Sunday telegraph sunday, november 8, 2015 vol 2 no 627 binder1

You can’t ban prayers in schools, religious leaders, teachers, parents tell IG

}55

SUNDAY Sunday, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 Vol. 2 No. 627

ABIMBOLA ONI

I need a strong, active man }23 BAILOUT package

APC chieftains blocking funds - Kogi lYou’re lying, say APC, CBN }5

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

behold Nigeria’s 1st ELECTED female ‘gov’

}4

...as tribunal sacks 2nd PDP gov

lJubilation in Taraba, Abuja lPresidency manipulated verdict - PDP lAlhassan’s victory encouraging - APC

Horror in Lagos, Ebonyi

lMudslide claims four children of same parents lGunmen kill police inspector, burn patrol van, 10 bikes lFire guts two-storey building as Ambode demolishes }55 shanties, cracks down on street traders

2

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Contents | 08.11.15 BODY & SOUL

A noble dream Seeing Nigeria and indeed the world free of polio is a driving passion for Dr. Olatunji Funsho, chairman National Polio Committee

}24

POLITICS

Independent candidacy Ahead of 2019 general elections, stage is set for enthronement of independent candidacy

}17

BUSINESS

New beginning Cancellation of crude oil swap arrangement is end of the road for fraud and a fresh start for transparency in Nigerian’s downstream oil sector

}47

FAITH

Want my scars too?

If you want to be like another person because you see their stars shining, then be ready for their scars too –Bishop Chris Kwakpovwe

}40

SPORT

Three months salary The Nigeria Football Federation is a deadly slave drivers as it fined Under-23 Chief Coach, Samson Siasia, for crying out over his three months salary

}53

Magazine

Shattered dreams

Over 25, 000 lives have been lost to Boko Haram menace in the past six years, while more than 2.5 million people are currently displaced in Lake Chad Basin region of the country

}6&7

SUNDAY

Editorial

Curtailing menace of building collapse

P

rior to the September 2014 collapse of a six-storey building belonging to the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos, three major buildings had also caved in around the month of July.

The first incident, a two-storey warehouse laden with building materials at Odunade area of Orile-Iganmu, collapsed on July 6 with no casualty.

Before now, several other buildings had collapsed across the country with so many lives lost. However, that of SCOAN made global headline because of the international slant to the tragedy. Apart from the personality of Pastor T.B. Joshua, who owns the property, about 116 people, mostly South Africans, died under the structure.

To curtail the international embarrassment that followed the incident, Lagos State Government, for the first time in a long while, decided to carry out a comprehensive Coroner’s inquest into the matter. But while the inquest, which eventually indicted the church, lasted, at least three other cases of collapse buildings were recorded in Lagos alone.

While occupants of some fragile high-rise structures in locations such as the Lagos Island Central Business District (CBD), Yaba and EbuteMetta are already panicking, being the peak of the raining season, the frequency of the occurrence has left many residents and built environment professionals dumbfounded.

More than I35 cases of building collapse occurred in the metropolis between 2007and 2013, according to the 2013 Abimbola Ajayiled Tribunal of Inquiry into Building Collapse in Lagos state.

The highest occurrence was in 2011, with a total number of 34, representing 25.5 percent of collapse incidents. There were also 54 buildings of two to three floors, constituting 40 per cent of the incident. In its finding, the tribunal indicted the state government for alleged complicity as no person was prosecuted or sanctioned in135 reported incidents.

The tribunal’s report traced the preponderance of illegal developments in the state to cumbersome planning permit process, absence of physical development plans and operative development guides, as well as title documents for granting planning.

All these were also sustained by the Lagos Coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, recently in which he called for an investigation and possible prosecution of the two structural engineers who built the collapsed six-storey building belonging to the SCOAN. The building was said to have caved in as a result of structural failure due to a combination of designs and detailing errors.

While the tragedy persists, we are also

aware that more than 116 high-rise buildings above four floors were identified to be structurally defective in Lagos Island’s CBD in an audit carried out by the defunct Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority (LASPPDA) in 2006.

What has become of these buildings is yet to be made public by the authorities as these structures are still standing precariously in Lagos central area. It is for this reason we can boldly conclude without equivocation that most of the tragedies are man-made and may be on for a longer time going by some of the revelations from both Coroner‘s verdicts and the Tribunal of Inquiry.

On this ground therefore, we call on the relevant authourities especially the government to critically consider the verdict and recommendations of the Coroner and implement them.

Government must also lead by example by ensuring that members of the public, comprising home builders, real estate developers and professionals follow laid down rules for building approval/permit and construction processes as stipulated by law at the state and federal level.

This is expected to check corruption in the system. We also recommend the decentralisation of the Lagos state Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) to facilitate access, while the cost of carrying out tests on building materials by home builders should be reduced to enhance patronage.

Moreover, building approval should be streamlined to fast-track the process, cost of building permit/approval reduced drastically to encourage mass participation, while relevant professionals must be engaged by home owners during building construction process.

We want all occupants of identified defective structures in the metropolis relocated before their demolitions commence to forestall further disaster in the metropolis.

Also, integrity test should be conducted on buildings above three-storey in locations such as Lagos Island, Yaba, Ebute metta and Orile, and every other place where such structural failures are rampant. Henceforth, culprits of building collapse must be brought to book to deter others. We strongly believe that the trend of building collapse will reduce drastically if pressure is put on the National Assembly to expedite action on the Bill seeking the enforcement of the National Building Codes.

Government has the primary role to ensure the protection of lives and properties of its citizens and it must therefore continuing to enlighten the public on the necessary steps towards sustainable physical development.

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

Funke Egbemode

Editor n Yemi Ajayi

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

Asst. Editor, News & Politics n Biyi Adegoroye

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER, 2015

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News

Taraba gov tribunal: How minister -designate, Aisha Alhassan, won

Onwuka Nzeshi, Abuja Tunde Oyesina, Onyekachi Eze and Sabiu Mustapha

T

he failure of the Peoples Democratic Party to duly nominate Darius Ishaku as its governorship candidate for Taraba State’s April 11, 2015 election was one of the issues that led to the election tribunal’s cancellation of his declaration as the winner of the poll yesterday in Abuja.

Ishaku’s removal and the tribunal’s declaration that the Independent National Electoral Commission should issue a certificate of return to his closest opponent and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mrs. Aisha Alhassan, led to her emergence as Nigeria’s first democratically elected female governor.

The APC candidate is also one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 36 ministerial nominees confirmed by the Senate last month.

The tribunal sitting in Abuja ordered the governor to vacate office on the ground that he was not sponsored by any political party as required by law.

The governor has 21 days within which to file an appeal against the judgment. If he fails to or his removal is upheld by the appeal court and the Supreme Court, Alhassan will automatically be sworn in as the governor of Taraba State.

Ishaku joins Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who was sacked two weeks ago by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunals. Wike is also of PDP. In the judgment that lasted about three hours, the tribunal headed by Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar held that the nomination of the governor by PDP breached Section 85 of the Electoral Act 2010.

The tribunal further held that it was a fundamental law in Nigeria that a candidate for an elective position must be duly nominated and sponsored by a registered political party before the candidature of such person can be legally valid.

Furthermore, the tribunal held that there was no overwhelming evidence that PDP in Taraba State conducted any primary election that could have led to the emergence of anybody as a sponsored candidate.

The tribunal recalled INEC’s evidence on subpoena during the trial of the petition when the commission claimed that it had no record of any primary election by PDP in Taraba State whereas Section 85 of

the Electoral Act made it mandatory that INEC must be given 21 days notice of a convention or a primary where candidates are elected.

The tribunal therefore held that since Ishaku was not sponsored by any known registered political party, he cannot lay claim to votes cast for any political party.

Alhassan and her party had approached the tribunal to challenge the victory of Ishaku (second respondent) in the April 11 election in the state as declared by INEC. The tribunal said, “The nomination of the governor

by PDP breached Section 85 of the Electoral Act 2010.

It is a fundamental law in Nigeria that a candidate for an elective position must be dully nominated and sponsored by a registered political party before the candidature of such person can be legally valid.

“There is no overwhelming evidence that PDP in Taraba State conducted any primary election that could have led to emergence of anybody as a sponsored candidate. In the evidence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, there is no record of any of primary election by PDP in Taraba State whereas Section 85 of the Electoral Act made it mandatory that INEC must be given 21 days notice of a convention or a primary where candidates are elected.

“Since the first respondent was not sponsored by any known registered political party, he cannot lay claim to votes cast for any political party.

“The petitioner should therefore be sworn in, having scored the second highest number of votes,” it said.

The tribunal added, “For the aforementioned reasons, the first respondent (Ishaku) was not duly sponsored by his political party as required under section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) nor duly sponsored.

“The first respondent is/ was not qualified to have contested the April 11 and 25 governorship election (with supplementary election) of Taraba State.”

The tribunal cited a judgment of the Supreme Court which sacked a Kogi State senator due to his party’s failure to issue a notice for the conduct of its primaries within 21 days.

It ruled, “If failure to give 21 day-notice for the conduct of primaries was enough to disqualify a candidate, it is worse when it is proved that nomination never took place in line with provisions of section 87 of the Electoral Act as

in this instant case.”The tribunal held that since Ishaku was not duly nominated by the PDP he “could not have contested the April 11 and 25 election and all the votes cast for him are wasted. The effect is that the first respondent did not participate in the election in the eyes of the law.”

It therefore ordered that “the certificate of return issued to the first respondent (Ishaku) is hereby cancelled. The first petitioner (Alhassan) being

the candidate who polled the next highest number of votes is hereby declared winner of the election.”

But the tribunal dismissed the second leg of the petition which had to do with allegations by Alhassan and her party, to the effect that the election was marred by over-voting as the number of votes recorded during the election was more than the number of voters accredited by card reader. The tribunal

held that mere reliance on accreditation by card reader was not sufficient to prove over-voting.

During the adoption of final addresses, the counsel to the petitioners, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), urged the tribunal to return the first petitioner, Alhassan, as the elected governor of the state.

However, counsel to the first, second and third respondents in the unanimous submissions prayed the court

to dismiss the petition, describing it as lacking in merit.

In his closing argument, the counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, Solomon Akuna (SAN), said: “My prayer is that the petition be dismissed because the petitioners have not proved their case.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that APC supporters on Saturday said the tribunal had restored their joy CO NTINUED O N PAGE 5

L-R: Deputy Corps Marshal, Operations, Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Adei Abu; Mai of Kaltungo, Alhaji Saleh Muhammed and Corps Marshal, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, during Boboye’s working visit to Gombe State.

Aisha’s profile and implications of verdict Johnchuks Onuanyim

Abuja.

I

f the judgment and the declaration of the Taraba State governorship election tribunal which sat in Abuja would stand, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan automatically becomes the first female elected governor, Another female who had occupied the status of female governor was Dame Virgy Etiaba of the Anambra State.

Etiaba, who was a Deputy Governor of Anambra State on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance became the governor when the governor, Mr. Peter Obi was wrongfully impeached by the Anambra State House of Assembly.

Unlike Etiaba, Alhassan, who was a governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Taraba State, was declared winner of the April 11 governorship election after the Tribunal sacked Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor and stated in its judgment that the APC governorship candidate was the lawfully elected governor of the state.

Aisha Alhassan, a former

senator, who represented the Taraba North constituency of Taraba State in 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, was born in 1967. In 2014, she joined the then opposition APC and later clinched the governorship ticket of the party in Taraba State.

Alhassan, who is a minister-designate, is popularly known as Mama Taraba. She is a lawyer and was the the first female to be appointed Taraba State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice. Also, she was the first woman to be appointed as Secretary FCT Judicial Council and later appointed the Chief Registrar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on December 17, 2003.

Her political career which started after she retired as the Registrar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory took her to the Senate in 2011 when she defeated an incumbent senator and former Ambassador Manzo Anthony at the PDP primaries. Subsequently, she won the election to the Senate as she defeated a former governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, in the election

proper.

She was among the four female PDP senators, which included Nkechi Nwaogu (Abia Central); Helen Esuene (Akwa Ibom South); and Nenadi Usman (Kaduna South) elected into the Senate in 2011.

Alhassan is also a successful businesswoman who has many landed properties in Abuja. She is the owner of one of the biggest gardens in Abuja, situated in Maitama.

Alhassan is said to be one of the confidants of President Muhammadu Buhari and one of the sponsors of the All Progressives Congress.

For her primary education, she attended Muhammed Nya Primary School, Jalingo; LEA Primary School, Tundun Wada, Kaduna; and then School of Basic Studies, Samaru Zaria as a prelim Science student between July 1977 and July 1979. She switched from being a Science student to Arts and enrolled for Diploma In Law, proceeded with her bachelor’s in Law at the Ahmadu Bello University.

She attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos (19851986)and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986. She

started work as a magistrate grade II in April 1988 in the Kaduna State Judiciary. She was part of the Technical Aid Corps Programme of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs(on secondment) to Fiji Republic from 1990 to 1992 and was admitted to the Fijian Bar, enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Fiji in 1991. It was while she was in Fiji that she was transferred from Kaduna State Judiciary to the FCT in 1991 as Magistrate Grade I. She assumed duty as the only female magistrate in the FCT in 1992 and rose through the ranks to become the first female Chief Magistrate in the FCT in 1996.

Her interest in politics may have been inspired by her father who was an active member of NCNC when he was a student in Barewa College, Zaria. He later joined NPC in the First Republic.

Hajia Aisha Jummai AlHassan was married to Prof.

Ango Abdullahi and in 2007, she got married to Engr. M.S. Alhassan, who retired as a director from the Federal Capital Development Authority.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Bailout: Kogi, APC, CBN at war Abdulwahab Isa and John-Chuks Onuanyim,

A Abuja

war of words broken out yesterday between the Kogi State Government and the All Progressives Congress over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s delay in releasing the bailout package for the state.

Officials of the state government accused APC leaders of pressurising the Gov-

ernor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to delay the release of its bailout packageas a ploy to ground the state ahead of the November 21, 2015 governorship election.

The state government in a fresh alarm pointed fingers at some influential APC members whom it said threatened Emefiele with reprisals if he releases Kogi State’s portion of the bai out to Governor Idris Wada.

Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone

from the state capital, Lokoja, a senior official in Wada’s administration said it was in possession of ‘privileged information’ that an prominent APC leader was determined to cause mayhem in the state in order to ensure victory for the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Audu, in the election.

The official said that while CBN let out information to the public that the state had been given a bailout, thus making its civil servants to put pressure on the govern-

ment to clear their salaries, nothing had been received

by Wada’s government.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Information, Hajiya Zainab Sule Okino, categorically denied insinuations that Kogi had taken its share of the bailout.

“I can tell you that not a dime in the name of bailout has not been released

by CBN. My governor was on air, precisely on Channels Television, and told Nigerians that the state had not received a dime.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Pitcher and Lime Premiers, Mrs. Joke Olanipekun; Head, Public Relations, Airtel, Mr. Femi Adeniran; Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Project Ambassador, Climb with Remi Kilimanjaro, Mrs. Remi Abere; Principal Partner, Debo Adesanya and Co, Mrs. Debo Laditan; IBM One Channel CWA Executive, Mrs. Uzo Nwani and Chief Executive Officer, Zeci Four Investment Limited, Mrs. Moji Dewunmi, at the unveiling of Climbing to Kilimanjaro in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI.

Go and ask CBN why they are playing politics with Kogi’s bailout,” she said.

APC’s National Secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, replied in a text message: “It’s not true.”

But CBN in response blamed the state government for whatever hindrances it had encountered in accessing its portion of the bail out.

Speaking on phone yesterday with our correspondent, CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Muazu, challenged the state government to own up for its lapses rather than engage in a blame game. Muazu said that states that applied for a bailout package and fulfilled all the conditions had accessed the fund.

“The bailout is a loan and not a grant. Let’s get this right. And there are conditions to be met before accessing your portion of the fund. Has Kogi met these conditions? Then ask whether other states that have received theirs met similar conditions.

The bank does not dabble into the internal politics of states. Any state that fulfills the conditions for bailout promptly accesses it because it is a loan and not a grant. So, conditions are attached,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Government has debunked

5

News

reports that it applied for bailout. Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Francis Agbo, told Sunday Telegraph in a phone conversation that the state was up to date in salary obligations to its civil servants .

Agbor described reports that, the state applied for a bailout as “mischievous.”

Of over N700 billion bailout fund approved for cash-strapped states, about N311.41bn has been disbursed to 24 states, according to CBN. The states listed include Kogi State, with the highest allocation of N50.842bn; Kebbi N690m; Abia N14.152bn; Adamawa, N2.378bn; Bauchi, N8.60bn; Bayelsa N1.285bn; and Benue N28.013bn.

Others are Borno, N7.680bn; Cross River, N7.856bn; Delta, N10.036bn; Ebonyi, N4.063bn; Edo, N3.167bn; Ekiti, N9.604bn; Enugu, N4.207bn; Gombe, N16.459bn; and Imo, N26.806bn.

Similarly, Kastina State received N3.304bn; Kwara, N4.320bn; Nasarawa, N8.317bn; Niger, N4.306bn; Ogun, N20bn; Ondo, N14.686bn; Osun, N34.988bn; Oyo, N26.606bn; Plateau, N5.357bn; Sokoto, N10.093bn and Zamfara, N10.020bn.

Taraba tribunal: How Mama Taraba, Aisha Alhassan, won CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 4

and glory of producing the first democratically-elected female governor.

The APC supporters spoke to NAN in Abuja, shortly after the judgment of the tribunal was delivered. An APC member, Amina Dauda, said the victory was welldeserved “and it shows that the judiciary is the last hope for aggrieved people. I am happy that a woman is now the governor of Taraba. It is a good encouragement for us and we have made history in Nigeria.”

Another supporter, Mr. Suleiman Ibrahim, said “the judgment is a confirmation that Taraba is for APC.” Ibrahim said he was happy that a woman from APC was declared winner of the election by the tribunal “and that is a reflection of the wish of Taraba people.”

Meanwhile, the court premises and surroundings were agog with celebration as the verdict of the tribunal filtered to the crowd who were anxiously waiting inside and outside of the premises. APC supporters were seen jubilating and shouting “APC!, Sai Baba!!.”

Some other groups were

also seen outside the court premises blasting music and dancing.

It took the efforts of security men to clear the way for Alhassan to gain access to her tinted SUV when she stepped out of the court room, as security was beefed up within and around the court to control the crowd.

Jubilation in Taraba Few minutes after the news broke yesterday, thousands of Tarabans defied the heavy presence of security operatives at strategic locations across major towns of the state, and flooded the roads to celebrate Alhassan’s victory.

Residents of Jalingo, the state capital, and other main towns such as Bali, MutumBiyu, Garba-Chede, Gembu and Gashaka thronged the streets and expressed their happiness at the tribunal’s verdict. They chanted various solidarity songs.

Some residents of the state capital who bared their minds on the verdict, described it as “a victory for democracy.”

Mr. Ben Adaji, a Jalingobased veteran journalist and political commentator, when contacted by Sunday Telegraph commended the tribunal for the ruling.

“The judgment is victory

for democracy in the sense that the continuous impunity that we were having under PDP has become a thing of the past,” he said.

According to Abubakar Jibril, a public affairs analyst, the tribunal acted fairly in sacking Ishaku.

“The judgment was very fair, because everybody knows it that he was not duly elected. I feel that even if he himself should be given chance to handle the judgment, he would have done it this way,” Jibril added.

They also urged Alhassan, when sworn in, to form ‘a broad based’ government, that would encompass all Tarabans irrespective of religious, ethical or political differences. *PDP kicks Meanwhile, PDP has described the judgment as another evidence of executive interference in the judiciary.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement, said the tribunal’s verdict had again brought to the fore the alleged organised plan by the APC-led Federal Government to deploy all unorthodox means to decimate the opposition.

“It is rather curious and a

great conflict of irony that the Taraba tribunal sitting in Abuja on security grounds faulted the conduct of PDP primaries shifted to the same Abuja on security reasons,” the party noted.

According to PDP, the reason given by the tribunal for arriving at the decision is intriguing and further exposed the “contradictions and double standards” inherent in most tribunal rulings against PDP interests recently.

The party said if the tribunal was faulting the party primaries as basis for its decision, it then means that no APC governorship candidate can stand the test, “as the party never had acceptable primaries in any of their states.”

It alleged, “Evidence that the Taraba ruling was a product of Presidency manipulation can be deduced from the fact that few hours before the judgment was delivered, the APC had arrogantly announced their victory on the new media.”

PDP noted that it had earlier alerted the nation and the international community to the “grand design by the APC to use the judiciary to wrestle some PDP states,

particularly Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Taraba states.”

The party said it was confounded by the brazen show of power by the executive and warned that the development clearly portends grave danger to the nation’s democracy, national cohesion and development.

It called on its members across the country, especially in Taraba State, to remain undaunted as the appellate courts will restore its welldeserved victory.

Taraba: Buhari/ Danjuma Connection The idea of a female candidate winning in a governorship election is strange.

It was even thought to be an anathema, particularly in the North, where the culture and religion tend to restrict women from playing active roles in politics.

Being a woman leader in a political party could be tolerated but rubbing shoulders with the male folk for the position of the chief executive of a state was unthinkable.

In fact it was seen as venturing too far into the political space.

But all that myth about women being the weaker

vessels meant to be seen and never to be heard appears to have been broken. The glass ceiling that once prevented the womenfolk from ascending to the utmost heights in politics has now been shattered.

Indications that Alhassan might snatch the coveted trophy at the tribunal had been there all along because of the fierce manner in which she ran her campaigns. The election was held under a tense atmosphere, thereby creating anxiety across the land. It was one of the two governorship elections declared inconclusive along the line and later rescheduled amid tension and mutual suspicion.

While the game lasted, some political pundits predicted that given the process and outcome of the governorship poll in Taraba State, it was going to be a 50/50 chance for both parties at the tribunal. Some analysts believed that Alhassan was thrown out of the vehicle conveying her to Government House, Jalingo not necessarily because of her gender but her tribe and religion. She is Fulani and of course a Muslim in a predominantly Christian state.

6

SUNDAY

The Sunday Magazine SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Fleeing Boko Haram: Nowhere The Boko Haram insurgency has claimed more than 25,000 lives in the past six years. Since 2014, it has escalated and splintered across a wider swathe of West and Central Africa, uprooting millions of people in the process. Where should they go? This special feature examines the bleak OPTIONS and explores what the future holds.

T

he Boko Haram insurgency has claimed more than 25,000 lives in the past six years.

Since 2014, it has escalated and splintered across a wider swathe of West and Central Africa, uprooting millions of people in the process.

Where should they go? This special feature examines the bleak options and explores what the future holds.

The Boko Haram conflict has displaced more than 2.5 million people in the Lake Chad Basin region since May 2013 – around four times the number of migrants and refugees that have arrived in Europe so far this year.

The vast majority, an estimated 90 percent, end up not in camps but hustling out an existence in urban centres in Nigeria that are still in the conflict zone and already very poor.

Howa Umar is one of hundreds of women and children rescued from Boko Haram.

Relocated to a defence academy in the Nigerian city of Kaduna, the pain is still raw as she relives how she had to pretend to be crazy by rolling around in the dirt so she wasn’t married off to a Boko Haram fighter. As the tide begins to turn against the Islamist militants, pressure is building on those displaced by the violence to return to their communities. But emotionally as well as physically, women like Umar, are still far from home.

Millions of Nigerians have fled Boko Haram, but the violence follows them.

Scores of people have been killed in the last few weeks in a string of suicide bombings in the main northeastern cities where they seek refuge.

Border areas where refugees flee in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger are increasingly under attack. So pervasive is the insurgency, it is even starting to strike the displacement camps where the most desperate seek help. ince 2014, it has escalated and splintered across a wider swathe of West and Central Africa, uprooting millions of people in the process. Where should they go? This special feature examines the bleak options and explores what the future holds.

The Boko Haram conflict has displaced more than 2.5 million people in

S

Border areas where refugees flee in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger are increasingly under attack. So pervasive is the insurgency, it is even starting to strike the displacement camps where the most desperate seek help

7

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Sunday Magazine

We have reports from Mukalla of very severe flooding, and locals report that the water level has risen by about nine meters,” said RhodesStampa. From what he could gather, “the situation is pretty grim

to run, nowhere to hide

the Lake Chad Basin region since May 2013 – around four times the number of migrants and refugees that have arrived in Europe so far this year.

T

he vast majority, an estimated 90 percent, end up not in camps but hustling out an existence in urban centres in Nigeria that are still in the conflict zone and already very poor.

Relocated to a defence academy in the Nigerian city of Kaduna, the pain is still raw as she relives how she

had to pretend to be crazy by rolling around in the dirt so she wasn’t married off to a Boko Haram fighter. As the tide begins to turn against the Islamist militants, pressure is building on those displaced by the violence to return to their communities. But emotionally as well as physically, women like Umar, are still far from home.

Screen Shot 2015-11-02 at 15.52.23. jpg Millions of Nigerians have fled Boko Haram, but the violence follows them.

Scores of people have been killed in the last few weeks in a string of suicide bombings in the main northeastern cities Meanwhile, the Islamist group Boko Haram has published photos of what appears to be a rocket factory in north- eastern Nigeria. The terrorist group has used rocket launchers and grenades in the past and many people sought to know where these weapons came from. The pictures suggest that the group members have the technol-

ogy and know-how to make weapons.

Analysts have said that it seems that the machines used come from Bama, a city in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno State. It was recently taken over from jihadists by the Nigerian military. An inscription on one of the machines shows the abbreviation of the Technical High School in Bama. The facilities were given to the school by the Fund for Education in 2005.

•Source: IRIN and Tchad Pages

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News

No more juicy committees, say Senators Chukwu David Abuja

S

ome Senators at the weekend, have reacted to the committee appointments unveiled on Wednesday by the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, saying that there should be nothing like `juicy committees’ in the 8th National Assembly under the administration of the All Progressives Congress.

The Senators, who spoke in separate interviews with the Sunday Telegraph, kicked against the perceived juiciness of committees, saying the idea would be likened to corruptive tendencies in the polity.

Deputy Leader of the Senate Senator, Ibn Na’Allah, said that he did not understand what it meant for a committee to be juicy, especially with the anti-corruption campaign of the present administration.

“I am saying it with all degree of responsibility that Senator Na’Allah does not

understand what a Juicy Committee is or what is not juicy. It is even more so under the present dispensation where there is going to be zero tolerance on corruption.

“So, what existed before the coming of this government and what can be referred to as juicy committee, I am absolutely sure will cease to exist in this administration.

“What I know will be are committees that should rededicate themselves to the service of their father land through doing those functions that have been conferred on them to oversight,” he said.

Na’Allah said that, while he was a federal representative, he had as a matter of policy avoided membership of any committee charged to probe agencies of government or those considered as `juicy’.

He said that his belief was that the work of a senator was that of service to humanity, to his constituency and to all Nigerians.

The politician noted that

he had functioned in committees such as House Committee on Judiciary, House Committee on Justice and House Committee on Rules and Business.

“Today I am a member of the Ethics and Privileges Committee because I have passion for ensuring that code of conducts is maintained.

“It is degrading, it does not show seriousness, and it does not portray service to humanity when we begin to call committees juicy or not Juicy.

“Let me be honest with you; this thing is only known to this country and it is only known to Nigeria’s democracy. I have never heard in any parliament anywhere in the world where committees are referred to as juicy or not juicy,” he said.

Also speaking, Senator Kabir Marafa (APC Zamfara Central), said that he had no idea what it meant for a committee to be juicy except if juiciness was synonymous with work.

He said that he had been

privileged to work in a number of committees and they were all juicy as far as work was concerned.

“Now, if you are talking of juicy in terms of making money, then you are in the wrong government. If juicy means a committee that will engage you 24 hours and bring the best out of you, I think all committees have that potential.

“There is no single committee that is not juicy in terms of input if you want to work. But if it is in terms of making money, I don’t know which committee is juicy.

“Committee ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’, wherever you are asked to go and serve you should go and serve there and there is ample work, and you can impact on the lives of Nigerians from whatever committee,” he argued.

For Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia North) he said that it did not matter the ratio of distribution of the committees between the PDP and the APC and the committees that were considered juicy.

Biafra: PDP opposes use of force Onyekachi Eze Abuja

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eoples Democratic Party yesterday said it was not comfortable with the methods being applied by the Federal Government in handling restive youths in the SouthSouth and South-East agitating for a sovereign state of Biafra.

A group, known as Indigenous People of Biafra, had on Friday held a demonstration in some states in the South-East and SouthSouth to protest the arrest of the Director of Biafra, Radio Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government.

About 80 of them were allegedly arrested by the police, who were deployed to quell the situation. Another 100 were picked up in Bayelsa State.

But PDP, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to personally intervene as the matter affects the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

In a statement by its National Youth Leader, Abdullahi MaiBasira, PDP expressed concern that the Federal Government and its agencies had failed to approach the situation with the inclusiveness and seriousness it deserves, but instead, had resorted to the use of force.

“Rather than the use of force as an option which usually fails as a solution in this type of self inflicted socio-political problem, President Buhari should as a matter of national interest and practical necessity, make haste to call represen-

tatives and leaders of the South-East for discussions before the situation deteriorates,” the party said.

The opposition party said the President and his party should be held accountable for the escalation of the agitation, which threatens the unity and national security interests of Nigeria as an indivisible entity.

It urged the ruling party to ensure and guarantee an inclusive administration that will promote harmony among all sections of the country.

PDP blamed the crisis on what it described as the “seeming lack of any clear-cut policy direction that concerns the development, mainstreaming and inclusion of young people in the country by the Federal Government.”

It recalled that APC had during the 2015 electioneering, promised to generate three million jobs annually for Nigerian youths.

“The fact that none of the President’s ministerial appointees confirmed by Senate is below 40 years also puts to question APC’s belief in the next generation of leaders, mentorship and transfer of responsibility.

So far, the resultant effect of this lack of a clear-cut policy is the stagnation of the economy and layingoff of thousands of people from their jobs,” the party added.

PDP said Buhari and his party should know that the sidelining of any section of the country is bound to generate unhealthy relations among all integral parts of the Nigerian people.

National Hospital performs open heart surgery on 12 patients Our Correspondent

T Victims of a landslide at Orisha Street, Isheri Magodo, Ojodu/Berger, Lagos State being taken in an ambulance … yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Again, IPOB members march in Onitsha Pamela Eboh Awka

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he Indigenous People of Biafra for the second day running took to some major roads in Onitsha, Anambra State took to the major roads in the state yesterday to protest the continued detention of their leader and Director of Biafra Radio, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, by the Department of State Services.

The protesters took to the streets of the commercial city using the old road axis down to the state capital,

Awka, causing heavy gridlock along the roads as people had to stay in the traffic jam for as much as three hours.

The protesters arrived Awka around 6:30pm on Saturday, vowing that they will not rest until Biafra is achieved.

One of the protesters who is also the Lagos Coordinator of IPOB, Mr. Ikedigwe Raphael, said the protest train took off from Agbor in Delta State on Friday and was heading to Abakiliki in Ebonyi State.

He noted that IPOB was

divided into two sections, comprising Group A for Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states while Group B consists of Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

Another member of the group, Mr. Obinna Remigus Ani, vowed that they would continue the peaceful protests until Kanu and other IPOB members are released.

His words: “This protest is being carried out all over the world and we are different from the Movement for the Actualisation of

Sovereign State of Biafra, but pursuing the same agenda.”

The protest was generally peaceful as the protesters went about their business in a coordinated way avoiding any altercation unlike the case in Onitsha on Friday when one person was allegedly shot and killed by a vigilance group.

It was observed that the Biafra agitators were being escorted in the course of their protest as they were monitored by policemen and soldiers.

he National Hospital, Abuja, yesterday said it had successfully carried out open heart surgery on 12 children with heart diseases. The operations, according to the hospital authorities, took place last Monday. The open heart surgery is a method of correcting the hole in the hearts of patients, among other medical complications.

Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Jafaru Momoh, who stated this at a news conference in Abuja, said that the surgeries were carried out by the hospital in collaboration with the Hospital for Humanity (HfH), a US-based NGO, under a seven-year collaborative contract agreement.

According to Momoh, this collaboration is a continuous one to ensure that the

National Hospital fulfills its core mandate of providing expert medical care and reducing the number of Nigerians seeking medical care overseas.

He said the collaboration would also enhance technology and skills transfer to local team of medical experts.

In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer, HfH, Segun Ajayi, assured Nigerians of the commitment of the hospital at ensuring that no child dies of heart diseases.

According to him, the partnership with Nigeria is to ensure that Nigerian children do not continue to die due to heart diseases.

“No child who needs open heart surgery will be left behind, we are committed to ensuring that every child that comes to our programme is given the best of care and we are committed to the Nigerian child,’’ he said.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Impersonation: Lagos task force arrests suspect

N

Muritala Ayinla

emesis has caught up with a 45-year-old man, Noel Njokwu, who allegedly impersonated a task force officer to swindle commercial motorcyclists whose motorcycle had been impounded by the Lagos State Government.

Njokwu allegedly charged Ahmed Kushimo, a commercial motorcyclist, N20,000 to enable him to secure the release of Kushimo’s motorcycle.

At the time of the arrest, Njokwu had collected N12,000 for ‘pre-negotiation bill’ from Kushimo for fuelling his car and ‘settling task force boys’.

But the bubble burst when Njokwu got to the

task force’s Alausa headquarters for the continuation of the ‘release processing’ when officials got hint that he had been parading himself as senior Taskforce officer.

Speaking with Sunday Telegraph, Kushimo said he was introduced to Njokwu by a soldier friend around Isolo after he was arrested with his motorcycle. He stated that Njokwu claimed to be a very top officer of the task force.

He said: “When we contacted him, he said we should pay N30,000 or N25,000 but he eventually said he would collect N15,000 because of a soldier who introduced him to us. So he demanded for the payment of N5,000 into his account to fuel

his car and we paid the money. Later, he asked for N2,000 recharge card and we paid it. He came to the task force office the following day but asked us to pay another N5,000 to settle the officers so that they won’t complain why he takes the motorcycle out of the headquarters premises.”

But reacting to the allegations, Njokwu said he collected the money to cater for his logistics expenses.

He said, “I never told them that I was a task force officer. I told them that I could help secure the release of the motorcycle with additional charge for my logistics.

Yes, it was true that I collected money for recharge cards also but how could

I have assisted somebody on humanitarian ground without paying for my logistics?.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the task force, Olubukola Abe, a Superintendent of Police, said Njkowu would be charged to court on Thursday, adding that the state government prohibits touting and impersonation of the agency.

“Any vehicle which is unjustly impounded, we release such unconditionally. So we don’t know why people should offer bribe for anyone to secure the release of their impounded properties.

At the task force, we forbid touting because we are established to sanitise the society and correct social vices.”

News

Ekiti demolishes market E kiti State Government yesterday pulled down the ancient Erekesan (Ojaba) Market in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, with a promise to build an ultra-modern market in its place in the next 24 months.

Speaking on the development, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Kayode Osho, who was on site when the demolition started, reiterated the resolve of the state government to also give preference to former shop owners when the new market is built.

A statement in Ado-Ekiti by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said the exercise went smoothly.

Osho said: “I am giving the assurance that work will not stop the moment we start. The demolition has started now and then it will be followed by clearing of the debris and the preparation of the place for construction to start.

“Within the next few weeks the contractors will be on site and the construction work will start and I can give our words that within the next 24 months, the market will be completed.

“As for the fear of some former shop owners that they will not be accommodated in the new market, there is no need for fear. We are going to have more than enough shops for former owners and even those that will seek shops there.

“We are going to give pref-

erence to those former shop owners. There is no cause for alarm. However, people should take the warning by Governor Ayodele Fayose serious that no trader will be allowed to loiter around here.

“All former traders here are to move to Awedele and Agric Olope Markets. There are more than enough space to accommodate the traders.

The bold and courageous step taken by Mr Governor should be commended by people who love good things and the development of our state. We are going to leave a legacy that people will appreciate for generations to come.”

He said over N140 million was paid as compensation to former owners of structures in the demolished market.

On the facilities to be provided at the new market, Osho said there would be over 1000 shops for different categories of traders, a clinic, a car park for over 400 cars, a fire station among others.

The issue of the reconstruction of the market has been of public interest in the past few weeks following anxiety that the state government would extend the ultimatum given the traders to vacate the place.

Thrice, the state government had postponed the deadline given the traders to move out, but Governor Fayose said few days ago that there would not be any further extension.

Dankwabo assures FRSC of support

T A cross-section of children from an Internally Displaced Persons Camp, displaying books presented to them by the Federal Government Girls College Owerri Alumni, during their medical outreach to the IDPs Camp at Durumi in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

Anglican Church seeks God’s intervention in Nigeria

Pamela Eboh Awka

M

embers of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in Anambra State yesterday held a prayer session at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, to seek God’s intervention in in Nigeria’s problems.

The prayer session, with the theme, ‘Total Restoration,’ which was put together by all the Anglican Dioceses in the state had about 20,000 Anglican faithful in attendance. In a sermon preached by the Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Most Rev Samuel

Ezeofor, at the prayer session, he stressed the need for prayers for peace and unity of the state and country, especially at this trying time the country is in.

He observed that things were not normal in the country, saying that Nigerians should hence analyse the situation properly and go ahead to solve them.

His words: “There is reason for the present devastation in the land and that is why we must first investigate and analyze the situation before solving the problems. As Christians, we must watch and pray and seek God’s intervention in the problems of the

world.”

The cleric further listed the problems facing the country to include economic meltdown, insecurity, hunger, unemployment, kidnapping, corruption, injustice, diseases, untimely death, ungodliness, among others and described them as weapons the devil use to torment the world.

Earlier in his address, the Anglican Bishop of Awka, Dr. Alex Ibezim, said the people should seek the face of God in every challenge they face in the country.

He called on Governor Willie Obiano to ignore any form of entreaties to marginalise any religious

denomination in the state.

Addressing the congregation, Obiano announced a donation of two 32- seater buses to the Boy’s Brigade and Girl’s Brigade to assist in their various activities.

He commended the church for praying to God to touch the hearts of the people for them to live in peace and harmony.

The ceremony was attended by bishops such as Most Rev. Owen Nwokolo of Diocese on the Niger, Onitsha; Most Rev. Samuel Ezeofor of Ogbaru; Most Godwin Okpala of Nnewi; Most Rev Henry Okeke of Mbamili and Most Rev Raphael Okafor of Ihiala.

he Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwabo, has assured the Federal Road Safety Corps of the support of the state government in its efforts at saving lives and property of road users in the state.

Dankwabo gave the assurance while receiving the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi who was in the state on advocacy visit in continuation of his ongoing public sensitisation programme.

According to Bisi Kazeem, Head, Media Relations and Strategy, the Governor said the Gombe State Government sees the need to join hands with the FRSC in its campaigns against the menace of road traffic crashes, considering the fact that their efforts are in harmony with the safety and security needs of the people of the state. He pointed out that his administration is committed to reforms that could lead to the actualisation of his policy on safety and security of the state.

Dankwabo commended the efforts of the FRSC per-

sonnel in the state towards maintenance of safety and security and restated the commitment of the state government to saving lives and property of road users.

He commended the Corps Marshal for his aggressive public enlightenment programmes, noting that, his presence in the state is a further testimony to his concern for the safety and security of the people of the state, saying the government and people of the state appreciate the gesture.

“Your aggressive public enlightenment across the country is evidenced by your presence here today,” the Governor said.

“Your staff here have been diligent in conducting themselves towards performing their statutory responsibilities of keeping the roads safer, and their contribution to the safety and security of the state is most commendable.

“Let me assure you that we would continue to partner with you to ensure that the state remains peaceful, safe and secured,” Dankwabo further stated.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

OPINION FESTAC bank robbery and challenges of policing Donald Iroham

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ow was it possible for the October 13, 2015 bank robbery to have taken place in FESTAC, which looks like a boxed in town? How can we effectively police FESTAC? Was it necessary for the police to seek help from the Army, Navy or Air Force? What governs the engagement of the military in a purely civil affair? Should there be a peculiar security arrangement for communities that are situated near canals or a body of water?

What advantages or disadvantage are there for a place like FESTAC that has about three gates or entrances?

I asked myself these questions and now the answers. Please, criticise them.

