastor Nwankwo said that the current administration is bringing hope of good things to the people by the construction of roads and lightening up the state streets. He added that the state government is not only repairing all roads and street light alone but other area like health centers and schools are witnessing the touch of the administration.

He noted that the people are not happy as result of hardship and scarcity of food in the land. “We supposed to be enjoying and I believe it takes the grace of God and the people of God for government to rise at what the situation should be, in order to make life easy.

“You can promise heaven and earth, when you are seeking for office but along the line, if God is not backing you up in those things or God is not with the person, he or she will not be able to fulfill it promises”, he said.

“God love someone who made promised and fulfilled them to the benefit of the masses. In John chapter 14 vs 12 , God gave us power to do more works than Jesus. So the different lay God and man.

Man has different ups and downs but what we are doing now will empower and help those people to come to compromise and still be able to move the state and the nation forwards.

CAN condoles with Stephen Keshi’s family, football-loving Nigerians

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he President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and the entire Christian Community have commiserated with the family of the late Stephen Keshi.

A statement signed by Rev Musa Asake, General Secretary of CAN, and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, also commiserated with footballloving Nigerians over his demise.

It said CAN was pained with shock and a deep sense of loss to have received the news of the death of the former Super Eagles Captain and Coach.

“Indeed, his passing is a great loss to the footballing community around the world and the Church.

“Definitely, he would be greatly missed.

CAN, as a family, stands by the family of the deceased at this time of grief.

“We pray that the Lord will comfort and uphold the family left behind as they take solace in Christ Jesus.

“We want the family to also be consoled that Keshi impacted on the lives of millions of football followers; he lived a good life, ran and won a good race,’’ the statement said.

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faith

My passion is to help people – Pastor Nkwo Founder of Goldenline Education Initiatives, PastorHelen Nkwo, lost both parent very early in life. But remaining tenacious to her focus, she survived severe hard times in her growing up days. Now a middle management staff in the state-owned oil corporation, she dedicated a school complex in Lekki, Lagos state for the benefit of less privileged children in society, as part of her 50th birthday celebration. Here are excerpts of interview with Tai Anyanwu

Could you tell us how this initiative started and how you have progressed in this undertaken so far?

Well, it all started in 2011 when the Lord laid it in our heart that looking around our environment that we can see needs all over could bring children together and assist them. It all started by saying gather them and give them free summer school coaching. And we did that thinking it was supposed to be a one-off thing; but then the Lord said it is not so, that we are raised to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich by making quality education accessible to the less privileged. That is how an initiative that was just borne out of passion to assist translated to the next level of becoming a full blown outfit where the less privileged can have access to quality education. So, that is the journey so far.

Who is your partner and is the school meant for only the less privileged?

Well, because the Lord said bridge the gap, it becomes like a cut across. What those that are privileged are already enjoying, those who are not so fortunate can now also enjoy it by subsidizing fees for them. More so we look at the indigent ones and as much as we can carry give them scholarship. Today, you can see a lot of them who came out live to say that from the day one they entered here till date they have not paid school fees. One has already graduated, some are still in school. That is why we are soliciting assistance from well meaning Nigerians who are looking for genuine platforms to be of help to other people to partner with us and let’s see how we can just assist because the government cannot do it alone.

We are saying education is a right. How can it be a right when the government doesn’t have the wherewithal to actually make education accessible to everybody? And so since the government cannot carry the burden, well meaning individuals should all come out from their corners; when we all team together we will get a transformed educational sector.

You are the brains behind Goldenline Schools, are you also directly responsible for running the school?

No, not at all; for me, it is just a way of giving back to the society. I have no hand in running this place. The only thing is that the passion drives me that whatever I can do to make a change I my time I am doing it.

Setting up such a business and having other people to run it could be hazardous, how do you ensure that your investment here is properly taken care off?

That is if you are calling it a business. In my case incidentally, it is not a business.

Mine is about helping, making a change. I have never for one day sat down to count cost like what am I putting in or what am I getting.

No, for me is like as I live, make a difference. No one goes to the grave with anything. It is only the good name, the good work that we live behind you. I have never for one day asked myself why are you using all the resources that you have earned to help other people.

For me, it is joy and fulfillment.

In all of these, you have not mentioned

your husband for once, em! How did you meet him?

Wao! My husband? If anything has to be said, this is all about him because he is the founder of The Lord’s Worshipper Assembly that gave birth to this. And in my own little way being the Pastor’s wife, I am only lending the support to him to actualize his vision. So, if you will rightly put it, this is an offshoot of the Lord’s Worshippers Assembly because ministry, which is about molding lives, goes hand in hand with the school, which is also about molding destinies.

The other aspect of the question is how did you meet your husband?

Haaaaaa! How I met him; I met my husband so many years ago when he was working as a banker then in ACB. The first day he saw me he looked at me and said you are my wife. And I said. Hum! Can you imagine this man, what boldness? How can you just meet a woman and you say the same day you are my wife? And here I am today and truly I am his wife. My Gooood! (She laughs). And then from there, in the course of the courtship God called him into ministry. Since 1993, he resigned from the bank and answered the call of God as Pastor. Over these years, close to 20 years, he has been a full time Pastor. That is why you can see what is going on. This is his vision and I am only a supporter. The bible says that the wife is a help meet to the husband. So, I am only helping in my little way to give him support.

Do you have any specific role in the ministry?

I preach I coordinate the women fellowship; I coordinate the children’s department and also the choir or singing ministry.

What is the best advice that your husband has ever given to you?

He will always tell me that whatever the Lord has asked me to do stand by it; and that has always given me the strength and the courage not to get weary or tired. That why whatever the Lord tells me to do and I lay my hand on the ploy I don’t look back because I know I have a husband that will always give me support all the way, spiritually, morally, financially and otherwise.

Are you also in full time ministry?

No, I work; and that is why I say I am a help meet for my husband.

How has he been an encouragement to your carrier?

Hum! If you know my history it will amaze you. I come from a very humbly background, lost my parents early in life, had difficulties getting through the secondary school barely finished and then from there had to fend for myself over the years.

May be that is just the passion I have, why you see me doing what I am doing knowing how many times I was sent out because of school fees, how times I had to march on hot sand because I didn’t have sandals to

No one goes to the grave with anything.

It is only the good name, the good work that we live behind you. I have never for one day asked myself why are you using all the resources that you have earned to help other people.

For me, it is joy and fulfillment

Nkwo go to school. By the time I now met my husband, he saw a lady that is passionate about building a carrier, going to school and bettering herself that didn’t have the means. Even when I married him, I did most of my studies while being his wife. I did my professional training being his wife; I did my university degree program under him as his wife; I am pursuing my Masters degree under him as his wife and I did my Bible training under him as his wife. So you can that he is a man that is there saying go ahead you can make it. And by the time I went through the Bible training, I graduated as the best graduating student.

You just find out that is the kind of man that is there saying I am behind you. Most men can’t do that for their wives, they will either get jealous about their wife’s success. But he has never been like that. He is always praying for me, he is always prophesying over my life, he is always encouraging me, supporting me and telling me that the best is yet to come.

So, because I know I have his backing, I soar like the eagle.

How has his support affected you progress in the work place?

I started, in those days where I was working, as a sales clerk. Through self development studies, I became a secretary in AGIP Nigeria PLC. For the three years I worked in AGIP PLC, though I was employed as a contract staff, I earned a permanent position within three months. I worked only three years, got two promotions within those three years.

While I was under their employment, NNPC

employed me, and AGIP said we won’t let you go because you are our best hand. It was a struggle..NNPC said I want you; AGIP said you are not going anywhere; and I remember that particular year both organisations paid for the first month of the year; because AGIP still believed that they would retain me. However, it was to be. I move on to NNPC. Over the years I have grown in NNPC, having gone in from the lower cadre, I have moved up to middle management cadre; what we call the Chief Officer and that is that.

Today you are marking your 50th birthday, and you are dedicating a school complex for the benefit of the less privileged children in society as part of the celebration. Looking at what you have achieved today and knowing that once in your life you didn’t have a pair of sandals to wear to school, how does it make you feel?

My dear brother, all I can say is that God is dependable, faithful and no man can take glory for this. Humanly speaking it is difficult looking at one’s background, looking at one’s faith, looking at the fact that it is just your salary. Yes, I had to take bank loan to assist, because of the passion to realize the vision God has given to me. But then I feel fulfilled and I say father I thank you. And I trust God that the years ahead that there will be enough grace, strength and resources to do better things. For me, it is not about me, it is about other people and what can one do to better the lives of other people and make a difference while one is still alive?

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faith interview

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, wants the Federal Government to halt further imposition of belt tightening measures on Nigerians, at least, till it can point to reasonable improvement of social amenities it has put in place. He spoke to Tai Anyanwu

Don’t impose further belt tightening on Nigerians –Badejo global issues well beyond the control of local forces. I sympathize with Nigerians who now have to live extremely frugal lives due to increase in prices. Times are tough; but it seems things will get worse before they get better.

Let us wake up to the fact that Jonathan’s government is already far gone into the past and face the current realities. I, however, urge the government to speedily actualize the palliative measures and social cushions written into the budget to bring some relief to the populace.

On ministry I have been a priest for 30 years now and a Bishop for nine. God has proven that he can use whosoever for his glorious purpose. He has done many good things even through this humble servant which even I find unbelievable. Working for God has taught me to be prayerful and diligent with my every plan, be grateful for everything and be humble about every achievement.

State of the nation and government The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in this one year has gone through extremely difficult times, more difficult than even the best government could have expected. It has tried to apply some measures to straighten out a few things, like security, corruption and accountability but has clearly faced tough opposition. As a result of this, the government has made some false steps and sometimes seemed to change its mind, on fuel, social welfare on the currency and so on.

This does not augur well for public confidence. We must, however, not forget where we are coming from. Nigeria was really at collapsing point when Buhari took over such that there were predictions that we would not make it through 2015 as one country. By God’s grace we are still here.

I seem to believe that those who have benefited for so long from Nigeria’s decadent and corrupt profile are behind much of the new challenges springing up daily around the country. We must have the presence of mind and staying power to hold out together and see them off.

Fulani herdsmen I am personally surprised that the so called “Fulani herdsmen’s violence and killings caught our security agencies napping. The signs had been there for a long time. The Fulanis have for a long time exhibited a false sense of entitlement. Even if President Buhari did not in any way encourage them, the fact that he is considered Fulani could have enhanced that megalomania. Besides it stands to logic that with the pressure being put on Boko Haram by the government some of those murderers could camouflage in other forms and nomadic assaults would have been a likely terrorist strategy. For some reason they failed to pre-empt this and the Federal Government has been less than decisive in stopping the massacre.

Fight against corruption Public perception matters a lot in politics.

Nigerians are happy that some hitherto untouchable individuals perceived to have stolen public funds are being prosecuted but these are found in the two major political parties. It is to be expected that concentrating only on those in the opposition party would engender such criticism of one-sidedness and rightly too. Then government has a duty to allay public fears that the campaign against corruption is not an excuse or weapon for persecuting only those who belong to other parties. It is in the interest of its credibility not to be seen to shield anyone.

Fuel price increase The sharp increase in the price of petrol is extremely painful and unexpected. But so is the crash in the price of oil. Governance in the world today has to deal with

Devaluation I am not sure that the government intends to devaluate the naira as this has been resisted in the past. I urge that whatever

Badejo

Prayer held for victim of gay club shooter

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citywide prayer event was held in Orlando, USA, after a shooter targeted a gay nightclub early Sunday morning, killing 49 people and wounding over 50 others.

Christian Headlines.com reported that CNN released a list of names of the victims yesterday (June 14). At the prayer event, each victim’s name was read from a pulpit and a bell was rung after

each name.

SRNNews.com reports that Orlando Mayor, Buddy Dyer, thanked local clergy for bringing the community together at this great time of need.

Other leaders at the event included Pastor Joel Hunter and Victoria Kirby York of the National LGBTQ Task Force.

York said that she appreciated the churches coming together for the event be-

cause many LGBTQ people have not experienced love and care from churches.

“Far too many have never witnessed a sight like this: a church where they can come, be prayed over and not be forced to change who they are or who they love.”

Many other Christian leaders have responded to the shooting on social media, exhorting Christians to show love to their gay and Muslim neighbors.

L-R: Archbishop of Lagos Diocese, A’bishop, Alfred Adewale Martins; Celebrant, His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie; Secretary to the Cardinal, Rev. Father Alexander Oboh and Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Bishop Peter Adetoyin, during the 80th Birthday and Golden Jubilee of Cardinal Okogie’s Priestly Ordination, at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

policy government chooses to adopt be carefully considered because most Nigerians are stretched to the limit of their endurance and can hardly take much more hardship. I would say no further belt tightening measures should be imposed until people begin to see clear signs of improvement in infrastructure, like roads, power healthcare facilities, and also food supply, salaries and employment. What else would be the meaning of all the funds allegedly recovered if they are merely stashed up for the next pair of sticky hands to pick up?

Petroleum pipelines attacks The renewed attacks on petroleum pipelines in Nigeria are truly worrisome.

I know that government cannot win this by force. Negotiation, compensation, diplomacy and collaboration with local authorities are necessary strategies for a rapprochement. Intelligence is also needed to uncover and prosecute those whose interests are different from Nigeria’s who might be instigating some of the violence and destruction.

Kaduna State Preaching Bill Kaduna State has always had peculiar problems requiring special solutions. I think that the governor, El Rufai should have consulted more with religious bodies and organisations before imposing this law. Democracy is always better by participation rather than by ambush, no matter what the good intentions may be. The bill may solve some problems but who can guarantee that it does not become a weapon of persecution and favouritism in the hands of unscrupulous officials? These are questions that require constant answers and reassurance.

Abortion clinic owner turns pro-life activist

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woman, who had been part of the abortion industry and had even owned abortion clinics, recently shared the story of how she became a pro-life advocate.

According to LifeNews.com, Carol Everett is now a champion of the pro-life cause, speaking about the sanctity of life and the harm of abortion, but that wasn’t always the case.

Everett’s association with the abortion industry began in 1973--the same year the seminal abortion case of Roe v. Wade was passed. Everett’s husband and doctor pressured her to abort her third child, which she did.

That decision led her in a downward spiral. She began drinking, had an affair, and eventually left her husband.

She began working for a medical supply company, and through this job she saw how much money could be made in the abortion industry. She said she realized that owning an abortion clinic that maintained a high abortion quota would make her a millionaire from the commission she received on each abortion.

Motivated by the need to justify her own abortion and the hope of making a lot of money, Everett opened two abortion clinics and managed four others.

In 1983, however, Everett encountered Christ and her views on abortion radically changed.

Everett is now a pro-life advocate who has started an organization called the Heidi Group which offers life-affirming medical services to pregnant women.

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faith

Participants recount supernatural encounters as Kumuyi hits Somolu

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Tai Anyanwu

he atmosphere was electrifying as a huge expectant crowd listened to the voice of the moderator, Pastor Adenyi Ojebisi, who repeatedly assured them that they would never leave the venue without testimonies.

The crowd had gathered at the Shepherd Hill Baptist Crusade Ground, Ikorodu Road, Obanikoro, Lagos for a one-day crusade tagged: “Somolu Great Revival

Crusade.” The day was last Sunday, May 22, 2016; and before the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, stepped up to the stage for the evening ministration, some participants who had been touched by the finger of God in previous meetings, shared their miraculous experiences.

Among them was a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Ngene, who was blessed with twin babies after about of 15 years of childlessness.

Recounting their ordeal in

those dark years, Ngene said: “We have suffered a lot in the hands of doctors and others. People were telling me that my wife may not be able to have children again as, according to them; she had passed child-bearing age. But we kept on trusting God. But the 2014 December Retreat was for us a turning point.

God visited us. In April last year my wife was confirmed pregnant and the result is the twin babies we are carrying today. Their names are Amanda Precious and Chidinma Good-

ness”.

Mrs. Lucy Ogbuehi’s miracle flabbergasted medical experts. She was diagnosed with a heart tumour at a teaching hospital, and was told to bring some millions of naira for surgery. But she told the surgeon she did have that kind of money; but that she believed God would do it for her.

According to her, the surgeon told her “not this one”. She said she replied: “I will soon come back healed.” She went for a programme where Pastor Kumuyi prayed, mentioning

Members of Catholic Sisters’s United in group photograph with Rev. Father Gordian Opara and postoral council chairman, Bassey Osagie, at Children’s Day celebration in St. Kizito, parish Iju ... recently

Cultivate habit of making right choices, cleric tells Nigerians

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Tai Anyanwu

he propensity to make wrong and selfish choices has been identified as the bane of Nigerian society.

This was the focus of the address by the Presidency of Seventy, of the Church of jesus Christ of Latter Day saints, Elder Ulisses Soares, who paid a working visit to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to Agege Stake last Sunday.

Speaking to the congregation, Soares urged Nigerian Christians to cultivate and develop the habit of good decision making at all times.

He gave the charge at a special conference where admonished the faithful that the quality of one’s decisions could make or mar their life on earth.

He encouraged the members to have faith in God pointing out that it would help them make good decisions by hearing the counsel and teachings of their prophet, and put them to practice.

Soares urged them to read the scriptures which, he said, have been given to

them to direct them in their earthly life.

“Besides the scriptures and the prophets, we have the example of our Lord, Jesus Christ; He is the perfect example to follow. So, I urge you all to develop faith by reading the scriptures, follow the instructions of the prophets and the example of Jesus Christ”, he admonished.

Speaking on the importance of the conference, Prtesident of Agege Stake, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Christian Chigbundu, explained that conference was hosted due to enable special delegation of the parent church to meet with people in the stake.

“This is a special conference because the man of God, Elder Ulisses Soares visited Nigeria and decided to meet with some group of saints and people from our own stake. That is why it is special to us; he could have gone elsewhere, but he decided to be in our stake. He is in the presidency of seventy who are special witnesses”, he explained.

Chigbundu added that it is a privilege to have Elder

Soares coming to speak to the congregation, pointing out that Soares message was focused more on faith in the saviour, Jesus Christ.

He likened current despondence among Nigerians to the situations of people of Israel during their period of exodus from the land of Egypt “The children of Israel complained to Moses of hunger and thirst after Moses led them out of Egypt.”

He therefore urged Nigerians to listen to the spiritual instructions of the servant of God and adhere to it just as the Israelites followed the instructions of God delivered

by Moses.

His words: “Today in Nigeria, we are faced with difficult situations and the way anyone can get out of this is to look up to our heavenly father. When the Israelites were bitten by snakes, Moses working by God’s instruction asked the people to look at the carved snake; and as they (Israelites) obeyed, they were healed.

“In our own time and situation, we are not going to look at anything, but our saviour Jesus Christ. If we

call upon Him and believe in Him and emulate Him in all ways, we will be able to get out of the troubles we have found ourselves in,” he said.

On how to live a Christlike life, He said: “It might not entail your being nailed to the cross in Calvary, but there are certain things you need to do to be like Christ.

Just as Christ was full of humility, whoever wants to be like Him must shed them self of pride and exhibit the spirit of humility.

Like Christ, we should always be willing to succumb to the will of our heavenly father no matter how hard a situation we find our self; we must have a high level of integrity and sincerity.

Christ had the spirit of service; He served people from the beginning to the end of His ministry on earth. He also had faith in His father in heaven; knowing that no matter the situation or circumstance He finds Himself that the father will come to His rescue, and He did. We cannot be like Christ when we don’t have faith, humility and the zeal to serve people or having integrity or sincerity.

her problem. And she got the assurance that she had been healed. She went back to the hospital and when a fresh test was carried out it as discovered there was nothing again. And the same surgeon confirmed it.

