Theniche june 26 , 2016

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June 26, 2016

Abuja’s lucrative fish market swims in challenges PAGE 2» SUNDAY WEATHER

Vol. 2 No. 45

Fashola assures on Second Niger Bridge completion PAGE 4»

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Buhari practises nepotism, says Junaid Mohammed Alleges President's relatives dictate Aso Rock policy

By Ishaya Ibrahim Acting News Editor

M

uhammadu Buhari’s relatives are the ones dictating policy in Aso Rock for 170 million Nigerians, adding nepotism to the festering allegation of narrow mindedness levelled against the president, who critics say surrounds himself with Northerners in running national affairs.

Junaid Mohammed, radical politician and Second Republic lawmaker, named at least seven relatives of the president who are the power behind the throne in the Villa – apart from the heads of all vital security agencies who are from the from the North.

In a telephone interview with TheNiche from his base in Kano, Mohammed accused Buhari of giving key positions to his cousins, nephews, and in-laws, and is therefore guilty of the corruption he is trying to fight.

Mohammed, a virulent critic of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and originally a supporter of Buhari, said nepotism compromises Buhari’s ability to rule the country well, fight corruption, and deal with rogue lawmakers who pose a threat to his administration.

His words: “As far as I am concerned, nothing will come by way of contention with the National Assembly (NASS) and the executive branch, because both of them have a mindset which is completely antithetical to democracy.

“Both the president, particularly his principal adviser, his nephew, one nonentity called Mamman Daura; then the Chief of Staff [Abba Kyari], who in fact was brought up by Mamman Daura; and the scoundrel who is the Secretary to the Government of Federation [Babachir David], including most of the incompetent ministers, are not cut out to work harmoniously in a political environment with the legislature.

“On the legislative side, they want to continue

Continues on page 5

BUSINESS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

I didn't dodge EFCC, says BOI boss, Olagunju

POLITICS 15» JUDICIARY 25» LIFE 31» FAITH 40» BUSINESS 51» SPORTS 59»

PAGE 51»

ENTERTAINMENT

Our gateman inspired Deeply Cut, says Kehinde Omoru PAGE 34»

What Jaiz Bank’s licence means for Nigeria

Page 53

2

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Abuja’s lucrative fish market swims in challenges

Ashagye

By Reuben Bojor

Special Correspondent, Abuja

O

n e commodi t y with a leading role and long, historic adventure in farming and commercialisation is fish.

In some climes, fish retains this feat besides meeting local demand and supply chain, and being a major export produce.

Cat fish delicacy Transactions in Abuja Fish Market take place outside fishing shores

Though other fish species, types, and categories thrive, the leading player and postmaster is cat fish; the delicacy of consumers, including those from neighbouring states who bid on the varieties of dried, preserved, and live fish.

and consist of several outlets for different types of fish.

The market, which opens daily, is situated in the city suburb, Kado, a busy commercial haven with other transactions playing along.

Though other fish species, types, and categories thrive, the leading player and postmaster is cat fish; the delicacy of consumers, including

those from neighbouring states who bid on the varieties of dried, preserved, and live fish.

Challenges Like other agricultural sectors in the country, fishing – its farming, processing, and marketing – faces enormous challenges.

Abuja Fish Market basks in poor sanitation

and hygiene, inadequate storage and processing facilities, insufficient space and accommodation, among other problems.

At the cat fish outlet located on a major road, there is a beehive of commerce as consumers and marketers throng a large number of sealed, big plastic bowls of live fish which burrow in the reservoirs.

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June 26, 2016

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3

Ashagye listed the problems of fish farming to include a lack of mechanisation, financial and commercial incentives, subsidy, infrastructure, capacity building, land, space, and accommodation.

Proper commercialisation Fishery Co-operative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN) National Chairman, Anthony Ashagye, said some of the catch is from the metropolis and the bulk is from the outside.

“Abuja contributes, but most of the fish are from places like Lagos, Ibadan and other areas,” he explained.

Ashagye listed the problems of fish farming to include a lack of mechanisation, financial and commercial incentives, subsidy, infrastructure, capacity building, land, space, and accommodation.

“Our challenges are uncountable but our ag-

itation or appeal is one; and that is, the government and private sectors coming to our aid.

“I mean, helping us fish farmers, marketers and processors/preservers, by providing us with what is required for proper commercialisation of the commodity so as to meet our desired target, which is maximum profit.

“Even with the poor state that we are in, you can see the population, mostly youths, who are engaged. Imagine what it will be like when the government and private sector come to our aid.”

Appeal to government FCFN National Treasurer, Abdullahi Dole, also complained of insuf-

“Even with the poor state that we are in, you can see the population, mostly youths, who are engaged. Imagine what it will be like when the government and private sector come to our aid.”

ficient market space.

Said he: “This is the only fish market in the Abuja metropolis. There is insufficient space to accommodate both us and our customers.

“As a body, we are renting an office space outside the market. Imagine that!

“We need sufficient land/market space to accommodate the various outlets, including the processing unit, which is doing a great job.

“We need modern equipment and facilities, infrastructure, financial and commercial incentives and subsidies, capacity building, and lots more.

“Farmers need fish feeds, processors need modern processing, preserving and packaging facilities, marketers need incentives and subsidies.

“So, as a co-operative body, we are appealing to the present government under the auspices of President Muhammadu Buhari and FCT (Federal Capital Territory) Minister, Muhammadu Bello, to come to our aid.”

Below expectation A man who identified himself simply as Brian, a farmer and marketer, said though the business is good, farming is far below expectation due to the soil type and other factors.

“The problem we have is poor soil which affects fish life in the ponds. It is something that can be corrected, so we are begging the government to come to our aid,” he added.

Operators said past governments made several promises without fulfilling them after reaping huge revenues, and expressed hope that the present administration will key into this lucrative venture which will help create jobs.

Operators said past governments made several promises without fulfilling them after reaping huge revenues, and expressed hope that the present administration will key into this lucrative venture which will help create jobs.

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TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

News

Fashola assures on Second Niger Bridge completion

By Onwukwe Ezeru

Special Correspondent, Umuahia

G

arment and shoe producers in Aba can supply all the uniforms and shoes required by military and paramilitary forces as well as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to save foreign exchange, create jobs, and boost the economy.

The advocacy came from Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who also advised the federal government to establish farms in the 36 states, using NYSC members as drivers of a youth agricultural initiative.

He made the point when he received NYSC Director

General, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure, at Government House, Umuahia.

Ikpeazu said it should be mandatory for NYSC members to be trained by experts in various aspects of agriculture during their one-year national service, with every state providing the farms.

After the service year, he added, Abuja should make agriculture loans accessible to them to go into farming, so as to encourage youth involvement in agriculture, provide employment, and reduce the demand for white collar jobs.

"I've thought about how to solve the problem of unemployment in Nigeria and I think this is the best way to solve this problem.

“The NYSC is a vehicle that can drive government policies, including agriculture,

and achieve good value chain in the industry,” he said.

Ikpeazu said the NYSC members will be given the opportunity to try their skills in the multidisciplinary skills centre established by his administration to equip youths to become independent in trades such as carpentry, building, and fabrics.

He promised that the erosion site at the orientation camp will be visited and the female hostel refurbished, promising that Abia will continue to assist the NYSC. Ikpeazu also urged the NYSC to award contracts for the production of uniforms and boots to Aba tailors and shoe makers to support his administration’s drive for patronage of Aba-made goods and services.

He promised that the state

government will guarantee high quality products as well as provide industrial machines and high quality inputs to a consortium of tailors and shoe makers to meet the demands of the NYSC. He said the state will supply uniforms and boots to the military at competitive prices.

Kazaure explained that he was in the state to inspect the camp facilities for NYSC members.

He thanked Ikpeazu for the cordial relationship between the state and the NYSC and expressed appreciation for his benevolence to the NYSC. He, however, requested Ikpeazu to help ensure erosion control in the NYSC camp, fix the dilapidated female hostel and borehole, as well as do something about Abia’s subvention to the NYSC.

Fashola

See who is reading TheNiche...

Elizabeth Alexander, director of creativity and free expression, Ford Foundation.

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June 26, 2016

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News

Ishaya Ibrahim Acting News Editor 0807 204 0241 iib1000@yahoo.com

5

Buhari practises nepotism, says Junaid Mohammed

Aisha Abubakar

Continued from PAGE 1 business as usual; that will mean impunity, blackmail, open corruption to extort money from ministries, departments and agencies of federal and state governments, because they did not come into politics to serve.

“They came to make money. That is the basic fact.

“You can see why it is impossible for anybody, no matter how reasonable, to work with the National Assembly, especially the Senate, because unless you are prepared to open up the national treasury and offer it to them, there is going to be no peace between the executive branch and them.

“And of course, there is the unfortunate, additional bad luck of Buhari being surrounded by his own relations who are not politicians. They are not even members of the APC (All Progressives Congress) but dictate policy, especially Mamman Daura. So I can see no peace, I can see no cooperation, and God save Nigeria.”

Buhari’s relatives calling shots in Aso Rock Mohammed said Buhari must apply the law equitably and justly in his fight against corruption and insurgents such as Boko Haram and Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

“He has to do that, and listen more to Nigerians, and not this arrogant posture, and the crooks he appointed into cabinet.

“But unfortunately, for the country and for Buhari’s legacy himself, he has packed the government, and especially the Presidency, which is really the centre of power, and made it top heavy with his own relations.

“There are many people who are his own cousins in the Presidency. In my own understanding of history and politics, this is what you call nepotism.

And if you are against corruption, you cannot be nepotistic.

“So it is really a contradiction for Buhari to have, for example a nephew of his, the son of his elder sister as the Minister of Water Resources [Hadi Sirika].

“He has another niece of his, the elder sister of [Sirika], who is now a national commissioner in the INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission), Amina Zakari.

“They are trying to bury their tracks. But Buhari nominated her even before he became president when Jonathan asked him to nominate somebody to represent the North West (in INEC) and he chose that woman.

“And then this nonentity, Mamman Daura, virtually runs the government. He has a veto power.

There have been instances when Buhari gave written approval for things to be done, and that man went and stymied, threw the paper away.

“He has become such a tyrant in the Presidency.

He is a nephew to Buhari. His father is the elder brother of Buhari, even though the (age) difference between them is about three years, his father is an elder brother to Buhari and they grew up together. “[Abba Kyari] was brought up by Mamman Daura. His father left him with Mamman Daura to go to Borno, his original state where he was a village head.

“And for all intents and purposes, he is a son of Mamman Daura. He is now the chief of staff to Buhari. His name is Abba Kyari.

“Then [Kabir Daura] the personal assistant to Buhari himself, is the son of Mamman Daura.

“And the girl [Aisha Abubakar] who was picked out of nowhere from Sokoto. She is not a member

Zakari

Kyari

of the APC. She has nothing to do with anybody.

“She was picked and made a minister by Mamman Daura and Buhari because her mother is the younger sister of Mamman Daura’s wife.

“And then the ADC (Aide de Camp) to Buhari is married to the granddaughter of Buhari’s elder sister. His name is Colonel Lawan Abubakar.

“Now with this bloody mess and this disarray and terrible scandal, how can Buhari hope to keep the country in check, and fight corruption and the terrorists?

“It can’t be done; because to fight corruption, you must be above board. You must be absolutely in the clear. You don’t go underground to appoint your nephews and say you are being smart. He is just being smart by half.

“These are the core problems of Buhari and not the National Assembly. The National Assembly can be dealt with if he is absolutely above board, and if they know they have nothing on him or his nephews, cousins, and many of his relations who are now institutionalised in the government and in the most important part of government, the Presidency.

“And that explains some of the statements [former President Olusegun] Obasanjo has been making, metaphorical statements.

“He said corruption always begins in the Presidency. He was referring to Buhari’s presidency.

“Because when Obasanjo was in power himself and Atiku (Abubakar), they were accused of being corrupt and the world media said corruption always began in the presidency. So nobody should fool us.

Alleged sleaze in Buhari’s kitchen cabinet Mohammed stressed that Buhari is not corrupt but many of his relations are suspects in corruption scandals.

“Only four days ago (June 20), Sahara Reporters – and it has not been denied – said a company called Sahara Energy is lifting crude oil in the name of both Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari.

“What is interesting about the company is that it used to be owned by the boyfriends of Diezani [Alison-Maduekwe, former petroleum minister] and she used to give them very generous crude oil lifting contracts.

“Sadly, in this government, which is supposed to be anti anything that Diezani stands for, we have Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari being mentioned by an internet newspaper as using the same company in lifting crude oil.

“Now the question is who is fooling who? Are we being told that Diezani’s former boyfriends, Omokore and Aluko, have moved on, and in their place is Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari? What is happening?

Mohammed also wondered why Buhari despite the corruption scandal of the last administration, allowed Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefile, who was a member of the last administration, to remain in office.

“And throughout this serious scandals of corruption, the source of the monetary scandal has been only two places.

“One is the Central Bank because it was from the Central Bank the money was being taken either to the office of the National Security Adviser [Sambo Dasuki] or to PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) headquarters or to certain individuals.

“But it was always from the Central Bank.

“Buhari himself said at the beginning of his term that he had evidence and knows there was a time when [Emefiele] picked a piece of paper and wrote and instructed that N14 billion should be withdrawn from the Central Bank, and the N14 billion

Daura

was withdrawn.

“Yet that man, under Buhari is still the governor of the Central Bank. Buhari has not sacked him, and Buhari is now more than one year in office.

The question is that who is the power behind the governor of the Central Bank?

“The other source of money is the money from the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) because the NNPC has several accounts, most of them in foreign currencies: dollars, euros, yuan, pounds sterling.

“After Diezani left, I don’t know on whose advice Buhari picked some innocuous, incompetent, irresponsible Igbo man from Delta State [Ibe Kachikwu] and appointed him minister of state for petroleum. But in actual fact, he runs the ministry on day-to-day basis.

“In addition, this man was also appointed by the same Buhari, who is supposed to know the industry well, as the managing director of the NNPC. “And because Nigerians don’t know or don’t care to know or maybe they are not interested, the position of the MD of the NNPC is a civil service appointment for technocrats and what have you.

“But a ministerial appointment, whether a senior or junior minister, is a political appointment.

“How Buhari decided in his arrogance to combine the job of the MD and the minister in one man whom nobody has ever heard of and gave him those positions, is a mystery to us. Who again is the power behind this man?

“To add insult to injury, the Igbo now started shouting that they have not been given what they call lucrative appointments.

“They have the Central Bank, where most of the money come from, they have the minister of petroleum, and then the MD of the NNPC. “They have their normal slots of ministerial appointments. And they are still shouting that they have not been given lucrative appointments.

“And Buhari is quiet, apparently he is under pressure from some people, particularly the Mamman Dauras and some of the rogues and scoundrels who are always around whenever somebody is in government. Now this is the tragedy of Nigeria today.

“Buhari is performing marginally in the fight against terrorism, particularly Boko Haram terrorism. He is doing nothing, in fact what he is doing in the South South is appeasement, open and shameful appeasement in the Niger Delta.

“It shows that even among Nigerians, some are more equal than others, according to Buhari’s government.

for his situation to be regularised to be made permanent chairman. Abba Kyari has been sitting on the paper for over three months.

“Buhari cannot tell him to submit the paper. So who is ruling us?

Mohammed argued that in a democracy, the likes of Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari should not be given the right to take decision.

“They have no mandate. None of them has ever won an election in his life. I knew in 1979 when we were going to the National Assembly, Mamman Daura wanted to be a senator for the area east of Katsina which include Daura.

“Because Daura itself is too small a village and too small a district to provide a senator, they had to cut a portion of eastern Katsina to merge with it.

“The people of Katsina said ‘we understand your situation. You are minority in Katsina and the old Kaduna State. We would vote for you en masse, but don’t bring Mamman Daura. ‘“Anybody in the whole of the area, yes, but not Mamman Daura. We don’t want any member of the Kaduna Mafia in the National Assembly or in any forum in Nigeria to represent us.’

“And that was how Mamman Daura was thrown out and a friend of mine called Abba Ali became the senator from that area.

“Now this is the same Mamman Daura who is exercising so much power simply because his uncle Buhari is the president.

“Nigerians should start asking the correct questions instead of messing themselves up using tribalism and religion and other nonsense.”

Abba Kyari sits on Magu’s confirmation letter Mohammed said although Buhari has been making progress in the fight against corruption, the credit for that effort goes to acting EFCC Chairman, Mustapha Magu, and not really the presidency.

He was appointed on November 9, 2015 and has still not been confirmed.

“These are the boys [EFCC personnel] who are doing the job and they are doing it very well.

“In fact they are doing it so well that Mamman Daura, Abba Kyari and Babachir David and some other people around Buhari are determined to get rid of Mustapha Magu because he took on this mysterious Sahara Energy Oil Company and froze the account.

“The directors of the company include Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari. That is why they are now after the EFCC, particularly the chairman.

“Magu has been on acting appointment since Lawal Abubakar Buhari came. Buhari has for months given approval

6

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

News Establish NYSC farms nationwide, Ikpeazu tells FG • Says Aba can produce uniforms, shoes for the military

By Onwukwe Ezeru

Special Correspondent, Umuahia

G

arment and shoe producers in Aba can supply all the uniforms and shoes required by military and paramilitary forces as well as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to save foreign exchange, create jobs, and boost the economy.

The advocacy came from Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who also advised the federal government to establish farms in the 36 states, using NYSC members as drivers of a youth agricultural initiative.

He made the point when he received NYSC Director

General, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure, at Government House, Umuahia.

Ikpeazu said it should be mandatory for NYSC members to be trained by experts in various aspects of agriculture during their one-year national service, with every state providing the farms.

After the service year, he added, Abuja should make agriculture loans accessible to them to go into farming, so as to encourage youth involvement in agriculture, provide employment, and reduce the demand for white collar jobs.

"I've thought about how to solve the problem of unemployment in Nigeria and I think this is the best way to solve this problem.

“The NYSC is a vehicle that can drive government policies, including agriculture,

and achieve good value chain in the industry,” he said.

Ikpeazu said the NYSC members will be given the opportunity to try their skills in the multidisciplinary skills centre established by his administration to equip youths to become independent in trades such as carpentry, building, and fabrics.

He promised that the erosion site at the orientation camp will be visited and the female hostel refurbished, promising that Abia will continue to assist the NYSC. Ikpeazu also urged the NYSC to award contracts for the production of uniforms and boots to Aba tailors and shoe makers to support his administration’s drive for patronage of Aba-made goods and services.

He promised that the state

government will guarantee high quality products as well as provide industrial machines and high quality inputs to a consortium of tailors and shoe makers to meet the demands of the NYSC. He said the state will supply uniforms and boots to the military at competitive prices.

Kazaure explained that he was in the state to inspect the camp facilities for NYSC members.

He thanked Ikpeazu for the cordial relationship between the state and the NYSC and expressed appreciation for his benevolence to the NYSC. He, however, requested Ikpeazu to help ensure erosion control in the NYSC camp, fix the dilapidated female hostel and borehole, as well as do something about Abia’s subvention to the NYSC.

Ikpeazu

Buhari delivering on promise, says Ogbebor

By Tony Campbell

Special Correspondent, Benin

I

t is not true that President Muhammadu Buhari’s antigraft war targets opposition members, says Paul Ogbebor, the national Chairman of Concerned Edo Leaders of Thought (CELT).

Ogbebor, a retired colonel now a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalled in Benin City that Buhari promised on the campaign trail in 2015 to curb cor-

ruption, stop insurgency, and create jobs.

So far, he said, the president has delivered on promise, except in the provision of jobs, which should not be used to assess his capability as the 2016 budget was approved only a few months ago.

Ogbebor argued that those who expect so much from Buhari are not being fair as they should consider that he assumed office just over a year ago.

"When Buhari was campaigning in 2015, he promised to do three things – re-

vamp the economy through giving employment to youths, fight insurgency, and put a stop to corruption.

"He has so far done satisfactorily in two out of the three areas he hammered on. The only area he has not done much is in employment opportunities for youths.

“You cannot blame him for that because he got his budget proposal for 2016 endorsed by the National Assembly (NASS) a few weeks ago.

"He could not have been operating in a vacuum considering he needs money to

set most things in motion," Ogbebor reiterated.

He dismissed allegations that the Buhari administration is using the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to witch-hunt members of the opposition.

"Buhari has always said that he would fight corruption and he is carrying it out with all seriousness. I don't see anything wrong in the way and manner he is carrying out the fight.

"His concern is about those who were at the centre – the federal level. He has nothing to do with those in states.

Those he is after at the moment were those who stole from the federal purse.

"And these are majorly PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) members. They were fully in control of the government.

“Or do you want him to arrest you who do not know anything about happenings in the centre all because he wants to show that he is equitable?

"The EFCC is on course.

Wole Soyinka said if you fight corruption it will fight you back. That is just what is playing out with this insinuation about PDP members being witch-hunted.”

Clergy tasks Buhari on anti-graft fight

By Onwukwe Ezeru

Special Correspondent, Umuahia

Archbishop of Umuahia Diocese of the Methodist Church, Geoffrey Agubisi, has advised President Mohammadu Buhari to be diligent in his war against corruption and not be selective in arrests and prosecutions.

For the war to be effective there should be no sacred cows, he stressed at a lecture organised by the Laity Council of the church at the Wesley Cathedral Church, Umuahia.

“We are still watching, this is an era of change as they promised us. We are watching them on how they are changing and how we are all changing,” Agubisi said.

“My problem with Nigeria has been that we are all talking about change not knowing that change must begin with each individual, beginning with the leaders.

“We know that most Nigerians are not corrupt but our leaders are corrupt. Beginning from the arrests and prosecutions made it appears that almost every leader who has led this country was corrupt. That is the message they are giving the outside world.

“I want to encourage this administration in fighting corruption, to be diligent, face it squarely, effectively, and not be selective in any manner because this alone has shown many Nigerians that those in leadership today will be expected to give account after they leave office.”

Agubisi counselled Methodists to go back to their heritage because nobody can be a Christian without total faith in God and having assurance of salvation.

He also urged them to recapture the message God gave to Charles and John Wesley, founders of the Methodist Church.

Lagos issues notices on distressed buildings

L

agos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA) has issued contravention notices on distressed buildings in Ajegunle and other parts of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The notices followed an inspection by LASEPA officials who decried the unlivable state of over 13 buildings which are structurally unstable.

Acting LASEPA General Manager, Olanrewaju Kazeem, who led the inspection team, said such buildings are not befitting of the status of the state in addition to the danger posed to inhabitants and neighbours.

The landlords of such buildings were issued 48 hours contravention notices while further compliance monitoring was recommended in some other cases.

LASEPA is working for a sustainable planning and environmental practice that phases out dilapidated and inhabitable buildings.

“Unfriendly environmental practices, like operating mechanic workshops on the road setbacks and unkempt environment, have made efforts of the state government in achieving healthy and sustainable environment less productive,” Kazeem said.

“At the various sites visited, no evidence of development permits was on the ground and no project board erected. It was also gathered that some of the occupants had earlier been asked to relocate but failed to do so.”

Leader of the Hausa community in the area, Adamu Abubakar, confirmed the case

of a particular dilapidated building that is still in court.

LASEPA provided advocacy handbills to the residents to educate and inform the general public on planning environmental guidelines in the state.

One of its field officers, Yisa Salau, condemned the

improper discharge of waste water and illegal washing of motorcycles on the road without concern for other road users or the environment.

“Silted drainage is not a way to show we care for our environment, it simply shows we love to waste tax payers’

money in clearing the silted drains and in rebuilding the dilapidated infrastructure,” he said.

LASEPA appealed to Lagosians to be cautious of planning and environmental challenges and report to the appropriate authority for in-

tervention and sanction in case of abuse.

It also urged all stakeholders in the built sector to do the necessary paperwork before commencing any construction project so as not to endanger lives.

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June 26, 2016

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7

News Extra The Week Ahead Trial of Yewande continues June 27 The trial of Yewande Oyediran, a lawyer based in Ibadan who is alleged to have stabbed her husband to death on February 2, resumes tomorrow,

Monday, June 27.

Vital documents were missing in the application filed by the prosecution when her trial began on Thursday, June 23.

Keshi’s funeral rites begin June 27 The funeral rites of former captain and coach of Nigeria’s senior national team, Stephen Keshi, begins tomorrow, Monday, June 27 and end on Wednesday, June 29.

The two-time AFCON Cup winner died on June 8. He will be buried at his hometown, Illah, Delta State.

Saraki, Ekweremadu for arraignment June 27 Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; and two others will be docked tomorrow, Monday, June 27 for alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules.

The government accuses them of criminal conspiracy and forgery in their election in June last year.

Lagos upbeat about multi transport system • Road, water, rail factored in for 22m daily commuters Lagos State Transport Commissioner, Dayo Omobereola, reels out his 16-year public transport programme befitting a megacity of world standard.

Correspondent SAM NWOKORO, reports from the maiden lecture on public transportation organised by Lagos Traffic Radio.

T

he event achieved its mission of capturing the minds of transport stakeholders and acquainting them with the ambition of modernising every facet of public transport in Lagos.

Transport Commissioner, Dayo Omobereola, enumerated a long term agenda, not a cut and fix one that may require tinkering all the time.

The plan is to meet the future transportation needs of a population now estimated at 20 million and expand it into 2030, the deadline set by the United Nations for all governments the world over to meet certain criteria in service delivery.

It is not in form of a law. But the push by the UN for perfection in institutions’ functionality to fast-track the Sustainable Development Agenda (SDA) has been emphasised by UN Secretary General, Ban KiMoon.

Omobereola left no one in doubt at the lecture – which was attended by Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi – that he plans to meet that standard.

He explained why the current mass transit can no longer cope with the state’s increasing socio-economic profile which has a steady inflow of investors and records new business more than any other state in Nigeria.

Lagos economy

Kano blasphemy trial resumes June 28 Five suspects in the blasphemy killing of 74-year-old Bridget Agbahime in Kano will be arraigned on Tuesday, June 28.

The suspects – Dauda

Ahmad, Abdullahi Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi – could face the death penalty if found guilty.

Edo APGA holds gov primary June 30 Edo State All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will hold its governorship primary on Thursday, June 30.

Only former Director

General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Osaro Onaiwu, has obtained the nomination form which costs N6 million.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Chizoba Josephine Osisiogu, now wish to be known and addressed as Chizoba Josephine Amaechi.

All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Said he: “Lagos economy constitutes 25 per cent of national GDP. Its economy is bigger than that of two or three African countries put together. Some 45 per cent or more of the country’s workforce reside in Lagos.

“The population is growing at an astronomical pace and demands massive investments in public infrastructure beyond government’s purse alone.

“Road vehicle presence is soon going to increase by 25 per cent. Car hire-ship is about 80 per 100 persons in the city, and may increase to a projected 200 per 800 people by 2025.

“All local government roads in the city constitute about 64 per cent of the state’s road network. Twenty-two million people are moved around on daily basis. Ninety per cent of all transit movement is done by road.

“Cars occupy 90 per cent of road network.

Mini-buses 72 per cent. And by road usage, cars take up 65 per cent.

“Terrifying statistics of course, calling for proactive approaches to contain in era of high incidence of migration.”

Multi-modal transport system Other areas which Omobereola said cost huge expenditure include people travelling farther distance between points as economic activities increase, requiring an efficient multi-modal transport system.

He cited residents of neighboring Ogun State and city outskirts who commute to Lagos each day, increasing motor accidents,

Mobereola pollution, and loss of man-hour in transit.

Another challenge is inadequate transport infrastructure, part of which the government wants to solve by constructing the Fourth Mainland Bridge, as well as the MarinaOkokomaiko Highway, now at 80 per cent completion.

Omobereola spoke of “regulatory issues” Lagos wants to sort out with the federal government to facilitate multi-modal transport schemes, explaining that high capacity buses used for urban mass transit contribute to pressures on roads and pollution.

The 16-year transport development plan seeks to lessen the dominance of buses and heavy duty trucks by developing rail and water transport segments.

“Buses will be eco-friendly environmentwise and by that, we will be mitigating the effects of climate change,” he said.

Road factor Road development is geared to attain efficient use of available land and space.

“The Ministry of Transportation identified areas in the state that need to be developed as residential or commercial areas. So we have to plan with the Ministry of Physical Planning.

“It will be done in such a manner that residential districts connect quickly into major road arteries so as to save the man-hour lost by passengers.

“For instance, 40 per cent of people working in Lagos come and return to Ogun State daily. New cities are being planned in these places, including Ikorodu and others, so as to decongest the city centre and mitigate man-hour lost in transit.

“We are planning new six urban rail lines so that not much people depend on road alone for intra-city movement.

“We are working on the possibility of integrated ticketing system so that one ticket you buy can solve your mobility schedule for the day.

“We are also creating cycle lanes along rail and highway corridors on the MarinaOkoko Highway, Epe Expressway, Ikorodu, Ifo, et cetera.”

Bus, water routes Omobereola disclosed that 14 BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) routes have been mapped

Amaechi out in the city which will become functional soon.

To date, the BRT system has ferried five million passengers, he added, and in the years ahead “all the routes will run 24/7 to meet the transport needs of the economy of the state which is currently witnessing record investment inflows from foreign and local investors.”

About 20 water routes will be developed close to major arterial roads and rails.

“There would also be a functional cable car services for commuting from point to point and for the promotion of tourism in the state.”

The ministry has identified 450 routes for development which will also include orbital routes to the Fourth Mainland Bridge.

The grand scheme will be connected to “the 28 activities centres” to ease movement, with hope that by 2034, anyone can leave his car at home and use public transport, thereby cutting back on carbon emissions.

“Turn-around time in public transportation will be reduced to one hour from the current 5.6 hours. At least 50 per cent carbon emission cut back is projected to be achieved.”

Omobereola’s antecedents Mobereola, who has a PhD in transport economics, is former managing director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) which plans and regulates transport in the state.

He has worked at senior management levels in the transport sector in Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria.

He specialises in transport management, corporate management and economic analysis, multi-modal studies, congestion cost, economic analysis of shipping and railway demand, and behaviour impact on passenger travels.

He was the first team leader for the actualisation of the Lagos Urban Transport Project, including LAMATA. He selected engaged, managed, and coordinated the large multi-disciplinary teams of planners, economists, engineers on the transport project, and liaised with the World Bank and other international agencies.

“Lagos economy constitutes 25 per cent of national GDP. Its economy is bigger than that of two or three African countries put together.

Some 45 per cent or more of the country’s workforce reside in Lagos.”

8

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

Notes

www.thenicheng.com

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Nnanna Okere okere_nnanna@yahoo.com +358 4684 74258

Finland

Refugee demands right to live in Finland • Former Danish PM says Europe can take a million refugees

S

everal hundreds of people brought out processions and held rallies at different parts of the country to World Refugee Day on Monday,

June 20.

The main demonstration took place in Helsinki where a multicultural group gathered in the Narinkkatori area to press home their demand for the protection of refugees.

The demonstration under the banner “Right to Live” opposed sending refugees back to insecure areas.

Leaders of different political parties, including Green League lawmaker, Pekka Haavisto, and Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP lawmaker, Nasima Razmyar participated in the rally and spoke in support of refugees’

interests.

About 400 people participated in the demonstration.

In neighbouring Demark, former Prime Minister, Helle ThorningSchmidt, who introduced restrictions on asylum seekers and refugees while in office, now says that Europe could easily take in one million refugees.

Thorning-Schmidt, now the Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children, participated in Fortune’s ‘Most Powerful Women Summit’, where she discussed in a 30-minute interview her upbringing, political career, and some of the criticisms she faced while in Danish politics.

"There is room in Europe for a million people. There is room in Europe to look after a million people and

what we just have to think about all the time is that these people are fleeing from the most dreadful war we have seen in our neighbourhood for many, many countries. Of course there is room,” she said.

She also defended her administration and the current Danish government by saying, "Denmark is still one of the countries taking more refugees than so many others. Denmark is a country that takes a lot of responsibility.”

Thorning-Schmidt was voted out of office nearly a year ago after an election in which she campaigned hard on her party’s new-found tough stance on refugees and immigration.

“We have tightened the restrictions on family reunification and tightened the rules for asylum. It is the first time

in 12 years that it has happened,” she said in a 2015 New Year’s address to the nation, a message that she then repeated numerous times over the following months.

Election campaign posters seen all over Denmark also promised Danes that she would continue to be tough on immigration. One poster featured Throning-Schmidt smiling under the headline 'Tougher asylum rules and more requirements of immigrants".

After being replaced as prime minister by Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Thorning-Schmidt largely withdrew from the political spotlight before announcing in January that she would leave politics to take a job as the CEO of Save the Children, a post she assumed in April.

Thorning-Schmidt

Finland's image unchanged in foreign media

F

Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Pirjo Soumela-Chowdhury

i n land’s rating in the world media remained largely unchanged in 2015, the average being 3.74 on a scale from 0-5, according to a survey.

However, in 2014, the corresponding figure was 3.69.

Some of the themes highlighted when Finland was discussed in foreign media in 2015 included migration, the school system, the challenges of the

economy and Sibelius.

The findings are based on the results of the survey, Finland in World Media, circulated in the diplomatic and consular missions of Finland abroad.

Finland in World Media is an annual review of the missions' assessment of what contents and news broke into foreign media and what Finland's strengths and weaknesses were covered in different countries' media in the course of the year.

In general, its image in foreign media remained good in 2015. Foreign media portrays Finland in a very positive light, presenting it sometimes even as a model country.

However, the image is estimated to have slightly deteriorated in the media of the fol-

lowing 10 countries: Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Finland is best known for its high level of education and the esteemed, exemplary school system. Other positive features are good governance, absence of corruption, equality, and welfare society.

The fact that media in neighbouring countries depict a rich and varied image of Finland complicates generalisations, but at the same time that prevents an abrupt collapse of the image.

Farther away from Finland the image is narrower. Still, there are exceptions to this rule, such as Japan, South Korea, and Chile.

Petra Theman, director of the Unit for Public Diplomacy at the

Next Austrian chancellor

A

ustria's centre-left party begins the search for a new leader and new direction after a sharp drop in support, at the hand of the populist far-right, forced Chancellor Werner Faymann to quit.

Analysts said this new departure may even see Faymann's Social Democrats (SPO) taking the radical and dangerous gamble of dropping its historic opposition to a tie-up with the

far-right.

The SPO and their centreright "grand coalition" partners, the People's Party (OVP), have dominated Austrian politics since World War II but their support has been sliding for years.

During the last general election in 2013, they only scratched together a majority, and polls suggest they will fail to do so again at the next ballot in 2018.

In the recent presidential election, the two ruling parties' candidates were knocked out in the first round with just 11 per cent of the vote.

Deputy Chancellor, Reinhold Mitterlehner, head of the OVP, will replace Faymann on an interim basis but it is unclear who would be his permanent successor as chancellor and SPO boss.

Two possible

candidates are Christian Kern, 50, head of the national railways company, and Gerhard Zeiler, 60, former chief of national broadcaster, ORF. "It would be good to have a new face, someone from outside the party," Karin Cvrtila from the OGM polling institute told AFP. But, Cvrtila said, they will have a momentous decision to take: whether to stick with the SPO's traditional opposition to the FPÖ, or to team up with it, as the party has done in the eastern state of Burgenland.

Such a move has been backed by party grandee and former Chancellor Franz Vranitzky, among many others.

Cvrtila said it would be "smart" not to rule out some sort of cooperation.

But such a move could also tear the SPO apart. Political analyst, Anton Pelinka, from Innsbruck University, called it "very dangerous", as it could potentially drive voters towards the Greens.

"The SPO is completely stumped and confused," he said.