The bank robbery that took place ‘Rambo’ style at FESTAC on Wednesday, October 13, 2015 left a lot of residents of the area dumbfounded. However to a few discerning ones, the gangster invasion was long overdue. How was it possible that a boxed in town like FESTAC could fall prey to such a criminal assault in broad daylight without the necessary security apparitachik being deployed to checkmate it?

FESTAC or Festival Town got its name from the famous Second Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture held in Nigeria between January 15 and February 12, 1977.

The town or village was designed to house the participants who were estimated to be in the neighbourhood of 45000. The town was designed in such a manner as to have state of the art electrical generators, police and fire stations, banks, supermarkets, health centres etc.

The festival itself was a great jamboree of sorts. All African countries, all black communities outside the African continent were invited to participate. People came from Brazil, Guyana, Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada etc. Performers included Miriam Makeba, Osibisa, Kerr’s Mbulu, Nigerian Dance Troupe, Harambe dancers from Kenya, Ghana Festival Dance Co., Aboriginal dance troupe from Australia and many more.

The famous Ipi Tombi Troupe from South Africa was there. Andrew Young, Stevie Wonder were there and a host of others.

The FESTAC anthem written by Margaret Walker from Alabama, United States was entitled ‘For My People.’ The fourth stanza of the anthem says: “Let the martial songs be written. Let the

F

dirges disappear. Let the race of men now rise and take control.”

After the festival, the Federal Government of Nigeria allocated the housing and landed properties to eventual winners who participated in a ballot. The houses so allocated were not to be disposed to third parties.

Everyday in FESTAC is like a carnival. In Nigerian parlance, ‘it is always happening’ in FESTAC, for there is never a dull moment there. Hotels and brothels, old and young prostitutes including girls of 12 and 13 are reported to be engaged in the business. Shops, boutiques, markets, joints for hemp, cocaine and other hard drugs are sprouting up daily in good old FESTAC to the chagrin of decent minds who want to live in peace. In all this cacophony of confusion, you will still find good private schools, decent hotels and apartments, schools of music, art galleries and picturesque scenes of boat paddling on the brackish water canals. Young men and women dressed ‘whazz up’ style parading all over the place with fake American accents. In FESTAC, you are bound to meet the good, the bad and the very ugly.

Rather than disappearing, the dirges have risen in crescendo and the lamentations and wailing of the people have not waned; what with the staccato of bullets flying here and there in FESTAC unabated. The men who have arisen to take control are but men of sartorial elegance; wielding AK 47s, Rocket Propelled Grenades or RPGs. These were the men that took over on that fateful day to strike fear and cause mayhem.

It was this setting that saw the gang style robbery of Access and Diamond banks on 4th Avenue on October 13 around 8.25a.m. The robbers numbering over 40, some dressed in military camouflage and others in well tailored suits, stormed the two banks. When the dust settled after the robbery, the police claimed that N27 million and 240 rounds of 7.62 NM live ammunition were recovered at the scene.

Some lives were lost, prominent among which were a mother and her child hit by stray bullets right inside their house.

FESTAC as seen from the air is shaped more like an irregular rectangle. It has four main entrances and exits. These are First Gate, Second Gate, Third Gate and the entry through the bridge from Apple Junction.Gates 1,2,3 are on the road from Mile 2 heading to Badagry, while the 4th Entrance is from off Oshodi-Apapa Expressway branching off at Second Rainbow,

Bus Stop.

Imagine a scenario where all the four exits are closed. It means that no single vehicle can enter or leave FESTAC. If you must leave the town under this setting, you can only do so probably by helicopter or an escape by boat through the canal. If you eliminate the helicopter option then you are left with the canal option.

FESTAC Police Station is strategically located and easily accessible to all the exits. The police can effectively case the entire FESTAC within minutes such that no one enters or leaves it except the person exits or gains entry via the canal close to First, Fourth and Fifth avenues.

One can therefore easily get the picture of why the hoodlums resorted to using the canal as alleged. It was even alleged that the police called for assistance from sister agencies like the Navy and Air Force without any positive response. The police have since denied this.

Whether true or false, what can we do to frustrate and stop such brazen banditry in FESTAC and other such towns in Nigeria?

FESTAC like any other newly created towns or estates in Nigeria are patterned like silmilar housing estates in the UK or other Western countries. The similarity ends in the conception only. In functionality you find that the sewage system or other basic things like good roads are in a dilapidated state. Rooms are overcrowded.

Green areas are sold out to land grabbers while children’s play grounds are converted to apartment blocks. It is all bedlam and orchestrated confusion everywhere. Noise pollution would hardly let you enjoy an afternoon’s rest in FESTAC and other similar towns.

Granted that the robbers came through the canal, couldn’t they have been stopped, if not before the robbery or after it?

Who could have stopped them? The police, the Navy or the Air Force. However, the police have the attributes of both the Navy and Air Force. It has the Marine Police that patrol such waterways like the canal in FESTAC. She also has an Air Wing that can boast of many helicopters and some light aircraft. The Lagos State Government also commissioned some helicopters for aerial surveillance. So what went wrong?

It was alleged that the Navy and Air Force said they could not act unless they got written permission from Defence Headquarters. That was as good as saying to the Police: “You are on your own.” Espirit de corps indeed!

But come to think of it, it was solely a police statutory duty to fight that crime. The working

Your kids are sexy?

ew weeks ago, I was at the Lagos airport and as I waited in the departure lounge, I noticed there were many children roaming about; but it was understandable since it was summer holidays.

One other thing I noticed was the way most of the children were dressed. Most of them, especially the girls, were dressed in bum shorts, halter necks, cut off jeans, etc. The clothes in themselves weren’t the issue per se; it was the overall look of the children that had me bothered. That was definitely not the first time I noticed it.

A few months before, I had taken my kids to a birthday party and found myself in what could easily have been a night club for kids.

Scanty clothing such as tight or very short clothes, bum shorts, long weaves, etc, seemed to be the dress code. I noticed my son glancing around, probably wondering, “What in God’s world are these other children wearing?” Or something like that.

Not long after, the kids were called out to dance to the hit songs of the season - these songs in my opinion should be rated PG 16.

Children aged 4 - 6 trooped to the dance floor, miming the sexually explicit songs and gyrating their bodies in the most sensual manner.

They could have given Beyonce a run for her money. They ran their hands over their bodies, shook their booties hard while their parents cheered them on. The boys had their upper shirts unbuttoned and rapped along perfectly to gangsta raps while doing flawless break dance.

Those who danced like actual children where shooed off the dance floor while the lewd ones were cheered on. As I watched, my child stared out of this circle looking longingly at the others dancing. I knew it was time to leave.

As we left, we went to an eatery where I bought them ice cream and gently explained to them the concept of decency and dancing with decorum.

Another time, at a game arcade for kids, I ran into a lady who had made-up her kids’ faces like they were mannequins for Tara or Mac beauty products. Their skirts were so tight, that running up and down the slide was un-

comfortable for them.

So the question is, why are we sexualising our kids? Why does your 4, 6 or 9 year old girl have to look like a chick? Why does she have to be hot or sexy? Should your 8 year old son go around with a comb in his hair and his pants sagged almost to his ankles?

If your child wears bum shorts out of the house at age 3, why should she be expected to wear longer ones at 15? If she wears 2 rings and 12 bangles at 6, why won’t she pierce a second ear hole at 17 and her bellybutton at 19? Why won’t your son pierce his own ear at 15?

Are you setting your children up to be immodest and indecent? What trend are you starting them on? That all these are fashionable or trendy doesn’t mean they are okay.

What happened to children wearing dresses?

Children can look very nice and decent, they can be well covered and still look good.

In this age, when children are being abused is it wise to make your child an object of anyone’s sexual attention? When I hear some children belt out sexually explicit lyrics, I ask

rule is that when the civil force in this case the police is overwhelmed in an internal security operation, they are duty bound to call on the military to come and take over. The rehearsal and training on this is done year in year out by the military and the police in ‘Operation Haske Biu’ at the Army Command and Staff College in Jaji near Zaria, Kaduna State. When overwhelmed, the police are duty bound to hand over to the military in writing. There is a formal handing and taking over. The operation from thence becomes an entirely military operation. It would appear that the FESTAC incident was far from this scenario.

In our country, there may be the need to share resources in the fight against crime though but the onus still lies on the police to perform their duties. In New York Police Department, they have 8800 police cars, 11 boats, eight helicopters, 120 horses, 31 German Shepherd dogs and three blood hounds. The population of New York is 8.4 million.The annual budget for the New York Police is $4.8 billion. We may not be as rich as the Americans but we must try to be seen to be doing something positive in the fight against crime.

Here in our country once it happens the blame game starts. “Oh, the Police are not performing, crucify them.” “Oh, the Police are corrupt and so cannot fight crime.”

With minimum of resources on the part of the police, it is expected that citizens should complement their efforts by helping out in little ways. Were the CCTV cameras at the banks for both front and back views working? How many ‘whatzup’ guys in FESTAC were able to capture videos or photos during the robbery?

Little things of that nature can be done to assist the police.

There are foreign companies that have subsidiaries in Nigeria that can install and manage CCTV cameras in FESTAC at the cost of N2 million for one camera. Fifty cameras can cover FESTAC so easily if seven cameras cover each avenue for now. The Police Marine Department with the help of the Lagos State Government can strengthen them for effective marine patrols. A joint Ops Room at Ikeja made up of the military, police, civil defence, customs and immigration should be set up as a matter of urgency. With the joint ops room in place, all the agencies can collaborate in the fight aginst crime not only in FESTAC or Lagos but in our other cities.

Retired AIG Donald Iroham writes from Abuja myself how they became exposed to these songs!

As a parent, you can’t play the CD of such songs and not expect your children to pick them up; the same goes for watching Mtv Base, Channel O, etc with your children. Studies have shown that children exposed to a high level of sexually explicit information tend to become sexually active early. Is that your goal as a parent?

Being a parent involves sacrifice. You will need to avoid listening to such music where your children are. Most of those lyrics demean women and teach your daughter that she’s just a sex toy and her body is for squeezing. It teaches the boys that money is everything and women are things to be used to satisfy their primal urges. Such music introduces them to a degrading pop culture.

Our children have their lives ahead of them, let’s set them on the right path by teaching them to dress decently and sing nice or ageappropriate songs. Let your children be children. Train up a child in the way that s/he should go and when s/he is old, s/he will not depart from it.

Do you agree that children are unnecessarily exposed to sexually explicit elements? Is it possible that some parents are victims themselves or is it that they don’t know any better?

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

OPINION Ekpo and teacher education in Nigeria Fortune Archibong

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he 25th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Uyo, entitled: ‘The Portrait of my Teacher – An Inestimable Resource,’ presented by the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, has remained the pathfinder in the nation’s quest for qualitative teacher education.

Presented few months to her emergence as vice-chancellor, the educational diagnosis and prescriptions of this professor of educational technology has put out Prof. Comfort Ekpo as an authority in teacher education, the inestimable resource for which the National Policy on Education opined that, “No education system may rise above the quality of its teachers.

Teacher education shall continue to be given major emphasis in all educational planning and development” to buttress her points.

Prof. Ekpo defined a teacher as one who leads others to discover and understand themselves, assisting them to make the best of their areas of strength. She sees education as a whole gamut of teaching processes which generates ‘sparks of learning’ even in the most inauspicious circumstances, beyond the ‘talking and chalking’ procedure, to a purposeful and directional so-

cial interaction.

She is very mindful of the processes involved in teacher recruitment, induction, home background, internship programme, human input, initial training and retraining of teachers and the teacher’s learning environment for successful learning. To Prof. Ekpo, the state of infrastructure which is very essential to learning, attracted the observation made by a one-time Minister of Education and Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, “. . . fourteen classes were held simultaneously in one open hall with two teachers sharing one blackboard.”

Some of the tragedies that have befallen the teaching profession were traced by the Inaugural Lecturer to the ‘teacher-trader syndrome,’ caused by the neglect of teachers by successive governments, as evidenced in several months of non-payment of salaries and other benefits.

What would be the fate and conscience of teachers exposed to these vicissitudes when posted as Invigilators to Special Centres and the quality of Certificates in the hands of students. Other tragedies are the lack of self-evaluation, leadership, communication, computer illiteracy, lack of motivation, the aptitude for teaching, modern teaching innovations and technology.

The Portrait of a Teacher was presented at four levels in the lecture to include the mediocre

teacher who tells stories; the good teacher who explains; the superior teacher who demonstrates; and the great teacher who inspires learners. The Lecturer presented the Holy Spirit as the Greatest Teacher of All Ages and points to him as her ultimate teacher who does not just impart knowledge to the learners, but controls the rate of retention of the acquired knowledge. The Holy Spirit is seen beyond a visiting Professor, Adjunct Lecturer, Super Emeritus per excellence in all areas of knowledge, who taught Moses in Egypt preventive medicine and public health during the 40-year journey from Egypt to Canaan.

For effective teaching, Prof. Comfort Ekpo counselled teachers to inculcate the attitude of personal experience of knowledge creation, realisation beyond dispensers of knowledge to active creators of knowledge, continuing professional development of teachers among others. She advocated that teachers must have the courage, love to teach, deep knowledge and passion for the subject, see his/her self as a learner’s parent, respect students before their peers, must not exact nor extort from them and remain a role model in great moral values and punctuality.

To drive home her lecture, Prof. Comfort Ekpo strongly recommended the mentoring of newly recruited teachers, professionalisation

of teaching as in other professions like Medicine, Engineering, Law etc, uniform policy in teacher recruitment/deployment, proper and adequate pecuniary benefits, especially the full implementation and even an incremental review of the Teachers’ Salary Structure.

Prof. Comfort Ekpo’s scholarship has blessed humanly immensely with the Jolly Phonics Programme, a fast track reading project known as ‘Read and Write Now,’ in collaboration with a United Kingdom Research Team using synthetic phonics kits. Countless number of primary school pupils in Akwa Ibom State and other states in Nigeria are living beneficiaries of her modest contributions to teaching. She also introduced the Students Support Scheme, known as the Hope Scheme in the University of Uyo to harvest the legion of brilliant but poor students at the threshold of being dropouts; back to the university to complete their studies through the scheme and other humanity cum welfare programmes. Prof. Comfort Ekpo is indeed the portrait of hope and beacon of excellence to the University of Uyo and humanity.

The complete lecture is available at: www. uniuyo.edu.ng Fortune Archibong is the head, Publications Unit, University of Uyo

Strategies for cheaper cost of governance Daminabo Sonny Briggs

I

t is pleasing to observe that many more wellmeaning Nigerians and civil society groups today are becoming uncomfortable, and are getting restless in the agitation for cutting down the high cost of governance.

It is pleasing to me because this is what I have always advocated in my books: How to fight corruption in Nigeria (2011) and The problem with Nigeria (2014). (See amazon.com, type Daminabo Sonny Briggs) The high cost of governance in Nigeria is a child of political corruption. Political corruption is the mother of all corruption, and it is itself as a result of the faulty structure of the Nigerian foundation.

A lasting solution to this problem is to restructure the country along True Federalism. There is an urgent need to divide the country into six geopolitical zones. Each zone, being autonomous, manages its own resources and pays appropriate tax to the centre. This is the right step to take, for the good and progress of the nation. If for any reason this cannot be done at this point in time, the closest to it, and our best bet, is to implement the recommendations of the National Conference Report.

The unitary or quasi-unitary system of government we are currently running is contributing to the high cost of governance. How so?

The connecting link is our oil. The oil is taken as no man’s property and free source of money for many. Remove oil and gas from this troubling equation and revert back to the days of the First Republic, you will see that the high cost of governance will disappear immediately.

Why? Because resources from our individual and collective sweat will never be allowed to be wasted in the sea of profligacy!

Let me proffer some other strategies to reduce the high cost of governance, starting with the Executive.

In the First Republic, the Federal Government was served by not more than 13 Commissioners. In the recent past, we had not only 40 or so ministers, but also ministers of state (which is a duplication). This was in addition to numerous Personal Advisers. Obviously, this contributes to high cost of governance, as the appointed officers will also have an array of officers working under them. So the way to reduce the high cost of governance is to limit the appointed ministers and others to a manageable level of not more than 20. This number can be sourced from a cluster

of states. The constitutional requirement of at least one minister from each of the 36 states is not and should not be sacrosanct. The Constitution is made for man and not man for the constitution!

This same strategy can be extended to the states and local governments. We don’t need more than 10 commissioners in each state, if we are serious in cutting down on the high cost of governance. Allied to the above, is the need to eliminate all ghost workers in the federal, states and local governments, and also to fish out all workers with fake certificates, no matter the grade level.

Remuneration for our political leaders is one sore point we urgently need to reconsider. It is not enough for one good-spirited individual to say “I’m cutting down my salary by whatever percentage.” As good as this may seem, it does not solve the problem. Nigerians want to know, in this digital age, how much exactly is the takehome pay of the President, Vice-President, Senators and Members of House of Representatives, Ministers, Special Advisers, Governors, Deputy Governors, Commissioners, Members of State Houses of Assembly, Chairmen of Local Governments and Supervising Councillors.

It is not enough for anyone to say “I am cutting my salary by 50% or 60%.” The salary is not the issue, but the totality of the allowances combined with the salary, i.e the total package per month.

If someone’s salary is N2 million per month and his total value of allowances is N18 million, it means his total take-home pay is N20 million. If this person cuts his salary by 50%, it means he will get N1 million per month, but when the allowances are added to the salary, the take-home pay amounts to N19 million per month. Is this cut significant? It is an accepted fact that Nigerian politicians are the highest paid in the world.

Just go through the statistics below: President Obama earns $400,000 per annum; Prime Minister of United Kingdom earns $226,627; French President earns $318,072; South African President $296,112; and the German Chancellor earns $296,112. The President of Namibia earns $164,506 per annum; the President of Angola is paid $60,000 yearly; the President of Peoples’ Republic of China gets $10,633 while the President of Nigeria is paid N14,058,820 (excluding allowances provided by government).

A United States lawmaker earns $15,080 per month while a UK lawmaker is paid $8,686

monthly.

For Nigerian Senators (Representing others) Basic Salary (BS) per month - N2,484,245.50 NOW LET’S GO TO ALLOWANCES Hardship Allowance - 50% of Basic Salary Constituency Allowance - 200% of “ ” Furniture Allowance - 300% of “ ” Newspaper Allowance - 50% of “ ” Wardrobe Allowance - 25% of “ ” Recess Allowance - 10% of “ ” Accommodation Allowance - 200% of “ ” Utilities - 30% of “ ” Domestic staff - 35% of “ ” Entertainment - 30% of “ ” Personal Assistant - 25% of “ ” Vehicle Maintenance Allowance - 75% of “ ” Leave Allowance - 10% of “ ” Motor Vehicle Allowance - 400% of “ ” Severance Gratuity - 300% of “ ” (One-off payments) When all these allowances are added to the salary, the take-home pay swells to high heavens.

Please give me the calculator!

Note that the above does not include estacode, duty tours etc.

(Source of these statistics: dailypost. ng/2012/07/2.)

I think it is the monetisation policy that makes the lawmakers’ take-home pay look ludicrous.

Some of the allowances should be provided by the government, and not paid for e.g allowances for accommodation, vehicle, furniture etc as it is done for President and the Vice-President. Even so, the percentages of the basic salary allotted to the various allowances are too high!

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is statutorily empowered to determine the remuneration appropriate for political office-holders. The brief of the RMAFC is not to please the politicians to the detriment of Nigerian citizens, as seen from the unbelievable take-home pay differentials between the politicians and civil servants.

RMAFC should have the interest and welfare of the masses at heart in allocating huge take-home pay for politicians. They should remember and consider that millions of Nigerians are jobless, the few who are working are on N18,000 minimum wage, and that most of the workers and pensioners have not been paid for months in the midst of economic downturn.

Therefore, RMAFC should aim at pegging the remuneration of political office-holders at the level of civil servants. The highest paid political

office-holder should be encouraged to earn not more than the highest grade level in the civil service. This strategy will allow only selfless leaders to govern us while eliminating those whose eyes are on the treasury for selfish reasons. At this juncture, two important issues are relevant: the issues of security votes and severance benefits. Reducing the cost of governance cannot be isolated from the issues of security votes and severance benefits. Who determines the amount of security votes for our leaders? Is it the RMAFC too or the state houses of assembly?

Some form of transparency in the operation of the security vote is more likely to reduce the cost of governance. Severance benefits should be tailored along the lines of senior civil servants.

I am quite happy that President Buhari is enthusiastic in cutting down the cost of governance.

Examples include a reduction in the ministerial list, including personal advisers, selling off some of the aircraft etc. These are very laudable actions.

The cost of governance can also be reduced greatly if we cut down on convoys and travels undertaken by politicians. Proper planning and budgeting in an atmosphere of accountability and transparency are prerequisites for the reduction of the cost of governance. The winning strategy is to make sure that in every budgetary allocation, the recurrent expenditure is less than that of capital projects.

On the legislature, many are clamouring for a unicameral legislature rather than the bi-cameral one we are operating. I also think this is very crucial if we are to significantly reduce the cost of governance. Quite recently, Senegal has just done that, converting from a bicameral to unicameral legislature. This will reduce the cost of governance as the combined 360 members of House of Representatives and 109 senators gulp considerable amount of our budgetary allocation. Even the reduction from N150 billion to N120 billion for the lawmakers is not good enough. This is so when you consider how much each lawmaker takes from our economy.

A unicameral legislature is quite appropriate.

A total number of 150 to a maximum of 200 will be more than enough to do the work of the legislature. Even at this, a part-time legislature is very desirable, as we should aim at paying allowances equivalent to what senior civil servants take home, and not salaries.

Daminabo Sonny Briggs writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State

12

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Sunday Mail OCTOBER 25, 2015

You have a right to be heard! Send your letters and photographs to sundayletters@newtelegraphonline.com.

Letters should not be more than 200 words and must have the name and address of the sender

Gas flaring as economic loss Dear Editor, Nigeria’s gas flaring re-emphasises the aphorism that we are rich in energy resources but poor in energy supply. The Associated Gas Re-Injection Act was made as an Act to compel every company producing oil and gas in Nigeria to submit preliminary programmes for gas re-injection and detailed plans for the implementation of gas re-injection. It made it illegal after January 1, 1984 to flare gas without the permission of the Minister of Petroleum. The targets to stop gas flares have since then moved from 1984 to 2008 and 2011. But gas is still being flared up to date. Quoting the Group Managing Director, Oilserv Ltd, Mr. Emeka Okwuosa, Nigeria flares about 1.2 billion cubic feet of gas a day (bcf/d). This can fuel about 7000MW of efficient thermal electric power, over 1,400 agro-processing facilities, 350 textile plants, 70 fertiliser plants with opportunities for creating over one million jobs. This amount of gas flaring represents 12.5 per cent of all globally flared gas. In 2014, Nigeria lost about $1 billion as oil companies operating in the country flared a large proportion of the gas produced from January to September 2014. According to data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, about 295 billion standard cubic feet (scf) of natural gas was flared in the nine-month period. International oil companies and indigenous players burnt a total of 43.7 billion scf in January; 50.1 billion scf in February; and 38.3 billion scf in March. In April, 22.3 billion scf of gas was flared; 19.7 billion scf in May and 23 billion scf was wasted in June. In July, 29.1 billion scf was flared; 39.1 billion scf in August; 29.5 billion in September; and 44.37 billion in November. According to the NNPC’s Monthly Petroleum Information, in December 2014, Nigeria lost $133.716 million. This is about N26.743 billion lost to gas flaring, as oil and gas companies in the country flared 20.11 per cent of their total gas production. Specifically, companies produced 221.634 billion scf of gas, utilised 183.78 billion scf and flared 44.573 billion scf. The Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) put the average price of gas at $3 per unit of 1,000 scf, translating, to $133.716 million for 44.573 billion scf flared, and $551.346 million for 183.783 billion scf utilised.

If 1.2 billion scf flared per day (According to Mr. Emeka) has the potential to generate up to 7000MW of electricity, the aggregate gas flared for 2014; about 376.41billion scf can translate into 21.97GW, in addition to its inputs in agro processing, textile plants, fertiliser plants, and the number of jobs created from the multiplier effect. Despite the penalties, oil and gas operators have continued to flare gas and regulators seem to have looked away. While there is need to interrogate the positions of penalty payments considering the joint ventures arrangements, there is also the need to revisit the issues of gas pricing and availability of gas infrastructure; else the question will be the relative cheapness to flare gas than monetise gas.

Efforts should be made to harmonise and reconcile domestic gas pricing across markets in Nigeria while seeking ways to attract and sustain foreign investments and funding for gas infrastructure especially for the improvement of gas to power in Nigeria.

Ofoegbu Donald, Abuja

Where are we?

Dear Editor, Let me tell you something. My people say,’ An adult does not get master the use of the left hand in old age.’

President Muhammadu Buhari has not surprised me yet. I followed his campaign and manifesto speeches fairly well. He never for once explained his blueprint on industrialisation, reduction of unemployment, health care access and other relevant goodies of a working democracy.

He has spent 80 per cent of his interview times talking about corruption and achieving nothing very informative.

Little wonder at the last United Nations General Assembly that he was talking to world leaders on HIV/AIDs when we are in dire need of a revamp of the educational sector, which in turn will birth a productive economy.

May God help us!

Nmecha Esowe

Physically challenged Abacha takes on traffic

Dear Editor,

Nigeria’s population at 55

Please permit me to refer to a portion of the address made by President Muhammadu Buhari to mark Nigeria’s 55th Independence Anniversary celebration: “Our creator has bequeathed to us numbers – Nigeria is the ninth most populated country on the planet. We have in addition arable land, water, forests, oil and gas, coastline, solid minerals. We have all the attributes of a great nation. We are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullest is unity of purpose.”

I would like to seize the opportunity of reference made by Mr. President to our population to state, with due respect, that our high population as being emphasised by most commentators and media is not advantageous and also importantly is inhibiting our economic growth. Due to high population, Nigeria’s per capita is much lower when compared with that of South Africa, having a lower population with an economy driven by high infrastructural development, industrial and financial sectors.

Currently, our population is estimated at 170 million with an annual increase of between 5% – 10%. A country where the rate of its economic progression is not meeting its population growth cannot achieve rapid economic growth. I would like to refer to China as a case in point on this issue of population. As a student in the United Kingdom in the 60s, studying economics, l knew two of the factors that China began to put in place as part of its economic planning, namely, birth control and utilisation of its

Dear Editor,

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

abundant human labour force in construction as against the use of machinery. The latter was aimed at reducing unemployment.

While we plan how to harness our natural endowments, we need also to plan to control high birth rate because failing to do so from now will surely place undue pressure on infrastructure, health, schools, housing, food production and employment.

Moreover, we must take cognisance of the fact that modern industrial development depends largely on the use of machinery and human labour force.

Furthermore, from a family angle, a small family is likely to have a better living standard when compared with a large family of same income. However, as cost of living is increasing, couples would inevitably feel compelled to have small families. But the government should provide a platform to encourage and assist couples through availability of free contraceptives at hospitals and health clinics.

Based on the above, we need policy statements from Mr. President on a renewed Planned Parenthood to be implemented by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. The actual execution of the programme must be the responsibility of states and local governments. Offices of First Ladies and Non- Governmental Organisations should join the crusade. Also, the advocacy should be extended vigorously to our educational institutions. It should be devoid of religious and cultural sentiments.

B.A. Bakare Lagos

When France was like Nigeria

Although I single out France, virtually the entire Europe was engulfed in religious intolerance in the 16th and 17th centuries. Catholic-Protestant rivalries were extremely bitter, resulting in street fights, inter-territorial wars and bloodbath.

In those days, Protestant factions also clashed, and minorities naturally suffered severely. Some, such as the Anabaptists, including the Baptists had to run away to America, when faced with the onslaught of a Catholic-Protestant coalition. How did it all end in France? Richard Viladesau, in The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia (1994: 727) summarises it thus: “In 1562 began the French ‘Wars of Religion’ that lasted, with uneasy intervals of peace, until 1598. In that year King Henry IV proclaimed the Edict of Nantes, which conceded freedom of worship throughout France. Unlike the Peace of Augsburg, which allowed territorial rulers to determine the religion of their subjects, the edict gave freedom of conscience to all. It thus implied that the political unity of the nation was possible without religious unity.” Indeed what brought about the Edict of Nantes was the fact that “religious unity” (envisaged in the Augsburg edict) was unsustainable, and what was neces-

sary was religious tolerance. Currently, Nigeria’s Sultanate and Emirates are operating, so to say, the edict of Augsburg, “which allowed territorial rulers to determine the religion of their subjects”, and not the Edict of Nantes, “which conceded freedom of worship throughout France.” Within that framework, religious freedom has no meaning in the Muslim North, including Kwara State, where we are told by one preacher that the Qur’an forbids voting for a kafir, and political contestants have a better chance if they are turbaned. Some decades ago, Prof. Babs (shortened) Babatunde Fafunwa, a Yoruba, was forced to exhume his Muslim name, Aliu, to be appointed as Christianity and Islam are rival religions. Because they involve power and money, they can be very explosive. Europe and America had to adopt, so to speak, France’s Edict of Nantes, to make religion a personal choice, and sustain social peace. Nigeria has done likewise in her constitutional secularity, but Christo-Islamic forces keep obstructing our own Edict of Nantes. Can President Muhammadu Buhari help to reinforce the Edict in Nigeria? Yes. Will he do it? I wish I knew; he’s bent on defeating Boko Haram!

Pius Abioje, University of Ilorin

13

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Moments

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Office of Civic Engagement, Lagos State, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye; Mr. Kehinde Joseph and Special Adviser to Governor Ambode on Civic Engagement and Environment, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, during a meeting with market men and women in Lagos…on Wednesday

L-R: Headmistress, Nuhu Bamali Primary School, Zaria, Hajia Asmau Mohammed Lawan; Specialist, Community Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Abdulwahab Umoru and Etisalat board member, Alhaji Junaid Dikko, during the official inauguration of the school renovated by Etisalat Nigeria in Zaria…recently

L-R: Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali; Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and Deputy Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Grace Adeyemo, during Ali’s visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja…on Thursday. PHOTO-NAN

A cross-section of the members of Nigerian Association Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos Chapter, protesting against rampant rape cases in Nigeria, at Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikeja…on Friday

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: President, Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, USA, Dr. Benjamin Akande; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Akande’s wife, Bola, at a post-inauguration dinner in honour of Akande who was sworn in as the 21st President of Westminster College at Fulton, Missouri, USA…recently

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, IHS Towers, Rajiv Jaitly; Human Resources Global Head, Ayotade Oyinlola and Deputy Chief Executive Officer/Co-founder, Mohammad Darwish, during CNBC All Africa Business Leaders awards (AABLA), West Africa in Lagos…recently

L-R: Members, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara; Hon. Omotayo Oduntan; Hon. Daramola Kasumu and Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho, addressing members of Nigerian Association Women Journalists(NAWOU), Lagos Chapter, who were protesting against rampant rape cases in Nigeria at Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikeja…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Area Business Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Usman Katuka; Emir of Argungu, HRH Alhaji Suleiman Mera and Regional Operations Director, Airtel Nigeria, North, Wole Abu, during a visit in Kebbi State…recently

14

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News

Monarch tasks NIPSS on Plateau crisis Musa Pam Jos

G

bong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, has challenged the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies to present the true picture of the prevailing security challenges in Plateau State, with a view to ensuring the resolution of the issues in contention.

He lamented that the violence in Riyom and BarkinLadi Local Government Areas which has consumed prominent sons in Berom Land had been misrepresented, and urged the people to work closely with the security agencies in charge of internal security in the state for permanent peace.

The monarch spoke yesterday during the inauguration of the national executive committees of Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation, Berom Women Development Association and Berom Youth Moulders-Association at the Gbong Gwom Palace, Jishe in Jos, Plateau State.

“I want to appeal to the Management of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru to look into their immediate environment (Plateau) and address the security problems in the state. There are lots of challenges and misunderstandings of the situation here in Plateau. If your institution will present the true position of what is happening here, it will help in

addressing the issues of conflicts in the state,” he stated.

The monarch warned the newly elected officials not to dabble into politics but work harmoniously with other ethnic groups within and outside the state within the context of the constitution in finding lasting solutions to the insecurity in Beromland.

The Gbong Gwom, who lamented the demise of the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in the April 2015 election, Late Gyang Pwajok, and late Gwom Rwai of Du, Philip Jang Kim, urged the people to take solace in God, and be reminded that “there is time to born and there is time to die.”

However, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Rufus Bature, sought the support and confidence of the Berom nation in moving the state to higher heights.

He assured the people of his commitment to work with everybody in the state irrespective of political, ethnic and religious inclination to bring dividend of democracy in the state.

Responding on behalf of all the committee members, BECO’s National President, Da Fom Ericson Edward, lamented that Plateau had witnessed serious security and political upheavals. He said everything must be done to arrest the cycle of violence in the state.

CLO writes Buhari, COAS on Bayelsa curfew Chris Ejim Yenagoa

C

ivil Liberties Organisation has sent a protest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, over alleged cases of extortion and harassment by military personnel following the imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew in Nembe communities in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

CLO, in the letter, alleged that since the curfew, was imposed three months ago, after the gruesome killing of five soldiers at a checkpoint close to the community,

military personnel deployed in the area had placed the communities under siege with cases of extortion, harassment and indiscriminate shooting. It said these acts had hampered socio-economic activities in the state.

CLO in Bayelsa State led by its Chairman, Chief Nengi James, stated that reports from the preliminary investigation conducted by the group showed that instead of conducting a detailed investigation into the killings of the five soldiers, the military personnel had turned the curfew into a money making venture.

According to the report, the soldiers deployed in the area, in alleged con-

nivance with some vigilante groups, had allegedly resorted to extorting Social Activity Permit money from indigenes before night burials and other activities are held.

“Most of the indigenes of Nembe communities can no longer go early to fish or defecate by the water side. Those caught are made to bail themselves.

They have hijacked the tradition of the people and limited the burial rites of their people to Fridays instead of the traditional kick off on Thursdays.

“Investigation also showed that these illegal activities of the military personnel emboldened by the imposed curfew, have

had an undesirable effect on their duties. Inspite of the curfew, the manager of the NNPC mega station in Nembe was robbed of his staff’ salaries and abducted.

“Recently, they came close to Nembe community and opened fire, scarring the indigenes of the community, because some persons failed to pay demanded fines.

“We call on the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Chief of Army Staff to review the imposition of curfew and caution their men. Our people have suffered enough from degradation. We cannot continue as if the communities are at war.”

Ibekwe dies at 73

T

he death has occurred of Ezinne Esther Chinyere Ibekwe (Odozie Aku) (Nee Uzoeto) of Dimkwe kindred Umudimogo Village, Ihiala, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State A devout Christian and woman leader, Mrs. Ibekwe died after a brief illness at 73. A statement by the family said the funeral arrangements are as follows: Thursday November 12, 2015 at 5p.m, there will be Vigil Mass at her residence, Chief Edwin Onyema Ibekwe’s Compound Umudimogo Village, Ihiala while on Friday at 10a.m, a requiem service will hold at St. Andrews Anglican Church, Obodo-awo, Ihiala.

Interment follows at her compound with condolence visits by friends, religious associations, village groups and well-wishers. On Saturday, condolence visit by in-laws, other groups and friends continues and on Sunday, by 9a.m, there will be a thanksgiving service at St. Andrews Anglican Church, Obodo-awa, Ihiala, Anambrs State.

She is survived by her husband, Chief Edwin Onyema Ibekwe (Udokanma); five children; many grand children and a host of other relations. Among the sons is a Lagos-based business man, Managing Director of Morehope Medicals Limited, Mr Ifeany Ibekwe.

L-R: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker House of Representatives during a courtesy visit to the former Vice President at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja over the weekend

FG spends N5bn on auto labs, says NADDC’s DG Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

D

irector-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Aminu Jalal, has said that the Federal Government has spent about N5 billion on the establishment of world class automotive test laboratories for emission, components and materials.

Jalal spoke recently when the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Jalal stated that the council had developed an electronic online solution to the problem of smuggling and diversion of goods and the imposition of protective tariff and levy. He further decried the fact that most Nigerians were excluded

FG must include environmental protection in policies - Experts

T

he Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) has called on the Federal Government to consider the environment as an indispensable variable in policy formulation if government must achieve sustainable development for the nation.

The National President

of the association, Mr. Olu Wai-Ogosu made the call at the opening ceremony of the 25th Annual National Conference of the Society held in Owerri yesterday.

He said it has become imperative to accord priority to issues of environment whether of local, national or global dimensions.

He noted that the theme of the conference “Sustainable Development: Unlocking the Core-Values of Environmental Safety” was apt given the fact that globally, environmental safety and security are becoming issues of serious public discourse.

Wai-Ogosu recalled that the Society had sponsored

a bill - the Institute of Environmental Professionals of Nigeria (IEPN) Bill to improve the environment and give the society a boost but regretted that the bill encountered some temporary setbacks. He urged the incoming executives of the organisation to pursue the passage of the bill.

from automotive credit purchase schemes by commercial banks.

His words: “Most Nigerians, including workers, haulage and passenger commercial vehicle operators are excluded from automotive credit purchase schemes by commercial banks.”

However, he stated that the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan had made provision to apply the 35 per cent levies collected on imported Fully Built Units cars as soft loans to boost demand for Madein-Nigeria vehicles.

While further briefing the CG on the status and components of the NAIDP, Jalal stated that the emphasis of the Federal Government had now shifted to the development of automotive local content. He put their capacity utilisation at about 20 per cent due to some rea-

sons which include the process of certification which he described as “most difficult and fraught with bureaucratic delays.”

He bemoaned the reluctance of the Customs to implement the policies because of misunderstanding about the strategy to balance NAIDP duty regime for positive impact on revenue and overall social benefit.

The NADDC DG therefore urged the service to designate an officer or NCS team to work with NADDC to ensure the smooth implementation of the policy and proper information dissemination to stakeholders.

He noted that the NAIDP represents additional revenue for government and extensive social value but that efforts must be made to control smuggling and diversion of goods.

SUNDAY

15

Politics SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

‘Nigerian politicians should respect judiciary’ p.17

Resolving conflicting election tribunal verdicts p.18

The Sunday Interview Nigeria, sliding back to autocracy – Tanko Yakassai p.20&37

Save education: Gov Okowa seeks a revived curriculum p.38

Fashola

A

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Kachikwu

Challenges before Buhari’s ministers

Donald Ojogo

Biyi Adegoroye Assistant Editor biyi.fire@yahoo.com

Al-Hassan

fter months of waiting, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally got a federal cabinet to work with, after the Senate approved the two lists of ministerial nominees sent to it.

That singular action, no doubt, appears to have calmed frayed nerves as the waiting game over the federal cabinet had attracted reactions of varied degrees even as speculations held sway.

After three weeks of screening, the Senate confirmed the following as ministers-designate: Udoma Udo Udoma, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Audu Ogbeh, Ogbonnaya Onu, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Lai Mohammed, Amina Ibrahim Mohammed, Suleiman Adamu, Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu, Abubakar Malami and Dr. Chris Ngige. Others are Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Solomon Dalong, Kemi Adeosun, Hadi Sirika, Khadijah Abba-Ibrahim, Aisha Abubakar, Zainab Ahmed and Mansur Dan-Ali. Also on the list are Usani Uguru, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, Mohammed Bello, Adamu Adamu, Bawa Bwari, Adebayo Shittu, Heineken Lokpobiri, Baba Mustapha, Claudius Omoleye Daramola, Prof. Isaac Adewole, Ocholi James and Geoffrey Onyeama.

But the Senate’s screening of the ministerial nominees did not go without some political intrigues as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party staged a walkout when the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, turned down attempts to

discuss the report of an ad hoc panel that investigated petitions of alleged corruption against one of the nominees and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

PDP senators had vehemently opposed Amaechi’s nomination on the ground that he had been indicted by a commission of enquiry over allegations of fraud and mismanagement of state funds to the tune of N70 billion. All three senators from Rivers State had led the opposition to Amaechi, with Senator George Sekibo laying a petition which was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The ex-governor’s screening was twice deferred and when he was eventually grilled, PDP senators by choice refrained from asking him questions.

Trouble, however, started during the confirmation of ministerial nominees. When it got to Amaechi’s name after 17 others had already been confirmed, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, rose to demand the consideration of the report of the committee on the petitions against Amaechi.