For Pa Babatunde Adebayo, it was a miraculous healing from a fracture he sustained in 2004. As a result of the accident, an iron rode was inserted into his leg and he walked with the aid of crutches. But during a programme at the University of Lagos, recently, Pastor Kumuyi prayed and Pa Adebayo received his healing.

Not only the iron has since been removed, he threw away the walking aid and came jumping at Somolu to demonstrate his healing.

A woman, Faith, also stood before the crowd with her husband to tell her stories how God rolled away a reproach of constant miscarriages. She told a story of misery and hopelessness while the affliction lasted. But in November 2014 when she attended a monthly programme of the Church, tagged “God of impossibility,” her tears got wiped away completely. She was delivered of a baby girl on August 6, 2015.

More was yet in the offing as Pastor Kumuyi began his prayer ministration after a short but powerful message “The Conquering Power of the Risen Christ”.

Taking his text from Matthew 28:18, the cleric gave the assurance that the Almighty God, who never lies, would roll away every stone of impossibility; and that all barriers of limitation placed on peoples’ lives would be totally removed.

He noted that the Almighty God has the awesome power to deliver the oppressed, heal the sick and drive away every seemingly hopeless situation.

“Are you depressed, oppressed, afflicted or you are thinking there’s no hope, he is saying unto you, all power is given unto you.

Whatever the sickness, there’s power here tonight to roll them away. He will set you free,” Kumuyi emphasised.

Speaking on three subheadings: “The majestic power of the risen Christ; the mighty power of our reigning conqueror, and the manifold power of our redeeming captain”, the general superintendent explained that Jesus rose in power and in authority, and has got all the power to do all things without any-

one standing on his way.

“He comes to the impotent; he comes to the invalid, to the sick, the oppressed, and he comes to those who are fed up with life, and he comes to them with power. He has the power over sin; over darkness. He has the power to forgive sin and tonight he has come to reign. He’s talking to the repentant captive; he’s talking to the released converts and he has come to conquer the strongman; convert your soul; cure all your diseases, heal all your sicknesses and he comes to cast out evil spirits,” Kumuyi said.

And with this and many more powerful utterances, the stage was set for a harvest of miracles. By the time the dust settled after a thunderous Amen to a short and powerful prayer ministration, things began to happen – sicknesses were flying away; swellings on participants’ bodies were disappearing; those who came nearly being driven to insanity got instant healing.

They become sane.

For instance, Mrs. Uba Chinenye of 16 Mosalashi Street, Somolu, was ecstatic when she stood before the crowd telling the story of her deliverance.

Since she put to bed in June last year, she had never been herself. She began to experience terrible oppression; she would see strange creatures in her apartment, and sometimes sand would be poured on her head and it would enter her body and began to move about like flies. From her head to her toes, there was no soundness. It was months of torment until that very night when Pastor Kumuyi commanded “every spirit of madness to leave”.

According to her, as soon as the command went out with the response of a thunderous Amen from the crowd, she felt strange objects leaving her body. She felt awesome calmness in her body that she had never experienced in nearly one year.

One Chidi Ukoha jumped to the stage to testify how a swelling in the leg that had impaired his movement disappeared after the prayer that night.

For some months now, Pastor Kumuyi has been moving from one part of Lagos State to another holding Sunday evening revivals.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Church in Surulere, under Pastor Tony Ezeamii, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure it is an evening to remember.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016

Body&Soul with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Wale Babalakin slows his roll

60 cheers for Taiwo Odukoya S T he amiable, influential founder and Senior pastor of Lagos based worship centre The Fountain of Life Church, Taiwo Odukoya, is in a joyous mood.

Those who have followed him and are in the know of the latest event in his life that he just clocked 60 will steadily agree the dark skinned man of God has so much more reason to be happy and thankful aside of the fact that reaching a milestone age on its own is worthy of celebration.

Coming up under the tutelage of Bishop Mike Okonkwo to found his own church was of course not an easy task, but he had the grace to move, even in the face of challenges before the church eventually gained recognition. The man of God would go in for another phase of challenge when he lost his wife, Pastor Bimbo, who was an integral part of his ministry, through her singles oriented teachings, to a fatal plane crash. It may be safe to say the toughest part was the period of five years he lived without a woman even as he shamed his detractors who had felt he might be tempted to go into unholy relationships which never happened. In a graceful manner, Pastor Odukoya was engaged to another woman, Nisomthi, with whom he has lived graciously while he has also been able to take his ministry to greater heights.

With so much blessing to count, it will only be reasonable for this city pastor to be happy and be celebrated as he clocks what he dubbed ‘Diamond Jubilee’. In celebration mood, a team of pastors of The Fountain of Life

Church, in the early hours of the main day, thronged his home where they had prayed and felicitated with the senior pastor, Taiwo and his twin sister, Kehinde Hassan, while a service in his honour which was presided over by his mentor, Bishop Okonkwo was held later in the day at the church auditorium.

O’jez soccer fans pay tribute to Keshi, Amodu, celebrate Nwosu, Orumen

Dele Babade celebrates mum

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raduate of University of London, Dele Babade, might be one dude who is not favourably disposed to making unnecessary noise about his status and clout but it’s without any doubt that the handsome man has all it takes to maintain a frontline role in the league of the high and mighty. Aside of the fact that he’s an heir to the throne of Oke Oro in Ekiti State, which his father, retired Army top brass Oba (Dr.) Afolabi Idowu Babade, presently occupies, he has also gone miles ahead to consolidate on what he met on ground as he’s doing very well. Dele, who is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of AfriCapital Group, was the Group Executive Director of Ecobank Capital at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated among handful of top positions he’s held in the corporate world.

He’s actually not one who is given to throwing bashes but he recently had to do so even though it was on a low key. It was his mother’s day of joy as she added another year. The train of the event to honour Olori Babade, which started with a church service, ended up at Dele’s Parkview magnificent home where important personalities among which was Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, were in attendance to join Dele in celebrating his mother.

The O’jez Soccer Fans Nite, a night of music, comedy, awards and dance is designed to showcase the activities of the Nigeria Premier League, international football as well as promote peace, love and unity among Nigerian soccer fans. It is a forum designed also to appreciate, honour and celebrate Nigerian ex-internationals, active ones, sports media personalities, corporate firms and entertainers for their contributions to the growth and development of football and entertainment in Nigeria.

The maiden edition held last month was dedicated to former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain Peter Rufai (Dodo Mayana), Mumuni Alao, sports journalist and Group MD, Complete Communications as well as renowned comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka who all received the O’jez Lifetime Achievements Award.

This month’s edition of the O’jez Soccer Fans Nite billed to hold on Saturday, June 28 at the open air section of O’jez celebrity restaurant, National Stadium Complex, Surulere, Lagos, at 7pm has been dedicated to two fallen national soccer heroes; both former coaches of the Nigerian Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi and Shaibu Amodu who passed on untimely earlier this month within three days interval. Keshi however was also former captain of the Eagles and his long playing career witnessed a string of successes in the nation’s national team side.

Even in the middle of mourning two great coaches of the Eagles, the organisers will also present the O’jez Lifetime Achievements Awards to former striker of the Super Eagles, Henry Nwosu as well as veteran sports journalist and marketer, Mr. Dudu Orumen.

Highlife musician and co-coordinator of the event, Peterson Agu, promised a night of glamour, music, comedy and dance. Top class comedians such as Elder O, MC Phrymzo and ATM among others are acts lined up to thrill you. There will be plenty music and dance.

toutly built Osun State born Wale Babalakin, as a legal practitioner, has risen to the pinnacle of his career as he’s long been decorated with the title of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. The stories of his other ventures are not different from that of his law career as he could be said to be flourishing in all fronts that range from the real estate to hospitality as well as construction. With everything working in his favour and freely mingling with policy makers, it’s no doubt that his words were almost law and everyone craved his attention and friendship.

But as it is known that change is the most constant thing, Babalakin may have reduced from his towering status, financially and it has affected his social stature. Years of legal tousles, it is believed, have put a hole in his pocket. The naturally sociable dude is created a very wide gap between him and the social radar where he was once a toast.

However, the lawyer recently had to break his existing protocol to come out of his shell to attend a soiree hosted by his ilk where he sat quietly in his blue shirt and grey pair of trousers.

9ice predicts brighter future for fuji music

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he popular Nigerian Hip Hop musician, Abolore Adegbola Adigun (a.k.a 9ice), has stated that the future of Fuji music is bright and so many opportunities abound for stakeholders. He therefore, advised stakeholders to remain committed to the ideals of the music.

9ice, who spoke at the maiden edition of Fuji Roundtable, powered by Goldberg Lager Beer, a product from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, commended the initiative which was the first of its kind in the history of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

Impressed by the contributions made by participants at the event held at the headquarters of the Nigerian Breweries, on Monday, 9ice applauded the quality of the audience and their contributions at the forum towards taking Fuji to the next level. The musician said the initiative could not have come at a better time than now.

His words: “Music transcends all boundaries of communication. Music and its rhythm define our humanity considering the universality and essentiality beyond language barrier. I believe it is important for one to have an open mind in order to be in touch with that sense of understanding. Music cannot be separated from our socio-cultural life and as such it is a social connector which has the power to suggest circumstances, moods, and moments. It has general appeal to human senses.”

Agu said that Fuji music exerts a strong influence on the social life of the Yorubas. He stated that through the music, foreigners can easily feel and connect with the culture of the Yoruba people.

The influence that Fuji music exerts on the social life of the Yorubas is therefore very strong irrespective of their locations.

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Here Beyond

Glitzy photos from SAMA and AMAA awards Vanessa Okwara

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et’s admit it; half of the reason why we watch awards in the entertainment industry is to see what the celebrities wore at those events. It’s always interesting to see fashion evolve around the world and celebrities in Africa are not disappointing us at all as they compete favourably with their counterparts internationally.

Two glamourous events went down in Africa this June both here in Nigeria and in South Africa. The celebrities in both countries came out looking stylish at both events. The events are the South African Music Awards, (SAMA) which held in South Africa and the Africa Movie Academy Awards, (AMAA) that held in Nigeria.

The 22nd annual South African Music Awards held on the 4th of June, 2016 in South Africa and South African stars from Lerato Kyangyato to Boity, Bonang Matheba, Thando Thabethe, Minnie Dlamini, Pearl Thusi and more stepped out in different gorgeous and some risqué looks for the award night.

The SAMA Awards 2016 red carpet was very fashionable, as South African’s biggest names stepped out in their finest glitz and glam. The red carpet was hosted by South African’s beautiful On-Air Personality and TV host, Bonang

Matheba who did not also disappoint on the red carpet as she donned a beautiful metallic-like dress by Lebron Stein which features puffed shoulders, front slit, and deep cut V-neck, meanwhile many have compared the dress to Kim Kardashian’s 2016 Met Gala dress.

Back home in Nigeria, the highly anticipated 2016 Africa Movie Academy Awards held on June 11, 2016 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and some of the best actors and actresses across the continent gathered at the Obi Wali International Conference Center as their various works were celebrated.

AMAA which serves as a pan-African reward system for motion picture was a night of bright colours, glamour, fun and standing ovations. Omoni Oboli, Dakore Akande, Pete Edochie, Julius Agwu, Uti Nwachukwu, , Richard MofeDamijo, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, Omoni Oboli, Juliet Ibrahim, Queen Nwokoye, Daniel K. Daniel, Nomzamo Mbatha, Eniola Badmus, Lilian Afegbai, Nichole Banna among others were celebrities that graced the red carpet.

Between the SAMA and AMAA, it would be said that the African entertainment industry has come of age for the world to take notice as our celebrities took their fashion style a notch higher as both events garnered international recognition.

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Comfy work triangle Biwom Iklaki

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ne of the best ways to get or design a comfortable kitchen is to take a look at your cooking triangle. Sounds crazy right? But it isn’t. Consider this; draw an imaginary line from your cooker to your fridge and the sink in your kitchen. It is also called your work space.

This is because, they are typically the areas you frequent the

most in your kitchen when you are cooking. So, it is important to make sure that they distance between these areas are not too large, except this is what you are going for, in which case, it would be an exception.

Also, try to ensure that your refrigerator is closer to the door because most times when people beeline for the kitchen, they are actually headed for the refrigerator to grab a bite. It

is often the kitchen-goer’s primary destination. It also helps to consider the work triangle when designing your kitchen for utmost convenience when you have to wash veggies or ingredients and transfer to the pot on the cooker. Also, picking up ingredients like butter, milk and veggies from the refrigerator is much easier than running around the kitchen in circles.

GET A

My boyfriend’s mum made him break up with me because she thinks I’m too fat!

I have recently split up from my boyfriend who I know is the love of my life! We were perfect!

We were together for two years.

We had problems but always seemed to sort them out and carry on. After two years, his mother suddenly decided that she doesn’t like me and forced us to split up. She doesn’t like me just because I’m fat but her son says he likes me the way I am but his mother is bent on breaking us up.

I’ve tried to lose weight a couple of times but it’s very hard because I come from a family with long history of fat people. I’ve now gained confidence but I’m yet to get over the hurt this break up has caused me. I feel like I’m dying inside because he’s the one I’ve chosen but he doesn’t want to upset his mother so has ended it.

I’m struggling to cope and don’t know what to do! Please help!

Jumoke, Ibadan We’re not able to have children and it’s affecting our relationship

Realising you’re not able to have children can feel like a cruel, unexpected blow. Facing this problem can be devastating

SOULMATE

Send SMS only to 07057201814 or vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com

and is often extremely isolating.

Events like christenings and weddings can feel like cruel reminders of your situation. You may find yourself becoming jealous towards friends and family members who are able to have children. And the notion of disappointing parents and parents-in-law who were looking forward to becoming grandparents can leave you feeling stigmatised, as if you’ve failed as a couple.

For me as the man of the house, it’s a worse feeling because, I’m under pressure to take another wife as my mother says she wants to see her grandchildren from me before she dies. I love my wife but this situation is putting strains in our marriage relationship and I honestly don’t know the best way to handle it.

I’m so confused!

Emeka, Abuja

Single life issues

Relationships are hard, but being single seems to be harder on some people. I have a friend who has complained so much about the single life. She is getting older and still going on dates with men who do not seem ready to grow up. She has out-matured most of the men she meets and can often tell after two dates. She is 39 years old and she says that lately, her biological clock has been ticking in over drive and she doesn’t know what to do. She called me a few weeks ago to say that she has decided to have a child, with or without a man, she would move on with her life. She is doing well enough to support a child and doesn’t want to adopt so the sperm bank seems like a nice idea to her right now. She called me for advice and I don’t know what to tell her. The idea seems like a good one, but what if…

Bimbo E. 41 years

My name is James based in Lagos.

I need a lady between 23-27 years that lives alone for a serious relationship-07011984768 I am Segun, 34 years old. I work with a reputable engineering firm. I need a busty and sexually active lady living in Lagos for an affair-08072135367 I am Richard, 49 years old single dad of one. I need a matured single mother of one child or two that is working class or a comfortable business woman for a committed lasting relationship-080838990777 I am Dickson, 34 years old. I need a caring woman between 45-55 years old07042692768 I am Sam from Delta State. I am slim and tall and 31 years old. I live and work in Lagos. I want a lady for a serious relationship who is independent-07035543878 I am Franklin Uche, 27 years old. I was born and brought up in Lagos. I need a serious relationship that will possibly lead to marriage—08024926190 My name is Desmond, I reside in Enugu, a business man. I need a HIV positive woman for marriage. If you are not HIV positive, please don’t call08094329913 My name is Oluwatoba, 25 years old, working class. I need a caring girl that stay in Lagos-07082695565 My name is IK, I am 42 years old, and I need an Igbo lady preferably from Enugu State between 28-35 years for marriage. She must be working or selfemployed-08126652690 I am Sir Jappo, a business man of 28 years. I need a serious relationship-08164093310

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SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Money can’t buy love

ost of the popular love stories we read while growing up, all had their tales starting with ‘once upon a time a guy met a beautiful lady and they fell madly in love with each other and then they lived happily ever after’.

We usually get thrilled and tickled while pouring through such stories; building fantasies that it will surely be like that when it gets to our turn to fall in love.

Then it reality hits you right in the plexus when you get heartbroken by the same person that promised undying love and you wonder why your own love story did not end up in story book fashion. The truth is that in this modern times not all stories that begin with ‘once upon a time’ end with ‘…and they lived happily ever after’. What has been identified as the main culprit for most breakups? Money!

To love and be loved back in return is virtually the heartbeat of anyone in search of a soul mate yet for most people this has eluded them as they have been thrashed by their partner ’s quest for money over real love. The male often accuse the women of being materialistic or even gold diggers; while the women fall over themselves with the accusations that most men are just downright stingy!

They want a woman to love them in totality yet will do nothing to provide for her needs.

As men and women swing these accusations across each other like flying saucers, it will do us good to pause and think what true love is actually about.

Do you love a person based on what you perceive he/she has in the bank or what he/she possesses on the inside?

True love is when someone loves you in totality. There are no boundaries or barriers when true love come calling. A

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typical example we see in our society is the love story of Cobhams Asuquo, the veteran music producer, who, though blind still found love in the arms of sweet Ojuolape. So in its entirety, love should be based on what you feel for that person and not what you think you could get out of the relationship.

On the other hand, money seems to have bought the minds of people; especially the ladies when it comes to identifying real love when they see it. The age old question is why does the lack of money destroy people’s relationships?

It seems greed is more important than old fashioned values in these modern times. A friend of mine narrated his

ordeal in the hands of a lady who he tagged a gold digger. Kelvin said he loved his girlfriend so much and was willing to take care of her, even with his meager salary. He made sure he provided for her as much as his money could comfortably carry him, yet this girl was insatiable with her demands. She prefers going to exclusive boutiques to shop when she knows he couldn’t afford the bill. But because he really loved her, he practically closes his account every month just to meet up with her incessant demands. When she noticed that his account was dwindling fast and he was not meeting all her needs, she quickly left him in a lurch and found another

Money is actually very important in a relationship, but it shouldn’t be the yardstick to measure a person’s love or whether they deserve to be loved by you. What you should rather bear in mind is to find out if you and your partner have the same view about money

‘mugu’ to milk dry. He was devastated with her betrayal and vowed never to show real love to any lady or allow her access to his money.

That may be a rather harsh decision for Kelvin to take but that is how being so fixated over money colours up true love. It messes up the true meaning of love. It feels so cruel to find out that the person you love was only using you as a permanent ATM machine! It’s true that money oils the wheel of love and makes the spin more exciting, but money can’t buy you love.

Don’t get me wrong. Money is actually very important in a relationship, but it shouldn’t be the yardstick to measure a person’s love or whether they deserve to be loved by you. What you should rather bear in mind is to find out if you and your partner have the same view about money. The good book says money answers all things and at the same time it also says it is the root of all evil.

So what’s your own take on it? In most marriages or relationships, an argument usually isn’t about money or the lack of it but it’s about your attitudes to money.

One partner could see money as the beall and end-all of everything while the other could see it as merely the means to an end. This doesn’t mean that you need to be exactly like your partner – just that your attitudes to money need to be compatible.

Money is important for love to bear fruits and last but it is also not the main reason to love someone in the first place.

Couples can set future goals when both view money in a similar light. It just makes it easier for love to grow and not get strangled somewhere in all that mire of unspoken monetary tensions.

Did our social silence contribute to Keshi’s death?

t seems the season of death in the sporting and entertainment world continues this week. Who would have thought that Shuaib Amodu, who signed Stephen Keshi’s condolence register, would be buried before the announcement of funeral arrangements for Keshi. Such is the fleeting nature of human existence that you wonder why some chose the highway of pride instead of staying humble.