History also serves as a warning. When in 2000 the OVP formed a government with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) under the late Joerg Haider, the result was massive demonstrations and Austria being ostracised in Europe.

Mirroring similar trends across Europe, the centre-left SPO has been bleeding support to fringe groups, which in Austria's case means the antiimmigration FPO, now headed

by Heinz-Christian Strache.

On April 24, the FPO candidate won the first round of elections for the largely-ceremonial post of president.

The dismal performance of the two ruling parties, due also to a worsening economic situation and the coalition's inability to agree reforms, means that for the first time since 1945, the president will not be from one of the two centrist parties.

This could result in a situation in which the new president makes use of some of the head of state's considerable but hitherto unused powers, such as firing the government or dissolving Parliament.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs disclosed that the survey provides interesting comparative information about one element of Finland's country image, that is, the media's views and prioritisations.

According to her, the survey also shows very well how the image of a country influences many matters, starting from editorial choices.

This year, a special question in the survey concerned the handling of the Finnish economy in host country media. The matter was discussed in 81 per cent of host countries.

Another special theme was the visibility of the anniversary of the birth of Sibelius.

The country-themed emojis became the biggest single media

success story. The national emojis, published as a part of ThisisFINLAND's Christmas calendar, turned out a global success.

According to a separate report prepared this spring, the Finland emojis were discussed in detail in more than 2,000 articles or TV inserts.

In addition to those reached via social media, the subject matter reached over 153 million people through more traditional media channels.

The survey examined all different media but print media was followed particularly closely. The information is based on the missions' assessments and in some countries on purchased media monitoring.

The response rate was 62 out of Finland's 89 missions abroad.

Most Germans want Merkel out at next election

Merkel

J

ust under two-thirds of Germans do not want Chancellor Angela Merkel to run for office again in elections next year, a recent poll shows.

The poll, conducted by INSA for Cicero magazine, asked people if they thought Merkel should run for a fourth term and 64 per cent responded that she should not.

Other polling figures show that if an election were held now, Germany's two main politi-

cal parties would barely scrape together 50 per cent of the vote between them.

In the separate survey conducted by INSA for Bild, the Union – a combination of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) – only polled at 30.5 per cent.

This number was a 1.5 per cent drop on the previous week and the lowest number ever recorded by INSA for the twin conservative parties.

With the Social Democratic Party (SPD) polling at 19.5 per cent, that meant the two parties comprising the “grand coalition” which governs Germany would only win 50 per cent of the vote.

This figure is a 17 per cent drop on the last national election and would have been unthinkable until recently.

In the post-war period, the two Volksparteien (major parties) have habitually carved up the vast majority of the electorate between themselves.

Aside from the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), during the Cold War there was little room for other parties in national politics.

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

PhotoNews

June 26, 2016

9

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right) and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi at the launch of the Standard Operating Procedures and Port Service Support Portal of all Government Agencies, Operators and Stakeholders at the Nigerian Ports, in Abuja.

Members of Be the Change Organisation (BCO) during a mass rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari's anti-corruption crusade, in Ado-Ekiti.

Governor Rochas Okorocha welcoming the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo (2nd left), when she paid courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Owerri.

L-R: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside; Lagos President of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Tope Aladenusi; Head, Corporate Communication, NIMASA, Lami Tumaka; and Head, Internal Audit of the Agency, Victor Onuzuruike, when the ISACA group paid a courtesy visit to the agency.

L-R: Ford Foundation's representative for West Africa, Innocent Chukwuma; Meghan Luckett and Patrick Cunningham at the group presentation by Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative Fellows/Alumni Ford Foundation Grantees' and the Ford Foundation held at Ford Foundation corporate office in Lagos.

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, during inspection of Iguruta/Chokocho Road.

Pupils of Oakdale Junior School, Ogba, Lagos, entertaining their fathers during the 2016 Fathers' Day event at the school.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State (right) and the Commissioner of Police (CP), Salisu Fagge, decorate the governor's ADC, Jafaru Yakubu, with his new rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) at the Government House, Sokoto.

10

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Diplomacy

Atiku Abubakar: Leading Nigeria’s branding campaign at Rio Olympics

Oyo-Ita

Atiku, Dalung and Oyegun

The recent announcement of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the Ambassador of Nigeria House at the forthcoming Olympics in Brazil has been adjudged as honour well-deserved, writes Correspondent, SAM NWOKORO.

N

igeria’s image these days needs some redemption. In the past one year, the country’s sovereign profile in all sectors has been on the minus side. From the economic policies engineering to implementation of various expansion designs, to foreign exchange circuit gymnastics to oil pipeline vandalism, militancy, herdsmen terrorism to Boko Haram insurgency, it was no surprise that several rating bodies had put Nigeria’s sustainability index as hospitable place off card.

It was only after the recently harmonised forex market, which seemed to have registered some interests in both local and foreign players in the economy, was announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that some faint dose of confidence seemed to have come into sight.

Nigeria House at Rio The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, poses a great opportunity for showcasing the wealth of Nigeria. Nigeria House in Rio is the place to have a taste of Nigeria: lavish culture and robust tastes. There are many events lined up during the Olympic games, and the Nigeria House promises to keep visitors to its website abreast of events.

Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Solomon Dalung; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and All Progressives Congress (APC)

Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, are to lead other top Nigerians to the Nigeria House Business and Investment Summit in Sao Paulo and Rio in Brazil next month.

The Business Summit, which is in collaboration with the Brazil-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce (BNCC) slated for Sao Paulo between July 21 and 22, will also have Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal (SGF) and Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita. Atiku is the Ambassador while Mrs. Oyo-Ita is Matron of the Nigeria House in Rio. Odigie-Oyegun is Dean of the Ambassadors while the Project Coordinator is Abdullahi Mohammed.

As ambassador of Nigeria House, Atiku will be leading a few other prominent Nigerians in the Nigerian Business House Investment Forum in Rio. The former Vice president received the members of the Investment Summit group in Aso Rock residence recently, where he said: “We must realise that every nation has its own challenges and as we are going to Brazil, the country is facing the worst recession in its life; but it has not stopped Brazil from staging the Olympics. Nigeria should be optimistic about the future of this country and never write her off.

Nigeria in the foreseeable future will be the envy of not just Africa, but the entire world.”

According to briefs from the

Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Nigeria House works in collaboration with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, state governments, chambers of commerce and industry and other agencies that would be showcasing sectors of the Nigerian economy in need of foreign direct investment (FDI).

The Nigerian House Project Committee, with office at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, spells out areas of investment in Nigeria which it said it would be marketing to the international investing community throughout the Olympic Games between August 5 and 26. The House opens for activities from August 3 to 26.

Odigie-Oyegun viewed the project as necessary.

“I want to say, everything should be done to encourage your project to make sure it succeeds and stands out during the Olympics, and if we don’t win (sports) medals, at least let Nigerian House win investment medals. I am proud, glad and feel very privileged that you have made me the Dean of Ambassadors, and I promise that, in that capacity, I will give whatever role you give me my best,” Odigie-Oyegun told Dalung.

The Sports Minister responded: “This project has come at a time when our dear nation is in dire need of FDI and positive international image which Mr. President has vigorously spearheaded, and which I believe the sports ministry

has the capacity to further promote, given the steps taken so far under your leadership. Areas of investment into the Nigerian economy, which the committee would be advertising include agriculture, solid minerals, trade and investment, transport, power and energy, housing, health, culture, communication and justice.”

Mobilisation and scouting of investors will be holding under the auspices of the Nigerian House Business Investment Summit.

The last time Nigeria held such global branding campaign was in London in 2012 and 2014. Both resulted in improved investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Ambassador extraordinaire Sovereign rating is done by international rating agencies based on verifiable facts and data about the macro-economic features of any economy. The major factors that determine the coming or going out by foreign investors are chiefly: prevailing monetary policy and exchange rate, population, security, healthy pool of local entrepreneurs they can partner with to grow, chief proficient labour and infrastructure. To an extent, the visibility of a country on the global stage also helps field men of rating bodies have a true glimpse of whether the data at its disposal truly reflects the volume of activities that actually go on in the economy.

It is through the staging of international events like trade exhibitions and summits such as this that such

messages are easily passed to the general public.

The choice of any brand team leadership is determined by the attributes of the person or group of persons involved. It requires the appointment of a credible personage with unblemished record of public service.

Atiku seems tailored for the role for several reasons. He is the leading spirit of APC and its change mantra right from when he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to compel Action Congress (AC) to add Nigeria to its name to become Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), before metamorphosing to APC. He also plays a consensus builder role for the party. He has conducted himself better than other past public office holders since he left office.

And he has managed to stay above the fray in the small squabbles that have engulfed his party in recent time.

The former VP has got the President’s back in doing certain things that matter in the party and in the nation. He has helped in providing succour to some of the internallydisplaced persons (IDPs) near him, apart from investing in vital segments of the economy such as development of jetties, erection of feed mill plants and growing of needed food and cash crops.

So far, his out-of-service conduct has revealed him much as a statesman and an ambassador extraordinaire.

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Diplomacy

11

UK’s £16.7m lifeline for Nigeria’s household solar systems The recent approval by Britain of £16.7 million to scale up Nigeria’s power infrastructure is fulfilment to a promise made to President Muhammadu Buhari by 10 Downing Street last year, writes Correspondent, SAM NWOKORO.

L

ast year, when President Muhammadu Buhari visited London, on three occasions, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, made series of promises to him aimed at increasing trade flows between Britain and its former colony, Nigeria. One of the areas the Prime Minister specifically promised to help Nigeria is in the energy sector.

The promise was far from being a Greek gift, as one of the challenges Nigeria is currently battling with in her infrastructure upgrade programmes is the need to increase electricity supply.

Nigeria’s electricity sector has been characterised by poor service by the generating companies (GENCOs) and distribution companies (DISCOs). One of the factors blamed for the above is little or no gas availability. However, the gas Nigeria flares in the Niger Delta runs into hundreds of billions of standard cubic feet (SCF) yearly. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in its Annual Statistical Bulletin (ASB) for 2014, disclosed that oil and gas firms in the country flared 289.6 billion SCF of gas, representing 11.47 per cent of the total gas produced in the country that year.

Obeying the economics law of demand and supply, due to erratic supply, there is ‘crazy billing’ that does not reflect actual consumption.

There has been the lack of adequate development of the solar sector, though the country, with its proximity to the equator, has more access to sunlight than most countries of the world that have tapped into solar energy.

Investigation by TheNiche reveals that the problem with the development of the

Cameron

solar sector is the unwillingness of private sector players to exploit this technology for reasons best known to them.

However, some western countries have been trying to encourage African countries to invest in solar technology because of its environment-friendly nature, unlike thermal power systems that emit greenhouse gases (GHG) and which most African nations rely on. In Nigeria, not many states have embraced solar energy. And that is why Britain decided to partner with private individuals to begin a process of popularising solar energy consumption.

The Department for International Development (DfID) of the United Kingdom has just approved an additional £16.7 million for solar energy in Nigeria, to help scale up the market for solar power in Nigerian homes through to 2020, enabling millions of Nigerian households to experience reliable power for the very first time.

The pilot programmes in 2015 provided capacity-building grants of £1.5 million to 16 companies. In 2016, a financing pilot will provide £0.5 million in grants to mobilise the provision of commercial finance into the value chain for household solar light and power systems.

An additional 49,000 homes across Nigeria acquired solar lighting and power systems in just three months this year with help from ‘Solar Nigeria’, an innovative programme that helps solar suppliers and financiers scale up and allow households to access this equipment on full commercial terms.

The aim of the SolarNigeria programme is to scale up the private market for small solar lighting and power systems.

Solar Panel

Fashola Solar Nigeria will help millions of Nigerian households (and micro-enterprises) to access modern lighting and power at lower cost than kerosene lanterns and small gasoline electricity generators known in local parlance as ‘I beta pass my neighbour’.

More than 14,000 of the homes benefitting are in Nigeria’s Northern states, where grid deficiencies and the need for reliable power are the most acute. All systems were accessed on full commercial terms, with the householder paying cash, taking a loan, or renting the equipment.

“Millions of Nigerian households could today save money while enjoying bright light and clean power using solar instead of kerosene lanterns and small generators. So why

do they not already use it?

“They need someone trustworthy to make quality solar products available to them in their villages, and they need to be able to pay for it over time.

This requires capable companies to invest in the market, to reach the customers, and to enable financing,” said Leigh Vial, head of consumer markets for Solar Nigeria.

Global recognition SolarNigeria has won a top international award, thereby positioning the country to lead in solar power revolution, leading to a boost in power supply.

The project, a UKAID initiative, won the international award and scooped the top prize at the prestigious British Expertise award ceremony in London for its success in providing clean, acces-

sible energy. The awards recognise outstanding international development achievements across the world based on which SolarNigeria was selected for its outstanding international development project.

Implemented by Adam Smith International, and co-funded by the Lagos State Government, the project showed that it had reduced over 20 tonnes of harmful Co2 emissions and provided solar power to 172 schools, and over 135,000 pupils in Lagos benefit from it. Over 121,000 patients also benefit from the project each year as the new solar power covers 11 primary healthcare centres across Lagos, according to a statement by the Head of Communications, Adam Smith International, Celeste Hibbert.

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TheNiche

June 26, 2016

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Civil Society Platform

Starvation, hardship ravage refugee camps

Atangana

Ki-moon Refugee camp

The 2016 edition of World Refugee Day (WRD) was commemorated on Monday, June 20. In marking the event, international organisations expressed their desire to alleviate the plight of refugees. Senior Correspondent ONYEWUCHI OJINNAKA captures their concern.

“

Our responses to refugees must be grounded in our shared values of responsibility sharing, non-discrimination, and human rights and in international refugee law, including the principle of nonrefoulement.”

This was the message of United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, at the commemoration of 2016 World Refugee Day on June 20.

The World Refugee Day is held every year on June 20 to commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. This year marks a key moment for the public to show support for families forced to flee.

The event has been marked ever since the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 55/76 on December 4, 2000 where it noted that 2001 would mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and that the African Union (AU) had agreed to have International Refugee Day coincide with Africa Refugee Day on June 20.

In a world where violence forces thousands of families to flee their

homes each day, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN refugee agency, believes that now is the time to show world leaders that the global public stands with refugees.

In his message to mark the World Refugee Day, the United States President, Barack Obama, said: “On this World Refugee Day, we recognise the challenges and hardships that refugees face, honour their courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles, and celebrate their many valuable contributions to our nation.

“This year’s commemoration comes as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that more people are displaced by rising violence, insecurity and persecution than at any time on record. More than 65 million people around the world have been driven from their homes. More than half are children. The scale of this human suffering is almost unimaginable; the need for the world to respond is beyond question.”

He noted that every day, members of the international community, humanitarian organisations, civil society, and individual citizens

work to assist these vulnerable populations. According to him, the U.S. provides more humanitarian assistance to refugees than any other nation and maintains the world’s largest refugee resettlement programme.

“We support programmes that provide food, water, shelter and medical care to refugees, and fight for their rights to safety, dignity and long-term livelihood opportunities. We are urging our non-governmental partners, including the private sector, to do more as well.

“Today, we commemorate the spirit and strength of refugees worldwide and the dedication of those who help them on and after their journeys. Protecting and assisting refugees is a part of our history as a nation, and we will continue to alleviate the suffering of refugees abroad, and to welcome them here at home, because doing so reflects our American values and our noblest traditions as a nation, enriches our society, and strengthens our collective security,” Obama added.

In Nigeria…

In Nigeria, the World Refugee

Day was marked particularly in Abuja and Lagos. In Abuja, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) reiterated the government’s effort targeted at reintegrating the internally-displaced persons (IDPs). The Acting Federal Commissioner at NCFRMI, Ms. Margaret Essien, disclosed at the event to commemorate the WRD that government would ensure that IDPs engaged in meaningful skill acquisition programmes.

“Promoting peace, stability and human rights around the world is very crucial at this time, so that the displaced population can someday return to their homes in safety and dignity,” she stressed.

Recapping the theme of the event, ‘We Stand Together with Displaced People’, Essien said it was appropriate expressing solidarity and support for the IDPs. “It is also an opportunity to raise awareness on refugee issues and remind people everywhere in the world of their conditions,” she added.

She charged Nigerians not to forget their responsibilities to help those who have lost their homes,

lives and livelihood, pointing out that as peace gradually returns to the North East, hundreds of Nigerians that took refuge in the neighbouring countries would seek to return voluntarily.

“We all have a moral obligation and responsibility to lend a helping hand to people who fled as a result of the conflict. Domestically, we are committed to offering protection to genuine refugees and to ensuring that we strengthen our international commitments and humanitarian traditions,” she stated.

Essien averred that “this 17th WRD aims at raising awareness that Nigerians stand together with displaced people to celebrate together and share their experiences”.

Also speaking at the event, the representative of UNHCR in Nigeria, Mrs. Angele Dikongue Atangana, enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of helping one another, stressing that being displaced could happen to anybody.

She said: “We have in Nigeria more than 2.1 million displaced persons. These are potential refugees if we fail to provide them with what they need when they are still

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June 26, 2016

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Civil Society Platform

Grandi

within the territory of Nigeria.

“Our action towards these displaced persons must be preventive to alleviate the sufferings they are already living through.

“If we do not want to stand up to help those wandering, those destitute around us, we should stand up to help ourselves in preventing the trouble from reaching us.”

According to her, more than 60 million people around the world, about one in every 122 people on earth, qualify as displaced person, revealing that UNHCR, in its continuous humanitarian assistance, had initiated an advocacy for a sound legal framework to attend to the needs of IDPs and build the capacity of stakeholders.

In Lagos, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, had appealed to members of the international community to urgently re-dedicate themselves to the protection of the increasing number of refugees in their localities.

In his message to mark this year’s WRD, Grandi said the situation had become what every government should give priority in order to save millions of lives.

His message was conveyed in Lagos on his behalf by the UNHCR Deputy Representative on Protection in Nigeria, Brigitte Mukanga-Eno. Making reference to the theme of this year’s

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Obama

WRD, he said: “UNHCR sees year 2016 as a watershed moment for the refugee cause.

“As wars spiral out of control, we feel that this must be a year to take collective responsibility to end the conflicts that force people to flee. World leaders can no longer watch passively as many lives are being needlessly lost.”

According to UNHCR high commissioner, it was imperative for governments to look for more humane and dignified means of ensuring that refugees no longer expose themselves to movement risks during conflicts, complaining that forced displacement has now reached an unprecedented level, since the founding of the UN itself.

As part of activities marking the day, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), an international nongovernment organisation working together to further human rights and defeat poverty, visited the Gongola Old Kuchingoro IDP camp to celebrate with the children of the IDPs whose villages were attacked by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.

Speaking with newsmen, ActionAid country director, Ms. Ojobo Atuluku, said her organisation decided to identify and celebrate with the children who have been affected by conflict and emergency in their home states.

“We decided to pay attention to the plight of the children who, for one reason or another, have not been in school in more than

one year in addition to suffering inadequate medical attention.

“This event is particularly organised to hear the voices of the children who are facing displacement as a result of the security challenges we are facing. And we thought that instead of organising workshops where experts would come and deliberate on issues affecting the children, we decided that we should come to a settlement where we have children displaced by insurgency and share their experiences.

ActionAid visits Gongola IDP camp “At ActionAid, we work on human security and development, and that is what we come to do at this camp,” she said.

Meanwhile, the issue of IDPs has become a source of worry to governments and organisations, as Governor Ibrahim Gaidam Yobe State appealed to the international community and non-governmental organisations to assist the IDPs as they return back to their homes.

The governor made the appeal when the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Perry Calderwood, paid him a visit in Damaturu, the state capital.

He informed the envoy that the IDPs were displaced from their ancestral homes for over three years as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

Commending Canada which assisted the state previously in the area of infrastructural development, the governor played the ‘Oliver Twist’ by asking for further assistance in such areas as water supply system, schools, health facilities and rural electrification, among others.

He disclosed that the return of peace, together with the onset of rainy season, has put the IDPs in serious moment of need, with government closing one of the major camps to enable them return to their places of abode.

According to statistics, of about 60,000 people who were displaced in Gujba and Gulani local government areas, 50 and 90 per cent of the population respectively have returned.

Calderwood told the governor that he was in the state to assess the humanitarian needs of the displaced persons. He commended the efforts of government towards the return of peace in the troubled North East region of the country and also appreciated the role of government and other non-governmental organisations for the improvement of the lives of the IDPs in the state.

The envoy disclosed that the “Canadian government is providing $6 million services through humanitarian agencies such as UNICEF, Action Against Hunger (AAH) among others, with the aim of improving the humanitarian needs of the displaced persons”.

FIDA takes violence against children campaign to schools

I Mrs. Eliana Martins

nternational Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has carried the campaign to stop violence against children to some schools in Lagos State.

The female lawyers staged their programme at Igando Community High School in Lagos as part of FIDA’s Law Week, which has the theme, ‘Ending Violence Against Children and Access to Justice’.

Speaking during the outreach, the chairperson of FIDA Nigeria, Lagos branch, Mrs. Eliana Martins, said: “The Child Rights Act 2003 and the

Child Rights Law of Lagos State 2007 are in the best interest of children.

“Our laws in Nigeria are in the best interest of the child. They are also in conformity with international laws ratified by the government and domesticated in the laws of the country.”

According to the FIDA chairperson, the laws were put in place to protect children against all forms of abuse, including sexual and domestic violence, defilement, rape, hawking, among others.

While urging the students to report any act of sexual abuse rather

than keeping quiet, she cautioned them to guard against those who might want to take advantage of their youth, pointing out that under the law, they have the right to freedom of expression and to be protected from abuse, defilement and torture.

The students have the right to disallow anybody who would want to touch their body without their consent, even if the persons are their uncles, male friends and brothers, friends of their brothers or close relation, she said, adding: “They have no right to touch a female’s body.”

14

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June 26, 2016

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News

International

Living in… the best cities for digital nomads A laptop and an internet connection are all that’s required for some jobs these days – and many globetrotters are making the most of it, living and working in cities across the world.

S

ome jobs these days require little more than a laptop and an internet connection, allowing many digital nomads the opportunity to live and work in cities across the world.

But because they often only stay in a place for a few weeks or months at a time, these specific globetrotters have unique needs when seeking out a place to call home, including reliable internet, flexible visas and good co-working spaces (and/or coffee shops).

To capture these special requirements, Amsterdam native and part-time digital nomad Pieter Levels created Nomad List, which ranks the best cities for digital nomads based on cost of living, internet speed, weather, safety and more than 50,000 other data points.

While the rankings of the database’s 526 cities are constantly in flux (all the data is refreshed in real-time based on user input), certain cities consistently rank in the top tier for their nomadfriendliness.

We sought out travellers living in these cities to find out what makes them ideal for their lifestyles, and which neighbourhoods to seek out.

Chiang Mai, Thailand Affordability and 24/7 cafe availability make this northern Thai city a hub for digital nomads in Southeast Asia.

“Chiang Mai has enough infrastructure that I feel comfortable, while being cheap enough that I don't have to worry too much about money,” said Martin Raul Villalba, a software developer originally from Salta, Argentina.

“That combined with decent visa options, a relaxed lifestyle, availability of short-term rentals and really good food make it a nice, well-rounded spot.”

The city is small enough to navigate by scooter or a cheap taxi ride. It’s also easy to get out of town and experience the lush countryside, lakes and mountains.

“There’s plenty of history to explore, and endless national festivals,” said Ben Salt, originally from the United Kingdom and co-founder of Tripmap, a social map-creation platform.

Salt’s been working on and off in Chiang Mai since 2013. “Chiang Mai is a place where, despite the encroaching modernity, you can still experience more traditional Thai culture.”

During March and April, most nomads head farther south or east to the beaches or islands to avoid the heavy air pollution

caused by nearby crop burning, Salt added.

Nimman, local shorthand for the neighbourhood of Nimmanhemin, about four kilometres west of the tourist-heavy Old City, is a nomad hot spot, thanks to its location near the university and abundance of co-working spaces and coffee shops.

PunSpace is a popular coworking space for long-term needs, while Mana charges by the hour or day for short-term projects.

These days, you can create an office space wherever you go (Credit: Ammentorp Photography/Alamy)

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Nomads can still experience more traditional Thai culture in Chang Mai (Credit: Prasit Rodphan/Alamy)

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica Though it doesn’t have coworking spaces in the traditional sense, this community in southeastern Costa Rica has plenty of nomad-friendly coffee shops, restaurants and bars.

“I had been working at coworking spaces for three years before becoming a digital nomad and I needed a break from open space offices,” said Miks Kalnins, a software engineer originally from Latvia.

“Here I can work from my room or go downstairs and work from the bar. There are also hammocks available if I need to think about more complex problems before sitting down and coding.”

The nature and beaches make Puerto Viejo an ideal place to focus on big ideas without too much interruption, but the local community is also a boon, Kalnins added.

“There’s lots of homemade stuff,” he said. People bake cookies and bread and make kombucha and ginger ale. There is also a local microbrewery, which is nice since the two mass produced Costa Rican beers are horrible.”

While Puerto Viejo is the hub, many nomads choose to live further out, as boisterous backpackers can occasionally overrun the city.

Cameron Guthrie, an American who works in Costa Rica travel consulting, lives in Cahuita, 16km north of Puerto Viejo, which she said has a “town-inthe-1950s feel… if your small town had a rasta vibe, that is.”

Kalnins lives in affordable Punta Uva, a small town 9km to the southeast, where he finds it easy to walk, cycle or take the bus when he needs to go to the more lively downtown.

Miami, United States Miami’s constantly beautiful weather is usually the first thing that draws nomads to this south Florida city.

“My company is actually headquartered in New Jersey, and

Puerto Viejo’s co-working spaces are quirky, but still sufficient (Credit: Realimage/Alamy) Songkran Water Festival is one of many national festivals celebrated in Chiang Mai (Credit: Alain Evrard/Alamy)

Florianapolis combines a beach vibe with a burgeoning tech scene (Credit: Travel Pix/Alamy) Brickell is a great neighborhood for Miami nomads (Credit: GALA Images/Alamy) when my colleagues are dealing with snowstorms I get to take a stroll over to the beach,” said Josh Stutt, vice president of marketing for pharmaceutical company Strides Shasun, originally from New York and living in Miami for more than 10 years.

“I work out of a home office and my windows stay open for the majority of the year.”

The city is very appealing to creative types, making it easy to find other design-minded people with whom to share ideas or find inspiration.

It’s also prime for networking, with one of the fastest-growing art scenes in the world and a roster of frequent celebrity visitors.

According to Stutt, South Beach, Brickell and Wynwood are the best neighbourhoods for nomads.

Famous for its never-ending nightlife, South Beach (located on the island of Miami Beach about eight miles east of downtown) has “no shortage of distractions”, but is also becoming a more professional environment, with shared workspaces like WeWork recently opening.

Brickell, in the heart of downtown, is close to the banking centre of the city, while Wynwood, 5.5 miles north of down-

town, is the “hipster-home of the Magic City”, according to Stutt, known for its ever-expanding start-up scene along with murals and art.

“Panther Coffee [in Wynwood] is probably the central hub of the modern Miami employee,” said Stutt, and the happy hours in the area are a “potpourri of the creative class” that shouldn’t be missed.

Florianapolis, Brazil With an abundance of beautiful beaches and rent at half the price of that in Rio, Florianapolis in southern Brazil has attracted a growing number of nomads to its burgeoning tech and start-up scene.

With plenty of international restaurants, outdoor activities and a vibrant nightlife, the city offers a high quality of life, especially compared to other large Brazilian cities, said Eduardo Borges, original from Sao Paulo, who runs the PressX PR Agency and e-commerce store SockMe, and has been based in Florianapolis for a year.

Despite its beachy location, Floripa (for short) can get quite chilly in the winter.

“You may even experience some snow on the mountains

close to Florianapolis, but the city itself wouldn't go under 5C in winter,” said Borges.

Summer is hot at around 30C, but the average is 20 to 25C, “which makes the city very liveable”.

For nomads staying short term, Borges recommends the Lagoa da Conceicao neighbourhood, about 13km east of downtown, as everything is in walking distance and it’s easy to meet tourists staying in the local hostels.

For longer stays, Beira Mar, just 1km north of the city centre, has gyms, malls, restaurants and nightclubs – but a car is necessary to get to the beach, about 15km to the west.

Those on a budget should consider Trindade, 4km east of the city centre, which is home to many students, and restaurants and bars are more affordable.

Budapest, Hungary One of Europe’s cheapest capitals, Budapest attracts nomads with free wi-fi in cafes, efficient public transportation and famous underground bars.

While the weather isn’t as tropical as many of the other nomadfriendly cities, it stays relatively sunny and dry year-round.

“I come from the south of Spain, so for me, the weather is colder here,” said Jose Manuel Llopis Ortiz, a guide for Your Lo-

cal Cousin, a travel start-up that matches travellers with locals.

“It is normal to see snow in winter, but it is not a very rainy place.”

Spring starts in March and the good weather lasts until November.

It’s also easy to meet people, said Llopis Ortiz, whether it’s playing sports or getting outside.

For fun, Wiktoria Skiba, a Budapest native, also a guide for Your Local Cousin and founder of The Spoiled Queen blog, likes “chilling on Margaret Island” in the middle of the Danube, or in Erzsebet Square, a green space in the city centre.

The nearby Buda Hills, just 16km northwest of the city centre, are popular for day hikes.

For nomads, the XIII district, Ujlipotvaros, is an up and coming neighbourhood that has traditionally been home to locals.

“There are mostly Hungarians who are living there, but you can see more and more foreigners and a younger crowd nowadays,” said Skiba, which makes it easier to meet both locals and expats.

The VII district, Erzsebetvaros, is also popular with nomads thanks to its abundance of hostels and co-working spaces, including the recently opened Impact Hub Budapest.

• Culled from www.bbc.com/ travel

15

PARLIAMENT

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

Emeka Alex Duru Editor, Politics & Features 0805 4103 327 e.duru@thenicheng.com nwaukpala@yahoo.com Daniel Kanu Assistant Editor 0805 618 0203 kanuemperor@yahoo.com d.kanu@thenicheng.com

INTERVIEWS

Politics

www.thenicheng.com

Big Issue:

THE GRASSROOTS

Echoes of constitutional crisis GRASSROOTS

JUDICIARY

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PAGE 25

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Ugbolu: Lamentations of neglected Delta community

PAGE 18»

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Clarke: Banning govs from foreign trips not constitutional, but…

Buhari has no Fulani agenda, says Muoghalu Member, National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), George Muoghalu, who recently visited his Anambra home state, speaks with Special Correspondent, OKEY MADUFORO, on the economic challenges in the country, restiveness among some ethnic-based groups and difficulties of having state police in the country now.

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June 26, 2016

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Interview Buhari has no Fulani agenda, says Muoghalu

H

arsh economic climate in the country Make no mistake about it; I also share in the pains of Nigerians today. Nobody in this country can deny that the situation in the country is not comfortable for us. I also feel the same way. It was understandable for Nigerians to expect automatic change at the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

You do not blame them because our people had for a long time clamoured for that change. That explained why they voted for him en masse during the last elections.

The situation was so bad that our people demanded immediate change.

But Mr. President discovered a system that is totally comatose and he is taking his time to put things right. Buhari does not believe in quick fixes that have no long term solution. He is making extra efforts in putting things in their correct perspectives and setting for us an enduring agenda that would have multiplier effect in the long run.

Nigeria is like a house that has cracks as a result of bad foundation.

You cannot just clear the building and

put up another one on top of the bad foundation. After some time the building would still witness new cracks on its walls and all efforts made so far would come to nothing at the end of the day. A house with a bad foundation and cracks at its structure needs a complete replacement. So you excavate the bad structure and put up a new one before embarking on building the house. That is exactly what Mr. President is doing at this time. What that ultimately means is that on his exit or if he is no longer at the helm of affairs, any other occupant of that position would have no choice but to continue to build on solid foundation and structure without problems; that means that the superstructure is intact and forms the template for good governance that is responsive to the demands of the people.

I hear people say that Buhari is taking too much time in actualising the promised change, and I say to them, “it is not a question of how fast it goes, but how well the job has been done”. Besides, Buhari has four-year tenure and he has barely spent one year and people are already assessing him and his administration. We

should at least allow Mr. President to spend 50 per cent of his four-year tenure before we assess his tenure.

To really show us that he is in control of the process, he had to put in place palliatives in this year’s budget to cushion the effect of the change.

He made provision for palliatives such as employment schemes, education with much interest on school children, providing funds for lowincome earners. All these are aimed at alleviating the problems Nigerians are facing. I must add here that anybody who is desirous of this change and goes to bed, that it would be rosy, is making a mistake. Change is not easy and we are bound to feel those pains for a while before change is actualised.

You are aware that our manifesto during the elections was hinged on security, corruption and the economy.

This is a methodology that he has resolved to adhere to, and no amount of distraction can stop him. Most of the challenges the APC government is facing are the consequences of corruption by the past administration which it inherited.

Activities of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Fulani herdsmen and Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) If you can recall what Buhari said in the beginning, you would agree with me that all these things are products of corruption. Mr. President made it clear that if you choose to fight corruption, corruption would fight back and that is what we see today in NDA, IPOB and MASSOB. For instance, what has Niger Delta got to do with releasing Sambo Dasuki and de-freezing the bank accounts of Tompolo (Government Ekpemupolo)? We embarked on probe and people are becoming uncomfortable.

This is corruption fighting back. All these demands by these bodies have to do with dialogue and roundtable discussion. I have never seen any crisis, conflict or war that does not end up on a roundtable. Those of IPOB, Niger Delta and MASSOB cannot be different.

So, I advise the average thinking

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June 26, 2016

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Nigerians to look at the implications of what they are doing and go for dialogue. I indeed find it so embarrassing when people embark on destroying facilities of government, facilities that belong to all of us and you call it protest. These oil installations do not belong to Buhari and they are not facilities of APC, but facilities that belong to all of us; every Nigerian.

We must not forget that our country is still under what I call a mono-product economy. Despite that we are putting up structure and laying foundation in the area of agriculture, solid minerals, sciences and technology, at the moment this is a mono-product economy, and that is the crude oil.

When you destroy oil installations and you feel that you have achieved something, you are merely cutting off your nose to spite your face. When you try to cripple the economy, you have only succeeded in worsening the situation, and the worst victims are Nigerians. You are not just getting back at Mr. President. The situation or issue that you are protesting against was there before the President came and he has resolved to correct those anomalies.

When you talk about IPOB or MASSOB, I wish to make it clear that I am an Igbo man. I have no apologies for that. I do not even owe any apology to anyone at all. I must do whatever I can to protect my people at all times. However, I will not be party to every madness when we have other ways of resolving this matter to our own advantage. We have channels of ventilating our anger or unhappiness about any situation.

Look at the last census. Our people disrupted it in the name of Biafran struggle and they forgot that these are the parameters to measure what we get from the centre. There are

lots of Igbo people in APC that IPOB or MASSOB can reach out to and the matter would be looked into. At the Federal Executive Council (FEC), we have Ogbonnaya Onu, Chris Ngige, and others. You go to the National Assembly, you see our people there and you can talk to them. At the NWC of APC, I am there with two other people from Igbo land.

What happened in Onitsha last time was unfortunate and it would have been averted. Those that died were our brothers and sisters. If they were not related to you, they were, at least, Igbo people. They might not even know why they took to the streets unless what they were told and those people leading them might also have their own reasons for what they were doing than what they told their supporters.

Even if I did not take part in the Nigerian civil war, I have read enough books about war to know clearly that war is not good. Those calling for war never saw nor took part in the last civil war.