Saraki accordingly called for the presentation of the report in which a major recommendation as read out by the committee’s chairman, Senator Sam Anyanwu, was that due to subsisting litigation on the issue, the Senate should keep off from considering Amaechi’s nomination as a minister.

“Since the ministerial nominee had gone to the Court of Appeal to challenge the contents of the petition and the White Paper of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry, the Senate is unable to

recommend consideration of his confirmation,” the report concluded.

A debate on the report led to a rowdy exchange between APC and PDP senators as Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, and Akpabio led their troops in the verbal battle over Amaechi’s confirmation.

While Ndume moved a motion that Amaechi should be confirmed, Akpabio drew attention to Order 53(5) of the Senate Standing Orders which stipulates that the Senate shall not consider any matter before the court if in the opinion of the Senate president it is considered to be sub-judice.

When recognised to speak on the matter, Sen. Sekibo said: “I have a reason to speak on this matter. As a member of the Rivers State caucus, we represent our people. And Nigerian people are in the majority and not APC. The majority of the Nigerian people are the true judges. Those that will evaluate us are Nigerian people. The report contains weighty allegations of corruption: a series of asset mismanagement and fraud. The matter was referred to the ethics committee. The committee did its work and submitted the report.

“There is a moral burden on all of us here.

Whatever we do today will be recounted in future. We are encouraging corruption when Mr. President said he is fighting corruption. The majority may have their way but we will have our say.”

But the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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Politics CONTINUED from PAGE 15

(Osun East), cited Order 41 Rule 7 of the Senate Standing Rules which stipulate that the Senate should not receive petitions on any matter that has a judicial remedy.

Senator Abiodun Olujinmi (PDP, Ekiti South) who also contributed to the debate, said it was apparent that the All Progressives Congress would use its numerical strength to confirm the nominee. She warned that “there is a moral burden not only on us but also on this government that is riding on the crest of anti-corruption. There is a moral burden on anyone that is riding on the crest of anticorruption. We need to ensure that the court absolves him before we can confirm him in this Senate. I’m insisting, Mr. President, that the majority will have their way but Nigerians know that this government is not ready to fight corruption.”

At this point, Akpabio led PDP senators on a walkout from the chambers. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, however stayed put as a voice vote to confirm Amaechi was taken by only the APC senators present.

Nonetheless, all indications are in the direction that Buhari has put in place last-minute machinery to allocate portfolios to the ministers-designate. Ahead of the possible swearing in of the cabinet members next week, the Presidency on Thursday organised a two-day retreat for the would-be cabinet members to ‘familiarise’ with the President.

The retreat which was organised by the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation had the theme: ‘Delivering change from precepts to practice.’ It was declared open by the President.

In his remarks, Buhari asked the ministersdesignate to count themselves privileged to have been chosen from among millions of their compatriots to be the drivers of the change that the ruling party promised Nigerians.

While admitting that the expectations of Nigerians from his administration were high, the President asked that the government officials’ determination to succeed must be equal to the nation’s challenges.

He recalled that his election was hinged on his promise to tackle corruption, insecurity and improve the economy, disclosing that the diversification of the nation’s economy would be the focus of his government.

He said his administration would count its achievements based on the number of Nigerians it succeeds in moving out of poverty.

He further promised that his administration would uphold the rule of law and ensure that impunity was removed from governance, urging the ministers-designate to be ready to be vehicles to administer the change needed.

He stressed that clear and effective communication was important and urged the ministers-designate to keep in touch with their colleagues and share information.

However, as the nation awaits the allocation of portfolios to the ministers-designate, the situation is that of suspended breath as no one knows who will handle what yet.

All the same, opinions are not diverse that the persons appointed by the President have the requisite knowledge to be members of the federal cabinet. In short, these men and women enjoy the benefit of doubt.

Former Vice-President and APC chieftain, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday affirmed that Buhari has made right choices with the nominees in his incoming cabinet.

He expressed optimism that they would be agents of change, who would place the country above any parochial interest. Atiku, who spoke in Kano, through the chairman, Atiku Loyalists Group, Alhaji Muhammadu Sugar, against the backdrop of insinuations, that he (Atiku) was not happy with the list of ministers, stated that the contrary was the case.

Sugar pointed that the calibre of persons who made the list had given him (Atiku) hope that the country was on the right path.

He, however, noted that the country needs the joint contributions of the teeming masses of the country, if the real change Nigerians are yearning for would be possible. According to him, the populace must be ready to rally

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Challenges before Buhari’s ministers

Adeosun

round Buhari to effect the change.

Atiku has an ally in Ambassador Nurain Mumuni who was the governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change in Lagos State in 2003. He described all the ministers-designate as “competent managers with enviable pedigree.”

He said, “All the ministerial nominees are men and women of high integrity and honour who had proven their mettle at different times of their public service career. He took his time to investigate their conduct as public office-holders. I have no doubt in my mind that all of them will assist him to deliver on all his campaign promises. This is our conviction in the All Progressives Congress as a ruling party. We can’t afford to fail the nation.”

But beyond the accolades on the new ministers are issues of national interest as some see the next cabinet as that has to face challenges in the face of the socio-economic situation in the nation.

Publicity Secretary of Afenifere Renewal Group, Yinka Odumakin, in his submission ahead of the FEC’s inauguration said the APC has a duty to the nation to fulfill its promises.

“From all indications, the cabinet is likely to be under some of pressure because as it were, the ruling APC made very far reaching electoral promises they now find difficult to deliver.

“They have suddenly realised that most of the promises of they made ahead of the last presidential election were loose talk. They have suddenly seen them to be unachievable in view of the present economic realieites.

“For us in Afenifere, our struggle has been the need to effect structural changes and systemic changes if possible and not the change within the same system that mercantilist politicians advocated.

“Today, we are faced with a situation if care is not taken, about 27 states might be unable to pay salaries by December because there are locked up opportunities that the system has refused to open for participation.

“In effect, the next cabinet has a duty to put in place measures that herald a systemic change that will devolve powers to the federating units of the nation as a way of opening up economic opportunities, rather than the garrison style that people has been foisted on the nation.

“The incoming ministers should know that they have a number of challenges waiting for them in the areas of healthcare, power, education, insecurity, poverty alleviation, economy, job creation, agriculture and provision of basic amenities and infrastructure among others.

Fayemi

“It is said that about $40 billion has been invested in the power sector; we want to see results; we want to see a reduction in the level of unemployment which is put at about 20 million.

“We want to see to the end of the threat to our national security, I mean talking in terms of the Boko Haram menance that has claimed several thousands of lives in the North East,’ he concluded.

But the former publicity secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, has pleaded for understanding on the part of Nigerians.

“It is true that the president while campaigning, made a lot of promises; particularly in the areas of the war against corruption and insecurity.

“I think the war against the menace called corruption needs to be energised because it is still a bane in our society; that is the only way our economy can survive as a nation.

“Even the war against the insurgents needs to be re-enforced more than this. We need more efforts to tackle the issue of the insurgents. But Nigerians need to know that the president needs some time, especially now that he is just putting his cabinet together,” he said.

Pioneer secretary general of the Ijaw National Congress, Pastor Power Aginighan, harped on the need for the adherence of the rule of law and a departure from executive impunity that characterised the past.

“The new cabinet has only one challenge as far as the Niger Delta region is concerned.

The new FEC should eschew executive impunity, adhere to the rule of law and do the right thing for the people of the Niger Delta region.

“We have seen in the past, how governments under funded the NDDC and made it a shadow of itself. The government should also ensure that the amnesty programme, as it is now, should be reviewd and made more potent because the earlier declaration by the government to end the programme appears unrealistic.

“As it is, the amnesty programme has the disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation/re-integration as major components.

While the two aspects appear to have been settled, what about the last aspects? The government needs to do something about this.

“Also, the issue of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko requires a dispassionate look; government should not abandon this project because it is one project that can mop up the trained but jobless youths under the amnesty programme.”

Clearly, the minister designate from Bayelsa State, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, appears

to have a challenge beyond the usual duties of a minister.

There was no inkling that the former senator was on the ministerial list before the unveiling of the last batch of nominees.

There are speculations in some quarters that Lokpobiri’s nomination may have been influenced by the former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, who is the APC governorship candidate for the December 5, 2015 election in the state.

Before his nomination, Lokpobiri was initially touted as one of the governorship aspirants of the APC. But, he was said to have withdrawn from the race the moment Sylva indicated interest in the position.

Explaining reasons for withdrawing from the race, Lokpobiri said: “It is improbable that Sylva and I will run for the governorship ticket of the APC at the same time. There is no doubt that he is the leader of the party in the state and if he says he is running, common sense dictates that we all give him the chance of coming back.

“We are all witnesses to the infamous manner in which he was muzzled out of the 2012 race by the powers that be. So, when an opportunity comes as this, it is only good in the interest of party unity and cohesion that we allow him to run with our maximum support.”

Incidentally, Lokpobiri who is also the director-general of Sylva Campaign Organisation, may have to combine his job with the task of running a successful campaign to deliver Bayelsa to the APC. The Ijaw ethnic group is excited by the emergence of Lokpobiri as a ministerial nominee. So far, he is the only Ijaw likely to be in Buhari’s cabinet.

Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, some Ijaw leaders held prominent positions in the immediate past administration. They include Elder Godsday Orubebe from Delta; Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke from Bayelsa; Mr. Patrick Akpboboloukemi (Delta); and Mr. Kingsley Kuku (Ondo). After his confirmation, the Ijaw, which is the fourth largest ethnic group in the country, will be looking up to Lokpobiri as a rallying point in the Buhari administration. Some analysts posit that this is a very crucial moment in the history of the ethnic group which cuts across six states in the federation.

But Lokpobiri’s emergence appears to have stirred mixed feelings among some concerned Ijaw nationalists. They have argued that Ijaws did not benefit much under Jonathan’s six-year presidency, although the administration paraded a sizable number of CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Politics Mr. Oscar Onwudiwe is a lawyer, former SecretaryGeneral of pan-Igbo group, Aka Ikenga and erstwhile campaigner for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term. In this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA, he speaks on the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra, President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade and other issues Today, there is a renewed agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra, especially with the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu. Do you feel that the issues that led to Nigerian civil war of 1967-70 have been addressed or are they still living with us?

The foundation of Nigeria was laid on injustice. The injustice has not gone away because there is absolute tribal insecurity. The feeling that if I’m not in power, the person who is not from my zone will dominate me and then, I will be useless is still creating problems in Nigeria and will continue to exist because it has not been addressed.

Injustice is the mother of corruption. We cannot be one state because we have not killed tribal insecurity and we enormously believe that only when we can live is when we try to dominate another. Let me start with the young men who are talking about Biafra.

Do they have the right thinking or right situation that is motivating them to think the way they are thinking? The answer is yes. What is this motivation? Injustice! But are they going about it the right way? The answer is no. Life is about packaging. The way you package what you have is what makes a difference between a sensible man and a stupid man.

A situation whereby a group of young men who barely saw the war, who haven’t taken proper stock of the economy of the SouthEast feel they can move for the realisation of the struggle might not be good enough.

We contribute only but 7.9 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product of the country. We don’t matter, yet our blood, sweat and tears as Igbo are being used to develop everywhere else. We are slaves. That is the meaning. Under one Nigeria, we are slaves because we have used our sweat, blood and tears to build other people’s cities like Ibadan, Lagos, Kano, and Abuja and abandoned our own. We dissipate our energy in those areas developing and boosting the economy of these areas but we neglected our own and then a group of young boys felt that they had smelt injustice and began to talk about Biafra. If these boys were better packaged without believing that their elites are the ones creating the problems, they should be better educated on this. Before you give birth, there must have been a marriage and after that, there will be nine months notice and that is called a process. Even God obeys process. As a child, there are things that are expected of you and after some time, you begin to grow into them. But these boys want to dodge the process. If you dodge the process, you miss the product.

If you feel that there is injustice, then you have to be determined to put pressure on those who are representing you - the governors, lawmakers, local governments and all other interested people to create that enabling environment for you.

Don’t you think this is what they are already doing or how do you mean, when you say they should mount pressure on those representing them?

God over-blessed the South-East with mineral and human resources. Put them under pressure to create the thing that will make them enrich the economic soul of the region.

Independent candidacy, best option for Nigeria – Onwudiwe

who can deliver for you. If you have the right team, you will win. Now, my thinking is this, with independent candidacy, people like me will be quite interested. At this stage, get the team that will help you create awareness and after this don’t run for governorship because you will fail. Don’t run for any of these big positions because you will fail. Don’t dodge the process. Run for councillor and local government chairmanship and make your impact felt at the grass roots. Make them see that you are not a politician. Make them feel what a politician can do and what you can do. If you can get that done and independent candidates begin to hold a lot of local governments, from there, they will control who goes to the House of Assembly and the same time, they will control who goes to government house and that is the way change comes.

By this, all the corruption in party politics would have also gone. We begin to talk about competence and not dividing roles for zones and regions.

Onwudiwe

Let them stop quarrelling among themselves.

Let the governments learn how to cooperate because nine states were ruled by one man, Okpara and then, it was the fastest growing economy in West Africa. Today, we have nine governors under the same geographical area that one man ruled, and none of them is doing well. That is where the youths should start from. Let’s ensure that the five SouthEast states begin to learn to cooperate and create an economic soul that is strong enough, using the energy of the same young people which will attract backward migration. Those who are investing in Abuja and justifying it with returns on investment in these cities will come home. We need to see one governor in the South-East humble enough to mobilise talents and bring them to the South-East so that things will begin to happen. We must start from home, not the Federal Government. Why don’t we organise and go and marginalise or oppress them too? That is cowardice. If I ever get to see the people I will tell them that if they think that Nigeria is our problem let them re-strategise and turn the tables against them because I know we can. That is what oppression is all about.

If these boys were intelligent enough, even when you want to internalise the struggle, you don’t go with placards alone. You will do some good work to ensure that international organisations that joined Nigeria to destroy your people are not in the game again. Why did they do it in that time? It wasn’t in their economic interest for you to succeed.

Has that changed? They will either get your brother to press you down or even kill you.

You have to blackmail or strike a deal with the international community when you have a strong economy. You can go by saying, we are not happy here, you can get more oil from us and we want you to help us. They will relate with you like a business person not with an aluta spirit. They will listen to you and begin to quote UN resolutions. That was what happened in Sudan. So, I can tell you that the way these people are going about it is counterproductive. It can only make one person a star. Nnamdi Kanu, just like Uwazurike, can become a star and begin to get funds from donors and stop fighting.

They complained about the closure of Biafran Radio. Don’t they have the right to operate within Nigeria? Does the Presi-

dent have powers to stop the radio?

Yes, the President has the power to close it down through NBC (National Broadcasting Commission). The radio is not registered which is the first primary requirement before a radio station can operate within Nigeria.

You cannot do something that is illegal based on sentiment. We will not clap for you for doing something illegal. Those who are oppressing you are using legal means. Can’t you use legal means to hit back?

But Buhari’s supporters allegedly used an illegal radio station during his campaign against Goodluck Jonathan. Why then should he stop Radio Biafra?

Very good question! Buhari’s supporters did it but Jonathan was supposed to have shut it down but he didn’t. He wouldn’t say he didn’t know; he knew. If the government of the day decides not to, they have the prerogative. Jonathan did nothing. In his days, the All Progressives Congress and all the other people who were against his government kept vilifying him. They insulted him in every language they wanted and everywhere possible. Jonathan allowed it and called it democracy. If you insult Buhari today, it’s enemy action. So, this is the system of government of the man who is in power now. Don’t forget that there is a definition of treason by the government. What the government of the day says is treason is treason and nothing more. If Jonathan kept quiet and they succeeded with their Chanji Radio, now this man says I’m not going to keep quiet because I know the effect of what they are doing and I will deal with them. Is it within his legal rights? Yes. There has been a debate on independent candidacy in Nigeria, perhaps, pushing towards 2019 elections. How do you see such a debate that seeks to enthrone individual candidacy instead of party candidacy. What is the attraction?

Oh yes, it’s going to be robust and I think it will make sense. We have smart people in this country, who could form a team to achieve that because it takes a team to make a dream work. You see, whenever I tell you that you are going to fail, I check whether you have the mentality to succeed and who are your team.

And in choosing the team, you are not looking at who your brother is. You are looking at

What is the attraction in individual candidacy?

The attraction is that, we will begin to build with the best and brightest. Our best and brightest cannot function under party politics because one big man in the party wants you to be loyal to him. Smart people are not too loyal because your interest may conflict with their dreams. If I have a dream to deliver and you put me there for your pocket, we will have a conflict. What do you think makes godfathers and godsons fight? It is interest.

Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade has received serious knocks with the confirmation of some ministerial nomines.

What confidence do you repose in this campaign?

First of all, Buhari is a very honest man, but limited by knowledge. Buhari believes that he is fighting corruption thoroughly but he doesn’t know that he cannot fight corruption because he doesn’t know what corruption is.

As far as Buhari is concerned, his definition of corruption is that person that he doesn’t like in that office, who has enriched himself and he will fight him. That is his definition of corruption. He doesn’t know the sources of corruption. You do not drive away one rat from the house and leave the mother. Injustice is the mother of everything else we are talking about. The economic situation in the country begs people to abuse their office. Where you come from is a given premium. One language that came as a way to have peace in Nigeria is the ‘sharing of national cake.’ If you become a governor or President of Nigeria, because of the system that we run, you have one major job, assuaging the feelings of major tribes.

How you assuage the feelings of these people and not how you inspire them to work harder for their good because the Federal Government is holding on to everything. How can Buhari stop a policeman with a wife and children from taking bribe when his salary is N23, 000? Which school will his children attend? He is risking his life everyday running after criminals but he is paid N23,000.

He is not even entitled to a mortgage. He has not built his house and he has to pay rent if he doesn’t have accommodation within the barracks. That is where you start to look at the entire thing. A minister, who is paid N700,000 has three children who attend private schools because the government has ensured that public schools are dead. Each of the children has to pay N300,000 in a private school and the minister that earns N700, 000 can award contracts of millions of naira yet the money that government pays him is nothing. How can Buhari stop him? He didn’t take money because he is a thief but he has to pay his bills and take care of his wife and children.

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Politics

Resolving conflicting election tribunal verdicts

A

Abimbola Salaudeen s an indication of the growing integrity of elections in Nigeria, there are far fewer cases of litigation in the aftermath of the 2015 elections, than there were in 2011, much as those for 2011 were fewer than what transpired four years earlier. But that does not mean that there is greater clarity of the legal wisdom underpinning the decisions emanating from the 2015 election petitions and appeals thereon. Ultimately, it means more workload for the Supreme Court, which will have to grapple with a number of appeals that are bound to work their way to the final court of adjudication in the land.

Part of the confusion in the legal battles has arisen from the (mis)application of principles enunciated already by case law. Take, for example, the place of the card reader in election.

In the Lagos governorship election dispute, the Court of Appeal, on August 26, 2015, held that the card reader could not be a ground for annulling an election. Two other Governorship Election Petition Tribunals (Akwa Ibom and Delta) adopted the reasoning of the Court of Appeal. Yet, on October 24, when the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition

Tribunal delivered its judgment, it ignored the argument of counsel to the respondents who cited the recent Court of Appeal decision on the card reader.

Instead, the Rivers tribunal nullified the governorship election and ordered a rerun, in part because, according to their Lordships, the card reader was a must-use in the governorship election of April 11, 2015; and that where the card reader failed, the election ought to have been postponed to the next day. The tribunal was, however, silent on what use incident forms were meant to serve in the accreditation process as a prelude to voting. And whereas the tribunal accepted the evidence that the card reader accredited 293,072 voters in the election, it invalidated lawful votes that were cast in places where voting took place. Rather, the tribunal adopted a blanket view that the entire state was in turmoil during the governorship election, and therefore invalidated the election. And yet, in the case of Akwa Ibom State governorship election, only the results in some local government areas were invalidated, and make-up polls ordered for those areas.

I am not quite sure what to make of the apparently ambiguous statement by the Rivers tribunal, when it held as follows: “The peti-

tioners have proved their case as required by the law. The evidence adduced by the petitioners proved either beyond reasonable doubt or on the balance of probabilities that the election was characterised by corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.”

The issue here relates to standard of proof.

Where there are allegations of criminal conduct, such as thuggery, disruption of voting, snatching of ballot boxes, falsification of result sheets, the standard of proof required is one that is beyond reasonable doubt. This has been established in a long line of cases decided by the Supreme Court, the locus classicus being Nwobodo v. Onoh.

So, what was the Rivers Governorship Tribunal saying in its judgment? Is it now proof beyond reasonable doubt or proof on the balance of probabilities, in order to void an election marred by irregularities and violence?

As jurists know, the latter standard (balance of probabilities) is used in civil claims, rather than in criminal allegations. To further compound the fuzziness, counsel to the petitioners in the Rivers case had submitted unequivocally in their final address before the tribunal that a respondent in the petition “at the beginning did not come to grips with

the case made by the petitioners and did not appreciate that the pleadings of the parties have put the burden of proof on them.”

Yet, in law, he who asserts must prove. It is up to the petitioner to prove his allegation of non-conduct of elections and falsification of results. Indeed, the Supreme Court has also held that a result of an election presented by an electoral umpire is rebuttable, but the onus is on the party seeking to impugn the credibility of the result. If, as counsel to the petitioners in the Rivers case stated that the burden of proof had shifted to the respondent, it may require some further uncommon legal reasoning to understand how the tribunal held that the petitioners had proved their case, rather than the failure of the respondents to discharge the onus framed by counsel to the petitioners.

As I noted at the beginning, the Supreme Court may have a lot more work ahead, as the legal authorities it had laid down over the years have been glossed over, or jettisoned altogether. For instance, in Ucha v. Elechi, the apex court had held that the effect of non-compliance with the electoral rules and regulations must be proved polling unit by polling unit, and ward by ward. There were some 4,400 polling units in the Rivers governorship election. There is no indication in the judgment of the tribunal that evidence was adduced to prove non-compliance in all of these polling stations. Perhaps if their Lordships had not opted to annul with equal force the 293,072 voters captured by the card readers and who voted, the number of polling units where proof of non-compliance was required would have been fewer than the 4,400-plus units. The tribunal simply adopted a sleight-of-hand and cancelled all votes. Again, that is unlike the Akwa Ibom tribunal judgment.

Furthermore, in earlier cases decided by the Supreme Court (including Oke v. Mimiko; Buhari v. Obasanjo), the role of a polling agent was defined. In the Rivers governorship tussle, the petitioners called 56 witnesses among whom were polling agents and ward collation agents, who testified to various acts of thuggery and disruption of voting during the election. But could those witnesses have become superhuman as to have given credible evidence as to what transpired in other wards and local government areas, such that they had total coverage of the state of affairs on election day?

Well, the petitioners in the Rivers case also had other witnesses who were subpoenaed.

These were six officers of the Nigerian Army; five members of the mobile Police Force, and four officers of the Department of State Services (DSS). They provided security during the governorship election on April 11, and patrolled some local government areas. According to the witnesses, they came across road blocks erected by hoodlums, disruption of election, destruction of election materials, etc. These acts, the DSS witnesses said, “rendered the police helpless.”

If the acts of intimidation, thuggery and disruption were so widespread, as testified, how many arrests were effected by the security witnesses who were on patrol and saw these criminal activities? The tribunal believed all the witnesses presented by the petitioners.

On the other hand, the tribunal trashed the evidence given by witnesses called by the respondents. Those respondents’ witnesses included the overall security coordinators for the governorship election, as well as one of the three commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who were dispatched from the Abuja headquarters to supervise the election. Of these, the tribunal held that their evidence was “unreliable, incredible and their character impugned.” That is unlikely to be the last word on the 2015 Rivers governorship election. I am eagerly looking forward to pronouncements by courts higher up in the hierarchy. · Abimbola Salaudeen writes from Lagos

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Politics

‘Nigerian politicians should respect judiciary’ ple that can defend the rights of ordinary Nigerians. And I want to commend those judges wherever they are. I thank them for upholding what is just and equitable and appreciate the fact that they have imbued more confidence in me and a lot of my constituents in the judiciary. It is critical for us to encourage them at this stage, especially in this dispensation of change which our party wants to assure Nigerians about.

Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah is the deputy chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and a member of the All Progressives Congress representing Gwer West/Gwer East federal constituency of Benue State. In this interview with PHILIP NYAM, he speaks on the judiciary and the electoral process in the country The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal recently quashed the petition against you. What was the import of the judgment?

I don’t have the extract of the judgment but the summary is that the petition by my opponent was struck out because it did not meet certain statutory provisions of the tribunal; therefore it lacked merit. It was a petition brought against me by a PDP opponent in the House of Representatives election for Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State, John Tion. So, the tribunal upheld my election. And fortunately, the judgment has no ground for appeal because substantively, the ruling now means there is no case. Since it was struck out for not meeting the requirements, they cannot file it any longer. Like you know, the 180 days elapsed

Gbillah

and so the case is closed.

How would you rate the Nigerian judiciary given criticisms trailing most of the cases being decided at various tribunals across the country?

I want to appreciate the judicial system for once again living up to the expectations of ordinary Nigerians like me. I want to make a point here that with such rulings we will have more confidence in the judiciary. I can tell you categorically that I did not at any point see the judges in this case or meet with them personally. Several people requested that this is what is normally done in Nigeria but I chose to stand on the word of God and to trust the judiciary. With this judgment, I want to say that there are still credible peo-

Do you think your opponent will share the same sentiments with you? What message do you have for your constituents?

I want to tell my constituents that finally we have put this behind us; I can now settle down to the task ahead of the mandate they have given me. I want to extend an olive branch to my opponent in the other party.

I had hoped that my opponent, John Tion, who happens to be a senior brother from the same ward with me, would not have towed this line. He knows very well that he is somebody who had professed Christ. He should have known that what God had ordained no man can stop it. This only goes to show that this is what God wants. And I believe that even though he disappointed me by going to court, I want to put it on record that I have forgiven him, and that I am ready to work with all and sundry regardless of their party affiliation. This is the moment for us all to unite, and to work together for the good of our constituency. I want them to embrace the spirit and the mindset of change. This is not a dispensation of seeking and craving after money; it is a dispensation of growing and developing our community, our people and seeing what benefit we can bring into the lives of the people. I want to thank my wife and my immediate family for standing by me through all of this and to appreciate the confidence they had and the faith they also

had in God for victory.

What would be your reaction to this judgment?

I want to thank God for upholding the will and the mandate of the people of my constituency. When I came in to run for this election, a lot of people had already assumed that I was a non-starter. They believed I was going against an established politician; somebody who at a time was a senior special assistant to former Vice-President Namadi Sambo on independent power projects. And considering the fact that he was in the incumbent government at a time, they assumed that I was no match; and considering the fact that my constituency, and local government in particular had always been a hardline PDP enclave, the odds were stacked against me.

But I told my people from the outset that I came out to run for this election on the conviction of the Almighty God that I serve. He convicted me to know that upright and righteous people need to get involved in politics to be able to liberate the people of Nigeria from the reins of corruption. That was the force with which I entered the race and God was faithful at each point. I was nominated from my party unopposed at the primaries.

At the substantive election, I won by a narrow margin of 97 votes. All the attempts by the opposition to falsify the elections, intimidate and influence people only worked against them in the long run. At certain polling units, INEC had to cancel the elections for anomalies that had to do with attacks by the PDP stalwarts against the officials, the carting away of ballot boxes and burning of one polling unit. Then, the one that had to do with my own ward; the fact that the number of voters exceeded the accredited voters which clearly showed an anomaly there. So, INEC was within its rights to cancel that election.

PDP’ll spring surprises in 2019 – Kuye Chief Taiwo Kuye is the Financial Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Lagos Chapter. He spoke to EDWIN USOBOH and AMARACHI NWOSU on a number of issues bothering on the governance of Nigeria PDP has been trying to win Lagos for a long time without success. Do you see any hope for the party again?

We have been contesting against the security operatives and Independent National Electoral Commission since 2011, if not we would have been in government for a very long time. In 2011, yes we lost. The one that was very clear was the 2015 election, which everybody knew. In all nooks and crannies of Lagos, we saw that Jimi Agbaje clearly won that election. So, that is the interpretation we have been working very hard to clear.

When you say fighting against INEC and security agencies, was it not the PDP at the centre that deployed INEC and security agencies to Lagos? How come they are fighting PDP? If you look at the six years of Jonathan’s governance, we had the freest judiciary and the freest armed forces. When you talk of the security agencies, there was no executive interference and that is what Jonathan’s administration has done. So, if you wanted Jonathan to interfere in governance in La-

gos, you wouldn’t get him. But if you look at him, a skilled politician, he is a cool headed human being and a gentle man. He never interfered in the state’s affairs.

APC appeared to have outspent PDP in the last governorship election. The APC’s candidate was visible in all parts of the state. Was funding a challenge that led to your party’s failure?

No, we had our funds. We had two ministers in Lagos and they were funding the party apart from other sources where we got our funds. We didn’t have any challenge whatsoever. We won that election free and fair. The result of our House of Representatives candidate in Isolo would have been falsified by INEC. When we got a tip-off that INEC was planning to overturn the result, we went with full force to the voting centre with our state chairman. We challenged the electoral officer and she reversed it. As at that time, we were winning with over 2,000 votes.

Would you say PDP made a mistake by choosing Agbaje when you had Musiliu Obanikoro?

Never! Obanikoro was never a candidate.

If we had fielded Obanikoro it would have been a walk-over election. We are talking about personality. One thing that informed us to give our support to Agbaje was his personality and integrity, a gentleman to the core and well experienced. You can never compare Jimi Agbaje and Obanikoro at any level. So, there was no regret at all.

What do you say about the downward economic slide in the country? Do you see it recovering soon?

The economy as at the time Jonathan was

leaving was stable. Nigeria was stable and in a buoyant condition. The economy in the last five months has been in total disarray.

You heard Ayodele Fayose’s comments few days ago that Mr. President should come out and tell us the state of our economy. Let me tell you the bitter truth, Buhari has nothing to offer. He’s an armchair President. No economic growth, no economic team, no economic blueprint, his is just a government of vendetta.

What do you make of the anti-corruption crusade of the current administration, especially with the case against Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki?

Which crusade? Is Saraki’s case a crusade?

Saraki’s experience is a witch-hunt. I can promise you in the next four years, APC and Buhari-led government will have nothing good for Nigeria. Who is fighting whom?

We have seen tribunals nullifying some PDP governorship elections, notably Rivers and Akwa Ibom states? What is your reaction and do you think PDP can still win back those states?

It is child’s play! All the areas you are talking about are core PDP states. Anybody who believes he is doing a job and deserves commendation and integrity should do it very well with fairness and honour.

Looking at the annual Internal Generated Revenue in Lagos State, can you really say that the state government has matched the money with the level of devel­opment across the state?

Nothing for the past 16 years, from Bola Tinubu till date, they have not done half compared to the IGR generated in Lagos. If you observe very well, this IGR goes up annually.

Kuye

Now, is about N26bn. As at last year, it was N23bn. We are all going to be held responsible for it if we fail to tell them the truth.

Would you say that PDP is still in order and what are your strategies towards the 2019 elections?

We keep that to ourselves. One thing I can promise you is that Nigerians will see great surprises come 2019. We have zoned the 2019 presidential ticket to the North. We are bringing an experienced, vibrant and ebullient young Northerner in 2019 to challenge the APC government.

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The Sunday

Nigeria, sliding back to autocracy – Tanko Yakassai Leader of the Northern Elders Council, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, is an elder statesman from Kano State. He is a former Liaison Officer to former President Shehu Shagari, a founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum and one-time member of the group’s Board of Trustees. Yakassai was a delegate to the 2014 National Conference and is believed to have supported former President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for a second term. In this interview with ONWUKA NZESHI, he assesses the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last five months and declares that it has not only been sluggish but dangerously taking Nigeria back to autocracy How would you describe the current state of the nation?

You want me to tell you the truth? Ehmm .... the state of the nation is that things are at a standstill. There is a lull in activities, particularly economic activities in the country.

Money in circulation is very limited and people are complaining of lack of money. To the best of my knowledge, I can’t remember when the government of the federation was unable to pay its staff until after the end of the month. Last October, employees of the federal government were not paid until sometime at the beginning of this month. It has never happened before. I don’t know why it happened but it is part of the general situation in the country. This is the much I know.

Isn’t that part of a strategy to stop slush funds from flowing thereby reducing corruption in the system?

Well, I don’t know to what extent this anticorruption campaign has gone. I’m not in the government; I’m just a lay man, an ordinary citizen in the country. But to the best of my knowledge, I haven’t heard of a single person arrested in this country in connection with corruption since President Muhamnadu Buhari took over. I don’t know if you know; you can tell me.

What about the former governors that have been interrogated by EFCC and ICPC? Those are old cases that started years gone by; all the cases that are now being handled, with the exception of two. The exceptions include that of Sambo Dasuki which so far is not said to be associated with corruption but with illegal possession of arms and money laundering. Secondly, that of Senator Bukola Saraki which dates back to 2003 -2007 is

something that has been going on. The only thing is that he (Saraki) emerged as Senate President against the wishes of leaders of his party and therefore, he now found himself before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. You can still see the drama playing out at the tribunal. Saraki’s lawyers have chosen to boycott the proceedings at least for the mean time because they were not comfortable that the tribunal wanted to continue with the trial when there is a subsisting suit on the matter at the Supreme Court.

What do you have to say about the delay in constituting the cabinet after early six months of this new government? Is that part of the standstill you were talking about?

Well, normally everybody has his own way of doing things. But if I were in Buhari’s position, I can bet you that it would not take me so long to have a cabinet. Why? I have two reasons. One is that this is the fourth time the man has contested the presidential election.

He is not a newcomer to the business. He contested four times; he did not succeed on three previous occasions but this time around he won. It will be definitely be out of expectation that all these years, he had no idea as to who should be members of his cabinet.

If I were him, I could have had my list of ministerial nominees ready between the time I was declared elected and the time when I was sworn in. It will take me not more than a week to announce my cabinet after being inaugurated as the President.

He has his own style, I have mine; but what I know generally is that when you are making up your mind to contest an election, particularly at the presidential, governorship or council chairmanship levels, you must have some people in mind that you would want to

appoint into key positions in your administration. If ministers cannot be appointed unless they are screened by the Senate, what of the Secretary to the Government and Chief of Staff? These are the key officials in the office of the President. I see no reason why it should take the President five months from the day he was elected to make such appointments.

These people, for instance, I know his Chief of Staff, though not very closely. He has been with him (Buhari) all along. He was one of his key supporters and I believe that the relationship between them started when the current Chief of Staff was employed by Buhari’s nephew to work as a journalist. His nephew was the editor of the New Nigerian many years ago.

So he must have known him for over 30 years and for such an appointment to take up to five months is a bit odd. Similarly, the Secretary to the Government was the NorthEast Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress. Even if he didn’t know him before, at least since the amalgamation of the various parties that formed the APC, it has taken about two years now. For somebody who has been a regional vice-chairman of your party, I see no reason why it should take you four, five months to appoint him to the position because he has known virtually everything about you. He is not a new man to him.

I can understand that he still needed to send his name to the security people to screen him but sadly thinking of his name is not something that should take Buhari that long.

What about the other appointments such as the DG of DSS and chairman of INEC? These are sensitive positions which Nigerians expected would not be domiciled in the region where the President comes from, given the

Yakassai

need for balance, inclusiveness and federal character. What is your view?

I was asked this question before and I have been consistent. My reply then is still my reply. That to a patriotic Nigerian, it is imbalance because these appointments you mentioned did not reflect the national character of the country. But to ethnic bigots, it is in order. So it depends on whom you are in the country.

How would you rate the 36 ministerial nominees that have been cleared by the National Assembly?

In my opinion, they are very good. I watched much of the screening exercise - the questions they were asked, their replies. It was only a few of them, about five or so, that I did not watch when they were responding to the questions. I was very much impressed with the ones I watched and I expect them to make a good team.

At a recent press briefing you held in Kano, you referred to Nigeria as a police state and a country walking back to autocracy. Why did you make such a description of Nigeria?

I told you earlier that the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was known not to be in the good books of Gen. Buhari because, I understand that he was one of the military officers who arrested Buhari when he was Head of State and his government was toppled way back in 1985. To me, I believe there must be hard feelings on the part of Gen. Buhari against Dasuki. If I were him, I would not start by asking the DG of SSS who is from my local government area to go and search his house unless there is a compelling basis for it.

The compelling reason should be something

SUNDAY

Fashion

Sassy in supershort hemlines 28&29

Bed, Work & Life Killer whatchamacallit (2)

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Body Soul SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

My dream is for a polio-free world -Dr Tunji Funsho

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

eart h y m m ro f t h ig ra t S

ve it myself?

But did I belie s. er nk bo g in n’t go ld her she was yself.

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A at hi Of rece at er s w th is in s ew ra rd ck N ate,” the d pressure ational Coo was gridlo Before now, it e an added bloo ngeance. With impunity, conservative estim causes of mental health, the N e, associated m oy co de be A s e ol ha ’ w e Oye a ve boys Enumerating th s Foundation of Nigeria, Dr. emotional problems and fear of the ‘bad ’ seem to have returned with those lth Awarenes ic pressures, These ‘bad boys orists of valuables. ths crossed with I find tal Hea cietal vices, socio-econom pa ot se m ho ss w se le os so sp of peop traffic. they di it with like terrorism! the experiences tes each time I sight a little prone areas political injustice Having heard ita they? ttered clothes c lp affi pa tr t d ar oi he av y t naked or in ta familiar...don’t ,m r to They sound so at not all mad persons go abou at many of them dress in accursed beings nger, but safer routes in orde of those dream killers. th lo , th ities first the activities We used to joke lugging flotsam and jetsam on wheels. myself driving nce their activ us’ because of rie ro d pe ge nd in wonders an ex an ou t ‘d ar to ac ng es si ed ex gh iv r er ui ou dr he oq en d g lil and security e in an consid so c at us es , un affi ts rt tr um was unfo spray perf ly going nu done about , al is its tu g su ac in s th er e’ no gn Sh si if .

A friend, who r w de will become true ed of driving no word. of I’m afraid this hand, is so scar or group, Boko oronshoki end w O at ed ities of the terr 3 days after; bb e. tiv to at ac St e ay s th w go r ith She was ro La he w in 57 on rrors associated e still missing, nland Bridge e’s the Third Mai Already, the ho e fact that the Chibok girls ar in their own country; the ding to her, sh or cc A . ly th es g nt ge in ce fu e re broke, the office re Haram, includ es are living lik that Nigeria is ’ ill since then.

I get that grief-stricken famili civil servants without aid; ng it di c, fin affi e tr been ‘mentally ar s in f se el as y find mys cannot pa that the m r es ri; at ca are ha st y es Bu m at iv u th w of “Whenever I ad d t ct m fa an husbands e dashing ou ent Muham at id lik th ; es el es Pr fe fe I ng to ore . ol ci g m id ho an in d parano accord d pay sc I keep gl these an run for safety. fficult to feed an and sex; that the worry over di yly an ng e si se ea I cr e and making a in k. im in er both money rors and anyt us all to the br cisat my side mir ards my direction, my heart fighting more ov libido in men...are driving ople who the vi pe an th of w le to ss op e lo th pe g e in ne ar us sa sc ca rs rn e ke ve body walking ar w be easier to go mouth. Even ha beginning to I believe it will turned unreasonable. jumps into my . I’m ys da e es ve th ha e e ss sitive change! e heartle tudes of lif hell out of m t ng? We need po unter with thos me. I just si ni co te en lis y y m od at yb th lie Is an think u illness for l ta en m ed J us people has ca told me. ing mad,” she hope I’m not go

kers We are all going bon

W

Contents 08.11.2015 COVER I nicknamed my wife ‘Mama Kowa,’ meaning mother of all

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FASHION Short dresses evoke a style of their own, add drama, flair and polish to any wardrobe

T h e Te a m Juliet Bumah (Editor) Wole Adepoju (Snr. Correspondent) Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent)

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BEAUTY There is something bold and confident about a woman who cuts her hair

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Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent) Abiola Alaba Peters

MY PASSION I adore my body and understand the fact that I must use it to satisfy my man, and he must do the same

Ugochukwu Nnakwe (Graphics) Edwin Usoboh (Graphics) +234 (0) 811 675 9770, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 chibumah@yahoo.com, julietbumah@gmail.com

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GLAM DUDES Fashion designers have redefined what we used to know as sweatpants

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Associates

BED, WORK & LIFE Few days later, Mekson’s attempt to wee got him screaming.