However, as promised in last week’s piece, it is the issues surrounding Stephen Keshi’s death that I want us to examine as a society and see if he was a victim of our social silence. Let me be clear from the beginning and say I am not blaming anyone for his death neither am I pointing accusing fingers. I have no information on his death beyond what is in public domain and I have no direct access to the family to know more than they have released. I am just asking questions here, questions that I hope will help us re examine the way we deal with grief stricken members of the society.

In December, when Keshi lost his wife of over three decades, Kate, he put forward a stoic face and refused to cry.

Even when the tears escaped his ducts, the people around him kept telling him to be a man and not cry like a woman.

Strange thing some of the customs surrounding mourning and death. We expect the woman to cry and cry endlessly in order to prove her innocence, and yet we ask the man not to cry? Psychologically, this secrets pain in the system cause more harm than good. No, every man has the right to grieve in any way

also arrange grief counseling for the children instead of platitudes that do nothing but impose further burden on their already fragile heart? The NFF can let this decision comes from them. They have the right to say no, but let them know the offer is there should they need it. It is time to fight social silence, the taboo subjects that we condemn in the society and impose on members, for it is not beneficial. that brings a release. Man or woman, grief knows no one and so to stop the process may just harm the mourner than heal them. Again, I am not saying that is what happened to Keshi, but it could be a factor that he died of a broken heart from the loss of his wife more than anything else. He was not seen regularly in public after the death of his wife, the smile disappeared and he kept to himself more than necessary. No, the big boss was human after all and his loss consumed him. He lost his wife of 30 years, his pillar of support and mother of his four children and all we say is ‘God love her more’. We consoled him by telling him never to show his grief

and be a man, for African men don’t cry.

So he suffered in silence, heart broken and crushed in grief of his soulmate. He stayed away and kept to himself, being the African man until his fragile heart could no longer take it. All because we are afraid of the unspoken, unseen and unknown. If knowledge is power, why be silent. Now, we mourn him, celebrate him in death when we could have benefited from his knowledge alive. Adieu Big Boss, SOK. Now we need to think about the children and their coping mechanism in this rather difficult time. We pray that God give them the fortitude to bear the loss. But we need to do more. Can we

He stayed away and kept to himself, being the African man until his fragile heart could no longer take it. All because we are afraid of the unspoken, unseen and unknown. If knowledge is power, why be silent. Now, we mourn him, celebrate him in death when we could have benefited from his knowledge alive

Ode to OJB Well, the music has stopped for another maestro, Tunde Okungbowa, popularly known as OJB Jezreel. OJB has also joined the Calvary of six feet down under. I sympathize with his family at this difficult time. If we talk of social silence, then OJB was one who did not keep quiet. He was not ashamed to approach his constituency and let them know he was in need of help. The community rose to his aid and gave generously for him to have kidney transplant. We followed his turbulent journey through surgery and watched as he recovered. We thought we had helped save the life of a member of the community and proven that the artistic tribe is bigger than any. How wrong we were. It seems death respects no one and no tribe. The family can be rest assured that the music lives on, either the ones he helped mix and produced or the ones he performed himself.

It is my hope that we rally around the family at this time in order to ease the burden of their grief. We need to show that we are bigger than death and artistes are larger than death for in death, their art lives long after them.

E 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

psuits

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2016

ades gives you a gorgeous and stand you out at any occasion. ra jumpsuit, choose a cut that is figure. Also, in terms of cuts, one ser cuts. They come in wide legs, tapering, harem line, amongst a that the cut of the trouser is flatuller lower body are best suited with streamline the silhouette. t should be accompanied by a amorous affair. Due to the multi a fabrics, you can add definition elt to break the monotony.

​Magical vixen sew-in Biwom Iklaki

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omen have ways of changing their looks to achieve fantastically dashing results. One of such phenomena is the vixen sew in which is a method of attaching extensions or weaves to the hair in such a way that the hair looks as close to natural as possible. It is versatile too and allows the wearer leeway for many different hairstyles without exposing the sewing or weave root. If you didn’t know this method already, talk to your hair dresser when next you are in for a hairdo.

Usually, the hair is parted into three or four sections and the edges of that shape of section is cut out (this will cover up

the main sew in) and woven.

The remaining hair is then woven and the hair extensions are then sewn into the weaves. At this point, you loosen the outer weaving and cover up the whole sew in. if done right, you should be able to style your hair in many more ways than you ever were able to do. It is a great choice for brides, special occasions and for the heck of it. You are definitely guaranteed to look amazing.

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Body&Soul

Style etiquette:

Match belts and shoes rightly Vanessa Okwara

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elts are so important to a man’s wardrobe that you are never complete without this particular accessory. Belts help trousers or shorts fit perfectly; without them they will be loosely fitted around the waist and this will make them fall off at any given time, embarrassing you in public.

We all know what belts are for but do we know how it can be more useful to your style or sense of dressing? Belts can be used to make a style statement. Some individuals wear black belts and wear a totally different shoe which doesn’t compliment the belt at all while some wear belts and still feel the need to sag their trousers or shorts!

They feel it’s stylish and comfortably wear them around town like a fashion fad but it is definitely a wrong dress sense for men.

Do belts and shoes have to match?

And if not, what are the rules in pairing them off? If you are going to wear a belt and show it off, you should also wear a good shoe that complement the belt especially for the men who love to tuck in long sleeve or short sleeve shirts into their trousers. If you must wear a belt with a shoe or sneakers or boots it has to compliment the belt though the belts don’t have to exactly match the shoes it should be in the same colour bracket. This is because the right colour compliments your overall outfit. Needless to say, black and brown should be kept apart, unless they’re both so dark.

However, with fashion evolving, there’s the old and new rule to this style etiquette: The Old Rule ‘Thou shalt match the leather colour of your shoes to the leather colour of your belt.’ that means: Dark brown shoe- dark brown

belt; black shoes-black belt. Keep the shades identical and never, ever pair across colour lines.

The New Rule Mix it up — with caution. This means you add a slight amount of visual contrast to your outfit, so long as the shades aren’t jarringly different. If it’s incredibly subtle, like if you’re wearing black leather shoes and your belt is so dark a shade of brown that, at first glance, it seems to match then you get a pass, but it’s not something you should aim for. This is because mixing brown and black is still (mostly) off-limits.

The belts are not made just to hold your trousers up but to help you feel good about yourself and also make you look stylish. There are lots of well-designed belts like the Gucci, Hermes and so on; be sure to choose a belt that is right for you.

FALZ

Cool rapper Layo Adeyemo

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olarin Falana better known as Falz the Bahd Guy is a Nigerian singer, song-writer and rapper who shot into the limelight after his song titled ‘Marry me’ featuring vocals from Yemi Alade and Poe won him a nomination in the Best Collaboration of the Year, Category at the 2015 Nigerian Entertainment Awards.

He is known for his heat tracks, ‘Bahd Bddo Baddest’, ‘Soldier’ and ‘Celebrity. He currently owns an independent record label called Bahd Guy Records.

Falz was born into a family of three children in Lagos State. He attended St. Leos Catholic Primary School, Ikeja Lagos and Olashore International Secondary School, Osun State. He returned to Nigeria after studying Law at the University of Reading in February 2012.

Falz describes his music as “Wahzup” music. It’s a fusion of comic lyrics with contemporary Hip-hop in a false Yoruba accent. The rapper who became an Instagram sensation with his funny ‘ello bae’ skits says he is not a comedian.

His ability to maintain a thought and get his point across while switching accent and giving out punchy lines, makes his music stand out and is nothing short of impressive.

Falz signed an endorsement with Car Sales Site ‘checki’ and also Web Malling as an official brand ambassador of the online shopping store for clothes, foot wears, electronics and more. He is also an ambassador to MTN. In February 2015, he signed a deal with an online Fashion Retailer Jay Oshiba.

Falz is currently nominated for Viewer’s Choice, BET Awards 2016 as Best New International Act. He also won Best actor in a comedy/ TV series, 2016 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA), he has also been nominated a couple of times at Headies Awards.

He is currently single and he is known for wearing different stylish glasses which he has different types and shades. The meaning of Falz the Bahd guy was taken from his surname Falana and Bahd guy is an abbreviation for Brilliant and Highly Distinct.

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RazzleDazzle

Body&Soul Abiola Alaba Peters

with

08062622328 abiolaalabapeters@rockmail.com

I am not a husband snatcher – Anna Banner F ormer Miss Bayelsa and 2013 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Anna Banner, who recently went on a rant on her social media page, when she posted a graphic image which suggested that all is not well in her relationship with highlife singer, Flavour, has finally spoken out. The light skinned ever smiling damsel in an interview revealed, she no longer had romantic dealings with the father of her child. In her words, “Flavour and I are no longer together.

Secondly, my post had nothing to do with Flavour. It was just a beautiful write up that made sense to me and I decided to share it with my fans. I made the decision recently; I spoke to myself and decided it was time to move on and focus on my future and career” She stated. On why she took in for the singer, knowing full well she won’t end up with him and also aware, that her colleague, Sandra, was also carrying a baby for Flavour, “I never decided to become a baby mama, I just fell in love. I fell in love and got pregnant unexpectedly for the man I loved. I had never gotten pregnant before and I was scared of abortion. I decided to keep my baby no matter what. I never tried to hold a man down or force marriage on anyone with my pregnancy.

You know in life, the hardest decisions always turn out beautiful. I don’t regret keeping my baby one bit. She is my greatest achievement in life so far. I fall in love with her every second of the day. I never knew Flavour was with another woman while we were dating. We started dating way before ‘Golibe’ was composed. He never mentioned he had any relationship ties with anyone even after rumour had it that he was dating someone else and she was even pregnant for him. I believed him. I confronted him again when I heard she had put to birth and it seemed true. He accepted

My Breathless experience – Uti Nwachukwu Stories by Edwin Usoboh after much talk but unfortunately I was already pregnant.

I never knew I was pregnant until I was one month gone.

What was I supposed to do? Take out my precious child?

Hell no! I believe God sent her to me for a reason. It was never my intention to break anybody’s relationship or come in between two lovers. I just never knew. I made an adult decision at a young age and I am so proud of myself for keeping my baby. Many have been victims of love and I’m sure we all know that when a woman is deeply in love, she believes everything her man tells her. I am not a husband snatcher, I was just naive of a lot of things and everyday I ask God to give me wisdom to see well and make the right choices” She cleared. The young beauty queen is the second lady to have a daughter for Flavour, aside Sandra Okagbue who was also a beauty queen.

My ex, Kalu is a good HumbleSmith man –Alex Okoroji announces Europe tour F

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elevision host and International ambassador, Alex Okoroji, has reacted to the proposed wedding between her ex, actor, Kalu Ikeagwu and his engaged lover. The Nigerian actress in an exclusive chat with RazzleDazzle wished her tall, handsome light skinned ex-lover nothing but love. According to her, she is indeed happy Kalu is getting married. “Oh, I’m super excited for him. Kalu is a good man and marriage is a beautiful thing if you find the one who can make the journey worthwhile. He has found the ONE and I couldn’t be more proud of him and excited for the new path ahead of them both. I wish them many more blessings and a love that will never wither” She said. On if she will be considering marriage anytime soon, she said, “I’m not in control of the future. But, surely if I find a man that adds incredible value to my life and makes it even more beautiful than it is already, I will be more than happy to take that journey with him. For now, I’m married to my work” She noted. Alex Okoroji who is the daughter of former PMAN president and veteran show-biz guru, was once married to Omar Captan, Ghanaian ‘fine boy’ actor, and they both had a child. Nollywood actor, Kalu Ikeagwu will be marrying the love of his life, makeup artist, Ijeoma Eze on 25th June, 2016. The couple had their introduction in November, 2015 at the bride’s hometown in Enugu State.

ast rising singer Humble Smith is set to tour the world.

Crooner ‘Ekene Ijemba’ best known as Humble Smith will embark on his one month Europe tour from July 1-31,2016. The Ebonyi State born singer who spoke exclusively to Razzle Dazzle said he will kick start his movement from Italy, to Spain, Germany, Sweden and more.

Excited Afro-Pop singer and song writer who graduated from University of Lagos said he can’t wait to thrill his fans with his hit song ‘Osinachi’, ‘Jukwese’ and more.

Ever since the news of his tour hit the media, his social media handle has been flooded with praises from fans.

Smith is initially known for his hit single ‘Chairmoo’ and went on to prove himself as a talented artist to watch out for, with the release of ‘Osinachi’, one of the most played singles of last year. Humble Smith’s ‘Osinachi’ has topped various charts and continues to receive massive airplay on both TV and radio.

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tar actor, Uti Nwachukwu, has disclosed that he enjoyed every moment he spent on locations where the soon-tobe released movie, ‘Breathless’, was shot.

The ex-Big Brother Africa winner and Jara co-anchor said he chose to feature in the movie because of its remarkable storyline and the brains behind it.

The movie, which has the potential of being blockbuster, has already earned nominations at two prestigious African movie awards. Breathless, through Mike Ezuruonye’s role, got a nomination for Best Actor Drama (TV/Series) at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), while Nwachukwu, was nominated for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

“I like to keep a reputation that when people see me in a movie, they will just have an instant feeling that it’s worth it. So I am very selective to give my fans he best. From the first day I saw the script I fell in love with it. I love scripts that are not conventional; Breathless is in that class,” he said.

The actor added that he was thrilled when he saw the cast and crew of the movie.

Breathless, which also stars Bimbo Manuel, Mike Ezuruonye, Brycee Bassey, Bobby Michaels and John Njamah, tells story of the murder of an asthmatic lady in the beach house of her boss.

The incident sets off a series of events, which blows the lid off dark and well-hidden secrets of the Okpodu, his two feuding sons and their link to the murder victim.

The movie climaxes when it exposes the messy secrets.

Benue@40: Monica Ogah, Ali Baba, others to bag ‘Benue Heroes Award’

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he much talked about “Celebrate Benue Heroes,” a cultural and tourism development programme aimed at unfolding tourism potential of Benue State to the world is expected to kick off on Thursday, 30th June, 2016 with a world press conference in Makurdi, the state capital.

‘Celebrate Benue Heroes’ is part of the activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the state, created in 1976.

As part of the events line-up, 2011 MTN Project Fame Winner, Monica Ogah, Nigerian popular comedian Ali Baba and other 40 Tivs are expected to be unveiled among others, as ‘Faces of Benue Heroes.’

According to the organiser of the event, Ontrade Solid Concept Limited, the Programme which will take place in October, is aimed at unveiling the social, cultural and tourism potentials, for the investors to see why they should invest in the state.

In a chat, the principal consultant of Ontrade Solid Concept Limited, Sanny Ogenyi, who highlighted the various programmes for the 40 years anniversary, said the wife of the state governor, Her Excellency, Mrs. Ortom, will be among the faces to be unveiled in October.

There will also be a business conference and launching of the state art gallery, while Benue Hero Award will serve as the grand finale at the Benue Hotel, Makurdi.

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SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul Sensational Nigerian-UK singer, Marie Abia-Bassey, is no doubt a talented artiste who is working hard to have her name stamped on the Nigerian music industry. Her new track, ‘Alhaji’, which was recorded in Nigeria with renowned producer Spellz, featuring Nigerian rapper, Iceberg Slim, is an expression of feminism.

In this interview with ABIOLA ALABA PETERS, Marie talks about herself, troubles with men, and why her latest single, ‘Alhaji’ is testament to her craft and song writing skills

Why I won’t work with Cynthia Morgan -Marie Abia-Bassey

Brief Background I am from Akwa Ibom State but living in the United Kingdom, born into a family of two children. I’m 23 years old; I graduated with a degree in TV, film making, communication and multimedia design. Obviously, I like to sing, dance and write. I actually find myself enjoying counselling too; I love to find solution to people’s challenges and all. I just put out a single called ‘Alhaji’ featuring Iceberg Slim and produced by Spellz and it has this new R&B classic sound. As a matter of fact, I’m an Afro-Urban singer and a combination of different things.

What is the inspiration behind the song ‘Alhaji’?

Basically, I noticed that a lot of young guys these days do not know how to treat women.

Some think you could just walk up to any girl and say anything to her. ‘Alhaji’ is a song that the female can use to make themselves feel more confident.

How is the acceptance so far?

Oh! The reception has been great! Believe me, the love has been for real so far. You know when you go into a project and you see so much love in it. DJs have been playing it and it has been awesome and thankfully, it’s not a very common sound, so when people appreciate what you do, that means you are doing the right thing.

How did you come about the name?

Well, my grandma’s name is Maria. In honour of her, my parents didn’t want to give me exactly her name, so they put an ‘e’ to it and they came up with Marie.

If you were not doing music, what else would you have been doing?

That would have been creative art. I like to draw, maybe film making and fashion. I’m a very creative person or probably I’ll be writing or something.

What are those things that inspire your writing a song?

First of all, I feel music is an expression. It’s like an everyday life and things you see, it has to be an expression of what you know. My life experiences actually inspire my writing.

How do you describe yourself?

I’m a very down-to earth and straight forward person.

Who is your male celebrity crush?

I’m crushing on Chris Brown. He is my all-time crush. Then in Nigeria, I will have to think about that.

I really do like Tiwa Savage so much, I like Burna Boy too, and I love all the DJs as well.

How would you describe Nigerian music now?

I feel the genre has been generally accepted which is good. People are really coming up and it’s very encouraging for sure. Even those that have a differ-

ent sound from what the mainstream market is using also. I know I kind of have a different sound; like a song against the norm a bit and it’s encouraging for people to like me.

Five years from now, where do you see yourself?

I see myself go very far, I know I would have accomplished a lot in five years.

Are you in a relationship?

No, I’m not, and there’s no serious reason as to why I’m not in any. I don’t think there’s any reason to rush into anything; I believe in things like that, you just have to take your time.

What are the qualities you look out for in your man?

He has to know God. There must be something about him that will be pushing me to my best part, and obviously he has to be very attractive.

Can you date a man that is not good in bed?

There’s no way I will know until we start something. But well, it’s objective; if a girl that has slept with him comes to tell me that oh! This guy isn’t good in bed; it’s up to me to know what I want.

What do you fantasize about in fashion?

I’m not a trend follower; I’m a creative person, so I love to create my own style. I feel when it comes to fashion, you have to wear what is right for your body.

How do you handle your male counterparts?

I just find a way to deal with them.

If any of your songs or videos require you to expose any part of your body, would you?

I feel like everybody has different modes of expression, you can show lots of skin if you wish, but for me, I don’t think it’s all about that, I won’t really take everything off for a scene.

What is next for Marie after ‘Alhaji’?

For now, I’m not letting the cat out of the bag, but you will definitely see and get some nice things from me.

Three Nigerian artistes you would love to work with?

Burna Boy, I admire his music.

Then Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, and Omawumi.

Would you like to work with Cynthia Morgan?

No, I don’t think so. We have different sounds in music and our physical attributes are different. A brand isn’t just the music alone; it’s the totality of everything, so I don’t see that working.

What are your words to your fans?

Thank you all for the love. I love you all.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016

NEWS

Banks to set naira exchange rate on Monday p.44

INTERVIEW Jaiz Bank is for all Nigerians – Bank DMD p.45

AUTO BEAT Dodge Challenger declares best 2016 sales in May p.47

BUSINESS

PAUL OGBUOKIRI HEAD, BUSINESS

paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

SME100 Nigeria holds business lunch

A

Umeofia

Yetunde Oni

War over tomato market A Paul Ogbuokiri

s Nigerian households continue to rue the scarcity of the important food ingredient, Tomatoes, the battle that recently broke out between local producers of tomato paste and the importers of the product, over who controls the tomato paste market in the country has moved from the green Chambers of the National Assembly to the fields where the gladiators are digging in.