On the people we call the Fulani herdsmen, let us separate armed bandits from the herdsmen. I am very worried because there is the need to distinguish between the armed bandits and herdsmen. How do you classify a man that blocks the highway, wielding sophisticated guns, and robbing people and even raping their victims, with the herdsmen that carry their cattle about for grazing? The herdsmen should be separated from those bandits.

Some people feel that Mr. President is doing nothing about the matter because they are Fulani like him. But I must tell you here and now that Buhari’s body language is for security of lives and property of Nigerians and not Fulani agenda. Shortly after the

Enugu incident, he issued a statement to that effect, stressing that he would not tolerate any form of brigandage.

Later, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) visited the place and actions have been taken. I learnt that some people were arrested as suspected perpetrators of that dastardly act. So you can see that the President has no Fulani agenda at all. We must separate postulations or projections from reality. That the President is of Fulani background does not mean that he has an agenda. After all, it is not the Fulani alone that voted for him.

Demand for state police You cannot talk about state police in the current situation that we find ourselves. We do not have such an enabling environment with the type of police that we have today where there is no motivation enough for the police to function. The police must be well organised. The police must have enough job security and made to, at least, appreciate why they are there in the first place.

So if you have a state police that is not equipped, not well-trained and that has no motivation, how do you expect it to perform well?

At the moment, most state governments cannot pay salaries of workers and you are talking of state police. The police must be made to be responsive to the populace and better equipped, then you can talk about state police. You are aware that recruitment into the police is on and the federal government is poised to improve the standard of policing in Nigeria.

But it is important to note that when it has to do with the state police, Nigeria is not there yet. And until then, we have to grapple with the challeng-

17

es of improving the state and condition of the Nigeria Police Force which I know is paramount in the mind of the President.

When you talk about IPOB or MASSOB, I wish to make it clear that I am an Igbo man. I have no apologies for that.

I do not even owe any apology to anyone at all. I must do whatever I can to protect my people at all times.

However, I will not be party to every madness when we have other ways of resolving this matter to our own advantage.

We have channels of ventilating our anger or unhappiness about any situation.

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June 26, 2016

Big Issue

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Echoes of constitutional crisis A long drawn battle appears imminent between the Presidency and National Assembly over arraignment of Senator Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu over alleged forgery of Senate Rules, Editor, Politics/Features, EMEKA ALEX DURU, writes.

B

y last Wednesday, it had become apparent that the Presidency and both chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) were headed for a showdown. It is not that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led executive arm of government has had any pronounced cosy relationship with the leadership of the legislature since its inauguration on June 8, last year.

But going by the drumbeats of war that have been resonating from foot soldiers of feuding camps, there are fears of the imminent impasse that may drag the nation into constitutional crisis.

Drawing the battle line What seemed to have signalled the emerging face-off began to take shape when judicial officers summoned the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, to appear before the Federal High Court on June 27, over alleged forgery of Senate Rules to pave way for their emergence as principal officers of the upper lawmaking house.

The summons was pasted by way of substituted service. It was also the first time the two men were formally being notified of their prosecution. The situation did not entirely come to perceptive minds as a surprise. In fact, before the eventual turn of events, speculations were high that the Presidency, working in concert with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), would resort to full-blown judicial process to take out the duo from their controversial offices.

Saraki, incidentally, is of the APC, while Ekweremadu belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Root of the impasse Their problem with the government began to build shortly after their elec-

tion. Before the inauguration of both chambers of NASS, APC had, in a manner that was not elaborately explained to even some key members, settled for Ahmed Lawan as Senate President and George Akume as Deputy Senate President. It also positioned Femi Gbajabiamila as House of Representatives Speaker, while Ali Monguno was to be his deputy.

The decision, however, did not go down well with the Saraki group in the Senate and the Yakubu Dogara elements in the House of Representatives.

The aggrieved elements who clearly had been schemed out of APC consideration went into alliance with their PDP colleagues, thus giving rise to Saraki/ Ekweremadu victory in the Senate and Dogara’s emergence in the House.

APC has been livid with the outcome of that exercise, which its principal members promptly dismissed as a coup. Raising its banner of supremacy, the party promptly vowed to get even with Saraki, Dogara and their backers.

Former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed (now Minister of Information), spoke the mind of the APC when he declared the emergence of Saraki and Dogara as totally unacceptable, describing it as the highest level of indiscipline and treachery by the affected officers.

“There can be no higher level of treachery, disloyalty and insincerity within any party,” he fumed, adding that the party would use all legal means available to it to reverse the exercise.

Mohammed vowed that APC would not accord the current NASS leadership any recognition.

For Saraki, who went ahead to fill the remaining key offices in the Senate with his loyalists, it has been a long drawn battle between him and the leadership of his party, and by extension the presidency, ever since.

Enter CCT saga The first salvo against the Senate president was his entanglement in asset declaration saga with the Code of

Saraki

Ekweremadu

Conduct Tribunal (CCT), in which many readily see the hands of the presidency and APC on the matter.

Saraki’s ordeal began to unfold on September 11, 2015, when he was charged to the CCT by the CCB over allegations of false declaration of his assets, contrary to constitutional requirements.

Part of the accusation was that he deliberately manipulated the assets declaration form he filed prior to his assumption of office as Senate president, by making anticipatory declaration of assets.

He was equally accused of failing to declare some assets he acquired while in office as governor, from 2003 to 2011.

At the initial stage of the trial, some APC politicians literally trooped to town, enthusing that the Senate president had eventually been boxed into a corner.

In Lagos, the party’s spokesman, Joe Igbokwe, had particularly boasted that there would be no escape route for the embattled lawmaker, taunting him to vacate the seat he coveted.

While Igbokwe echoed the voice of those after Saraki, fellow APC chieftain and senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, mocked them to perish

the thought, stressing that Saraki, must remain in office for four years.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Peter Nwaoboshi, had earlier spoken in this direction, warning APC that if Saraki is forced out, his party, PDP, would produce the next Senate president.

He said: “Should the incumbent, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, be forced to vacate the office, we have perfected necessary arrangements to take over the upper chamber.

“In any case, in my party, the PDP, we have resolved in our meeting to support him (Saraki). So, there is no basis for him to resign.”

The solidarity from PDP and Saraki’s loyalists in APC afforded him the needed breather. In his encounter with journalists to mark one year of the eighth NASS, he described the CCT trial as a distraction, vowing however that he would not be deterred. The trial is still on, taking twists and turns that even those that had earlier been upbeat on its course can no longer predict.

Senate Rules forgery resurrects It is against this backdrop that NASS members saw in the recourse to the Senate Rules forgery case an extension of the on-going battle at the CCT.

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June 26, 2016

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Mohammed

The case, remarkably, had been talked about in lukewarm manner since the inauguration of the eighth NASS. But with the uncertain developments in the CCT trial, it has gained renewed attention.

Also to be arraigned with Saraki and Ekweremadu are a former Clerk of NASS, Salisu Maikasuwa, and the Deputy Clerk, Benedict Efeturi.

All the accused have denied any wrong doing on the matter. Saraki, for example, says he knows nothing about how the rules adopted in the inauguration of the eighth Senate were formulated, alleging that the case of forgery was just another phase in the orchestrated persecution he has faced since he emerged as Senate president.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that he was not a part of the leadership of the seventh Senate that made the rules in question, and that prior to his unanimous election as Senate president on June 9, 2015, he was merely a senator-elect like all his colleagues, and therefore was not in a position to influence the rules that were to be used in the conduct of the election.

Ekweremadu and PDP are also insisting on his innocence. The party’s NASS Caucus had, last week, argued: “Ekweremadu ceased to be a senator from June 4, 2015 when the seventh Senate adjourned sine die, until he was inaugurated alongside other members of the eighth Senate on June 8, 2015.

“We wonder how the production of the Senate Order issued for the inauguration was his business.”

Toeing the same line of argument, the Senate insisted that the “Senate Rules 2015 was not forged” and that “it is the authentic rule of the Senate.”

United against Buhari Apparently concerned with the reality of NASS leadership being put in the dock, members of both chambers threw party differences aside and joined forces to fight the impending assault on the legislature.

In this regard, the senators, in an un-

Malami

usual unanimous adoption of a motion from Melaye, warned that the chamber might be compelled to withdraw its support for the Buhari administration if it continued to interfere in its domestic affairs.

They recalled that the judiciary had, through several rulings in a recent case on the same issue, warned the executive arm against criminalising or interfering in the running of the internal affairs of the Senate.

They also remarked that the legislature is subject to provisions of the constitution to regulate its procedures as stated in Section 60 of the Constitution.

The House of Representatives, in a similar move, charged the Presidency to always abide by provisions of the constitution and not do anything that would jeopardise the nation’s democracy. The House resolution was upon a motion sponsored by Tajudeen Ayo Yusuf (Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu, Kogi State).

The resolution noted that the move to arraign Saraki and Ekweremadu was an attempt to dabble into matters that are wholly internal affairs of the Senate, adding that the exercise is a deliberate and concerted attack on NASS to render it useless in the eyes of the general public.

“If this ugly trend continues unabated, it will be detrimental to good governance and highly damaging to our democracy,” the House warned.

Equally angered by the unfolding development, PDP senators threatened withdrawing its support for the Buhari administration, noting that the government’s actions towards their members since taking over power had become enough for them to have a rethink.

Imminent showdown In what appears a signal to uncertain days ahead, the Senate summoned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, before it to justify with evidence the basis for the case against Saraki and Ekweremadu and “why it does not constitute gross misconduct, incompetence, contempt of court and abuse of office”. It also

19

Melaye

tasked President Buhari to call the AGF to order.

This is where many have fear of imminent showdown and possible constitutional crisis.

At the commencement of his presidency, Buhari had pledged neutrality on matters concerning the legislature.

Even while APC kicked against the election of NASS leadership, he initially appeared not concerned with developments in that arm of government. With time, however, it became obvious from his body language that he merely had scant regard for the lawmakers.

There were, for instance, allegations of his shunning scheduled meetings with Saraki. Also, on occasions when he had made allusions to the activities of the lawmakers at home and abroad, it had always been in unflattering terms, often making insinuations of corruption against them. It is against this background that analysts suspect that the AGF may have acted at the promptings of the President. In that case, asking the same President to call him to order may amount to sailing against the tide.

Sources told TheNiche that the lawmakers were not unmindful of the possibility of the President calling their bluff, due to his trademark cocky disposition. They are, thus, said to be mapping out strategies to get him toe the line of democracy. Part of the move in this regard is to put on hold the confirmation of ambassadorial nominees forwarded to the Senate.

The Senate also directed the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to appear before its committee on foreign affairs to explain the processes leading to the selection of nominees before it would commence screening.

Though senators who spoke on the issue claimed not understanding the criteria for selection of the ambassadorial nominees, TheNiche learnt that halting the screening and asking the affected officials to see the committee was a way of signalling to the President that the

honeymoon was over.

“You can understand why they are taking the action. The name of the game is reciprocity. It is a two-way traffic. But when one actor gives the impression that the action must emanate from him and end with him, there is nothing wrong in telling him that it is not so. The lawmakers had closed their eyes on some of the unconstitutional actions of the President, just to give peace a chance; but he seems to be taking them for granted. There is, therefore, nothing wrong in them asserting their constitutional rights over some of his actions, henceforth. I fully support them,” volunteered a former APC House of Representatives member, who pleaded anonymity.

A senior lecturer in History, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Ikenna Odife, also weighed the implications of the delay in confirming the ambassadorial nominees.

“It will mean our missions abroad operating without substantive diplomatic heads. It will also mean our continued exclusion from diplomatic engagements at summit levels. With that also comes our losing out in interactions with the outside world on many issues of development,” he remarked.

Lagos lawyer, Ibikunle Ibidun, also warned that the threat by the PDP senators should not be treated with levity, adding that it portends constitutional crisis.

He said: “APC senators in support of Buhari do not make up the two-third majority needed to pass bills in the chamber. What it means is that if PDP senators are allowed to carry out their threat, no action from the President will receive any approval from the chamber.

That means, none of the government’s proposals will see the light of day. In that case, it is the country, the masses that voted for the APC-led government, that will suffer.”

By the close of last week, it was not certain if the gladiators in the unfolding showdown were aware of this imminent danger.

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TheNiche

June 26, 2016

Perspective

www.thenicheng.com

Biafra on my mind (2): Waiting (in vain) for Buhari

Buhari

By Uma Eleazu

I

n the first part of this discourse, I ended by suggesting that the only part of the Report of the 2014 National Conference that President Muhammadu Buhari needs to look at is the section entitled National Charter for Reconciliation and Integration. Until we, as Nigerians, look at ourselves critically and agree to forgive one another and adopt a national ethos which embraces: reconciliation, forgiveness, live-and-let-live, religious tolerance etc, no amount of tinkering with the constitution will guarantee peace or law and order in our national affairs.

Take any Nigerian newspaper, any day of the week and count the number of acts of crass indiscipline, intolerance, impunity of action by civilians upon civilians, law enforcement agents on civilians, and neighbours on one another, one finds so much intolerance which breeds a culture of violence. Whether it is religious fanatics, Fulani herdsmen, highway robbers or militant rebels with or without a cause, people do not act like those who want to live together in harmony in one country.

In the last few weeks, we have heard very strong voices calling for the restructuring of the country through the constitution. We have heard from two former Vice Presidents, from legal luminaries, from civil rights activists and from militants in the Niger Delta. Our elected President Buhari says the 2014 National Conference Report belongs to the archives. In effect, he is not going to do anything about it except to consign it to the archives. And as a citizen of Nigeria who voted in the last election, I ask: does the report belong to Buhari to do what he likes with it, or to the people who sent their representatives to the Confab? If the latter, as I believe, is, each ethnic nationality or social force that was represented at the conference is entitled to call for the report and decide what it wants to do with it. This is an occasion to exercise our democratic rights.

Every May 29, people troop out to celebrate “Democracy Day”. They march around and talk about “Dividend of Democracy”. Then, every June 12, another set of people celebrate

Ekweme

“Abiola and Democracy”, and yet we hardly have imbibed the democratic ethos.

People confuse democracy with return to civilian rule. In 1999, ostensibly, we returned to civilian rule, but we knew who were calling the shots – the party of the retired Generals. While they were waiting for the Group of 34 to form a political party (the PDP), they perfected the 1999 Constitution and hijacked the party and installed their man.

That is why we are in this mess. Each time those in government and those in ‘politics’ mouth platitudes about democracy, “I laugh”.

So, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says Nigeria needs to be restructured. Also, another former VP, Alex Ekwueme, wants Nigeria to be restructured. My National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftains concur that we need true federalism. To get that, we must restructure the country. Resource control activists also want restructuring of the country. Are we all talking about the same thing?

Because people are calling on President Buhari to implement the 2014 report of the national dialogue, I decided to go deeper and see what the report has to say on restructuring just in case Buhari changes his mind.

Here is what I found: 1) On true federalism, they recommended that states should be considered as the federating units.

2) That one more state be created in the SE zone to bring it at par with other zones (six states per zone).

3) That 18 more states be created bringing the number of states to 48.

4) Curiously, they recommended that contiguous states may coalesce, but did not say whether that will be within a geo-political zone or across two or more zones.

5) States can create more LGAs since it will not affect their allocation from the Federation Account. In other words, the Federation Account stays. Each state is to set up its own Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and share whatever they get from the Federation Account by the same formula as the federal RMAFC. I did not see where they spelt out how

and what kind of revenue should flow into the Federation Account. Presumably, the old centralised order changeth not. Instead, they postponed the evil day by recommending that a Technical Commission be set up to decide what percentages should be allocated vertically and horizontally.

In other words, the Report did not deal with the core issue of Fiscal Federalism.

Besides, they recommended that their amendments are to be incorporated into the faulty foundation of the 1999 Constitution.

In my view, it will not work and it will not satisfy the yearnings of the people who want a change of, not a change in, the constitution.

Section II As someone who, in the last 50 years, has studied, taught and seen how federalism and democracy work, in the next section, I will like to use our past experience to adumbrate what will work and the change Nigeria needs.

I am sure people of my age grade can relate to it.

In 1951, under the MacPherson Constitution, there were three regions under three different administrations coordinated by the office of the chief secretary to the government. Each region had a lieutenant governor who reported to the Colonial Office through the governor in Lagos.

Each region had its own constitution which suited its traditional political culture. For example, the North had a House of Assembly and a House of Chiefs where the Emirs were given an honorific role in the affairs of the North.

The Western Region also had two chambers – a House of Assembly and a House of Chiefs. But Eastern Region which prided itself in being republican had only a House of Assembly. Each region had its own electoral laws.

Whereas the East had universal adult suffrage, the North had only male adult suffrage. The West had a tax-adult suffrage. Each region designed what suited them. Revenue for the governments came from various forms of tax (personal income, sales, corporate income, etc.), Customs and Excise duties, rent and royalties, etc.

When in 1954 it was agreed that in moving

towards Independence from Britain, it was also agreed that it would be better to stay together as a federation, so that each component part (a.k.a. federating unit) can maintain its unique cultural features, including religion, but surrender certain of its powers to legislate and govern its people to the central government (now known as Federal Government), those areas of legislation given up became known as Exclusive Legislative List. Some grey areas were left as areas of concurrent powers to make laws, provided that any law made by a region that was in conflict with that of the Federal Government in the same area, the federal law would supersede.

It was also decided that along with powers ceded to the central government, portions of revenue collected were paid into a distributable pool. On that basis, the Eastern and Western Regions were granted self-governing status in 1956.

Between 1956 and 1966, we practised true federalism. Our elected representatives duly adopted and passed the British Order in Council 1960, which became the Independence (1960) Constitution and later enacted it as our Republican Constitution in 1963.

So, any restructuring must use the 1963 Constitution as a basis. It was this 1963 Constitution that the military abrogated in 1966 along with its fiscal arrangements.

Did I hear someone say: ‘Ah! A lot of water has gone under the bridge since 1963’? Yes, but also a lot has gone wrong with our federal structure. From four regions divided into 27 provinces governed by 237 English men (one Resident per province, supported by District Officers and Assistant District Officers) working with local clerks and interpreters; we now have 36 unviable states, divided into 774 local government areas, and governed by 36 governors and their special assistants; approximately 600 commissioners and their special assistants and as many transitional chairmen of LGAs as the governors may decide.

In addition, there are 36 state civil services, and a local government service in each state.

Yet most of these states cannot deliver on law and order, nor provide even the basic services

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

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to their people such as schools, hospitals, refuse disposal and rural roads etc. These bloated bureaucracies in the states cannot extract any internally-generated revenue (IGR). They cannot collect taxes and account for it. Most states don’t even know the number of taxable adults and corporate citizens in their domain.

The major source of income is the aggregated Federation Account dished out to states monthly by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

In one state I know, the executive meets once a month; the legislature also meets once a month. You guessed right; they meet to share what has come in from Abuja. In fact, the transitional chairman of one local government I know lives permanently in the Government House; his council meets whenever he visits the village.

Talk about corruption, it is embedded in the 1999 Constitution. For example, governors have immunity from prosecution. So, even when the citizens know their governor is stealing their money, he is above the law. So immunity becomes impunity to steal, kill and destroy. Only few states hold local government elections.

When we were creating these states and local government areas, it was rationalised as “bringing government nearer to the people”.

We have only succeeded in bringing corruption and impunity nearer to the people. Most states’ legislatures are simply House of Drones. The lawmakers are in the pockets of the governors, and so cannot carry out any legislative oversight on the executive branch.

In one state that I know, the outgoing governor installed his son as Speaker of the House of Assembly to keep the incoming governor in check. When the Speaker sneezes, the governor catches cold. This is not what we bargained for. This is neither democracy nor federalism.

We must restructure, such that good governance will be by the people, for the people.

The situation at the federal level is not much different. In the olden days, any bill, especially government bill, going to the National Assembly is promptly published in the government’s official gazette. Any member of the public can buy it and read, and if he is so disposed can appear before the relevant committee when the bill has gone into committee stage, to raise objections or make relevant input. In a democracy, citizens have the right to make input into the legislative process.

I once listened to an interview with a senator on Channels TV. When asked what they have achieved in the past year, he said they have about 635 bills before the Senate.

Question: How many have been passed into law?

He evaded the question and started lecturing the young lady on the process of passing a bill to give the impression that these things take some time.

Question: Okay, how many bills have been passed into law?

He started talking about the big burden of carrying out legislative oversight on all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). And we know what happens during these so-called oversight functions. The ministry or department to be “over-sighted” has to provide the committee with transport and other goodies. This is in addition to the allowances paid officially to them for their jobs.

During Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, it was so bad that a ministry that wanted its budget passed had to grease the palms of the members of the relevant committees until Obasanjo fired the minister who succumbed to the blackmail, but nothing happened to the senators who got the money. We have not forgotten the saga of $60,000 in a cap of a member of House of Representatives who made a nocturnal visit to an oil magnate his committee was investigating. Did the Ethics Committee of the House do anything to him?

The Senate has become a haven for exgovernors who don’t want to be probed on allegations about their stewardship as governors in their states. The body language of the legislators indicates that only a few know what the democratic process is all about. The most important bills passed are those that will benefit them as members; i.e., their remuneration, their constituency allowances etc.

The squander-mania that goes on in Abuja is all funded from The Federation Account. In all this, what should have been paid as rent or royalty to those who live and suffer the degradation and despoliation of the land and environment from where these incomes come are left behind. So they call for restructuring of the Federation Account, else...

Before Gen. Sani Abacha died, he had convoked a constitutional conference in which representations were made almost on the basis of ethnic nationalities. It was in that conference that former Alex Ekwueme made the input

that became the so-called geo-political zones. It seems to me that if Abacha had not died the way he did, he would have enacted that his constitution and Nigeria would have been restructured into eight geo-political zones by decree. That draft also provided for increase in money allocated to oil-producing states. When Abacha died and Abdulsalami Abubakar took over, he set up this Constitutional Debate Coordinating Committee (CDCC) to go round the country with the Abachainspired draft and get people’s views on it, so that it can be amended and promulgated before handing over to civilians.

Professor (later Justice) Niki Tobi was the chairman.

I led the team that went to what is now South South. We met in two centres, Port Harcourt and Benin. In Port Harcourt, many of the speakers spoke on resource control. But the most impressive was the late Harold Dappa Biriye. He quoted from letters between his family and Queen Victoria over the ownership of the littoral up to 10 miles. He gave us his definition of mineral rights, rents, royalties and profits.

He told us that anything less than 50 per cent to the host communities would be injustice. Later that evening, he gave me a message for the chairman.

In Benin City, the issue of resource control re-echoed. Here the star presenter was Solomon Asemota (now a Senior Advocate of Nigeria). He too was impressive. He took us through the Hicks Fiscal Commission, the Aboyade Fiscal Commission (which he said did the most injustice to the oil-producing areas, and finally the Okigbo Commission which merely reviewed the basis for sharing, rather than the quantum that will accrue to the federation. He showed how systematically the oil-producing areas had gone from 67 per cent in 1960 to less than 3.5 per cent in 1996. The Abacha draft had recommended 10 per cent, but our sub-committee recommenced 25 per cent to the CDCC. When the constitution came out, it was down to 13 per cent on derivation.

In 2005, President Obasanjo’s abortive National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) also struggled with the issue of resource control.

At each point, our compatriots from the North would oppose any increase. In fact, some canvassed the abolition of that section of the constitution.

Between the Obasanjo – Yar’Adua – Jonathan presidencies, institutions have been created – Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ministry of Niger Delta, Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) etc. – but because of lack of executive capacity, the venality of those appointed to be in charge, monies pumped into the area seem not to have produced the desired results nor assuaged the demand for resource control.

Therefore, any talk of restructuring must squarely address the issue of fiscal federalism.

Section III So, what is to be done?

How do we restructure the federation and who should do it? Buhari is not going to do it, unless he changes his mind about consigning the report to the archives. So what is to be done?

Here, we need to go back to the Pro-National Conference (PRONACO) idea. Nigeria is made up of ethnic nationalities that were grouped together by Britain to form Nigeria.

These ethnic nationalities fall into one or more present day states and/or LGAs. (1) Each ethnic nationality should define its geographical area; its unique identity (e.g. language), its boundaries and population. Such a unit should hold its “nationality” conference where the members will agree or disagree on forming a political unit within a restructured future Nigeria Federation or Confederation.

(2) They will decide on how they want to govern themselves within the context of Nigeria. That is to say that they will also be required to develop and adopt a constitution.

(3) (NB) Small ethnic groups, like those along the Cross River, can decide to coalesce into a unit of government within Nigeria. It is the resultant ethnic nationalities that will be invited to a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to negotiate the conditions for the continued existence of Nigeria and in what form.

(4) (NB2) Each ethnic nationality is to send its “Best Eleven”. The whole process if adopted will provide a learning curve on the democratic process of constitution-making.

There will be no imposition. Those who have fears of joining can express it and it will be for the bigger units to convince them on the advantages of belonging to a Big Nigeria.

(5) Let us debate the issues.

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Cameron We have always shied away from conducting or having an open debate on the nationality question. I think we need that kind of frank conversation across the country and at various levels. It can be an educative process for all sides and persuasions on the issue. Canada had such an open debate when recently those who love Quebec wanted to opt out of the Canadian Federation after over 100 years of union. They debated, they voted in a referendum and the bid failed. Similarly, Scotland, which had been part of Great Britain for over 300 years, wanted to opt out of Great Britain. They had an open debate on the issue. The Prime Minister went to Scotland to hold town hall meetings. He did not bring down the whole military might of the United Kingdom on Scottish people. No Scot who was occupying a post in the British Armed Forces or Civil Service was victimised because some Scottish MPs wanted free Scotland.

Eventually, they voted in a referendum, and the bid failed. That is what democracy is about.

The BREXIT (Referendum of the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union) debate has just ended. Some ultra-right politicians wanted Britain out of the EU. So they opened the debate and let people be educated on the issues, listen to the pros and cons before a referendum on ‘To stay or to quit’ the EU. At the end, 17,410,742 people (51.9 per cent) voted to ‘quit’ while 16,141,241 (48.1 per cent) voted to stay. The result of the referendum has shown the UK the exit door from EU. And David Cameron’s resignation PM followed.

He will step down in October.

I will like to see a robust, open debate in the area that was Biafra (originally known as Lower Niger Protectorate, then Eastern Nigeria) on the pros and cons of self-determination or continuing as part of Nigeria. This can be linked to a debate on the National Charter suggested by the 2014 Confab.

Part B During the Nigeria/Biafra war, the Eastern Region was divided into three states: Rivers and South Eastern states were carved out, leaving the Igbo heartland in what was called East Central State. No doubt, this was a war strategy on the part of the federal army to try and encircle and isolate part of the population of the Eastern Region from core Igbo land. In doing so, large chunks of Igbo land and their population became “non-Igbo”.

South Eastern State was later divided into Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, and Rivers State yielded Bayelsa State. East Central State was later divided into Imo and Anambra states and further state creation exercise brought Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi. Imo and Abia states.

In a large portion of Rivers are Igbo-speaking peoples and also in Bayelsa and Delta states.

So, also, the Igbo nation really spreads from Oturkpo (Benue) in the North, to Agbor (Delta) in the west; Ohafia-Unwana-Afikpo along the Cross River to the Niger Delta in the south, and eastwards to Abakaliki in what used to be Ogoja Province.

The South East Zone now has five states carved out of the original East Central State and

endowed with 95 local government areas. We now have five governors, 96 commissioners, numerous special assistants of various grades and five civil services etc. Yet the land area of the old East Central State has not increased, the number of schools in most cases has not increased. Maybe, the number of pupils have increased. The road network is still the same since colonial times. A few kilometres have been tarred.

In the first year of the Buhari administration, the five Igbo states got a total allocation of N302.4 billion which averages to N3.18 billion per local government. The sad fact is that a lot of that money goes into unproductive administrative overheads, leaving teachers, doctors and other staff without salaries. Anambra is probably the only exception.

How should we restructure our zone to make governance more democratic and meaningful to the average citizen of Alaigbo?

Because of vested interest of those who feed fat on the present arrangement, it will be difficult to take the drastic measure that will be required to restructure the politics of Alaigbo, but we can do something with its administration.

This is what I would suggest: 1. Create a new Governing Council made up of all elected senators and House of Representatives members. That will give us a Deliberative Assembly of 60 (15 senators and 45 Reps).

Abolish all the Houses of Assembly. The Deliberative Assembly takes over the functions of the state legislature.

2. Constitute an Executive Council of 10. (In the transition period, this will be made up of the sitting governors and their deputies.) Each person will head a major Functional Department.

3. Review and restructure the local governments to about 100 or 120 localities. Also create the following cities and/or municipalities: Nsukka, Enugu, Abakaliki, Afikpo, Aba, Abiriba, Ohafia, Umuahia, Owerri, Okigwe, Orlu/Ndizuogu, Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi.

Each of these to have an elected Town Council or City Council and a Chief Executive – Mayor, Chairman or any other nomenclature depending on its charter.

4. Create a South East Development Corporation along the lines of the defunct ENDC to handle all infrastructural development across the zone, while each Local Authority will take care of social and cultural development in its area. There will be a lean Administrative Service at the top to handle some staff functions for the Governing Council and the Deliberative Assembly. Each City, municipality or Rural District council is to employ its own staff to execute the functions that will be assigned to it.

Funding: Pending the outcome of what other parts of Nigeria do, the allocations for the present five states will be pooled together and one budget will be created for the region. The regional government will then ensure development of IGR to supplement whatever comes from the Federation Account.

Of course, this can be refined as we go along.

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TheNiche

June 26, 2016

From the states

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Edo on the march again The stage is set for another titanic encounter between APC and PDP in Edo State, Editor, Politics/ Features, EMEKA ALEX DURU, reports.

Obaseki

W

ith the successful completion of primaries by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the battle line for the September 10 governorship election in the state has been drawn.

Until the peaceful outcome of the exercises, there were fears among analysts that the primaries would expose the underbellies of the parties.

On the side of the APC, there were speculations that with the pronounced interest on a particular aspirant by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the party would witness uncertain developments that might lead to a parallel primary.

In PDP, insinuations were high that given the crisis rocking the party at the national level, the Edo chapter would be affected in similar ways.

There were, thus, predictions of the party possibly breaking into factions in the run-up to or after the primaries.

Flag-bearers emerge The fears were however allayed, following the peaceful turn of events. In APC, Chairman of the Edo State Government Economic and Strategy Team (EST), Godwin Obaseki, emerged winner with 1,618 votes in a competition that featured 12 aspirants.

Other aspirants were Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu, who polled 471 votes; former Minister of State for Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi, 137 votes; Ken Imasuagbon, 247 votes; a former governor of the state, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, eight votes; and Prof. Frederick Ebegue Amadasun, who also polled eight votes.

The 2012 PDP governorship candidate in the state, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, garnered 11 votes; Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula, 10 votes; Austin Emuan, seven votes; Blessing Agbomhere, five votes, and the only female aspirant, Tina Agbarha, scored three votes.

Though two out of the aspirants who lost in the primary were said to have petitioned against the process, the Chairman, Appeals Committee, of the exercise, Opeyemi Bamidele, who was House of Representatives member, explained that the petitioners did not include their names, but that the committee had sent letters to all the aspirants and the Chairman of the Election Committee, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina, for clarifications.

Fingers, however, point at Imansuagbon and Ogiemwonyi, who addressed a news conference in Benin City on Monday, rejecting the outcome of the primaries. By Wednesday, June 22, the actual dimension of the petition on the party’s preparation for the poll remained sketchy. But the APC in the state seemed not bothered with the development.

On the other hand, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor, won the PDP primary with 584 votes

to defeat his two opponents: Matthew Iduoriyekemwen who polled 91 votes, and Solomon Edebiri who polled 38. Even as the factional national chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff, claimed to have annulled the outcome of the exercise and had gone ahead to set up a committee for a fresh primary, the action did not seem to have any significant impact on the spirit of excitement that trailed the successful conduct of the Monday, June 20, exercise.

Back to the trenches With the primaries over, the candidates and their parties are almost on the field, wooing the electorate. Even before the selection of its flagbearer on Monday, June 20, PDP had anchored its campaign on changing the APC government which it accused of below-the-average performance in the state.

In its several outings, the party had accused the Oshiomhole administration of lacking initiative and commitment in re-positioning the state, hence his regular resort to attacking perceived opponents. Officials of the party had, thus, urged the Edo electorate to give it the chance to change their fortunes for good.

PDP sees the emergence of Ize-Iyamu as a springboard for actualising its agenda. The candidate, incidentally, is not new in Edo and even national politics.

He had, for instance, been Secretary to the State Government (SSG) during the Lucky Igbinedion-led PDP administration of 1999 to 2007.

He later left PDP for APC where he emerged South South leader of the party. During the 2012 election, he was the Director-General of the Oshiomhole re-election campaign. After the election, he was readily seen as the engine room of the administration, before defecting to the PDP in 2014, over apparent irreconcilable differences with the governor.

In PDP, Ize-Iyamu proved his mettle when, as state campaign coordinator of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election, he delivered two of the three senatorial districts (Edo South and Edo Central) in the state to PDP, leaving the ruling APC with only Edo North, the senatorial zone of Oshiomhole.

With the governor not actively taking part in the September contest as a candidate, IzeIyamu’s supporters enthuse that he would not be having serious obstacles in actualising his ambition. PDP also hopes to reap from the hang-over of the APC primary, which seemed to have confirmed earlier insinuations that the exercise was programmed to favour Obaseki, widely touted as anointed candidate of the governor.

Before the primary, there had been expressions of mixed feelings by some APC aspirants and their supporters that Oshiomhole was working for Obaseki to succeed him, as payback for the role of the former in his emergence as governor. While the governor’s media

Ize-Iyamu

handlers had laboured to put down the allegation, he barely disguised his disposition for the accomplished banker.

In the process, Oshiomhole literally came into head-on collision with the other aspirants, including his deputy, Odubu, on different occasions over his preference for Obaseki. It is the expected disaffection that may trail the eventual outcome of the primary that PDP angles to cash in on.

APC unruffled But the APC governorship hopeful and the governor have ruled out the possibility of PDP reaping from their fold. In a fence-mending move, Obaseki had, after the primary, declared that his emergence was victory for all the aspirants, describing them as politicians of no mean repute. He has also pledged to carry them along in his programmes.

Oshiomhole, on his own, had dismissed the PDP as lacking the muscle to win any major election in Edo, subsequently. In obvious dismissal of PDP’s influence in the state’s politics, Oshiomhole sniggered that APC would rather focus on how to battle other political parties in the state and not the PDP, which he said he would not lose sleep over its boast of winning the state.

His words: “There is no PDP in Edo State.

Which of the factions? We have one body and several heads. Even when they were at the

federal, we defeated them with all their federal might. So there is no PDP as long as I am concerned.

“For me, they are lighter than a loaf of bread.

But we will go to the election. There are other parties in the state. PDP is not an issue. I don’t think Edo people will forget the crime of PDP in a hurry, not for the next 20 years, in this state.”

Aside the APC flag-bearer having the support and endorsement of the governor, what also count for him are his enticing credentials and track record of public service profile which span over 30 years with imprints in investment banking, asset management, securities trading and the public sector, locally and abroad.

Lagos-based Edo-born public relations (PR) practitioner, Aigbe Osagie, who spoke with our correspondent on the emergence of the two candidates, scored them high, adding that with either of them winning the governorship election on September 10, things will take different shapes in the state.