It got worse in the evening.

“Old boy, go check yourself o,” one of his roommates advised him

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Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Body&Soul

Although she is not one of those regular faces you see in films, fast rising act, Abimbola Oni, is no doubt a talented actress. The Ekiti State-born and first of four children, whose work is mostly in the Yoruba film genre, has become a producers’ favourite.

ABIOLA ALABA PETERS met with the one-time face of popular TV series, Super Story, for an interview For those reading about you for the first time, kindly tell us about yourself and how you got into Nollywood.

My name is Bimbo Oni, a final year Banking and Finance student at the Lagos State University. I’m a Nollywood actress. I got into the movie industry five years ago through a friend who introduced me to my boss and master, Murphy Afolabi, before moving on to other professional aspects of the business. All thanks to God and to my wonderful parents.

Does that mean your parents had always supported your acting career?

Yes of course, and I am grateful to God for blessing me with such understanding parents. My parents enrolled me in PEFT owned by film veteran, Sir Wale Adenuga, before I joined the Yoruba caucus called FATUNS owned by Mr. Murphy Afolabi. It hasn’t been a smooth journey though, but I bless God. How many movies have you starred in and how much were you paid for your first film?

LAUGHS.....Well, I have featured in over 20 movies, but I can only remember and mention the big ones that you all know. Movies like Oja erupe, Eega, Obelu eru aya, Alapandede, Omo Oshodi and some few soaps, like Super Story, Boomerang, This Life and lots more. As regards how much I was paid for the first movie I starred in, to be honest with you, I do not think I can answer that directly. There’s this Yoruba adage that says, it’s not all clothes you spread in the sun to dry, meaning there are some things you don’t say. But one thing I know is that if the total number of movies that I have done in Yoruba were in English, I probably would have been a household name now. But then, to God be the glory. I know we will get there, it’s just a matter of time. It’s already getting better.

2015 is almost running out, how has it been for you?

It has been an awesome year. I bless God. I’m already working on some new projects ahead of the new year.

2016 is sure going to be a great one.

You were in the news recently when you were quoted to have said you are still a virgin. How true? Or was it a publicity stunt?

Na wa! You journalists can be interesting. Personally, I would love to skip this question, but for the sake of my darling fans, I’d clarify. I se-

My man must be strong and active - Abimbola Oni riously do not know where it emanated from. It was supposed to be an interview, just as the one we are having now, and then, the reporter kept asking me personal questions, questions that were funny. In order not to snub him, I had to answer the questions in the best possible way.

In fact, jokingly, and next thing, he twisted and blew it out of proportion. I was surprised, I have received loads of calls on this.

I never said anything of such.

I even called the journalist and he denied doing so. He claimed his editor did. I just had to let go. I don’t want media wahala.

What has been your biggest challenge?

I would say my biggest challenge in this part of the industry is the issue of getting an investor to invest in your ideas, and when you finally find one, you are still left to contend with marketers. A lot of challenges, my dear brother. We just pray to God to see us through.

Are you saying there’s some level of bias in the Yoruba movie industry?

No, not at all, although, it is everywhere, and please don’t get me wrong. What I am saying is that, whatever issues we are having are everywhere.

Did you ever believe you would go this far?

Though, I always believe in myself, I never thought it’d happen this fast. Even though I am still learning and growing, I still appreciate God for bringing me to this point in my career.

Who were those people you were looking up to for mentorship?

I look up to my able producer and director, Mr. Fidelis Duker, Mr. Murphy Afolabi and Mr. Lekan Ayinde.

These are great thespians who know their onions.

Do you still communicate with the father of your son?

Sure! We still communicate and he still remains my great friend.

If he comes back begging, will you give him another chance?

Hmmmmm...I can’t say. He is doing fine, and I am doing fine also, same as our son.

Who is your celebrity crush in music and movies?

I got two celebrity crushes in music, Michael Collins aka Don Jazzy and Pasuma. In movies, Majid Michael and Denzel Washington, they are all humanitarian.

How do you relax?

I read a lot, that way, I feel relaxed.

I also relax by going to the cinemas

to see some good movies.

How is it like being a single mother?

It’s not been easy, but like I always say, I give all glory to God and to my immediate family, especially my mother. Sometimes, people judge you based on situations, unknown to them, the circumstances surrounding it. I am happy God blessed me with my son. I don’t regret having him, and I’m not allowing it to bring me down.

What is your take on early marriage? Do you support it?

Early marriage is cool, as long as parties involved are matured enough to handle whatever challenge they have, are financially independent and love each other. It is better to be married than messing around.

Would you quit acting for a relationship or marriage?

No No No....for heaven’s sake, I am not prostituting or even into a shady or illegal business. So why should I quit my job or business because of a man? Well, I’m sorry, I can’t.

You seems to be close to ace Fuji music star, Pasuma. What’s the chemistry between both of you?

Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma is just a friend. We are not dating, he is one great guy I respect and hold in high esteem. What we have is just a business relationship. So please don’t go write what I didn’t say o. I am not dating Pasuma.

Describe your choice of man.

My kind of man must be God fearing, must be loving and ready to be supportive of my career. Above all, he must be sexually active and strong, because I love sex. Don’t get me wrong o. This doesn’t mean I go about having sex with men without any intimate connection. No, I don’t do such, I adore my body and understand the fact that I must use it to satisfy my man, and he must do the same.

Would you act or pose nude for N10 million?

Nudity for me is an abomination to God and to man. When I say man, I mean generally. So it’s a no go area for me, not even for a billion dollars or a Hollywood movie, no.

Words to your fans.

I appreciate them for loving me, and I want them to know I love them.

They should keep praying and supporting me and to Sunday Telegraph, thanks for giving me this platform.

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Body&Soul

My dream for polio-free Being a cardiologist, polio is a bit out of your specialisation. Why did you decide to take up this enormous challenge of combating the scourge in Nigeria?

Primarily, all doctors are trained in all fields of medicine. I came to a point where I was at retirement age and I was given an offer to come and assist. And there is no better way to do medicine than by reaching out to people, especially at the preventive level. Medicine can be very frustrating at the curative level. Many a time, there is nothing you can do. But if you have the opportunity to prevent it, it is much more rewarding than trying to fit the child with calipers, do surgery and so on. It is what we call damage control. If you can prevent the damage, it is much better. For me as a physician, I look at medicine as a holistic thing. So I don’t see the variance in being a cardiologist and also helping to stop the polio scourge. I was offered to head the programme and I have been part of it since it started in 1985. As a Rotarian, you have volunteered yourself for community service and it is really an honour to be offered.

Nigeria was recently removed from the list of polio-endemic nations of the world, leaving Pakistan and Afghanistan behind. How did you and your team achieve this feat?

It is a collective effort. Number one, you cannot save children from polio without the parents bringing them and making them available for immunisation. Also, we cannot run such a massive intervention in health without the full cooperation of the government. At those two extreme levels, we’ve been lucky.

When this programme started, governments set up structures at all levels to ensure we reach out to many people.

We had issues and were at the receiving end of families refusing the vaccination because of lack of understanding and suspicions about the safety of the vaccine. However, they all found out that the accusations were unfounded. Along the line, we had difficulty in reaching everybody. But I am glad to say that all these issues of refusal are minimal to what we had in early 2000 where some states boycotted the programme. Also, the areas we were unable to reach the children in the North-Eastern states like Yobe and Adamawa, we have done so now. The efforts of the government and the military in uprooting Boko Haram in some of these areas created access for us. Even before then, displaced children who were in IDP camps were also vaccinated. Now we can reach virtually every part of the country.

How did the fight to rid the country of polio begin?

It was a Rotary initiative to rid the world of polio. We took the proposal to World Health Organisation (WHO).

Our experts who are highly respected in the medical world had a long discussion with WHO. In the late seventies, we did a programme in the Philippians where we helped to stop the polio transmission and that gave us the impetus that if we could do it in a country, why not in the world? We are glad that WHO came on board. After that, UNICEF, CDC and Gates Foundation also joined. They helped to get the World Health Assembly to take up polio as a global challenge. That is how it started with Rotary as the main organisation, raising funds from governments of the world and continuing to put pressure on relevant stakeholders to do their beat

Cardiologist, Dr. Abdulraman Olatunji Funsho is a past District Governor of the Rotary International Club. He has been involved in effrots to eradicate polio in Nigeria and today, the country has been removed from the list of polio-endemic nations. In this interview with VANESSA OKWARA, he explains in detail how this feat was achieved, his encounter with Bill Gates and how he met his wife 40 years ago and ensure that polio is eradicated from the surface of the earth.

With the Boko Haram insurgency, how have you been able to manage the work force especially in these Northern states?

I must pay tribute to the nine health workers we lost in Kano early last year.

They were actually the front rudder.

Without them, we cannot have our success story; so we must always pay tribute. When people appreciate the value of what they are doing, no amount of scare monger can scare them away. We have countered the propaganda through the media and also through video clips that we show at viewing centres in most villages. We use megaphones; some of the messages are in CDs and we make use of town criers. Only last week, Rotary supplied four hundred megaphones to the North to use in broadcasting in the villages. Through these media, we have been able to encourage parents to bring out their kids for immunisation.

Now are we to rest as Nigeria has been removed from the endemic list?

It is not over until it is over. It is over when there is no country in the world that is still transmitting polio. That is when WHO can say the world is poliofree.

But other countries of the world have been certified free of polio. When can it be said that Nigeria is totally free of polio?

From the technical point of view, WHO will certify Nigeria polio-free when we don’t see any more polio case in Nigeria

by July 2017, three years after the last case. Right now, we’ve been removed from the list of endemic nations. It is a major milestone and we have never done it before and it portends well because it means that we have been able to safeguard our children from contacting polio. If we can continue doing what we have been doing and increase the level of our children immunised against polio, then even if polio comes into our environment from abroad, our children are immunised anyway but the polio virus will not find residence anywhere.

If we can maintain this for another two years, then WHO can now say Nigeria is a polio-free country. What we now need to do is to ensure we don’t have polio imported into the country from neighbouring countries or countries that are still infected like Afghanistan. Looking at the trend, we are quite confident that in the next 12 months, countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan will become non-endemic countries too.

How possible is that with the regional wars going on in these countries?

For instance last year, there were 106 cases of polio in Pakistan and so far this year, it has reduced to 58. So we have seen that the trend is going down despite the regional wars. They too have borrowed a leaf from Nigeria on some of

the things we’ve done and it is helping them. They have established an emergency operations centre donated by the Bill Gates Foundation.

With a new government in power in Nigeria, do you think that it will continue to support the polio campaign?

I think we are very lucky and privileged to have a President who very shortly after he came to office, in a matter of weeks, demonstrated his commitment to polio eradication in Nigeria by immunising his granddaughter publicly.

About a month after that, he gave audience to a high level advocacy group which comprised the leadership of the Primary Health Care Agency under the Federal Ministry of Health to present a case for polio. He sat through one hour of presentation and discussion to show his commitment and assured us that his government would do everything possible to ensure that no child again gets polio. He didn’t only just do that; not to our knowledge, he invited the governors of the 11 arid states for us to make the same presentation to them back to back. Again, he sat for another one hour and listened to us making presentations to the governors who were also telling us what was going on in their states concerning polio eradication. So there is no doubt about his commitment. I think from the government’s side, we can be rest assured that polio will not find refuge in Nigeria. The partners are resolved. On the part of the government, we urge them to be more forthcoming with funds so that gradually, we can stop depending on our foreign partners.

What major role has the Bill Gates Foundation played in polio eradication?

Yes, the Bill Gates Foundation has been a shot in the arm for the programme.

One of the things bedeviling us at a time was funding. The Bill Gates Foundation came along to inject a lot of funds and also use their clout to get other governments of the world together two years ago in Abu Dhabi to present what they called the funding gap. A lot of governments, foundations and private individuals have committed funds to the point where we have less than $4.5 billion. With the last the estimation we have is less than half a billion to go. So the Bill Gates Foundation contributed immensely both in human and financial resource. They are also contributing to ensure that within our nation, polio is eradicated completely. They have gone into an MOU which is now functional in Kano, Bauchi, Borno and Sokoto states where they assist in funding immunisation infrastructure. They have been very helpful in ensuring that we get to where we are today.

On a personal note, have you met Bill Gates?

Yes, I have met Bill Gates on several occasions. He is an amazing humble person but very quick-witted and sharp minded. It is worthy to follow the foot-

steps of someone like that, whom when God endows you, you want to give back.

That is also what Rotarians stand for.

Rotarians don’t wait until they are very rich. We talk about giving our three T’s - talent, time and treasure to assist people. So Bill Gates is quite a delightful person. I met him a couple of times and we are happy he’s our key partner.

Also, Bill Gates, till the year 2018, will match every dollar that Rotary raises for polio with $2 to the tune of $35 million every year. So if Rotary raises $35 million, the Gates Foundation will give us $70 million for polio up to the year 2018.

That is how committed and how much he believes in what Rotary is doing and how much he trusts Rotary to put those funds to good use. He has been a tremendous partner.

You are a past District Governor of Rotary Club. What was your tenure like?

Being a District Governor is a year’s sacrifice away from work. When I became a district governor, I was running a 40-bed hospital. It meant that for about nine months of the year, I was not around. I was based in Kano at the time and my territory covered partially the whole of Northern Nigeria. It involves a lot of travels because I had to visit all Rotary clubs. It is a lot of sacrifice but it is something that gives you a lot of pleasure and gratification when you see the impact that Rotarians are making on ground, assisting schools, equipping health centres, helping people with literacy. So it was a great time for me and a great learning experience for me.

Can we know a little bit of your background and educational history?

I like to call myself a Nigerian. I was born in Kano by a Lagos Yoruba man and a Kano Fulani woman. I grew up both in Lagos and in Kano. I went to Amadu Bello University for my Medical School and graduated in 1974. I worked with Lagos State Government for a while then went to Kano for National Youth Service Scheme. From there, I went abroad for my specialisation. I came back and spent years working for the Kano State Government before starting my own practice. Most of my working life has been in Kano. When it was time to retire, I decided to come to Lagos because I felt it gave you the opportunity to find new interests. Here we are four years after on polio campaign.

Can you tell us how you met your wife?

I met my wife at the New Year’s eve dance in 1969. A mutual friend invited us for a New Year eve’s dance. We won the dancing competition and for us that was a message that we are a winning couple.

How big is the family today?

We have four children - two men and two women. Our older daughter is in Canada with her husband and daughter. The younger daughter lives in Dubai. Our oldest son

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

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Body&Soul

world -Dr. Tunji Funsho lives here in Lagos while the second son lives in Dubai but not married yet.

What has it been like being married to your wife for this long?

I am married to a wonderful woman.

My nickname for my wife is ‘Mama Kowa,’ meaning mother of all. Apart from her biological children, she extends her love beyond her family. She has raised many children that are not hers. A lot of them learnt vocational training through her because she had a garment business. I and her children have benefited extensively from her large heart.

She has tolerated me and even when I told her I’m taking this job and she may not see me all the time, she accepted. We will be celebrating our 40 years in marriage next year.

I see some decoration of various awards on your office wall. Can you talk about some of them?

For me, the most important award on this wall is the recognition and appreciation when I finished my work as a District Governor. After that others followed like an International award called the ‘Service above self’ award; then our foundation also recognises Rotarians who have contributed immensely to the organisation.

Those are the three important ones to me. I have other awards at different levels in our organisation.

How do you relax?

I love to read. I love nature, so I go the beach a lot to relax and read. My best time is a time out at the beach, reading a book. Other times are when I’m with my family on vacation.

What is your life’s philosophy?

My life philosophy is follow what your soul tells you to do. All of us have got our God in us. When He puts you into this planet, He gives part of Himself to you and He’s always there. The problem is that we don’t find quiet moments to listen. So, I am still in the process of ensuring I hear God speaking; all of us have it but have not developed it. We should live our lives according to the dictates of our souls and not what someone else tells us to do. Otherwise, we will be living other people’s lives.

What will be your reaction come 2017 and the world is declared polio-free?

One thing I’m going to do? I will take a one year holiday. I will then relax, knowing there is no more polio anywhere in the world.

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Body&Soul

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

H

Killer whatchamacallit (2)

is breath caught in his throat.

“Nechi...Nechi,” he shouted, shaking the young girl who lay motionless on the back of the truck.

He panicked and made to run away but stopped a few paces away. How could he abandon the young girl there? A few minutes ago, the girl gave him a killer orgasm...but what could have gone wrong?

He knew next to nothing about the girl, didn’t even know the friends she came to the party with.

But wait, if he knew her friends, would he go in there and tell them his uncontrollable, huge penistus snuffed life out of their friend? He could as well go in there and announce his crime and wait for the law to take its course. He groped about in the near darkness and picked Nechi’s gown and draped it over her still form. He then shook her once more...no response.

He wondered if he had the nerve to walk back into the club and pretend that nothing had happened. As he considered his next option, his ears picked some footsteps.

That decided it for him. He walked briskly, but noiselessly away...back into the clubhouse.

He moved listlessly among the revelers, neither able to chat with any of the numerous masked girls nor his friends.

After about an hour, he prevailed on his friends and they left the club.

The drive back to their hostel was agony-filled for him. The thought of the immobile Nechi on the back of the truck kept disturbing him. He prayed that she would wake up. Miracles still happen, he believed.

Something had been gnawing at him.

Then it came...unprotected shag! What in this wide world got into him? Why did he do such? Who was Nechi? What did he know about her?

He felt a tingling sensation in his penistus. He felt like using the loo immediately.

He thought of the implications of his stupid act and did a quick sign of the cross. .....

His friends felt it was a good thing they left the club when they did, because they learnt that few hours after they did, the police came and picked up the revelers.

When Nechi’s friend missed her for so long, they went in search of her. When they couldn’t find her, they reported to the guards on duty.

It was the guards that found her lifeless body at the back of the truck. She was rushed to the hospital and the doctor declared her DOA! The doctor’s report said she was raped to death!

Mekson’s face went ashen. Nechi dead?

Raped to death? It was a consensual affair! Lord have mercy! Gawd! Is that how people die?

“Old boy, what’s the problem with you?

Abi na you do the wicked job with that your massive wand?” One of his friends, Khalib, jabbed him.

It was the morning after and they were in their hostel room in the university.

The death of the young woman was in the news.

“Me? How could you imagine that I could do such a vile thing? Rape a woman to death? It’s not in my character. I’m just wondering what specie of human beings could commit such atrocity. It’s so, so wrong. An innocent girl went for a good time outing and some animals raped her to death. It’s unimaginable!” He said indignantly.

“Old boy, loosen up. We know you couldn’t have done such. Such deeds are for hard guys, not for a sissy like you,” Jones said.

They all laughed and thanked their stars that they weren’t there when the body was discovered.

From radio reports, they learnt that Nechi was a rusticated student of a polytechnic in town who didn’t inform her parents of her ordeal. She remained on the campus and squatted with friends while she tried to sort out herself. She was at the Halloween party with some female friends.

After a few days, they all forgot about the incident, but not Mekson. The evil that men do lives with them, or so they say.

Then, he started hearing the Cossy Orjiakor-like voice of Nechi wherever he went.

Every night, he dreamt of Nechi.

Few days later, Mekson’s attempt to wee got him screaming. It got worse in the evening.

“Old boy, go check yourself o,” one of his roommates advised him.

By the next morning, it was obvious he was being punished for his crime. It took him more than a month to get the all clear sign. It was a terrible case of STD. The doctor warned him against unprotected tumble in the hay. He was lucky, it could have been worse.

That wasn’t the only punishment he got.

His conscience would not let him be. He kept hearing Nechi lisping into his ears for years. His penistus reacted in a funny way. Each time he came in contact with female flesh, it would shrink and lose feeling. His prized possession became a burden to him. It would get excited each time he thought about Nechi, swell to full turgidity and throb endlessly, causing him much pain. He would agonise for hours without relief. However, each time he was presented with a relief, it wouldn’t function.

For a very long time, he kept away from such activities until he met an older lady who he poured his heart out to, hiding the fact that the young lady died. Regaining his libido was a gradual process which the lady got him through.

Only of recent, he met May and decided he was going to settle down with her...

A loud noise outside brings him back to the present. A gunshot? He turns and May is still lying motionless on the bed.

He drapes a duvet over her naked form, jumps up from the bed and moves to the window. Everywhere is quiet. A loud noise again, this time, it is nearer and he quickly turns and draws the window blind.

Absentmindedly, he picks a piece of clothing on the floor and swirls it around

his waist.

Then the knocks on a door! He isn’t sure where the noise is coming from, so he tiptoes to the sitting room and peeps through the keyhole at the entrance door.

Everywhere is dark. With his heart in his mouth, he places his left eye in the keyhole, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness outside when the knocks that seem to shake his door to its foundation come.

In his confusion, he pushes back the latch and forces from outside push the door so hard that he lands, hard, on the floor.

About four men walk into his sitting room and move into strategic positions.

One checks the rooms, one after the other.

“Where’s the dollars?” One of them asked in a surprisingly soft tone.

“I don’t have dollars. Everything I have is in the wardrobe in the room,” Mekson replied him calmly.

He’s seen the guns and somehow, he’s not afraid. If they kill him now, won’t he be better off? May lies dead in the room.

He’s still not sure what to do. For the second time in his life, his penistus has shagged life out of a woman that was but some minutes ago, giving him so much satisfaction. What difference will it make if a gun snuffs out his life right now?

The gun toting youth that went into Mekson’s bedroom came out. He moves his head slightly in the direction of the room and two of the men rush in there. They come out slowly, few minutes later.

“What happened to her?” One of them asked Mekson.

“She died. Was about to call my neighbours when you came in,” Mekson replied in a low lifeless voice.

“You are calling neighbours?” The man asked, staring at him.

Mekson nods and the men laugh.

It’s then he looks at himself and realises that he is actually tying May’s gown as wrapper.

“Take everything and kill me. Kill me, there’s nothing left for me to live for in this world,” he pleaded with them.

“We won’t kill you. It’s a waste of our bullet if we do. Why should we take a worthless life? You killed your wife and want us to take the blame off you? We don’t do that. We will take what we can get but not your life...you face the law,” the soft spoken man, who seems to be their leader, said.

They ransack his house and leave with valuables.

Mekson remains at the door till the police arrive more than an hour after the robbers have left.

He sits there, staring into space as one of them goes into his bedroom, comes out and beckons on others to join him.

“Dem don rape him wife to death,” he said.

“Awwuuuu,” another said.

“Wetin dem carry go?” another asked.

Mekson stares into space. Somewhere, his mind is processing what the policeman said.

“Dem don rape him wife to death!”

Is it possible that they hang May’s death on the robbers?

Slowly, his mind returns to the present... ****** Did Mekson lead the police on to believe that the robbers raped May to death?

Let’s find out on Sunday.

•Send your observations to: julietbumah@gmail.com

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Body&Soul

Sexy shorn hair

Biwom Iklaki

T

here is something bold and confident about a woman who cuts her hair. In our society, of course, it is looked upon in certain areas as a taboo, especially if you are married. It must have something to do with the tradition of a widow cutting or scraping her hair when her husband dies.

In more recent times, however, it has become a fashion statement, a trademark if you like. It is right up the same alley as the natural hair movement. Ladies are embracing their uniqueness instead of trying to hide it. It must help also that it can be a conversation starter for the single ladies.

You also get to spend much less on visits to your hair dresser and expensive hair extensions. One of the biggest enviable points to this style is that you can play with your hair colour if you so desire. You could also run a shower and stand under it letting the sprays massage your scalp at every shower time. This could also be an amazing plus in the hotter climes.

There are really no bad reviews to this hairstyle.

There is this lady who has worn hers for many years.

She and her hair have come to understand each other so much that she has become her own hair stylist. She knows all the healthy and fun DIY tricks including hair colouring and she does them herself. She no longer visits the saloon. Much like the aged lady has no business with the midwife.

Anyhow, many ladies out there may have been debating on whether or not to wear the sexy shorn, I say wear it, own it and rock it!

he mini dress is an ultimate classic that can make a woman look casual, chic, sexy and elegant all at the same time. Wearing a mini dress is all about being visually hot and spicy. It’s also about being flirty, simple and to the point. You grab the attention of everyone as you step into a room. They quickly size you up to see the body on display. So let’s face it, wearing short dresses is definitely not for the faint hearted. You need to be confident in your legs,

T

Vanessa Okwara

right. Short dresses set a mood that is fresh, flirty, and fun. It sets a mood that is sassy, clever, and appealing. Wear a strapless short dress or a spaghetti strapped dress as you head for brunch with friends or stepping out for a lunch date during the weekend. Pair your short dress with textured, print, or coloured tights or leggings if are a bit shy to show too much flesh.

Short dresses evoke a style of their own, add drama, flair and polish to any wardrobe. Consider a short A-line dress or a sassy short lacey dress

be sensual and a wonderful little dress to put on for dates and anniversaries.

When you go super-short with your hemline, being confident is your greatest accessory. Then, let your legs be the main attraction. Don’t distract with an attention-getting statement necklace, makeup or over the top hair do. Keep the accessories to a minimum to let the legs shine. The only required trimming is a pair of sky-high stilettos that serve to further elongate those unstoppable legs. In all, choose a short dress that is flattering

Sassy in super-short hemlines

Body&Soul

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28, 29

embrace your body, complexion and know your style.

In pulling off this look, your mood has to be just

for a variety of venues ranging from parties to little get-togethers. In so many ways, a short dress can

Editor’s current obsession

and styles that display those assets you are most willing to display.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Fashion alert:

Swanky sweatpants

Kennedy Aziagba Ghana

M

ost people argue about this particular trend called sweatpants. A lot of people refer to it as joggers while others still maintain it’s a sweat pant. Honestly I believe there is not much difference between sweatpants and joggers; they are quite similar.

Some years back, wearing sweatpants outside the comfort of your home, especially to a place like the cinema, could be considered a fashion disaster be-

cause it is made to be worn indoors and for sporting activities.

Fast forward to 2015 and it somewhat like the ‘it’s thing right now. A lot of people rock it like everyday trousers...like the jeans. With celebrities like M.I, Tekno, Korede Bello and Wizkid, just to mention a few, rocking it, it’s no surprise that it is the new fashion trend.

Fashion designers have redefined what we used to know as sweatpants for staying indoors, or sweatpants for hitting the gym or going for sport activities. It

has been transformed into an acceptable stylish trend for fashion savvy individuals.

Sweat pants are usually made from cotton or polyester, they are often elastic at the waist and may come with pockets or without and they come in different colours. They are also easy and comfortable to wear.

There is no doubt that this is a perfect wear for the weekend, it is advisable to wear a T-shirt and a fitted sweat pant with a pair of lovely sneakers to look casual and stylish.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Body&Soul

C

Before that relationship breaks you!

hidinma paces the floor of her room while she thinks of the next step to take. Jude’s abuse has taken a different twist this week and honestly, she no longer has the capacity to endure the pressure and hate that has characterised their relationship for some time now. How can a man reduce her to an emotional wreck, abuse her both physically and emotionally and she still opens her legs for him anytime he as much as snaps his fingers? No, she can no longer take it!

The worse is that he has not even put a ring on her finger; yet, he makes unimaginable demands from her and expects her to comply. As she looked at herself in the mirror, a girl with swollen eyes and lips stared back at her. Tears rolled down her eyes and she cried profusely for the broken girl she has become.

If you have found yourself in a relationship where you are being abused both physically and verbally or you feel nervous around your partner and insecure about the relationship, then I think you need to find that exist door before you become the progeny of the stories that touch the heart!

Intimate relationships leave you in a vulnerable state where you let down your guard and allow the person you love to have free access to your innermost being. That is why it is even more important to be careful who you allow into your life as an intimate partner.

We are all too familiar with this saying ‘love is blind’. It’s a pity that some people go all the way to make this saying a reality in their lives by being blind and also completely deaf

I

CONNECT NG vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com to obvious signs that they are in a terrible relationship. A lot of ladies have different and sometimes whacky reasons to remain in abusive relationship even when they know their lives are in danger. Topping the list is desperation to get hooked and join the league of band wearing ladies with ‘Mrs.’ appended to their names. For some other ladies, they can’t let go because they have become so sexually tied to their partner that they find it absolutely difficult to let go even when she knows the relationship does not have a future outside the bedroom. Even when their partner is exhibiting hurtful characters to the point of cruelty, they still cling to that relationship tenaciously.

Is it that they relish the idea of playing the victim, or simply a bad case of low self-esteem?

It is true that no one plans to enter into an abusive relationship. In fact, many women who’ve escaped abusive relationships swear that they will never get into another one, only to find themselves becoming victims of abuse once again. A violent relationship may not be violent all the time and the person who is violent may seem very loving at other times and

sorry for their behaviour. This can make it hard to stay angry and upset with them. However, the chance of their violent behaviour continuing is quite high.

It does not matter whose fault it is that made the relationship to hit the rocks; the bottom line is that you are not happy in that relationship. The best thing to do in such a situation is to find the exit before more damage is done to your emotional psyche. It’s a sad story in life that the people we fall in love with do not necessarily have to

It does not matter whose fault it is that made the relationship to hit the rocks; the bottom line is that you are not happy in that relationship...It’s a sad story in life that the people we fall in love with do not necessarily have to love us back

love us back. Someone aptly said the biggest problem of love is that a good guy falls in love with the wrong girl who cheats on him. When he finally meets a good girl who loves him to pieces, he goes ahead to cheat and hurt her because he is on a rebound from the hurt he got from his previous relationship and this has become life’s vicious circle. Such a sad story, isn’t it?

But it is silly to go on a pity party or hang around someone who obviously does not care about you but tramples on your love repeatedly. Get a grip on your emotions and think of yourself for once. Stop dancing to the whims of someone who does not even bend the smallest finger to meet your needs.

It is important to note that being in love does not mean that you should allow yourself to be held captive in a relationship that you need so desperately to escape from. Also, know that being alone and uncommitted is not the worst possible place you can be.

You have the capability of surviving in the world without being attached to someone who brings you constant emotional turmoil.

Somebody else who will love and respect you is out there waiting for you; if only you can take your eyes off this destructive person long enough to embrace love with the right person.

Say NO to that revolving door of misery without looking back. If you are in a failing or unhappy relationship and you are looking for an exit, just convince yourself with every fibre of your being that this is not where you should be. And then start executing actions towards your ESCAPE! •Send your views to the email above!

Combating the evils of spousal abuse

have just seen one of the most disturbing video on social media. It is a depiction of an act of barbarism that is even below that of an animal. It is the worst form of spousal abuse that I have seen and it is really making me sick to my stomach. In a highly tenanted apartment, with people standing by and watching as spectators, a man is brutally assaulting a woman that is naked but for her undies. The man then proceed to pick up what I can only describe as a wooden club with the thickness of an electric pole and he hits the woman twice until she became unconscious. He then drags the lifeless body across the yard to an unknown location. It was short but it has disturbed my consciousness since.

I have been wondering what could make a man so brutal towards his fellow man not to mention someone who is supposed to be his wife, his companion and mother of his children?

What gives him the right to the life of a fellow human without fear of reprisal?

She is a woman and subaltern and so she has no rights?

The video clip raised so many question that we must confront as a community. It looked like some densely populated area, so where is this place?

I mean, is there no law in my country that protects women? Why will such brutality be perpetuated without any law enforcement officer investigating it now?

While the supposed husband is a brute and the sub species of an animal as I think animals are even capable of displaying a higher sense of respect for human life, I think there are more

disturbing aspects of that clip that questions our communal value. Like I said above, it appears to be a densely populated area and there were people standing and watching, so why did no one step forward to help this woman? Why was someone recording the show of shame up to the point of lifelessness and not intervene? Is social media now making every human existence a spectacle like sociologist Guy Debord articulates in 1967 that we will rather record such a barbaric act and share on social media rather than protect the woman? Shame on all those who stood, watched and did nothing. They share in the bloodguilt if this woman is dead.

Some comments on the video states that the woman was caught cheating

and so deserve the punishment the aggrieved husband was giving and I nearly reached into the computer to punch the faceless idiots. If she was cheating, why didn’t the husband pick on the man? Why the woman? Why can’t he go to the court and seek a divorce rather than subject the woman to such public humiliation and physical abuse in broad daylight? Is this guy even a saint that he has never done anything in the past to aggrieve his wife? I am seething with so much anger at this disturbing video that I really want to take this guy on. Men like him give men like me a bad name.

People see such video and conclude that this is the way with African men.

We are wife beaters, wife murderers and violators of female rights. But that

It appears to be a densely populated area and there were people standing and watching, so why did no one step forward to help this woman? Why was someone recording the show of shame up to the point of lifelessness and not intervene?

is not the case for our culture respect women. The bride price is a symbolic gesture of appreciation of the good training the wife has received from her parents and not a compensation for a commodity. In ancient Yoruba land, Kings hear cases of dispute between a man and his wife and have often been known to give judgements in the favour of women. No, a beast is a beast irrespective of his colour or country of birth and the guy in the video is just that, a beast.

We can still make this right. Everyone who has seen that video must forward it to the Nigerian Police Force and demand an investigation. If we allow such acts to go unpunished, then I can only advise every Nigerian woman to start seeking refuge in other countries. The woman could be our sisters, mothers and friends. The authorities too must take this kind of cases serious. There are enough landmarks in the background to at least give an idea of the area where this occurred and prompt an investigation.

I admit that in this age of socially mediated technology, the barriers of physical borders have been broken and so there is an off chance that the incident did not take place in Nigeria.

In that case, our sense of justice must then make us force the international police to look into it. Whatever the case, there is a human in that video whose rights were violated beyond comprehension and as such, we must all rise and demand justice. No husband has the right to take the life of his wife.

32

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

Mr. & Mrs. Adeyemi

All for Adeyemi Sanni @ 40

H

is name may not ring a bell in the ear of every one across the strata of the society but certainly not in the world where he plies his trade as a consultant with concentration on tax. At least, his handling of about three hundred quality tax audit briefs speaks volume of his reach and influence as a top professional tax consultant. Like earlier stated, the pioneer founder of Mazars & Yemi Sanni & Co. is not a regular face to all.

However, this is not as a result of lacking the wherewithal to blow his trumpet but because he prefers to consolidate on his achievements in a rather quiet manner.

However, like gold fish that have no hiding place, Sanni’s 40th birthday did not only announce him but also made a loud statement about his high profile status, influence and connections. Important personalities turned out in droves to identify with him.

To make his birthday memorable, the birthday boy invited guests to high profile event centre, The ARK, Lekki in Lagos, where he hosted family, friends, associates and well-wishers to a modest but superlative gig. The high point of the ceremony, which was compered by the duo of Utti Nwachukwu and Helen Paul, was when individuals took turns to extol the virtues of the birthday boy to the admiration of the audience. The roll call of dignitaries included the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, Tunde Fowler; Folarin Ogunsanwo of Lagos Internal Revenue Service; and Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bimbo Ashiru.

Another factor that stood the event out was the solid arrangement which was second to none as well as the abundance of exotic drinks and edibles.

Chidinma Okeke flies Anambra flag

I

n its bid to empower women as well as celebrate elegance, beauty and grace, the management of Anambra Broadcasting Service, with the support of the Governor Willie Obaino administration, has floated a pageant in that regard. The second edition of Miss Anambra 2015 recently took place in the state capital, Awka, and the successful event has seen Chindima Okeke becoming the new Miss

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Encomiums as Femi Otedola adds a year T

hough Femi Otedola was born into a relatively privileged home well over four decades ago, he has been able to carve a niche for himself. Apparently with a smart business sense and determination to create a niche for himself, young Femi, back in the days, had toed the path that would elevate him to the limelight.

The fact that his father was the governor of Lagos State at a time did not limit his dream.

Rather, he took advantage of it and trudged on to actualise his dreams. Today, as a business and founder of Forte Oil, Femi rates among the richest and most celebrated Nigerians. With a lot of followers and admirers, it was only natural that encomiums would pour in like a deluge on his birthday.

It fell on November 4 when the articulate dude clocked 48. Not leaving anything to chance, his daughter, Ife, aka DJ Cuppy, took to her social network page to celebrate her father with joyous and emotion-laden words.

Anambra.

The event, which had lot of dignitaries as well as popular faces in the entertainment industry in attendance, Miss Okeke was held at Marble Arch Hotels in Awka. The 21 contestants strutted the stage in their traditional, casuals and evening wears after which the question and answer session further trimmed the number of the Miss Anambra hopefuls to five finalists. Chidinma Okeke eventually beat the rest to be crowned the winner of the contest. Chidinma, a 200 level Medical Laboratory student of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka and indigene of Ogboji in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state, promised to infuse her best into humanity, contribute immensely to the promotion of the pageant and propagate the rich culture and heritage of Anambra State and Nigeria.

She further pledged to be a good role model to other Nigerian girls and be a good ambassador of the state.

Chidinma, in her capacity as Miss Anambra, will represent Nigeria at Miss Intercontinental beauty contest in Germany later in the year. Part of the paraphernalia of her crown is a brand new Kia Rio by Dana Motors Limited, a N1 million cheque, wardrobe allowance and business class flight ticket from Air Peace to travel anywhere in Nigeria for a period of one year, among others.

Bisola Kamson’s sister weds

T

here is no doubt that the Kamson family is one of the most popular in Lagos State. One of their sons, Tokunbo Bolaji Kamson, has not only leveraged on the name but has also taken it to greater heights. Tokunbo Kamson, having distinguished himself as a successful engineer, has tried to contribute his quota to the development of Lagos State on a bigger stage by becoming the governor of the state. But this has not yet materialised.

However, his clout is not in doubt as he was made Nigeria’s ambassador to Jamaica in the immediate past administration.

While the envoy appears to be slowing down, one of the family’s daughters, Bisola, is fast taking over as she’s mostly seen as the face of the clan. This is especially as she wields some powers in her own right as the managing director of Lagos State Waterways Authority.

This explains why she was in charge as a perfect host when her younger sister, Bukola, recently got married. It was indeed a day of joy for the household of Kamson when their daughter was given out in marriage to Lolu Maye several days Bisola back.

The glamorous cere-

mony took place at Havila Event Centre, Oniru, Victoria Island in Lagos.

Deji Adeleke’s world

E

de, Osun State-born Adedeji Adeleke loves to keep a low profile even with his enviable status as a successful businessman sitting atop a multi-billion naira investment. Meanwhile, even as a well to do individual, he still prays to see his offspring turn out well. This wish is fast coming to fruition for him.

Adeleke If anyone says that the most popular of his children, David, who is better known as Davido, as an entertainer is a success story will amount to stating the obvious. He is a rave of the moment with a deep pocket to show for it. Davido’s sibling, Adewale, is also making their father’s world a fulfilling one as he’s also doing very well in his own endeavour as the chairman of HKN Music, the entertainment outfit handling his younger brother’s activities. As a proof of moving up the ladder, to the admiration of all, Adewale, few days ago, took delivery of a Range Rover worth about N30 million.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Body&Soul

Thinking

Uche Nnaji records new feat

ome years ago when Uche Nnaji Sworld, decided to go into the fashion not many gave him a chance.

Uche did not give in to obstacles but placed his gaze on the positive side by opening a fashion outlet known as Ouch.

The story, of course, is not the same as with when he started as fortune has smiled on him. He has moved up Nnaji with branches of his outfit in a number of places around the nation. Uche, some days back in a social media post, encouraged people not to give up on their dream while he said he had taken delivery of an exotic automobile, Mercedes Benz E-350. Almost immediately, Uche landed another grand achievement with the opening of his premium shoe line, for which he’s been receiving commendation.

Kashamu Buruji hits brickwall

itherto to his incursion into parH tisan politics, Kashamu Buruji was simply known as a socialite who

had a knack for playing around with cash which he’s got in abundance. His ability to spend came handy in making him the man to beat as he went on to become very powerful within his state and in the Peoples Democratic Party as a whole.

However, he met stiff opposition in former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Buruji but all that never stopped his ambition to become a senator. He defeated his opponents, including businessman, Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress, in the 2015 election to clinch the seat.

The rest is history now as he’s facing extradition to the United States.

While he has been able to put the extradition on hold through the judicial process, he has found himself in another ordeal as the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal has declared a rerun in some parts of his senatorial district.

Fiona Amuzie gets busy

light skinned and beautiful Syearslim, Fiona came into the limelight some back when she was crowned

the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria.