The Chairman of Erisco Foods Nigeria, Chief Eric Umeofia, who tweeked the national consciousness on the health hazards of the tomato pastes in the Nigerian markets, said on Thursday that the vast expanse of land he has acquired across many states in the northern part of the country underscores his undying determination to end the importation of the product and consequently create jobs for the Nigerian farmers whom he said he is engaging as tomato out-growers.

According to him, Erisco Foods is acquiring hectares of land in different parts of the country for tomato farming, saying the argument by importers that Nigerian tomatoes are not good enough for processing into tomato pastes cannot stand any practical test as he has already configured his machines and employed

• ASECPIN: No cancer-causing tomato •Nigeria should meet its tomato needs—Umeofia

experts to start processing tomatoes from Nigerian farms.

He stated that he is venturing into the sector to end the wastages in the subsector which is estimated to be about 60 per cent of the country’s annual production capacity.

Chief Umeofia blamed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for colluding with the importers, who, he claimed, are allegedly flooding the Nigerian market with poisonous tomato pastes made in China and India. He further alleged that the imports also circumvent the checks the products were supposed to pass through abroad before export to Nigeria.

“NAFDAC knows about this and that is going on because of corruption. The NAFDAC which Dora Akunyili left behind is not the NAFDAC we have today,” he alleged.

“What the importers are selling to Nigerians is just starch and colouring. Six years ago when I joined the business, I started by importing concentrate and was packaging it, but I have stopped the importation of the concentrate and I now use locally produced tomatoes.

“I told the other importers to start making effort to start

manufacturing but they said it is not possible” Sunday Telegraph notes that at the recent one-day Public Hearing organised by the joint House of Representative Committees on Health Services, Drug and Narcotics, Chief Umeofia had alleged that the importation of the tomatoe paste is taking jobs away from Nigerians to Chinese and Indians. He suggested a ban on the importation of the product and the policy of backward integration for the product, so that the country would soon become not only self sufficient in the product, but also a net exporter of the product.

But the Legal Adviser of a

The Erisco Foods boss intends to get government to chase other importers out of the market for him and Dangote tomato industry to have a monopoly of the market

group of 24 importers of tomato paste, under aegis of Association of Stakeholders in Edible and Consumer Products in Nigeria (ASECPIN), Mr Ikenna Amechi dismissed the claim by Chief Umeofia, saying it is driven by selfish interest as against the national interest he is pretending to be what he is driving him.

According to him, the Erisco Foods boss intends to get government to chase other importers out of the market for him and Dangote tomato industry to have a monopoly of the market.

He disclosed that the members of the association have submitted their products to the joint House of Reps investigating committee to conduct a laboratory test on them anywhere in the world, to find out if there is anything poisonous in the tomato-paste.

Amechi alleged that Chief Umeofia, who alleged that the tomato pastes imported from China and India is cancer causing, does not have tomato a farm in the country as he claims, even as he has continued to import tomato concentrate from the same China which he package into CO N T I N U ED O N PAGE 44

s part of its commitment to support and empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria, SME100 Nigeria presents another edition of its business lunch.

This edition, which is featuring Mr. Uzoma Dozie, C.E.O Diamond Bank, who is featuring in this edition, is slated to speak on the topic: “The Age of Digital Disruption; Leveraging Technology for Business Growth’’.

Speaking on the initiative, Executive Director, SME100 Nigeria, Charles Odii said: “In order to remain relevant, businesses must begin to confirm to the change technology is bringing across various sectors. Early adopters of digital age are bound to have an edge over those who choose to retain traditional processes and distribution channels in their businesses. To shun technology is to risk extinction,’’ he stressed.

Organisers said participants at the lunch would learn about the benefits of adopting innovative technology solutions in their various businesses and also how to leverage these technological solutions for business growth and expansion.

“There would also be the opportunity to meet and network with other enterprising and vibrant entrepreneurs,” they said.

SME100 Nigeria is an institution that inspires, empowers and equips entrepreneurs in Nigeria by providing them with the five key requirements for business success, education, mentoring, access to finance, markets and networks.

Customs to sanction agents over use of fake addresses

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he Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has warned clearing agents that it would henceforth start to sanction any of them that fill in fake or non-existing corporate address in their clearing documents.

The agency made this known in a letter dated June 3, with reference number NCS/T&T/PCA/ HQs/S.36 and addressed to the Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA).

The letter title: ‘Fake Corporate Address’, the agency said, “… practice would no longer be tolerated and stiff sanctions will be meted out as provided for in section 161(1b) and Regulations for Customs and Excise Agents (licencing) of Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 LFN 2004.

“You are therefore requested to sensitise your members to this effect as the Service recognizes your strategic role as a major stakeholder in the Customs community,” the letter signed by Mrs. T.M. Isa a Comptroller in-charge of PCA, on behalf of the Customs ComptrollerGeneral said.

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SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS

Wharf Landing Fees brew trouble in Calabar Port

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L-R: Chairman, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mobolaji Balogun; Group Managing Director/CEO, Michel Purchercos; Group Managing Director /CEO, Cement, Adepeju Adebajo and Director, Adebode Adefioye, during the completion board meeting/ signing ceremony of N 60 billion bond issuance of the company in Lagos

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Banks to set naira exchange rate on Monday

Paul Ogbuokiri

I

WITH AGENCY REPORT

ndications are rife that commercial banks in Nigeria would set the exchange rate of the naira on tomorrow as the flexible foreign exchange policy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), takes-off, marking a return fully market driven exchange regime of the naira in 16 months.

This, Sunday Telegraph learnt, was agreed at the end of the meeting between the CBN officials and representatives of the all the commercial banks in the country on Friday night.

Reuters reports that the banks have already asked their customers to submit bids ahead of the start of new interbank foreign exchange trading. Saying the banks asking their customers to submit bids is a signal that the new forex trading platform will be driven by market forces and not dominated by internal bank trading.

In its first detailed guidance, after the announcement on Wednesday that it would allow the currency to float from Monday; CBN officials told bank chief executives at the meeting that lenders would set the

first naira rate to the dollar based on demand without intervention from the regulator.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that after the meeting, banks asked their clients to send them pending letters of credit (LCs) for them to resubmit and to quote a rate at which they want to buy dollars.

CBN source said that Central bank governor; Mr. Godwin Emefiele was at the meeting and confirmed that commercial banks will determine the market rate tomorrow.

A source from one the first generation banks, said;”I got a memo from my bank yesterday (Friday) asking us to contact all our customers with pending LCs to resubmit their LCs and say at what rate they would want to buy the dollars.”

“Liquidity will likely return to the market because the central bank will now sell its dollars at higher rates,” the source said.

The source disclosed that the CBN officials also told the bankers it did not commit itself to clearing up a backlog of hard currency estimated at around $4 billion but will intervene if needed.

Sunday Telegraph further learnt yesterday that customers have so far submit-

ted bids between 210 and 290 naira to the dollar.

This is coming as it has also been disclosed that the central bank would open up licenses for primary market dealers beyond the initial target of eight to 10 participants that it had announced on Wednesday.

Bid-offer spreads for trading would be set at one naira, and banks are required to publish their buy and sell rates on a daily basis, the banking source said. The central bank will evaluate performance of the new regime by December, he added.

Primary dealers can handle volumes of $5 million between themselves as the standard order size and can trade up to $1 million with any other dealer, the source said.

The Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor could not confirm at press time as calls to phone did not went through on Saturday.

Meanwhile, as Nigerians brace up for the take-off of the CBN’s flexible foreign exchange policy on tomorrow, Fitch Rating Institution says it could aid the sovereign’s adjustment to lower oil prices and support growth. It noted how-

War over tomato market CONTINUED F R O M PAGE 43

cans at his facility in Oregun, Lagos.

“The difference is that he imports in drums and we imports in cans.”

Amechi also said that Nigeria does not have the capacity to produce over 70 per cent of its tomato

paste needs and therefore needs to continue to import until the country can produce enough to be self sufficient.

He added that Nigeria does not even have the species of tomatoes need for the production of the tomato paste because Nigerian tomato specie is 80 per cent water.“We are

not against local production of the product, infact some of us have acquired large expanse of land to build factories, so we are canvassing a 10-year programme for the country to develop the local industry, because the tomato specie for making the tomato paste will be adopted, then the country

ever that implementation of the new forex regime may present challenges.

It stated that establishing the new framework’s credibility will be key to its effectiveness in attracting portfolio flows and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to make up for lower oil export receipts.

According to the Rating institution, the central bank’s previous policy of restricting access to the official forex market and supporting the naira, rather than risk the inflationary impact of devaluation, has been negative for the country’s sovereign credit profile.

This is even as defending the naira has lowered reserves and increased external vulnerabilities, while a shortage of hard currency has weighed on the non-oil economy.

“The change of policy is consistent with our view that the CBN would struggle to defend the naira indefinitely. But a backlog of unmet dollar demand (estimates range from US$4 billion to US$9 billion) has built up and any inability to clear a significant portion of that backlog early in the transition would hinder the effectiveness of the new framework,” Fitch said.

will move from seasonal farming of the tomatoes to irrigated farming for all-year-round availability for the factories,” he said.

He pointed out that the Dangote factory opened recently in Kano has been closed down because there are no tomatoes to process.

he move by the Cross Rivers State Government to commence collection of Wharf Landing Fees in the Calabar Port has generated controversy among stakeholders.

Contrary to expectations that the state government will position its men outside the port to collect the fee from exited cargoes as is the practice in Lagos, the government was said to have sent the collectors inside the port.

Other agencies of government at the port are drawing the state government’s attention to a directive by former President Goodluck Jonathan that only some designated government outfits are allowed to operate within the port.

The move by the state government, according to some stakeholders runs foul of the federal government’s policy aimed at reducing the number of agencies in the ports and makes them operate in line with international best practice.

The Wharf Landing Fees is part of measures being put in place by the Cross Rivers government to shore up her revenue base in the face of dwindling allocations.

Scope of the collection in Cross Rivers may be more than that of Lagos as sources say the state government hopes to tax small crafts, tug boats and cargoes according to volume and value thereby necessitating its operatives’ presence inside the port.

As a result of the controversy, Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade has reportedly ordered a suspension of the fee until when the modalities would properly define.

L-R: Former Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo; President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria(CIBN),Prof.

Segun Ajibola and Director-General, Forestry Research Institute, Dr. Adesola Adepoju at the Institute’s 2016 Annual Lecture entitled: ”Sustainable Development Goals and the Financial Services Sector: The Meeting Point” in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

Diageo, UNITAR to collaborate on road safety

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iageo Plc, the parent company of Guinness Nigeria Plc, and a global leader in the beverage alcohol industry, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) have signed a two-year partnership agreement to collaborate to build institutional and individual capacity to reduce traffic death and injuries, and improve road safety globally.

In total, road traffic injuries from all causes claim more than 1.2 million lives each year and have a disproportionately large impact on health and development. UNITAR and Diageo are committed to act on road safety, and specifically to prevent drink driving.

Scheduled to start next month, training will be run in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin and Central America, with a focus on countries with the highest death rates related to road traffic accidents. Over 60 countries will be invited to participate. The training activities will reach approximately 6,000 participants who will be a mix of government officials, young people, and other relevant stakeholders, through training workshops for government officials at the national and local levels, awarenessraising road shows for young people and high-level conferences on the issue.

Diageo was selected as a partner for a two-year partnership entitled “Road Safety Initiative for Cities” due to the company’s strong track record in supporting programmes and policies to address drink driving. Diageo has a long history of working to reduce alcohol-related fatalities and crashes and supports numerous drink drive prevention programmes around the world. These range from supporting high visibility enforcement through random breath tests in countries such as Ghana, Mexico and China, to funding safe rides and free public transportation, and supporting laws to establish maximum blood alcohol concentration levels in countries where none exist.

Road accidents are the 9th leading cause of death across all age groups globally and the leading cause among young people aged 15 to 29, costing governments approximately 3 per ce4nt of GDP on average and 5 per cent of GDP in low- and middle-income countries specifically (WHO, 2015). Most importantly, 95 per cent of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

The Central Bank of Nigeria recently issued a National License to Jaiz, what does this mean to you and the bank?

The National License means a lot to us.

We have worked tirelessly for it and thanks to the support of the apex bank through their advice and direction, we have it. We are grateful to Almighty Allah. It is indeed a milestone achievement. It is also an opportunity for us to extend our unique brand of banking to all Nigerians. We have commenced the first phase of our roll-out with branches in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Ibadan and Ilorin and very shortly, we will be in all the states of the Federation.

A National License requires additional and huge investment and capital, have you made adequate provisions in this direction?

As a specialized non-interest bank, you only need a capital of N10 billion, but to be a national bank , Jaiz Bank has had this as far back as 2012 when we commenced operations. However, there are certain requirements that we were not able to meet at that time. We are grateful that this is now behind us. Recently, we had course to do a Rights Issue, which is raising our capital to N15 billion. I’m happy to say that the exercise was concluded successfully as we were oversubscribed by about 3 per cent.

Our target is to raise the capital base to N25 billion before the year runs out. This will be unveiled as soon as we have the nod of the regulatory authorities. I believe this will position us to compete efficiently in this highly competitive sub-sector of the economy.

As a new platform offering Islamic noninterest bank, do you foresee challenges in terms of penetrating some Southern states in the country where there is limited enlightenment on how you operate?

Well, there could be challenges due to lack of enlightenment as you mentioned, but Jaiz Bank is already a national bank in character because most of our customers are from all over the country. Our staff cut across all the geo-political zones of the country, cutting across all tribes and religions. So also are our shareholders. It is really not very difficult. But there are some people that misunderstand the concept of non-interest banking. It’s an alternative form of banking based on a principle of non-interest, sharing of risk and rewards; equity, fairness and justice. Some people believe that because it is called Islamic banking, we are into Islamic propagation; it’s a business that is mainly guided by Islamic jurisprudence. It is open to all Nigerians irrespective of their religion.

We acknowledge the fact that, these challenges exist due to lack of knowledge, but we have equally mapped out a detailed communication strategy to address it. We only recently launched an advertising campaign consisting of print, electronic and outdoor. We intend to maintain the momentum.

Do you think the products you offer are enough to convince the new entrants that they would get value for their investment?

I am sure you know that we are only four years in operations. In our third year we broke-even and made a modest profit of N126 million. In the following year, we made profit of over N800 million. That tells you that we are a very profitable venture, and I know Nigerians are people that are highly analytical. They would analyse and see our value proposition.

The challenges we have is that of liquidity management. If you have some deposit and you don’t invest, you don’t earn income. This is different from conventional mode where the reverse is the case. Be that as it may, we have arrays of products to cater for all the segments of the society.

Now that you have a National License, how soon do we expect branches across the country?

Like I mentioned earlier, we have al-

Jaiz Bank is for all Nigerians – Bank DMD Mahe Abubakar is the Deputy Managing Director of Jaiz Bank Plc. He joined the bank from Zenith Bank in 2014, bringing with him, a very deep banking experience. In this interview with journalists in Abuja, he said the bank caters for all Nigerians regardless of religious or ethnic inclination.

Abdulwahab Isa brings you the excerpts:

ready rolled out four branches in Lagos and Port Harcourt. Ibadan and Ilorin braches will be opened soon. We will, after move very quickly to other states of the federation.

Some conventional banks also operate some kinds of non-interest services, what differentiates them from your own?

What conventional banks have is Islamic Banking window. They get license from the Central Bank to open Islamic noninterest banking window at par with their conventional banking activities. The difference is that, we are a full-fledged noninterest bank. We don’t co-mingle. We are strictly Sharia compliant.

Nigerians would also want to know if you are expanding the staff strength as the bank is expanding, are you thinking in that direction?

Yes. The National License would open more employment opportunities for young Nigerians and also open up alternative source of funds for businesses. As a matter of fact, we are better placed to promote the CBN policy on financial inclusion.

You are about six months in office now.

What improvement have you brought into the system in terms of your leadership style?

My predecessor had over three decades experience in Islamic banking. I have gotten over two decades experience in conventional banking, but what I have learned in terms of Islamic banking in the last two years that I joined Jaiz Bank I can say are very valuable. For the past six months, we have been able to raise the deposit of the bank by about 30 per cent, we have been able to raise the investment level by about 16 per cent and we also have grown the balance-sheet by more than 25 per cent. Apart from that, we have been able to bring down the cost of running the bank by about 20 per cent.

For me, that is a modest achievement.

We have also opened our training centre in Zaria, which has been in the pipeline for a long time. We are now building the much needed capacity that is lacking in the area of Islamic Banking and Finance.

and doing them and discarding those that you don’t need. That is what we do in Jaiz Bank and I believe that is what other banks are also doing. Nigerians are used to spending especially in abroad without control.

The crash in the price of oil should be an eye opener to all Nigerians that life is not as easy as we think and we really need to look inwards. In a situation where you depend completely on import, it’s not good for the country and our future.

Does the bank have SMEs products for customers?

The bank has robust SMEs products.

In fact, in our third year of operations, the bank decided to do a pilot SMEs project and N500 million was earmarked for that. Apart from that, we also made attempt to partner with SMEDAN so that we could bring in more people to access SMEs products in the bank. A lot of people have done so and we still have a lot of opportunities for other people in that direction. We are stepping up our enlightenment so that people can take advantage of this opportunity.

There are some intervention funds like SMEs and Agricultural Funds from CBN can people access them through Jaiz Bank?

Not at the moment because these funds are interest based.

However, we are discussing with the CBN Advisory Committee on non-interest banking, on how we can participate. We are hoping that this will be resolved soon.

you describe patronage, especially in the area of mobilizing deposit?

Well, I would say we have fared very well. If you could recall, I mentioned that in the last six months, we were able to raise deposit by over 30 per cent, which means that, we could double our deposit in one year; meaning that there are a lot of potentials for mobilizing liquidity. We have a lot of Nigerians that are financially excluded and Jaiz Bank is better placed to encourage them to bank. Besides, the Federal Government is also moving in the right direction in terms of its economic policies. I believe very shortly we will begin to reap the benefits of democracy and good governance.

What is your final word to your customers?

My final word to all Nigerians is that they should patronize Jaiz Bank. Jaiz offers all the products that are being offered by conventional banks. The only difference is that ours is based on Sharia principles of non-interest. To my shareholders, I would say the future is very bright. They have exercise patient for long and I believe in the next one and half year, we should be able to declare dividends.

Looking at the current economic situation in the country which is characterized by hardship, how would

Many banks are having difficulties in managing forex, how do you manage your forex?

Actually managing forex in Nigeria is all about prioritization. Is about knowing what is important

Abubakar

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SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business News

Osinbajo to commission port support portal Thursday

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Paul Ogbuokiri arring any last minute changes, the new Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Traders’ Portal, an electronic platform that would serve as an information pool for all port trade operators and agencies of government, will be commissioned by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday.

The Executive Secretary/ CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello, who disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos, said the platform was initiated to eradicate every form of delay and human encumbrances militating against efficient port service delivery system.

He added that the online platform will address the various complaints and challenges being faced by port users and operators timely.

Bello, who was speaking with the pioneer leaders of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, lamented that the port operating system is still largely primitive in matters of critical information and data management which must be changed in order to achieve the desired

competitiveness in Nigeria’s aim for anticipated hub status.

He said: “We are going electronic in our operations. We are part of the port unit, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, ICPC, UNDP and others. We have decided to streamline the ports operating procedures of every agency in the port.

“The initiative is to eliminate issues that will cause unnecessary delays in clearance of cargo. So all port operators are involved, we want to be able to compare with international standards, to cut delays and corruption,” he said.

He stated that the more efficient Nigeria’s ports become the more cargo it will attract “and the more contributions the port system can make in the diversification of our sources of revenue.”

He said the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) will make more money, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NlMASA) will make more money, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) will make more money.

“Invariably the multiplier effect of being a hub is

FG to favour external debt over domestic borrowing

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he Federal Government will borrow more abroad in foreign currencies than domestically, to take advantage of lower interest rates and to allow local banks to lend to small businesses, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said this week.