“They are both thoroughbred technocrats who know what they want. They are comfortable to a reasonable extent. They are also stubborn in some ways. So, if anybody is hanging out with any of them with the aim of manipulating him later, the person should perish the thought. I am sure that by the time any of them wins the election, things will take different shapes in Edo,” he said.

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Analysis

23

EFCC, Fayose immunity clause controversy

Fayose

Magu

Nwaokobia, Jnr

The recent face-off between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on the freezing of the latter’s account has continued to generate controversy on the immunity clause, writes Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU.

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he nation may yet witness another round of intense legal combat on the interpretation of the immunity clause enshrined in the constitution, as lawyers are divided on the issue.

Certain officials of government, particularly the executive arm, enjoy immunity from prosecution while they are in office. This, as enshrined in the constitution, is to keep them some poles from distraction and allow them perform optimally.

This legal battle is consequent upon the freezing, on Monday, June 20, of the personal Zenith Bank account of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fayose is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). During the Ekiti governorship election in 2014, he upstaged Kayode Fayemi, then governor under the All Progressives Congress (APC), to become governor.

Fayose raised the alarm following his inability to access the account. When he visited the bank personally, ostensibly to make withdrawal, he discovered an embargo placed on the account without notice. This he described as illegal and criminal.

Fayose’s angst, according to him, is that the EFCC acted in flagrant disregard of the fact that he enjoys immunity.

Said Fayose: “I found out that the EFCC blocked my account and the accounts of some of my associates. I see this as illegal. If you want to fight corruption, fight corruption based on rule of law.

“I’m a sitting governor and under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, I enjoy immunity.

“You must do anything you want within the ambit of law. This government has no respect for constitutional provisions. They should not be in a hurry; in 2018, I will be done. I will come to them myself. I have become a figure in this country that I have nowhere to go.

“This rascality of EFCC must stop. Did they (referring to APC candidates who he accuses to be masterminds of his ordeal) not contest election?

Where did they get the funds from? Is it because they are the sitting government (at the centre)?

We will take every legal step to get things right; they can’t continue with this rascality.”

It is already in the public domain that Fayose had been having a running battle with the EFCC over the funding of his governorship campaign

in 2014. There had been speculations that the campaign was funded from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Dasuki Sambo, who is in detention while being tried for misappropriating money meant for the purchase of arms to fight terrorists.

But Fayose had denied the allegation, saying his campaign funds were generated from the ordinary people who wanted him in power.

The outspoken governor had, before this incident, accused the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of running a “selective anticorruption crusade”.

Placing the EFCC claim Of course, the anti-graft body, after its initial silence, has confirmed freezing the said account.

Details provided by the agency said the action “is in order” and that findings would be made public in due course.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed that what the organisation did was not illegal but in accordance with the EFCC Act, just as he clarified that immunity does not shield governors or public officers from investigation.

He went further to caution Fayose to play along with the agency rather than kick, as he could not stop the anti-graft agency from doing its job.

“It is true that we have frozen Governor Fayose’s account in connection with an ongoing investigation. We will soon release the details of our findings to the public.

“We froze the account because Fayose has no immunity against investigation,” Uwujaren disclosed. “Let me clarify that the 1999 Constitution does not grant immunity to governors or public officers against investigation. (But) The governors and others enjoying the immunity clause in Section 308 cannot be prosecuted. Therefore, Fayose cannot stop EFCC from doing its job.”

Understanding the immunity clause So much has been said about the immunity clause enshrined in Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

It reads in part: “(a) no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office; (b) a person to whom this

section applies shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period, either in pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and (c) no process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies shall be applied for or issued: no account shall be taken of his period of office.”

Danger ahead It started as a threat by the senators of PDP, the major opposition political party, that they would withdraw support from the APC-led government of Buhari.

Then the APC flayed the agenda as frivolous, reminding them of their primary responsibility of lawmaking and representation of their constituents. The party, in a statement issued by its national secretary, Mai Mala Buni, also dared the PDP to expose any APC official it believes to be corrupt to the anti-corruption agencies, saying that the administration’s anti-corruption crusade must not be to the dictates of the PDP. Today, senators of the PDP have made good their threat. They accused the ruling party of undue intimidation and selective justice.

If nothing is done to salvage the situation and change the present perception of the PDP and by extension large members of the public, political observers say it portends bad publicity for the ruling party.

Those who spoke with TheNiche, see the development as a danger signal which the APC must be cautious about, as it may affect the credibility of the party.

Also, it is believed that it may draw the sympathy of most Nigerians who at the moment are uncomfortable with the harsh economic reality under the watch of Buhari.

Lawyers speak Chris Akiri, solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, sees the EFCC action as illegal. He is of the opinion that the war against corruption is gradually becoming war against political opponents.

The Chairman, Editorial Board of National Daily Newspaper, said during Channels television interview programme, ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Thursday, June 23, that it’s illegal to freeze a sitting governor’s account, which amounts to punishment.

Said Akiri: “If you didn’t take him to court (and they couldn’t in view of Section 308 of the constitution as amended) and you didn’t take him to the EFCC (and they couldn’t, in view of the same provision) and they went ahead to freeze his account, the EFCC would have erred against the constitution and the doctrine of audi alteram partem (hear the other side) which is covered

by Section 36 of the constitution, and any case against him will be upturned.

Lawyer and director-general of the Change Ambassadors of Nigeria (CAN), Prof. Chris Nwaokobia (Jnr.), said EFCC is in order by freezing the account. For him, Fayose enjoys immunity from prosecution, but does not enjoy immunity from investigation.

According to Nwaokobia, freezing the account is not punitive, as it were, rather, try to avoid a situation where, perhaps, the resources received is not transferred to another account.

“I do not understand the hoopla, the noise in the public space concerning the action of the EFCC. I think it is about time Nigerians aggregated to lampoon corruption and call a crime by its name,” he submitted.

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, also a legal practitioner, disagrees with Nwaokobia, insisting that the action is illegal.

“For the court to make an order, there must be papers (court process) filed in court and signed by the judge. Section 308(1)(a) says no suit can be instituted against Fayose in any court in Nigeria. So, no process of court can be issued, signed or served, if it bears Fayose’s name, in his personal capacity,” Adegboruwa argued.

“By Sections 26-34 of the EFCC Act, a suspect must have been arrested for his account to be frozen. By Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, Fayose cannot be arrested and his bank account cannot be frozen. We must encourage EFCC to act according to law, else we go into full-blown dictatorship.”

Last line Corruption must be fought within the ambit of the law and anything less would be perceived as political victimisation and intimidation by government.

And this, commentators say, would endanger the nation’s young democracy that Aso Rock vowed to deepen.

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TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Grassroots Ugbolu: Lamentations of neglected Delta community Special Correspondent, OYE CHUKWUJEKWU, writes on the plight of Ugbolu, a neglected Delta State community, and efforts of the people to draw government’s attention to the people’s plight.

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gbolu is a community very close to Asaba Capital Territory, Delta State. Endowed with green pastures, arable land and solid minerals, the community is blessed with age-long cultural heritage that portrays the migration of Olu, the son of Oba of Benin, so many years ago.

The community is known for its farming culture and boasts of a prosperous market where people from different communities within the River Niger coast come to buy and sell wares. It is equally located on a low, plane arable land.

The people are good in cultivation of cassava, yam, potatoes and vegetables, most of which are consumed mostly in Asaba. They have a culture that represents the system of governance in Igbo land which thrives on the use of council of elders presided over by Diokpa, the oldest man in the community.

Ugbolu, an autonomous community in Oshimili North Local Government Area, has Ogbueshi Christopher Amonu Okonkwo who hails from Umuadiagbo Quarters as Diokpa. He is said to be about 94 years.

Speaking to newsmen in his palace, Okonkwo decried the attitude of successive administrations in the state towards his community and his subjects, alleging that since the creation of the state and the community’s allocation of 245 hectares of land to the government, no compensation has been paid to the land-owners.

He also complained that no developmental project had been erected on the land, hence it has remained fallow.

The Diokpa also spoke on the importance of access road to the community which links it to the local council headquarters, Akwukwuigbo, and its Okpanam neighbours. The road, he added, has been dilapidated.

According to Okonkwo, if the road is constructed, it will enhance the agricultural activities of the community.

He further spoke on the poor infrastructure in the two government-owned primary schools and a secondary school in the

community that are currently in a state of neglect.

Diokpa Okonkwo also complained of the market in the community which has not received attention from the government, noting that other communities around Ugbolu have had modern markets built for them by the state.

Stressing that the only primary health centre in the community is in bad shape and lacks facilities that will enhance adequate medical attention, the Diokpa further said his subjects undergo stress while accessing healthcare at the hospitals far away from their community.

But what, perhaps, pains Okonkwo the most is that the state government has not duly recognised the position of Diokpa as a paramount ruler of the community. He recalled that in the old Bendel State, his predecessors received salaries from the state government, adding that the gesture had been stopped.

He attributed this to the claim by neighbouring Okpanam which claims Ugbolu as a community under its jurisdiction.

Okonkwo put a lie to the claim, stressing that his community is populated with over 7,000 natives living in different parts of the country and beyond.

Chibuzo Obiokolo, his spokesman, also faulted the claim of Okpanam Kingdom against the Ugbolu, adding that several letters had been sent to the state government on the issue of granting Ugbolu autonomous status, without success.

The history of Ugbolu, he said, took off from the legendary Ezechima kindred, while the Okpanam were Igbo across the River Niger who migrated from Anam of Anambra East. By his account, a certain son of Ezechima whose name was Olu settled in his farmland in Ugbolu because his crops were doing well and thereafter settled in the area.

He thus wondered how a migratory community that came to the place later would claim lordship over those that had settled in the community earlier.

Okonkwo

Okowa

According to him, during the 2015 elections, they voted massively for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, given that they are all of Anioma sub-ethnic group and had been clamouring for a governor from Delta North Senatorial District.

The Diokpa also noted that government’s attention is needed in checking erosion menace that may sweep away their farmlands and homes, stressing that none of the several Okowa’s development programmes had been felt by his subjects.

The people, he remarked, do not even know much about the programmes and the agenda.He also frowned at different levies imposed on the people by agents of Oshimili North Local Government, even when these are not used to address the challenges facing the market in the community, especially on the issue of erosion.

Obiokolo further remarked that the menace of Fulani herdsmen has become the general problem threatening the people of South South and South East, adding however

that his community has been spared the attack by the herders.

He commended the government for sending enough teachers to the schools in the community. Aside this gesture, the Diokpa noted that for the past one year, Ugbolu is yet to feel the impact of the Okowa administration, adding, however, that one year is not enough for assessment of the government.

“Because Deltans are aware that the nation is grappling with dwindling economy, we can’t say the governor had not done anything. We hope that one day he would extend development to Ugbolu people,” he said.

He appealed to the government to assist the community with good roads, stressing that the road leading to Akwukwuigbo, Okpanam, Isselle-Azagba and Illah are in bad shape.

Our reporter learnt that a section of the road had been awarded, but the contractors were not on site and had not done much to fix it.

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Judiciary

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Onyewuchi Ojinnaka Email: onyewuchi_ojinnaka@yahoo.com 0811 181 3060

Clarke: Banning govs from foreign trips not constitutional, but…

Robert Clarke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), has been in active practice for over 40 years. In this interview with Senior Correspondent, ONYEWUCHI OJINNAKA, he speaks on constitutionality of preventing a governor from making foreign trips, declaration of state of emergency, among other issues.

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as the President constitutional power to ban a governor from embarking on a foreign trip?

According to the constitution of Nigeria, the President has no power to ban any governor from travelling abroad. However, circumstances might dictate a situation where, for security reasons, government might feel that the governor’s visit outside Nigeria is a security risk. He cannot ban, but what he can do is to stop him at the point of embarking on that trip. The security might disrupt his departure, that is what I think can happen. But whether the President can ban a governor from travelling abroad is not provided for in law. Since Section 5 of the constitution vested all executive powers in the President, and in the exercise of that executive power based on security reasons that will affect the nation, he might direct the security agents not to allow (a governor) to travel. That is just the situation that can arise.

Is it right for the President to declare a state of emergency in states where there is civil unrest, when the power to control state apparatus is vested in the hands of the governor?

According to the constitution, the chief law officer of the state is the governor; there is no doubt about that. But we have a scenario in Nigeria where the instrument of controlling the police is vested in the Inspector General of Police (IGP) who takes directives from the President. Whereas in law, a governor is in charge of the security in the state, but in fact, in exercising that power, he has to go through a commissioner of police who is not subject to his control in relation to the hierarchy or the dictates of the police force.

So if a governor directs a police commissioner to do something in the state, the fact is that the latter will first get clearance from the Inspector General of Police and depending on what situation is on the ground, there might be a refusal on the part of the commissioner. So, actually the governor is in charge of the security of the state, but ,in fact and let us be realistic, it is not so at times.

There have been agitations for the creation of state police. Would you support the call, considering that it could be used by those in control of power

against their perceived opponents?

This question you asked me has been on from the 1950s in Nigeria. It has been one of the contentious debates. During the constitutional conference before Independence, it was an issue. The then Action Group (AG) led by Obafemi Awolowo was campaigning seriously that states should be allowed to control their police forces. The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) and the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), who were the other major political parties, opposed it, saying that there must be a uniform police force. But then, we had what we called the Local Government Police. Northern region had its own called ‘Dandugaz’ whereas there was a centralised police hierarchy where states or regions then were allowed to have their local police. They called them Native Authority Police.

However, at the first incursion of the military in Nigeria, I remember it was the Aguiyi Ironsi government that abolished all Local Government Police and Native Authority Police because it was an instrument being used by the government to attack the opponents. I remember vividly the case of Adelabu. Adelabu was sentenced to imprisonment by Local Police Authority. He was charged to a Local Government Customary Court and was jailed and he had to appeal before he was set free. So when the military came in, they abolished Local Government Police and Native Authority Police. But that did not stop the agitation till today that state government must be allowed to have their own police force. Their reasons are cogent, good, but it depends on which divide you are. The proponents of that is that policemen are better within the locality they are born; they know the people, they know the family harbouring this or that. So if you have problem in Yoruba land, it is better you have Yoruba police who will know the family; but if you bring an Igbo man to Yoruba land as a police man, he might not be able to effect proper police work. But as far as the constitution is today, the police (force) is still centralised . Whether it should be decentralised or not is between you and I, depending on which divide you are.

So on which divide are you?

Personally speaking, people who are saying it should be decentralised are correct to

a certain extent because of what they see as authoritarian use by the federal government.

There is no doubt that when (the governors) too have that control, knowing what Nigerians are capable of doing, it will still be the same thing. A governor of a state, if not because the police are centralised would have used the police to destroy the opposition. So it depends on which divide you are.

For me, I believe the police force should still be centralised.

The Nigerian Army reportedly claimed that it acted in self- defence during the recent Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) protest in the South East. What is your assessment on the human rights record of this administration?

We lawyers have a principle that we take to our hearts that facts are sacred. It is when you are ceased of facts that you will be in a position to comment on issues. I am not ceased of the facts of these incidents you are telling me about. Whether policemen killed or the Biafrans revolted are not within my knowledge. I cannot say who is right or wrong. The question of human rights record also depends on which divide you are. Human rights activists would tell you the government is not conforming with human rights, that certain people are being detained after courts have granted them bail; but if you follow the scenario, you will find out that there is not much in that statement in refusing to release an accused person in a court after he had been granted bail. What they have carefully done is to carry that same accused person, preferred charges against him and take him to another court. So, the bail of one court does not subsist for the bail of all courts, and people fail to realise that.

What this government is doing is not actually an affront to due process of law, but it is a clever manoeuvre because we are in difficult times. I do not see anything wrong with what the government is doing because you cannot envelop due process into a small jacket. When the court grants bail and the prosecutor carries the same person on a fresh charge to another court and that court says I am not granting you bail, it is within the law. The grant of bail is within the discretion of the court, so there is no breach of fundamental right as far as I can see it.

Is it constitutional for the President to deploy soldiers in a democratic system to areas of civil unrest without consulting the legislature?

Maybe you would have listened to Femi Falana (SAN) on Channels Television and I was called in the following day to rebut what he said. Section 187 or 188 of the constitution, I cannot remember clearly now, empowers the President as the Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces to deploy them. The constitution also allows him not only to deploy them but delegate the powers he has to the military whenever any situation of unrest arises in Nigeria. The President has the power under the constitution to ask the military to go there and quell it.

Even without consulting the National Assembly?

He does not have to. As I have told you, Section 5 of the constitution vests all executive powers on Mr. President. That Section 5 of the constitution is so important and many people do not appreciate the extent of the powers of Mr. President and the constitution specifically provides that the President can, not only deploy soldiers, give them instructions, and delegate part of his powers to them under the constitution. He has very wide powers over the army.

How do you assess government’s fight against corruption?

Every act of investigation, every act of prosecution, every act of conviction is in due compliance with the process of law.

You are given your day in court, you are allowed to ask for bail if you are taken to court and the court grants you bail and they have been following it. Do you have any incidence where you think due process has not been followed? You might wish to point to the Biafran case, Nnamdi Kanu. Well, he has been charged for treason, and treason is an offence that you cannot be granted bail.

Obafemi Awolowo, the most popular Yoruba man, was charged for treason in 1963.

He was not granted bail throughout his trial and the heaven did not fall, nobody carried placards on the streets that Awolowo must be freed, it is not unusual. Once you are charged for treason, you cannot be granted bail, so there is nothing wrong in not granting him bail.

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TheNiche

June 26, 2016

Editorial

Learning from UK’s EU exit

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he world woke up on Friday, June 24 to the news of the United Kingdom exiting European Union (EU), an organisation it bestrode like a colossus for more than 40 years in a love-hate relationship.

Leave supporters on College Green, Westminster in London, carried the day after Britons voted to quit the EU in an historic referendum which immediately threw Westminster politics into turmoil, and sent the virile pound sterling tumbling on global markets.

Britons seem to be prepared to live with the political, constitutional, diplomatic and economic consequences of their action for decades, going by the speech delivered

by Prime Minister, David Cameron, on the choice which takes precedence over the personal desires of individual politicians.

Perhaps what confounded perceptive minds was the announcement by Cameron that he was resigning to pave the way for a new leadership to drive the fresh development.

In a speech he gave outside Downing Street in the morning of June 24, Cameron explained he would step down by October to ensure the UK has a “strong, determined and committed leadership.”

He added: “Over 33 million people from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar have all had their say.

“We should be proud of the fact that in these islands we trust the people for these big decisions.

“We not only have a parliamentary democracy, but on questions about the arrangements for how we’ve governed there are times when it is right to ask the people themselves and that is what we have done.

“The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected.

“I want to thank everyone who took part in the campaign on my side of the argument, including all those who put aside party differences to speak in what they believe was the national interest and let me congratulate all those who took part in the Leave Campaign for the spirited and passionate case that they made.

“The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered …. It's why we delivered a fair, legal and decisive referendum in Scotland.

“And it's why I made the pledge to renegotiate Britain’s position in the European Union and to hold the referendum on our membership and have carried those things out.

“I fought this campaign in the only way I know how, which is to say directly and passionately what I think and feel – head, heart and soul.

“I held nothing back, I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the European Union and I made clear the referendum was about this and this alone - not the future of any single politician including myself.

“But the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction.

“I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.”

Regardless of the political, economic, and diplomatic considerations marshaled by either Remain or Leave campaigners the lessons from the UK leaving the EU will resonate in established and emerging democracies around the world.

It has once more shown Nigerians in particular that respect for the wish of the people is the basis upon which democracy can be assessed as the vehicle to drive the rule of law and ensure peaceful coexistence, harmony and development.

The rancour-free manner in which both the UK and the EU went about the process of determining who stays or leaves the body, is commendable and will positively affect the relationship of EU members in the future.

What happened with the UK in the EU is a lesson to the Nigerian leadership which frowns at free speech despite constitutional provisions, and detests agitation by ethnic nationalities for self-actualisation.

The time has come for the Nigerian leadership to rethink the old strategy of stopping at nothing to decimate agitators over self-actualisation as we keep experiencing the killing of members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other ethnic groups who feel they are not getting their fair deal in Project Nigeria.

We frown at a situation where the Nigerian leadership thinks certain issues cannot be discussed.

The National Assembly (NASS) should rise to the challenge of expunging the sections of the Constitution that are nebulous and stultify political and economic growth so that areas where referendum is required would be incorporated for Nigerians to assert their rights.

Our lawmakers should be tired of ad infinitum Constitution amendments or consider themselves beneficiaries of a political system that is not bringing anything to the table at international fora.

If the UK that colonised Nigeria can quit the EU where it is a critical stakeholder, who says ethnic nationalities cannot assert their inalienable right of freedom of association and self-actualisation?

Britain has shown that there is gain in dialogue. It did so last year when Scotland wanted to assert its independence.

We do not have any reason to spurn opportunities that require us to sit around a piece of mahogany and discuss matters that agitate our minds, no matter how minute.

Lessons ought be learnt from Cameron’s resignation. We commend him for resigning over idea he cannot see through, or rather was unpopular, but having the confidence that without him, Britain will still live its dream.

Cameron’s position is quite refreshing and at variance with the I-know-it-all disposition of Nigerian leaders, backed with a mentality of do-or-die.

www.thenicheng.com

FREE SPEECH Floating naira projected to lose 70% of its value

By Emeka Chiakwelu

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he floated naira that has been pegged at N197-199 to a dollar lost over 40 per cent of its value on the first day of trading.

Unofficial reordered statistics on first day of naira outing revealed that naira was traded as low as N265 to a dollar and at one point nosedived to N288 to a dollar as naira continued to devalue and losing its purchasing power.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has not released the official statistics of the currency trading.

So far, the CBN has auctioned $4 billion on the first day of floating naira, proceeding with $100 million sold in the interbank liquidity market. The real value of naira has not been determined as naira continues to plummet.

The devaluation of naira will make Nigerians poorer especially wealthy individuals and companies because their wealth was determined by the discarded pegged naira.

Bloomberg said: “The Central Bank started auctioning dollars in the spot and forwards markets around midday to try and clear a backlog of orders for hard currency, according to a person with knowledge of the transactions who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public.

“While the size of the auction wasn’t disclosed, the backlog is around $3 billion to $4 billion, according to analysts at Lagos-based investment bank Chapel Hill Securities Ltd.” The mechanics of naira floating as stipulated by the CBN was not wholly based on the forces of the market as otherwise conveyed to the public by the CBN. There are certain exceptions and regulations that undermined the integrity of the determinant forces of the market as opposed to the law of demand and supply.

The CBN has the power to intervene in the trading when it deem necessary. The CBN may choose to shut the trading or delayed the process when it anticipates abnormalities of over pricing, imposing clutches as it began to run out of dollars.

The CBN has selective dealers mostly banks who can participate in the bidding, thereby shutting out the general public from direct participation.

The CBN has restricted or out rightly

banned 41 products from not getting allocation for their importation. These restricted materials including toothpicks, milk, tomatoes, airplane, rice and other essential materials that are expected to be made in Nigeria.

In some cases, the restricting of allocation for purchase of airplane is logical but some essential food products like rice and tomato paste should be reconsidered.

Many Nigerian businesses and industries will not gain any advantage from the naira devaluation because they hardly export their products abroad.

Moreover, they purchase finished products and raw materials from outside the country.

One thing for sure, devaluation will discourage importation, even though indigenous industries are incapable of producing those materials local consumers need.

The price of energy, undeveloped infrastructures and poor industrial policy hammered modern day industrialisation in Nigeria.

Associated Press reported that the devaluation is a boon for MTN, Africa's largest telecommunications company, which this month negotiated a deal to pay a fine of 330 billion naira, now effectively discounted by about 30 percent.

“Among losers are companies with billions of naira trapped in Nigeria that they were not allowed to repatriate. Analysts said the devaluation could exacerbate bad debts already standing at 10 percent of bank loans.

“Bankers will adjust loans made in dollars to the new value of the naira, including more than $10 billion loaned to Nigerian companies to buy assets from oil multinationals in recent years.”

Wall Street Journal analysts forecast the long time fate of naira: “Based on the naira’s exchange rate in black-market trading, it might continue falling until it loses as much as 70 per cent of its value against the dollar, traders say.”

The CBN has been quoted that the back orders for dollar demand has been cleared.

But the starved market for hard currency in Nigeria maybe insatiable.

The auction of dollar on market demand may not be sustainable due to low price of oil and lower quantity of crude oil export.

• Chiakwelu, Principal Policy Strategist at AFRIPOLinfo@afripol.org www.afripol.org.

Observations from...

Okonjo-Iweala remains global anti-graft czar

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year after leaving office as Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, remains the most sought after personality who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A week doesn’t go by without her name being splattered on the pages of traditional newspapers and online outfits.

Many detractors and paid hands have linked her with almost every corrupt deal during her time as economy coordinating minister.

But she continues to soar high and gain more recognition on the international scene, as she maintains her anti-corruption stance.

On June 2, she gave the keynote address at the MIT Doctoral Hooding Ceremony 2016 Commencement, the second speaker to achieve this feat thereby sealing her status as a global citizen.

She took it a step further on June 7 when she addressed graduands of Columbia University's School of Public Policy at its Commencement.

If Okonjo-Iweala was indeed corrupt she would not have the temerity to continuously kick against corruption in her speeches, and such invitations would not have even been offered to her because the international commu-

nity would not want to associate with individuals ‘perceived’ to be corrupt.

The volleys range from Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) using an allegation by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Charles Soludo, to the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) accusing her of colluding with former federal Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke, in a “judgment scam”.

Okonjo-Iweala argued at the Africa CEO Forum on March 21, 2016 that “we have to fight corruption in two ways; one is by punishing those who steal, and making sure they pay for what they do.

“But we also must plug all the holes by building institutions and systems that prevent corruption in the first place.

“If you have a financial system for running your financial accounts that is not computerised, that is not technologically based, you are still transferring cash, as we were doing in my country up until 2003, 2004, then you are opening up the place to a lot of leakages.”

• Femi Hassan Lagos

TheNiche on Sunday welcomes letters, maximum 250 words, from readers. Send to oguwikeng@y

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

27

On the beat Oguwike Nwachuku

oguwikeng@yahoo.com, o.nwachuku@thenicheng. com 0805 306 9019

Will new IGP, Idris, be up to scratch?

A

t a brief ceremony at Louis Edet House (otherwise called Force Headquarters) in Abuja on Wednesday, June 22, out-gone Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, handed over to his successor, Ibrahim Kpotum Idris.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in exercising his right under Section 215 of the Constitution, named Idris IGP in acting capacity a day earlier, June 21. He becomes the 19th IGP. A statement issued by Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina, said Idris was born on January 15, 1959; hails from Kutigi, Lavum in Niger State; and enlisted in the police in 1984, after graduating from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria with a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

He also holds a degree in law from the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).

“Idris, who was in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters before his appointment as acting Inspector General of Police, will act in that capacity pending his confirmation,” Adesina said.

Handing over to him, Arase said Idris “is going to serve in an acting capacity until the Police Council confirms him. I want to seize this opportunity to thank Nigerians for the cooperation given me while I served as Inspector General of Police.

“By extension, I want to also appeal to you to give the same support that you gave to me to my successor. He is a younger man, so I am sure he will be abreast with contemporary policing issues.”

According to Paragraph (a) of

Section 215, “An inspector general of police who, subject to Section 216 (2) of this Constitution shall be appointed by the president on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council from among serving members of the Nigeria Police Force.”

Section 171 of the Constitution empowers the president to appoint the secretary to the government of the federation; head of the civil service of the federation; ambassador, high commissioner or other principal representative of Nigeria abroad (subject to confirmation by the Senate); permanent secretary in any ministry or head of any extra–ministerial department of the government, and any office on the personal staff of the president.

But Section 216 (2) says, “Before making any appointment to the office of the inspector general of police or removing him from office the president shall consult the Nigeria Police Council.”

By the appointment of Idris, Buhari has proved his critics right once more that he is determined to appoint into certain offices those who catch his fancy so long as they are from the Northern part of the country.

I doubt if the Police Council advised Buhari to appoint yet another person from the North as IGP when there are other equally capable hands from other sections of the country.

There is nothing wrong with the appointment of Idris.

But there is everything wrong with a political leadership under Buhari which does not care that all appointees into the offices of the IGP, DSS, chief of army staff, NSA, Immigration, Civil Defence, Defence Ministry, Prisons, Cus-

toms, minister of interior, chief of air staff, all come from the North.

Under Buhari, the entire security apparatus is in one region, making nonsense of the federal character principle in the Constitution.

Section 171(5) of the Constitution says, “In exercising his powers of appointment under this Section, the president shall have regard to the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity.”

Whether Buhari likes it or not, those who tell him to ignore the Constitution in making appointments are only helping to whittle down his political relevance and fanning the embers of disaffection in the country.

Only time will tell when the seed they are sowing will germinate. He must be told that 2019 is yet by the corner.

Idris may be qualified to head the police. But feelers from police headquarters suggest his appointment may be a payback for the “good” job he did for Buhari in Kano where he supervised the election that returned about two million votes for him.

There may not be anything wrong in compensating people, but must it be to the detriment of the good and unity of all of us?

With Idris’ promotion his bosses and contemporaries may have to leave the police, no matter how professional they are.

Six Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) – Dan-Azumi Job Doma, Sotonye Wakama, Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe, Kakwa Christopher Katso, Cynthia Amaju Onu, and Jubril Olawale Adeniji – are now bidding time.

Only God will help 10 Assistant Inspectors General of Police

(AIGs) – Ibrahim Manko; Patrick Dokumor; Balla Nasarawa; Tambari Mohammed; Bala Hassan; Yahaya Ardo; Musa Daura; Baba Adisa Bolanta; Usman Gwary, and Tunde Ogunsakin – to survive the pending purge with the coming of Idris.

Most of these DIGs and AIGs were recently promoted to their ranks.

I have read the maiden speech of Idris to the police officers and men, and compared it with his maiden remarks when Arase introduced him to the media.

“Honestly, by collective leadership, the Nigeria police is going to be governed by internationally recognised core values of policing everywhere in the world, that is, the issue of integrity, issue of compassion, issues of ensuring that our streets, our neighbourhoods, our communities remain safe.

“We are going to do everything possible to ensure that we provide the best service to this country,” he said in his remarks.

I am not so sure about his independent-mindedness required to police the Nigerian state of today neither am I swayed by his remarks or speech.

For instance, the praises he lavished on Buhari in his opening and closing speeches over his appointment are nauseating and unnecessary and actually speak volumes.

They do not convince me that he will take decisions without deferring to his benefactor. I see him forgetting soon the issues he says he wants to deal with as IGP. This is part of Idris’ opening speech: “I want to show my utmost thanks and appreciation to the president, commander-in-chief

of the armed forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the chairman of the Nigeria Police Council, president Muhammad Buhari, GCON, for having the trust and confidence in me and for appointing me to this exalted position ….

“I wish to call on every citizen of this great country to support and cooperate with the police to make Nigeria safer and more united.

“As we are all aware, the security of our communities is the responsibility of all of us; I seek the support of every citizen to give the Nigeria Police Force maximum cooperation to ensure that this country shall continue to be more united and prosperous.

“Once again I want to thank Mr president for the confidence and I promise to effectively discharge this onerous responsibility. May Almighty Allah continue to bless this great country and guide the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Going by the back seat the police have taken today ¬– leaving the army to appear more visible in security matters in a democracy across the country – the best that could have happened was the appointment of a police chief who has the strategy to march the soldiers in terms of combat control, crime prevention and investigation in line with traditional and emerging security challenges.

I do not think it is for nothing that Buhari bypassed six DIGs and 10 AIGs to choose Idris. Buhari did not consult the Police Council as the Constitution requires.

With Idris’ heart of gratitude, his confirmation in six month’s time is faith accompli. But the police under his watch will still have a long way to go.

Funny World

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Words &Worlds

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How do we hold our leaders accountable? ver and over again, Nigerians have been told that they must demand accountability from their leaders. That was the advice given us by the Prime Minister of Britain, David Cameron, when he visited Nigeria and spoke at the Lagos Business School (LBS) some years ago. We cannot agree more. However, the issue we have been unable to resolve is: Just how do we do it? Of course, we now know that we can wait for four years and vote out those who may have betrayed our trust; that is, in a situation where it is actually the individual that the majority of people vote for who eventually gets into office. But then, is that the best a people can do to hold their leaders accountable – merely waiting to boot them out after four years? What happens during those four years while they are in office? How can we ensure that the people we have elected do not misgovern us – and with impunity?

Talking about impunity, the nation has continued to witness it in its crudest and most ferocious form. The daily, mindboggling revelations regarding the systematic looting of our national treasury during the last administration, especially in connection with the 2015 election campaigns, present us with a serious challenge as citizens. We must ask ourselves how it could have been possible for such huge

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T

Remi Sonaiya

he professional class compromised their detachment from wealth and lost the tradition of firmness. It could be proffered as subject for debate that Hope Harriman’s generation was responsible for the drift from proper professionalism.

My generation, who derived our efficacy from them, had to labour hard to combat the cankerworm they had glamorously engendered. We failed. The singular goal of wealth and power within the socio-economic system had become overbearing to the elite. They ditched the culture of professionalism for the glamour of wealth. All that mattered to them was money.

sums of money to have been successfully diverted into the accounts of individuals and companies without anyone crying foul while all of it was going on.

Absolutely, nobody was looking after the interests of the Nigerian people – not the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy nor the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). So much money was being transferred from the CBN under their watch, and they said nothing? How do we hold leaders accountable at that level? Is it the CBN governor’s duty to accede to every single demand or request emanating from the President?

Is it reasonable to expect him to stand up to the President in the interest of the people?

Several other issues are pertinent to the present discussion.

As we speak, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, is standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for false and anticipatory declaration of assets.

He has refused to step down from his position while his trial is being conducted. Nigerians are thus compelled to see the president of our Senate being docked at the tribunal and thereafter return to conduct the affairs of that supposedly ‘distinguished’ chamber.

Is that proper? How come we are unable to insist that Saraki should temporarily vacate his position?

Or is it that we are unwilling? The

situation is set to escalate if the Senate president and his deputy are further arraigned, as is being expected, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on “two counts of criminal conspiracy and forgery of the Standing Rules of the Senate used for the leadership election of the presiding officers of the Senate in June 2015”, according to The Punch newspaper of June 23 (page 2). In other climes, these officers would have needed nobody to nudge them into relinquishing their positions; they would have recognised that it would not be appropriate for them to taint the image of the institution because of any personal interest. Such is not the case in Nigeria.

The response of some of our “distinguished” senators to these troubling developments is all the more disconcerting. During the week, a bill was presented seeking to grant immunity to the principal officers of the National Assembly – and, for good measure, asking that they equally enjoy lifetime pensions from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

One can only say “thank God” for the outcry that greeted the announcement of the proposed bill.

However, one wonders whether that general opposition will be sufficient to deter the Senate from going through with the evil plan. The Nigerian people have been scorned and dispossessed of their resources so many times

in the past; who is to say that it will not happen again? What can we do to prevent it? What must we do as a people to ensure that we are responsibly governed?

It is clear that good governance will not be delivered to us on a platter of gold. We must wrest it from our ruler-leaders. Of course, there are some among us, the general populace, who benefit from the leaders’ corruption and therefore prefer to maintain the status quo. However, the majority of us must resist them and organise ourselves to bring about the change we desire and deserve.

One way this could be done is by refusing to honour leaders (both past and present) who neither deserve nor have earned it. Let us stop inviting them to our gatherings. Imagine the insult of having a former president lecture on the importance of building institutions when all he did during his tenure was to elevate the interest of individuals (self, family, friends and colleagues) above that of the nation! Further, let us be bold to speak out against the injustices and corruption they perpetrate, and demonstrate our dissatisfaction in any peaceful and non-destructive way we can.