Her reign was such a successful one as there was no stain that smeared her image. She was also applauded for her pet project which was a campaign against human trafficking and child labour. She, however, relocated to the United Kingdom where she had secured admission to study in a university.

Fiona, some months back, graduated and returned to the country. Infor-

mation reaching us from those who should know is that she’s currently strategising on how to take the project she worked on as a beauty queen from Amuzie where she left it as her own contribution to the society.

Gov. Ajimobi over the moon

iven the immense influence of G his predecessors, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala,

whom he contested against in 2011, many never thought the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Abiola Ajimobi, could become the governor of Oyo State in 2011.

But he was able to dislodge Akala to become the number one citizen of the Pacesetter State. Four years later, he was faced with the hurdle of securing a second term as no governor had served twice in the state. Again, he scaled through, breaking the jinx to becoming the first governor to serve two terms.

He also Gov. Ajimobi trounced Ladoja at the election tribunal. While basking in the euphoria of the tribunal victory, another sound of joy broke in his household. This time, it was his daughter, Bisola, married into the family of Ibadan billionaire, Kola Daisi, that was delivered of a baby in the United Kingdom.

Remi Adikwu breaks new ground

ight skinned and petite business L woman cum politician, Chief Remi Adikwu Bakare, has over the years proven to be a source of inspiration to Nigerian women.

Remi, as a politician, tried her hands at becoming the first female governor of Lagos State but that dream was not realised. All that is now history as she has since relocated from Lagos to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Information from those who should know has it that the woman seems to have a magic wand going by the way she’s been able to stabilise very well in that part of the country, especially as it has to do with her business.

Remi, currently rates among the top practitioners in the real Adikwu estate business.

Aloud

) 0807 270 9777

paulhelenproductions@yahoo.com

with Helen Paul

Who are you to judge?

‘T

ouch not my anointed, and do my prophet no harm…’ that verse of the Holy Bible, to my understanding, doesn’t mean that pastors cannot be criticisewhen they have done something visibly wrong. But Nigerians are so religious to the extent that pastors are regarded as invincible, and shouldn’t be criticised when they are wrong. What that verse simply means is that you shouldn’t plan evil against your fellow human. You shouldn’t crucify Mr A for an offence, and look the other way when a ‘Pastor ’ commits the same offence.

I’m amazed at how Nigerians can be very religious, most times hypocritically. I get irritated when some people are enmeshed in this holier than thou syndrome. But just like my Uncle, Tuface Idibia rightly said, ‘Nobody holy pass.’ Interestingly, God is not interested in the number of days you go to church or mosque, or whether you sleep on mountains day and night. His priority is your heart; how dirty or pure is it? Are you among those frequent church goers, or you are even a church worker, yet your behaviour to fellow humans are not Christ-like It reminds me of the story of those who asked Jesus Christ, “When did we see you hungry and we refused togiveyoufood…” and He replied them, saying that in as much as they have failed to feed their fellow human who is in need, they have equally done the same thing to Him. The lesson from that story is that God will not come down from heaven so that we can show Him how strong we love Him. But since our fellow humans are created in His ‘image’, they deserve to be shown undiluted lov Nigerian polity is currently heated, no thanks to the general elections that are underway.

Campaigns are going on here and there, and the politicians are employing every available vessel to reach out to the masses. And as political animals, everybody is involved in politics one way or the other. Entertainers and pastors are no exception.

The society is quick to condemn individuals or entertainers, but when pastors do the same, nobody talks. We have seen the roles being played by some pastors in the on-going political campaigns so far, but nobody is criticising them. But entertainers are being crucified for campaigning for politicians. A pastor can

romance two presidential candidates from different parties and nothing is wrong with it, but if an entertainer dares that, it becomes a big issue. It is only in Nigeria that we are quick to condemn people, except pastors.

I’m not against pastors. As a matter of fact, many of them are my fathers and mothers, and I’m sure they are reading this, but I need to reiterate that myfellow Nigerians need to work more on their faith in God more because pastors have failed us in many endeavours. But I know one man who never fails –Jesus. That is why we need to renew our faith and strength in Him. I have realised that faith in God is what we need –that is the only thing that can give us consolation. George MacDonald said, “A perfect faith would lift us up absolutely above fear. It is in the cracks, crannies and guilty faults of our belief, the gaps that are not faith, that the show of apprehension settles and ice of unkindness forms.”

Unanswered questions can be unsettling. I have faith. Some might even say it is strong. I know who God is, and I believe His word is true. I try my best to trust Him, even when life does not make sense. However, there are these crevices deep in the recesses of my soul, where fear resides. I can envision the kind of faith I want to have. I can foreshadow the kind of woman I want to be . . . but I always seem to fall short. I never meet the standard I have engrained in my mind. I have a good relationship with God now, but it has not always been that way. Life beat me up pretty bad before I was broken enough to recognize my need for Him.

I’m not against pastors.

As a matter of fact, many of them are my fathers and mothers, and I’m sure they are reading this, but I need to reiterate that myfellow Nigerians need to work more on their faith in God more because pastors have failed us in many endeavours

34

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Wine & Dine

Body&Soul

Pamper your palate with Mirassou Ibukunoluwa Kayode

M

irassou is one of the finest wines made from the heart of California in the United States of America. This wine has different varieties to fill the palate with delectable satisfaction, among which are Mirassou California Merlot and Mirassou California Chardonnay.

It is a wine that has over the years celebrated quality produce of different flavours of its wines, bringing satisfaction to every taste bud and it can be served at any given occasion

when need arises.

Mirassou Merlot is selected from merlot grapes. This red wine holds flavours of rich blackberry and black cherry layered with vanilla undertones and hints of toasted oak and brown spice. Merlot is full-bodied, delivering a lingering smooth finish on the palate and it can be served at any temperature.

It is best paired with root vegetables to give better satisfaction if need be.

Mirassaou Chardonnay is a white wine that exhibits intense aromas and flavours of stone fruits such as

peaches and nectarines. With living notes of tropical fruits like pineapple, melon pears, citrus, floral and vanilla notes combine with creamy feel that culminate in a pleasantry concentrated finish.

Chardonnay can be paired with certain foods depending on individual preference. It can also be enjoyed without any food pair. But when pairing, it is best enjoyed with macaroni, cheese with apple wood bacon, roasted red pepper and pesto apricot spread with chevre to enjoy every taste.

Akara mboro (plantain puffs) Biwom Iklaki

N

igerian desserts are always fun to prepare and the process makes sharing the meals even more fun. One of such meals is what the Efiks call Akara mboro, aka plantain akara. For a while, besides frying the ripened plantain as an accompaniment for beans, rice and such meals, one didn’t know what to do with ripened plantain. Then someone had the genius idea to make puffs out of them. The process is pretty simple and the least enthusiastic cook can make a fabulous job of this recipe. It is also sweet and should be avoided by those with diabetes. You should also keep in check the amount of added sugar.

INGREDIENTS 2 medium sized ripe plantains (peeled) 1 cup plain flour 4 teaspoons fast action yeast ½ cup warm water Salt and pounded pepper to taste Vegetable oil PREPARATION In a bowl, mix the yeast with the warm water thoroughly (no lumps).

Cover and set aside. Peel and mash the plantain lightly, do not turn to a smooth paste. Set aside. Sift the flour and salt into another bowl. Add the yeast solution and stir till you get a medium consistency. You want it thicker than your pancake mix, not too runny. Add the mashed plan-

tain. At this point, I love to mix with a wooden stick (the one you use to mix semo or poundo yam). Cover with aluminium foil. Leave to rest for 10-15 minutes in the warmest corner of your kitchen. Beat the now fluffy batter and add your pounded pepper. In a wok, heat the oil (at least three inches deep)

and start dropping about a tablespoon amount of batter into the oil till you fill the surface of the wok. Keep turning them till golden. Turn down the heat to ensure even cooking and prevent burning. When brown, remove and place on paper towels to drain most of the oil. Serve creatively like a kebab

or in a dessert platter and dust on some confectioners’ sugar if you will. #KITCHENTIP Don’t confuse baking soda for baking powder. Things won’t work out as you hope. While both are leaveners, they work in entirely different ways.

35

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

RazzleDazzle

•Omowunmi Akinnifesi Former beauty queen and Nigerian business woman, Omowunmi Akinnifesi, is the daughter of a former Central Bank of Nigeria director.

She was born in Lagos but spent her early years in Sierra Leone before returning to her native Nigeria with her family. The environmental ambassador for Lagos is one lady many men will do anything to have. She is gorgeous, charming and glamorous. Having won the prestigious Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant in 2005, Wunmi who has been romantically linked with top politicians and Lagos boys is very choosy in keeping relationships.

•Aituaje Vivian Iruobe Although, she has a daughter named Emerald, whom she gave birth to 17 years ago, Waje says she has never been married.

Waje grew up in Benin, Edo State.

Her dad is from Edo, while her mum hails from Onitsha, Anambra State. Waje is currently working with the youths of her community through an organisation she calls Waje’s Safe House, where she teams up with other NGOs quarterly to help fight for their cause.

•Adunni Ade Light skinned and mixed heritage Nollywood actress, Adunni Ade, was born in Queens, New York to a Nigerian father and American/German mother. Despite having two kids, Adunni Ade has confessed severally in interviews that she has never been married. Having stated reasons why she didn’t marry the father of her two sons, Adunni, who has yet to say ‘I DO’ to a man claims she is very emotional, and that is why she is taking her time.

•Kehinde Bankole She made her entertainment debut in 2003 with Miss Commonwealth Nigeria beauty pageant and proceeded to the 2004 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria contest.

Kehinde, who is a Nigerian actress, model and television host, has featured in top cinema movies. In 2007, Kehinde in an interview confirms she is in a very serious relationship and

Body&Soul Abiola Alaba Peters

with

08062622328

Edwin Usoboh 08028101185

Nigeria’s hottest single female celebrities (2)

In 2014, some Nigerian female celebrities tied the knot with their lovers in celebrity weddings. ABIOLA ALABA PETERS presents the concluding part of the top 25 female celebrities who are rich, successful but yet to say ‘I DO’ is willing to give her best. Eight years down the line, fans of the dark skinned talented actress are still looking forward to when their darling will say the word, ‘I DO.’ •Anthonia Yetunde Alabi Popularly referred to as the First Lady of rap music in Nigeria, Anthonia Yetunde Alabi aka Sasha P was undoubtedly Nigeria/Africa’s number one female rapper till she suddenly let her music take a back seat. The motivational speaker and graduate of law took a break off the music scene to focus on her clothing business. Having been in showbiz for over a decade, the Lagos-born who was once a proud brand ambassador is over 30.

•Zina Anumudu Zina is the daughter of Chief Willie Anumudu, one of Nigeria’s wealthiest men whose hands are deep in the automobile industry while her mother, Nkiru Amunudu, holds the title of one of Nigeria’s most expensively dressed woman (heard she has the most Hermes bags in Nigeria). Having said that, Zina is an event host, style blogger and yet to say ‘YES’ to any suitor.

•Lola Ojetola She is a combination of perhaps everything a man wants. Beauty, brain, swag, elegance and many more. The joyuosly desirable lady who is the creator of Blinx Lashes has the capability to stop any man in his tracks. Will 2015 reveal him?

•Kemi Adetiba Long before now, her relationship status had been a hot topic of discussion in the entertainment circuit.

Though she has been linked with

many celebrities in the past, all have either been rumours or speculation. Recently, she was linked with Ernest Danjuma Carter. Kemi who recently shared her experience on overcoming fibroid has neither confirmed nor denied the story.

Which means something is cooking and we can’t wait.

•Liz Awoliyi Since returning to the country, Liz has risen to the pinnacle of her career as editor of Nigeria’s leading lifestyle magazine, Genevieve. She’s one lady that doesn’t have to do much to keep men on her trail. She’s got the charm and aura many men want in a woman. Will 2015 be her year?

•Georgina Eku Edewor According to reports, stylish TV presenter/actress Eku Edewor is dating photographer/enterprenuer, Chini Odogwu. The former model who burst into the African showbiz scene via Mnet’s 53 Extra has been dating Chini for a few months and friends say “it’s serious.”

The light skinned babe is a graduate of the New York Film Academy and one of the regular faces at high profile events.

It is only hoped that her man pops the question this year.

•Sylvia Nduka Arguably, one of the hottest gists in 2015 was the story of the sizzling romance between former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Slyvia Nduka, and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote. The story generated quite some interest, especially as the dollar billionaire is said not to have a woman in his home. It was reported that the ex-beauty queen was not just loving the relationship but had also agreed to adopt the tenets of Islam by beginning to wear hijab.

Slyvia also updated her name on instagram as Slyvia Nduka AD, suspected to mean Aliko Dangote. However, Dangote has come out to deny the story. If wishes were horses, this was one wedding we would have loved to see in 2015.

•Fredda Francis Whenever this Edo State-born socialite steps out, it is difficult to ignore her. With a style that many try to replicate, she nestles comfortably among movers and shakers of Nigeria. With Oasis Medspa in Ikoyi, Fredda as she is fondly called, is not only about business, as she always loves to have fun by hanging out with friends. Hopefully, she will say ‘I do’ soon to one of her suitors.

•Shirley Igwe Many actors play politicians on big and small screens, but only few have made the transition in real life. One of such is Shirley Igwe, the former Delta soap model who was appointed a principal protocol officer to the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, in 2013.

Despite criticisms about her appointment, the fast rising actress has held her head high, an attitude she got from her upbringing. With elections over and politics taking a back seat, it is expected that Shirley will have more time to make new friends and hopefully say ‘I do.’

•Liz Anjorin A suffusion of joy and blast of happiness envelopes us when we watch this talented actress on our TV screens. When you count Yoruba actresses who are on the A-list, Liz Anjonrin’s name appears among the top three. The light skinned, pretty and delectable Liz is regarded as the new face of Yoruba entertainment. Hopefully, 2015 will be her year.

36

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

E-mail: editor.body-soul@newtelegraphonline.com

Elephants on a rope

S

Size chart for summer dress

uri was a sweet boy and a wildlife lover. He was fond of elephants, the mammoth animals. In fact, he was very crazy about elephants. However, he never had a chance to see real elephants. All he saw of those mammoth creatures were only on television and computers.

He lived in a small town. The place he lived didn’t provide him a chance to visit the elephants.

His only desire was to see and touch at least an elephant before he died. Fortunately, when he was 25 years, he got a chance to join a crew of wildlife lovers. He enquired about their plans and with eagerness, he asked whether they would take him to see the elephants. And they said yes. The journey happily began and they visited various places. Suri was so

happy and enjoyed the tour to the core. He was waiting for years to visit the elephants in real life and the day had come. As they passed through the forests, they walked past a beautiful village.

One from the team said that the village had more than 100 elephants and Suri could enjoy the entire day in that village.

There was nothing in the world that could measure Suri’s happiness hearing those words. Finally, he saw those elephants for the first time in his life. He was amazed to see the elephants and screamed happily. After spending two to three hours just seeing the elephants, he was shocked to see those elephants tied to a frail fence. It was a thin rope, not even a chain and there was no cage or any kind of shelter where the ele-

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Celebrations!!!

phants lived. Instead, there were simple sheds without any doors.

Suri was surprised as he knew the strength of elephants and saw them tied to strong chains in the television. He asked one of the countrymen why they were left freely without any protection.

“Won’t they easily break the rope?” Siri asked.

The trainer replied, ‘“They won’t.”

Suri was surprised and asked how?

The trainer replied, “They were trained here since their childhood. When they were babies, we used to tie them with a strong rope and the kid elephants weren’t able to break the rope or chain we used to tie them when they were small. It was strong enough to hold them. A few elephants would try to break the rope or chain, but could not set them free. So as they grew, they developed a false belief that the small and thin ropes were too strong for them to break and they continued to get tied by their belief!”

Suri was amazed as well as shocked. The powerful elephant wasn’t strong enough mentally to get them free from a thin rope.

However, he left the place as he was happy to see the elephants.

Our lives are like the elephant’s Hurray! Lesemi Obey-GM is 6! false beliefs. We follow the false This gorgeous little madam loves royalty as her favourite colour beliefs we experience and fail to is purple and best cartoon is Cinderella. Six great gbosas for you try out something just because darling! God bless you! we did not accomplish it earlier.

Why couldn’t the pirate play cards? w w w. k i d - What is a Cheerleader’s favourite food?

Ans: Because he was sitting on the deck!

Ans: Cheerios! sworldfun.

Gags

Why can’t Cinderella play soccer?

Ans: Because she’s always running away from the ball.

What did the judge say to the dentist?

Ans: Do you swear to pull the tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth?

When is a baby good at basketball?

Ans: When it’s dribbling!

Why did the golfer wear two pairs of pants?

Ans: In case he got a hole in one!

When does a doctor get mad?

Ans: When he runs out of patients!

Why did the pillow go to the doctor?

Ans: He was feeling all stuffed up!

MOYIN & FRIENDS

LITTLE LINDER

By Ayo Oyerinde

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By eei

37

15 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

y Interview time in the history of elections in Nigeria, a loser at the level of the Presidency took his telephone to call the winner and congratulated him. It was the frst time in our history and because of that singular gesture, tension came down automatically and everybody was so happy that this country can now enjoy peace.

But it is very unfortunate that while we were expecting that because of that magnanimous gesture our country was beginning to mature, then all of a sudden, we are beginning to see that things taking shape that will sooner or later constitute a disturbance to public peace in this country. It is rather unfortunate, particularly when you look at the margin of the victory.

All the presidential election results that I know of, no winner emerged with a margin of 2.5 million votes. In most cases, the margin was 10 million or more. There was a case where the margin was up to 20 million and yet there was violence. In the last case, it was a margin of two and a half million votes, yet there was no violence. So anything that happens in the politiy that could threaten the peace and tranquility of the system is not in the interest of this country. It is unfortunate.

What do you think about the APC and the fulfillment of its campaign promises to Nigerians? Many of these promises are either being denied or simply dumped by the party and its leaders in government. What do you make of this trend?

that is of public knowledge. It shouldn’t be something that people will begin to ask what happened. It should be so open that everybody will agree that the raid was justified.

So for Dasuki’s house to be singled out for a search out of thousands of retired public officers in Nigeria, in my opinion, is abnormal.

If it were after 10 or 20 people had been searched, that his name was mentioned then everybody would not see it as an odd thing.

But to begin with him, not on account of any open infraction looks like a witch-hunt.

Not long after that, the Senate President, the number three in the ranks of public officers in Nigeria, was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal and charged with a criminal offence. In spite of the fact that his lawyers said that due process had not been followed, the tribunal insisted on going on with the trial.

I understand that the normal thing is that the Code of Conduct Bureau should have invited Saraki when it noticed discrepancies on his asset declaration form. The idea is to inform him of what they had against him and give him an opportunity to explain himself. It is for him to agree or not to agree. If he agreed that something was wrong with his form, he would be taken to the tribunal straightaway. But if he did not agree with them, they would investigate him further to substantiate his claims.

I don’t want to criticise anybody, but even from the way the case is being rushed through, is suspicious. To my mind, it has not followed the due process that I have come to know in my life time.

Then a few days afterwards, operatives of the DSS were sent to go to the Akwa Ibom State Government House in the absence of a sitting governor to ransack the whole place.

This is one of the officials which our constitution provided with immunity. If these incidents continue, we are definitely sliding into

a police state.

In the press statement you issued a few days ago, you blamed the post-election violence of 2007 and 2011 on those who lost in those elections. Are you holding President Muhammadu Buhari responsible for the violence and bloodshed that trailed those elections?

You see, on the two cases, the violence took place not during the election, not during the campaigns, even not during the announcement of the results. You can check the dates.

They took place after the results were announced but surprisingly all the mayhem was perpetrated in the states where the losers of the presidential polls won the election. It was at the time when the house of the former Speaker of the House of Reoresentatives, Ghali Umar Na’ Abba, was ransacked; the house of the Emir of Kano then, the late Ado Bayero, was also attacked and cars in front of the house were set ablaze. The house of another very important traditional ruler, the late Galadima of Kano, was attacked and set on fire. An emergency door had to be created by cracking the wall for him to be evacuated to safety from his own house.

All these things were perpetrated by supporters of the party that lost. The same thing happened in the two incidences that I mentioned. I don’t think that I’m the only one in this country that knows about these incidents.

You know about it, other people know about it.

But this time around (2015), before the election I can tell you that thousands of Southerners relocated from the North to the South; thousands of Northerners relocated from the South to the North out of fear that after the election, there would be mayhem all over the country. Yet, not a fly was killed. For the first

Apart from the speeches at the campaign rallies, after the President was elected, in his maiden press conference, he emphasised three things as the cardinal points that he would pursue. I heard it; the one that he himself used his own mouth and said that he would fight insecurity, finishing Boko Haram by the end of the year. He gave a deadline and directed the security establishment to relocate to Maiduguri. The second promise was that he would fight corruption and the third point was that he would provide employment to the unemployed.

In fact, I heard him at that time saying that his party had worked out the plan by which every year, they would employ a minimum of two million people. When he made that statement, I happened to know that there was a data on the number of unemployed graduates in Nigeria. The number given was 25 million. Then I said in my mind, that since he is elected for a four-year tenure, he will be able to provide two million job slots per year and that will amount to eight million jobs only at the end of his tenure. What will happen to the remaining 17 million unemployed people?

Even at that, he forgot that the figure of young graduates seeking for jobs will continue to grow every year as these young people come out of school. So it appears that the new graduates coming to join the army of the unemployed annually were not taken into account by Buhari and his party.

It is not a question that somebody said it for him, he said it himself. Anybody can go to the television station and ask for the clips. You will see it. So I am surprised that they are denying their promises. I didn’t hear it, but if anybody is saying that Buhari did not make promises to Nigerians, I think that person is not telling the truth.

You were part of the 2014 National Conference where a lot of decisions were taken about the future of Nigeria. What would you advise Buhari to do about the conference report since the APC was not part of it and is not positively disposed to its outcome?

The conference has done its own work, his predecessor has done his own work. He is now the President. The normal thing in this kind of situation is to submit the report to either the President or the governor, depending on who initiated it. Then you appoint officials to go through the report and produce a White Paper. In the case of our own report, it fell into three categories, namely the one that can be handled by a change in poli-

cies, the ones that can be handled through an enactment in the National Assembly and the one that can be handled through constitutional amendments. The committee that was set up by the previous government sat down and drew up a White Paper for the previous government and it was part of the handover notes to the new government. Now as the new President, I expect him to study the report as well as the draft White Paper to see if there is a need for adjustments. After making his own adjustments, then he should send it to the National Assembly. So this is what I expect him to do. I don’t think he will just throw it away.

From 1953 when this country started constitutional conferences till date, I was in active politics all through the years but I can tell you that I have never seen a gathering of eminent Nigerians better than the gathering that that conference put together. It was a gathering of Nigeria’s first 11. So I don’t think that anybody in Buhari’s position will throw that report away.

I happen to know that some of the people who are top notchers of the APC participated in the conference in their individual capacities. Also, some of those people nominated as ministers now were participants at that conference.

So, I don’t think that the report will just be thrown away. I expect that the government will send the report to the National Assembly for legislative action.

You earlier said that the country is at a standstill. What do you think the government can do to get the country back on the track of progress?

The fact remains that our country depends on only one product as its main source of revenue and that is oil. Unfortunately, oil is having a problem globally. The price is down and that is affecting the economy negatively.

When I heard that the President was going to have a retreat with his ministers, my expectation was that after the retreat, they would come up with a blueprint as to how they are going to tackle the enormous problems facing this country. Unfortunately, I think they have started on a wrong note because the major contributor to the national revenue is the Nigeria Customs Service. Recently, a large chunk of its top echelon either resigned on their own or were dismissed from the service. I read in the newspapers that the number of senior customs officials who have quit the system is in the region of 50.

This crop of officers is not what you can replace overnight. They had the requisite experience to handle the tasks. It will require a gradual process of acquiring experience before the new ones can fit into the shoes left by these older officers. My fear is that maybe the collection of revenue from that angle may suffer if care is not taken. But my expectation as to the outcome of the retreat is that a blueprint will be produced that will spell out the measures the government is going to take to deal with the challenges in the economy.

Any country that wants to address the issue of unemployment and economic regeneration must address two issues. One, the establishment of more industries to create an avenue to recruit more hands and empower the people who are unemployed economically. Secondly, you must also be ready to deal with agriculture because it is the only area where you can employ millions of people if you handle it properly. We are lucky that in Nigeria, we have a lot of dams and the quickest way of increasing agricultural production is by way of encouraging more people to go into irrigation farming. But it does not happen overnight.

You need to prepare the land and you need to create channels and canals to convey the water round the farms. I hope there will be a blueprint as to how we can transform our agriculture and modernise it in such a way that it will create massive employment opportunities and guarantee food security.

I also expect that they will come up with a blueprint on reviving the power sector to drive industrialisation, create job opportunities and diversify our economy.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Politics

Save education: Okowa seeks curriculum upgrade Amaechi Udemba

W

hy do thousands of School leavers remain unemployed many years after graduation from the secondary or tertiary institutions? Is it as a result of poor funding of education or a curriculum problem or a combination of the two? This is the main thrust of the task before the Six-man Planning Committee on Education Summit inaugurated by the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, in line with his pledge to ensure quality and progressive curriculum to meet the skills required for modern day ICT–driven national and global economies.

The above promise encapsulated in his SMART programme of relevant health and education policies. Governor Okowa is mindful of the needs to re-order our curriculum in view of the growing number of unemployable graduates with both First and Second Class Upper divisions. It’s a paradox of sorts that while there is overwhelming evidence on falling standards of education in Nigeria, a number of students are graduating with flying colours from courses that have no relevance to the present day economic realities on a yearly basis.

For instance, what appropriateness are some courses in Social Sciences in our yearnings to match the level of economic development in countries like Malaysia, Singa-

pore, South Korea and China? If we must be reminded, China was once referred to as a “Sleeping giant” by Napoleon Bonaparte, who also said that when it wakes up, the World will notice it. Today, China had, indeed, woken up as the second largest economy in the World after the United States.

For pecuniary reasons, however, schools here are in competition with one another over which will turn out the highest numbers of graduates without giving thoughts on developing an academic curriculum that will equip the graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop the society.

Nigeria is about the only country, where our curriculum has remained static, yet we talk about diversifying the economy and becoming the 20th strongest economy in the World by year 2020 as though it would come on its own.

With the growing number of unemployable graduates, with its multiplier effects on crime, the full horror of not paying particular attention to the development of our human resource, through a curriculum change that emphasises on entrepreneurial skills and technical knowledge now hit us in the face like a thunderbolt. Unemployment as seen in the Malaysia, Singapore and China, for example, cannot be addressed without huge manufacturing talented human resources.

This, in Nigeria, cannot come to fruition where there are no skills or technical knowl-

edge to stimulate the growth.

Disturbing as the situation is, OKowa is determined to reverse the trend. In Delta State, the strength of this administration lies in its open approach to issues. That is why in putting the Committee together, those outside government were brought in.

The idea is to have a rich and robust education summit that would be beneficial to the people of the State. The Committee, which has Commissioners for Higher and Basic and Secondary Education, Jude Sinebe and Chiedu Ebie as members, Prof. Mary Edema, Jackson Ekwugum; Pat Ejeteh and Vincent Magboma, as Secretary, is planning for the summit scheduled to hold in the First Quarter of 2016.

It’s expected to assemble egg-heads as resource persons to proffer far-reaching ideas that will leap frog education in State, which incidentally is the theme of the proposed two–day education summit. Knowing the pedigree of the Committee Chairman, Prof.

Patrick Muoboghare, who before coming into the public glare as a cabinet member in the immediate past administration, as a renowned educationist, there is no gain saying that the education summit, when it finally taken place, would provide the roadmap to the teeming challenges to transformation of education in the 21st century.

Aware of the enormous task ahead, Prof.

Muoboghare, said the summit will be an all

inclusive one, saying that funding of education cannot be left in the hands of government alone. The questions of Who owns the child? With options of – Parents, Community, Government, and all of the above and who should be responsible for the education of the Child? With the similar options like the first are pointers to the fact that for us to achieve a healthy teaching and learning environment, funding of education should not be left in the hands of government alone. The parents and community must be prepared to partner with government to give the youth sound education.

The right and needful education is that, which is skill and knowledge driven as canvassed by the Governor in several fora.

It will take us to the desired destination. It will ultimately relieve us of the pains in the fall of oil prices. Going by the prevailing circumstances, the place to start is to develop a curriculum that will provide our youths with the right learning environment, facilities, values orientation, social transformation, service learning and very importantly, community participation.

By so doing, there shall be a massive turnaround in the educational sector of the State.

It is at this point that we can begin to see the end of the era of unemployment that has ravaged our national life.

Udemba is Media Aide to Gov Okowa

Challenges before Buhari’s ministers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

Ijaw in strategic positions.

They are waiting to see how Lokpobiri can carry the Ijaw burden alone. A prominent Ijaw activist, who declined to be named, however said that, with a clear sense of purpose, Buhari can win the hearts of the Ijaw through Lokpobiri.

Reacting to Lokpobiri’s appointment, the Chairman of the Young Ijaw Diaspora Professionals Forum, Bulouowei Davidson, said it may be a turning point for the Ijaw, if the President manages the situation well.

Davidson said: “There is an opportunity for both President Muhammadu Buhari and the ministerial nominee to exploit in this direction. What is required is to position Lokpobiri where he will be able to do more for his people than what Jonathan and his co-travellers could not do for the Ijaw. This will ultimately change the wrong perception some Ijaw leaders have about Buhari.”

He added: “On his part, Lokpobiri has a very challenging task of galvanising the needed support base for President Buhari in the Ijaw nation so as to benefit from the centre.

This is very crucial and the next six months and possibly one year, will change the story of the Ijaw people.

“Lokpobiri may bethe vehicle Buhari needs to do for the Ijaw what Dr. Jonathan failed to do for his people. We hope that President Buhari will prove us wrong that he hates our people.”

But as the nation awaits the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council, signs that campaign promises are already developing ripples within the ruling party are becoming obvious. Interestingly, such are beginning to manifest from the Senate.

On Wednesday, senators of both the APC and the PDP disagreed sharply over the promise of N5,000 to each jobless Nigerian made by the ruling party before the elections.

PDP senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Philip Aduda, had raised a prayer urging the Federal Government to fulfill its campaign promise. Aduda said this prayer was raised in order to cushion the effect of economic hardship on the unemployed in the country.

Before Aduda raised the prayer, a PDP sena-

Mohammed

Amaechi

tor from Cross River East, Bassey Akpan, had sponsored a motion titled, ‘Urgent need to curb the soaring rate of unemployment in Nigeria.’

While contributing to the motion sponsored

by Akpan, the senator from Osun East, Babajide Omoworare, demanded the probe of the way the Goodluck Jonathan administration handled the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, among other poverty alleviation programmes.

Aduda, who is the Senate minority whip, said, “The Federal Government should immediately commence the payment of the N5,000 monthly stipend it promised during the pre-election campaign.”

Akpabio, seconded Aduda’s additional prayer.

But Omoworare immediately raised the Senate Standing Order 53(6) to oppose the additional prayer.

This led to a sharp disagreement between the senators of the ruling APC and those of the opposition PDP. Saraki, however, intervened after about 22 minutes by bringing the rancorous session to an end.

He first asked Aduda to repeat his additional prayer, which the lawmaker did.

However, when Saraki put the additional prayer to voice vote, the ayes obviously had the loudest voice – in support of the payment of the stipend but the Senate President banged his gavel in support of the nays from the APC senators.

Saraki, thereafter, gave Omoworare the privilege of raising an additional prayer.

The Osun senator said, “I want to move that the immediate past government be made to account for every penny spent on SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes, and I so move, Mr. President.”

When Saraki put the question to a voice vote, the ayes response came from the APC senators, but the PDP senators kept quiet.

Saraki told the session that the issue of unemployment transcended party lines.

He said, “Unemployment affects all of us.

We should stay above party lines. We all agree that the Federal Government alone cannot do it. It is the private sector that can do it but an enabling environment must be provided.”

Moving his motion earlier, Akpan observed that the latest figures of Nigeria’s soaring unemployment situation by the National Bureau of Statistics had increased to 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2015 from 7.5

per cent in the first quarter of 2015 and 6.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2014. The latest statistics as released by the bureau reveal that economically active population or working age comprising Nigerians within the age range of 15 to 64, is now 103.5 million, increasing from 102.8 million in the last quarter of 2015 while the unemployed labour force now stands at 74 million Nigerian youths.”

He expressed concern that about N2tn had been spent on intervention funds by the Federal Government to boost the productivity of various sectors of the economy in the last five years without any commensurate impact on employment generation.

He said, “With a projected population growth of 200 million by 2020, we project an unemployed population of about 100m Nigerians or more. Where lies the economic future of this country?

“If the unemployed youths of this country are effectively engaged in gainful employment, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and other socio-economic and cultural vices will be drastically reduced. As the saying goes, ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’,” he said.

In their various contributions, the senators overwhelmingly supported the motion.

The move to stop the motion on the fulfillment of the N5,000 electoral promise may have been stopped at the Senate but the need to raise the bar beyond what it is likely to dominate talks as the next cabinet is unveiled with portfolios attached to ministers.

The ministers will be expected to help Buhari chart the way forward for the economy. Buhari’s cry that the nation is broke has expectedly stirred angry reactions and the ministers will be expected to articulate quick wins on how the government hopes to navigate the nation out of troubled waters.

There is also the challenge of fixing dilapidated infrastructure all over the nation.

Roads are in a bad shape; electricity is not yet stable; while the economy has been on a slowdown.

Therefore, the ministers will be expected to speak boldly on the initiatives that will drive the process of national rebirth promised by Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Faith

SUNDAY

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Sermon Oh lord! Trouble my troublers p.42

News BSN donates 3,000 Bibles to prisoners p.44

Christians should honour God’s word - Nyamadi Pastor John Nyamadi is the Presiding Minister of Christian Ministry of Reconciliation (Grace and Truth Tabernacle), Lagos. As the church concludes its 2015 annual convention at its Bethlehem Campground on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, the shepherd urges Nigerians to take God’s word seriously. He spoke with TAI ANYANWU

News Divine Favour Prayer Assembly celebrates p.40

If anyone takes the word of God as his watchword, such a person can never stumble; because God has power to throw light into wherever you pass through. You cannot fall into any danger

Sermon Divine communication p.46

November 6. The theme of our convention is taken from Psalm 119 verse 105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Nyamadi

How has it been since the church was founded?

Christ said in the scripture that He will build His church. Anyone who says he is the founder of the church is making a mistake. Jesus Christ is the owner of the church.

So, we believe strongly that Jesus Christ is the owner of this church.

We don’t have any other founder

Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

How has it been under your watch?

We have just celebrated our 42nd anniversary. God used one of his servants, Pastor John Ogu, who has gone to be with Him now, to establish the church. I am the next shepherd after him; and I have pastored the church for about two and half years now.

Can you count some of the achievements that you have recorded within this period?

By the grace of God, I make sure

that the children God handed over to me are moving forward spiritually. Though they were spiritually built by the former Pastor, I tried to encourage them to maintain that standard of spirituality. Recently, our choir went to the recording studio and was able to release its first gospel album. On physical achievements, we discovered that there are some structures in our campground, that if renovated, would accommodate more of our people especially during conventions as we are have right now. We have built some and by next year, we are going to continue, to make storey building out of more renovations. Also, some of the projects which our former pastor started, I’ve tried to complete them.

Tell us about the 2015 convention.

It started on Monday, November 2, and will end on Friday evening,

What message are you trying to pass across with that theme?

The message I am passing across to those who fear God, the children of God, is that they should take the word of God seriously.

It is the only thing that will help them go through the intricacies of this world successfully. The world is full of evil now, many things are happening. If anyone takes the word of God as his watchword, such a person can never stumble; because God has power to throw light into wherever you pass through. You cannot fall into any danger. More than 60 pastors from our sister churches within and outside Nigeria were on hand to minister during the convention. It promises to be a harvest of undiluted word of God to bless whoever participates in our convention. Other activities lined up on a daily basis include prayer sessions. We sing praises to God, we hear the word of God, and we also hear testimonies of what God did last year or even right as people were coming into the convention ground. For instance, a sister, who said that she had been bearing pains since year 2008, testified that she received a touch from the Holy Spirit and the strange pain disappeared. We were having a prayer session that Monday, and after we had prayed in the evening, I said God bless them and told them to sit down. She said at that moment, she received a touch from the spirit and she was delivered of the seven-year strange pain

instantly. You can see that God is working miraculously among us.

What is your advice to some pastors who feel that the legalisation of same-sex marriage could not be easily dismissed as un-African?

Gay relationship is not only against our culture, it is also contrary to the culture of heaven. It is wrong before God. Any country that welcomes such an evil practice is in trouble with God. Gay or lesbian culture is the same sin that made God to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. I wonder if any country that welcomes that animalistic behaviour reads the Bible at all. I don’t see Nigeria or any other African country legalising such an evil practice; because God’s wrath will come upon such a country immediately. As for any minister who may be favourably disposed to legalising gay marriage, let me say that human beings have different character. But I wonder where the faith of such a minister rests upon. Do they read the Bible? Where have they seen that gay relationship is permitted in the Bible? I will just encourage ministers of God who understand the position of God in this case to stand firmly against gay marriage.

When Daniel and other children of Judah were taken into captivity in Babylon, he had an excellent spirit in him and he continued to pray to the God of heaven. Even when the king decreed that no one should pray to any God except the god of Babylon, Daniel stood his ground. So, those who feel that gay marriage is evil should stand their ground. Even if the government tries to compel them to do otherwise, they should hold their ground and God will back them up.

What is your message to Nigerians and to the brethren?

I urge everyone to be God-fearing. There is no doubt, even babalawos or mama alawos witch doctors cannot say God won’t CO NTINUED O N PAGE 40

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Community Report

Divine Favour Prayer Assembly celebrates Stanley Ihedigbo

I

t was a time to count its blessings as the Divine Favour Prayer Assembly Ministries, Ogun State, celebrated its seventh anniversary amidst stunning testimonies of God’s marvellous deeds.

Speaking with Sunday Telegraph during the Annual Convention/Thanksgiving held recently in Mowe, Ogun State, the General Overseer, Pastor Tayo Popoola, explained that many families had been elevated from being tenants and moved to their own houses.

He also said delayed in marriage had been also shattered, new jobs achieved, stagnated projects revived while other good things had been recorded in the lives of the brethren.

Popoola further said that the church had been granted a licensed marriage registry centre through the Federal Ministry of Interior, to carter for marriage activities in the area.

The cleric, who also lectures at the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Lagos, said the Holy Spirit inspired him to write over 20 books in the areas of education, biographies and Christian literature. He said it was a divine gift from above, adding that many of his books were still unpublished.

According to Popoola, when any man devotes himself to the work of the God, the Lord will use the person to minister to people and touch their lives.

He however, warned President Muhammadu Buhari that some of his ministers

would give him a headache and abandon him when the going gets tough for his administration.

The cleric claimed that the Lord always gives him messages for the nation as an assignment for the good of the country.

The journalism lecturer noted that in January, God told him that the 2015 elections would be postponed by six weeks.

He further noted that God told him that there would be a serious fuel crisis and it also came to pass.

The pastor revealed that his church began two weeks after he moved into his house.

He said God told him to build Him a place of worship and to also go into service for Him. He noted that by the grace of God, the church has two branches.

The guest speaker, Dr. Joseph Ola Awoyinfa, urged Nigerians to key into the blessings of God by giving material gifts and financial support to their parents, men of God and those in need. Awoyinfa, who is also a Senior Pastor at Winners Chapel and head, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, also said it would attract God’s blessings.

The occasion which was chaired by the Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies, University of Lagos, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, was attended by Associate Prof. Derin Ologbenla; Mrs. Taiwo Ologbenla; Prof.

(Mrs.) Felicia Oyekanmi; former Dean of Science, UNILAG, Prof. Wole Familoni; Rev. (Dr.) Friday Owolabi Ordia; Pastor (Mrs.) Clara Popoola; Director of Academic Planning, UNILAG, Prof. Toyin Ogundipe, and others.