She said intend to switch its debt mix so that 40 per cent of loans would come from abroad, compared with 16 per cent now, and extends its debt maturity profile.

Government plans to borrow as much as $10 billion from debt markets, with about half of that coming from foreign sources, to help fund a budget deficit worsened by the slump in oil prices that has slashed revenues and weakened the naira.

Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun met international investors last week on a non-deal roadshow in London as government explores fund-raising options to finance its record budget deficit. She plans to continue to engage with investors.

“As we are moving more of our debt to dollars we need to focus more on exports, especially non-oil exports,” she told reporters, adding that the government approved the foreign borrowing plan “after much debate”.

Adeosun said cabinet members discussed how to make exports easier, including port reforms to increase agricultural exports, so the country can generate hard currency to repay dollar loans.

Nigeria hopes to almost double non-oil revenues this year, to offset the decline in oil revenues.

Junior budget minister Zainab Ahmed said the debt strategy is aligned with the country’s medium-term plan to move away from short-term loans and to shift government borrowing from the domestic market to cheaper external sources.

In March, the debt office said Nigeria will spend 35 per cent of the Federal Government revenues servicing debt this year, up from 26 per cent last year

something we can readily contemplate”, he said.

President of AMJON, Ismail Aniemu told the Shippers’ Council boss that the leadership of the Association decided to visit him and his agency first in recognition of his genuine interest in encouraging and promoting a united, integrity driven maritime journalists beat.

Aniemu said the visit was also intended to assure him and all other agencies in the maritime industry including the organized private sector and trade unions that a single maritime journalists group has been

realized, and with it greater reportorial focus and responsible news reporting and analysis, in addition to reducing quackery and unacceptable professional behaviour will be achieved.

He said: “Today’s visit underscores the degree of interest the Executive Secretary of NSC has shown over the years for all journalists covering the maritime industry to be united under one umbrella.

“While sincerely thanking you for being part of the journey, we want to also inform you of our support for the NSC in its expanded role as port economic regu-

lator. It is our hope that the journey will evolve into having a National Transport Commission, which bill is still being considered at the National Assembly.”

Responding Bello expressed satisfaction with the calibre of persons at the helm of affairs at the new united reporters group even as he promised to partner with AMJON in all material circumstances tailored towards achieving improved journalism committed to professional competence through adequate modern skill.

“I am extremely glad about your visit. I know

the calibre of journalists in your organisation and that gives me some satisfaction because you make informed input through your reports about the industry and that’s what we need. ‘’We need specific industry based journalism that will not talk about individuals or irrelevant things but concentrate on critical industry issues.

“Shippers’ Council will support AMJON. We will support you to the hilt if the idea is to educate and train journalists by whatever means necessary,” Bello said.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Old Mutual Life Nigeria Assurance Company, Mr. Keith Alford; Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari; Chief Executive Officer, Old Mutual General Insurance Company, Mrs. Rachel Emenike; and President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Kayode Okunoren, during the 2016 CEO’s Retreat of NCRIB in Ilesa, Osun State…on Thursday

Ugwuanyi moves to increase IGR, tasks board

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n view of dwindling revenue allocation from the Federation Account, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has expressed confidence in the ability of the reconstituted State Internal Revenue Board to generated revenue to enable government fund developmental projects and deliver service to the people.

Governor Ugwuanyi said that he had envisaged the situation in his inaugural speech when he warned that every revenue-generating agency of the state should be ready to intensify its efforts to generate and remit more revenues to fund government development efforts.

The governor while reconstituting the board appointed a seasoned administrator, banker, jour-

nalist, financial expert and businessman, Mr. Chukwuemeka Anthony Odo as Chairman.

The governor charged members of the newly reconstituted board to raise their performance bar and develop strategies that would achieve a significant and substantial increase in the internally generated revenue of the state.

He equally mandated them to ensure the effective collection of all the revenue accruable to the government as well as checkmate all avenues of leakages and wastages in the process. He said the prevailing economic conditions has caused the state government to labour tirelessly to “meet its heavy financial commitments and obligations; to pay salaries, fund development projects, ensure social services and

maintain security among others.”

As a leader, who is committed to the principles of accountability, transparency and prudent management of resources, the governor called on individuals and corporate bodies in the state not to fail in their obligations to pay their taxes, as defaulters, according to him, “will not be counted as friends of the state”. He reassured “that every Kobo put into the pockets of the government, will be utilized transparently and in a manner that would add value to the lives of the people of Enugu State.”

Responding, Mr. Odo, who is a member of the Enugu State Economic Advisory Committee, on behalf of other Board members, thanked the governor for the confidence he

reposed in them to serve and assured him that they will explore and exploit all sources of internally generated revenue to ensure that government meets its obligations to the people of the state.

He promised that they will strive to expand the tax net in the state so that every taxable person and organisation will be given the opportunity to perform their civic obligation of paying tax for the government to continue to be at their service.

Governor Ugwuanyi further said that the reconstitution of the State Board of Internal Revenue represented a bold step towards a systematic increase in the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state for the delivery of more dividends of democracy to the people.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016

Auto beat Motoring briefs

How tyres get compromised before shipment to Nigeria

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ome tyres may not have expired going by the dates indicated by the manufacturers, but could have been damaged due to bad handling in the course of shipment from countries of origin to consumer destinations.

Dodge Challenger declares best 2016 sales in May

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Paul Ogbuokiri he Chrysler Group, now called Fiat Chrysler Automobiles after the Fiat-Chrysler merger, has extended its amazing run of year over year gains, with May 2016 marking the 74th consecutive month where their brands combined to move more units globally than they had the same month, one year earlier. It was a narrow improvement from May 2015 to May 2016, with the company improving by just 1 per cent, but with around 3,200 more vehicles sold last month – the streak has continued.

In the statistics for May 2016 below, it has been noticed that the company basically put all of their hopes in their large car, minivan, truck and SUV offerings, ignoring (for now) the critical compact and midsized sedan segment. Apparently, this plan seems to be working quite well.

Best Monthly Sales Ever for Jeep Jeep was the only brand from the Chrysler core group to post positive growth in May 2016, but with an improvement of 14 per cent to 90,545 vehicles sold – May 2016 was the best sales month in the history of the brand. May marks the 32nd

straight month where the Jeep brand has posted year over year growth and the Trail Rated brand has really played the biggest role in the company’s streak of 74 months.

In May 2016, the Jeep Renegade and the Jeep Compass both posted their best sales months ever, combining for more than 20,000 units sold. The Jeep Patriot was up 19 per cent and the Grand Cherokee was up 4 per cent, while the Cherokee and the Wrangler both saw sales decline compared to the same month last year. However, Wrangler was the company’s bestselling non-truck vehicle, with 19,551 units sold.

Larger Cars and SUVs Share the Spotlight As mentioned above, the Jeep Grand Cherokee was up 4 per cent in May and it was joined by the Dodge Durango, which improved by 2 per cent last month. In addition to the growth from those large SUVs, the Dodge Charger improved by 5 per cent and the Chrysler 300 improved by 38 per cent, so the large sedans are selling well amidst the many rumours of the next generation models.

Also, with 8,142 units sold, the Charger

was the company’s bestselling car.

The Dodge Challenger slipped a bit, dropping by 10 per cent from the year before, but with 6,677 muscle cars sold, last month was the best month for the Challenger during the 2016 calendar year. It should be noted that while Challenger sales dropped in terms of the year over year comparison, May sales were strong enough to beat the Chevrolet Camaro by more than 800 units.

Minivans Boom Finally, May 2016 was a very good month for all of the Chrysler minivans.

In its second month of deliveries, the new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica moved 2,495 units.

Even with the Pacifica hitting showrooms, the Chrysler Town & Country improved by 49 per cent and the Dodge Caravan improved by a whopping 76 per cent. Both the Town & Country and the Caravan led their respective brands in sales volume.

The only real “bad news” from the Chrysler sales report focused on the Ram brand, as Ram truck sales dropped by 3 per cent - although with 38,833 units sold, the Ram truck was still comfortably the bestselling vehicle from the FCA.

Commissioner: All BRT buses in Lagos to be air-conditioned

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agos State Commissioner of Transportation, Mr. Dayo Mobereola has declared that part of the administration of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode’s strategic transport vision is to ensure that all the BRT buses in the state are all air-conditioned.

The Commissioner dropped this hint on Tuesday on Lagos when he met auto journalists. According to him, the state currently has 430 of such plying different routes in the state.

He said that the government took the decision because it was confident that it is when people know that the buses you have out there are as good as their cars that they will be

encouraged to leave their cars at home and use the public bus system.

He stated that to ensure that BRT bus system in the state does not go the way old transport firms in Lagos like LSTC, Jubilee bus, etc, the state government insures that before it licences any operator, he must use the brand of buses that are already in the country, if it a completely new brand; it must come full compliment of spare parts and a maintenance engineer from the factory must be on ground in Nigeria to maintain the buses.

He stressed that the government insists on an elaborate maintenance plan for the bus-

es because “we know that it was poor maintenance practice that caused the failure of the former mass transit companies set by the state.”

Mobereloan who is about six months on the saddle as the state Commissioner for Transportation after a meritorious service to the state as the managing director at Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), said the government is working hard to develop an effective multi-modal transport system in the state that will efficiently move the about 23 million Lagosians from place.

“That is why we have come up with the strategic master plan. In it we have 14 new

BRT routes 450 Bus networks, water transport network and the railway transport system; all of them are linked,” he said, adding the Cable project is which Public Private Project, is also in the cards.

According to him, the development of the needed transport infrastructure in the state will come gradually as it is competing for the scare resources available to the state with other important sectors in the state.

“But insist that our own is more important because if you have good health facilities, schools etc and you have efficient transport means of getting them, them become useless,” he said.

Before their arrival in shops and markets across Nigeria, tyres are subjected to certain wrong handling processes that compromise their integrity and could lead to ruptures while under pressure in use.

The tyres are often times in this squeezed or compressed state for months and are only brought out and stretched to their normal positions after they are delivered to the markets or shops where they are to be retailed.

The most visibly affected and dangerous part is the tyre bead which contains a round metal wire. The bead of the tyre is supposed to have an airtight seal between the tyre and the rim. Where this fails, air will escape from the tyre and this could lead to explosion leading to possible loss of control and accidents.

Importers will pay for one container but have three to four containers volume of tyres to sell and make more profits while endangering lives. This is also one means through which government revenue leaks out Tyres contain metallic parts that when twisted or squeezed, they become compromised and damaged internally, even if brand new. An average tyre user without knowledge of the product may not know when it is compromised.

Even officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) can hardly know a compromised tyre as all they look out for are expiry dates.

Officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) either compromise their positions looking the other way while the compromised tyres come in or lack the equipment and expertise to detect bad tyres even in their new state.

A tyre may not have expired but not good for use. Tyres not bought from direct brand distributors stand a 50 per cent risk of having been compromised. The real brand distributors have a corporate reputation to protect.

Such brand distributors offer after sales service and can replace bad tyres to ensure customers gets value for money spent on the products they sell.

FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi disclosed recently that 250 different brands of tyres are used in the country. He added that some motorists use tyres meant for agricultural purposes on commercial vehicles, thus widening the gap for crashes.

Used tyres seized by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service amounts to over a hundred million naira yearly. Market for used tyres appears expanding as it is viewed as one means to cut operating costs for commercial and private vehicle users.

SON has also intensified efforts in recent times to raid markets of substandard tyres. In Kaduna State alone over 10,000 units of used tyres not good for use were confiscated.

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SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business

What is wine

Clinical Consultant pharmacist EMMANUEL A.NWANKWO agmerendis@yahoo.com

08148877648 (SMS only)

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he word wine came from Latin word Vinuin and also from grape word Vine. Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes or other fruits. But red wine is made almost exclusively from black grapes. The colour of red wine comes from the Tannins of the skin of the black grapes. We associate wines with grapes but beside grapes, wine can be produced from rice, fruits, pomegranate, apple elderberry, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Producing simple wine is a simple natural process, but different kinds of wine demand a complex production process.

Why is grape always used in making wine?

There is acid found in grapes but not in other fruits that preserves the wine for decades and centuries. Grapes have a lot of sugar than other fruits and this helps to produce stronger wine because all the sugar is transformed into alcohol.

The variations in wine is due to complex interactions in the development of the grapes, reactions involved in fermentation, geography climate, geology of the land and topography, steepness of the slopes of the Vine yards, genetic of the grapes and human intervention during the processing. All these accounts to the prestige and quality of the wine, including soil type, weather condition, farming technique. Grafting is done

in every wine producing region of the world except Argentina, Chile, Canary Island because these areas are not yet exposed to insects that attack the grapes (vineyards). Grafting is matching different types of grapes to produce better quality grapes. To produce better wine, different species of grapes are created (Hybrids) by genetic crossing of two or more species through rootstock. This enables the vineyard to resist infestation.

People have the right to know that you can make a bad wine from good grapes but not a good wine from bad grapes.

Classification of wines Wines have two types/classifications.

Classified by Region (where the grapes are grown) and classified by Grape Types.

Why does wine taste the way it does?

There is a lot of different factors that go into creating each wine’s unique taste.

The varieties of grapes, blending (combination) of different varieties of grapes and the fermentation time. The fermentation contains wood or steel, maturity time, maturation container and length of time of contact with the grape’s skin. All these account to the tastes of wine.

What are the characteristic of collectible wine?

Collectible wines have a proven track record of holding well over time, period of maturity and approachability this is many years long production. There must be a drinking window. Rigorous production methods at every stage of production, e.g. grapes selection, appropriate barrel aging, (experts attesting to the quality of the wines (yard stick) based to experience in tasting.

How do I store opened wine?

Transfer open wine it to smaller bottle, and re-cork it. You can leave it on the counter if re-corked. Refrigerate the opened wine because chemical reaction is less rapid at lower temperature and the eventual oxidation process will be slow to make it undrinkable. Regeneration allows for still drinkable wine.

What is the difference between sparkling wine and champagne?

Champagne is a sparkling wine.

Champagne is the best known sparkling wine. Champagne is always associated with celebration and Indulgence. Some people believe that champagne is a gold standard of sparkling wine, while others believe that sparkling wine is even better. Champagne is a place in France where sparkling wines are produced.

Champagne process is very lengthy, which is partly responsible for the higher price. Both sparkling wines and champagne have effervescence and the semantic is in choice.

How many categories of wine are available?

The primary categories are (1) table wine, (2) fortified wine (3) champagne (sparkling wine).

What is Marsala wine?

Marsala wine is a fortified wine commonly used for cooking to create rich caramelized sauces. Marsala wine comes sweet and dry.

What is wine score and is it important?

Wine score is a quick and simple way for a wine critic to communicate their opinion about the quality of a wine.

Wine score is a 100-point scale that starts from 50 instead of one or zero.

This scale is according to wine spectator Robert Parker.

Little drops and big oceans of small things.

About two years ago, social media went agog with the ‘Oga at the Top’ comment made by an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in an interview organised by Channels Television. It is Victor Okwudiri possible that the comment was a slip 08037674300 (SMS only) of the tongue. It was perhaps not premeditated by the maker. However, the comment buzzed big time on social media. In fact, at some point, I saw on here is a video that went viral recently. It is the video of a Nollywood a friend’s WhatsApp profile a picture of President Obama holding a shirt actor acting like a drug addict and with the inscription ‘Oga at the Top’. saying something like “I’m gonna shine Yes, it is quite possible that the picture when I’m gonna shine.” Sometime last week or a fortnight ago, a colleague of mine was ‘photo-shopped,’ but that doesn’t change the fact that the comment and played it and I watched it to my amuseits maker gained popularity. ment. Before one would say “Jack Robinson,” different remix of the video were in circulation. Just the other day, a colleague of LESSONS My take on the two stories told mine played the remix of that video as done above are as follows: by a comedian called ‘Emma O My God’.

It was amazing. Watching what ‘Emma 1. Little things can make great news.

O My God’ made of that video, I was so amazed at how beautiful things can be Another way of stating this point is made from what some people may write off as nonsense, and I concluded that ‘Emma O this: small fishes can make big fries, or, My God’ can never be poor. However, I do little drops can make big oceans. not intend to talk about ‘Emma O my God’ What the Nollywood actor did, as or the remix he made of the said video. The discussed above, was just a recording subject of my focus in this discourse is the of himself talking ‘nonsense’. That video made my the said Nollywood actor. nonsense is beginning to make sense Until the video went viral and beautiful to a lot of people. music made of it by the likes of ‘Emma O Friend, what about you who have My God,’ one would write of the video as good ideas and/or skills to offer? I tell a rubbish product of dementia. Aside the you, you can shake the world with fact that it’s content is quite laughable, it your ideas/skills, if only you are bold lacked the sophistry characteristic of some enough to release them.

Nollywood productions. These odds notwithstanding, the video has gone viral and 2. We should be careful what we do. is fast adding to the popularity of the actor It is possible that neither the Nolwho put it up. It will not be surprising if lywood actor nor the NSCDC official he wakes up tomorrow to an endorsement deal with a big company. Such is the power imagined before hand that what he

Success Nuggets

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eventually did was going to make great news. However, those things they said became such big deals that shook social media. This fact, I believe, is a lesson to us to be careful what we say and do.

Before you say or do anything, especially in the public domain, it is important to ask yourself whether or not it is something you will be proud of if the news of it spreads. That way, we will only come up with decent and quality words and actions.

3. Value can be created, even from a rubbish heap When the Nollywood actor came up with that “I’m gonna shine” video, one would have written it off as a nonsensical piece of ridiculous nonsense.

However, watching the remix of that video, as done by ‘Emma O My God,’ dispels that demeaning impression.

In fact, the said remix turned out a beautiful chemistry of music and comedy, which one may christen ‘musicomedy’.

The point made here is that you can make something beautiful of any situation. It depends on you - how you view and choose to respond to things.

You can choose to either see a dark lining in a bright cloud or a bright lining in a dark cloud. While others see a drinking glass with water half way in it as half empty, you can choose to see it has half full, and go ahead to make it really full. It lies in your perception and creative ability. I, therefore, charge you to consistently work on your PERCEPTION and CREATIVITY. You will succeed.

Please follow me on Twitter @VictorOkwudiri

MF lauds Nigeria’s decision to end currency peg

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he International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it welcomed the decision by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to abandon its currency peg and adopt a flexible exchange rate policy, saying this was important to reduce fiscal and external imbalances.

IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told a weekly news briefing the Fund wanted to see how effectively the naira exchange market functions once the new float system is put into effect next Monday.

CBN governor said in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari the bank expects the naira to settle at around 250 to the dollar after it abandons the peg of 197 to the dollar it has supported for 16 months.

“I think the announcement to revise the guidelines for the operation of the Nigerian interbank foreign exchange market is an important and welcome step,” Rice told reporters. “It will provide greater flexibility in that market, the foreign exchange market.”

Senior IMF officials, including Managing Director Christine Lagarde, have urged Nigerian officials to allow the naira to fall to absorb some of the shock to the economy from a plunge in oil prices and revenues. IMF officials have said that Nigeria has not requested IMF financial assistance, but has been in consultation with the Fund on dealing with budget shortfalls.

“As we have said before, a significant macroeconomic adjustment that Nigeria urgently needs to eliminate existing imbalances and support the competitiveness of the economy is best achieved through a credible package of policies involving fiscal discipline, monetary tightening, a flexible exchange rate regime and structural reform,” Rice said. “Allowing the exchange rate to better reflect a market force is an integral part of that.”

Goldman: Bad things need to happen for oil prices to rise

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hile low prices have been bad news for the oil industry and the oil-driven economies, producers have been reluctant to cut back for fear of losing market share.