It is time to let those who are privileged to rule over us know that our trust must be earned, and that the government derives all its powers and authority from the people.

Echoes from my past (5)

The partners were fast becoming moribund themselves. They could bluff it off with a strong retinue of professional staff by refusing to make comments on professional issues for some time.

Certainly at some point of need they ought to have discovered their inadequacy. It happened. Ben Epega had later to go to UK for a master’s degree and thereafter enrol for a doctoral work in an arm of the profession I do not now remember.

It must have been Land Economy, for that is the discipline in which Harriman, his partner, had earlier earned an MSc.degree from Cambridge. I had sufficient reason to leave. On March 15, 1974, I wrote my letter of resignation from the practice. The practice had assisted me with obtaining my registration with the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board in 1973, and

I had the trappings of a disciplined practitioner. I left for Jos in Plateau State shortly after submitting my letter of resignation. Festus Edomobi shuddered at the abruptness of my action. I confirmed to him that I was sane and that I had made up my mind from empirical data as well as from my concept of myself and my future as a professional, to leave the practice. He nodded in half satisfaction. But I could not be bothered with his opinion.

I had enough pupillage and I had a long distance to traverse in a short while. Only self-employment would do for me. I sought the steps for employing myself and embraced them.

I made up my mind to build a practice that would restore the pristine glory of professionalism. And this is what I aimed at on leaving the firm of Harriman and Epega. I must say that I am grateful to Harri-

man for the large mind he showed me throughout my term with him. I am grateful to Epega for his understanding of my desire to fly. It is a pity that he had to suffer a stroke afterwards that left him a shadow of his robust former self.

But I must record that Ben was a people’s man. He did not know any difference between him and other professionals, junior or senior colleagues alike. I was comfortable in his presence. Chief Harriman, the Sobaloju of Ife, was different.

He fell into impressionistic spells that compelled him to show off the gulf between him and his juniors.

I would not have been uncomfortable with that if he had offered much more than glamour to a thirsty and adventurous young professional that I was, when he and I struck an arrangement regarding Shell Nigeria assets early in 1972.

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Viewpoint

On the road to Monrovia?

S

ince a relation who lives in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, sent me a picture of reconstruction work in the city, my mind has not ceased from running through the developments that brought the country to its current position.

Part of what I have done is to salute the efforts of men and women of goodwill, who have in various ways contributed in making the oldest independent West African country gradually resurrect from the ashes of its ugly recent past.

But while I commend these heroic efforts, I have also reflected on some of the actions that led the country to Golgotha, where it bled profusely in human and material resources. In that process, I recall the excitement that seized some of us, then in secondary school, on April 12, 1980, when Samuel Doe, a Master-Sergeant, took over the reins of power in Liberia through a military coup.

Our excitement, obviously borne of naivety, had nothing to do with the real situation in Liberia, which we had no firsthand knowledge of. It was rather in support of the coup that was then the fad in many African countries.

The reasons offered for the putsch and some of the actions by the new men in power also made us wish to be Liberians at that moment. The usurper regime had accused the civilian administration of William Tolbert, which it overthrew, of monumental corruption and holding down the future of the country.

And in what seemed the best of inten-

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tions, Doe and his men promptly embarked on what seemed a moral and economic rebirth in Liberia. Part of the actions in this regard was the arrest and retrieval of suspected looted state funds from officials of the ousted administration.

While Doe rode on the crest of this cleansing mission, he was lionised. With time, however, he was seized by sycophantic members of the ruling class. In the process, he got carried away and, over time, became more corrupt than the members of the Tolbert government that he booted out. To ensure that nobody pried into his activities, he resorted to repression, applying state apparatus to silence real and perceived opponents.

Liberians began to take notice of the massive drift by Doe when he started turning his sword against his former comrades-in-arm.

The state of anarchy became more pronounced when, after changing the constitution to announce himself president in a highly-flawed election, Doe went after his close ally with whom he executed the 1980 coup, Gen. Thomas Quiwonkpa, in 1985, on allegation of attempting to take over the government by force. That and other selfrighteous actions by the Commander-General, paved the way for the tortuous route Liberia is yet to recover from.

I cannot precisely explain why I have dwelt on this recollection in the last few days. But something, honestly, has been giving me a great deal of concern with the trend of things in our country, Nigeria, these days.

I can still recall the euphoria that pervaded

our newsroom when some colleagues who voted in 2015 Presidential election came back and announced how virtually everybody they encountered claimed to have cast his/her vote for the then All Progressives Congress (APC) flag-bearer, Muhammadu Buhari.

Of course, the reasons for their action sounded cogent. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration that had ruled the country uninterruptedly, for 16 years, had proved to be a colossal failure. In place of good life which the founders of the party promised Nigerians at its formation in 1998, its successive officials in government offered misery to the citizenry. Corruption became the order of the day. Other vices followed.

When, therefore, Buhari triumphed over Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28, 2015 poll, the excitement was understandable.

Just as Doe, the first indigenous Liberian from the Krahn ethnic stock dislodged the True Whig Party that had dominated the country’s politics since 1848, Buhari’s APC, the only opposition party to have dismantled a ruling party in Nigeria’s history, offered fresh hope to the citizens.

Ever since, the President and members of his administration have taken some salutary actions in tackling corruption and recovering looted funds, at least, as Nigerians were told.

There have also been commendable acts of goodwill by the government in other sectors of the national life.

But the processes often adopted by the government and some of its agencies have rightly given Nigerians serious cause for

concern. Aside non-adherence to valid orders on cases in the courts, the government is yet to convince critical observers that it is not selective in its anti-corruption agenda.

It still remains a massive surprise, even to supporters of the administration, that the only known suspects that have been reined in are either members of the opposition or those not sharing the same views on issues with it.

With the court virtually comatose in the way the government has been trampling on its orders, the judicial arm of the government is steadily being rendered helpless. It is the same attitude at forceful appropriation of power that is seeing the executive making audacious incursion into the independence of the legislature. Presently, relations between the presidency and the National Assembly can at best be said to be lukewarm.

If there is any disposition that the President has on the legislators for now, it is that of derision. There cannot, in that instance, be a shorter route to dictatorship.

For now, these antics may continue to excite those who still harbour disdain on officials of the previous administration. Some may even chorus that they deserve whatever that comes their way.

Maybe, they do. But the danger in celebrating the outcome of any exercise without a critical inquest into the process leading to it is that those who openly or tacitly applaud while it lasts often end up as victims. It is then that trampled interests begin to creep out of their shells.

That was what paved the rocky road to Monrovia. May it never be our fate.

Bail-out for states: Matters arising patazurunwa@yahoo.com 08023033488 (SMS only)

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PAT AZURUNWA

Uncertainties and uncontrollable variables are usually the twin sore-thumb that sticks out to frustrate efforts at effective planning and decision-making. Interestingly, apart from such situations as weather elements, most other uncertainties and uncontrollable variables are man-made. They come in different forms and sources, and include, but not limited to, wars, strikes and civil commotion, political decisions and policies, and they have the capacity to thwart otherwise good plans, be they social, business or political.

Imagine a situation where a businessman has collected a loan from a bank and established a manufacturing concern. A few days to the commissioning of the project and commencement of operation, the federal government bans the importation of the primary raw materials needed by the company. This decision is beyond the control of the businessman. He is bound to suffer psychological and financial depression, and possibly death.

The bank, knowing the source of the problem, will not relent in their effort to collect whatever is left of the business to recoup its loan outlay.

How many people have been left frustrated

after investing heavily on social events only to be denied joy by torrential rainfall on the d-day, worse still if fund-raising had been planned as part of the total package? Have we forgotten how a former President nearly sent Cletus Ibeto to an early grave by closing his cement importation business and creating a monopoly in favour of Aliko Dangote?

The federal government, in recent times, has taken the issue of bail-out for states to its ridiculous apogee. Beyond meeting the convoluted, but tempting, conditions for such bail-out, what measures are put in place to exert compliance with the objectives of such politically-fine-tuned largesse? We have witnessed protests across the states where governors have been accused of spending the bail-out funds without let or hindrance on profane, activities. With the vexatious immunity clause still operative, what happens if a governor does not deploy the funds appropriately?

The civil servants whose salaries are the main planks on which the bail-out funds are premised are still owed several months in arrears in the states whose governors have accessed the bail-out funds. If the states with new governors are complaining of inheriting empty treasuries, what of the states where there have been no changes? Before the 2015 election, governors who were vying for second term did not owe salaries, except in Osun State and a very few other notorious states. The normal trend is that second-term governors do just a little, and steal whatever is available to prepare for life out of executive office, leaving any in-coming person in the wilderness, financially. An example is Abia State, where the former governor, Theodore

Orji, came, saw and conquered.

The truth is that most of the states in dire need of a bail- out have been raped by their governors. It is surprising that nobody is giving a thought to this ugly trend. To me, the bail-out idea is more of a popularity-seeking gimmick than a well thought-through, enduring, financial calibration. So, the greed of a governor presents an uncertainty for his successor. The poor financial position in the states necessitating a bail-out is caused more by indolent governors than by the dwindling revenue in the monthly allocation from Abuja.

It is heart-warming that a few states have declared boldly that they are not interested in any bail-out. To these states – Lagos, Kebbi and, I think, Akwa Ibom – I doff my hat. For the others, shame. The dwindling oil revenue is cited always as the reason the federal and state governments are finding it difficult to achieve set targets. This is an uncontrollable variable. What is the way out? We must cut our expenditure profile in non-wealth-creating areas. How many governors have cut their security votes in line with the economic reality of today? Some of them still fly in chartered airplanes, even on short distances within the country. Do you blame them? Those before them who taught them how to steal are still walking around freely.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State is creating an uncertain situation for the next governor of the state. With arrears of pension and other entitlements to grapple with, he recently endorsed a new N25,000 minimum wage regime. He has barely over two months before the next gubernatorial election is held. Who is he buying this trouble for? In Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha has lamented a situation where close to the entire revenue of the state is spent on civil servants’ salaries. To him, civil servants are not economically productive. He would

rather such money was committed to building factories and developing infrastructure.

When did he realise this? Just in an interview last month. His argument sounds plausible, but can best be taken with a pinch of salt.

During his electioneering either in 2011 or in 2015, did he tell this to the large population of civil servants in Imo? The Owelle does not lack ideas, neither does he lack the skill of presenting them. But truth be told, he is not a prodigy of altruism.

A cursory look at the states where bailout is middle name will reveal that they are states where local government election has not taken place since 1999. The governors appoint jesters on three-monthly basis as interim local government chairmen. When the monthly allocation for the local government comes from Abuja, say N100 million for ABC local government, the governor calls the jester who is given about N5 million to go and pay his workers, but signs a document to the effect that he has collected N100 million. Concerned Nigerians have continuously been asking why the states must maintain joint accounts with the local governments, even when the local government is legally recognised as a third-tier of government.

For the APC federal government, it is nobrainer choosing the bail-out option above a more robust and enduring approach of discussing a restructuring of the country, preferably into regions, to reduce the number of these rampaging army of men of dishonour and chicanery recognised by our constitution as governors. Very soon, when the governors can no longer bear the pain of at-source deductions of their monthly allocation in payment of their bail-out loans, they will form an association of governors-in-need-of-bailout, and begin to agitate for a restructuring of the repayment plan. And the circus show continues.

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June 26, 2016

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FREE SPEECH

By Tola Adeniyi

W

ith this title, several readers will jump to the conclusion that the dreaded but now degraded Boko Haram terrorist group should occupy the number one slot, while the Fulani herdsmen terrorists and the new Ijaw Avengers would rank second and third. They are wrong!

While the menace of the three mentioned terrorist groups constitutes grave threat and danger to Nigeria’s corporate existence and her economic resurrection, the combined menace of the three will pale into insignificance when juxtaposed with the menace of the criminal silence of Nigerians in the face of the serious onslaught perennially and perpetually unleashed on the country by a handful vultures who have bled Nigeria to near death with their insane looting of the country.

The number one threat to corporate Nigeria is the unexplainable timidity of all Nigerians, the criminal silence of the masses in the face of the huge theft of their patrimony by a handful. It was this silence that prompted the article I wrote a few years back entitled ‘Nigeria: A nation of idiots’. That title has now become the subtitle of my 1,500-page book, In the Belly of Vultures. I have always wondered how a people could be this docile and timid. Sometimes, I wonder if Nigeria is the same country that produced the legendary Aminu Kano, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, Joseph Tarka, Adaka Boro, Tai Solarin, Arthur Nwankwo, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Beko Ransome Kuti and the fiery Gani Fawehinmi among a few others.

Inability to speak out against evil, against injustice, against oppression, depression and deprivation is the beginning of calamitous tragedy. Nigerians have kept quiet for too long that we

Thirteen threats to Nigeria

now have a deadly monster that has almost swallowed us up as a people.

Can we pretend not to know when our school drop-out neighbour who became chairman of local government suddenly started putting up a mansion and assembling posh cars in his yard? Did we not see Ghana-Must-Go bags being loaded and off loaded in the National Assembly?

Did we not see our governors, presidents and other public officials suddenly become billionaires?

We kept quiet. We are still keeping quiet, appearing hopelessly helpless in the face of all these revelations which in the first instance should not be news to us.

The number two threat to Nigeria is indiscipline. Crass indiscipline at all levels. Indiscipline both in our private and public life. Which government can successfully eliminate drunken drivers or lunatics who drive as if they had an appointment with hell? Which government can stop a bully who daily turns his wife to a punching bag? Some people just behave as if there are no laws in the land.

Look at the way people exploit one another at every stage of interactions; petrol stations, police stations, markets, banks, universities, the catalogue is endless. Indiscipline is at the root of most of the ills plaguing this doubly unfortunate country.

Proudly occupying the third slot is corruption. And by corruption, I am not limiting myself to stealing alone. Stealing is a big part of corruption, but it is not the whole picture of corruption. Nepotism is corruption. Taking undue advantage of the staff working under you is a huge form of corruption. There is domestic corruption which makes nonsense of the ethics of cohabitation and co-existence.

Number four threat to Nigeria is cultism. Cultism is no longer restricted or

limited to schools and tertiary institutions. Artisans of all shades and grades have joined cult leagues in Nigeria, and they could be found in all corners of the country. Carpenters, bricklayers, commercial motorcycle riders, painters, petty traders and small-time musicians are all involved in the dreaded gangs. With children in primary schools now being recruited into cultism, Nigeria faces a terrible future.

Religion and its fanatical adherents are the fifth and sixth threats to Nigeria.

Religion has colonised people’s minds and brains beyond redemption and majority of those captured are mere walking caricatures of human persons. Poverty, ignorance and mass unemployment have driven otherwise sane people to satanic embrace of the roguish exploiters who dress in the zany garbs of religious extremists.

The number seven threat to Nigeria is loss of age-long societal values. Almost, if not, all the ethnic nationalities that make up this country are lamenting the loss of their cherished traditional values.

In marriage, in commerce, in attitudes and relationships, as well as the traditional respect for elders and mutual respect for one another, honesty, hard work, patience, morality; all those values have been thrown to the dogs. This loss of our cherished values has dealt a terrible blow on our country and has enthroned lawlessness, strange foreign cultures and behaviours. Our art, our music, our ethos, and even our cuisine and domestic cultures have almost disappeared.

Number eight is Fulani herdsmen and their undisguised terrorism of horrendous proportion. Whereas the number nine threat, which is Boko Haram, is largely limited in its operational base and territorial spread, the Fulani herdsmen terrorists are rampaging the whole

country. If there is any threat that may easily lead to the break-up of Nigeria, it is the brutish and barbaric gangsterism of the herdsmen.

We know that Boko Haram is waging a religious (even if undefined)-cum vengeance campaign; but the herdsmen agenda leaves room for many speculations. Is it a jihad? Is it territorial expansion and ultimate occupation? Is it colonisation the way the Hausa were colonised?

The number 10 threat is the open and almost unstoppable campaign for the actualisation of the Biafra dream. This is a political campaign with tinge of selfdetermination and ethnic nationalism.

If the threat is not well-handled, it may snowball into a wild fire.

The Niger Delta militants are a very credible threat and they occupy position 11 in my evaluation. The mission of the militants is quite known. Theirs is a campaign for economic emancipation, justice and equity. And they also exercise self-determination and are prepared to die to the last man.

The 12th threat is the combination of all self-determination groups from Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) to Bakassi and other mushroom bodies that may appear inconsequential but are seriously entrenched.

The 13th threat to Nigeria is the notorious tribe of Nigerian politicians. If there is any group that is likely to score 100 per cent in its rabid determination to ruin Nigeria and hand her remains over to Somalia, Afghanistan, Rwanda and to the chaos in Iraq and Libya, it is the Nigerian political family.

Whatever becomes of Nigeria in the months and years ahead is in the hands of our terrible politicians and whatever they make of the other 12 threats.

• Adeniyi wrote in from Lagos.

Where is Nigerian economy heading?

By Ngozi Uzoma

N

igeria’s over-dependence on oil is one reality that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has to grapple with, if it will survive the crash in the global oil prices.

The good news is that every challenge posed to this administration is a prospect for it to make a change, just as it promised during the presidential campaign.

However, it seems that this government has no clue on how to fix the economy. The incompetence of Buhari’s economic team is instantly apparent, as the economic system is on the verge of collapsing; inflation is on the rise, purchasing power is very low, unemployment is high, the country is in gross darkness and it seems like Nigerians have already lost hope in this government.

The best word to depict an economic system led by Buhari and his team without a pattern is to refer to it as “Buharinomy”. To borrow the words of Prof.

Pat Utomi, Buhari is indeed operating an “archaic and medieval kind of eco-

nomic system”.

Despite the pathetic situation of the economy, his economic team has been mum about the present state of affairs.

And instead of the President to accept the responsibility of giving direction to the economy, he keeps blaming the immediate past administration for the present economic woes. He forgets the word of the German author, Eckhart Tolle, that, “Discontent, blaming, complaining, self-pity cannot serve as a foundation for a good future, no matter how much effort you take.”

There is no basis to compare the Buharinomy and the economy of the past administration because the economic policies of the immediate past administration were direct and had a human face.

One technocrat that made a difference in the past administration was the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy who helped in charting a cause for the economy. Although the administration had its own challenges, she put policies in place that helped cushion the hardship known to the ordinary man in the country.

Okonjo-Iweala, in a bid to help this administration, advised the President to concentrate on diversifying the economy, block leakages and rebuild buffers.

But they’ve chosen to dismiss her advice with an excuse of fighting corruption.

The government claims it is fighting corruption, thereby leaving the economy to take a downturn. The immediate past Goodluck Jonathan’s administration also experienced a shortfall in the nation’s revenue which also resulted from the fall of oil price. But it was quickly addressed

by Okonjo-Iweala, thereby reducing the effect on the economy.

The former minister strategically achieved this by opening up Nigeria to the global business community which made the country to be Africa’s number one destination for foreign investors.

In the first six months of 2014, a total of $9.70 billion (about N1.51 trillion) flowed into the national economy as foreign direct investment (FDI).

This is relative to what this present economic team is doing; instead of working hard to open up the country, the members are all singing the same song of blaming the previous administration, without any clue and vision on

what to do to move the nation forward.

One year running, this administration has no economic blueprint for the country. However, if the President really wants to diversify the nation’s economy, then he should stop being the Minister of Petroleum and become the Minister of Agriculture.

Although Jonathan wasn’t the Minister of Agriculture, he appointed a skilled technocrat that made a difference. As at the end of 2013, the proceeds from Nigeria’s non-oil export rose to N2.97 billion, from N2.3 billion in 2010.

I am yet to see the present Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, chart an economic policy that will curb inflation against the increase in the price of fuel. I’m yet to see Audu Ogbeh, the present Minister of Agriculture, encourage policies that will inspire the young generation to go into farming. And I’m yet to see where the Nigerian economy is heading.

Nigerians must stand up and call out this government to do the right thing by taking ownership of the challenges, thereby finding lasting solutions to the hardship some Nigerians are facing.

• Uzoma, an entrepreneur and a social commentator, wrote in from Lagos.

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Spotlight

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TERH AGBEDEH Assistant Life Editor 0805 215 3875 t.agbedeh@thenicheng.com terhagbedeh@gmail.com

ENTERTAINMENT

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Mo Abudu makes world top 100 visionaries list

TEMITOPE OJO Women's Editor 0708 479 6140

Our gateman inspired Deeply Cut, says Kehinde Omoru

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Beach Samaritans storms Gberefu Beach

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June 26, 2016

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Gbenga Oyebode: life into Yamah

The recent commissioning of CFAO/Yamaha ultra-modern tricycle assembly plant in Lagos speaks much about the zeal of the innovative chairman of Yamaha Motor Nigeria Limited, Gbenga Oyebode, who by this act confirms that government’s industrialisation policy on the auto sector is yielding fruits. SAM NWOKORO writes.

T

HERE IS ample reason for investors in motor-cycles and tricycles production to rejoice. Also, there is ample reason to commend and encourage them in every way possible. Reason: the state of the foreign exchange (forex) market in the country, which has literally brought the naira on its knees, has made the purchase of cars, even fairly-used ones, a big deal.

So, for the time being, a good number of Nigerians would be going for motorcycles, especially in the cities. And when it is realised that bulk of the new motorbikes that would soon dominate the streets are built here, then the beautiful foresight of those who thought about resuscitating the famous Yamaha plant, once popular in Lagos until a few years ago, comes into sharp focus.

Those who thought about reviving Yamaha motor-cycle and tricycle plant should be commended because they have come to fill a most needed void at a time majority of Nigerians look forward to two- and three-wheeler mobility to solve their transportation needs.

As most witnesses of the plant’s commissioning in Lagos recently testify, both federal and state governments should extend all necessary assistance to make the business environment conducive for CFAO to be able to fill this void in city transportation needs at a time the problem looks all set to become an “emergency situation”. A magazine reporter said after Governor Akinwunmi Ambode finished cutting the tape to inaugurate the CFAO/Yamaha plant located at the Amuwo Odofin Industrial Estate along Apapa-Oshodi expressway, “the governor’s eulogies should not just stop there. He understands the transportation emergency in this Lagos. So it is right that very good tax holiday is given them until they expand and spread their distribution network. Too much tax and regulation should not stifle them.”

According to the governor during the inauguration, the plant is set to employ thousands of youths, especially the many graduates from the numerous vocational and apprenticeship schools which have been churning out craftsmen of various categories.

TheNiche learnt that recruitment of technicians is already on.

Meritorious comeback The coming of Yamaha assembly plant was made possible by the partnership between CFAO France and Yamaha Motor Nigeria Limited. The plant will be producing 70,000 motor cycles by 2018, according to Managing Director, CFAO Yamaha Limited, Olivier Levigne.

“Nigeria should expect quality products from the company which Yamaha is known for across the world,” he said.

Governor Ambode described the plant as a good development for the people of Lagos and Nigeria in general. He added: “It will bring to 10 the number of such plants commissioned in the state since the federal government’s automobile policy came into effect in 2015.”

Lagos, with a population of over 21 million people that comprises middle class with strong purchasing power, remains the best place for business in Nigeria, he added.

Elated CFAO chairman, Richard Bielle, and President, Yamaha Motors Company Limited, Hiroyuki Yanagi, said the joint venture was strategic, as it would boost the companies’ capacity to deepen their

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Breathing new ha in Nigeria www.thenicheng.com

June 26, 2016

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operations in Africa. venture was founded on the manufacturExchange. He is also a Fellow of the CharThe comeback of Yamaha lends ing and marketing expertise of Yamaha tered Institute of Arbitrators and a member credence to the vision of the federal Motors and CFAO business experience of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Amerigovernment that drew up a new automo- and vast distribution network in Nigeria can Bar Association and the International bile industrialisation roadmap in 2014, spanning over 133 years.

Bar Association. He was from 2012 to complemented with a soft bailout for 2014, Chairman of NBA’s Section on Busithose who want to assist the government Visionary chairman ness Law (NBA-SBL). On July 30, 2015, save forex. The roadmap envisages NigeIn the business world, the stuff of he retired as a Director and Chairman of ria attaining 100 per cent local manufacwhich corporate success is made is the Access Bank Plc after 13 years of taking turing of automobiles and accessories by ability of the boss to see opportunity leadership roles at the Bank.

2030. To give teeth to the plan, governwhere others see challenges. But chalHe also holds the Belgian Royal ment gave restrictions about the age limit lenges are always there for mortal man to Honour of ‘Knight of the Order of for imported vehicles and recommend tackle.

Leopold’. On June 27, 2015, he was tariff hike.

For not resorting to hysterics over the distinguished with an award for Lifetime Agitations by vested interests for exchange rate, business environment, Contribution to Law by Law Digest Africa government to cancel the policy or water energy problems and all sorts to think Awards. it down had little effect on it, because of about revamping the Yamaha plant says Forbes described him as one of Nigethe potential of the plan to make Nigeria much about Oyebode’s patriotism and ria’s most renowned commercial lawyers a vehicle manufacturing country. Since foresight in advancing a national develand stated that the value of his shareholdthen, the local industrialisation of the opment aspiration. ings is worth tens of millions of dollars. automobile sector has been growing Born on March 30, 1959, OluwagbeHe has presented many papers on gradually. miga “Gbenga” Oyebode, a Member of diverse issues of national and corporate In August 2014, after the drawing of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), development including: ‘Law firm partthe automotive industrialisation roadis one of the founding partners and Chairnerships in Nigeria – Pitfalls to Avoid’, map, the Director-General of the Naman, Management Board of Aluko & ‘Legal Practice as a Business – The Legal tional Automotive Council, Aminu Jalal, Oyebode. He has been described by Inter- Practitioner’s Perspective’, ‘The Budding rationalised the policy, saying then that national Financial Law Review (IFLR) 1000 Lawyer in a Global World: Challenges data from Nigerian Automotive Manu(guide to the world’s leading financial law and Opportunities’, ‘Partnerships in Nigefacturers Association (NAMA), National firms) as “one of Nigeria’s most promiria - Prospects& Challenges: A Law Firm’s Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and the United nent lawyers” and by Chambers Global Perspective’ and ‘GSM: Opportunities, Nations Conference on Trade and Develas a “consummate deal maker who has Challenges and Impact on the Nigerian opment (UNCTAD) showed that a total received accolades from clients and peer Economy – Pertinent Considerations in of 400,000 vehicles (300,000 used and alike for his corporate expertise”. the Legal Framework of an Efficient GSM 100,000 new) valued at N558 billion then He had his secondary education Industry in Nigeria’. were imported in 2012 alone. at Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti, and proOthers are ‘Legal Issues in Oil & Gas He added: “The Nigerian automoceeded to study law at the University of Project Finance’, ‘Petroleum Explorative industry has the potential to create Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) tion and Development in West and 70,000 skilled and semi-skilled jobs along where he graduated with a Bachelor Southern Africa (Legal Perspectives: with 210,000 indirect jobs in SMEs (Meof Laws (LL.B) degree in 1979, and he Anglophone Countries)’, ‘Ownership dium Scale Enterprises) that will supply was admitted as a barrister and soliciand Control Issues regarding Oil & Gas the assembly plants.” He also said that tor of the Supreme Court of the Federal and Hard Minerals in Areas of Disputed 490,000 other jobs would also be created Republic of Nigeria in 1980. He went on Borders: A West African Perspective’, in the raw materials supply industries, as to obtain Master of Laws (LL.M) degree ‘Project Financing in the Nigerian Petro2,584 persons were indirectly employed at the University of Pennsylvania in 1982. leum Industry – The Oso Condensate by the existing assembly plants.

He was previously employed by White Project’, ‘The Governmental Regulatory The return of Yamaha assembly plant and Case in New York as an associate Approval Processes in Nigeria of Acis interpreted by one automobile expert, between 1982 and 1983 after which quisition and Disposal of Oil Producing Peter Ige, as salutary. “It is very pleashe worked at Gulf Oil (now Chevron) Properties’ and ‘Governmental Regulaant. I know their prices will be moderate in Houston, United States.. tory Approval Processes in Nigeria on because it is an already known firm. It Oyebode is currently the ChairAcquisition and Disposal of Oil Produchas been here before. But they closed man of CFAO Yamaha Motor Nigeria ing Properties’. sometime around 2010. It used to be Ltd. and Okomu Oil Palm Plc. He also He is married to Aisha Mohammedthe choice of everybody because of the serves on the Board of MTN Nigeria Oyebode. (sound of the) engine and fuel efficiency. Communications Limited and Nestle Yamaha is friendlier to handle.”

Nigeria PLC. He is on the Africa Advisory A car dealer described the developCommittee of the Johannesburg Stock ment as “very interesting”, adding that the firm should have gone full blast into car assembly.

His words: “Yamaha has no car assembly here. I used to love Yamaha machines when they were around before they closed. It is good they have come back, and I think now is the right time because people are finding it difficult to source for foreign exchange to import vehicles even keke (tricycle) and motorcycles.”

Deputy Managing Director-cumMarketing Director, Fuji Hisashi, revealed: “In addition to the plant and showroom, Yamaha Motor will launch two initiatives, The Yamaha Technical Academy, which will provide technical training and sup- R-L: Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd port services, and The Yamaha Rid- right); President, Yamaha Motor Corporation, Masaya ing Academy, which will contribute Otsuka; Chairman, CFAO Group, Paris, Richard Bielle; and Chairman, CFAO Yamaha Motor Nigeria Limited, to motorcycle riding safety in the Gbenga Oyebode, during the grand opening of Yacountry.” maha showroom and assembly line at Amuwo Odofin He explained that the joint Industrial Scheme, Lagos.

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nicheEntert

June 26, 2016

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Our gateman inspired Deeply Cut, says Kehinde Omoru

K

ehinde Omoru, the executive producer of the short film, Deeply Cut, has said that her gateman inspired her to make the flick, which creates awareness about Hepatitis B. “Our gateman was ill. I insisted on him having a test on just about every ailment and he tested positive for Hepatitis B,” she recalled.

She explained that she personally took the man to the tropical diseases centre close to the bus terminus in Yaba, Lagos, where he was treated for a while.

“He is still with us and we are managing his condition effectively. So the immediate inspiration for Deeply Cut is our gateman,” Omoru stated.

She was alarmed upon discovering that Hepatitis B is endemic in Nigeria after attending one of the clinics at Yaba to discuss at length with the consulting doctor.

But she needed the expertise of the filmmaker, actress and former beauty queen, Grace Edwin-Okon, to bring the project to fruition.

“I asked Grace Edwin-Okon to tweak the plot and infuse the movie with softening and entertaining lines, so that it is at once informing, warning, corrective, as it is entertaining,” she said.

The beauty of Edwin-Okon’s ingenious toning and contribution to Deeply Cut is that the advocative nature of the movie has been made less scary and daunting.

Asked whether she entertains any fears that filmmaking would overshadow her journalism, her response was “no”.

“I have pretty much written a great portion of each of my movies so far,” declared

Omoru

Naomi Mac set to drop ‘Ori Mi’

H

ouse One Music signee, Naomi Mac, who dropped the smash hit ‘My Heart’ featuring YBNL act Adekunle Gold last year, is set to drop another tuneful song titled ‘Ori Mi’ featuring yet another YBNL act and producer, Pheelz, whose voice will be heard in a song for the first time.

‘Ori Mi’ would serve as a follow-up to her single, ‘Mujo’, which was released sometime in January this year.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the song and its message, Naomi

Mac said: “‘Ori Mi’ is a song that speaks for everybody, the people who work tirelessly to attain their goals; the people who have been let down owing to one circumstance or another.

It’s a song everyone can relate to. We have all been down that road where we felt discouraged because our goals have been obstructed at some point. Trust me when I tell you that this is the biggest song of 2016. Just wait till you listen to it yourself!”

‘Ori Mi’ is set to drop, ceteris paribus, on Monday, June 27.

Naomi Mac

Omoru, whose husband has been actively involved in raising funds for her movie project.

Since she has many more scripts to go, Omoru said she would be thrilled if anyone out there would be interested in providing funding.

Deeply Cut, which she said is so sophisticated and excellently delivered, is her gift to humanity.

“If ever I could recoup the funds that went into making Deeply Cut, it would immediately go back to produce more advocacy movies,” she said.

Omoru, who said she has so far spent N3 million on promoting the project, explained that this is not the first film she has produced, naming the others to include: Adolescence, Diabetes, Antioxidants, The Way We Are and Making A Case For Ogi. All these advocacy films can be found on her YouTube channel, Kehinde Omoru YouTube Channel.

Would she say that studying in the United Kingdom has given her a better perspective on life? And the answer from someone who says she appreciates the Nigerian film industry better known as Nollywood a lot is in the affirmative.

“Apart from a UK education, my life has been positively impacted by the planning nature of the ordinary everyday British man. The nature of goal-setting, reviews, quality-control measures, supervisions, record-keeping, discipline, stock-taking...on just about everything makes the whole of UK and its surroundings truly Great Britain. And we can do it at home in Nigeria if we become a little less self-centred. Grace Edwin Okon and I have been practising these things since we met,” she stated.

TheNiche

tainment

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

with Terh Agbedeh

Mo Abudu makes world top 100 visionaries list • Ebonylife TV premieres The Governor

T

he Business Insider, a United States-based magazine, has listed Mo Abudu, CEO and Chairperson of EbonyLife TV, among the top 100 business visionaries creating value for the world.

This is even as Ebonylife TV is set to premiere a new high octane political drama, The Governor, with its series premiere airing Thursday, July 7.

The inaugural edition of Business Insider 100: The Creators celebrates many of the inspiring people and success stories around the globe.

Mo Abudu is number 56 according to the list which includes the CEOs of Alibaba, IKEA, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google and Starbucks, with Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg topping the list.

She is the only African who made the list. Her position on the list is ahead of the CEOs of global institutions such as Snapchat, LinkedIn, Spotify, Zara

and Uber, among others.

“This is a big moment for the entire EbonyLife TV team.

Our goal remains to tell African stories, and we do that by annually producing over 1,000 hours of premium, original and home-grown entertainment programming content.

From Talk, Entertainment, Reality, Comedy, Drama, Lifestyle and Factual, the channel boasts exclusive ownership of 90 per cent of the content,” said Abudu.

The list was compiled by a team of analysts who assessed companies from around the world, both public and private, across many industries. Consideration was placed not only on what these leaders have created, but how. The panel consulted a variety of databases, including Glassdoor, to gauge employee sentiment and Wealth-X to chart noteworthy philanthropic missions.

This honour comes as EbonyLife TV moves into its third year as the channel of choice in the entertainment category with the expansion of its operations to more Nigerian cities, including Abuja, Lagos and Calabar. The channel now distributes to 49 African countries, including South Africa and Southern African countries.

The Governor is the riveting tale of Angela Ochello, the deputy governor of

Savannah State, who, with no governorship ambition, finds herself suddenly entangled in a web of political intrigues after the untimely death of the governor.

As audiences embark on this journey with Angela, they see how, with the help of her trusted Chief of Staff, she learns how to snake through the shark-infested waters of politics while balancing the demands of her matrimonial home.

The Governor is set in Savannah, a coastal state in West Africa established in 1964 and extremely rich in iron ore.

Known for its widely-spaced grassland with temperate weather conditions and unique tourist attractions, Savannah has a population of 15 million people, majority of them fishermen and farmers. The rich cultural diversity and political awareness of the people make it one of the most politically-active states in the country.

The movie will take constituents and citizens alike through the shadowy often gruesome corridors of power and promises to be packed with lots of intrigue, drama and sometimes humour.