L-R: University of Lagos Prof. Felicia Oyekanmi, Guest Minister, Rev. (Dr.) Friday Ordia, Guest Speaker, Pastor (Dr.) Joseph Ola Awonifa, Mrs. Taiwo Ologbenla, University of Lagos Associate Prof. Derin Ologbenla, Host General Overseer of the church, Pastor (Dr.) Tayo Popoola, and Pastor (Mrs.) Clara Popoola, at the seven Anniversary convention thanksgiving service of Divine Favour Prayer Assembly Ministries , Mowe, Ogun State , recently

Pastors praying at the Deeper Life Liberation Crusade, in Suleja, Niger State...on Thursday PHOTO: NAN

Christians should honour God’s word - Nyamadi Child dedication work and no play makes Jack a dull guy.

CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 39

destroy the world. Everything is becoming clearer now; hence, everybody should take his time in worshipping God in a truthful way.

The Bile says, seek God where He will be found, call upon Him while it is still day. To Nigerians, I want to say if you want to worship God make sure that you worship Him in a place where God can be genuinely accessed. The whole world now has turned into something else. Some people will call their place a church but they are not operating with the spirit of God. That is what is happening now. So, seek God where He may be found. The place where they find God is the place where they should worship; because very soon the whole world is going to be in trouble with God. Pastor, when you are not preaching, teaching or counselling people, how do you relax?

I just start going through the Bible and other books, comparing things for more revelation of God’s word.

Do you find time to give attention to your wife, take her out?

Taking her out, I don’t know all these things, but the only place my wife and I go to is the house of God. We have fellowship four days in a week - Sunday, which is standard service in the church; on Monday, we have house fellowship;

Nyamadi

then Tuesday and Thursday, we come to week day fellowship in the church.

That sounds like it is all work, work and work. How about the saying that all work and no play makes Jack a dull guy?

(Laughs) I don’t think that applies to the children of God now. The scripture says that we should occupy till He comes. So if we say we want to relax, I don’t think that God is behind that saying that all

Most women love light moments and are bored with too much seriousness. Doesn’t Mummy complain?

That is the area that I always thank God for the kind of wife he gave to me. God doesn’t make a mistake and He can never make a mistake. God saw the type of man I am; that is why He gave me that type of woman to marry. I don’t take pleasure in other things. The first thing God gives to His son is the Holy Spirit; then the next thing is a good wife.

God gave me a wife that appreciates the things of God. She is the type of wife that doesn’t worry me; she doesn’t bother me for anything at all. She is certainly the type of wife that knows the type of person I am, she is supportive in every way.

What is your attitude towards dressing?

I don’t have any dress code. I only make sure that I dress neatly. I put on native and English wears, that’s all.

Do you wear perfumes?

No. And do know you one thing? My wife also doesn’t like wearing perfumes. We use powder for the armpit only.

The family of Mr. Nnadi Oguelu and Mrs. Onyekachi Oguelu dedicated their son, Master kamsiyochukwu Oguelu in Lagos recently.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Faith

When God makes a way (2) Mystery ofAnxiety Bishop

John Ogbansiegbe

0803 341 6327

I

n the process of making a way for you, God through His word declared categorically, “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight; I break in pieces the gates of brass and cut in asunder the bars of iron. And I will give thee the treasures of the darkness, and hidden riches of the secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord which call thee by thy name, I am the God of Israel” – Isaiah 45:2-3.

So you see, you don’t need to ask God how He will do it. All you need to do is to follow his leadership and divine direction. The word of God also said that the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just. God divided the red sea just by the stretch of a rod. They ate daily manna from heaven for 40 years and also tasted honey out of the rock. God commanded the Israelites to collect jewelleries, silver, gold and raiment not minding the hatred, inhumanity and antagonism which these Egyptians were unleashed against them.

The Bible recorded that thus, “And the

children of Israel did according to the words of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment. And the Lord gave the people favour I the sight if the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required,” Exodus 12:35-36.

The original meaning of the word ‘borrowed’ refers to making an authoritative request with the assurance of a positive response. The word ‘borrow’ is therefore the direct translation of the Hebrew word ‘sheal’ and it does not carry the sense of collecting something with the intention of returning it. In making a way for you, God will even cause you to borrow from your enemies that which they will never be willing to collect, back from you. He will cause your enemies to favour, bless, introduce and advertise you. Just let Him lead the way. His ways are different from our ways.

When God makes a way for you, all your blessings and miracles which were under any form of human and demonic hijack shall be released. It does not matter how many years you have been waiting for this breakthrough, when God decides to bless you, nothing can stand against it.

The children of Israel battled with poverty, savagery and servitude from one generation to another. They were unpaid slaves ; but when God came on the scene, they experienced a miraculous moment of divine favour which sufficed for their many years of depravity, hardship, pain and hard labour.

Behold I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and river flow in the desert The too much God can put to an end to your long years of bondage in one night.

When God remembered the children of Israel, and made a way for them, He opened the doors of supernatural abundance for them and they received more than the wages of their long years of fruitless hard labour.

God has a condition for these blessings and open doors as enshrined in His Word which states thus, “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which He commanded thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth,” – Exodus 28:1. Incontrovertibly, obedience to the laws of God opens the doors to God’s abundance, unprecedented blessings and promotions for any person or nation.

As credence to this scriptural position, the word of God also declares in Exodus 28:13, “And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath, if thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which

I command thee this day to observe and to do them.”

Beloved, God has no other place for you apart from the top. He will make a way for you to the top. The will of God is that you should grow from grace to grace and from strength to strength.

Your growth in life will be meteoric and supernatural when you do the will of God. Joseph did the will of God, and the Lord made a way for him where there was no way. God positioned for unprecedented blessings despite all odds and obvious obstacles. The storm may rage, the wind may blow, but when you are in the will of God, victory will surely be your own. God’s desire among other things is for you to be the head and not the tail.

Remove the mentality, physiology and attitude of mediocrity from your head.

God’s best should be your desire. Therefore, always go for the gold. Aspire and perspire for the top because God wants to get you to the top. When God makes a way for you, He will renew and refresh every aspect of your life. Just make sure that you are abiding in the centre of God’s will at all times. Thus He said in His Word: “Behold I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and river flow in the desert,” Isaiah 43:19.

Hold unto God and trust Him to make a way for you. And as you do so, may you ply smoothly on this way until you reach your promised land of glory and testimonies in the name of Jesus Christ.

Eternal life: Have you received it? the of

Oracles God

Frank Oboden Olomukoro frankolomukoro@yahoo.com

0703 362 1866

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here will you spend eternity?

Eternity is an endless duration of life. It has no time frame, no limit or expiration of days.It is a life exclusive only to God, ELOHIM, self-existing being; without a beginning and without an end. Anyone who enters eternity has possessed eternal life; which means you have God in-dwelling in you.

Jesus Christ is the only source of Eternal Life. People tend to look elsewhere for eternal life and miss Christ. Though there are many philosophies and selfstyled religious authorities, Jesus alone has the Words of eternal life. There are only two real responses to Jesus - you either accept Him or reject Him. But knowing the terror of God and the consequences of neglecting God’s own provided way of salvation for eternal life(Hebrew 2:3), we persuade men to accept Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life. Simon Peter responded to the Lord Jesus; to whom shall we go?

Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe that thou art the Christ, the son of the living God (John 6:68-69).

How are you responding to the Lord Jesus Christ?

Eternal life is the Original life. The same that Adam and Eve lost when the glory of God left them on account of sin in the Garden of Eden. Life from then on became perverted and a counterfeit, terminating through death at the aver-

age of 70 years.

EVERY MAN BORN IN SIN! Our starting point here on earth at birth is defective because of our fallen human nature that originated from Adam and Eve. The best of human beings is nothing but a SINNER. According to information on our beginning, our maker says we are all born and shaped in sin (Psalm 51:5). Riddled by the sin of unbelief and its attributes; religion, immorality, idolatry, pride, ungodliness to name just a few (Galatians 5:19—21).

No man or woman is born a Catholic, a Muslim, a Baptist, a Pentecostal, a saint, a holy or good person. We acquired these through indoctrination. Our status as sinners took us away from God. “We are the ones who strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on Him the guilt and sins of every one of us.”

(Isaiah 53:6) A SINNER IS A LEPER! As sinners, God sees you in the spirit as a leper. A leper is an outcast, a social misfit and a deformed person, who is segregated from the mainstream of life to a colony. The earth as a whole is a colony of lepers (sinners) segregated from those in heaven. The only way to cross over to heaven is through the cross ofCalvary.Where Jesus Christ died a most shameful and capital death to atone for your sins and mine with one everlasting sacrifice. (No individual sacrifice is required anymore by God for the atonement for sin). This is God’s provided way to obtain eternal life. In John 14:6, Jesus declared: “I am the WAY (to eternity), the TRUTH (not creed or religion) and the LIFE (the original eternal life). No man comes to the father but by me.” Jesus Christ is the MEDIATOR between man and God. (1 Timothy 2:5).

THE JOURNEY TO ETERNITY!

As stated before, there is only one provided way, hidden in the midst of the Babel of voices all claiming the right of way through religion, creeds, dogmas, denominations, churches and individuals to eternity and heaven. The God provided way is a new birth. This comes in stages: The first is the acceptance of the gospel truth on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.This leads to repentance. A conviction of being sensible of wrong doing (Jonah 3:1-10, Acts 2:37) “Men and brethren what shall we do? The Jews cried out of conviction that they were sinners. “ God offers forgiveness but we will not experience this forgiveness until we genuinely admit our sins and confess them to God.” A contrite heart is a grief for sin, a sincere sorrow, a brokenness for your sins. “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”.For godly sorrow worketh repentanceunto salvation.

CORRECT SCRIPTURAL WATER BAPTISM WITH PROMISE Here, a public, practical, demonstration of your belief in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is symbolised by water baptism (immersion in a pool of water) IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST only for the remission of sins because the death of Jesus Christ was public. This is the prescribed order and example set forth as a foundation by the Apostles of Jesus Christ in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48 and Acts 19:1-7). You will have to contend for this correct scriptural baptismal PATTERN by immersion in the name of Jesus or follow the popular baptisms in errors originated by church traditions in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit without any single practical example in

the entire Bible as reference.

REMISSION OF SIN! Jesus said in Mark 16:15, he that believeth and is baptised shall be saved.

Only the single act of water baptism cannot save you. Also, just believing God without baptism in water and in the Spirit will also not save you. Over 3,000 persons in the book of Acts, including Jews, Samaritans and Gentiles were correctly baptised immediately in the name of Jesus Christ without baptismal classes, catechisms or exams.

This was done with a good conscience.

God who sees your sincerity proceeds to sanctity you by washing away your sins as a second step to the new birth (Hebrews 9:22) “…without the shedding of blood, there is no remission a sin.”

Again, only the sacrifice of the death of Jesus Christ can remit your sins. This is sanctification, to clean and set aside for use.

RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST! A vessel, pot, or jug etc. that has been washed clean is fit to be used. So also, a person who has repented, is baptised and sanctified is fit to be filled with the Holy Ghost to complete the three stages of the new birth. The baptism of the in-filling of the Holy Ghost is the divine salt needed to season you, to flavour and taste as a regenerated, converted Christian. Jesus said, have salt in you.

You may be in the church as Nicodemus was, with many years of service and leadership recognition as a church worker, minister, deacon, usher, chorister, trustee and a sitting member of the church. Without attaining to the baptism of the Holy Ghost, you will end up being a still birth, born into the church without the life of God in you, and without eternal life. Your hope of spending eternity with God will be just a mere dream and wish.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Faith

The Christian day of destiny Firm Faith:

Right Reason Most Rev.

Emmanuel A. Badejo fradebadejo@yahoo.

0803 949 4219 (SMS only) The saints’ annual general meeting

The first Day of November is a very special Solemnity known as ‘All Saints Day’ in the Church deriving from Catholic Tradition. It is a day for remembering the saints of Christendom and reminding Christians of their “Day of Destiny”.

That destiny is that all are called to holiness and destined for reunion with God. All Saints day can be seen as the ‘Annual General Meeting’ day for all God’s children, the Saints Militant, those still living and passing through the world here, and the Saints Triumphant, those who have fought the good fight and gone ahead of us. We Christians living still, often called ‘saints’ by Paul in his epistles, must not lose focus of our destiny as we travel along this temporary and transitory world even though this ‘other-worldly’ commitment has in past centuries attracted criticisms from political liberalists. They allege that Christians, by implication, tend to take less interest in this world and subsequently ignore their duties as good citizens to the state and to society. Nothing at all can be more false and there is no real evidence to support that position. Jesus Christ, in truth, admonished his followers to be the light

of the world and salt of the earth (Matt 5: 13-14). He nonetheless insisted that Christian priorities must be correctly set: “Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto you.”

(Matt. 6:33). The Scripture reading of the solemnity of All Saints is good material for meditation and for demonstrating the attraction of that other world to Christians who hope to reach the Kingdom of the Father. Jesus Christ affirmed that “Where I am, my servants shall be also.” All Saints Day reminds us all living that all the way to heaven should be for us, heaven as well.

Washed in the blood of the Lamb The book of Revelations describes John’s reaction to the parade of the Saints in heaven. “One of the elders then spoke, and asked me, ‘Do you know who these people are, dressed in white robes, and where they have come from?’ I answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb’” (Rev. 7:13-14). The full story of that parade must make us ponder how the Lamb of God came to shed his blood (Phil 2: 6ff). It must make us enquire how possible it is for anyone to wash a robe white in the blood of the lamb.

Embedded here is the function of the endurance, suffering and sacrifice made by those admitted into heaven. The Book of Wisdom gives explicit insight into this: “The souls of the just are in the hands of the Lord, no torment shall ever touch them. In the eyes of the unwise they did appear to die, their passing like annihi-

We Christians living still, often called “saints” by Paul in his epistles, must not lose focus of our destiny as we travel along this temporary and transitory world even though this “other-worldly

lation. But they are at peace.” Death is obviously a central element of All Saints Day. To become a saint one must first die. Those who die and become saints are those who have passed through great tribulations and trials. These are very unpopular concepts in today’s society.

Little wonder that today’s culture of liberalism also attempts to strip society of the desire and demands of holiness.

Yet the longing remains in every human being, to one day reach a place of eternal rest and bliss which is attainable only by “washing one’s robe white in the blood of the lamb.”

Do not be afraid to be holy The Church must keep Christians focused and committed to the task of holiness because God demands it of His children. “Be holy for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Lev 19:2). Jesus Christ also emphasised it: “Also for your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). The rest of the Scriptures as well abundantly echoes the call to holiness. “He chose us in Himself before the creation of the world to be holy and without sin in his presence”

(Ephesians 1:3-4, 1Pet. 1:14-16). The task of holiness is simply indispensable to our salvation because God has no consideration for modern theories of sinful conspiracy termed ‘solidarity’ or moral relativism renamed ‘tolerance.’ That is why Saint John Paul II encouraged all, especially young people, not to be afraid to be holy. The Bible strengthens that approach so that all who struggle to be holy receive succor and never despair.

“However, all have sinned and all fall short of the Glory of God; and all are graciously forgiven and made righteous through the redemption effected in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). “The Lord is gracious and merciful; abounding in love and slow to anger” (Psalms 103:8). Many teachers of faith agree that the difference between the saints and the sinners is in never giving up: “even though the Saint falls seven times, he gets up again, But the sinner sinks in their adversity” (Proverbs 24:16).

Join the winning team Therefore, All Saints Day reassures Christians that they belong to a winning team. The Bible testifies: “Keep faithful and I shall give you the crown of life for your prize” (Rev 2:10). Of the just it says: “God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace and accepted them as a holocaust.

When the time comes for his visitation they will shine out.... They shall judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their king forever” (Wis. 3:5-9, Rev 7:15-17). So, saints, do not weaken, hold up your heads for your salvation is near.

Oh lord! Trouble my troublers Insight Rev.

Femi Akinola

www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

T

here are powers representing the kingdom of darkness that satan has designated to occupy the fertile portions of your life and his evil intention is to hinder you from fulfilling your destiny. This is why the word of God charges us to fight the good fight of faith. Perhaps, you often dream and see yourself trying to escape an impending danger but you are transfixed; of course, you should know that there is an invisible personality behind this. Anyone troubling your destiny shall be put to shame in Jesus name.

“LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me; many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God” Ps 3:1-2.

When you were born, you were born as a shining star and this invariably acquired for you both conscious and unconscious enemies. These enemies increase as you grow and if you don’t act fast to combat their wicked acts, you will soon be overwhelmed while they will be feeding fat at the expense of your glorious destiny. As God increases you spiritually, physically, financially, maritally, etc, these troublers of your destiny will also increase. People close to you might think that God has forgotten you and their conclusion might be right

because you have not provoked God to arise on your behalf and terminate every appointment you have signed with the troublers of your destiny. Instead of your enemies to increase, God’s pre-ordained blessings for your life will increase and manifest in the name of Jesus.

Who are your life’s troublers?

“Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.” Ps 107:19 God is most interested in men who are ready to take the bull by the horn and vanquish every form of opposition against their rising in life. Do not forget that the God we serve is a Man of war.

“The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name” Ex 15:3.

• Personalities or life’s circumstances that make you cry secretly in your closet.

• Night caterers. This is a subtle satanic device of bondage and oppression. If you are a candidate of this satanic ploy, then it is time you rise to the occasion by confronting the strongman behind your night misery. I could remember vividly the travail of a sister who suffered from hepatitis. After praying, it was revealed that she had been eating in the dream for 13 years. So all her organs had been damaged but by the gracious and mighty hand of God, she was delivered.

• Those circulating your name for evil: Some people, when they sense any form of progress around you, can go any length to bring you down. For some, it is simply because they are never-do-good and enemies of progress while some may possibly see you as a threat to their existence.

• Those sponsoring trouble against your destiny: In life, there are people who are always ready to fight for the

People close to you might think that God has forgotten you and their conclusion might be right because you have not provoked God to arise on your behalf and terminate every appointment you have signed with the troublers of your destiny cause of others. They will say, ‘leave am for me I go show am’ on the basis of the great assignment God has entrusted into your hands. Anybody beating his chest because of you, I see God judging them by fire in the name of Jesus.

• Problem expanders: These are problem elevators; the problem with which you are embattled could ordinarily be handled but the intrusion of these cruel beings would further complicate the problem beyond what the ordinary.

• Those jailing and caging your entitlement: Have you noticed there are times in your dream when you struggle with a particular door and it refuses to open? This could be the aftermath of the troubler of your destiny and it is your responsibility to fight against such satanic insurgence.

• Those people cursing your destiny with satanic tongues: This is another category of the troublers of the destinies of men; if you don’t do anything to stop them, your destiny can be shattered through their evil acts. The Bible says, “Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel…” Num 23:23.

The Bible also tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature; likewise as

you grow in stature physically and spiritually, the troublers of your destiny also multiply. I will be a fool to think that everyone around loves me. Stop going about with the mindset that you did not offend anyone hence, no one is after you. Your waking up each morning constitutes a headache to some people. A woman was once reported to have said this to her daughter who was about to get married that, ‘as you are going into marriage don’t forget to get permission from me before you get pregnant. If you do without my permission you will suffer.” The girl didn’t take this seriously initially and this nearly ruined her home. Don’t take people for granted, especially when people are talking to you spiritually. Any life that has been cursed by seeming word of mouth, I break the curse by the blood of Jesus.

A man had two sons; the younger one seemed to be doing well while the elder was a total failure. This man would always tell the elder brother that he was dull and his brother would supersede him in everything; but he took it with levity and his case grew from bad to worse until he clocked 32 years when he came in contact with me. I sent him back to his father to reclaim his rightful blessing. Unknown to anyone, his father was actually addressing him via a demonic medium. Anybody troubling you, no matter their hiding place, the Lord will expose them in the name of Jesus.

I know you are blessed Write me through; info@thehebrewsng.com.

08092377861, 08085845864. You can also listen to my messages on ourPodcast: www.thehebrewsng.com/podcast.

Rev’d Femi Akinola – The Hebrews International, Lekki, Lagos.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Faith

Catching a vision of God’s plan for your life!

The Voice of Dominion by

Bishop David Oyedepo E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

7747546-8 (SMS only)

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elcome to the penultimate month of our Heaven On Earth year. From scriptures, we discovered that God promised every redeemed child of God that He would crown the year with goodness and drop fatness on our paths (Psalms 65:11-13). In other words, God has vowed to give us a change of story before this year is over, but we must first believe all that He has spoken concerning us. May your own change come like a dream of the night in the name of Jesus!

As we begin this new month, it is important to know that by redemption, every child of God is a child of destiny. We are predestinated to share same order of life with Christ and the end product of our predestination is glorification (2 Peter 1:3; Romans 8:29-30).

We also discover that we have a glorious, enviable, royal, prosperous and mountain-top destiny in Christ. Therefore, as children of God, we are not permitted to live as destitutes. However, every destiny in the Kingdom is vision limited.

That is, vision is the spiritual access to our glorious destiny (Matthew 5:14-16).

It is important to understand that the Bible (God’s Word) is a Book of visions.

That is, God’s Word is the custodian of God’s master plan (vision) for His people.

As it is written: And the vision of all is

become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned (Isaiah 29:11-12).

We must also recognize that God’s Word is the spiritual mirror that reveals who we are in Christ. That is why the Word admonishes: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:22-25).

That means, we must take covenant responsibility to translate the picture we see in the mirror of the Word into reality.

Also, the Word shows us what redemption has made of us. By redemption, we possess greater potentials than all the Old Testament saints. As it is written: Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matthew 11:11; see also Matthew 12:42).

In addition, the Word shows us our content, what we can do through Christ and how to do them. It is written: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13; see also Philippians 4:13; John 14:12).

It is also written: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith

We also discover that we have a glorious, enviable, royal, prosperous and mountain-top destiny in Christ. Therefore, as children of God, we are not permitted to live as destitutes and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12; see also Ecclesiastes 10:15).

From the above, it is very clear that God’s plan for our lives is locked up in the Bible. All we need is to engage the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Blood of Jesus for continuous access.

Let’s examine some pictures of our destiny in redemption •We are redeemed to walk in dominion: ‘Dominion’ simply means living above life’s situations and circumstances. At creation, man was ordained for dominion after the order of God. After God created man, He said: ...Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth (Genesis 1:28).

However, man lost his dominion to sin but Christ died to restore it to us by the mystery of righteousness. Thus, every child of God is redeemed to walk in dominion by staying on top of life situations and circumstances.

Moreover, at redemption, we were raised up together with Christ and made to sit together with Him in heavenly places. That is, redemption is our translation from the earthly realm to the heavenly realm, which is located far above where all principalities, powers and circum-

stances of life dwell (Ephesians 1:20-21, 2:6).

However, we must understand that the secret behind our dominion is walking in the revelation of the truth. As it is written: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising (Isaiah 60:1-3).

Just as natural light has unquestionable dominion over natural darkness, likewise, spiritual light has unquestionable dominion over spiritual darkness. Thus, walking in the light of scriptures establishes our dominion on the earth. It is applied revelation as discovered from the Word that establishes our dominion over all life situations and circumstances. This is because God upholds all things by the Word of His power.

Moreover, the Word of God is the Rod of His strength that empowers us to rule in the midst of our enemies. We understand from scripture that Jesus is the Rod, which also signifies the Word. Therefore, it is by the depth of the Word that we command dominion on the earth. That means our dominion is a function of the depth of the Word of God at work in us. Therefore, the deeper our insight, the higher our level of dominion (Psalms 110:2; John 1:1-5; Hebrews 1:3). However, access to the living Word that guarantees our dominion begins with being born again. Are you born again? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If you haven’t, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood.

Loosing by fasting Hour of Deliverance Pastor Isaac Adelugba xxxxxx

08058023548

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saiah 58:6 “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”

This is another reference to loosing in the Old Testament. Fasting looses the chain of injustice; unties heavy burdens, breaks every yoke and lets the oppressed go free.

But God is not pleased with showy and noisy fasting.

Fasting, like praise, loose prisoners.

There was a place infested with drug lords, pimps and prostitutes. It was a rough and dangerous place. A praise and worship team of a church went there for three Saturdays of high praise and worship. By the end of the programme, 70 per cent of the drug lords had moved.

A revival was taking place in a city. Many people were coming to Christ and the Pastor was very pleased with the move of the Holy Spirit. There was a contribution going on and when the pastor noticed that it was intended to be a bar, he was angry in the spirit because he knew that this was a direct attack of Satan on the work of the Holy Spirit. The pastor acted by taking his wife and a young man. They entered a pickup and drove to the place and prayed: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we recognise this bar as a threat to the working of the Holy

Spirit, in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, we forbid it ever to open.” The construction continued, the furniture and equipment were installed but the bar never did open.

LAZARUS John 11:43-44 “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”

Lazarus was dead for four days. He should by then have been a corpse exuding a stench. But he was raised by the energy of the resurrection power miraculously supplied by the son of God. He still needed to be loosed and he was loosed so that He could have complete freedom.

A WOMAN Luke 13:10-13 “And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” Satan had kept the woman bound for 18 years but Jesus spoke the Words of liberation. She was instantly healed, loosed and set free to worship and praise God. This is an important miracle that shows that loosing can be applied to sickness i.e. when we are praying for the sick; we can command them to be loosed. You can loose

Fasting, like praise, loose prisoners. There was a place infested with drug lords, pimps and prostitutes. It was a rough and dangerous place. A praise and worship team of a church went there for three Saturdays of high praise and worship somebody from the spirit of backsliding.

Binding the strongman Matthew 12:22-29 “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but

by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house.”

A blind, mute and demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus. The man was healed

and he could both talk and see. Jesus was accused of casting out the demons by Beelzebub.

Jesus emphasises the stronger man in Luke: • The strongman has a house which can be entered • There are possessions which can be carried off • Binding comes first, followed by carrying off possessions • The house can indeed be spoiled and the possessions can be carried off • “When a strongman fully armed, guards his own, his house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armour in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils” (Luke 11:21-22) • Strongman is fully armed • 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” – The believers also have weapons for their battle but we should also be aware of the devices of Satan.

Please, join our fellowships on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, at Plot 268, Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Isalnd Lagos. Our insightful service will definitely bless you.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Faith

Want my scars too?

Daily Our Manna Bishop Chris Kwakpovwe ourdailymanna@yahoo.com

08023421513, 08073146863 (SMS Only)

BASIC SCRIPTURES: Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 12:1-8

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ots of times, we look at others and wish we were like them. We say things like: “I just want to be her.” Or, “I like his car, his house, her children.

Oh, they are always travelling, they don’t appear to have any problem at all,” etc.

But do you know the ‘BEHINDTHE-SCENE TROUBLES’ surrounding the trophies you admire? I remember a lady once told another lady that she admired her resilience and wanted to be like her. In my presence, the lady

being admired quickly replied: “If you want to be like me, that means you have to get the whole package… including my …husband!” she then explained that her husband was a “Goliath and so unfaithful.” The other lady just recoiled into her shell and refused the “FREE HUSBAND AND OFFER.” Can you see that? What we see and what we hear are never the whole story! That is why you must NEVER desire to be like another person without the total package. God has wonderful plans for you (today’s 1st scripture). Then, today’s 2nd scripture in Romans 12 vs. 3 says: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

That means (paraphrased by me): “BE SATISFIED WITH WHERE YOU ARE TODAY! God can, and will change your storytomorrow for good.”

IF YOU DESIRE TO BE LIKE SOMEONE ELSE, THEN YOU MUST BE READY FOR THEIR GOOD EXPE-

If you want to be like another person because you see their STARS shining, then be ready for THEIR SCARS too!

RIENCES AND THEIR TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES; THEIR UGLY SCARS! As I travel round the globe, I always tell PASTORS who desire to be like me that they must be ready for my SCARS TOO! Will they desire to pass through an experience that can drive them into a SUICIDE ATTEMPT LIKE I DID YEARS AGO? Such is life! If you want to be like another person because you see their STARS shining, then be ready for THEIR SCARS too!

And that is why you must NEVER desire to be like another person without their total package (THEIR STARS AND THEIR SCARS). No matter how 2015 has been, refuse anxiety and worry! Refuse COMPARING YOURSELF WITH OTHERS! Hold on for your own season of greater shinning!

It’s so near and SOMETHING GOOD IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN! Amen! Pray now!

PRAYER POINTS: Take song 1: When the roll is called up…

1. Pray about today’s devotional emphasis as it has touched you; 2. Repent from envying anybody around your life, family and ministry; 3. Pray in tongues seriously concerning your life, family and ministry.

Demolish all obstacles! Pray in tongues!

4. Ask for the grace NEVER to envy other. Pray for the success of others; 5. Give out an ODM copy to some one this week; 6. Pray for this woman used in today’s devotional. She will NEVER go down.

If you have been blessed; don’t forget to get a copy of Our Daily Manna Devotional (Oct – Dec 2015) edition for more. You can also write and fellowship with us at: Manna Prayer Mountain, 8-10, Omotayo Banwo Street, Before Mobile Police Barracks, Orioke-Ogudu, Lagos, Nigeria.

Entrance of God’s word is life Just believe

Pastor Joseph Folonusho

rlpm2007@yahoo.com

08020838591

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welcome your heart, mind and action into the mystery of what you about to read. I encourage you not only to read, but in addition meditate and act on the truth of what you about to know. The scripture says, the people are away from God, and perish because they lack the needful knowledge of God Almighty. Wisdom and understanding are gifts of knowledge. The Blessings you need are seeds of knowledge.

Proverbs 3:20 says: “By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.” As you act on the knowledge you about to receive, surely the earth and heaven shall yield their blessing to you and things that concern you.

JUST BELIEVE: ‘NI ISE IGBAGBO’ The words ‘Just Believe’ are words coming from the One who created all things. He knows the reason why you must just believe. The instruction is a command, but a command to every one with a Choice. You may accept it or jettison it with pinch of salt. But when you critically read, meditate and act, then you will know that your complete blessing is hidden in these two words: ‘Just Believe.’

Therefore, let’s journey into the Eldorado of God’s word. In Genesis 15:4-6, the scripture says, “And, behold, the word of the Lord came to Abrams, that the Chief Servant in Abram’s home would not be Abram’s heir; but he that shall come forth out of Abraham’s bowels shall be his heir. And the LORD God brought him to see the wideness of the earth and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall your seed be. And Abram believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

The scripture says that righteousness exalts. That is, righteousness brings favour and justification. It has the capacity to give you access you before the LORD God; access to the glory, riches which God has made for man in Psalm 8:5-6: “For the LORD God has made man a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honour. He made man to have dominion over the works of the LORD God’s hands; and put all things under man’s feet.”

This righteousness that will provide glory, honour and power for man to dominate comes when action is taken on faith, which I called ‘BELIEF.’ I stumbled on a scripture and discovered that the LORD God of Israel could not take steps to liberate Israel from the land of slavery until the people first believed, and appreciated the Most High! It was their belief that brought justification to them.

This I found in Exodus 4:31: “And the Elder of Israel believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.”

The scripture says, they bowed onto the God of their father. They referenced him as an acknowledgement of their confidence in the word of God spoken to them by the servant of God. People were

This righteousness that will provide glory, honour and power for man to dominate comes when action is taken on faith, which I called ‘BELIEF.’ able to witness this confidence they had in the LORD when they bowed to their God. You must begin to have faith in the WORD of God, know whom the LORD God is and take practical steps like the people of Israel did. The scripture says, “They believed by worshiping the Most High.”

Therefore, something must show your faith, your confidence; the expression of your faith like worship, thanksgiving, praise, calling things that be not as though they were, obeying the instruction of the LORD. These are called beliefs.

Faith is of the heart; only you and your maker are capable of knowing the faith of your heart. But belief is an action of faith expressed through the flesh, your body, which everyone around you is able to detect. It was noted that Isaac believed the LORD, when the God of his father spoke to him to remain in Gerar.

The scripture says he waited in Gerar.

Obedience is what belief is all about.

And that is what holiness is all about.

Without holiness no one shall see the LORD. No one shall find favour of the Most High LORD until the expression of faith of God is demonstrated by the third man called flesh.

Immediately they believed, Moses’ belief with their belief propelled God to step to fight for their deliverance. The next verse says in Exodus 5:1 - “And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.”

This was done when the Elders of Israel demonstrated their belief with their leader.

The leader did not go further until he saw and witnessed his followers’ belief.

The LORD God will not step forward to your case until you believe. Therefore you must be courageous with boldness to believe. If the LORD must provide provision like healing from above, health, meeting all your needs and wants; if He must deliver you from all evil and evil activities; you must therefore add boldness to the faith you have received from the LORD through Christ Jesus, and then take the step of faith which translates to your belief.

BSN donates 3,000 Bibles to prisoners Tai Anyanwu

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bout 3000 prisoners in Lagos, Oyo, Osun and Osun states have benefited from free copies of the Holy Bible courtesy of the Bible Society of Nigeria.

In a statement made available by BSN’s Deputy Manager, Media and Programmes, Benjamin Mordi, the donations were made in line with the society’s mission to meet the scriptural needs of Nigerians in their respective localities.

Mordi explained that 3,000 copies of the Bible were given to 11 different prisons in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun

and Osun states.

“Beneficiaries of these Bibles are: the Maximum, Medium and Female Prisons in Kirikiri. Other prisons are Ikoyi and Alagbon Prisons, all in Lagos State.

“In Oyo State, Abolongo and Agodi Prisons also benefited while Ijebu-Ode, Ibara and Ilaro prisons benefited in Ogun State.

In Osun State, inmates of Ilesa Prison also received copies,” he said.

Each of the prisons received 250 copies except Ikoyi and Alagbon, which got 400 and 100 copies respectively. In 2014, the organ-

isation donated assorted Bibles worth N14.1 million to different categories of less privileged Nigerians, Mordi added.

BSN is a non-profit-making interdenominational Christian organisation that translates the Bible into local languages, publishes, distributes and raises funds for Bible work.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that so far, the complete Bible had been translated into 24 Nigerian languages. BSN gives free Bibles to old peoples’ homes and orphanages, People with Visual Disability and prisoners, among others.

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Faith

21 strategies to overcome marital delay Relationships Rev. Solomon Ojigiri sowoojigiri@yahoo.com. everwining@wining.com.

08059203554/08023997277

INTRODUCTION We have discussed several practical steps that will enable anyone to overcome marital delay and without any doubt all we have discussed will go a long way to hasten the fulfillment of God’s will in our lives. The issue of marital delay is not just about satanic manipulations, sometimes they may be as a result of satanic afflictions but often they are self-inflicted. Sometimes people suffer delay as a result of their stinking thinking, that is why we are discussing this subject today and to let you know that you have to be a positive thinker if you must overcome marital delay.

10) BE A POSITIVE THINKER To avoid delay in your life you must be super-positive. Most of our experiences in life are products of our thoughts. Stinking (or call it ungodly) and unscriptural thinking has robbed so many people of their glorious destiny in Christ. You are what you think.

What becomes of you is a function of how your thought life is; that is what goes on in your mind. You cannot think one thing and become something else. You cannot be thinking that you are ugly and worthless and find someone to marry you. When you feel worthless you make everyone around you worthless. Like the Latin maxim “nemo dat quod non habet,” which says you cannot give what you don’t have. You make people responsible for your predicament.

Stop thinking that you are worthless or ugly. Everyone God created is beautiful because the Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Everyone is created to be beautiful. It is someone’s opinion that somebody is more beautiful than you are. What you cannot give yourself, no one can give you. You may have the same hairstyle and feel bad or good about yourself if you allow what others say about the hairstyle to affect you.

You feel good when they say something good about your hairdo and you feel bad when they say something bad about it. But you can change that by just accepting that the hair-do is okay. You must never allow anybody’s opinion to determine how you feel about yourself.

So many young people had fallen victim at one time or another in their lives because somebody hoodwinked them with a compliment; because they were not sure of whom they were. That means they had a problem with self-esteem and they base their self-worth on the opinion of others.

You must not base your thinking on what people say but on the word of God. God is the one that manufactured you and He said that you were very good when you were created. We must deliberately renew our minds with the word of God because we become what we think. No wonder Apostle Paul admonished the believers in Rome many years ago: “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). We must constantly renew our minds with the word of God. So many of us have terrible experiences in life; our past may be nothing to write home about. It is possible to have imbibed negative words and negative pictures about

And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God life from others. It becomes difficult for us to think right until we renew our minds with the word of God. The devil uses our past to afflict and distort our thinking so that our lives can be disrupted, but we need to renew our minds with the word of God because you become what you think. Your life will always go in the direction of your thoughts. The scripture says; “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Pro. 23:7).

God has made us in such a way that we can programme or reprogramme our lives by the way we use our minds. We may not be able to control what has happened to us or what is happening to us right now but we have a lot to do in controlling how we handle those things that happen to us by the way we think. No matter how bad or bitter your experience has been in life, you can reorder everything by reprogramming your thoughts. You must begin to think the way God thinks and see yourself the way God sees you. God sees you as a winner, a champion, a rare gem, God sees you as someone who is created beautiful or handsome, endowed from heaven to make remarkable achievements and accomplishments in life. Where you are today without any doubt is a product of what you were thinking yesterday and your tomorrow will be determined by what you are thinking

right now. You’ve got to change your thinking if things must go right with your life; you cannot have a new life without a new mind. You cannot have a successful marriage if all you think is that “Women are necessary evils” or “all men are wicked or liars.” You must see the marriage that God has in mind for you. What you do not see you cannot get, what you see is what God delivers to you. What you cannot see, God is not permitted to give to you. Stop thinking that husbands are scarce or not available. The Bible says; “Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me, thou hast well seen; for I will hasten my word to perform it” (Jer 1:11,12).

The question now is: What do you see about your future? What you see is what God performs. God told Abraham that as far as his eyes could see He would deliver unto Him (Gen 13:13,14). What do you see about your future? What do you see about your marriage? I saw a hitch-free marriage many years before I got married, that is why I am enjoying it today. There are individuals that always see negatively and think negatively no matter their circumstances. Even when things are going well they still think it might not last. When they are in a good relationship they become apprehensive about everything. They begin to imagine that things may not work or that something bad might happen. And when it happens they claim to have seen it. They have anticipated it and the issue is that no one can restrain whatever you have imagined from happening unto you. In Genesis 11 verse 6 the Bible says: “And the Lord said, behold the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”

Quarreling in advance Marriage and Family Intimacy Bishop Charles Ighele holyspiritmissioninc@yahoo.com

07066579379/09098845521

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uarrelling in advance is a very bad attitude exhibited by a majority of couples, perhaps over 90 per cent of couples. What does it mean to quarrel in advance? It is a situation whereby a spouse is already boiling in anger and planning what to say and do to his/her spouse whenever he/she arrives. It may be that the partner stayed out too late.

It can be that they might have had a misunderstanding earlier in the day. While one of the spouses might have melted down the other may still be fuming and planning what to say and do. Below are some of the reasons some couples quarrel in advance.

“He does not care whether I’m dying or not” When it comes to ill-health or their birthdays, women are very good at quarrelling in advance. Not all men are very observant when their finances or wives wear a dull look or are not too strong physically. Some women are however ready to develop a serious quarrel out of this allowable bad observance skill of their men.

When the man leaves for work or comes back from work without noticing their looks, they start quarrelling in advance.

Some say in their hearts “when he comes back from work, I will snub him and make him feel how painful it is when one is ne-

glected. I will handle him today when he arrives. I will give him a piece of my mind.”

This is not necessary at all. Why not simply tell him the state of your health or the reason you are dull? If he does not take note, gently inform him even though you may feel disappointed that he does not care. It is a serious weakness on his part. Be understanding, be matured and inform him. How long will you keep teaching and informing him of how to be observant? It can be lifelong. It is you that may now have to change and find the necessary patience to draw his attention to your looks.

“Eh, he forgot my birthday” Many women are also very good at quarrelling in advance when their birthdays are around the corner and their husbands’ minds are far away from their special day.

They start grumbling internally as the days draw nearer.

A woman deliberately refused to remind her husband that it was her birthday, having kept her anger in check till that day.

Many end up having a quarrelling birthday instead of a happy birthday; all because they planned to quarrel with their careless spouses in advance.

We are not suggesting that men should be careless with their wives’ emotions. Men should know that a birthday is more of an emotional thing than spiritual. A person’s emotions can be quite delicate. Therefore, try as much as possible to consciously remind yourselves and keep a tab as the months trickle into weeks and into days.

When a woman is constantly and romantically made to be aware of her coming birthday, the normal woman will be very fulfilled; even if very little money was spent to celebrate the day she arrived planet earth.