In the absence of voluntary production cuts, Goldman Sachs analysts say unplanned outages and disruptions may be necessary for prices to rise.

“The rise in production disruptions – which led us last month to bring forward our expected price recovery to second quarter of 2016 – has continued, with a later restart in Canada and more attacks in Nigeria,” Goldman Sachs’ Damien Courvalin said. “However, we also continue to see further evidence that outside of these disruptions, the rationalisation of the oil market’s surplus remains nascent at best.”

In other words, without these disruptions, the excess supply won’t correct.

“This leaves additional significant disruptions in Nigeria or Venezuela, for example as necessary catalysts to bring prices sustainably above our 3-mo $49/bbl WTI forecast,” he said.

To be clear, this is not a celebration of disasters like the wildfires in the Canadian oil sands. Rather, it’s recognition that unfortunate events like violence in Nigeria have a real and quantifiable impact on supply.

“Rebel attacks in Nigeria have intensified and we now estimate that 610,000 barrels per day of production will be impacted in June vs. 500,000 barrels per day previously,” Courvalin said. “The outlook for the Nigerian disruptions remains highly uncertain: some negotiations with the government started on June 6, the same day a new rebel group surfaced. With oil majors evacuating personnel and no timeline for repairs, we assume that the loss of production will persist although an agreement could lead to a sharp recovery.”

“Production in Venezuela has been disrupted as well, although official and third party data point to only slight declines of 85,000 barrels per day year-to-date through May,” Courvalin noted.

“Production declines are likely larger given logistical disruptions, weather issues and a lack of funds. For now, we expect that declines will moderate later this year although production will still be down 175 barrels per day year to year. The recent drought has curtailed power generation but higher rains and the prioritisation of oil assets will limit the impact on production.

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Anticipation of Foreign Investors Drive Equities Market …as NSEASI gain 7.40% in one week

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he new flexible Foreign Exchange (FX) Market guideline released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), during the week, triggered renewed optimism in the equities market as the Nigeria Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSEASI) advanced by 7.40% week-on-week (WoW) to push the YtD return to 2.11%. Following overall market gains on three (3) out of five (5) trading days in the week, volume and value of transactions also appreciated by 124.86% and 159.10% respectively.

Market breadth (2.04x) was in favour of advancers, as forty-seven (47) stocks appreciated against twenty-three (23) decliners. The top gainers for the week included CHAMPION, FBNH, GUARANTY, NB and NEM with respective WoW gains of 27.31%, 15.83%, 14.46%, 13.63% and 13.54%. On the other hand, the top decliners chart was occupied by FORTISMFB, GLAXOSMITH, NAHCO, BERGER and WAPCO with weekon-week declines of 49.90%, 21.91%, 9.62%, 8.43% and 6.26% in that order.

Also in the week, MAYBAKER and PRESCO released their Q1:2016 performance scorecards which showed growths in revenue and earnings for both companies.

We attribute the positive market performance, witnessed in the last three trading days of the week, to the CBN’s announcement of a flexible FX regime. This development is widely perceived by investors as having the potential of bringing relief to the nation’s current foreign exchange challenge, which had previously affected foreign investor participation in the equities market negatively. FX trading under the new guidelines is expected to commence on Monday (20th June, 2016).

We expect a spillover of the current mood into the coming week as investors continue to take positions ahead of the anticipated return of foreign investors.We note here however that short term investors may begin to take profit on counters that have recorded significant pricegains in this week ended.

This report reviews events in the current week, with emphasis on different segments of the financial market, while presenting our expectations for the coming week.

Economic Update: New FX Market Takes Shape In the week ended, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released May 2016 inflation numbers which showed a 1.9% hike (vs.

April’s 13.7% YoY) in headline inflation to 15.6% YoY. This represented the fourth consecutive month of increase, thus far in 2016.

The Core, Food and Imported Food segments rose to 15.1% (+1.7%), 14.9% (+1.7%) and 18.6% (+2.2%) respectively.

The surge in Core inflation is credited to hikes in cost of Liquid Fuels (Premium Motor Sprit and Kerosene), which impacted prices of Personal Transport Equipment. The increase in the Food index was due to higher prices of domestic produce like Fish, Bread, Cereals and Vegetable food groups during the month, while the more significant jump (+2.2%) in the Imported Food sub-index was credited to depleting inventories and increasing per unit cost of products.

We expect the trend in inflation to persist, though at a slower pace on the back of expected drops in average petrol price across Nigeria.

During the week also, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), unveiled the long awaited revised FX market framework, aimed at facilitating a liquid and transparent Foreign Exchange (FX) market. We expect this development to eventually aid capital inflows (foreign direct and portfolio investments) into Nigeria as it marks a major milestone in the CBN’s efforts at liberalizing Nigeria’s FX market, in line with global best practices.

The operation of a flexible FX system in an

revaluation gains on assets. While we do not envisage overall positive impact, given that asset quality issues may be present as well, we ancipitate that improved growth rate expectations for the current year will be factored into asset prices over the coming weeks. Hence, taking position in relatively well priced stocks in the sector may prove prudent.

import- dependent economy such as Nigeria, will certainly expose the Naira to significant depreciation pressures, especially in the days and months to come. Nonetheless, we consider the new development a bold step in the right direction as it greatly reduces the pressure on the nation’s FX reserves while also presenting market participants with a liquid and transparent exchange rate system. FX trading under the new guidelines is scheduled to commence on Monday, 20th June 2016.

Fixed Income: Naira Appreciates as New FX guidelines are Released NIBOR moderated to 9.08% (-0.55%) in the week, following improved system liquidity, which was driven by the maturity of OMO instruments worth NGN162bn, even as fixed income instruments (Treasury Bonds and Bills) worth NGN229bn were also auctioned at different points during the week at the Primary Market.

Similarly, Money Market Rates (MMR) declined to a three month-low level this week, after the OBB and OVN rates declined by 2.88% and 2.74%, respectively, to leave average MMR at 1.56% by the end of the week.

Activities in the Treasury bills market were mixed, as yields appreciated and declined across an equal number (3) of instruments.

Overall, the average yield across T-bills advanced by 0.04% to 8.12% as at 16th of June, 2016.

Activities in the Treasury bond market was also bearish, with the average bond yield advancing by 0.17% WoW to close at 13.07%.

We opine that the direction of activities was spurred by a combination of the inflation figure for May released this week (+15.6% YoY), and expectations that the rates at the Primary Market Auction would increase given the borrowing needs of the government.

The Naira appreciated by 0.72% WoW against the US Dollar at the inter-bank market, exchanging at NGN197.45/USD at the end of the week. We, however, expect volatility in the local currency in the coming weeks,

following the introduction of the flexible FX market framework.

Agric.: Sector Records Marginal Gain of 0.01% According to our MERI-AGRI Index (+0.01% WtD), the sector closed the week in the positive territory on the back of a lone gainer (LIVESTOCK). The sector’s year-todate return pegged at 3.90%.

LIVESTOCK advanced by 7.69% WoW to settle at NGN1.12 at the close of the week, while ELLAHLAKES (NGN4.26), FTNCOCOA (NGN0.50), OKOMUOIL (NGN30.00), and PRESCO (NGN35.70) traded flat WoW. During the week, PRESCO released its Q1:2016 performance scorecard which showed revenue, profit-before-tax and profitafter-tax growths of 47.77%, 5.88% and 0.33% respectively.

The Agric sector has remained resilient despite the weak economic fundamentals that have persisted in the year, thus far. We remain positive about the sector’s outlook being a key beneficiary of the current administration’s revenue growth drive.

Banking Sector: Boosted by Newly Instituted FX market Framework The banking sector advanced this week on the back of the newly instituted FX market framework. The MERI-BNK index advanced by 11.12% to bring the YtD return to 12.27%.

There were thirteen (13) gainers and two (2) decliners, to peg the sector’s breadth at 6.50x. The gainers were led by FBNH, after the ticker recorded a 15.38% increase in share value. The ticker was closely followed by GUARANTY, DIAMONDBNK, UBA, and ZENITHBANK on the gainers’ chart after the respective stocks recorded gains of 14.46%, 12.74%, 11.89%, and 11.00%. The decliners’ chart was populated by ETI and UNITYBNK which recorded declines of 2.86% and 1.67% respectively.

The recent institution of the FX market framework will result in good financial performances for banks this year, due to

Consumer Goods: NSEFBT10 Returns -1.53% YtD The Consumer Goods sector of the Nigerian Equities market, as measured by the NSEFBT10 index, advanced by 6.11% WoW, to peg the YtD return at -1.53%. We attribute the performance during the week to the positive sentiments witnessed in the overall equities market following the news flow on the flexible exchange rate policy of the CBN. There were ten (10) advancers in the week.

The gainers’ chart was led by CHAMPION, NB, AGLEVENT, DANGSUGAR and GUINNESS, respectively gaining 27.31%, 13.63%, 8.89%, 7.86% and 6.50% week-on-week. The decliners were NESTLE, CADBURY, INTBREW and VITAFOAM, returning -2.94%, -2.76%, -2.75% and -1.61% accordingly.

We opine that the introduction of the flexible exchange rate policy will positively benefit the companies within the sector by easing access to FX, as well as aiding cost planning processes. In the coming week, we expect sustenance of the positive rally on some counters, especially those trading below their estimated fair values.

Health Sector: GLAXOSMITH Sheds 21.91% WoW The sector continued its negative outing, despite the positive sentiments prevalent in the equities market during the week. The sector, as measured by our MERI-HLTH index, declined by 21.00% WoW, thus dragging the YtD return to 57.22%. No sector stock recorded price gains in the week, while four stocks recorded share price declines.

GLAXOSMITH topped the loser’s table, after the counter shed 21.91% WoW to close at NGN14.22. Other counters on the list were MAYBAKER (0.85%) and FIDSON (0.52%) while other counters closed flat in the week.

MAYBAKER released its Q1:2016 result which showed year-on-year revenue and earnings growths of 19.92% and 158.62%.

The substantial increase in earnings was due to improvement in the company’s cost efficiency relative to the prior year. Cost to Sales and Opex ratios declined to 70.93% and 20.74% compare to 71.34% and 22.58% in the prior year.

Following the newsflow regarding GLAXOSMITH’s divestment from its drink brands (Lucozade and Ribena), the stock has shed about 36% of its share price in the month, so far. The negative reaction may be related to the uncertainty regarding the company’s future performance following the exclusion of its drink business which accounts for over 50% of the company’s total revenue.

This negative trend is expected to persist in the short term, although investors with long term investment horizons may consider the currently low price as a good bargain.

Insurance Sector: Appetite for NEM Strengthens The performance of the insurance sector was positive in the week ended, as the NSEINS10 Index advanced by 2.96% WoW, bringing the sector’s YtD return to -4.45%.

Five stocks appreciated in value while all other counters traded flat.

NEM led the sector’s gainers for the second consecutive week, after the counter appreciated by 13.54% WoW to close at NGN1.09.

The counter was trailed by MANSARD (+7.32%), CONTINSURE (+4.59%), CUSTODYINS (2.86%) and AIICO (2.56%).

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SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

faith

I wasn’t competing with anyone

O

ne day, many years ago, I stood before my classmates, final year students in my Secondary School, and challenged them. I told them I would make ‘A’ in English Language in West African School Certificate Examination. The laughter that erupted was like the occasion of night of 1000 laughs. It was the drama of the year to my classmates.

I can never forget that day.

Why? I did not know that I did not know how to speak good English. Each statement I made elicited laughter because, according to them, I made a lot of mistakes, tense, etc. If you do not know how to speak good English, you will not know unless people laugh at you or in school, you see your poor scores in English Language. Since I did not know that I was making mistakes, I continued to speak and they continued to laugh at me. So one day I challenged them that I would make A1, A2 or A3 in English.

I was the President of Scripture Union in the school. They knew I would not be involved in malpractice. Until we left the school, they laughed at my word to them.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philip-

A

Word of Life Bishop. Moses Kattey moseskatteyabp@yahoo.co.uk

0808 770 7486

pians 4:3) The English text books in 1970s were called Practical English 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. I did not know that one can read English language. I thought we can only read other subjects. I prayed about this issue and pleaded with God to help me. How will you proceed except you make at least credit in English Language.

Suddenly, a thought came to me to buy the text books, Practical English Book 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. I read them from Book 1 to Book 5, page to page. I was determined to make an ‘A’ in the West African School Certificate (WASC) Examination May / June, 1974. Result?

One day, a classmate who was there when I challenged my classmates came to me and said that he had seen the results and that our school made 7 Grade 1. He mentioned my name but that the Moses he saw, by the way I was the only Moses in our class, made A2 in English. He finally said I was not the Moses.

How could I make A2. I knew within myself that I

was expecting A1, not even A2. I made an A in English Language, and in fact that was my best result. I made up my mind, and worked towards it, and made it. I knew I could do all things through Christ who strengthens me. They did not know this.

This reminds me of another incidence in the University where I failed a course in Physics. I went for reseat exam, and failed again. I carried it over and still failed. Praise God I graduated without it. I read Education (Physics). I told that course “we shall meet at Philippi”. It happened in the book “Julius Caesar” by Shakespeare when the ghost of Caesar appeared to Brutus that killed him and told him “we shall meet at Philippi” I prayed to God to enable me meet this course in my father studies. I read Education, how would I ever meet this physics course again? The Lord provided the opportunity.

I had my Master in Curriculum Science in University of Jobs, 1987 but when I applied to

read Ph.D in University of Calabar I had no idea of what was awaiting me. I was told that to graduate I must offer a course outside my Faculty (of Education).

I remembered that course in Physics and went after it. The Physics department told me it was offered at PhD level and not first degree. I told them I would offer it. How can somebody reading Education offer such complicated and high level course? Everybody was stunned. I put in my best and lo and behold I made “B” in that course!

Challenge gives you impetus. Challenge makes you to work hard. Challenge draws you nearer to God and the Bible. Challenge is a weapon of war.

The only area where I discover that challenge brings negative results is the area of marriage. In my counseling experiences, all those who said “I must marry her by all means”.

“I must marry him by all means” as a form of challenge, regret. Do not drag with a man or woman to marry someone. It may appear successful at first but it does not end will with such marriages. It will be nice to observe that in these two instances, I was not competiting with anyone. David challenged the army, Goliath, in the name of the Lord. With God all things are possible.

Pushing your mistakes to others

story was told of what happened when some people went on visitation. As they drove along a bumpy road, a toddler ran into the road while their vehicle was coming. And immediately the mother of the child stepped out, picked the two year old child and gave him a terrible beating.

According to the narration, the beating was way too much for the child’s age.

A quick analysis of the story showed that the child was only practicing what he just learnt to do – walk.

He was still in the age of being fully supervised and cared for by the mother.

She failed in her duty of supervision and instead of correcting herself by reaching out to the child and cuddling him; she pushed her mistake to the poor boy. A child of that age range does not even know whether he was moving onto the road or not. He sees everywhere as a place to play and cannot differentiate which area is safe or not.

The energy used in rushing at the child and the emotions exhibited in pouring out her anger at him through beating, should

Marriage & Family Intimacy

Bishop Charles Ighele holyspiritmissioninc@yahoo.com

07066579379/09098845521 have been used in keeping an eye on him. Women are naturally known to multitask and so she had no excuse of being busy. What would have even been more important than looking after her offspring?

She would probably justify her beating the boy and seeing her beating as deserving. But the truth is that she failed in her duty as the child’s care giver.

A further dive into the mother’s life will reveal she had something(s) bothering her or making her edgy. She only vented her anger on the child as a way of easing off somehow. She pushed her mistake on to the child.

Matured people do not transfer aggression. They seek for ways to control their emotions and put it under check. It is not hard to own up to your mistakes, in fact, it makes people to respect you the more. They know you

are not super human and bound to make mistakes once in a while. So why not accept them when they come?

Pushing mistakes started with our forefather Adam who told God that He was the one that gave him the woman that made him (Adam) to err, Gen. 3:12.

He simply pushed his mistake of disobedience back to God; blaming God for causing his failure (mistake), by giving him Eve (the woman).

Most parents do not want their children to see them as failures and so they make sure that whatever mistakes they make or had made in the past is well covered. How will that child learn if you pretend to be superb in all things?

He might make a mistake in the future and think it is not normal and might even harm himself for the mistake. The harm issue is because he will be seeing

himself as having failed after the mistake.

On the other hand, some parents do not want to accept their faults and so they find one way or the other to justify it.

They might even hang the blame on someone else or on something just so the fault or mistake is not traced to them. They are simply pushing their mistakes to others.

Some women transfer the anger or frustration in them unto their house helps as a way of easing off. You cannot use the means of hurting someone else as a means to ease off the tension in you. That is pure wickedness. A woman once used a very hot electric iron to burn the back of an eleven year old boy for a reason that could never justify the act, Proverbs 3:7 – Be not wise in your own eyes.

We should teach and learn in our various families to own up to mistakes rather than push them to others.

Nobody is above making mistakes. When you own up to your mistakes, it makes you to be more at peace and earns you more respect from your parents or people around you.

Mystery of Anxiety Bishop John Ogbansiegbe 0803 341 6327 (SMS Only)

You can walk on the raging seas

W

hat has God promised you as an individual?

The purpose of fear is to knock off your belief, hope and faith in the fulfillment of that promise. T this end, God is emphatically saying to you ‘Fear not’. God can never be late for any situation. He has never been late.

God shall intervene in your situation in His own time for He makes all things beautiful I His time.

Doubt is a product of fear which is the feeling of uncertainty. The fearful and doubtful cannot experience the miraculous. Fear and faith cannot co-exist. Fear is always a barrier to the manifestation and perfection of any miracle. Peter fail victim of fear when he was already walking on top of the water.

The purpose of fear at that point in time was to frustrate that miracle from being accomplished to the credit of Peter – Matthew14:28-31.

In these days of fear and uncertainty where humanity is daily being threatened with nuclear bombs, natural disasters, the believer his eyes focused on our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Like Peter you can walk on the raging seas. You can trample fear and uncertainty underfoot. By faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, you can make it.

Therefore, I say to you Fear not’. When peter removed his eyes from Jesus and began to see the rumbling and stormy sea he became afraid and began to sink.

When you remove your eyes from Jesus, you begin to see what is happening around, then fear will catch you; and the next thing that follows is confusion, failure and paralysis. No matter how boisterous the wind may be, you can walk on the water of this life with your eyes focused on Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith.

When you remove those things that will frighten and discourage you, many people are really afraid of many things, it may be fear of failure, fear of sickness, fear of unknown, fear of defeat, fear of unforeseen danger, and fear of death. In all, the fact cannot be gainsaid that anything you fear automatically has power over you. It was fear that propelled Job into offerings series of sacrifices to God –Job 1:5. Job’s actions could have been credited to him by men, as righteousness, but God knew it was

motivated by fear, Job was always afraid of an anticipated calamity. To this end, he constantly made sacrifices unto God not necessarily to worship God but to avert and circumvent an expected calamity –Job 3:25-26.

Don’t make any funny moves born out of fear or anticipated danger. Is not on record that in the face of impending accident, most people who impatiently jump out from the vehicle always end up being piteous casualty of such accidents?

This was why the word of God came to the people of Israel before the red Sea, as they were concluding their contemplation to go back to Egypt, a decision prompted by fear. Moses said to them: “Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew you today, for the Egyptians which you have seen today; you shall see them again no more forever –Exodus14:13.

Fear over anything is a proof o ignorance of God’s provision. There are no questions or problems that don’t have any answer or solution in the word of God. But ignorance of who you are and what you have in Christ has pinned many people to perpetual frustration and subjugation. Fear is nit of God. Until you come to the knowledge of the truth you cannot experience total freedom from fear, frustration and failure. Eve was ignorant of her divine placement therefore she fell into the deception of the devil to be like God, when she was already created in the image of God. For the word of God declared: “I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High,” –Psalm 82:6.