Can Angela stand up to her rivals and assume her place as the governor? Will the fear of losing her husband cause her to forfeit this opportunity?

Written by Yinka Ogun, Debo Oluwatuminu and Tunde Babalola, and directed by Ema Edosio, the lead character Angela Ochello is played

by British-Nigerian actress, Caroline Chikezie (Aeon Flux, BBC’s Casualty, Channel 4’s As If). The cast includes Bimbo Manuel, Baaj Adebule, Kachi Nnochiri and Simi Adejumo. The 13-episode series will air Thursdays exclusively on EbonyLife TV (DSTV Channel 165).

'Fuji, devoid of foreign contamination'

P

articipants at Goldberg forum at the maiden edition of the Fuji Roundtable, powered by Goldberg Lager Beer from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, have described Fuji music as the only Nigerian music brand that is devoid of foreign contamination.

They therefore identified the music genre as a unifying factor for Yoruba living in the western part of Nigeria and beyond.

As a result, they were in agreement that the music deserves due attention and concerted efforts towards taking it to the next level.

They unanimously agreed that Fuji music has, over the years, contributed to the socio-cultural development of Yoruba in the region and beyond.

In his keynote address, Olawale Obadeyi traced the origin of the genre to the period when the local brand of music was in vogue among the Muslim faithful. He acknowledged that the music has grown astronomically over the years featuring different artistes who have contributed in different dimensions to its development.

He said the innovations brought into Fuji by those artistes deepened ties across boundaries in the region.

“Each Fuji artiste,

evidently, is pushing the limits of creativity. The horizon of Fuji music has been astoundingly widened,” he stated.

Obadeyi noted that Goldberg appropriated Fuji music as a veritable platform through which cultural values could be used to validate the essence of the Yoruba living in the region and beyond.

Chairman, National Project Committee of the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria, Sikiru Agboola (a.k.a SK Sensation), advised Fuji musicians and other stakeholders in the country to take the music to the next level. According to him, it is the only surviving music genre that has its origin in Nigeria

and deserves concerted efforts from stakeholders to proffer possible ways through which it could be developed.

“It is the duty of all stakeholders to take the music to the next level,” he added.

He, therefore, commended the beer brand for the support.

The participants, who converged in Lagos penultimate Monday at the corporate headquarters of Nigerian Breweries, include: Akogun Gani Balogun, cousin to the late Fuji legend, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister; Olasoju Adebayo, General Manager, K1De Ultimate Band; and Olawale Obadeyi, a Fuji analyst.

35

Favourites

Hope Obioma Opara Song: ‘Will You Be There’

By Michael Jackson Music Video: ‘Aye’ By Davido Movie: I Spit on Your Grave Book: The Godfather By Mario Puzo.

Birthday

Zdon Paporrella

Award-winning artiste, producer, and all-around on-line personality (OAP), Nansel Nimyel (a.k.a Zdon Paporrella), was a year older on Friday, June 24.

The handsome performing artiste and chief executive of record label, Paporrella Kingdom, who has both Middle Belt and Niger Deltan ancestry, took Nigeria by storm with his hit singles, ‘Na You Be the Girl’ in 2005 and ‘Nonsense’ in 2007, through which he won a number of indigenous and international awards and accolades.

An alumnus of St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, and former member of defunct boy group Z.I.P. studied Cooperative and Business Management at National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Under Rella Inq., Zdon released ‘Rampampam’ in his trademark ragga tune. Other songs in his credit include ‘Nonsense’, ‘Crazy Love’, ‘Bless My Life’, ‘Girl Dem’.

New music

‘Amen’

Multi-talented R&B sensation, Tobi Emmanuel, has dropped his long-anticipated hit single, ‘Amen’, a song of hope and inspiration.

‘Amen’ is a perfect blend of Afro R&B, with soft melodious tunes sure to rejig one’s mood on a particularly tough day. It is a song encouraging the average person grappling with life’s challenges to keep the hustle on, however tough it gets.

He is signed to Urban Vision (UV), a Nigerian entertainment company founded by Tola Odunsi and Akin Akinkugbe.

Location Shooting of Khalo Matabane’s 28’s begins in KwaZulu Natal Award-winning director, Khalo Matabane (State of Violence, Conversations on a Sunday Afternoon and Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me), acknowledged as one of South Africa’s leading talents, has begun shooting his latest feature, 28’s.

The film, inspired by Jonny Steinberg’s award-winning non-fiction novel, The Number, its big screen adaptation by Paul Ian Johnson, reveals the origins of the fearsome number of gangs that operate in prisons throughout South Africa.

Casting Director, Moonyeenn Lee, and Matabane have assembled a strong cast which include Mothusi Magano (Of Good Report, Hotel Rwanda, Tsotsi) who leads as the conflicted Magadien, and is supported by Warren Masemola (Eye in the Sky, Machine Gun Preacher) and Sibusiso Msimang (Vaya). There are also Presley Chwenegyagae (Tsotsi), Lemogang Tsipa (Eye in the Sky, Black Sails and Wallender), Kevin Smith (Isidingo, The Gospel According to St Matthew) and Deon Lotz (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Shepherds and Butchers, Skoonheid). Renowned South African storyteller, Gcina Mhlophe, plays Magadien’s mother.

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TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Event

TV documentary, Inspaya, debuts

The launch of the TV documentary, Inspaya, with the theme ‘Real People, Real Testimonies’, held on Sunday, June 19, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. Inspaya, founded by Banji Adesanmi also known as EvangelistBee, made its debut recently. The occasion, anchored by ace comedian Seyi Law, was graced by entertainers, broadcasters and more.

Programmes Director, TVC Entertainment, Morayo AfolabiBrown

Evangelist Banji Adesanmi and Testifier on the Inspaya Documentary Show, Anita John

Pastor Remi Morgan Bella Rose and singer Benita Okojie

L-R: Adesanmi, Rev. Wilson Badejo and Seyi Law

Adesanmi and Mrs. Folasade Odunlami, representative of Lagos State First Lady, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode

Tonye Cole (left) and Adesanmi

Pastor Ados Momoh and Mrs Bimpe Momoh

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www.thenicheng.com

June 26, 2016

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June 26, 2016

Close Up

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‘We've got to change the culture, we smell good’ Anna Awoliyi grew up around FESTAC town in Lagos, attended Federal Government Girls College, Shagamu before proceeding to East London in the UK where she obtained a degree in biochemistry and a master’s in project management. The CEO/ Director of Cocoa Africk, a lifestyle company she founded, spoke with Assistant Life Editor, TERH AGBEDEH, in this interview on one of her visits to Nigeria.

W

hy perfumes?

That is one thing people remember when they meet you, and you should leave a smell lingering with them when you have left. And you realise that people just believe that looking good is everything. But smelling good also adds to everything; it just finishes the package. I walk past a lot of Nigerians, and they don’t leave a good smell. It is just weird, yet people say ‘it’s not my thing’.

We have got to change the culture; so we smell good and look good.

But it would seem that Nigerians are fashionable people who use perfumes.

It is quite interesting to hear that, especially men, and you are looking for someone beautiful to talk to you, but you don’t smell good.

That might be the thing that put her off. Nigerians are not really into that culture yet, but I think we are getting there. It might be a certain class of people, but I think everyone should be able to smell nice within their means, create that urgency that I need to stand out and not only looking but also smelling nice.

Why is your company called Cocoa Africk?

Cocoa is one of the great plants that we use for chocolate and it so beautiful everyone loves it. Africk is just for Africa, so it is something beautiful for Africa.

Are your products and the ones to come for Africans alone?

It is an international brand, but I am focusing mainly on Africa, especially Nigeria, because I am Nigerian and I am proud to be Nigerian. It is for the Nigerian community at most, but then it is for everybody else. We are not segregating, but it is for Nigerians first and foremost.

Why did you go into perfume business?

One, I want to be an employer of labour. I think that is very important. As you can see, I have got like four girls here, but in all, I employed nine girls. That is creating employment. They are all from the university and we

Awoliyi know that university girls need extra work to support them. So I think it is quite good to be able to actually be an employer because you are creating wealth for your country, stability for some people, and not only people but for their families as well. So I think it is quite an important thing to do.

What were you doing before it started and when did it start?

I have been in the process for five years.

We had registered the company five years ago (for you to know the challenges that people meet when they are doing something).

So, actually, this was birthed many years ago, but it has taken so long just to get to where we are. That just shows that persistence is very important. To be somebody in life, one should persevere and just believe that they can do it, and it will happen.

Are you getting the reception you expect for your perfumes?

Absolutely, it has blown my mind. I am flabbergasted, and it just shows that Nigerians want luxury goods, Nigerians want something beautiful; we are not about whatever anymore. People think they can throw whatever to us; but we are after quality, class. That is what we are. Nigerians are peculiar people; we are known around the whole world. We know what is good for us and even people who haven’t travelled know what is good and we are bringing what is good to Nigerians. I think that is most important. Let us put our efforts into making Nigeria even better than what it is. Little drops make a mighty ocean.

What has been most challenging for you in your journey to set up Cocoa Africk?

Finance has to be the most important. If you are looking at a business, one of the most important things is money, your capital.

You need a running cost. It is very important because we are trying to make money, but money is being spent as well. So I think the challenges in anything we do, money seems to top the list.

So what would make someone take ‘London For Men’ over any other perfume in

the market?

One, it has got a NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) number, which took ages to get, really difficult to get. And a lot of perfumes don’t have one. Then there is safety. A lot of people might have asthma, and giving them things that have got chemicals that are not meant for human consumption is not healthy.

So you are secure that it is actually a safe product. And most importantly, it lasts long on you. A lot of people have actually had positive response on the fragrance, so I am pleased with it.

What would you tell a young person who wants to start a business?

First of all, write down your ideas. Whatever you do, write it down, believe it is going to happen, and confess it every day to yourself. Even look in the mirror and just say, ‘how would I respond to people when they ask me questions?’ Be polite to yourself. I think that might be good. Every year, keep reminding yourself of your dream. And one day it will come true. Just keep going and believing in yourself.

Where do you produce the perfumes?

It is out of the country. But in the near future, we are looking at getting a factory in Nigeria because that would create employment for local people that are chemistry students. I am a biochemist and I got project management as master’s. But it is an industry that will employ people from various disciplines. I think it will be good to take them even before they graduate. So, that is the thing that we are going to be looking into and we are working on right now.

How soon are we going to see the other products you listed on your website?

From next year, about January, we are going to be getting make-up. Getting a NAFDAC number is a tedious thing, so the make-up may take some time. But it will come out.

However, handbags and sunglasses that will be quicker are starting soon.

Where exactly are you producing the stuff?

We are going to be producing in France,

China and Italy. Italy is good in handbags.

We get quality in Italy. There are some things that are contraband, so we might have to come local.

Other brands have ambassadors; are you looking at doing that?

Eventually it will happen. We want the right people, so we are going to see what their profile is, so other younger entrepreneurs and people that are aspiring can look up to them.

That is in the process at the moment.

Where can one get your product in Nigeria?

It will be at local shops, at chemist’s shops.

We will list our distributors on our website.

You studied chemistry and are actually doing something that you ought to be doing…

Yes, in a way, but I work in a hospital in London.

So, Cocoa Africk is part-time?

This is part-time. Part-time turned full-time, but I still actively work.

What do you do in the hospital?

I work for the NHS (National Health Service) in anaesthetics.

What is the relationship between is anaesthetics and perfumes?

I would say that everything is related to people. Even at work, people say, ‘you smell so nice’. And it gives you a mode of conversation. So people want to remember you.

Having the impression that someone smells lovely, I think, is very important. And seeing people happy makes me happy too. If you put someone under anaesthetics, you don’t want to be leaning over them if you don’t smell good.

Is that where the inspiration to go into perfumes came from?

No, I am just saying it links in a way.

Do you use your own perfume?

Absolutely, I have to.

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Relationship Doing what it takes to save my marriage

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herefore what God has joined together, let nothing put asunder” (Mark 10:9).

When you feel your marriage is in crisis, emergency tactics are needed to save it, just the same way a hospital emergency is used in severe health related situations.

It is not a time to look the other way and think things will get better miraculously, while folding your arms.

In an article by Mitch Temple, he said marriage crisis “typically occurs when an unusual amount of stress or unresolved conflict causes the level of anxiety to become too intense for the couple to manage.

“As a result, anger, resentment, dissatisfaction, frustration, and hopelessness take control of the relationship.

The couple typically continues the negative interactions – or disengages completely from [each] other, and the relationship shuts down.”

When a couple realises that problem is starting to overshadow the good in the relationship, it is necessary to

look for ways to sort out this problem as fast as possible. The more time you leave marital problems to linger, the greater the damage.

In resolving a marriage crisis, the first thing to do is remove the thought of “divorce” from your mind. The old military expression says, “surrender is not an option.”

The thought of divorce alone drains the energy needed to resolve the problems you are facing.

The only option guaranteed in marriage when faced with crisis is to stand your ground, fight off the things that would separate you and your spouse, and find ways to make things work.

The next resort is to the best emergency room. This could be visiting a marriage counsellor or a professional in marriage matters, not just anyone outside the marriage who will only complicate matters.

Be careful when and where you table your relationship matters.

Don’t feel because you are at a family gathering you should to let aunty Abigail in on what you and your spouse are

quarrelling about.

This method will only make things worse. You may upset your spouse the more if you take this route, or the third party may give the wrong advice.

During your marital crisis and in the process of resolving it, do not involve your children.

Involving children can cause damage to them; you may feel you want to gain their approval or backing, but in doing so you cause them emotional stress.

Don’t stop showing love. Continue to treat your spouse with respect in words and in deeds. You can start afresh; date your spouse all over again, infuse humour and laughter.

This will bring back the loving memory that attracted you to each other.

Stop repressing the positive feelings you have about your marriage, though it is natural for us to distance ourselves from the positive feelings in order to survive the hurt and hurdles of marital crisis.

We must find a way to re-attach ourselves

He wants my wife Dear Agatha There is this married man who wants to marry my wife. I’m so confused and don’t know what to do about it.

Please help me.

Worried husband.

Dear worried husband Sincerely I don’t understand what you mean by a married man wants to marry your wife and you don’t know what to do about it.

Why would this man desire to marry your wife?

This man, no matter how connected or wealthy he is, would nev-

er have the guts to walk up to your wife without a reason, to make such a vexing and demeaning demand.

For him to have such boldness, it is either you or your wife compromised your marriage somewhere along the line. This is what would give such a man the impetuous to make such a demand of you.

If you are clear you have not done anything to warrant this insult from this man, like always going to him for money or sending your wife to seek financial assistance from him, then ask your wife some very pertinent questions concerning the nature of her relationship with this man or her con-

duct in the company of her friends.

Make it clear you want honesty from her because anything short of the truth will greatly compromise your relationship with her as well destroy the foundation of your marriage.

By encouraging her to talk, you are giving her the opportunity to tell you how to proceed with challenging the right of the man to ask for the hand of your wife in marriage, or if the issue is worth your time.

If she maintains her innocence, go and confront the man. By doing so, you make it clear to him that if he does not respect his marriage or have any regard for the woman in his home, you would not tol-

erate his recklessness in your family.

Let him understand that you will involve the police in this matter to prevent him from doing anything untoward to you or your wife.

And that you have also reported him to the police and the community where he lives as a prime suspect in case of the unexpected.

It might also do you a world of good to find out about his friends to let them know what his game plans are.

Because of what some people can do, it might not be out of place, especially if he is the vicious type who would stop at nothing to get what he wants, to relocate your

39

Tinu Agbabiaka Certified relationship expert

0817 313 7189 info@pclng.org, botl@pclng.org to those positive, wonderful qualities that our marriage revolves around.

Stop the communication game-playing; in which one partner tries to win an argument by using unfair tactics on the other.

For example, a spouse is trying to prove a point that the partner does not know how to spend money well. He or she then backs up the point, saying, “it is because she (he) comes from a poor background.”

Another scenario of communication gameplaying is when you are among friends, and there is an argument on fashion sense. While trying to get your point across, you use your spouse as an example, saying, “she just doesn’t know how to combine the colours most of the time.”

Though you got your point across and won the argument, your spouse feels humiliated.

It is foolish to think you are a winner at the expense of making your spouse feel defeated.

Auntie Agatha 0805 450 0626 (sms only) gathedo@gmail.com family.

The wisdom in this is simple; only the living stays married. If your office has a branch outside your location, ask for transfer to protect your life as well as that of your wife. You may have to confide in your boss to make the transfer possible.

Under no circumstances should you permit your wife to go to him to fight or quarrel with him. You are her husband and the man, so the onus is on

you to defend her pride and honour as a woman and your wife.

Confronting the man will signal your ability to defend your woman, marriage and home at any time. To ignore this insult is to encourage him in his quest to take over your wife.

Even if you are no longer interested in your marriage, as long as your wife is still under your roof, it is your responsibility to defend her.

Good luck.

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TheNiche

June 26, 2016

Faith

www.thenicheng.com

Prayer not enough to transform, Osho counsels

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ransformation of lives goes beyond just saying prayers, it also involves obedience and taking practical steps to see the manifestation of God’s blessing and protection.

Abiodun Osho, general overseer of Dominion Harvest International Church, made the clarification at the inauguration of the church in Lagos, stressing that prayer coupled with skill empowerment translates into the transformation of lives.

The occasion also witnessed his ordination as a pastor by Olumide Emmanuel, general overseer of Calvary Bible Church, Lagos; and graduation of participants at the skill acquisition workshop organised by Dominion Harvest.

Osho, who studied microbiology at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said he was born into an Anglican family and had established many churches before he finally received a divine mandate for a harvest barn two years ago.

“I’ve been going to church right from my childhood. But I gave my life to Christ in 1989,” he recounted.

“The call for this Dominion Harvest International Ministry came in March 2014 in Jos where I was attending an African mission conference.

“One thing I have been doing since I got the call of God upon my life is soul winning.

“By the grace of God I have a ministry called Kingdom Outreach International Ministry that goes to villages; winning souls, planting churches, but we never pastored any of these churches.

“When we started a church we handed it over. I have planted several

“For those who can’t afford startup capital, we intend to give them interest-free loans. It’s not just about having the skill, the essential part is for them to practise and turn it into wealth.

“But to get the loan, they have to go through our school.

The school will teach entrepreneurial and leadership skills. And it is also free.”

“What God told me is about creating a harvest barn. When I go out there to harvest souls, we need to bring them to a place where they will be nurtured.

“So, the vision is to win souls, disciple them, and release them to take the harvest of the world.

It’s a global vision; to take the Gospel to all parts of the world.” churches. I started planting churches right from my school days at the University of Lagos.

“This is the first time I’m pastoring a church. And what God told me is about creating a harvest barn. When I go out there to harvest souls, we need to bring them to a place where they will be nurtured.

“So, the vision is to win souls, disciple them, and release them to take the harvest of the world. It’s a global vision; to take the Gospel to all parts of the world.”

Osho explained that the skill empowerment initiative was prompted

by God’s message for him to impact lives, in line with the big harvest. Soft loans will be provided for the graduands to practise what they learnt.

“God spoke to me about empowering the people and it’s all connected to the big harvest. I know that God does not give money, but He gives power to make wealth. I am a businessman. I am into software design.

“At the same time God told me to impact the lives of people. If you are generous towards people, they would be generous towards God. “In today’s world, it’s not enough to pray for people, you need to give them skills. When you give them skill combined with prayer, there would be transformation.

“So we have been able to organise a skill acquisition programme which has benefited 500 people who are graduating today. As we were planning for the inauguration of this ministry, we started the free skill acquisition workshop.

“We are starting an entrepreneurial

Oshio and his wife during his

“God told me to impact the lives of people.

If you are generous towards people, they would be generous towards God. “In today’s world, it’s not enough to pray for people, you need to give them skills.

When you give them skill combined with prayer, there would be transformation.” school to teach people how to start and run a business.

“For those who can’t afford startup capital, we intend to give them interest-free loans. It’s not just about having the skill, the essential part is for them to practise and turn it into wealth.

“But to get the loan, they have to go through our school. The school will teach entrepreneurial and leadership skills. And it is also free.”

Sections at the workshop included ankara tie and dye, book publishing, photography, makeup, catering, and hall decoration.

Maomi Osuji, a 200 level mass com-

munication student at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, said the workshop enabled her to nurture her passion for photography.

“Photography has always been something I want to go into. When I saw the flier, I quickly picked interest in it. I didn’t know much about photography, but I have been able to learn a lot during the two weeks.

“I learnt about the principles of photography; aperture speed, and some techniques. I’m now practising them. I want to become a photo journalist,” Osuji disclosed. The graduands received their certificates after the service.

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

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Akinadewo cautions Christians against pursuit of wealth “The Bible is not against wealth but against the misuse of wealth. It is the wish of God, and equally divine, to have wealthy Christians. If not, God would have not blessed Solomon very richly ….

“Your wealth should be used to help the minsters of God, build churches, support theological establishments, help widows, assist orphans and provide the basic necessities of life for the less privileged.”

P

relate of Motailatu Church Cherubuim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW), Israel Akinadewo, has charged Christians to apply caution in their pursuit of wealth, to avoid truncating their destinies and positions in God’s kingdom.

He emphasised the need for Christians to walk in ac-

Akinadewo

cordance with God’s standard, by craving eternal wealth instead of creating earthly empires.

“Sadly enough, wealth is now being considered as a ‘relative’ of mammon, greed, ambition, and loot.

These are negative words compared to the earlier positive words.

“While wealth or money is good, it could become mammon to the possessor.

Whenever we prioritise money [above] any other thing, we shall continue to search for it to our folly.

“Man becomes uncontrollable in his love for the acquisition of wealth, to the extent of losing his mind, not knowing that his living in the world is for a short time,” Akinadewo preached at the dedication of the Eternal Glory Parish, Abuja.

He advised that wealth be sourced rightly, as God is not against wealth but the misuse of it, hence Christians need to support the work of God. “It is not that a rich man cannot enter the kingdom of God, but it is the source of the wealth, and the subsequent application, that deny man eternal kingdom.

“The Bible is not against wealth but against the misuse of wealth. It is the wish of God, and equally divine, to have wealthy Christians.

If not, God would have not blessed Solomon very richly.

“Solomon did not ask for riches or wealth but for the welfare and well-being of his people, God then decided to bless him richly above other kings.

“Your wealth should be used to help the minsters of God, build churches, support theological establishments, help widows, assist orphans and provide the basic necessities of life for the less privileged.”

Akinadewo advised that wealth should not give sleepless nights, hinder one from having time to worship God, and should not be used to seek power at all costs or to support illegal or irresponsible activities.

He also cautioned against the wealthy being worshipped by people and given solicited and unsolicited awards.

Tips to get more out of your Bible

A

re you discouraged with your Bible reading?

Find it hard to be consistent?

Want to get more out of the Word?

Here are a few tips that help to be more consistent and enjoy devotions.

and helps you focus. Try to look for one key verse or passage that stands out to you from that day’s reading to record in your journal.

8. Respond to what you’ve read

1. Prepare the night before Every night before going to bed, get your coffee tin, put your coffee cup on the counter and fill your electric kettle with water, so all you need do is push a button to heat the water for your morning tea or coffee.

Make sure everything you need – Bible, marker, journal – is on the stand where they can be reached easily.

This saves you having to scramble around wasting time in the morning, and you can get reading more quickly.

2. Pray Spend a couple minutes praying before reading.

Thank your Father for His love and the gift of sleep, and for protecting you and your family during the night.

Also thank Him for His gracious invitation to enter boldly into His presence through the merits and blood of Jesus Christ.

Then pray John Piper’s I-OU’S: • “Incline my heart to your testimonies” • “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” • “Unite my heart to fear

Find your best time, when you can concentrate and have the least number of distractions.

For some people, it’s first thing in the morning … If you start in on projects or reading the news, you may never get to reading the Bible.

In the evening you might be too distracted and tired. But for some, evening is their best time. your name” and • “Satisfy me with your love.”

3. Same time, same place, every day Find your best time, when you can concentrate and have the least number of distractions.

For some people, it’s first thing in the morning. The house is quiet and no one else is up.

If you start in on projects or reading the news, you

may never get to reading the Bible. In the evening you might be too distracted and tired. But for some, evening is their best time.

The important thing is to find a time when you are least distracted and can concentrate.

Read in the same place every day. Keep your Bible, marker, journal and prayer notebook on the end table.

That way you don’t have to waste time searching through the house for things before you read.

4. Keep track of what you read After reading, in the back of your journal, write the day, date, and the passage you read. That way you don’t have to try to remember where you left off the day before.

You can use a bookmark as long as it doesn’t fall out and you lose your place.

5. Write in your Bible Don’t hesitate to underline, write in the margins, or circle words. Underlining and writing helps us concentrate more on what we’re reading.

For some people, their favourite marker is a light blue Sanford China Marker.

You can underline lightly or darker and it never bleeds through the page.

6. Read consecutively Don’t skip around or play Bible Roulette. Finish one book before going to another.

One way to consistently read through the Bible is to read through Matthew, then Genesis. Then Mark, then Exodus, and so on.

If you are keeping track of what you’ve read, you’ll eventually work through the whole Bible. Nothing is more discouraging than picking up the Bible and reading at random every day.

7. Use a journal Some people have used journals for years in their devotions. As you read, write down any verses that stand out to you or any thoughts you have about the passage.

Writing slows you down

After recording one key verse or passage in your journal, write a prayer in response.

This prayer will sometimes be worship and praise to God for the truth you’ve just read about Him or it may be supplication for Him to change you to conform with His Word.

Keep the prayer to one, maybe two pages at the most. It takes about 10 minutes and propels you into your prayer time.

Whether you use these approaches or you have your own, try to build consistent habits of reading the Bible.

There’s no better way to fellowship with Jesus Christ and delight in Him. • www.biblestudytools.com

After recording one key verse or passage in your journal, write a prayer in response.

This prayer will sometimes be worship and praise to God for the truth you’ve just read about Him or it may be supplication for Him to change you to conform with His Word.

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TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Mr and Mrs Uriah (1)

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he Bible begins and ends with a marriage.

It begins with the account of the marriage of Adam and Eve and ends with the marriage of the church (the bride) to Christ (the heavenly Bridegroom).

In this article, which uses the Biblical account of the marriage of Uriah and Bathsheba as a pilot, the oldest social institution comes under deep scrutiny and introspection.

The book of 2 Samuel 11:113 tells us of a very moving and life-touching story. It is the story of the relationship between king David and Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam who was, till that time, married to Uriah, the Hittite. A lot has been said by many preachers and Bible scholars about this story from the perspective of David.

A lot of them look at it from the perspective of success and temptation becoming a trap for leadership failure. A few other people have looked at the story from the point of view of Bathsheba i.e. the effect of a very attractive and compelling lady on a sexually-active leader.

The perspective from which I want to study this story at this point in time is, however, from

the point for view of an incompetent marriage and the effect it could have on the lives of the various people involved.

The summary of the story is that at a time kings went to the battle, David sent his men and stayed back at home because he had now become a very successful king.

However, physically and spiritually, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As such events usually unfold, he saw a beautiful lady having her bath. He lusted after her, sent for her and had an inappropriate relationship with her, regardless of the fact that she was married to one of his soldiers who was at that time busy at battle for him.

A lot of people have blamed David for that relationship. But I beg to say that he had a very willing partner in the person of Bathsheba. It did not take David too long to persuade Bathsheba to lie with him.

The Bible says in 2 Sam 11:4 that it was possible for David to lie with Bathsheba because she was prepared, i.e. the Bible says she was cleansed from her impurity. Not only was she prepared, but there is no record of her offering any resistance to David.

The problem started when

Becoming the best Ituah Ighodalo

the result of Senior Pastor, Trinity House that oneZion Center night stand e-mail:pastorituah@trinityng.org or perhaps a continuous relationship (the Bible is matter of fact, in America, the not clear on this) ended up in a divorce rate is about 55 per cent. pregnancy and Bathsheba sent A lot of other couples are living a message to David to let him like strangers, sleeping in differknow that she was with child. ent rooms, following very differDavid’s reaction was to try and ent routines. Some couples go for cover up his misdeed by setting as long as nine months without up Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) any sexual interaction. Some to be killed in the battlefront and don’t even talk for weeks. thereafter taking Bathsheba as A lot of people suddenly marry wife. This was after he had tried and find out that they have nothto force Uriah to have his wife at ing in common. Many a couple that same period, so that it would have regretted the day of their look like Uriah actually impregmarriage and many are having nated Bathsheba, to no avail. extra-marital affairs.

It was a grievous sin against a A long time ago, there was fellow man and great cruelty in a gentleman who could swear the eyes of God. that his wife was totally faithThe question, however, is what ful to him. All he knew was that was Bathsheba herself thinking he would take her from time to about? What was the problem time to a certain house to borrow she was having with Uriah? What video tapes. kind of marriage or relationship She would go into the house, did Mr and Mrs Uriah have? select the video, and be back in A lot of people, especially the car in all of 10 or 15 minutes. ladies, look forward to marriage What the man did not know was and think that once they marry, that the house belonged to the all their problems would be wife’s boyfriend and that it did solved. not take longer than 10 to 15 Statistics have it that a lot of minutes to have a quick sexual marriages have problems. As a affair.

I am also told of the story of another man who, in his last will and testament, left behind for his wife a broom stick and a potty, because he claimed that his wife had had an extra marital affair resulting in the birth of a child that was not biologically his own, though the child bore his name and he had been responsible for looking after the child form birth.

A lot of marriages have major problems, and what you find a lot of times are couples just managing to live together in mutual tolerance. Uriah and Bathsheba’s was no exception; they were having their own problems.

How do I know Uriah and Bathsheba were having problems?

The first reason is the ease with which Bathsheba had an affair. The second reason is the fact that Uriah was reluctant to go home when David withdrew him from the battle field, to ‘have a good time’ with his family.

• Continues in next edition.

Activities of the demigods Self-discovery

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emigods oversee angels and earthlings and, as mentioned, demigods have administrative responsibilities. In ancient cultures such as within Africa, for example, most of the worship was dedicated to the demigods.

In many Third World cultures today, much of the worship is also dedicated to the demigods. As mentioned earlier, God has agents whom He has empowered to carry out certain functions for Him. The demigods can sometimes cause interference or conflicts in the material world, so people worship them as a way to pacify them.

Sometimes Western scholars misunderstand this and think that African cosmology reveres many gods. There is one Supreme God, but these traditions recognize the importance of the demigods and the duties and roles that they perform.

Before Buddha came into this universe, there was more interaction between the demigods and the people of this particular planet. Priests would conduct rituals to invite the company of the demigods. Buddha ended many of the ritualistic activities because people began to distort and misuse them.

Buddha brought in a new era which emphasized a lifestyle of nonviolence, ethics, and moral responsibility. He brought about a focus on a peaceful state of existence. This meant that he curtailed excessive contact with the demigods and shifted the focus from transcendence to peace.

Although demigods continually appear in our midst, we have become less and less aware of them.

The devas are a large part of our day-to-day experiences. Astrology is under the jurisdiction of the devas. No one on earth can produce the sun or the moon, cause them to appear on a daily basis, or create the basic minerals we find in the earth.

These activities are under the control of the devas. There has never been a time when we did not associ-

ate with some of our higher brothers, sisters or parents from other dimensions.

There has never been a time when we have been left home alone without higher contacts. There is definitely contact today, as demonstrated by some of the current space expeditions.

Many of the astronauts from these expeditions are now engaged in studies of these beings because of their experiences in space. Some astronauts have reported being followed by alien beings, and have had tremendous realizations. Occurrences such as these will increase in the years to come.

The Need for Higher Assistance The material universes are environments provided for beings who have chosen, for various reasons, to be outside their natural home.

These universes are environments where we are imprisoned because of our envy of God. Life is nothing more than the process of reformation.

Living in the material universes is like being in school; we are consciously or unconsciously attending different classes and taking various tests in the hope that we will finally graduate to the spiritual world. We have different experiences according to what lessons we must learn for our unfoldment.

Every major prophet tells us, as Jesus said: "Love not this world nor the things of this world." Why did prophets such as Jesus, Muhammad and Buddha place so much emphasis on the higher kingdom and disparage this world and all it represents? Why did they constantly tell us about rectification and reformation?

Because, as ambassadors of the spiritual world, they came to enlighten us about how to graduate from the inferior material sphere and become situated in the superior spiritual realm.

Because the Lord is so merciful, He repeatedly sends us ambassadors to help enliven our consciousness. These great acaryas (spiritual masters) teach not only by their words but by their example.

Human beings and the demonic forces have tried to cover up and corrupt their teachings in such a way as to pit religion against religion.

All the major teachers have told us that we should love our neighbors as ourselves and that we should love God with all of our heart. They have also all told us that this world is not our original home.

It is no accident that such diverse yet harmonious teachers have made this consistent, universal presentation.

Consider how similar their messages have been: not one major prophet, not one bona fide teacher has said that this world is our home.

Instead, these teachers have constantly emphasized that the kingdom of God is the real home that we seek.

They are not just trying to get us to be escapists and run away from life.

Instead, they are trying to bring us back to reality and to help us escape from this material prison. Although they come from diverse traditions, their messages are the same.

Just as there are demigods and angels working on behalf of humankind, demonic agents are also extremely active in the world right now. There is a war going on at this time between the pious and the impious entities.

Many of the earth changes we will be experiencing in the coming years will be due to evil entities making their last attempt to cause massive chaos and pandemonium.

As a result of this, we are going to experience many more wars, both on gross and subtle levels. The idea of a new world order, or of a oneworld government, is not a matter of speculation.

It is on the way to becoming a reality. The issue has become: who will control that one-world government, that one-world order? That is what the conflict is about between the pious and impious beings. The struggle between these two forces is causing many of the conflicts and transitions that individuals are experiencing at this

Kavikarnapura Das

iskcon.lagos@gmail.com 0706 601 1800, 0812 324 5864

particular time.

This struggle may flare up externally as war. It may flare up as tribal tension. It may flare up as religious tension. They are all symptoms of what is happening on the subtle level.

One of the most devastating weapons in this regard is mind control. As we enter the twenty-first century, we'll see that such subversive tactics will increasingly be influencing world citizens.

However, angelic beings are also here doing their work.

You may even recognize that you are a visitor yourself who has a tremendous amount of responsibility to help bring about a higher level of collective consciousness in this particular universe.

Preparing for the future As you are more open to assistance from higher powers, you will begin to have certain experiences. You will start to have more activity in your dreams. Some of you will begin to feel some pulsation in the area of the third eye.

This pulsation is due to the awakening of a cakra (energy centers in the subtle body) that has been lying dormant. The fields of psychology and anthropology emphasize that human beings use less than ten percent of their brain capacity.

This means that many of our abilities remain unused. Day-to-day we witness paranormal events that traditional, empirical, reductionistic schemes of knowledge cannot fully explain. We see that some people are

able to heal the sick.

Some people are mental telepathists and are able to read minds. Some people have the sense of clairvoyance and are able to see into the future.

Our present material scientific laws do not understand, and cannot deal with these phenomena in their totality.

However, we know that these paranormal occurrences do exist; we may even know people who have experienced some of them. Because of the transition that the planet is experiencing and will experience for a long time to come, we can no longer hold back this kind of information.

Many people need to be become more receptive as extraordinary phenomena begin to take place. In your lifetime, you are going to see an unusual kind of life force on this planet.

You are going to have more contact with other-worldly beings than has happened for millennia. You are going to determine what the nature of life will be and what the future of the human race holds for all of us.

In these discussions we are not asking you to accept anything on blind faith. We are definitely asking that you not immediately reject anything either. We suggest that you do some research for yourself.