She will prefer it that way than for her to

When he comes back from work, I will snub him and make him feel how painful it is when one is neglected remind the man on the very day of her birth and the man unemotionally gives her a car or a huge sum of money.

THE LOVE TALK Men should know that females have a very big ‘LOVE TANK.’ Birthdays and many other emotional things are among the things that can fill their love tanks. Men should search out these things (including words) and keep depositing them in their partner’s love tank. As they keep filling their love tanks, the number of quarrels in their courtship or marriage will be few. Filling your partner’s love tank is deliberately learnt, deliberately done, deliberately practised often and perfected. It is a matter of your will. It is a matter of deciding to break with your traditional behaviour.

Now, back to the females and their birthdays, wedding anniversaries and other special days. They should not quarrel in advance or declare war on their spouses for not remembering. Instead, they should keep reminding their spouses as the day draws nearer. Even if he forgets and is about TO HURRY TO HIS OFFICE THAT MORNING, you can lovingly remind him by singing a birthday song this way.

Happy Birthday to me Happy Birthday to me It is the birthday of your dear w-i-i-i-fe Happy Birthday to me An average woman may not sing a song like this with fullness of joy but the spiri-

tual fact still remains that with our recreated human spirits now indwelt by the spirit of God, we can do all things. Yes, Philippians 4:13 put it this way: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

THE DOCTRINE OF PROBABILITY When next you are tempted to quarrel in advance over what your spouse did or failed to do, over what your spouse said or failed to say, learn to be patient and look out for the possible excuse. For example, if he planned to call you at a particular time and after some hours none came, look out for a positive reason. Train your mind to think positively that it may be that something is wrong with your network.

Try to use the word ‘probably.’ People who know how to use that word suffer less stress in their love lives and work place. We are not saying you should excuse the inexcusable, but you just have to give allowances for other people’s faults.

Ancient Greek thinker Cicero who lived some years before Jesus physically came from heaven to planet earth said: “Probabilities guide the decisions of wise men.”

Instead of quarrelling in advance; “Brethren, whatsoever things are true“ (of your spouse) “whatsoever things are honest” (about your spouse) whatsoever things are just” (of your spouse) “whatsoever things are lovely (of your spouse)” … think on these things.”

As you apply the above scriptures to your marriage, you will find out that you can make your mind think on what you want it to think about as far as your life and relationships are concerned. As you train your spirit and mind to meditate on the above scriptures (Philippians 4:8), the Holy Spirit will step in and help you not to quarrel in advance.

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Faith

Divine communication Taming your Emotions Bishop

Lawrence Osagie 0806 325 0667 www.powerlineministriesinc.org mail:powerlineministries@mail.com

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nd ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep: The Lord called Samuel: and he answered, here am I and he ran to Eli, and said here am I for thou callest me. And he said I call not; lei down again. And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, here am I: for thou didst call. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

And Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said here am I; for thou didst call me.

And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls thee, that thou shall say. Speak Lord; for thy servant heareth. So, Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and, stood, and called

as other times, Samuel, Samuel. Hen Samuel answered, speak; for thy servant heareth,” – 1Samuel 3:3-10.

Life is too precious to gamble with; every covenant child of God must live a progressive life based totally on the communication line that is established between him and his God. There is no progressive life that could be established on the foundation of a trial and error lifestyle. You can live life on the sure instructions of God and be sure of the outcome of your destiny no matter the circumstance. The word of God that goes into your spirit takes hold of your destiny which becomes the foundation for action in your life. Before you were born, your destiny was already established. Most people struggle because they are in church yet don’t really know God; they have never had a personal communication with God and so they act on what other people say. Hearing God’s voice is a tonic that produces dramatic change in the Christian’s life.

When the light of the believers goes dim, they become spiritually drowsy.

Believers must always be at alert/ sensitive to the spirit of God at every point in time because God can speak any time and in any place. When God called Samuel he ran to man not God because it was only Eli that he knew at that point in time; there had never been any form of communication between him and God. If you learn to hear the voice of God the struggles of five years can change in five minutes. The minute

Samuel heard from God his ministry began. When believers don’t hear the voice of God, there’s always labour and struggle.

Divine communication was a pattern all great men of the Bible followed e.g.

Abraham, Moses etc. When you hear from God concerning any area of your life even if you are faced with diverse challenges you still hold on because you know the purpose will be fulfilled.

Don’t live the life of an imitator; because no matter your struggle you will never make it in life. Only the real thing will stand the test of time.

If you don’t hear from God with your spiritual ears, you live a life of instability. Don’t be ruled and moved by sentiments and emotions but only the voice of God. Every major step Abraham made was based on instruction and divine communication.

The testimony of all great men in the scripture is based on divine communication. Don’t let the controlling spirit assigned against you deceive you; always hear from God for yourself. Faith based on what you hear is what is rewarded.

When you hear the voice of God, always take a step of faith.

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Median: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mount of God, even to Horeb. And he angel of God appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush: and he looked, and behold the bush burned

with fire, and the bush was not burnt, and when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said: Moses.

And he said, here am I and he said: Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standeth is holy ground.

“Morever he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob and Moses hid his face; he was afraid to look upon God. And he Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their task masters, for their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land /flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

Come now therefore, na I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt, Exodus 3:1-10 If this message has blessed you, you can actually get more of it. Join our insightful fellowship at the Powerline Bible Church Glass House, Odolowu Bus Stop, along Mile 2-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.

Aggressive forgiveness Word of Life

Bishop

Moses Kattey

moseskattey@yahoo.co.uk

0808 770 7486

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hat was what one version of the Bible, The Message, calls GRACE in Romans 5:20 “But sin didn’t and doesn’t have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down” (Rom. 5:20).

This was exactly what the Lord decided to do. When one is aggressive, elements of force are involved. And this thing called forgiveness, especially the aggressive type is a big blow to the devil. Forgiveness is a weapon of war, and in fact, one of the most effective weapons that winds down the devil’s activities.

Some years ago, an elderly man of over 80 years of age walked into the church very slowly. At the end of the service, I did not know if he accompanied some persons for thanksgiving or not.

Early Monday morning, just the following day, there was a knock on my door. Three men were my visitors; I greeted them and they apologised for waking me up. “We came to report your member to you. The man we came to report is spoiling the name of your Church and should be suspended.” They told me. These men described the member to me but I could not recognise him. They finally told me that the man attended service for the first time “yesterday Sunday and he told us that he had enrolled

as a church member.” I was asked to suspend him or caution him. I said: “Just yesterday the man attended service, you three have come to report and accuse him. It is unfair.” I asked them to tell me their various churches.

Only one went to church, others did not attend any.

“I have forgiven the old man you came to report. I will not punish him.”

I emphasised. That was the worst news the three men had heard for a long time. You could sense the anger with which they received the forgiveness offered the old man. They angrily left my house.

When the Lord says that He has forgiven you, a powerful weapon is directed against the devil and all your enemies. The devil or the enemy does not want to hear that at all.

Forgiveness is a package the devil envies. That is one thing he has never, and he cannot receive. When you receive this aggressive forgiveness from God, which we call GRACE, you defeat the devil hands down.

Forgiveness is life-time favour For His anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life (Psalm 30:5) His anger lasted only a moment, but his favour lasts a life time (NIV) One bad news your opponents will not like to hear is that you have been forgiven; no, not just the forgiveness per see, but that you HAVE LIFETIME FAVOUR! And it is very true. If your opponent is told that you have special favour and are a very lucky person, how will he feel?

In Psalm 30:5 read above, the Lord said that when you offended Him some time ago, He was annoyed with you but it was a very brief affair, momentarily. After that ‘moment,’ He came back to give you ‘favour for life,’ unmerited favour, unconditional

You could sense the anger with which they received the forgiveness offered the old man.

They angrily left my house favour. This is contrary to the teachings we hear from time to time that keep us condemned: that we are going to pay for the sins, even the ones that our parents or children committed; that we need to atone for our sins; and that God is not happy with us. This teaching is inspired by the devil to keep us ‘uncleared.’ What do I mean by this?

CLEARANCE For one to graduate, he/she must go for clearance – library, medical, departmental, faculty, Students Union, School fees, etc. Hardly can one graduate or convocate without clearance. When you are cleared, then there is “no more condemnation” and so you can graduate and collect your certificate.

No politician contests without going for clearance or what they call screening. Without going for screening, you will not be given clearance to contest, even as a councillor to represent your ward or constituency.

In Nigeria, the Senate must screen or clear a Ministerial nominee before he/ she can assume office. Any person not cleared can never assume office or be sworn-in. In every area of life, there is always what we call clearance.

FORGIVENESS: If one has not been forgiven, then that one is not right with God, and the devil can claim the person or lay claim to him/her. This forgiveness God gives to us is un-conditional. God gives and forgives.

Why does God desire that His people should be forgiven?

The Lord spoke through Isaiah

For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

For this is as waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that as waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee (Isaiah 54:7-10).

This God has no equal. He says again that sometime ago, you offended Him and He got annoyed with you, forsook you. But, as He looked back to see you, He saw what baffled Him – the devil took over and afflicted and tortured you and your people. The affliction was great and that was when you wept and were sorrowful. The Lord then regretted His action when He discovered that setting His back on you even for five minutes would cause untold hardship to you, so He vowed NEVER to forsake you in life again. Why? If He forsakes you, the enemy takes over and you will understand what David said sometime ago.

Go and say unto David, thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee, ……..so Gad came to David and saith unto him, shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land?

Or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee?

Or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? Now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

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News

Mixed reactions over MTN’s N1.04tn fine

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Stakeholders laud cancellation of crude swap arrangement

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Paul Ogbuokiri

Everyday Guinness rewards distributors p.50

Feature

Lagos–Ibadan Expressway gridlock may hamper HID’s burial p.49

Paul Ogbuokiri Head, Business paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

il industry experts have commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s cancellation of bidding for new crude oil swap deals.

They noted, however, that the Federal Government should have raised the stake by also removing the controversial subsidy on petroleum products.

NNPC had shortlisted 44 companies for the swap agreements for 2016, but called off ‘offshore processing arrangements’ because most of them did not directly operate refineries.

Getting oil products from such companies, NNPC said, would “constitute a significant value loss” for the country.

“Only bona fide owners of refineries identified in the ongoing OPA tender evaluation process will be further engaged,” NNPC had said in a statement on Tuesday.

NNPC is currently relying on interim swap agreements made in September after it cancelled the original 2015 deals because they were “skewed in favour of the companies.”

The current swap agreement partners are NNPC trading subsidiary Duke Oil, an NNPC joint-venture called Calson, which is with Swiss trader Vitol, and another called Napoil, which is with commodities trader Trafigura.

But the stakeholders who spoke via a communique issued at the end of the 2015 conference of the. , said government implemented one its recommendations at the group’s meeting in Lagos, further urged government to rather than continue with the swap regime, it should move towards a collateralized crude for product swap which is it said is more transparent and “avoid off-shore processing agreement that is grossly abused world-wide.”

The stakeholders in a communiqué signed by the advisory board chairman and convener of Oil Trading Logistics, Reginald Stanley and Emeka Akabogu respectively, traversed the key components of the downstream value chain and strongly advised government to fully deregulate the downstream petroleum industry as a matter of immediate urgency.

In the communique issued at the end of OTL’s 2015 annual conference in Lagos, the group called for the prioritisation of local refining by initiating a deliberate shift from importing products to building refineries. It advocated for a national refining policy to define the framework for encouraging investment in petroleum refining in Nigeria.

Coming on the heels of the report that government has approved the payment of N413 billion ($2.1 billion) to oil marketers as outstanding payment for fuel subsidy claims, they said; “In view of current realities of low crude oil price and devalued naira, the country can no longer afford the burden of subsidies. The government is strongly advised to remove all petroleum products subsidies as a matter of immediate urgency and fully deregulate the

Disagree over fuel subsidy

Kachikwu

In view of current realities of low crude oil price and devalued naira, the country can no longer afford the burden of subsidies. The government is strongly advised to remove all petroleum products subsidies as a matter of immediate urgency and fully deregulate the downstream petroleum industry downstream petroleum industry.”

They said the deregulation of the industry will attract appropriate investments, promote optimal efficiency, healthy competition, ensure efficient supply of petroleum products to the country and improve the infrastructure in the downstream sector.

They said local refining of petroleum products should be prioritised by the country and a deliberate shift initiated from importing products to building refineries.

They stressed the need for a National Refining Policy which defines the framework for encouraging investment in petroleum refining in Nigeria to facilitate increased national revenue and infrastructural development.

Additionally, they stated that the “downstream expansion of our natural gas utilization, with regulated gas price for do-

mestic sales, governance limitation and institutional deficiency constitute both a challenge and opportunity for gas supply.

To stimulate investment in LPG, multiple taxes and high tariffs should be reduced while development of infrastructure and distribution channels such as, local Cylinder manufacturing, Storage facilities, Filling plants, Bob-tail trucks, gas pipeline for residential consumption, automobiles and petrochemical plants should be encouraged to enable the growth of LPG.” There was a mild drama on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday during the debate on the motion on an alleged plan by President Muhammadu Buhari to remove fuel subsidy.

Some of the lawmakers who kicked against the motion include Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader and Herman Hembe, chairman House Committee on FCT. Hon. Albert Adeogun who sponsored the motion on the alleged plans by the Federal Government to remove petroleum subsidy, however called for caution, saying such move may “ultimately result in inflation and increase in goods and services, thereby aggravating poverty.”

To this end, he urged Federal GovernC ON TI N UE D ON PAGE 49

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Mixed reactions over MTN’s N1.04tn fine

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Paul Ogbuokiri s the fortunes of GSM service provider, MTN of South Africa deepens over the $5.2 billion fine (N1.04 trillion) imposed on it for failing to disconnect customers with unregistered SIM cards, some analysts say the heavy fine may have a negative impact on the Nigerian economy.

Tightening of rules against investors, the analysts say, is evidence of a government struggling to cope with fiscal pressures in the face of plunging oil prices, creating more unpredictability for Africa’s biggest economy.

The dispute with MTN comes as the Nigerian economy struggles to cope with sliding oil prices, currency restrictions, with growth at its slowest pace this decade.

Gross government revenue fell 57 per cent to N435 billion ($2.2 billion) in June from a year ago, according to data from the central bank.

Revenue in the first six months of this year was N3 trillion compared with N4.8-trillion in the same period last year.

MTN was fined by Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator last week, more than 20 per cent of the mobile phone company’s market value.

A full payment would exceed the revenue the Federal Government made from oil in the second quarter, and be more than double Nigeria’s non-crude proceeds, according to central bank data.

“It’s worrying, the telecommunication fines,” Clement Nwankwo, executive director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, said from Abuja.

“I don’t get the sense of what the economic direction is. If Nigeria is broke and agencies are fining companies to make up for the shortfall in oil revenues, then that is something that we should be worried about. Certainly, it is important that the regulatory agencies are active and taking action against companies that violate the rules of business. But it is always useful that this be done in the context of a national economic policy,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director, Emerging Markets and Africa at Deloitte, Martyn Davis said, “The fiscal headwinds facing Nigeria have resulted in an increasingly assertive regulatory regime in Nigeria. The fiscal pressures are resulting in greater pressure on firms, local but particularly multinational, to comply.”

MTN shares have slumped 22 per cent since October 26, when the firm said it was facing a fine.

The stock rose 0.6 per cent to R148.99 at midday in Johannesburg after MTN said the Nigeria Communications Commission renewed its operating licence.

The Director Public Affairs, NCC, Tony Ojobo, said last Thursday that investors were required to comply with the rules or face penalties. On Monday, he said there was no update to be disclosed on the MTN fine.

The commission gave MTN until November 16 to pay up. Although they have not disclosed what steps they would take if MTN failed to comply with the payment deadline, there is concern that MTN may have its assets seized or frozen or its operating licence suspended or revoked.

The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration exercise embarked upon

by NCC, in conjunction with all the service providers in Nigeria started on March 28, 2011. It was initially slated to come to an end on September 28, 2011, but was extended till June 30, 2013.

At the expiration of the deadline, the SIM cards that were not registered were barred, said Ojobo.

This was followed by the de-activation of pre-registered SIM cards of mobile net-

L-R: Head of Engineering, Med-View Airline, Lookman Animashaun; Managing Director/CEO, Alhaji Muneer Babkole and Head of Flight, Operations, Captain Geoffrey Ogbogu, during the Airline’s press briefing to announce the commencement of its Lagos-London flight in Lagos.. .PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

I don’t get the sense of what the economic direction is. If Nigeria is broke and agencies are fining companies to make up for the shortfall in oil revenues, then that is something that we should be worried about work operators in Nigeria. On August 19, 2015, NCC said it had blocked about 10.7 million lines.

From about 38.78 million SIM cards found to be defective regarding improper registration details including poor finger prints, absence of facial information and other biometric issues, according to NCC, the operators, after strict monitoring by the commission, barred about 10.7 million SIMs. Head of the Compliance and Monitoring Unit of the commission, Efosa Idehen, told journalists in Lagos that the commission since the expiration of the ultimatum given to operators, on August 11 this year, visited the operators to ensure compliance.

He said the directive to the operators was that they should bar any line found to have incomplete registration and later urged the affected subscribers to come and complete their registration.

He said that the commission, after due consultation with the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders in the industry, agreed that pre-registered SIMs and others found to be defective should be deactivated.

According to him, in September 2014, NCC discovered that from the SIM data the operators sent to the commission for harmonisation, some of them were defective and as a result it was returned to the operators for proper checks.

He disclosed that about 18.6 million SIM data were sent back to MTN Nigeria; 7. 49 million sent to Airtel; 2.23 million to Globacom; and 10.46 million to Etisalat.

“With this there was no compliance from MTN. During our visit to Airtel, the telecommunications service had fully barred 2.3 million from their networks. These were SIM datas found to be incomplete. At Globacom, 3.5 million lines had been barred also from their network.

“Globacom gave assurance of 24 hours to

deactivate other lines found to be defective on their networks. Etisalat had barred 3.3 million and promised that within 24 hours, others found to be challenging would be removed totally from the networks,” he explained.

According to him, what MTN did as an intervention was to put the affected subscribers on ‘Receive Calls Only;’ a development which did not allow the subscribers to put a call through to another network.

He said that out of the about 18.6 million SIM registration data found to be defective on MTN network, only about 1.6 million had been barred.

It was against this backdrop that NCC last week slapped the mobile phone operator with the $5.2 billion fine, wiping almost 20 per cent off its market value over the space of four days.

After buying one of four Nigerian mobile phone licenses for $285 million, MTN went from handling its first call in the country in 2001 to being the market leader with more than 62.5 million customers. Over the same period, its share price on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange soared more than sixfold as the company expanded from its home base into more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and in Cyprus.

“Imposing such a large fine on one of the most successful foreign-owned enterprises would likely deter inward investment,” Mark Bohlund, an economist with

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Bloomberg Intelligence in London, said in response to the question by Bloomberg Africa on Thursday. Pointing at the N412 billion subsidy payments reportedly approved by President Buhari, he said, “It reinforces the impression that the Buhari administration does not have the political clout to cut back spending nor any creative ideas to take the country forward and stimulate other sectors of the economy.”

“Despite the size of the fine, we do not believe that MTN should exit its Nigerian operations,” he said, adding that the full payment of the penalty will amount to half the ongoing value of operations in the country.

The penalties signal “that the new government is serious about compliance, which, over the medium term, should be beneficial for business,” Cobus de Hart, an analyst at NKC Independent Economists, told Reuters from Paarl, near Cape Town.

“However, given the understandably fickle investor sentiment currently in the country, being too strict too quickly will adversely affect the business environment and investors may become even more anxious.”

Meanwhile, MTN is reportedly in talks with the authorities in Nigeria, asking for ‘leniency’ and requesting a review of the $5.2 billion fine imposed on the telecoms provider for failing to cut off unregistered SIM card users, a regulatory source said on Tuesday.

FG to expand Nigeria’s maritime boundaries

resident Muhammadu Buhari has approved a project to expand Nigeria’s maritime boundaries.

To this effect, he has approved the continuation of efforts by the National Boundary Commission to achieve a significant expansion.

He gave the approval after being briefed by the NBC Director-General, Dr. M.B. Ahmad, on the status of preparations for a submission by Nigeria to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

The President was said have also approved the constitution of a Presidential Committee to oversee the conclusion of work on the submission, which could lead to the expansion of Nigeria’s maritime boundaries from 200 nautical miles

to 350 nautical miles, if approved by the CLCS. Buhari also directed the Ministry of Finance to provide the funds required to conduct the geographical surveys which are essential for the submission.

According to Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the continental shelf of a coastal state comprises the sea-bed and the subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breath of the territorial sea is measured, where CO NTINUED O N PAGE 51

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Lagos–Ibadan Expressway gridlock may hamper HID’s burial

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Paul Ogbuokiri

nless the Federal Government moves in quickly fix the distressed portions of LagosIbadan Expressway, dignitaries travelling by Road from Lagos to Ikenne, Ogun State for the burial of Chief HID Awolowo, wife of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Ikenne, Ogun State may have a tough time on the road.

The burial ceremonies are expected t o begin on November 15, 2015 and end on November 25.

With the demobilisation of the contractor handling the reconstruction of the road from the old tollgate in Lagos to Sagamau interchange, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the road has become a death trap, with commuters spending over 12 hours on a journey of about 30 minutes.

Addressing a press conference on Friday at the residence of the late sage in Ikenne, the HID Awolowo Burial Central Planning Committee said the late Yeye Oodua would be buried on November

25, 2015, the same day she would have clocked 100.

As the Chief Mourner, the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, revealed that the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration had dispatched correspondences to the other 35 state governors to officially inform them of Mama Awolowo’s passage as well as to invite them to attend the ceremonies.

Adeoluwa, who hinted that the office of the Ogun SSG had done same, said the state government was still expecting the Presidency to furnish the committee with a list of heads of government invited to the burial.

Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands and second daughter of the family, Dr. Tokunbo AwolowoDosunmu, said the 11-day activities would commence with Mama Awolowo’s corpse lying in state at the Tribune House in Imale F’alaafia area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on November 17 to commemorate the

66th year anniversary of the founding of the newspaper organisation which she chaired till death.

Dosunmu-Awolowo further stated that the biography which chronicles the life and times of the late matriarch of Awolowo dynasty would be presented to the Nigerian reading public in Ibadan the following day among several other lying in state ceremonies for Mama Awolowo in Ibadan, Lagos and Ikenne.

She also said that the burial planning committee had evolved a special traffic control measure which would restrict vehicular movement from entering Ikenne. According to her, special transportation arrangements have been made to convey guests from the outskirts to the township, particularly the 690-sitting-capacity Our Saviour’s Anglican Church where the church service would take place.

Findings by Sunday Telegraph revealed that over 184 federal road

Interview

projects have been abandoned across the country due to the lack of funding from the Federal Government and the huge debts owed contractors handling them. It was further gathered that the contractors are now being owed about N1.76 trillion on federal road projects while another source put the figure at N600 billion.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, had told Sunday Telegraph that repair work would be conducted on the road soon.

Based on an enquiry by our correspondent, he said he was informed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Dr. Abubakar Koro Muhammad, that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency would soon fix the distressed portions.

Palliative work by the Ogun State Government has yielded little result as heavy rains continue to carve gullies at the Arepo/Wawa point on the road.

Skills acquisition: Lagos trains 150 youths

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etermined to reduce the scourge of unemployment in the state, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has trained no fewer than 150 youths under its skills acquisition programme.

The participants were trained in bead making, barbing, hairdressing and cosmetology at the Akinwunmi Youth Centre, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos.

The event was witnessed by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Princess Uzamat Akinbile –Yusuf, who urged beneficiaries to use the opportunity to better their lives. Akinbile-Yusuf said the programme was initiated to alleviate poverty and empower youths with entrepreneurial skills.

She added that it would be replicated in various parts of the state before too long.

“No nation grows without meaningful contribution of youths to economy development. This programme was conceived in line with the objectives of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision for youth development and reduction of unemployment especially among youths. Therefore, his empowerment programme would be organised across the state with the sole aim to empower our youths, because to reform the nation is to reform the youth.”

One of the beneficiaries, Esther Fagbohungbe, who was visibly elated, expressed her gratitude to the Lagos State government and Ministry of Youth and Social Development for putting up such a laudable programme to empower youths in the state, saying:” It is a wonderful programme. This will go a long way to making our lives better.”

Nightmare on Lagos Ibadan expressway

Photo: josephine Damisa

Stakeholders laud cancellation of crude swap arrangement CO N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E 4 7

ment to exercise restraint in removing the fuel subsidy and rather introduce less restrictive and stringent conditions for the setting up of refineries in Nigeria so as to stimulate investments in the oil industry.

He also stressed the need for the current administration to fast-track the repairs of the refineries to enhance local production of petroleum products as this will, in the long run, eliminate the need for subsidy or reduce it to the barest minimum.

While calling for the House’s intervention, Adeogun prayed the House to mandate its Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to investigate the quantum of petroleum products imported into the country, the consumption pattern, distribution, exportation and smuggling of fuel to neighbouring countries through

the borders, and make recommendations to the House within four weeks.

In a swift reaction to the intent of the motion, Gbajabiamila who argued that it is speculative explained that Buhari had ruled out the possibility of removing fuel subsidy.

“Because they are alleging does not mean that it will happen. We don’t bring allegation motions but motions based on facts,” he said.

Africa’s richest man and president of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, in a recent interaction with senior editors in Nigeria, said; “The issue with subsidy is that government needs to block all loopholes. If there’s no subsidy, it will affect our foreign exchange; we’ll end up buying a dollar at N500, because there’s no VAT on petroleum products.

“That’s why the import of petroleum products is taking about 30 per cent of our foreign reserve. We just need to make sure that there’s no siphoning of money.

The refining business requires volume. If you don’t have a massive volume, there’s no way you’ll make money. Most of the refineries in Africa are running at a big loss.

It’s not possible for government officials to successfully manage oil businesses. It’s good enough if they remove the subsidy, but you can check with neighbouring countries like Senegal. If a poor person in Senegal can afford to pay subsidy, why can’t a poor person in Nigeria afford to pay. I think there must be something for the masses, which should be in terms of power, social insurance, good education system, good roads etc,” he said.

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Etisalat affirms commitment to SMEs

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tisalat Nigeria, has reiterated its commitment to the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria as the engine of economic growth.

According to statement from the organisation made available to Sunday Telegraph, Regional Manager, Enterprise Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Victoria Ibeji, stated that the company has been consistent in implementing solutions that stimulate the growth of SMEs in Nigeria.

According to her, one of these numerous solutions is a partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University for meeting the global entrepreneurship need of small and growing businesses. “ Also as part of the initiative, we have trained a lot of SME operators from across Nigeria; we have connected them with mentors, and inspired them for great successes through networking opportunities with entrepreneurs of large organisations”, she said.

Speaking on the importance of Market Access Nigeria, the Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Peter Bamkole, said the initiative is a platform that brings together Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and large companies to network, start relationships and create opportunities.

“The main goal of Market Access Nigeria is to facilitate market access for SMEs by keying them into the value chain of large organisations, bridging the gap, and enabling local content development and participation in various sectors of the Nigerian economy”, he said.

Guinness rewards distributors G Stanley Ihedigbo

uinness Nigeria Plc has rewarded its trade partners for best-inclass performance and responsible marketing of its alcoholic beverage brands.

At an exquisite and colourful ceremony, the 2015 Distributors’ Conference and Awards Night which held at the Classique Events Centre in Lagos saw Guinness Nigeria pull out all the stops for an eventful evening.

The J5 music band set the ball, rolling by belling out melodious soulful tunes from Bob Marley’s Redemption Song to a medley

of songs by Nigeria’s own diva, Asa, even as guests networked on the red carpet.

Humour merchant, Gordons, discharged his duties as the Master of Ceremony very well, carrying everyone along in the celebration of partnership for growth which was the theme of the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, commended the distributors for their contributions to the growth and success of the company’s business in the previous fiscal year.

He noted that their efforts had

helped the company maintain its market leadership, while referencing Guinness Nigeria’s effective and efficient distribution model, which has ensured impressive investment returns, expansion of retail footprints and improved customer experience at every touch point, as a critical success factor.

Ndegwa further charged the distributors on the need to ensure that consumers are inspired by the Guinness Nigeria brands by keeping in line with the company’s track record for delivering great innovations. “It is very important that the brand continues to enjoy the trust and the respect which it has built with the Nigerian people

Managing Director, Edinho Nig. Ltd, Chief Edmond Okafor, receiving the keys of a brand new RAV 4 SUV from Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria, Peter Ndegwa, after he emerged as Guinness Nigeria’s Best Overall Distributor (National) at the brewing giant’s distributors conference

over the years,” he said.

At the event, distributors from the company’s sales division across the country were rewarded for outstanding performance in volume sales and distribution of various products. Some of the award categories include the Divisional Highest Volume Award, National Volume Can only and National Highest Volume Award.

Prizes given to partners included plaques, certificates, computers, 1.4 H- 100 Hyundai single cabin trucks, among many others.

The highpoint of the night was the announcement of Abujabased Managing Director of Edinho Nigeria Ltd, Dr. Edmond Okafor as the winner of the National Highest Volume Award category. He was rewarded with a plaque, N20 million and a new Toyota Rav-4.

Speaking after receiving his award, Okafor expressed satisfaction with the commitment and support he had received from Guinness Nigeria, while pledging his continued allegiance to the brand.

“I commend Guinness Nigeria for treating us as partners in progress. Guinness has become a way of life for me. When I started, I faced stiff opposition as a lot of people didn’t want to associate with my business. However, since I signed onto Guinness, it’s been a great experience and I believe with all of my heart that the best has yet to come. My aspiration is to surpass what I have currently achieved in terms of service delivery and to become a world class distributor for Guinness Nigeria,” he affirmed..

Manufacturers decry influx of substandard cables into Nigeria Cadbury donates food,

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Tai Anyanwu

able Manufacturers Association has decried the influx of substandard cables into the country, saying the development may lead to job cuts in the industry unless President Muhammadu Buhari comes to their rescue.

Chief Executive Officer of Cutix Plc, who is also the president of CAMAN, Mr. Ifeanyi Uzodike, said this during a press briefing in Nnewi, Anambra State recently.

Uzodike also said cable manufacturers can no longer purchase the major raw materials for their production as a result of difficulty in accessing foreign exchange due to the new policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The new CBN policy on foreign exchange is affecting our business.

We cannot source our major raw materials like copper rod and aluminum rod locally and it is unfortunate that we cannot easily access foreign exchange to import them. Even where we are lucky to get it, it takes as long as one month.

“The summary of it is that if nothing is done urgently, most of us will reduce our workforce and produc-

tion capacity by over 50 per cent.

This industry deals with power and power is vital to all sectors. You need power to drive the economy, especially in this era of dwindling oil revenue,” he said.

On the National Integrated Power Project, he said government gave out turnkey projects to some individuals and they were allowed to import duty free into the country. The net effect, according to him, is that most of the materials are substandard.

Uzodike further said that effort made by the association to get CBN to make it possible for them to access foreign exchange did not yield positive fruit.

At the AGM of Cutix Plc, the first company in the South-East to be quoted on the stock exchange, its Chairman, David Ifezulike, said there was the urgent need for government’s intervention to avoid compounding the woes of the sector arising from the restrictions on foreign exchange.

Ifezulike listed other challenges as multiple taxation, non-application of local content and the influx of substandard cables into the country.

He said that Cutix Plc is a socially

responsible company which pays its taxes regularly and employs Nigerians among other corporate social responsibility activities.

The chairman noted that the company had good products that could meet the needs of all Nigerians in terms of standards. He appealed to the shareholders and Nigerians alike to patronise Cutix Plc by buying their cables.

In a review of the 2015 Annual Report and Accounts, he said that in spite of the political and economic challenges experienced by the business in the year 2015 as a result of the elections in the country, Cutix Plc recorded a turnover of N2.4 billion which was five per cent higher than the previous year. The profit after tax was N149 million against a higher figure of N207 million recorded last year. The directors adopted a dividend of 12 kobo per share to be paid to the shareholders.

For an outstanding performance, all the board members were retained. The audit report was adopted and two new members were voted into the audit committee in an election that was keenly contested.

classrooms to centre

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n continuation of its global employee volunteer month of service, Cadbury Nigeria visited the Vocational Training Centre of the Nigeria Society for the Blind in Oshodi, Lagos, with food and cleaned its classrooms.

Speaking with journalists during the visit, Cadbury’s Managing Director, Mr. Roy Naaman, commended the management of the training centre for the good work they are doing as a group committed to make life better for the visually impaired.

He said, “Our visit comes at a very special time for Cadbury Nigeria, and our parent company, Mondelez International, because this is our company’s global month of service. We do this each year as part of a celebration of our company’s founding, and it helps us live our company’s values – such as leading from the head and the heart.

“Giving back and working in our communities helps remind us that our business success is directly linked to enhancing the well-being of the people who make and enjoy our products and to support the communities where we grow our ingredients.”

In his welcome address, Chairman, Executive Council of the centre, Asiwaju Fola Osibo, expressed deep appreciation to the Cadbury team for the kind gesture.

He added, “Today’s visit by the managing director and top Management of Cadbury is a major morale booster for us and we count it as a big opportunity in getting a multi-national company like Cadbury to consider using the Nigeria Society for the Blind Vocational Training Centre as their vehicle for community service. We are sincerely appreciative of this gesture.”

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Business News

The mysteries of money (1) Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

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ometime ago, on this column, I discussed ‘My Thoughts on Money’. However, given that life is about progress, between then and now, my insight on the subject has deepened. I, therefore, wish to revisit the subject.

Money is something everybody needs. No matter how modest or puritannical some people may be, nobody hates money. Money is vital to living. However, beyond its purchasing power, there is more to money, and this truism is what I have set out to espouse in this series.

Here we go.

POINT ONE: Money is just a medium of exchange.

The attitude of many to money is the way it is because they feel the value of money is in the currency paper itself. No! The value of money is not in the currency paper, but in the exchange it can command (the value it can fetch you in return). A hold of this insight can inspire one to create durable wealth.

I think this point will be better driven home by the following illustration: MR. CASH is so money-conscious and stingy that, when it comes to money, he gets all he can, cans all he gets, sits on the can and watch over

the can. In a given number of years, he had accumulated money enough to buy a car and build a house.

MR. BOOKWORM, on the other hand, invested in his mind and became so knowledgeable that he secured a job and was given a house and a car for keeps as part of his entitlements on the job.

Now, let’s analyse the two cases.

While MR. CASH was busy accumulating money, MR. BOOKWORM might have been seen as ‘poor’ or ‘not rich’.

But before long, he became at par with Mr. Cash (if not more) in material value. This is in addition to the intellectual wealth he (Mr. Bookwarm) has created over the years, which is unquantifiable.

The point is: if we do not limit our minds to cash, we can create more value for ourselves than cash can ever bring us. After all, cash is only a piece of paper. The real money is not the piece of paper but the value the ‘paper’ can command, which is an abstract. Do you understand?

POINT TWO: Money is a character test Recently, a senior colleague of mine gave me a task to execute on behalf of a client. He asked the client to give me a certain sum with which to execute the task. The sum he asked the client to give to me was far more than what I used to execute the task. I had so much left. It felt good. Don’t look at me that way. You like money too. *Winks* In the evening of that day, while the said senior colleague and I were at dinner, I mentioned to him the fact that there was money left of the sum given to me for the task.

“You just passed a test,” he said.

Apparently, he knew that the task he assigned to me would not cost as much

as he asked the client to give me as mobilization for the task. I believe he asked the client to give me that sum of money because he wanted me to have some ‘change’ for myself, perhaps because I was (and still is) a loyal ‘boy’. *Winks* That notwithstanding, he waited to see if I will render account for the expenditure of the money. I thank God I did not wait until he asked me to give an account of how I spent the money. Guess what ... He asked me to take the money.

Friend, money is not just about spending power or access to better living standards. It is a test of character.

Money reveals the true character of a man, and the absence of it reveals the true character of a woman. Please pause just a minute and think about this.

I believe that the reason ‘some’ people are not rich is that, if God gives them money now, they will destroy themselves. So, God decided that their character must be worked on before they are released to wealth.

For some men, the day God gives them money is the day their wives will no more be good enough for them. They will start going after other women, especially young ladies.

For some women, the day God gives them money, their husbands become too small to respect or submit to.

The question, therefore, is this: Have you built ‘sufficient’ character to withstand the temptations that come with money? Tell yourself the truth, for, as Usman Danfodio said, “The conscience is an open wound. Only truth can heal it.”

Pause and ponder.

You will succeed.

Beyond the natural The Big Picture Julian Atufunwa 08032810713 (SMS only)

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verything created is harmless when very young, but with time they all mature into what they really are.

A baby snake is harmless when born but matures into a venomous creature. A baby lion (cub) is also innocent and harmless at birth. The lioness (mother) hides its cubs for about six weeks in order to protect them from prey. In fact, its pregnancy is kept secret for safety purposes.

Young cubs cannot defend themselves and therefore they are kept for grooming till they mature.

Now it is not the fault of an adult snake that it is poisonous, neither is it a lion’s fault that it devours other animals. Now we know that a human baby is also born harmless, as a novice but with time, it also takes the form of its environment and upbringing. But nlike irrational animals, Man has the ability to disrupt its natural tendencies. Man has the ability to change its circumstances. Man can manipulate the world around it to suit himself or herself. Man has the capacity to say his or her opinion and create lasting change for himself or herself and

their environment. Man has the ability to differentiate between right and wrong. Man is a free Moral agent and can choose to do right.

I’m always inspired by the life of this wonderful woman called Helen Keller. She was wonderful in the sense that it was only understandable for anyone in her shoes to give up on life.

Her challenges were never her fault but she caused change and today has become a reference point for not just those with disabilities but for all Humans.

THE TRAJECTORY OF HELEN KELLER Helen Keller was barely two years when she was struck with an illness that resulted in her going blind and deaf. Life dished her deafness and blindness. From an early age, Helen was determined to go to college and in 1898, she entered the Cambridge School for Young Ladies to prepare for Radcliff college,at Radcliff received a Bachelor of Arts. She was the first deaf and blind person to do so while still a student at Radcliff. Helen Keller began a writing career that continued all through her life. She published the story of her life, her first book at 22 years. Other books she published include ‘Optimism;’ ‘The world I live in;’ ‘The song of the stonewalls;’ ‘Out of the dark;’ ‘My Religion.’ Let me not bore you further. She published more than those mentioned and was also a regular contributor to magazines and newspapers.

Helen Keller’s archives contain over 475 speeches and essays that

she wrote on topics such as faith, blindness, prevention, birth control etc. From an early age, she championed the rights of the underdog. She protested the United States involvement in World War 1. She took up the cause of workers’ rights. a timeless advocate for women’s suffrage. Helen Keller joined the American Foundation for the Blind. This provided her the platform to advocate for the needs of people with impaired vision. She was interested in the welfare of the physically challenged persons in other countries as she was for those in her own country. Conditions in poor and ravaged nations were of particular concern for her. Her empathy with people in need made her one of the most effective ambassadors for disabled persons. Helen Keller indeed is an inspiration to the younger generation. She showed the whole world that there are no boundaries to courage and faith.

Finally, dear reader, can we really talk about this American author, politician, activist and lecturer without commending those behind her? Those who against all odds believed in her?

They fought the shame and stigma of raising and educating a physically challenged child. Her parents, her teacher who was also partially blind, took care of young Helen. They saw the potential in her and helped her.

We can only pray to be surrounded by those who will see the real us amidst natural circumstances of life around us.

SEE YOU AT THE TOP

Epileptic power: Abuja residents petition Presidency, Reps Philip Nyam

Abuja

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esidents of Shebwokpma and Karu Extension layout Communities, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly over incessant power outage and alleged extortion by officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

The petition jointly signed by the community leaders, Chief Sunday Eze, John Onoja, Isah Suleiman and Israel Gokper alleged that while the communities enjoy electricity for only 14 days a month, they are being billed for 30 days.

The communities called on President Mohammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara to urgently look into their predicament and order the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to immediately restore full electricity supply to the area. The leaders said the people are enraged by the incessant disconnection of the communities from the 33 KVA line, which, they said is the only source of power to the entire area.

According to them, several complaints and attempts by residents to dialogue with officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) through the Area Office at Mararaba Gwandara have yielded no positive result.