The world is presently witnessing civil wars, great earthquakes, untold hardship, incurable diseases and great distress. Men’s hearts have started to fail them for fear. They look at the economic situation of the nations of the earth and wonder at which way man is heading with fulfillment of the prophesied increase in knowledge, yet all the knowledge acquired by man has not been able to combat his problems and subdue fear. Except any man is joined to our Lord Jesus Christ, there is no hope or help. Terrors, terrorism, threats to life and fearful insights shall be on the increase in these last days.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016

faith

Insight

Rev. Femi Akinola www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

Locate your open doors (2) What must you do to locate your open door?

1. You must give your life to Christ. God is not obligated to help you until you have committed your life to Him. 2. Get divine instructions. John 21:6. In this remarkable encounter, Peter’s professional knowhow could not help him until the word of God came. Until a man hears from God, he might never get out of trouble. Nothing can be as frustrating as doing what you know how to do and not get the desired result. Until it is right it cannot be right. You may be looking at the left when the solution is on the right side.

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

Isaiah 30:21 From human calculation there are ways that seem right, but we know, from experience, that most human ways are always wrong.

3. The Word of God (I Kings 17:2). This is the light we need to guide our paths through life. Even when others were in darkness, Isaiah wasn’t because the word of God came to him. Isaac, in Genesis 26:2, located the word of God and because he obeyed, he didn’t struggle like others.

Even in the midst of famine, he prospered.

Psalm 105:17; with all that Joseph went through, He didn’t give up. One day his word came and located him even in prison and he became a solution to his generation.

4. Your prophetic connection.

“And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.” Numbers 12:6 The fact that you still hear from God does not mean you should play down on the ministry of a prophet. Most people have missed it in life because they took their prophetic cover for granted, and to worsen matters, some even visit wrong places.

Many are barely surviving through life when God has put their prosperity in the hands of a prophet.

The Bible says believe in the Lord and in His proph-

ets which means there are two levels for your productivity in life. First, believe the Lord your God so you can be established, secondly, you must believe His prophet so you can prosper.

Many are established but are yet to prosper because they are yet to embrace the ministry of His prophet.

Don’t take any drastic decision without hearing from God or His servant.

Belonging to a big ministry does not guarantee your prosperity; your friends might be in such big ministry and prosper because they’re with their prophet.

Until you locate and connect with your own prophet, irrespective of the size of the ministry.

After you have located your prophet you must honor him rather than approach him with the mentality of helping him or helping God. Most times, before you even think of sowing material things into his life, you must have obviously seen the blessing of God in your life through the grace of God on his life.

So you have everything to gain from your man of God. Stop thinking you are doing him a favor by going to him.

5. Your Sacrificial seed “And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” I Kings 3:4-5 When the word of God is trying you, God simply wants to prove your heart to you because He already knows you. When you love God there is nothing you will withhold from Him. No matter the delay or pain you experience, there are seeds which God has given you already for your deliverance and prosperity.

And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream

Publisher ODM, CHris Kwakpovwe and wife, Flora presenting a gift to Onyekachi Nwosu, a Marketing Communications Consultant, moderator of the Financial Intelligence ROUNDTABLE held last Sunday at the Manna Prayer Mountain Ministry, Ogudu, Lagos

Asake dares critics

CO N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E 3 1

“Contrary to CAN regulations and or precedence of rotation of leadership among the blocs as well as freedom and right of participation, Orisajefor and his collaborators out rightly denied the process leading to a free and fair election and that the election date was quickly re-adjusted from the initial date of Wednesday, June 15th, 2016 back to Tuesday, 14th 2016 without prior notice,” the group further alleged.

Speaking exclusively to Sunday Telegraph, CAN Youth President, David Kadzai, however, urged Christians to pray fervently for the survival and unity of the Christian body pointing out that certain things had not been properly done both at the CAN Secretariat and at the TEKAN/ECWA bloc.

His words: “CAN is established to bring the Christian community in Nigeria together for the purpose of evangelism, unity of the church and also for the purpose of representing or defending the church in case of any challenge. If CAN is going to conduct election and there are discrepancies. Going by the position of the Bible, all crises should be settled at any level of CAN, the church must remain one. If we have a problem, we need to resolve our problem because we are all in the business of fighting evil. We must not allow anything that will bring problem to the church and also Nigeria.” He hinted that the body may not remain in one piece if issues within the body are not sorted out with the spirit of brotherliness.

“But we, the young people and as the leader of the youth I am deeply, seriously disappointed with the way and manner some of our leaders conducted themselves either by virtue of or kind of statement, or action or virtue of conduct. We are looking at the church not now but tomorrow.

If we continue to allow this kind of thing in the system I am sure that the body of Christ will never remain the same,” he said.

Although he disassociated the Youth Wing of CAN from the threats by the Nigerian Christian Youths and its affiliate, Kadzai expressed disenchantment with the conduct of some religious leaders who he described as a disappointment to the younger generation of Christians.

“I don’t know any other Christian Youth Body. I am the National Presi-

Gado

dent of CAN youth wing, anybody who is speaking on behalf of the youth body of CAN, we disown and we are not party to that group.

“These people are hired charlatans to cause problems in the church. Any other group you see writing are just paid to carry out master’s bidding. They should be disregarded.”

Invariably, Kadzai frowned at the conduct of some religious figures who he said did not conduct themselves properly.

“I expected that our leaders, parent body to come out and tame that attitude, but it looks like some of them are comfortable with what is going on, on the pages of the newspapers. We are also disappointed that they did not call their wards to order because these young people are known to be members of a particular denomination and a bloc of CAN. And for the bloc leaders of the denomination not to call their

wards to order is a total disregard to our system a total disrespect to the body of Christ in Nigeria.

“It is unfortunate that we are using the body of Christ as a political party.

Very unfortunate also that these people have enfranchised the activities of CAN, they allowed thugs and people who are known as criminals to invade the church with all sorts of stories. We frown at all this action, this ungodly, this evil for people to come out and insult their leaders.”

Kadzai noted that the hired hands trying to do their master’s bidding are capable of causing serious disharmony in the church and in the nation at larger.

“They should be invited to give concrete evident to whatever claims they are making, and brought to book if found guilty, he added.

But a highly respected Christian leader in Plateau State, the Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam, lent voice to the matter on ground hinting that the pockets of rejection regarding the process that produced the new CAN leadership could not be easily wished away.

“They thought they could stop the ECWA president very glaringly; and so they have succeeded. I think they will have to be ready to face the consequences. I can’t believe that what politician can do we now are doing it in the church. It is very shameful,” he said.

But reacting, CAN General Secretary,Musa Asake, said: “Let them go ahead and do whatever they want.

We have held the election and we were successful. For the time, NEC was 100% in attendance, so nobody was left out.”

Effort to reach the ECWA President proved abortive as his phone line was not reachable.

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SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

NEWS EXTRA

APC chieftains want killers of party members prosecuted

A

nxiety generated by the 2015 General Elections that ushered in new government in the country may have long been put behind by candidates, who won and lost the respective elective posts but certainly not the gruesome murder of two members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Reports say while preparations for the presidential election, which took place on April 28, 2015 had reached crescendo, two members of APC, Messrs Adeyinka Adeniyi Caulcrick and Adeleke Akintoye of Shagari Estate in Alimosho Local Government Area were shot dead in cold blood by persons al-

legedly hired by stalwarts of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the area.

Sources hinted that, while the assailants chased after the deceased and other APC’s members, who were in a bus marked, KJA 443 AZ, they shot at the occupants of the bus sporadically leading to deaths of the deceased. The source hinted that the suspects are now standing trial for murder of ‘Jimmy’, ‘Ofili’ and ‘Drey.’

It was gathered that the moment the incident took place, APC chieftains reported the murder at the Gowon Estate Police Station and the suspects were rounded up in their various hideouts. However, the matter was later transferred to the homicide section of

the SCID Panti, Yaba Lagos for further investigation.

Sources said over one year after the matter was transferred, nothing seemed to have come out of the investigation, saying that a recent petition to the Inspector-General of Police IGP Solomon Arase, signed by Mr. Biodun Ejibadero and Hon. Olufemi Adebanjo indicted the PDP’s chieftains in Alimosho (names withheld), who contested Senate and House of Representatives seats respectively in the 2015 elections.

The indicted persons, it was gathered, have since been invited by the Police.

Police sources said while ‘Jawe’ has written a statement under caution absolving himself of the crime and was granted administrative bail, ‘Aeroland’ is yet to re-

spond to the Police invitation despite several reminders and repeated calls.

Speaking jointly to journalists, the APC chieftains, who seemed to be picking holes in the way and manner the Police is handling the matter want the IGP to wade into the matter.

They said, “Killers of our members are freely moving round the town as if nothing ever happened while families of the deceased persons groan. Is Aeroland above the law such that he could not honour Police invitation?

This should not be allowed in a constitutional democracy. We are prepared to take this matter to any level no matter what it will take. Life is sacrosanct and should not be cut short by anybody for whatever reason not matter his or her status in society.”

Kano: Fulani, farmers accuse LG of land encroachment Muhammad Kabir

KANO

T

he Katarkawa Enclave Farmers Multi Purpose Co-Operative Society has accused Warawa Local Government Area of Kano State of confiscating their farmlands.

Also, the Miyeti Allah, an association of cattle rearers, has also raised the alarm over impeding clash between Fulani and Tudunwada Local Government over allegations of grazing reserve confiscation.

The farmers in a petition signed by their Chairman Engr. Abdulkadir Suleiman and made available to Sunday Telegraph, called on Security operatives to take urgent steps in averting security breaches that are imminent from the actions of the local government.

Abdulkadir insisted that the actions of the local government may lead to a breakdown of law and order as the bona-fide owner’s and the

new allottees are set to fight it out. He alleged that Warawa Local Government council is trying to reallocate the lands they have been operating on for over 20 years, saying that the new move will not be tolerated.

However, the Local Government Chairman, Ibrahim Abdullahi Umar said the allegations of trespassing on grazing and farmlands are baseless because what the local government took was their own property.

He noted that the local government was trying to resolve a brewing crisis between persons claiming ownership of the local government land.

He maintained that land ownership lies with them and as such, the LG has right to revoke any land that is so controversially allocated.

In the same vein, the Kano State Secretary of Miyeti Allah Zubairu Ibrahim has raised the alarm over revocation of grazing reserve by the Tudunwada local government.

Aspirant advocates diversification of economy Babatope Okeowo AKURE

A L-R: SafeCare Programme Manager, Mrs. Azuka Okeke; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Ogun State, Dr. Nafiu Aigoro; Country Director, PharmAccess Foundation, Mrs. Njide Ndili; Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye and Country Lead, Africa Health Market for Equity, Dr. Olamide Okulaja, during the Ogun State workshop on adoption of safecare standards for quality improvement in Abeokuta, Ogun State

Sheriff can’t be our Chairman, says Akin-Deko Only BoT can reconstitute party’s working committee Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

A

n Ibadan-based chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Akintayo Akin-Deko, has blamed the crises rocking the party’s leadership on defectors, who are being imposed on the party’s leadership, insisting that Alhaji Alli Modu Sheriff cannot be the party’s chairman.

According to Akin-Deko, who spoke to Sunday Telegraph on Saturday, many grassroots members of the PDP were poised to see that Alhaji Alli Modu Sheriff would not emerge the party’s Chairman, insisting that Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi is an excellent man.

He said, “I insist that the party must follow the due

process. The problem with our party started in 2011, when some people from the South South threw out the party’s Constitution, saying that Jonathan should go for second term. That impunity has continued since then to the extent that the governors said they were going to impose Alhaji Sheriff on us.

“The grassroots members are resisting it vehemently.

Alhaji Sheriff cannot be there. The governors cannot impose Sheriff on us. Only the BOT can reconstitute the party’s working committee.

Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi is an excellent man. Fortunately, he has also the advantage of being a former governor. He is a bridge that the BOT will use to stop this madness that is going on in Abuja right now, where some people were invaded our party Secretariat as if we are going

back to the Wild West.

“And unfortunately, it is the Northerners that are now behaving like children, attacking themselves over issues of principles. We have already sent to the party el-

ders and by the end of this month, the problem would be solved. We have insisted that we are not going to remove that suit in court unless they follow due process,” he said.

governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Boye Oyewumi, has advocated diversification of the state economy in order to meet the need of the populace.

Oyewumi, who decried a situation whereby the state relies only on federal allocation to pay salaries and embark upon capital projects, blamed the nonpayment of civil servants’ salary on dwindling allocation from the Federal Government.

Speaking with the APC executives in the state, during one of his visits to declare his intention to rule the state, he advocated a mini party primaries to elect the delegates that would elect the candidate of the party in the November 26 election.

Oyewumi said the conduct of the mini party primary would give sense of belonging to old and new members of the party particularly those that would like to contest under the party’s platform.

However, Oyewumi frowned at a situation where the delegates that emerged many months ago at the party’s Congress would be the same that would determine the fate of the aspirants.

He said, “The existing delegates have been cornered by the traditional members of the party at the disadvantage of the majority of the members and at the detriment of the party in choosing candidate in a free and fair atmosphere.

In order to give sense of belonging to all members of the party, fresh delegates should emerge as part of the guidelines to be released by the party’s leadership.”

FADAN inaugurates new executives Vanessa Okwara

T

he Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) has inaugurated its new executives in a cocktail party held at the Nike’s Art Gallery in Lekki, Lagos, where the new executives were officially sworn in.

FADAN is a body of recognised fashion designers in Nigeria, incorporated in 1989 by the then Federal Ministry of Trade and

Corporate Affairs with state chapters all over the country.

According to the President, Mrs. Funmi AjilaLadipo, the association is set for capacity building to enable Nigeria take her position as a world class fashion destination with a view of repositioning itself to meet up with the demands of the new frontier in global garment production.

Ajila-Ladipo, who was

elected to run her second term in office, will steer the affairs of the association with the incoming executives for the next three years.

In attendance was the wife of the Minister of Power and Works Mrs. Abimbola Fashola.

Some of the other executives sworn in during the event are: National Vice President, Kolawale Kuddus Yusuf; National Secretary, Theresa Jibodu;

Financial Secretary, Adeola Oshinaike; National Treasurer, Evelyn Osaronwaji; National Publicity Secretary, Evelyn Okereke; Assistant National Publicity secretary, Dozzy Nnamdi Obinwanne , Lagos Chapter Asst. Coordinator, Victor Bassey; Lagos Chapter Secretary, Bridget Jaja Creppy; Lagos Chapter Publicity Sec, Clara Okoro; Lagos Chapter Welfare Director, Kijipa Adewale Adegbaiye among others.

53

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016

Dalung: FG to immortalize Amodu p.55

Nwakali to get jersey number 25 at Arsenal p.55

Olympic Team: Siasia plans to drop half-baked players

SPORTS

p.55

Deputy Sports Editor Dapo Sotuminu daposotu@yahoo.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Shaibu Amodu: Nigeria’s most under-celebrated coach Dapo Sotuminu

D

espite being the most celebrated club and national team coach in the history of football in Nigeria, the late Shaibu Amodu until his death unfortunately remained the most uncelebrated coach in the country where the labour of the country’s heroes past has perpetually been in vain.

Amodu, remains the only Nigerian coach to help qualify the Super Eagles for two FIFA World Cup finals in 2002 and 2010.

And each time he picked the tickets, the cabal in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ensured he did not take the team to the World Cup as coach in in charge. For the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, Amodu picked the ticket but it was Chief Adegboye Onigbinde who coached the team at the

World Cup. And for the 2010 World Cup, Amodu as usual picked the ticket to the first Mundial in Africa, but the NFF brought Lars Lagerback for the World Cup proper. When Amodu left the national team, he was owed several months of unpaid salaries.

The former BCC Lions of Gboko coach, was coach of the Super Eagles five times 1994-1995, 1996-1997, 2001-2002, 2008-2010 and 2014, yet in their obituary statement the Nigeria Football Federation has been sending, they have insisted that Amodu Shaibu was a four-times coach of the Super Eagles.

Amodu also stood out as the soccer tactician with the highest number of Nigerian FA Cup wins. He started his coaching career on a bright note, tinkering the affairs of the BCC Lions of Gboko to win the FA Cup in 1989 with a 1-0 victory over favourites, Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri at a time it is widely believed that northern team cannot win the FA Cup, he broke the jinx making BCC Lions the first time a northern team to win the FA Cup in 36 years.

He went ahead in 1990, to lead BCC to victory in the Africa Cup Winners Cup (Mandela Cup) at a time Nigerian clubs had failed to win the trophy in 13 years before then.

He led the club to the final the following year after he took over from James Peter.

At the domestic level, Amodu won the FA Cup in 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994, becoming the most decorated coach in the history of the competition. In leading El-Kanemi Warriors to victory in 1992, he set another record: the Maiduguri club became the first to win the FA Cup backto-back since Rangers did it in 1975 (Rangers won in 1974, 1975 and 1976).

Amod u

also won the League and Cup double in 1994 (with BCC, on his return) and won the Super Cup in 1989, 1993 and 1994.

Despite unending testimonies of cup victories, his numerous rescue missions for the Super Eagles in the FIFA World Cup qualifying series, the popular one being the sudden disappearance of Bonfrere Johannes midway into Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers and regular media war with the leadership of the football federation.

At the national team level, Amodu was found to be the best choice of local coach after Dutchman Clemens Westerhof dumped the Eagles at the USA 94 World Cup. His first assignment was a friendly match against England at the old Wembley Stadium, London, on November 16, 1994. The Eagles played well but lost 1-0 to England.

Amodu’s next assignment was the 2nd King Fadh Intercontinental Championship rebranded FIFA Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia, January 1995. Nigeria started on a good note beating Japan 3-0 with goals from Emmanuel Amunike, Mutiu Adepoju and Daniel Amokachi, but drew goalless with Keshi Argentina and lost on penalties to Mexico in the third-place match. The Eagles failure at the US Cup in June 1995 losing 3-2 to the US and 1-0 to Colombia, the ever impatient Nigeria soccer fans lost their patience on the credibility of Amodu coaching the Eagles and he was eventually sacked.

Amodu was sacked unexpectedly on January 22, 1997. His contract, signed on October 19, 1994, was for four years. He immediately challenged the action in court.

The NFA then sent a letter to FIFA citing Article 59 of FIFA statute which prohibits legal actions on football matters. But FIFA saw things from Amodu’s perspective, ruling on February 20, 1997 through a letter by Flavio Battaini, the head of legal department, that Amodu’s case was one concerning employment rights.

Amodu got a lucrative job with Orlando Pirates, before he was recalled to the Eagles in 1998 as one of the assistants to Bonfrere.

He returned to manage the Eagles in 2008 when Berti Vogts was sacked after the 2008 AFCON, Amodu came in again. It was a roller coaster experience. At the Africa Cup of Nations in Mali in 2002, where Joe Erico and Stephen Keshi were his assistants, he fell out with the Nigeria Football Association over issues of players’ welfare. And he was accused of failing to control the Sunday Oliseh captained team that insulted the Sports Minister, Ishaya Mark Aku and the Director of Sports, Chief Patrick Ekeji.

Nigeria was struggling to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea-Japan.

A surprise 1-0 loss to lowly Sierra Leone on April 21, 2001 in Freetown had all but extinguished the hopes of Nigerians. Johannes Bonfrere, the Dutch coach handling the Super Eagle who had won the

Atlanta 1996 Olympics soccer gold, disappeared without trace. And Amodu returned again. It was a difficult task. But Nigeria beat Liberia 2-0, then went to Omdurman, Sudan, July 1, 2001 more in hope than in expectation. Incredibly, Nigeria thrashed Sudan in their backyard. Not by a lone goal, but four goals. The nation celebrated. Ghana later fell 3-0. With Amodu Nigeria was going to the FIFA World Cup. This was the first time a Nigerian coach would manage the Eagles to qualify for the biggest soccer fiesta in the world. Amodu was later sacked.