Just ponder the basic points, investigate them and, most importantly, try to know better how to protect yourself against subtle forces so that you will not become a casualty.

If you take these simple steps, you will be one of those who help to bring about a new era for humankind.

TheNiche

Health www.thenicheng.com

June 26, 2016

43

Rheumatic arthritis can occur at any age

R

heumatoid arthritis is usually associated with people over 40. However, experts say it can occur at any age and is more common in women than in men.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that typically affects the small joints of the hands and feet.

Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects lining of the joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.

An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks the body tissues.

In addition to causing joint problems, rheumatoid arthritis sometimes can affect other organs of the body, such as the skin, eyes, lungs and blood vessels.

"Many people with arthritis and rheumatic diseases suffer from joint pain and stiffness, which can cause a person to avoid exercise out of the fear of increasing pain or causing injury.

“However, exercise, when properly planned and safely executed, can do just the opposite," explained Dr. Eze Obinna, a general practitioner.

He said though rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, it usually begins after age 40, and the disorder is much more common in women than in men and has been shown to be an increased risk in children if a parent is affected.

Arthritis is usually chronic and it progresses slowly. Specific causes for most forms of arthritis are not yet known.

Obinna said the three most prevalent forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis.

“Osteoarthritis, the most

common type, involves the joints, particularly the weight-bearing joints such as the knee, hip, and spine.

“Osteoarthritis is characterised primarily by the destruction of cartilage and narrowing of the joint space. It can also include bone overgrowth, spur formation, and impaired function.

“It occurs in most people as they age, but also may occur in young people as a result of injury or overuse.

“Fibromyalgia is a chronic, widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues surrounding the joints throughout the body; while rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that involves the lining of the joint.

“The inflammation may affect all of the joints.”

The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include: • Pain and stiffness in the joints.

• Swelling in one or more joints.

• Continuing or recurring pain or tenderness in a joint.

• Difficulty using or moving a joint in a normal

manner.

• Warmth and redness in a joint.

Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect the smaller joints first, particularly the joints that attach fingers to hands, and toes to feet. As the disease progresses, symptoms often spread to the knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders.

In most cases, symptoms occur in the same joints on both sides of the body.

The symptoms may vary in severity and may even come and go, and over time, rheumatoid arthritis can cause joints to deform and shift out of place.

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for arthritis usually include: • X-rays or other imaging procedures to show the extent of damage to the joint, blood tests and other laboratory tests.

• Rheumatoid factor test, to determine if rheumatoid factor is present in the blood.

• Urinalysis, to determine levels of protein, red blood cells, white blood cells, and casts and white blood cell count, to

determine level of white blood cells in the blood).

“There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Medications and physiotherapy can reduce joint inflammation in order to relieve pain and prevent or slow joint damage. However, severely damaged joints may require surgery,” said Obinna.

“Physiotherapy suggests pain and joint relief management, which may include new ways to do daily tasks, which will be easier on joints. For example, if the fingers are sore, one may want to pick up an object using the forearms.

“Assistive devices can make it easier to avoid stressing painful joints.

For instance, a kitchen knife equipped with a saw

handle helps protect the finger and wrist joints.

“Tools such as buttonhooks can make it easier to get dressed.”

If medications fail to prevent or slow joint damage, Obinna said doctors may consider surgery to repair damaged joints. Surgery may help restore ability to joints, reduce pain and correct deformities.

According to him, certain self-care measures, when used along with medications, can help manage the signs and symptoms. These include: • Regular gentle exercise helps strengthen the muscles around joints, and help fight fatigue.

However, avoid exercising tender, injured or severely inflamed joints.

• Apply heat or cold. Heat can help ease

your pain and relax tense, painful muscles. Cold may dull the sensation of pain.

Cold also has a numbing effect and decreases muscle spasms.

• Relaxing techniques such as light naps and deep breathing can be used to control pain.

• Plant oils such as evening primrose, borage and black currant contain a type of fatty acid that may help with rheumatoid arthritis pain and morning stiffness.

• Some studies have found that fish oil supplements may reduce rheumatoid arthritis pain and stiffness.

With time, Obinna said, an arthritis patient would find what strategies work best for him or her.

44

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Kiddies

Arena

ibilade@gmail.com t.adegboye@thenicheng.com 0708 479 6140

Historical personality

Brain tickler

Olumbe Bassir (1919-2001)

Three men walk into a hotel and rent a room for 30 pounds. But the hotel manager realised the room should have been only 25 pounds. So he sent the dishonest bellboy and told him to give 5 pounds back to the men.

The bellboy cheated and said to the three men the room was actually 27 pounds and gave them 3 pounds back and donated the other to his favourite charity.

Where is the missing pound because 25 + 4 = 29?

Answer

There are no missing pound! There is 25 in the till, 2 pounds in the messengers pocket, 3 pounds = 1 in each of the men’s pockets and they have paid 9 pounds each (= 29 pounds) and there is one pond in their pockets (3 pounds in total) this makes 30 pounds total.

The messenger’s 2 ponds should be added to the manager’s 25 pounds or subtracted from the men’s 27 pounds, not added to their 27 pound.

I make a loud noise when changing jacket, become bigger and delicious.

What am I?

Temitope Ojo

Solution Popcorn

Invention Ballpoint pen The first great success for the ballpoint pen came on an October morning in 1945 when a crowd of over 5,000 people jammed the entrance of New York’s Gimbels Department Store.

The day before, Gimbels had taken out a full-page ad in the New York Times promoting the first sale of ballpoints in the United States.

The ad described the new pen as a "fantastic... miraculous fountain pen ... guaranteed to write for two years without refilling!"

The story of producing a ball pen actually began in 1888 when John Loud, an American leather tanner, patented a roller-ball-tip marking pen. His invention featured a reservoir of ink and a roller ball that applied the thick ink to leather hides.

Loud’s pen was never produced, nor were any of the other 350 patents for ball-type pens issued over the next 30 years.

The next stage of development came almost 50 years after Loud’s patent, with an improved version invented in Hungary in 1935 by Ladislas Biro and his brother, Georg.

The other man to bring the ballpoint pen successfully back to life was Marcel Bich, a French manufacturer of penholders and pen cases.

By 1952, Bich was ready to introduce his new wonder: a clear-barreled, smooth-writing, non-leaky, inexpensive ballpoint pen he called the "Ballpoint Bic." The ballpoint pen had finally become a practical writing instrument. The public accepted it without complaint, and today it is as standard a writing implement as the pencil.

O

lumbe Bassir was a Nigerian scientist, author, and academic. His primary contributions to research were in aflatoxins, nutrition, and

peace.

Born in Senegal in 1919, Bassir was raised in the older part of the municipality of Freetown, Fourah Bay, by his parents Abdul and Isatu Bassir.

He attended the Prince of Wales Secondary School where he passed the Senior Cambridge examination with exemption from London matriculation.

In 1946 after a short teaching spell at the prestigious Bo Government Secondary School, he went to Yaba College where he obtained the Higher National Diploma. Then he went to the United Kingdom, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949 and a PhD in 1951 from Liverpool University.

Bassir spent most of his professional career at the University of Ibadan, where he founded the biochemistry and microbiology departments. He laid the foundation of what became the first medical school in West Africa.

By 1958, he was already a full professor.

His academic specialty was nutrition and biochemical toxicology.

He was at various times head of those two departments, dean of faculty, and also served as acting vice chancellor.

Bassir was a lifelong advocate for peace, and was an active member of the Pugwash

Conferences on Science and World Affairs.

He founded the Association of University Teachers in Nigeria which later became the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Despite being non-partisan, he helped develop the manifesto of the Action Group.

In 2000, he suffered a blood clot in the brain due to a traumatic injury to the head.

Despite successful surgery and recuperation he died in Ibadan on May 23, 2001.

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

45

Kiddies Arena StarKid Name: Divine Pinnick Best colour: Purple Best Food: Amala/Semo and ogbono Career goal: Teacher School: Kingdom Heritage, Katsina Road, Kaduna

Be our StarKid: Send your child's full-sized photograph and details to ibilade@gmail.com.

Poem What teachers make

By Taylor Mali He says the problem with teachers is What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?

He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers: Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite conversation.

I mean, you're a teacher, Taylor.

Be honest. What do you make?

And I wish he hadn't done that – asked me to be honest – because, you see, I have this policy about honesty and ass – kicking: if you ask for it, then I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor and an A – feel like a slap in the face.

How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.

No, you may not ask a question.

Why won't I let you go to the bathroom?

Because you're bored.

And you don't really have to go to the bathroom, do you?

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home: Hi. This is Mr. Mali. I hope I haven't called at a bad time, I just wanted to talk to you about something your son said today.

To the biggest bully in the grade, he said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?

It's no big deal."

And that was noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are and what they can be.

You want to know what I make? I make kids wonder, I make them question.

I make them criticize.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them write.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful over and over and over again until they will never misspell either one of those words again.

I make them show all their work in math and hide it on their final drafts in English.

I make them understand that if you've got this, then you follow this, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this.

Here, let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true: Teachers make a goddamn difference! Now what about you?

Be our poet: Send your poems to ibilade@gmail.com.

46

TheNiche

Arts June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Mbeki is philosopherking, Obasanjo a farmersoldier, says Adebajo

with Terh Agbedeh

REVIEWS&PREVIEWS

D

r. Adekeye Adebajo has said that former South African President Thabo Mbeki is a philosopher-king while his Nigerian counterpart, Olusegun Obasanjo, is a farmersoldier.

Adebajo, who is the executive director of the Centre for Conflict Resolution, Cape Town, South Africa, was responding to questions and comments during the launch of a mini-biography he penned on Mbeki entitled Thabo Mbeki: Africa’s Philosopher-King (Jacana) at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos on Tuesday, June 21.

“What I was trying to say in terms of giving Mbeki credit is that if we look at NEPAD...I think in the AU (African Union), the APRM, all those documents, we can say that the credit is shared, but Mbeki’s fingerprints were all over NEPAD. He wrote, directly, himself parts of the NEPAD document, according to people I have talked to and that is where I was giving him credit.

“So, for me, while Mbeki would be a philosopher-king, the person he works most closely with, our own President Obasanjo, I describe often as a farmer-soldier rather than a philosopher-king. And that is in no way trying to denigrate our former President who has his own, I think we call it native intelligence,” said Adebajo, who has written four other books and co-edited many others.

Drawing a contrast between the South African and Nigerian economies, Adebajo, who has lived in both countries, said that South Africa might have a white-dominated economy with world class infrastructure. "Things work over there, anybody that comes over to South Africa can see it, and in the 22 years that blacks have been in power, that infrastructure has been improved. They have maintenance culture as well.”

He said it is important to contrast that with what obtains in Nigeria.

“The Ajaokuta Steel complex was commissioned in the early 1970s when I was a very young boy. We have not seen that produce any element of steel. We sit here today and there is a generator running outside. We have not been able to generate enough power within this country over the last four decades, as brilliant as we are. We have produced more intellectuals than South Africa has. We have a population that is three times larger than South Africa's, but we generate much less electricity than South Africa.

“So, if, according to the young woman, you want me to come home, I think it is important we try to fix some of these things and then we can do whatever we want to do together,” he added.

On the question of whether leadership is born or nurtured,

he said he was not very sure of the answer, but pointed to institutions like the Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute in South Africa that brings Africans from all over the continent and trains them in leadership, management and other techniques.

“Those things are important, but I think it is also important that we have leaders that can rule by example and that we don’t just see leadership within the political system but in business, in civil society. We are all leaders in our own field and I think these things are too important to leave to reckless politicians, which is what we have had over the last 40 years or so. So we have to become leaders ourselves and I think there are some examples.

“If we look at someone like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, I am not talking about her second coming, but in the first administra-

tion when she worked to cancel that debt. That was a sign of incredible, intellectual and political leadership, using the extensive network that she built up at the World Bank and a first class education to really do a lot of good work and fight battles to build institutions,” he said.

He concluded that we need more people that are able to do that, despite the political system.

It was a well-attended event despite the heavy Lagos traffic, which delayed the start by at least one hour, with the Chairman, Ambassador Oladapo Fafowora; reviewer, Professor Adele Jinadu; HRH Ambassador Christopher Ariyo and President, Oxford/Cambridge Club, Nigeria, Akinsola Akani, in attendance.

Mokolo Project for launch July 1 in Lagos

J

ust a month after its official launch before a gushing audience in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, Mokolo Project is set to hold a Lagos edition of the launch. This would be on Friday, July 1 by 2:30pm at the Goethe-Institut premises, City Hall, along Catholic Mission Street, Lagos Island.

Expected to grace the landmark event, which ushers in a new era in the African film industry, are industry bigwigs, aficionados, associations and members of the diplomatic community. More precisely, the launch will attract such stakeholders in the industry as filmmakers, actors and actresses, representatives of the partner countries through such establishments as the Goethe-Institut, German and French embassies as well as the members of the Nigerian Film Society.

Mokolo is a portal for audiences and professionals in the film, visual media and information technology (IT) sectors that connect distribution, information and networking related to the African film and audiovisual industries.

The Mokolo online portal, more precisely, pivots on the sharing of informa-

tion and exchanges between African film key players and operates in three platforms: Mokolo TV, Mokolo Pro and mokolo.labs, whose features seamlessly dovetail into each other. The end-users (or “Mokolizers” as they are called) only need to sign in or sign up either through email or any of their social media accounts to get into any of these platforms.

Mokolo TV is a massive searchable and cross-indexed information database of African film, television, VOD platforms and practitioners with space for comments, reviews and ratings. It provides film enthusiasts with film and TV programmes information from or about Africa. They can view the latest posts from other Mokolo users, in addition to exploring the latest series, movies and videos on demand platforms. They can also post comments, add external links, and follow other users.

Mokolo Pro is the networking and resource platform for African film and audiovisual industry professionals and their colleagues in other parts of the world. These cannot only view other professionals, but also their projects, opportunities, film schools and festivals.

The Mokolo Pro users also can create

professional profiles and follow one another, and can inbox their messages via this platform.

Mokolo.labs provides free access to Open Educational Resources and a calendar of relevant workshops, consulting services and more to the film and audiovisual industry in Africa.

On the home page of the platforms, Mokolizers have an option to change their language preferences to either English or French.

The Mokolo Project, which owes its name to the biggest open-air market in the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde, was first mooted as an idea during a meeting of the bigwigs of the African film and audiovisual industries at the GoetheInstitut, Yaounde. This meeting, held in November 2010, was trailed closely by a workshop held in Ougadougou (Burkina Faso) in February 2011. But it was not until May 2014 that the project became operational, albeit modestly, in an office attached to the Goethe-Institut, Lagos.

The project’s initial phase was funded by the ACP-EU Fund and the GoetheInstitut. But its post-launch phase relies on the support of its members and the German Foreign Office.

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

Beach Samaritans storms Gberefu Beach

By Mmedaramfon Umoren

M

esmerised by the increasing dirt in Lagos public beaches, Beach Samaritans continued its ‘rebellion against trash and raise your voice and not the sea level movement’ with its latest outing on Saturday, June 18.

The wind blowing vigorously and even waves coming from far, splashing bits of water could not deter the passionate and hardworking group from its agenda at the Gberefu Sea Beach, Badagry, penultimate Saturday.

It was not just the regular fun trip as many would assume, but a clean-up outing by a non-governmental organisation called Beach Samaritans who has great interest in the neatness of the environment.

This cleaning exercise of public beaches by Beach Samaritans is a community service initiative which began in August 2014 by Adesola Alamutu, Executive Director of Children And The Envi-

ronment (CATE) and Pelu Awofeso, founder of Waka-about media and publisher of Waka-about magazine.

The exercise began with a speech by Alamatu, who stated that Lagos is blessed with numerous beaches which all need to be kept neat. She went on to explain that the exercise is bi-monthly and aimed at cleaning beaches in Lagos, with the hope that it would transcend Lagos to other parts of the country.

Director, Monument Management Tourism and Culture, Anthonia Johnson, representing Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Folorunsho Coker, who was the guest speaker at the occasion, expressed the ministry’s support for the group and said it would continue to give its support.

“I’m particularly delighted to see children volunteer to clean up. So, children, keep it up because you are the future. I hope that this exercise heralds beautiful beginnings in our beaches,” she added.

All the volunteers (Kids Clean Up and Beach Sa-

47

Arts maritans) were divided into seven colourful groups: red, blue, orange, green, brown, lemon and burgundy, to make the work more effective. Everyone exhibited a lot of hard work with their red rubber gloves on, rakes, shovels, brooms (to gather waste like nylons, water sachets, broken bottles, rags, juice packs and the likes together), and dustpans to pack them into the big black waste bags.

At the end of the exercise, the Administrator of the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) that host the beach, was presented shovels, rakes and rubber gloves to aid members of the community in cleaning up as often as they can. Prior to this time, he had stated that he would ensure that people in that community came out en masse to keep the beach clean, at least once a month.

This is not the first time members of Beach Samaritans were making a difference in Lagos through their actions. They have been to other places like the Alpha Beach in Lekki, Regal Seaview Beach in Lekki, Ilashe beach, Ibeshe Beach and Tarkwa Bay. However, not minding their looks and back-

grounds, everyone got to work. At the end of the day, the participants all sang a similar tune. They had so much fun and were excited being part of the cleaning exercise, which will not only keep the environment clean, but would promote tourism and generate income for Nigeria.

One of the volunteers, Rukkayat Shuaib, said she was reluctant at first. but that at the end, she discovered that it was fun all through.

“A great opportunity to be a part of this exercise, with hardworking children who should be home playing involved in the project, it was a wonderful experience. I pray this continues, so that all our beaches can be clean at all times,” she said.

Another volunteer, Benedict Osuagwu, said he enjoyed and loved being a volunteer because it is a great initiative.

“When I see beaches in foreign movies and the ones in Nigeria, I feel ashamed, but with this project, beaches are headed for a change,” he added.

The bitter-sweet collusion of a child’s oddities Book Title: The Quest for the Gem of Arubia Author: Augusta Mmakamba Okon Genre: Children’s Literature Pagination: 76 Year of Publishing: 2015 Publisher: Wicecom Publishers Limited Reviewer: Adeniyi Taiwo Kunnu

T

he thrills that come with childhood and their accompanying boisterousness have found its way into the creativity of Augusta Okon. She is however on a journey with a tone of cautious expression of hope. This is owing to the fact that our living spaces happen to be dominated by adults, intermingling with a view to fulfilling dreams; but what happens to the ‘child’ to whom the future belongs, particularly the future that is full of dreams? In seven differently chapters, one flips pages of adventures which cause flurries to one’s emotions.

Leveraging the features of a peculiar skin colour and unique personality, Augusta surrounds Omorege – the albino son of Ehis and Adesuwa – with an uncanny ability to communicate with animals as well as his dexterity on the drums. A subtle and somewhat easy-to-neglect deliberateness is to have made an albino a major character, while one does not find this a regular creative tilt in most other children’s literature in the country.

The Quest for the Gem of Arubia is the emotive story of 10-year-old Omorege, whose genetic composition could only have been adduced for the pain that he repeatedly suffers because he lacks black pigment on his skin. His is a case that reminds one of Odewale in the famed The gods are not to blame. In Nsewe where he is born, albinos are discountenanced as bad omen; as such he is thrown into the evil forest. He was there for three days.

Rather than look ill, the rotund Omorege is back home with his parents after the trying times. He

grows under their care. The death that could not hold him however wages the war of hatred and rejection against him among his peers and adults alike. Practically without friends at 10, Nana (the girl with dreadlocks) becomes his inseparable friend. She also is a super-kid of sorts and possesses the power to break riddle, while he has the quality of supernatural insight.

Rejected and distraught, Omorege questions his unfavourable experience and the harsh remarks about him. But he is spurred into self-belief when his father urges him on.

Nana’s role in his life cannot be over-emphasised. She remains a friend whose positive and precocious persona seems remarkable.

Perhaps the statement that ‘birds of a feather flock together’ makes this true. One lesson to be learnt is that life will never leave an individual without a form of support. In the face of his pains, little Omorege experiences reprieve. A drumming competition is organised, and being dexterous at it affords him the privilege of entering for the contest. Although quite a challenge at first and almost impossible because of waiting for parental consent, Omorege’s eventual participation results in him being the winner.

The moral of his life here is that the cloud is never entirely dark and, as such, having a careful look results in realising that silver lining across the dark firmament. The lesson of self-belief and staying strong in the light of daunting challenges has been communicated to the readers. Children could particularly learn this virtue in the face of rejection in school. Everyone may not be someone’s friend, but one’s parents and a true friend can be huge sources of inspiration.

Celebration, however, becomes short-lived when his parents are told that another chapter of his life just opened due to an ancient prophecy.

If there is anything that children love, it is to be thrown into a fantastic setting where their fantasies are explored to unlimited stretches. This is exactly

what the second phase of Omorege’s adventure brings up. The elders of the land who express their wariness at his birth are the ones who also show up in his home to announce the new weight of responsibility.

On page 18, elders Lekan, Adamu and Emeka say: “Evil is about to be awakened. I have seen it.

Dominus is free again.”

“Impossible! Going by ancient records, he was locked up in the valley of Acridon, in the realm of Aspirathis two centuries ago.”

“So the ex-watcher who gave into darkness and oppressed different realms is free once more.”

The elders’ conversation spells fear and doom. Besides, Omorege envisions the cataclysm which will result from the freedom of Dominus. As had been said, “to whom much is given – in this wise – much more is expected”.

Omorege is the Chosen One, who must save the destiny of Nsewe.

What actually strikes one’s is the creation of repeated actions, which enables a child think of becoming a super-hero by taking on a number of responsibilities. Children love to do things that even adults consider them incapable of.

Albinism and rejection notwithstanding, Omorege braves the odd of low self-esteem to fulfil a daunting task.

The story, however, takes another turn after Nana and Omorege had solved all the riddles and crossed uncharted hinterlands of the underworld.

The gem is in their possession, but for the evil one to be in eternal incarceration, the possessor of the gem will have to die. In the course of Omorege saying his last wishes, the orphan who accompanies him takes the gem and falls to her death.

Nana pays the ultimate price to keep Omorege and Nsewe thriving.

The book will sure make a thrill-read, but it can benefit from a reduction in many unfamiliar names, which could be dexterously set or at best substituted for what children will be familiar with,

while names of characters too would be better suited to children’s memories, if they are in the minimal and also sound a measurable note of the known.

In the words of the Guardian of Itupia and not forgetting Camara Laye’s fictive work, “Weep Not Child” “Arise and Return…”

“Carry out what she bid thee do, that her death be not in vain” The legacy of positive continuity must never end, as children have to the flame of the future aglow.

• Kunnu is a Lagos-based literary scholar.

48

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

Fashion

www.thenicheng.com

Temitope Ojo ibilade@gmail.com t.adegboye@thenicheng.com 0708 479 6140

Drawing drew Adeloye to fashion

Teens talk show host, Dedayo Adeloye, a couturier and lifestyle photographer, recounts to TEMITOPE OJO his journey into fashion and muses on future aspirations.

Venture and motivation My personal motivations for getting into fashion as a young boy were mainly my love for drawing and the fact that I really love clothes.

I also need to give credit to my mom because she was the one who introduced me to the amazing world of fashion even though I never wanted to go into it in the first place.

I started last year, after I won the Best Creative Fashion Designer of the Year (Powered by the Youth Economic Empowerment Summit YEES2015) of CLAM. Before the rain A few months before I won the award, I was working with the late Chaz Bruce Chukuma (popularly known as Chaz B of Sharing Life Issues on Rhythm FM 93.7).

I wasn't thinking of going into the fashion industry at all, because I had a teens television project, which I came up with and Chaz B was working closely with me on the project. Unfortunately, he died.

After his death, what I still had in mind was how to conclude the paperwork of the project. I finally did and looked out for sponsors. Bit I wasn't able to get any.

Then I realised that God must have been looking at me and wondering why I was running from pillar to post when He had other plans for me.

Before then, my mom had insisted I learn tailoring. But I just couldn’t imagine me learning how to sew in a local shop on the street.

I finally met Ifedayo Oluseye, a friend, who brought me to CLAM Teens of Dominion. Since I joined the church, my life has not remained the same. God answered my prayer when the youths organised an empowerment summit.

After two weeks, I launched my clothing line.

Right now, I’m proud to tell you that am a couturier and I’m beginning to do well with my brand.

However, I’m still working hard on how to get the TV project started. I hope it’s going to be soon.

Brand name My brand name is "My-

CoutureSpeaks Clothing Apparel".

It's a brand that embodies culture.

Experience so far It's been a great experience since I participated in the summit organised by the youths of Christ Living Apostolic Ministries (CLAM). I’m talking about YEES2015.

It helped me to think of what kind of designer I wanted to become because I've been taught that most tailors out there, maybe on the roadside, are not sincere with their clients most of the time, and it has caused them to lose valuable clients.

I choose to be different.

I’m a couturier who keeps to time. If there's any delay, I'll surely communicate that to the client and say what the exact problem is.

Of course, I know sometimes it's a challenge to meet deadlines due to unstable power supply but I always try my very best to be that couturier one can trust all the time.

Target clients My target patronage are the youths and teenagers Business constraints As a little boy, my number one constraint for now is getting to buy certain fabrics in bulk so as to save more cash and still have leftover fabrics for clients – so that when the materials

I realised that God must have been looking at me and wondering why I was running from pillar to post when He had other plans for me.

Before then, my mom had insisted I learn tailoring.

But I just couldn’t imagine me learning how to sew in a local shop on the street.

Adeloye

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

I choose to be different. I’m a couturier who keeps to time. If there's any delay, I'll surely communicate that to the client and say what the exact problem is ….

Sometimes it's a challenge to meet deadlines due to unstable power supply but I always try my very best to be that couturier one can trust all the time.

are out of stock in the market, I can still have some for clients.

I get a lot of calls to design a waistcoat, using the same fabric they saw me use for other clients. Sometimes, it's impossible because it’s either the fabric is out of stock or the price has increased.

Through this, I've lost clients.

Effect of readymade waistcoats on locally produced ones They are affecting us a great deal because a lot of people prefer to just

Teenagers don't have to do shady deals to make money because everybody has their own Godgiven talent. All they have to do is take time to discover it.

No one is born without a gift.

You just have to identify it, work, and develop it as well.

You also need perseverance.

Someday, your gift will pay your bills.

get their wears off the stores without going through the hassle of using a local designer.

This is because in the past, many local designers messed up fabrics by not getting the styles right.

Readymade designers are sometimes more creative in their thinking, too. But things are changing.

We get patronage now. People are beginning to realise that there are exceptional designers out there and once they partronise us, they get stuck.

Five years from now In the next five years, I see myself as the number one teens fashion couturier in Nigeria alongside hosting my own teens daytime talk show.

I hope to use this same platform to touch many lives, reaching out to teens out there who want a better life.

What style means you The word style, to me, means selfexpression and it speaks more of the person.

Your style tells people who you are.

Mentors apart from your mom I love Lanre Da Silva Ajayi’s works.

I can't wait to meet her one-on-one.

What you are most comfortable wearing Well, I’m most comfortable when I create things for myself.

Advice to teenagers who shun hard work for shady deals They don't have to go that way to make money because everybody has their own God-given talent. All they have to do is take time to discover it.

No one is born without a gift. You just have to identify it, work, and develop it as well.

You also need perseverance. Someday, your gift will pay your bills.

49

50

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

FOOD &DRINK

www.thenicheng.com

Foods that boost immunity

W

e are in that time of the year where our bodies are prone to series of diseases and infection. On that note, we need to eat foods that help boost the white blood cells (WBCs). Also called leucocytes, they are the cells of the immune system that are involved in defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders.

Some people take pills and supplements to boost immunity, but the good news is that there are home remedies that boost immunity. Here is a list of foods that boost immunity.

Garlic Garlic is a herb, best known as flavouring for food.

But over the years, garlic has been used as a medicine to prevent or treat a wide range of diseases and conditions. The fresh clove or supplement made from the clove is used for medicine. Garlic relatively contains the active ingredient allicin, which fights infection and bacteria.

Tea Those who take five cups of black tea per day for two weeks enjoy 10 times more virus-fighting interferon in their blood than others who do not. Interferons (IFNs) are proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, parasites or tumour cells. The amino acid that is responsible for this immune boost, L-theanine, is abundant in both black and green tea.

Decaffeinated tea has it, too.

Beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. The zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutritional shortfalls among some adults, especially for vegetarians and those who have cut back on beef, a prime source of this immunitybolstering mineral. Unfortunately, zinc deficiency can increase the risk of infection. Zinc in your diet is very important for the development of white blood cells.

Sweet potatoes The skin is a crucial organ in the immune system. It serves as a first-line fortress against bacteria, viruses and other undesirables. To stay strong and healthy,

your skin needs vitamin A. Vitamin A plays a major role in the production of connective tissue, a key component of the skin. One of the best ways to get vitamin A into your diet is from foods containing beta-carotene (like sweet potatoes), which your body turns into vitamin A.

Mushrooms People around the world have turned to mushrooms for a healthy immune system. Studies show that mushrooms increase the production and activity of white blood cells, making them more aggressive.

This is good news when you have an infection.

Oatmeal These grains contain beta-glucan, a type of fibre with antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities. When animals eat this compound, they are less likely to contract influenza, herpes, even anthrax. In humans, it boosts immunity, speeds wound healing, and helps antibiotics work better.

eating out Bheerhugz Cafe

B

heerhugz Cafe is a stylish lounge, ideal for personal, group, corporate and social outing. It made its first appearance early 2012 at Ikeja City Mall, having a very calm environment where you can eat in or take away.

With hospitable staffers, the African and few continental meals served at Bheerhugz are quite affordable and tasty.

The spot serves ‘swallows’ like eba, amala, semolina, pounded yam, and various soups like melon, ogbono, with vegetable soups. Also, ofada stew is served with cat fish, dry fish, assorted

beef and goat meat. They also have indigenous rice and beans, ofada rice, fried yam and eggs with chilli fish or chicken, as well as asun.

The starters’ meals include spring rolls, chicken lollypop, buffalo wings, peppered snails, peppered goat meat, peppered gizzard, with international soups.

Lovers of salad, sandwich, seafood, beef grills, pork grills, pasta, specials and extras will have their choice at Bheerhugz.

The cafe is in the heart of the Mainland – in Ikeja City Mall and Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall in Surulere.

Coconut Coconut, a fruit of the coconut palm, consists of a thick fibrous oval shell, a thin hard shell enclosing edible white meat. The hollow centre is filled with coconut water.

Besides being excellent for your thyroid and your metabolism, coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which converts to monolaurin in your body. Monolaurin, the actual compound found in breast milk that strengthens a baby’s immunity, has anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-protozoa properties.

Vegetables When combatting pathogens, you simply cannot do any better than eating a variety of fresh, raw vegetables for the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes they contain. However, the amount and type of vegetables you should eat daily will depend on your nutritional type.

51

BUSINESS UNUSUAL

TheNiche

FINANCIAL NICHE

PERSONAL FINANCE MARKETING NICHE

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

ICT

June 26, 2016

BUSINESS

www.thenicheng.com

INFLATION Inflation month RATE Inflation rate

Kelechi Mgboji Assistant Business Editor 0803 469 0996, 0811 181 3047 kckmgboji@yahoo.com

MONEY Broadmoney (M2) 18,718,193.11 SUPPLY (Trillion) Narrow Money (M1) 7,148,592.67

May 2016 15.58%%

Importers, exporters, agents bicker over port charges

NAF, Innoson deal lifts indigenous tech

»

PAGE 56

Gold

COMMODITIES SUMMARY

WTI $48.8

PER BARREL

Brent Crude $48.79 PER BARREL

Maritime

Business Extra

PAGE 54

OIL PRICE INDEX

Silver

PER OZ

$17.74

$1,318.68 TROY OZ

Tin

$7.79

Platinum

$982.95

PER OZ

Nickel

$4.16

Copper

$2.15

PER LB

Wheat

$451

Lead

GRADE A

» Palladium

Exchange Rates

$0.78

$548.65

Cocoa

$3,072

PER OZT

N-$

N-£

N-€

RATE

RATE

RATE

280

N384.888 310.716

I didn't dodge EFCC, says BOI boss, Olagunju • Insists matter with CTIN resolved since February

By Kelechi Mgboji

Assistant Business Editor

T

he first fund the Bank of Industry (BOI) managed was the NAC Fund under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The CTG Fund was inaugurated under President Musa Yar'Adua and the BOI was also appointed to manage it.

President Goodluck Jonathan initiated the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) Fund of about N9 billion which the Federal Executive Council (FEC) also approved BOI as its manager.

Now, Muhammadu Buhari's administration has appointed BOI to manage the N140 billion Growth and Empowerment Fund (GEF).

Recently, the CTIN Fund generated furore following a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by CTIN Chairman, Aliko Dangote.

What are the issues in dispute over which the EFCC visited the BOI head office in Lagos? What was Dangote's involvement and how were the issues resolved?

These and more were the crux of an interaction between acting BOI Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Waheed Olagunju,

and financial journalists in Lagos.

Assistant Business Editor, KELECHI MGBOJI, captures details.

I’m not on the run It's very unfortunate that some news report said that I evaded arrest by EFCC. Given my profile, I cannot hide in any place in the world, let alone in Nigeria.

If I board a flight to Heathrow, Nigerians will find me there. In Dubai, they will see my face and pick me out.

Even in Beijing, I will be spotted. So it doesn't make any sense for me to run away.

On Monday, June 20, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, was in Lagos.

Many stakeholders were invited to a stakeholders' forum on the Nigerian automotive industry titled "Setting

an Implementation Agenda for the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP)".

This took place between 12.30pm and 5.30pm at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. However, it was extended beyond the time schedule.

So I was there up till 7.30pm.

One of the reasons why the BOI was invited is that it manages the NAC Fund.

It was the first fund the BOI started managing.

The fund was enunciated in 2003 when Kolade Jamodu was the minister of industry.

The … FEC approved that the BOI should manage the NAC Fund which was levies paid by those vehicle importers.

It was thought that in order to develop the automobile industry towards self-reliance, it needs the BOI to manage the fund and lend to

I went to Dangote’s office and he gave me a letter to the EFCC, saying he had settled with the BOI and there are no more issues between CTIN and the BOI ….

But they must still do their job, and they asked me questions and I wrote a statement.

Olagunju entrepreneurs in the sector.

That was how the BOI started lending to entrepreneurs in the automobile industry

since 2003.

So the BOI is one of the vital stakeholders in the automobile industry and that was

why BOI was invited to the forum. And I had to attend the event.

Continues on PAGE 52

52

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Cover I didn't dodge EFCC, says BOI boss, Olagunju Continued from PAGE 51

By Kelechi Mgboji Assistant Business Editor

T

he first fund the Bank of Industry (BOI) managed was the NAC Fund under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The CTG Fund was inaugurated under President Musa Yar'Adua and the BOI was also appointed to manage it.

President Goodluck Jonathan initiated the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) Fund of about N9 billion which the Federal Executive Council (FEC) also approved BOI as its manager.

Now, Muhammadu Buhari's administration has appointed BOI to manage the N140 billion Growth and Empowerment Fund (GEF).

Recently, the CTIN Fund generated furore following a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by CTIN Chairman, Aliko Dangote.

What are the issues in dispute over which the EFCC visited the BOI head office in Lagos? What was Dangote's involvement and how were the issues resolved?

These and more were the crux of an interaction between acting BOI Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Waheed Olagunju, and financial journalists in Lagos.

Assistant Business Editor, KELECHI MGBOJI, captures details.