They recalled that a protest letter against the company in October 2014, which was copied the Nigerian Consumers protection council, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Public Complain Commission, among others have also failed to effect the desired change.

They informed the president that all the KVA electricity transformers and the transmission networks such as poles and electric cables in the area were provided by the communities and individuals without any assistance from government.

The community chairman wondered why the authorities will claim short supply of mega watt to the area by the generating company, yet neighboring communities of old Karu under the same AEDC enjoy 24 hour power supply.

The leaders also expressed anger that why hotels and other corporate organisations situated within the neighborhood enjoy 24 hours steady power supply under the same AEDC coverage yet residential homes in the communities continue to remain in darkness.

To boost their petition, residents of the communities yesterday took to the streets to protest the unkind treatment meted out to them by the officials of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) whom they accused of plunging them into total darkness and deliberate ploy to frustrate the government’s avowed commitment to reposition the electricity sector in the country for the benefit of the people.

Bemoaning their plight, the protesters who besieged the popular Abacha road, neighbouring City College in the area, lamented that the long power outage in the community has exposed the people to the vagaries of the society, with miscreants taking advantage of darkness to carry out robbery and other nefarious activities.

FG to expand Nigeria’s maritime boundaries CO NTINUED F R O M PAGE 48

the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said: “A sovereign coastal state like Nigeria can extend its maritime territory beyond 200 nautical miles, up to a maximum of 350 nautical miles, if it can prove scientifically that the natural prolongation of its land territory under the sea extends beyond 200 nautical miles.

“The objective of the submission being prepared by the National Boundary Commission is to claim for the country a potentially rich maritime territory of up to 104,000 square miles without any war or litigation.

“There is a strong likelihood of the presence of large deposits of hydrocarbons, gas and other mineral deposits in the extended maritime territory.”

52

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Market mood remains negative C

onsequent upon the bearish mood in the equities market, the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSEASI) declined marginally by 0.05% WoW, to peg the YtD market return at -15.82%. This crictalized after the market traded negative in four (4) out of the five (5) trading days in the week. Volume and value of transactions respectively advanced by 43.54% and 17.76% WoW, just as market breadth (0.57x) tilted in favour of decliners as 25 stocks advanced relative to 44 decliners.

OANDO advanced the most in the week, having appreciating by 28.45% to close at NGN7.72. GUINNESS (+14.59%), STANBIC (+10.36%), NAHCO (+8.71%), and TRANSCORP (+7.18%) followed suit accordingly.

Conversely, UNILEVER led the underperformers with a price decline of -18.74% WoW to close at NGN31.43. The ticker was closely followed by FIDSON (-17.60%), CUTIX (-13.69%), LIVESTOCK (-11.88%), and IKEJAHOTEL (-10.61%) in that order.

CONTINSURE, CONOIL, NIGERINS and EQUITYASUR among other companies released their 9M2015 earnings releases in the week. However, we noticed that investors’ confidence in the Nigerian equities market remains weak, as performance scorecards in the quarter has not been too impressive.

We expect the bargain hunting activities which permeated the market at the tail end of this week, to creep into the early part of the coming week. Nevertheless, we advise discerning investors to have long term investment horizon, while also trading with caution.

In this report, we review events in the economy, laying emphasis on the performance of different segments of the financial market, while presenting our expectations for the coming week.

Fixed Income: FGN auction spurs rally for T-bills

Subsisting liquidity levels in the financial system further pressured rates at the Inter-bank space during the week, as NIBOR trimmed by 0.52% on the average to settle at 11.40%. Similarly, average money market (MM) rate tempered to 0.81%, after the OBB and OVN rates respectively declined by 0.30% and 0.21% WoW. The Treasury bills market enjoyed significant rally during the week, buoyed by the oversubscription at the T-bills auction (NGN125.75bn) in the course of the week.

On this back, average yield nose-dived by 2.84% during the week, to peg at 5.29%. The 12M tenor recorded the highest yield decline of -3.98% to settle at 7.56%.

The Treasury bond market also witnessed active demand during the week, as average yield declined by 2.83% WoW to settle at 10.81%. Investors’ sentiment was largely skewed towards the longer end of the yield curve, with the MAY-2029 (-5.30%) and NOV-2029 (-5.97%) instruments recording the highest declines in yield.

Naira was pressured against the Dollar during the week, depreciating by 0.36% WoW to settle mid-point at NGN198.18/USD.

Agric sector… Sector bows to market morose mood

The agric sector closed the week on a bearish note, following the general negative mood in the market. The sector recorded a week-on-week declined of -0.36% to peg the Year-to-Date return at +18.88%. No stock gained for the week while three stocks traded flat LIVESTOCK emerged as the biggest underperformer for the week, as it declined by 11.88% WoW to close at NGN1.41. OKOMUOIL followed suit with a 0.69% decline to close at NGN28.82 while PRESCO, ELLAHLAKES and FTNCOCOA all traded flat.

Given the weak sentiments in the market, coupled with the not-too-impressive scorecards released by some companies in the sector, we opine that the sector stocks might witness weak rally in the coming week.

Banking sector: Resurgent, as index advances by 1.09% WoW

The banking sector witnessed a resurgence this week after the depressive performance recorded in the preceding week, as our banking index recorded an advance of 1.09% to bring the YtD return to -12.04%. There were six (6) gainers and seven (7) decliners, while two (2) stocks stayed flat to peg the sector’s breadth at 0.86x.

The top gainer for the week was STANBIC, after the ticker recorded a price appreciation of 10.36%. The ticker was followed by UBA (+2.86%), FCMB (+2.55%), and WEMABANK (+2.06%) on the gainers’ list. On the other side, UNITYBNK topped the decliners’ list, after paring in value by 7.35%. UBN (-3.45%), ACCESS (-2.83%), and FIDELITYBK (-2.82%) also populated the top of the decliners’ list.

…as NSEASI declines by 0.05% WoW

Earlier in the week, DNMEYER released its Q3:2015 results which showed a 7.80% YoY decrease in revenue and a 26.02% increase in PAT from the prior period.

This week, stocks trading in the industrial goods sector received negative sentiments from investors as the sector lost on four out of five trading days. We however anticipate a swing in the positive direction for the sector as we approach year end, and also as overall sentiments gradually improve in the coming weeks.

Insurance Sector: NSEINS10 advances by 14bps WoW

Although some banks in the sector have recorded good 9M2015 results, this has been unable to significantly drive price performances, as general negative market sentiments have continued to weigh down market activities.

We do not anticipate a significant deviation from this trend in the coming week, and so expect to see pockets of marginal gains and losses across the sector. Hence, we advise investors to trade cautiously.

Consumer Goods: GUINNESS gains 14.59% WoW

The sector sustained the losing streak, as the sector index as measured by NSEFBT10 pared by 0.92% WoW to drag the YtD return to -17.97%. The sector breadth (0.73x) skewed towards decliners, as eight stock recorded share price appreciation while eleven depreciated during the week.

GUINNESS emerged the top gainer for the week, after gaining 14.59% to peg share price at NGN143.24. The gains posted by the company may not be unrelated to the successful conclusion of its commercial paper offering worth NGN20bn issued in two series during the week.

TRANSCORP, BETAGLAS, UACN, FLOURMILL, NASCON, PZ and VITAFOAM trailed with 7.18%, 5.00%, 4.72%, 3.02%, 2.57%, 1.33% and 1.13% gains respectively.

On the contrary, UNILEVER rocked the bottom for the week, depreciating share price by 18.74% to NGN31.43, followed by DANGFLOUR, HONYFLOUR, DANGSUGAR, CHAMPION, 7UP,NESTLE,NB and CADBURY which declined by 9.41%, 7.0%, 6.07%, 4.14%, 2.55%, 1.34%, 0.61% and 0.25% in that order 7UP and FLOURMILL released their H1:2016 performance scorecards during the period. 7UP recorded a 3.74% YoY growth in H1:2016 revenue while profit- aftertax fell by 26.61%YoY. Consequently, earnings margin moderated by 1.90% YoY to 4.60%. FLOURMILL also grew revenue by 7.27% YoY, profit- after-tax appreciated significantly by 449.88% YoY. The considerable growth in PAT can be related to the disposal of its investments in associates worth NGN23.73bn.

In the conglomerate sector, UACN released its 9M2015 performance scorecard which showed declines in both revenue and Profit-after-tax of 9.82% and 79.38% respectively.

The price of most counters in the sector have remained depressed over time due to general market sentiment, coupled with the unimpressive scorecards released by most companies during the period. However, we expect some bargain hunting activities on some fundamentally justified counters trading at low prices relative to our target price.

Healthcare Sector: FIDSON reverses prior week’s gain

The healthcare sector trailed the general market sentiment, as the MERI-HLT Index pared by 2.95% weekto-date to peg the year to date return at -7.54%. There were 3 decliners while a lone stock appreciated in value.

MAYBAKER reversed part of previous week’s bearish mood after recording 1.69% WoW price appreciation to close at NGN1.20 (vs. NGN1.18 in the prior week).

On the converse, FIDSON led the laggards with a price decline of 17.60%, shedding all the share price gains accumulated in the previous week. EVANSMED and GLAXOSMITH followed suit with 3.57% and 2.96% declines in that order while other counters traded flat.

We believe that the pressure witnessed on sector stocks during the week was due to apathy in the equities market, and also a spillover of investors’ response to the unimpressive performance scorecards released by most of the sector nobles in the previous week. While we expect some value seeking investors to take advantage of the current low prices of most counters, we however, advise cautious trading as the general mood in equities market remains frail

Industrial Goods: PORTPAINT gains 4.75% WoW

The Industrial goods sector declined in value for the fifth consecutive week as it closed 0.83% down this week, based on our Meri-Industrial sector index. Six stocks recorded downward movements while one stock appreciated in value.

PORTPAINT, the only gainer for the week, appreciated by 4.75% WoW to close at NGN 3.53.

CUTIX pared the most, shedding 13.69% of its value to close at NGN 1.45. AFRIPAINTS, ASHAKACEM, WAPCO, BERGER and DANGCEM respectively depreciated by 4.78%, 2.17%, 2.09%, 1.74% and 0.02% to make up the losers’ list.

The sector consolidated on the prior week gain, advancing by 0.14% WoW to peg the YtD return at -6.50%, as measured by the NSEINS10 index. Sector breadth was at equilibrium, as an equal number of stocks (3) advanced and declined in value.

NEM, CUSTODYINS and MANSARD emerged the sector’s top underperformers, after the respective counter recorded losses of -5.71%, -2.38% and -1.89%. AIICO (+5.88%), CONTINSURE (+5.00%) and LAWUNION (+4.00%) on the other hand, featured as the sector’s top performers. All other counters traded flat during the week.

CONTINSURE, NIGERINS and EQUITYASUR released their 9M2015 financial results during the week.

Continental Reinsurance Plc. grew Gross Premium Earned (GPE) and Profit after Taxes by 25.84% and 12.72% YoY to NGN14.72bn and NGN1.54bn accordingly. Niger Insurance Plc. also recorded YoY GPE and PAT growths of 5.49% (NGN8.36bn vs. NGN7.92bn) and 40.52% (NGN0.51bn vs. NGN0.37bn). Conversely, Equity Assurance Plc recorded comparative declines in both its top-line and bottom-line by 0.65% and 159.51% YoY respectively.

We are of the opinion that the sector might trail the general market direction in the subsequent week, barring interesting earnings releases and positive news inflows that can spur optimism in the sector, and equities market in general.

Oil & Gas Sector: Bargain hunting activities lift sector

The sector was resurgent this week, buoyed by the performance of OANDO which pared significantly in the prior week. Measured by the NSEOILG5 index, the oil & gas sector advanced by 1.16% WtD. A lone stock appreciated, while two (2) counters pared. Other stocks traded flat.

OANDO outperformed its peers as the lone advancer, surging by 28.45% WoW to settle at NGN7.72. Conversely, MOBIL and TOTAL were the only losers, declining by 9.75% and 4.67% accordingly.

Conoil Plc. released its Q3:2015 performance scorecard in the week, which showed a fall in Revenue and Profits-After-Taxes (PAT) by 42.28% and 16.13% YoY respectively. The Cost-to-Sales ratio waned by 4.45% YoY to 85.19%, while its Operating Profit Margin and Net Margin increased by 4.16% and 0.62% YoY to 7.63% and 1.99% accordingly.

After being lifted by bargain hunting activities in the week, we expect the sector to stay buoyant in the coming week, given the fairly low prices at which some fundamentally justified counters still trade. However, we preach caution to discerning investors.

Services sector…Buy sentiments push sector into positive zone

The services sector rebounded from 2 consecutive weeks of negative trading as the index appreciated by 2.31% WoW, dragging the YtD return to -0.17% as measured by the MERISER index. Three (3) stocks advanced against five (5) stocks that depreciated in value, bringing about a sectoral breadth (0.6%) skewed in favor of the decliners.

NAHCO led the gainers chart appreciating by 8.71% to close at NGN 4.37. AIRSERVICE and LEARNAFRCA also experienced relatively good performances, advancing by 5.52% and 4.62% respectively. On the other side, IKEJAHOTEL had the most pronounced price reduction (10.61%), closing at NGN 3.20. This was followed closely

by TRANSEXPR which waned by 10.53%. CAVERTON, RTBRISCOE and REDSTAREX fell by 9.51%, 3.77% and 2.33% respectively.

The services sector, which had hitherto suffered high sell pressures, enjoyed positive sentiments during the week as investors took positions in attractively priced stocks. We expect this trend to persist into the coming week although profit taking activities may slightly dampen sector mood.

53 53

SUNDAY

Sport SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2015

Eaglets

Osimhen: I want World Cup title, not scorer’s record p.54

Rugby

Nigeria jets out for Olympics qualifiers p.54

Chile 2015

Buhari calls Eaglets, urges them to win p.54

Deputy Sports Editor Dapo Sotuminu daposotu@yahoo.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

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Dapo Sotuminu

he former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Joe Erico, has taken a swipe at the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation over the treatment meted out to one of the coaches under their employment, Samson Siasia, who is the chief coach of the National Under-23 soccer team who was last week fined a whopping N500,000 for crying out loud to Nigerians that he has not been paid for three months by the NFF. Erico, who said he took a walk from the national team’s job years back when he was owed salaries for several months, noted that, the NFF has not failed to display their attribute as slave drivers.

“How can you not pay coaches who work day and night to put up a formidable national team? It is unfair to fine Siasia such a huge penalty payment for crying out loud that the NFF were not up and doing in the area of paying salaries promptly to their coaches.

“Unless they want to pay him and then remove their fine from the money, where do they expect him to get the money from when he has not been paid for three months?

The NFF were ill-advised by whoever said they should take such draconian step against a dedicated coach like Samson Siasia.

“I am a victim of the NFF slave-driving tendency and we don’t just know when that would stop. A lot of the national coaches have died without being paid by the football federation. I am just sad and confused we have to start from somewhere.”

The Green Eagles’ Ethiopia 76 Nations Cup goalkeeper said the NFF should have a rethink, they should think of meeting their obligations without hindrance. The NFF should be upright and responsible, the poor situation is lingering for too long. A lot of coaches have died without being paid by the football federation.

“I don’t know how somebody would be owed three months salaries and he won’t talk. During my time, I complained and when there was no response I had to quit leaving Shuiabu Amodu and Stephen Keshi in the team until the squad was later disbanded not many Nigerian coaches can do what I did quitting and I moved on with my life.

I don’t have any regret doing that. Why should we work for our country and not be paid, the NFF pay foreign coaches

Erico: NFF are slave drivers NFF president, Pinnick

Samson Siasia

promptly as they know the international laws relating to such violation.

“I have always advised the NFF to approach the corporate bodies to sponsor the payment of national team coaches salaries. Corporate bodies take care of this in Europe.

The NFF can organise two to three matches and they can raise enough to pay coaches for some time.

“The likes of Augustine Eguavoen, John Obuh, Amodu Shuiabu, Christian Chukwu and other former assistant coaches of the Super Eagles were owed for more than six months on a stretch and the NFF leadership was comfortable, this is not the best for Nigeria. Stephen Keshi at a point cried foul that he was owed for six months. It was not until after his outcry that an obvi-

Joe Erico

ously embarrassed NFF offset some of the arrears.”

Erico stated that, there is no way the Nigerian national soccer teams would move to higher rankings in the world when their coaches are persistently owed salaries. There is no way you can coach a team thoroughly and ensure all playing patterns are articulated when you are being slave driven and not paid your due salaries for a very difficult and sensitive job.

“I read sometimes ago in the newspapers where former Golden Eaglets and Super Falcons coach, Godwin Izillien cried foul about owed salaries and allowances by the NFF years after he left the national team job. This was a man that was saddled with the responsibility of coaching two national teams at the same time and he was not paid. This

is very sad and unjust. The man is crying that the NFF should pay him now before he dies like others who have gone without the federation paying them.”

It could be recalled that the sudden sacking of the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Musa Amadu, was alleged on the decision of Amadu to use part of the $3.5million paid to the federation by FIFA for the country’s participation at the Brazil World Cup, to offset owed salaries of present and past national teams’ coaches.

But this idea was bluntly rejected by the NFF president, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, who gave the Secretary General the option of resigning or get fired.

Musa Amadu honourably took the path of voluntary resignation.

54

Sport / News

Participants applaud Copa Coca-Cola for promoting football

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ome participants at the Copa Coca-Cola U-15 Football tournament on Friday applauded the organisers of the event for their contributions toward the growth of football at the grassroots.

The participants told our correspondent at the venue - the Dairy Farms School, Agege Lagos that the effort was praise-worthy.

Fasasi Elijah, a 12-year-old student of Awori College, Ojo said the tournament had improved his interest in the sport.

Elijah urged the organisers to constantly stage the tournament so that other young talents could benefit from it.

“This is a life time opportunity for me and I’m very happy to play in the tournament,’’ he said.

Makinde Samson, a 14-year-old student of Agidingbi Junior Grammar School said that the tournament was an eye opener for him.

Samson urged other private bodies to emulate Coca-Cola by organising more grassroots tournaments to discover budding talents.

“This is the first time I will participate in this competition; it has been a wonderful experience for me.

“So, I ‘m using this opportunity to thank Coca-Cola for this initiative of discovering young talent at the basic level,’’ he said.

Ibrahim Ojurongbe, a 14-year-old student of Ifako Comprehensive Grammar School said the tournament had afforded him the opportunity to hone his skills.

Ojurongbe said that his ambition was to play for Nigeria in future, noting that his participation in the tournament was a good start for his ambition.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Final: Obuah charges Eaglets to win

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s the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria face Mali today in the final of the Under-17 World Cup in Chile, the owner and Sole sponsor of Goround Football Club, Brother Felix Obuah, has charged the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria to go all out for victory and make history by winning the cup for the fifth time.

Obuah in a statement in Port Harcourt said he has been following the Golden Eaglets closely since the competition began and he was totally impressed at the output of the players and officials of the team so far.

Brother Obuah who is also the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Sole Administrator of Rivers Waste Management Agency said: “This competition is coming at a time the Governor of the State, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is doing everything possible to encourage the growth of sports in Rivers State and Nigeria, and has paid over six months salaries the administration of Amaechi owed Sharks, Dolphins and Rivers Angels football clubs.”

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Amuneke banks on local support, as Nigeria battle Mali in FIFA U-17 World Cup grand final G Dapo Sotuminu

olden Eaglets chief coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, is banking on local support for Nigeria to subdue their Malian opponent in today’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup grand final in Vina del Mar, Chile.

The former Super Eagles star noted that the venue of today’s grand final “has been a good venue for us. The fans all over Chile have been friendly but we have a special feeling playing in Vina del Mar where we have many fans.”

Amuneke noted that despite Nigeria having the large supporter ship in Vina del Mar, playing Mali who were crowned champions at the African U-17 Nations Cup in March is going to be very tough.

The Eaglets coach is banking on the extra confidence on the side of the Nigerian team that defeated the same Malian team twice at the 2014 WAFU B Tournament in Togo where the Amuneke -led Eaglets beat Mali twice 2-0 in the two encounters.

Eaglets attacking midfielder, Orji Okonkwo, who scored goals

FIFA Under-17 World Cup past winners

Country Year Nigeria: ‘85, ‘93, 07, 13 Brazil: ‘97, ‘99, 2003 Ghana: 1991, 1995 Mexico: 2005, 2011 SovietUnion: 1987 Saudi Arabia: 1989 France: 2001 Switzerland: 2009

Rugby: Nigeria jets out for Olympics qualifiers

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he Nigeria Rugby Senior National team also known as the Black Stallions will depart today, Sunday, 8th of November for Johannesburg, South Africa for the Rio 2016 Olympics qualifiers.

7 home based players and 4 officials will depart Lagos from the Murtala Muhammed aboard a Kenyan Airways flight by 12:40pm Sunday 2015.

The delegation will be led by President of the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation, Edward Pam Fom alongside the Vice President, Fasimoye Olatunji, Bandele Coker (Technical Adviser) and Bukola Bojuwoye (Team Doctor) as part of the delegation.

Meanwhile, Head coach, Fabian Juries and all invited foreign players will join the team on the 9th for the 5 days training ahead of the qualifiers on 14th &15th of November 2015.

Speaking after their last training session on Saturday, the Technical Director of the Federation, Tunji Fasimoye revealed his optimism that the team will do well and might probably surprise the World.

He thanked CMB Building Maintenance & Inv Co. Ltd for their unflinching support in making sure that funds were provided for the federation to facilitate their trip.

against Mali in the WAFU tournament said the victories against Mali was over one year ago, but that gives the team the confidence to do it again. That is why the final on Sunday will be special and we pray that God bless us with victory.

Nigeria beat Mexico, while Mali beat Belgium respectively in semi-finals of Fifa U-17 World Cup to set up an all - Africa final on Sunday.

CAF President, Issa Hayatou, paid glowing tribute to the two teams, Mali and Nigeria on their impressive performances at the tournament. “There are times when words cannot express the feeling, and I think this is one of such moments. On my behalf, and that of the CAF Executive Committee, I congratulate the young players from Mali and Nigeria who have offered us moments of indescribable joy,” said Issa Hayatou, who has been carefully observing the proceedings of the tournament.

“The results and performances of the two teams in the competition have left, in the opinion of many, much to be desired. But we had to realize the promise of the flowers and the young did so masterfully for the happiness of all the great African football family and the continent. I am pleased that these results are obtained with essentially local technical persons, a testament to the quality and potential of African coaches. This reinforces the densification of our licensing program for coaches and multiplying opportunities for capacity build-

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IFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 top goalscorer, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen is not concerned about the prospect of breaking the Championship’s nine-goal record, but more concerned about The Golden Eaglets winning the championship gold.

The Nigerian striker Thursday equaled the long standing record of nine goals in a single tournament jointly held by Frenchman Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly who were top scorers at the global cadet championship at Trinidad and Tobago 2001 and Mexico 2011 respectively.

“I’m happy that I was able to match the record set by others in

Victor Osimhen celebrate with team mate Kingsley Michael. Inset: Golden Eaglets chief coach, Emmanuel Amuneke

ing of African coaches,” assured Hayatou, also currently Acting FIFA President.

For the final, Hayatou wants the Mali and Nigeria to continue to show the world “their technical skills and strength of character” that they have been recognised with.

The last time that two teams

from the same confederation played in the U-17 World Cup final is 22 years ago when, at Japan 1993, the finalists were both from Africa too, and Nigeria was also involved. For the record, the Golden Eaglets emerged victorious from their clash with Ghana, claiming the first of their four global titles at this level.

Osimhen: I want World Cup title, not scorer’s record the past but that was never my ambition here,” said Osimhen, on the books of Lagos Ultimate Strikers. “The most important thing is for us to win the winner’s trophy on Sunday and that would be the greatest achievement for us.”

Osimhen opened his Chile 2015 tally with a goal in the 2-0 win over the USA on the opening day. He continued with a brace in the 5-1 defeat of host Chile and was also Nigeria’s scorer in the

2-1 loss to Croatia in the group phase. He was also in superb form at the commencement of the knockout stage by grabbing the first hat trick of Chile 2015 in the crushing 6-0 defeat of Australia in Round 16.

Osimhen followed up his act with a goal each in the 3-0 and 4-2 wins over Brazil and Mexico respectively in the quarter and semifinals to solidify his position as the Chile 2015 Golden Boot Award hot –shot.

Chile 2015: Buhari calls Eaglets, urges them to win

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or about 25 minutes on Saturday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke with the Golden Eaglets and their officials, urging them to strive for victory tomorrow in the final of the Under-17 FIFA World Cup holding in Chile.

Nigeria first won the same tournament in China in 1985, when President Buhari was military head of state, and he urged the team to repeat the same feat today against Mali, to make it the fifth time Nigeria will win the trophy.

Starting with the head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, President Buhari congratulated him for lead-

ing the team to the final, and then said: “Your victory today will remind Nigerians of what happened in China 30 years ago, and it will raise the morale of Nigerians, especially the youths. We’re praying for you. We are anxiously waiting to receive the cup. Put us on the world map of soccer again.”

Speaking to Udoh Akpan, the goalkeeper, President Buhari said he was a very strategic member of the team, noting: “If you don’t let in the goals, then none will be scored against us. We look forward to lifting the cup.”

To John Lazarus, a defender, the President said, “don’t allow any-

body to penetrate the defense,” while charging Tobechukwu Ibe, another defender to “rest well, because a lot of Nigerians will be depending on you today.”

To top striker, Victor Osimhen, who has scored 9 goals so far, President Buhari said: “Strike like thunder. I believe you will bring us victory.”

The captain of the team, Kelechi Nwakali, was charged to maintain his winning leadership, while Joel Osikel, a midfielder, was told by the President that he was “the jewel of the team,” and challenged him to contribute his quota towards victory.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

News

Four siblings, policeman die in Lagos, Ebonyi Muritala Ayinla and Uchenna Inya

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ragedy struck yesterday in Isheri Magodo area of Lagos State as four siblings lost their lives when a building caved in during a midnight downpour.

In Ebonyi State, a police inspector was killed and a police patrol van and 10 motorcycles burnt when militants attacked Afikpo town.

The Lagos building was a three-bedroom bungalow of located at 50, Otun Araromi

Street by Orisa Street, Magodo, behind Magodo Phase 1.

It collapsed around 4.35a.m.

Although the cause of the building collapse could not be ascertained, residents said a mudslide washed down by the early morning rain led to the incident.

Sunday Telegraph’s investigation revealed that the collapse might have been caused by the topography of the land on which the building was located.

Many emergency agencies, which defied the downpour to rush to the scene and res-

cue the family buried in the collapsed structure, had a hectic time pulling the four siblings and their mother out of the rubble.

The Lagos State Fire Service, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency response team, policemen from Magodo Police Station and Isheri Police Station were on hand to handle the incident. After rigorous search and rescue efforts by the agencies, the lifeless bodies of the four siblings: Sylva Odiah (23); Sayo Odiah (15); Clinton Odiah (11); and En-

durance Odiah (eight) were recovered from the rubble.

They were all the children of Mr. Godwin Odia, a 50-year-old from Edo State.

Their mother sustained injuries and was rushed to Tabasco General Hospital.

Another family escaped death by a whisker in another bungalow near the scene of the incident. The occupants of the building, it was learnt, ran out of their home immediately they noticed signs of the imminent collapse of their house.

Speaking on the incident,

L-R: Judge, Etisalat Prize for Innovation, Otuyemi Otule; Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone; Winner, Etisalat Prize for Innovation 2015, Idea Category, Chijioke Ezegbo and Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, at the Etisalat Prize for Innovation Awards ceremony in Lagos …on Friday

the General Manager, LASEMA, Mr. Michael Akindele, said four bodies were recovered from the collapse scene while others were rescued.

He, however, said it was too early to ascertain the cause of the building collapse. For his part, the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency, Olusola Olaigbe, charged residents particularly property owners, to go for integrity test on their buildings.

He decried the idea of cosmetic renovations of structures, saying most buildings look good but are structurally weak and distressed.

“The visual looks of the building are not enough.

People must have scientific proof of the strength of their building before living there,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, said that the state also recorded some fire disasters overnight, which claimed properties worth millions of naira.

“Aside from the building collapse incidents, we also recorded fire calls overnight.

There was an outbreak of fire at Oko-Baba which destroyed eight rooms. Also, the topmost floor of a two-storey building was consumed by fire at 44, Emili Akinola Street, Chemist bus-stop in Akoka Bariga,” he said.

Following the marching

You can’t stop prayers in schools, clerics, others tell IG Tai Anyanwu, Mojeed Alabi and Ibrahim Musa

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hristian and Islamic leaders yesterday rejected the ban imposed by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, on morning devotion in primary and secondary schools throughout the federation.

The Police High Command had, through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), sent a signal to the state commands, advising them to direct their respective state commissioners of education to suspend assembly devotion in all public and private schools.

The order was in response to “credible terrorist threat specifically to such gatherings.”

In a reaction yesterday, General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Musa Asake, said the IG’s order was unacceptable.

“We have just forwarded a press statement on our position. It should be out today

or tomorrow. We don’t agree with that. What reason is he giving for stopping prayers in schools? That is wrong.”

Asake pointed out that anybody tampering with religion would have to face God and not human beings.

“In all that is happening, l don’t know why they are facing Christianity. It is wrong; it is unacceptable.

Some people said the order was given because of Boko Haram. That is very unfortunate. If they know Boko Haram is attacking some places, let them control it that way. They should not come and disrupt people praying to their God because of Boko Haram. Is Boko Haram all over.

“Anybody stopping praying in schools, that officer is wrong. He shouldn’t even try it because we are not accepting it,” the CAN official added.

Speaking to one of our correspondents on the phone, Aliyu pointed out that the assembly devotion usually comes before or after the national anthem and pledge.

“Does it mean that only the

prayer aspect of the assembly should be stopped or the whole assembly, including the recitation of the national pledge and singing of the national anthem?” he asked.

The JNI official further wondered whether the threat of insurgents’ attack was limited to school assembly grounds where such prayers are said.

“What happens when the pupils or students are in the classrooms where an attack on them will be more devastating?” he further wondered. According to him, Nigeria needs all the prayers that it can get at this critical moment, adding that the police should not stop people from praying from God’s protection.

He advised the police to do a more proper analysis of the security threat and take steps to protect the citizenry instead of issuing vague and confusing orders.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the nation’s education sector especially teachers and parents directly involved in primary and secondary education, are currently appraising the IG’s order.

This is even as the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, the umbrella body for all school principals across the federation, said it had yet to be notified of the order by either the police or the Federal Government.

ANCOPSS National President, Dr. Fatimah Binta Abdulrahman, in a telephone interview, denied knowledge of such a directive. She asked for more time to find out the real situation.

Abdulrahman, who said she was in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for a conference, told Sunday Telegraph that she would find out the real situation and respond appropriately. However, as at the time of filing this report, she had yet to make a categorical statement on the matter.

The leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers said a meeting would hold today (Sunday) to appraise the situation. The union’s President, Comrade Michael Olukoya-Alogba, in a chat with Sunday Telegraph yesterday said “because a tree does not make a forest, the

body will be meeting on Sunday, and by noon we should be able to have a categorical position.”

But in its reaction to the development, the leadership of the Parents’ Teachers’ Association said the most important thing was the safety of the pupils, and that it would support whatever measure is taken to prevent calamity.

Speaking with Sunday Telegraph, the Southwest Coordinator of the body, Olusoji Adams, said it had initially planned to oppose the idea when it was first mooted in Lagos about three weeks but had to reconsider the position when it found out that morning devotion could still be held in classrooms.

He said; “We had planned to oppose it in Lagos when the idea was mooted but we later found out it could only be temporary. And since we are only interested in the safety of our pupils, whatever measure taken to safeguard lives and property will be supported by us pending the time the country will be free from the menace of insurgency.”

order given by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on the eradication of street hawking and trading, officials of the state’s Ministry of the Environment yesterday demolished hundreds of shanties in Ikotun area of the state. This was even as the state Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare, said he would henceforth spend much time on Lagos roads to ensure the state is free of street trading and other environmental nuisances, which according to him, engender crimes and gridlocks.

The commissioner, who led the officials of the state government to sensitise traders and resident on the Waste to Wealth campaign organised West Africa Energy, renewable energy company, said the state government would not condone the erection of shanties on drainage channels and close to canals.

In Ebonyi State, it was a bloody Saturday in Afikpo town, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State as gunmen invaded the area, killed a police Inspector and injured several people.

The gunmen numbering over 20 also set a police Toyota Hilux van and 10 motorcycles ablaze and abducted some people. The state command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr George Okafor, confirmed the incident. He said the suspected militants invaded the area through Ikoro-Uko in neighbouring Cross River State.

Okafor said, “The hoodlums whom I can call militants came on two speed boats armed with several General Purpose Machine guns and grenades among other sophisticated weapons.”

He noted that they anchored at Kpogrikpo beach in Afikpo from where they launched their attack on Ndibe and Unwana beaches. “When the militants noticed that the police had cordoned off the entire areas, after receiving information from the people, they started shooting sporadically and we returned, repelling them in the process,” he said.

He noted that the command lost an inspector during the shootout and could not confirm whether the militants had any casualty on their side. “Apparently angry that the indigenes informed us of their movements, the militants destroyed several shops around the beaches and set 10 motorcycles and a police van on fire,” he stated.

Okafor denied a report that the hoodlums robbed several banks and carted away huge sums of money, insisting that the police prevented from them from entering Afikpo.

SPORT

Nigeria battle Mali in U-17 World Cup final }54

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Christians should honour God’s word -Nyamadi

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Constitutional imperatives on appointment of ministers (1)

INTRODUCTION There is no doubt that the recent statement by the President which is to the effect that he may appoint ministers without portfolios has generated diverse opinions.

While one group states that the President is not Constitutionally bound to appoint 37 ministers and that, indeed, the President can do with less ministers and ministries, the other group has however maintained that the President must adhere to the Constitutional provision of appointing at least, one minister from each of the 36 states of the federation, including FCT. It is crystal clear from the provisions of the Constitution that, while the President may appoint more than 36 Ministers, he cannot appoint less.

HOW MANY MINISTERS MUST PMB APPOINT? In my humble submission, I state, categorically, that the President has no choice, in this, nor can he subvert the provisions of the Constitution by exercising or purporting to exercise any discretion whatsoever in the appointment of ministers of the Federal Republic, since it is clear from the Constitution itself that in the appointment of ministers, the exercise of Presidential discretion is expressly excluded. This is because the Constitution expressly used the mandatory word of command, “shall” in the provision in question. It is trite law that the use of the word “shall”, in statutes imports a command of what is legally mandatory, thereby excluding expressly, any form of discretion in the matter. See Mokelu v Fed. Comm. For Works & Housing (1976) 3 SC, 35; Ifezue v. Mbadugha (1984) SCNLR, 89; Amokeodo v. Inspector-General of Police & 2 Ors. (1999) 5 SCNJ 71 at 81 - 82; Onochie vs Odogwu (2006) 6 NWLR (Pt.975) 65.

To this end, an examination of the provisions of the Constitution, section 147(3) is apposite here. It provides: Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:-provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid THE PRESIDENT SHALL APPOINT AT LEAST ONE MINISTER FROM EACH STATE, WHO SHALL BE AN INDIGENE OF SUCH STATE. (Capitalisation ours, for emphasis) THE FCT AS STATE Having established that the President is under Constitutional mandate to appoint at least one minister from each State, can it then be argued, going by the above provision, that all he needs to do is appoint ONLY 36 ministers, or even less? The answer is an empathic No! The Constitution provides for the appointment of 37 ministers, and not 36. This is because, for the purpose of ministerial appointment, the FCT is deemed under the provisions of sections 299 and 302 of the Constitution, to be a State. Section 299 provides: The provisions of this Constitution shall apply to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as if it were one of the States of the Federation; and accordingly Under Section 302, thereof: The President may, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by section 147 of this Constitution, appoint for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja a Minister who shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be delegated to him by the President,

The

Nigerian Project

AND THIS NON JUSTICIABILITY OF SECTION 14 (3) OF THE CONSTITUTION AND ITS SPILL-OVER EFFECTS ON MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS Some persons who have argued in favour of Presidential discretion in the appointment of ministers, have stated that section 14(3), of the Constitution, being part of Chapter two of the Constitution, is not san ofr justiciable, and therefore, the President can mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08094777755 (sms only) choose to appoint, or not to appoint ministers. This argument, respectively, is strange, firstly for the simple reason that section 147 was not made subject to Section 14(3), exfrom time to time.

Although, it is easy to spot the seemingly cept that it expressly mandates the Presidiscretionary direction under section 302, dent to remember the doctrine of federal with particular reference to the use of the character and justice in appointment of minword “may” so as to conclude that the isters. What in my estimation, this means, President is not under a Constitutional is simply that where for example, in Edo compulsion to appoint a minister for the state where I hail from, the President has FCT, it is submitted that a community already made appointment from Edo North reading of sections 299, 302 and 147 of the and Edo Central in any of his prior appointConstitution, leads to one inevitable logiments, in appointing a minister from Edo State, he should look to Edo South in such cal conclusion that the FCT is regarded and is deemed under the Constitution to be appointments in other to balance out equala State of the Federation for the purpose ity and fairness. It is does not say that the of the appointment of a minister. Now, to provision is a leeway to enable the President show that the word “may” as used in secto be whimsical, capricious and mercurial tion 302 of the Constitution does not imin determining whether or not to appoint port discretion but is mandatory in nature, minister at all from Edo State. particularly as it imposes a Constitutional Secondly, Section 147(3) which imposes duty on the President, we shall resort to a mandatory obligation on the President interpretations given to the word in this to appoint at least 37 Ministers, has clearly context by the courts of the land. In the removed Section 14 (3) from the precints case of CHIEF P.I.MOKELU V. FEDERAL Fashola and ambit of Chapter two of the ConstiCOMMISSIONER FOR WORKS AND tution which deals with non justiciability.

HOUSING.(1976) LPELR-SC.140/1975; 1, Proponents of the Presidential exercise of (1976) All N.L.R 224, the Supreme Court, last mentioned character, when there is discretion have also argued that since Secheld, per Madarikan, J.S.C, thus: anything in the provision that makes it the tion 14(3) is non-justiciable, the President “May” is an enabling or permissive duty on the person on whom the power can virtually run riot. This is a misunderword. In that sense, it imposes or gives is conferred to exercise that power. When standing of the concept of justiciability. The a discretionary or enabling power. But the exercise of the power is coupled with learned authors of Black’s Law Dictionary, where the object of the power is to effec- a duty on the person to whom it is given 9th edition, define “Justiciability” as “The tuate a legal right, “may” has been con- to exercise it, then it is imperative.” quality or state of being appropriate or suitstrued as compulsory or as imposing an able for adjudication by a Court”, and “JusNOW THIS obligatory duty.” ticiable”, as “(of a case or dispute) properly Having shown that the Federal Capital brought before a Court of justice; capable of Also, in the case of ADESOLA V. ABIDOYE (1999) 14 NWLR (Pt. 637) 28 at page Territory is deemed a State for purposes being disposed of judicially.” See the case 56 paragraph C-E, Karibi-Whyte, JSC had of ministerial appointment by the Presi- of PRINCE OLAGUNSOYE OYINLOLA v. this to say: dent, we now return to the provision of CHIEF (ENGR.) ADEBAYO DAYO & ORS. “The construction of the word “may” in Section 147(3). From the provision, two (2013) LPELR-21565(CA). provisions of statutes has always raised mandatory provisions can be sieved. First, difficulties. This is not because of the im- the President when sending ministerial LAST LINE Are PMB, the Executive, the Senate, Senprecision of the word because it is not, nominees to the Senate for confirmation but essentially because the word “may” must strictly adhere to the provisions of ate President, Ministerial Nominees, APC, assumes a technical meaning depending federal character as enshrined under Sec- PDP, Nigerians, etal, reading and digesting upon the intendment of the statutory pro- tion 14(3) of the Constitution. Secondly, this Sunday sermon on the mount of the vision in which it is used. Although the the President, must as a matter of Consti- Nigerian Project, by Chief Mike Ozekhome, etymological meaning of “may” is permis- tutional obligation, appoint at least, one SAN, OFR. sive and facultative, and seldom can be minister from each state of the federation, • Follow me on twitter @ MikeozekhomeSAN “must” and imperative, it assumes this including the FCT.

MIKE OZEKHOME

BUSY BODY

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By Aliu Eroje

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: EMEKA MADUNAGU.