Adegboye Onigbinde who last handled the Eagles in 1984 replaced Amodu and led the team to the Korea/ Japan World Cup thus emerging the first Nigerian coach to lead the national team to the World Cup. Amodu was at his best for the national team in 2010, leading the Eagles to a third place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations and securing another World Cup qualification for Nigeria. He had come in on a rescue mission in the second round, winning six straight matches, amassing 18 points, with 11 goals and conceding only one. He was again asked to go and Lars Largerback from Sweden was appointed to lead the Eagles to the World Cup in South Africa - where they crashed out in first round, losing two adn drawing one match.

Amodu Shaibu’s Super Eagles’ record stood at 53 games, won 26, drew 15 and lost 12.

After his unprecedented Super Eagles stint, Shaibu Amodu, with the recommendations of his close friend, Mike Itamagbor was employed as the Consultant to the Edo State Grassroots Football Project initiated by the Edo State government. With this he relocated to Benin City where he settled down into his new assignment in his home state. After years of hard work where he tried his best to groom hundreds of young talents, he was owed several months of unpaid salaries, which he openly complained about to one of his friends coach Godwin Izilenn before his death. But after his death, the Edo State government shockingly came out with a statement that the state didn’t owe Amodu before he died.

While doing his new job in Edo, the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation approved the employment of Amodu as the Technical Director of the national teams in 2014. The coach confided in some of his close friends and associate that the football federation owed him seven months of unpaid salaries, but when he died, the federation said the late Amodu was only owed two months’ salary.

A lot of people didn’t know Amodu played good football before he became a coach. The truth of the matter was that his playing career was cut short at the age of 23 by a leg injury in 1981, while he was a striker with Niger Tornadoes.

54

SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Sport

Nigerian stars rocking Euro 2016

Alaba

Robson-Kanu

Alli

Dapo Sotuminu

E

ven as the Super Eagles of Nigeria have failed to qualify for two consecutive African Nations Cup competitions, there are other Nigerians doing what they know how to do best for their adopted countries in the 2016 European Nations Cup competition going in France.

Out of the 42 African stars playing for various European national teams at the Euro Cup in France, five are Nigerians. They are David Alaba (Austria), Dele Alli (England), Angelo Ogbonna (Italy), Rubin Okotie (Austria) and ‘Hal’ Robson-Kanu (Wales).

David Alaba (Austria) David Olatokunbo Alaba, he decided to play for Austrian national football team.

Alaba is the youngest player to play for the Austrian national team when he made his debut back in 2009 as a 17 year old kid. The versatile player can play in various positions like central midfield, right and left wing back but he has cemented his place in the left back for both club and country. The star footballer was born in Vienna to the family of George and Gino Alaba. His father is a

Okotie

Ogbonna

Disco Jockey and rapper in Austria who is a prince from Ogere, Ogun State Nigeria. The father also doubled as his manager, while the mother is from Philippines.

Dele Alli (England) Born and raised in Milton Keynes, he joined the youth system at Milton Keynes Dons FC aged 11 and broke into the first team five years later, during the 2012-13 season. He signed for Tottenham Hotspur in February 2015 for an initial fee of £5 million. In his first full campaign at White Hart Lane, Alli was voted the PFA Young Player of the Year. Alli played for the England U-17, U-18 and U-19 teams. He made his senior debut in 2015 and was selected for UEFA Euro 2016. Last year, former Wimbledon striker John Fashanu tried to persuade Dele to play his international football for Nigeria.

His full name is actually Bamidele Alli. It’s ‘Dele’ for short.

Angelo Ogbonna (Italy) Ogbonna was born to Nigerian parents who emigrated to Italy from Nigeria in 1983, settling in the city of Cassino in the central part of the country, but managed

to obtain Italian citizenship only after his 18th birthday.

He is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for West Ham United and the Italian national team. He began his career at Torino, with whom he made his debut in Serie A at age 18 under Alberto Zaccheroni. At an international level he was a member of the Italy side which finished runners-up at UEFA Euro 2012, and also represented his nation at UEFA Euro 2016.

Rubin Okotie (Austria) He was born in Pakistan to a Nigerian father and an Austrian mother, Okotie spent the first four years of his life in the Spanish city of Barcelona. As a result of his multinational background he is eligible to represent three countries at national level, namely Austria, Nigeria and Pakistan. Okotie identifies himself primarily as Austrian.

He is an Austrian professional footballer currently playing as a striker for German 2 Bundesliga side 1860 Munich.

Currently a member of the Austria national football team he has played for the country at Under-19-level in the 2006 European

championships in Poland and Under-20 level in the 2007 World Cup in Canada. He scored twice at the latter tournament, helping his side reach the semi-finals.

In the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier, which Austria finished in first place, he scored the deciding goals against Russia and Montenegro.

Robson-Kanu (Wales) Robson-Kanu initially represented England, the country of his birth, at international level, making his debut for the Under-19 side against Germany in November 2007. He made a second appearance against Croatia the following year before winning one cap for the England Under-20s against Montenegro in 2009.

In 2010 he switched allegiance to Wales, for which he qualifies through his Caerphillyborn grandmother. He was first selected in the Wales Under-21s squad for the friendly against Austria on May 18, 2010 and made his debut in a 1-0 defeat. Robson-Kanu’s first cap for the senior team came just five days later, coming on as a second-half substitute for Robert Earnshaw in a 2–0 loss to Croatia.

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Sport

Dalung: FG to immortalize Amodu Dapo Sotuminu

T

he Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has declared that the Nigerian sports authorities, especially the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF), would greatly miss the late former Technical Director of the Federation, Shaibu Amodu.

He said yesterday in Lagos during the Eighth Day Fiddua prayers for the late coach that: “Amodu tried his best for Nigeria, but sadly he was not compensated nor recognised adequately. His sudden death has cast darkness everywhere in Nigeria. The question is if today we have crisis in

•Nigeria will miss his greatly

•Approves employment of 2 Amodu’s children the coaching aspect of the national team, who again do we invite to intervene.

“Amodu was a very humble person, he was also kindhearted. He was a person who placed national interest over and above his own interest.

I met him not too long when he visited me in Abuja. He came to my office with own idea written as to how he thinks Nigerian football can be moved forward, that was the type of person Amodu was. So, we are all devastated, at this point we cannot ask any

question beyond this because we are all mortals.

We pray that God should give us the grace to be fair to his legacies.”

Dalung noted that, the Nigerian government will surely immortalise Shaibu Amodu to show appreciation to what he did for Nigerian football during his life time and to keep human memory of his contribution. “Coach Amodu was a national asset and we shall surely name something important to all Nigerians after him in the coming days after getting the final approval from the

National Assembly.”

The minister went to announce automatic employments for Amodu’s first children. He confirmed that the employment of the two children has been sealed as they will be serving the nation at the National Institute for Sports, (NIS). Dalung stated that, the employment of Amodu’s children would go a long way in helping the family to meet immediate pressing needs and would also prepare for journey of survival after the passing away of the bread winner of the family.

Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung (middle) and NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, left, with late Amodu Shaibu’s wife, Kuburat (right) at Amodu’s residence in Surulere, Lagos during the Eighth day prayer for the departed technical director

Nwakali to get jersey number 25 at Arsenal

E

nglish Premier League giant, Arsenal FC, have agreed to give Nigeria’s starlet Kelechi Nwakali, the jersey number 25 which would be allocated to him for the next football season even as they are yet to finalise his contract.

The Arsenal number 25 was last used by Carl Jenkinson before he went to West Ham on loan. The Nigerian youngster has finally signed a five-year contract with the Gunners on turning 18 years old.

Nwakali, it was gathered went for the jersey number because of Kanu Nwankwo, who wore the jersey during his glorious days at Arsenal FC.

Nwakali is obviously very talented judging by his Player-ofthe-Tournament award at the U-17 World Cup, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on in training with the big boys this summer at the North London club.

DStv Basketball: Final 8 dunks off in Lagos

T

he 2016 season for the DStv Premier Basketball League will be rounded-off with the Final 8 Championship holding at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos from Monday June 20 to June 25.

According to the Secretary General of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Patrick Okeke, the eight teams which qualified from both the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences are expected to arrive Lagos today, early enough for the technical meeting which precedes the games holding later in the day.

The eight teams, four each from the two conferences have been drawn into two groups. Group

A has Kwara Falcons, Plateau Rocks, Nigeria Customs and Niger Potters while Kano Pillars, Royal Hoopers, Gombe Bulls and Oluyole Warriors make up Group B Plateau Rocks and the Nigeria Customs take to the courts first at mid-day, with Royal Hoopers taking on Gombe Bulls, Niger Potters v Kwara Falcons and Oluyole Warriors battling Kano Pillars in that order for Day 1 on Monday June 20.

The top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals holding on Thursday while the third place and final games will hold on Saturday, signaling the close of the 2016 season.

Enyimba seek redemption in Port Harcourt

T

Olympic Team: Siasia plans to drop half-baked players

D

ream Team chief coach, Samson Siasia, has planned a massive overhaul of the Nigeria U-23 team with just about 46 days to the Rio Olympics soccer event going by the several new faces who attended the US visa interview ahead of a training camp in Atlanta.

Nigeria internationals Kingsley Madu, Moses Simon, Daniel Akpeyi and Wilfred Ndidi are set to force their way to the Dream Team VI after they did not feature for them in the qualifiers.

All these players were at the US embassy in connection with visas for the training camp, which begins on June 29 in Atlanta.

Shehu Abdullahi, Stanley Amuzie, Musa Mohammed and Godwin Saviour are also slated for the training camp after they played in the qualifiers for the U23 AFCON. Add these to two designated overaged stars, Chelsea star Mikel Obi and Watford striker Odion Ighalo, and already you have wholesale xxxxx

changes to the team Siasia lined up to win the U23 AFCON in Senegal in December.

In a related development, South Africa-based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, has disclosed that it would be an honour for him to feature at the Rio Olympics as one of the overaged players for Nigeria.

The goalkeeper was a late inclusion to the list and while he has admitted only the coach will determine who goes to the Games, he said he is thankful for the opportunity.

“It is a great privilege but it doesn’t give me the automatic shirt in the team.”

The 29-year-old shot stopper was at the American embassy in Abuja during the week with other members of the team to apply for visas as they prepare for the training camp in the US ahead of the Olympic Games.

Akpeyi will possibly make the final squad to Brazil provided he is released by his South African club, Chippa United.

wo-time African champions, Enyimba International of Aba, will today look to get their CAF Champions’ League group stage campaign off to a flying start when they battle against Egyptian club, Zamalek FC in the opening game of Group B. Enyimba reached this stage of the competition after going through the harrowing experience of penalty kicks against

Tunisian side, Etiole du Sahel, which literally went right down to the wire.

Enyimba goalkeeper, Theophilus Joel Afelokhai, who was the hero in the match against the Tunisian club giant said: “After the first leg in Port Harcourt, most of my teammates felt we had already qualified for the group stages but I told them we could not afford to start celebrating just yet.

Solution to Cross Word Puzzle

Siasia

business

War over tomato market

}43

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

SUNDAY

Shaibu Amodu:

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

N150

SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2016

Nigeria's most undercelebrated coach }53

Mrs Bridget Agbaheme’s Gruelsome Murder: Does God Need Defenders?

INTRODUCTION

Few weeks ago, Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme was murdered in cold blood. She had her head gruesomely decapitated from her body in Kano, for alleged ‘blasphemy’ against the holy Prophet Mohammed (peace be unto him). Her ‘blasphemy’ was that she objected to an ablution by some muslim youths, right in front of her shop, at Wambai market, Kano, in broad day light. As Nigerians join their brothers and sisters in Islam all over the globe to observe the month of Ramadan, the question has to be asked: Is violence the true tenet of Islamic Religion? Does God or Allah need to be defended, or protected? Recall that Gideon Akaluka, a young Igbo trader, was, in 1995, hideously and horrendously beheaded in the same Kano, allegedly for desecrating the holy Quran. His decapitated head was grisly paraded about on Kano streets, on a pole. I cannot remember the perpetrators who were initially arrested ever being brought to book.

Most fanatics and fundamentalists place reliance on the Quran’s 8:12, which states: “when your Lord revealed to the angels, I am with you. Therefore, make from those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore, strike off their heads, and strike off every fingertip of them.”

On the surface, if taken literally, this would appear to mean that the Quran expects violence to be a divine command intended to inspire terror. The explanation, however, from Islamic clerics, is that the background to this command was within an actual war situation, dealing with the spoils of war, at the battle of Badr in the year 624. It is just as unfair therefore, to generalise from this verse and say that the Islamic Religion encourages or condones killings, as it is unfair for critics of Christianity to say that the latter is a violent religion, merely because Christ had said, ‘I have not come to bring peace but a sword’.

But, everyone understands that Christ did not mean this literally, or willed that the statement he made be taken out of context.

He was merely speaking metaphorically.

CHRISTIANITY AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION Why do we segregate and try to be more holy than the pope, when the two major religions, align with section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, as regards freedom of conscience and freedom of religion and belief. In the Christian faith, the Holy Bible tells us in Matthew 19: 16 – 23, that after the rich young man came to Jesus and had a brief conversation with him, he “went away sorrowful”.

He chose not to follow Christ. Christ did not fret, nor force him. He let him go, allowing him his freedom of choice. This is because faith is personal and voluntary, not coerced or forced out of a person. Never.

Even when in Matthew 23: 37, Jesus had expressed his desire to gather the children of Jerusalem to Himself, he discovered that they “were not willing”. He did not force them.

In Acts of the Apostles, 26: 31, we are given the liberty of “preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom, unhinderedly”. Then, in 1 Corinthians 10: 29, we are admonished thus: “I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s.

For why is my freedom judged by another

The

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08094777755 (sms only) person’s conscience?”.

It is clear from these scriptural verses, amongst others, that our Lord, Jesus Christ, recognizes the right and freedom of every person to worship whom he wants to. And when ever doubting Thomas asked him,” Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”, he replied, still not forcing anyone, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me” (John 14: 5). Let us conclude Christian’s freedom of religion with John 4: 22, “you worship what you do not know, we worship what we know for salvation is from the Jews”.

ISLAM AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION For our Muslim brothers and sisters, the holy prophet Mohammed himself (peace be unto him), did not compel forceful recruitment into the Islamic faith. He expressly allowed freedom of religion. The Holy Qur’an, 109: 1 – 6, says, “O disbelievers!

I worship not that which ye worship; Nor worship ye that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which ye worship.

Nor will ye worship that which I worship.

Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion”.

The holy prophet was addressing the pagans of Quraysh, who had proposed that he worshipped their gods for a month, so that they in turn would worship that which he worshipped (Allah), for a year. He roundly rejected their proposal to worship their paganic idols, even as he refrained from forcing them to worship his own Allah, to whom he was actually the messenger.

The first amendment to the US Constitution, from whom we modeled our presidentialism, provides most laconically, that “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment religion, or prohibiting the free exercise on thereof”. Thomas Jefferson, once famously declared that religion is “the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights”.

The holy Quran is quite lucid on Allah’s admonitions to refrain from evil and do good to all manners of people. Quran Chapter 60: 8, states, “though I have not commanded you to be unfair to those that have never offended you at all, be fair to people.”

Chapter 2:183, where Allah prescribed fasting as an obligation for Muslims, states the reason at the end of that verse, - “to restrain us from evil, learn God’s consciousness and learn to be God-fearing.” Allah therefore “enjoins justice, the doing of good to others, giving like kindred, forbids indecency, manifest evil and wrongful transgression” – Quran 16:91, These are just a few examples.

History has shown that the holy Prophet

Muhammad was raised by a pagan uncle, whom he loved, lived with and prayed for.

The Prophet also lived for many years with non-Muslims in Medina. His mosque was frequently visited by Muslims and nonMuslims alike. In one of his sermons, he said, “Whoever kills with the sword will also be killed with the sword.” Again, in his sermon at Mount Arafat, during his last Hajj, the holy prophet warned against the wanton killing of any human being.

NOW THIS NO TRESPASS ON ANOTHER’S PROPERTY It is crystal clear therefore, that to have trespassed onto the property of another person, whether to perform ablution, or even to pray, without that person’s permission, is against the holy Prophet’s teachings. To also kill the owner of the property in cool blood, for objecting to the trespass, is a heinous crime which violently violates the Constitution, laws and regulations of the land, the Quran and Shariah, and the teachings of the holy Prophet. These unprovoked rampant killings can be traced directly to

abject ignorance, gross misinterpretation of the Prophet’s messages, crass indoctrination, or sheer lunacy.

True, Islam, and Christianity teach peace and good neighbourliness, strive to create inter-denominational harmony, endurance and tolerance. No more. No less.

AND THIS WHO CAN DEFEND GOD? So, who can defend and fight for Allah, God, Osanobua, Chukwu, Olorun, Abasi, Osinegba, Oghena, Abadeh, Jamaga, Afjaa, Taroneesh, Davar, Dadar, Khudawand, Agar-agar? Just who can?

The Holy Quran, 16:70 says that Allah is all knowing, all powerful.

Al-Alim (the all knowing), appears 157 times in the Holy Qur’an. The Quran states that Allah is omnipotent, omniscient, most merciful, most beneficent (Ar Rahman, Quran, 55:14). In the Holy Bible, God is omnipotent and exalted in power (Job 37:23). He is omnipotent in salvation (Philippians 1:6).

God is all knowing (Matthew 11:27), John 10:15, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, Romans 11:33-34, Psalm 147:4, Deuteronomy 29:29.

So, why, are we demeaning and profaning God by claiming to be defending, or fighting for him? This is great insult and affront to God. To all our muslim brothers and sisters in Nigeria and across the world, Ramadan Kareem; Ramadan Mubarak.

LAST LINE Are Christians, Islamic clerics and Nigerians reading and digesting this Sunday sermon in the Nigerian Project by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, OFR? • Follow me on twitter @ MikeozekhomeSAN

Cross Word Puzzle

with Olulana Kayode 08023183727 Instructions on how to play the game •With reference to the ‘clues across’ and ‘clues down’ below, you shall try to provide answers to the clues, by writing the answer in the puzzle box provided on the left side.

•The number in parenthesis indicates the total number of letters making up the solution or answer you will provide.

•Keep on answering all the questions until all the spaces in the puzzle box are completely filled up.

Good luck!

Clues Across 1 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 16 17 18 22 23 24 25 26

Former Kaduna state Governor, (7).

Basic unit of money in Japan, (3).

Put into service, (3).

Air-tight metal container, (3).

Distress signal in radio codes, (3).

Disposed of to a buyer, (4).

Twisted towards one side, (4).

16th letter of the Greek alphabet, (3).

Niobium symbol, (2).

Remove water from a boat, (4).

Provide with clothing, (4).

Employ for a purpose, (3).

Indicating 'three', (3).

Term of address for a man, (3).

Emergency Alert System, (3).

Ensure observance of rules, (7).

Clues Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 13 14 15 19 20 21

__ Botmang, Ex Plateau Governor, (7).

Unit of Japanese currency, (3).

Flipping a coin, (4).

Former empire in Eastern Europe, (6).

A loud utterance, (4).

Not seen before, (3).

Late Oyo State Governor, (4, 3).

Continue to live through hardship, (6).

An equal exchange, (6).

Decline in amount, (4).

Cattle reared for their meat, (4).

Honey-making insects, (3).

Turn to page 55 for solution

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488), Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: JULIET BUMAH.