I’m not on the run It's very unfortunate that some news report said that I evaded arrest by EFCC. Given my profile, I cannot hide in any place in the world, let alone in Nigeria.

If I board a flight to Heathrow, Nigerians will find me there. In Dubai, they will see my face and pick me out. Even in Beijing, I will be spotted. So it doesn't make any sense for me to run away.

On Monday, June 20, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, was in Lagos.

Many stakeholders were invited to a stakeholders' forum on the Nigerian automotive industry titled "Setting an Implementation Agenda for the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP)".

This took place between 12.30pm and 5.30pm at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. However, it was extended beyond the time schedule.

So I was there up till 7.30pm.

One of the reasons why the BOI was invited is that it manages the NAC Fund. It was the first fund the BOI started managing.

The fund was enunciated in 2003 when Kolade Jamodu was the minister of industry.

The … FEC approved that the BOI should manage the NAC Fund which was levies paid by those vehicle importers.

It was thought that in order to develop the automobile industry towards self-reliance, it needs the BOI to manage the fund and lend to entrepreneurs in the sector. That was how the BOI started lending to entrepreneurs in the automobile industry since 2003.

So the BOI is one of the vital stakeholders in the automobile industry and that was why BOI was invited to the forum. And I had to attend the event.

That was where I was when operatives of the EFCC came to BOI on [June 20]. I did not know

why they came. There was no tip off. I am a responsible Nigerian.

If am invited, I will honour the invitation.

EFCC invitation to BOI Last week, we received a letter from the EFCC, stating "Investigation Activities Re: Collection and Remittances of Cement Levy into the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) Account.”

This letter does not talk about properties or shares. It is clear on the issue as to why the BOI was invited. I was in Abuja last week on national assignment, so I couldn't go.

I asked some of my colleagues to go to the EFCC, and they went.

They were asked to provide documents which they did. And when they were leaving, the leader of the team had to be admitted on bail.

They were there on Thursday and Friday. On Friday, they were asked to go and bring more documents and also tell me to see them on Monday.

I gave directive that they should take those required documents and let them know that I would see them on Tuesday because I had to attend a crucial event on Monday.

The event was very crucial and couldn't be postponed. As managers of the fund, we had a responsibility to attend. We were given about N18 billion of the NAC Fund to manage.

So I couldn't have failed to attend the event because I am managing the fund. We manage more than 20 funds and all of them are independently audited on an annual basis.

The automotive policy has generated a lot of debate in the country, and [Enelamah] said let us have a roundtable on the way forward. Coscharis, Toyota, CFAO, VON, all the key stakeholders, were there.

I couldn't have delegated any other person to represent me. This much I told my colleagues to explain to the EFCC, and that I would unfailingly be there on Tuesday.

We have managed the account since 2010, and if you have been doing a business for six years and you are asked to bring documents covering that period of six years, it will definitely take some time to put together all the documents.

My colleagues explained to the EFCC my whereabouts and I appealed to them to wait, that I would return to the office later in the evening because we had a management meeting that was broken midway to enable us to attend the event.

We were to reconvene the meeting in the evening after we had returned. But the operatives couldn't wait. They left and dropped a message that I should report on Tuesday.

When I returned from the event at Oriental Hotel, we reconvened our management meeting as planned and were in the meeting until 12.30am on Tuesday. Later that Tuesday morning, I went to EFCC office, and I wrote a statement.

Dangote’s connection to dispute I wasn't the managing director in 2010 and I wasn't a line executive director either when all those transactions took place.

But management is a continuum. The EFCC told me they received a petition from CTIN regarding the fund and they showed me the petition. Dangote is the chairman of CTIN.

I explained to them that we are aware of the petition, and that all the issues had been resolved with Dangote and CTIN. One of my priorities when I assumed office in February was to look into our partnerships and reaffirm our relationships with our partners within and outside the country.

I was briefed that there were issues regarding the CTIN, and that the CTIN was not happy with BOI. I said that shouldn't have happened between BOI and Dangote; it was unfortunate anyway.

Dangote is also our partner. We have a N10 billion MSME Fund. We are partners in that fund. So I said to my colleagues that he (Dangote) is a brother, a partner and a friend, let's go and meet him.

We met Dangote and he explained his grievances to us.

He said sometime in 2013, a letter was issued to the BOI to transfer the Cement Fund to the CTIN account with First Bank, and that the BOI didn't obey the ministerial directive.

And that he tried to get the money transferred to CTIN account but could not effect the transfer for two years. He said that was why he petitioned the Presidency in November last year.

We apologised, and sought the way forward. He said they wanted their money. I tried to let him know that the CTIN does not own any bank, but he replied that they have an account with a commercial bank.

Resolution for BOI to manage N9b fund Then I said to him (Dangote) that ours is a development finance bank owned by the federal government.

I appealed to him that it's better for us as a partner to keep the money and manage it for him rather than him taking the money away and keeping it with a privately owned commercial bank.

He asked whether we are sure we could do it. I replied yes, and that we could do it the same way as a commercial bank would.

We agreed on February 20 that the money should be paid to the BOI, and that we would manage it for them on mutually agreed terms.

Dangote said it was okay, and that we should keep the money for the next 90 days.

So we kept the money and managed it for them from February to June, and he said the money we

Fitch rated us AA+; Moody's rated us BA3; Agusto A+.

For Fitch, we are the second best rated bank in Nigeria, and in terms of ownership structure, we are the best wholly owned Nigerian bank.

Olagunju lent to manufacturers, we want them returned to CTIN. I said no problem.

We did book entry and reverted them. So all those loans in our risk assets, the BOI will take over those assets. Then we returned their money to the CTIN account in the BOI. The principal money it is supposed to bear over time is N9.6 billion, and we agreed to apply a flat rate of 8 per cent interest retroactively. The funds were transferred to the BOI and 8 per cent was applied.

As of December 2015, we had about N12 billion in that account which we had already reported.

We managed the N12billion from February to June.

In June, we met Dangote again and told him that the 90 days had elapsed. He said they wanted rate increase, and we promised to get our treasurer shop around for it.

They wanted us to invest the money in the money market. So after shopping around, we reported 9 per cent to him.

In fact, he had travelled to Saudi Arabia for a lesser hajj. I sent him a text message to convey the outcome of our effort, and he replied to convey his acceptance and urged us to go ahead and apply 9 per cent interest rate.

We agreed to do a formal letter conveying the 9 per cent interest rate, with his instruction to the effect that he had accepted.

This was conveyed to us just on Monday morning [June 20] in our management meeting and I told my colleagues that our partnership was waxing stronger as Dangote has asked us to roll over the fund for the next 90 days.

I have gone into this narration to explain to you that the issues between BOI and CTIN had long been resolved since we met Dangote on February 20. But the petition was submitted in November 2015.

When this matter came up again, I called him and reported to him that the EFCC had invited us over the petition by the CTIN. He told me that he was going to let

them know that all the issues had been resolved.

Before going to the EFCC’s office, I went to Dangote’s office and he gave me a letter to the EFCC, saying he had settled with the BOI and there are no more issues between CTIN and the BOI. They submitted the letter to the EFCC through his own office but he gave me a copy.

So I went with a copy and showed the EFCC that the matter had been resolved between the BOI and CTIN. But they must still do their job, and they asked me questions and I wrote a statement.

It was a cordial and friendly interaction we had.

BOI and its mandate BOI was set up to help this country, and we have also set out in our own space to build a great country for the present generation and those to come. So there is no rancour, no acrimony between us and CTIN. We have lost many years of development as a country and right now we are working so hard to do a lot of catching up. Our customers are out there expecting so much from us and we have to support them.

We support them to create jobs. It is only when they create jobs that our people will have improved quality of life and living standards.

For all our interventions, we are not only talking of financial viability, we are also talking about social and economic development.

So we are aware and alive to our responsibilities to this country.

We will not do anything to undermine this country. We will continue to do our work professionally and diligently.

EFCC as development partner We have had a lot of troublesome customers. The EFCC help us pursue them to recover our debts.

The EFCC and BOI are partners because we have a few customers

who forged C of Os [certificates of occupancy] and we have handed them over to the EFCC. They have helped to recover monies from those customers.

And when we are going for a meeting with some of our troublesome customers, they (EFCC) give us some of their staff to go with us and negotiate at those meetings.

So they are really our development partners. We have no issues with them at all.

Assessment of BOI by ratings agencies Each fund owner appoints own auditors. Because we have to disclose those funds in our financial report, we must ensure they are audited. Where fund owners do not have auditors, we appoint Ernst and Young to audit those accounts.

So, we are transparent and we are pursuing our mission to be Africa's leading world class development finance institution operating with global best practices. We are a very responsible organisation.

We are mindful of our ratings, the standard we set, the confidence and positive perception we have in the minds of the public and our customers.

Fitch rated us AA+; Moody's rated us BA3; Agusto A+.

For Fitch, we are the second best rated bank in Nigeria, and in terms of ownership structure, we are the best wholly owned Nigerian bank.

We won't do anything that will tarnish our reputation. We will not do anything that will shake the confidence of our shareholders and development partners.

Confidence is the most important asset of financial institutions, and when you talk of confidence, perception comes in to play.

No country can develop without viable financial institutions that exude a lot of positive perception.

The BOI is the only financial institution that has appetite for investing in the real sector. Other financial institutions shy away.

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Financial Niche

53

What Jaiz Bank’s licence means for Nigeria Islamic banking has not gained full acceptance in every part of the country. In spite of this, Jaiz Bank is poised to take its project nationwide. Reporter HENRY ODUAH writes…

Mahe Abubakar

A

loan from conventional banks anywhere in the world comes with interest. When you manage to get a loan, short, medium, or long-term, you also meet the conditions for paying up the loan and the interest within a stipulated time or face the consequences.

For the survival of commercial banks, profit making is non-contestable. A customer with a leading bank in Nigeria confided in TheNiche stressing his frustration at the profitdriven ideology of banks.

He said when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced Bank Verification Number (BVN) last year, banks did not demand BVN to accept deposits, but demanded it for one to make withdrawal.

Non-interest banking Non-interest banking is a profit-growing global phenomenon practised in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, China, Singapore, South Africa, and Kenya.

It is also on offer in global financial outfits like HSBC, Citibank, and Barclays Bank.

Interest free banking offers almost all the services offered by conventional banks except that interests are not charged when loans are given out, nor do they finance anything classified harmful to society like alcohol, tobacco, gambling.

Non-interest banking is synonymous with Islamic banking. And since Islam does not support alcohol, tobacco, gambling, banks founded on Sharia ethics ensure their loans do not fund such activities.

Usman

Onyeji

“Jaiz Bank is not the only non-interest bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank also is.

Although Jaiz is the first to have fullfleshed authority to do such banking.

“They make money through buying and selling. They can buy an asset and sell for profit. Non-interest banks are the only institutions authorised to engage in trade.

Jaiz to the fore Jaiz Bank announced in May that it had secured licence to operate in all the 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Prior to that, it was only authorised to operate in regions.

Its Chairman, Umar Muttalab, disclosed this to the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar at a meeting to brainstorm ways of making the bank function better.

He said the bank will improve services through its various arms and promised a better deal for customers.

“As a regional bank, Jaiz has operated in 12 states (in the North) but with the new licence we can now spread to all parts of the country. We will open branches in the 36 states of the federation,” Muttalab disclosed.

To strengthen its position and assure customers of continuity and improved services, the bank has the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), a multilateral financial institution, as a major shareholder.

do business in a third of the country with Islamic dominance made it to operate in the North East and North West is guaranteed.

The public debate in 2009 if Christians can bank with Islamic banks made the groundwork for what could today become widely accepted in all parts of the country where Muslims or Christians dominate.

Growth amid cash crunch On May 31, Jaiz Bank declared a profit after tax (PAT) of N794.2 million for the 2015 financial year, a 576 per cent increase compared with N126.8 million in 2014.

Mutallab said at its fourth annual general meeting (AGM) that the performance demonstrated continued growth and operational efficiency as income also grew 47 per cent to N4 billion from N2.72 billion in 2014.

The bank recorded significant growth total assets which closed at N52.6 billion against N44 billion in 2014.

In the beginning

New man at the wheels

Created as Jaiz International Plc in 2003, Jaiz Bank opened shop as a regional bank on 11 November 2011. It began full operation as Nigeria’s first non-interest bank on January 6, 2012 with three branches in Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano.

The regional licence to

Hassan Usman took over from Mahe Abubakar after being appointed as substantive managing director by the bank’s board of directors at the AGM. Usman, whose appointment is still subject to the approval of the CBN, is expected to

drive the bank’s national agenda from where his predecessor left off.

Abubakar said the bank provided financing worth N25.39 billion to 1,507 customers in 2015 from 1,076 in 2014.

“With this major milestone achievement, we face 2016 with a lot of optimism to deliver significant level of profitability that will see us pay dividend by the end of year 2017,” Abubakar enthused.

Part of Usman’s mandate is to establish branches in all regions of the country and increase customer base which would in turn tell in the bank’s income.

He is not a greenhorn as he had been the bank’s managing director in 2013.

What lies ahead With the looming national competition, Jaiz Bank intends to break the assumption that it is exclusively for the Islamic faithful. It plans to expand its reach to all regardless of ethnic or religious beliefs.

But as the bank’s Islamic origin cannot be overlooked, non-Muslims may be apprehensive in embracing its ideas and propositions.

Survival test Although banks look out for their customers’ interests, they also do not ignore their own interests which is profit making. Many question the long-term survival of Islamic banking with zero interest loans.

Eugene Onyeji, a chartered accountant, explained that the bank makes profit through trading, leasing, and partnership with business outfits where profit sharing is pre-agreed.

His words: “Jaiz Bank is not the only non-interest bank,

Mutallab

Stanbic IBTC Bank also is.

Although Jaiz is the first to have full-fleshed authority to do such banking.

“They make money through buying and selling. They can buy an asset and sell for profit.

Non-interest banks are the only institutions authorised to engage in trade.

“They also go into leasing, that is, giving out equipment and machinery on a rental basis. By law, they are also permitted to go into partnership or joint venture based on pre-agreed profit and loss sharing formula.”

Public acceptance Sunday Omoju, a resident of Gombe State where Jaiz Bank has a heavy presence, has no account with the bank but does not rule out the possibility of doing business with it in the future.

“I don’t see anything wrong with banking with it so long it carries out banking activities like every other bank.

“If I have to weigh its acceptance by Christians here, I would say 10 per cent. And the reason is not far-fetched from the mentality surrounding its establishment. It is perceived to be a Muslim bank meant for Muslims,” Omoju said.

A Lagos resident, Emmanuel Ihejirika, insisted that interestfree banking is a sham to attract customers.

“I take my time carefully to select my bank. This interestfree banking is just something to attract customers before they change, just like telecommunications networks do,” he argued.

But Abia resident and businessman, John Anyanwu, would gladly accept the proposals of the bank as soon as it establishes branches in the

state, though he is sceptical of its acceptance in the zone.

He said: “Of course, I will collect loans from it without a second thought. I am a businessman and anything that will work for my good, I will embrace it.

“But with the situation of things in the country, I don’t think it will receive much acceptance here in the South East.”

Onyeji, however, said the growth of the bank shows gradual acceptance by even non-Muslims.

“Christians have no choice.

The bank has come to stay. In fact, I can say that 30 per cent of their customers today are Christians and I know some Christians who have been given facilities to do business since the bank began operation,” he added.

“As long as you have a good proposal, if you approach the bank, it will review it and if it is found worthy, of course it will give you a loan, whether you are Christian or Muslim.

“It has nothing to do with Muslims alone except that it is founded on Sharia principles and ethics. Even among their employees, I’m sure there are Christians.”

“Of course, I will collect loans from it without a second thought. I am a businessman and anything that will work for my good, I will embrace it.

“But with the situation of things in the country, I don’t think it will receive much acceptance here in the South East.”

54

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

Business Extra

www.thenicheng.com

NAF, Innoson deal lifts indigenous tech Public and private organisations are expected to emulate the partnership between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Innosons Motors for the manufacture of spare parts for fighter jets so the country can meet its defence needs.

Correspondent SAM NWOKORO examines the economic value of the patriotic deal to national development.

A

t these times of reconstructing national ethos to advance especially industry and technology, the partnership between the NAF and Innoson Motors is good for the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The deal heeds calls long made for Nigeria to break loose from reliance on foreign technology to attain ultimate capacity and true independence beyond national anthem, flag, and coat of arms.

This dependence gnawed at national security during those terrifying moments of Boko Haram’s ferocity between 2013 and 2015.

The jihadists were striking with nerve-wracking precision, which provoked a sober reflection on the dangers of sourcing defence needs from afar, even when all soldiers need is reinforcement from an armoury nearby.

Since the end of the civil war, Nigeria had relatively been at peace with itself. Its armoury depleted and became unable to match the ferocious attacks of new insurgents.

Capacity But the NAF has refocusd Nigeria’s method of keeping its equipment “combat ready”.

This is worth commending, particularly as its partner is local, which can be reached easily for adjustment or reconfiguration within short notice.

The deal with Innoson was signed after a study of its credentials in automobile production.

CNN reported on March 30 the NAF’s partnership with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) will see the company supply spare parts for jets conducting airstrikes against insurgents.

"The ingenious effort by IVM is instrumental to the continued operation of the Alpha Jets," NAF spokesperson, Ayodele Famuyiwa, said of the deal.

"IVM helped to save the day when help was not forthcoming from abroad."

The NAF reached out to Innoson in 2015, as it faced

increasing difficulty with the import of vital parts such as brake pads. The deal was struck after a series of site visits around the country.

"The Army came to our factories in many states," said Innoson spokesperson, Cornel Osigwe. "They saw we had the capacity."

IVM, part of the Innoson Group owned by billionaire Innocent Chukwuma, started producing commercial vehicles such as coaches in 2007, before launching a range of private cars in 2014 – the first to carry a "Made in Nigeria" seal.

The offshoot company now employs over 7,000 people and has capacity to produce 10,000 cars a year. It is hoped that the partnership with the NAF could help the business expand further.

"The attention is providing a big boost for the company," said Osigwe.

Innoson has gained several new clients since the deal, including the National Assembly (NASS).

Leading politicians, such as Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, have offered strong support.

Worthy example As commentators have argued, it is not only government institutions that are supposed to patronise the products of this entrepreneur who has set a pace for promoting the indigenous auto industry.

The example of Innoson looms large when it is realised that other local auto assembly plants have existed for decades without thinking through the possibility of whole scale manufacturing.

Former Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, enjoined citizens to patronise Nigerianmade cars for the country to break free of technology dependence.

He reiterated that “100 per cent reliance on external sources for our defence need needs to be reduced as much as possible so as not to over expose our security institutions to foreign manipulations in the process of arms acquisition.”

Another security expert, C. Ubong, said: “It is good and

other states and institutions in the country should patronise automobiles assembled in Nigeria to save the nation foreign exchange.

“It amuses me when we hear some states saying they are importing buses for their mass transit schemes from other countries while a company like Innoson is here producing the same.

“We should avoid the system of the past whereby over importation of automobiles led to the demise of local assembly plants due to a lack of patronage.

“That is one thing good about the 2014 automobile policy of the Goodluck Jonathan government, and I believe the current Buhari government should ensure the policy runs to the last letter.

“Buhari should bar states from importing mass transit buses in whole or in part, in fact any type of vehicle at all.

“You don’t make laws compelling Nigerians to buy only made-in-Nigeria whereas the government that made such laws imports foreign automobiles. This should stop.”

Innovator Innoson pioneered the local production of jeeps and, gradually, Nigerian yuppies are buying them.

It has revolutionised production system in a seamless, flexible modus that it can shift production anywhere, close to the customer’s base, if required.

It can meet production targets in Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Nnewi or Ibadan on schedule.

Innocent Chukwuma, the company’s chairman, has received countless honours for inspiring men to push the frontiers of national development.

He is the face of Nigeria’s inward-looking policy, a tempo Buhari can consolidate by making it mandatory for states to stop the economic sabotage of importing mass transit buses from abroad when Innoson can meet the demand.

Pace setter Innocent Chukwuma, popularly known as Innoson, is the group chairman and chief executive officer of IVM, the first indigenous vehicle manufacturing plant in Nigeria.

He was born in 1961 in Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State; the last of six children.

After his education, he started trading in spare parts under the name Innoson Nigeria in 1981. His company is next after Leventis and Boulos Enterprises in assembling branded motorcycles.

The business has expanded into four manufacturing companies – • Innoson Nigeria. Manufactures motorcycles, tricycles, spare parts, accessories.

• Innoson Tech and Industries.

Manufactures household and

industrial plastics, health and safety accessories, storage containers, fixtures and fittings, electrical components, accessories.

• Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing. Manufactures city buses, mini and midi buses, pick-up trucks, garbage collecting vehicles.

• General Tyres and Tubes Company. Manufactures tyres, tubes.

Vehicles in the IVM fleet range from cars, trucks, to SUVs, and compactors.

The company has also made in-roads into Ghana, Sierra Leone, Chad, Niger, and Togo.

Chukwuma said his company became the first indigenous motor manufacturer to prove that Nigerians can do it, and the inspiration was drawn from a desire to see Nigerians drive new cars.

“Nigeria has become a dumping ground for secondhand cars. I know it was the high price of new vehicles that made Nigerians resort to patronising old vehicles, but since we decided to manufacture the vehicles here, the price is affordable, and our people can drive new vehicles again,” he told Vanguard.

Breakthrough He faced a lot of challenges at the beginning because some people felt it would not work, but today, the group employs more than 7,400 Nigerians as part of the testament of success.

Chukwuma recalled to Vanguard: “I started as a small businessman dealing in spare parts in Nnewi.

“At that time, people were bringing only secondhand motorcycles to Nigeria, and I felt there should be a way to reduce the price of new ones, so that people would be interested enough to buy new ones, rather than the secondhand motorcycles.

“I travelled overseas and found out that there were four companies importing motorcycles into Nigeria.

“First was Leventis that was bringing the Honda brand, the second company was Yamaco that was bringing Yamaha,

IVM assembly plant

Chukwuma

“It amuses me when we hear some states saying they are importing buses for their mass transit schemes from other countries while a company like Innoson is here producing the same.” the other company was Bolus that was bringing Suzuki, and the fourth was CFAO that was bringing Mobilet.

“These were the companies that were dealing in motorcycle in Nigeria, and my company was the next one.

“I discovered that when they brought the motorcycles in crates and each crate contained one motorcycle which took a lot of space and you could put about 40 units in one 40ft-container.

“With 40 units of motorcycles in a 40ft-container, the motorcycle would become expensive.

“So after evaluating it, I went to overseas and packed 200 units in one 40ft-container and my price came down by 40

per cent. Of course, this was cheaper.”

Chukwuma discovered that if he disassembled the parts, brought them in and assembled locally, it reduced the cost of packing fully assembled machines.

This led to a reduction in the price of motorcycles from N150,000 to N60,000.

He also discovered that there are a lot of plastics in a motorcycle and set up a plant to produce the plastic components locally.

Today, nobody thinks of buying secondhand motorcycles in Nigeria. A new one is cheap.

Chukwuma has also reduced the price of vehicles.

55 ICT education TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

Company Focus Evans Industries introduces new soap brands

June 26, 2016

with

Jed Adeyemi 0811 475 8106, 0909 128 6488 jedlafrica@yahoo.com

ICT in modern economy (2) • Continued from last edition

E

vans Industries, a subsidiary of Ekulo Group of Companies, is increasing its value contributions to consumers by providing total skin care protection, using the Meditol range of soaps.

The new products come in handy at this time of high humidity caused by unrelenting rainfall which increases the risk of skin infections.

They include Meditol Medicated and Antiseptic, Meditol Gentle with olive oil, Meditol Herbal with Aloe Vera, Meditol Classic with Shea butter, Meditol Cool with menthol, and Meditol Original with avocado.

Meditol medicated antiseptic

and

Meditol medicated and antiseptic soap has Trichlorocarbanilide (TCC) as the active ingredient, a highly effective broad spectrum microbial agent.

It also has • PCMX (cholorxylenol), a surfactant composition which exhibits both high degree of antimicrobial efficacy and low skin irritability.

• Monosulfiram. Effective in the prevention and treatment of scabies, eczema, skin rash.

• Halogenated phenois. A highly effective antibacterial agent.

The soap eliminates all bacteria, and fungi infections prevalent among children of school age. It forms a protective barrier over the skin that protects and defends.

The soap also makes it easier to manage skin issues

Calling software development a sub-profession in ICT does not diminish it or any of the other subprofessions. Each is a full scale profession on its own.

Software is central to ICT; there is no ICT without software.

A software developer can develop a desktop app, web app or mobile app. These are the three most common apps, though there are others.

For the purpose of this article, discussing these three is enough.

In any software development project (desktop, web or mobile), the five different stages apply: requirement gathering, analysis and design, implementation (coding), testing, and deployment.

All the five stages were explained in part one of this article.

among consumers living in crowded compounds.

Meditol gentle with olive oil Meditol Gentle with olive oil has effective emollient which is olive oil as the base ingredient.

It is formulated for people with dry and sensitive skin, and is effective in relieving symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.

It has anti-inflammatory properties that assist in healing skin, reducing pains from skin abrasions and wounds; it leaves skin moisturised with natural squalene.

It also brightens the skin.

Meditol Herbal with Aloe Vera Meditol Herbal with Aloe Vera has the therapeutic qualities of Aloe Vera used in all spectrums of medicine as a result of its curative abilities.

This soap has the ability to heal the skin from scars, with natural restorative abilities.

It is beneficial for acne prone skin, reduces skin irritation, inflammation and ensures a naturally moisturised glowing skin with all the advantages of God-made skin protection abilities found in the aloes.

It also ensures a radiant healthy skin.

Meditol Classic with Shea butter Meditol Classic with Shea

Desktop app butter is endowed with the beautifying abilities of Shea butter, a natural emollient used in Africa for centuries.

It is effective for balancing the skin surface against weather extremes during rainy and dry seasons. The soap helps minimise the appearance of stretch marks.

It relieves symptoms of eczema and psoriasis; helps heal cuts and burns without scaring, ensures a bright skin, and restores elasticity to the skin in old age.

Meditol Cool with menthol Meditol Cool with menthol refreshes active people after a day’s toil, especially sports people.

It helps relieve stress and fatigue, soothes and tones skin, disinfects and brightens it.

The soothing and comforting qualities are good for sensitive or acne prone skin.

Meditol Original avocado

with

Meditol Original with avo-

cado has the moisturising qualities of avocado. The soap • Is effective for dry skin.

• Restores the natural glow and youthful resilience to skins in the harsh tropics.

• Helps cure skin irritations as a result of naturally dry skin types such as eczema, psoriasis, and flaking skins.

• Moisturises the skin with the fatty oils in the avocado oil, nurturing skin with Vitamins A, D & E. • Contains natural anti-oxidants to reduce wrinkles thus reducing the impact of ageing.

• Leaves the skin with a bright healthy and supple sheen.

Ekulo Group is the manufacturer of the Eva complexion soap range which leads the pack in indigenously manufactured beauty soaps.

The company hopes to set the pace and direction for the antibacterial soap market by filling gaps in the product delivery and availability of the various soap types in the Meditol range of medicated soap.

A desktop app is developed to be installed on a particular computer (desktop or laptop).

The common technologies (programming languages) for developing a desktop app include Java, C, C++.

In modern times, Java seems to be the most preferred, and I strongly recommend it to aspiring desktop app developers.

Web app A web app is designed and developed to run on a web server. Most web apps have a client side and server side. These are often referred to as front-end and back-end.

The client side is the view the user sees on his browser, the server side resides in the web server.

The server side serves the client-side, receives request from the client (user’s browser), and sends response to the client.

Most web apps have a database component. So, most web app developers have some proficiency in database administration. They are able to use, manage, and query database servers such as MySQL, Oracle, to mention a few.

What is the difference between a web site and a web app?

A web site is built by a web developer; most often, the content is static.

It can only be changed (if required by the sponsor) by the web developer himself.

A web app generally has dynamic content.

The content viewed by two different users is not the same. It is usually fed into the app (site) by the app users. The content changes dynamically based on what the user is doing.

Of course, some web app developers can do web development. Such may not need a web developer while building a web app project; except the workload is much, and in that case, it is for the division of labour.

However, if he is not proficient in web development, he would always need a web developer working with him on his projects.

This shows that web development (front-end development) is different from web app development (server-side development), though a person may build competence and proficiency in the two.

Another difference between a web site and web app is that a web site’s content is fed by the web developer, and it is intact until changed by the web developer.

A web app’s content is fed by the app user (most times), and the content changes continuously.

Mobile app A mobile app is designed to be installed on mobile devices such as Tabs, Smartphones, Ipad, PDAs, et cetera.

For mobile apps, Java is recommended in these modern times. Java2 Micro Edition is customised for mobile development.

They are deployable on Android, IMAC, Blackberry devices, et cetera.

Most economic analysts agree there is a huge and positive prospect for ICT in Nigeria as well as other African nations.

Building a career as a web developer, software developer, business intelligence analyst (BIA), database administrator, et cetera, can be a security against unemployment.

• Continues in next edition.

56

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Maritime

Importers, exporters, agents bicker over port charges

Stories by Foster Obi

Motoring/Maritime Editor

T

here may be unrest at the ports as stakeholders feel aggrieved over the recent increase in cargo handling and shipping charges by terminal operators and shipping companies.

Some told TheNiche the new charges from June 1 are unwarranted.

Most importers believe the concessionaires, mainly foreigners, introduced the charges without consultation as required by law, in order to depress the economy, create capital flight, and emasculate the masses who bear the brunt.

They wondered why, in spite of outcry, each time an arbitrary step is taken by terminal and shipping companies the authorities hardly do anything, which suggests highly placed persons

benefit from this multitude of charges.

Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Apapa Chapter Public Relations Officer, Emeka Chukwumalu, said terminal operators and shipping companies introduce charges that are forced down the throats of importers and freight forwarders.

“Just take a debit note at the ports and you see the difference between the old charges and the new ones. It is just too much.

Nobody is telling anybody anything,” he lamented.

“These guys have the latitude to increase charges anytime they want and this time it is uncalled for.

“Why are they increasing charges at this time in the nation’s economy? Is it not to create hardship in the country?

Are they saying that imports are much and they want to discourage them or what?

“Everybody knows that only

a few people are importing now so do they want to kill the economy finally?

“I believe there is a con game going on that we don’t know about. There are people eating from these things and this is why the regulators are not talking. This time they have taken it too high and something needs to be done.

“A lot of people moving around at the ports are selfemployed people who manage to renew their licences yearly.

Now there are scarcely imports and you are introducing more charges.

“Most of this people may be forced out of the ports into crime and the country will be the worse for it. This is why I believe that there should be caution in issues like this.”

Uburu Maritime Managing Director, David Pius, said most foreigners conversant with the loose Nigerian system take advantage of it to exploit people.

He moaned that most increments and sharp practices at the ports are hardly cautioned.

Pius recalled that terminal operators recently took the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) to court when it stepped in to reverse a similar increase and the court gave judgment in favour of the NSC as the economic regulator.

He wondered why the NSC is now a toothless bulldog refusing to enforce the court order.

The NSC could not be reached for comment at press time, despite attempts by TheNiche.

In its reaction, the Association of Exports Commodity and Manufacturing Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AECMFFN) threatened to shut down or boycott the ports if the charges are not reversed.

AECMFFN President, Olubunmi Olumekun, said exporters would not pay the new fees of

N40,000 on 20ft and N60,000 on 40ft containers.

Terminal operators had sent notices of fee increase from N4,200 per 20ft container to N40,000 and N6,200 per 40ft container to N60,000 alerting exporters that the new rate would take effect from June 1, 2016.

Olumekun recalled that before port concession, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) charged N516 on 20ft containers, which was later increased to N2,100.

He said the new charges are additional to storage and renomination fees charged if a container is not shipped.

“When port concession came, we paid the terminal operators N4,200 per 20ft container and N6,200 per 40ft container.

“Now, we are expected to pay N40,000 per 20ft container and N60,000 per 40ft container.

Is this how we are going to survive and diversify the nation’s

economy?’’ he wondered. ``Unless the federal government intervenes quickly, we would be left with no option than to either shut down the ports or leave the export business.

“Forty 40 per cent of exporters have closed shop; out of the 30 per cent remaining, 60 per cent are smuggling commodities through Cotonou and Niger Republic.

“Our cashew nuts are smuggled though Cotonou, while sesame seeds are smuggled through Niger Republic because of the high cost of exportation.”

NPA General Manager (Western Ports), Michael Ajayi, warned that “shutting down the ports is a criminal offence.”

He asked those aggrieved to utilise available channels to air grievances as the NPA will not tolerate the closure of the sea ports because it is sabotage and treasonable.

Customs revenue declines

R

Ali

evenue of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dropped, according to its Comptroller General, Hameed Ali, who made the disclosure when he visited the District Head of Gwadabawa, Sokoto State, Lawal Zayyana.

Ali said revenue slumped from N50 billion monthly from an average N80 billion because of low domestic and international trade and foreign reserves.

He warned that smuggling is crippling the economy, and “the only solution remains focusing more attention on mechanised farming to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food

production.''

He promised that Customs personnel will continue to live above board so as to stop smuggling, including of arms and illicit drugs.

The drop in revenue impinges on the confidence Ali had expressed that the NCS would make N1 trillion in 2016.

“We have not received the 2016 revenue target from the budget office yet but we normally set a target for ourselves and we are looking at N1 trillion for 2016,” he said during the celebration of International Customs Day (ICD).

“We hope and are working to block all leakages and making sure

NPA sets $1.2b revenue target

D

espite the twists and turns in the economy, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is creating strategic partnerships and encouraging exports to achieve its revenue target of $1.2 billion for 2016.

NPA Managing Director, Habib Abdullahi, said the NPA is reaching out to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Ministries of

Agriculture and Solid Minerals to help diversify revenue streams, especially in growing exports.

According to him, the NPA may even surpass its target if economic indices improve, adding that it is set to dedicate some port terminals to agriculture and solid minerals exports.

The NPA is collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on how to achieve the milestone.

Abdullahi said this would help diversify the economy and compensate for revenue loss, as there is an urgent need to utilise the many idle containers in the ports and those being taken away empty.

For him, the primary responsibility of the NPA is to raise more revenue for the government and assist in expanding the economy and reducing dependence on oil.

that our system works perfectly’ and hopefully the polices of the government will also be in our favour ….

“The deployment of e-customs has boosted the Customs’ role of providing connectivity between nations divided by artificial borders.

“Collection of revenue and interception of harmful imports have been made easier with the help of technology.

“In line with the change mantra of the present government, let me remind all operatives and stakeholders alike not to abuse the process and corrupt the system.

“Any act calculated to distort and compromise the integrity of e-cus-

toms will not be tolerated and will be met with appropriate sanctions.”

Ali said the Customs always plays a leading role in using technology for collaboration and efficiency.

According to him, the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) and Nigeria Trade Hub and the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) are electronic platforms for effective collaboration and ease of doing business in Nigeria.

He promised that stakeholders who distinguish themselves in the deployment and transparent use of e-customs to enhance revenue and national security would be encouraged and rewarded.

M toring www.thenicheng.com

Ford Escapes rough roads with midsize SUV Stories by Foster Obi

F

but found the smaller Escape better sized for my needs.

The second respondent said: “It drives great in rain.

Good quiet ride for a midsize vehicle. Good styling and comfort. Plenty of options on SE model available, unlike competitors’ lower end models.

“My wife doesn't like FOB's and button start and wanted a key and so considering its features the Escape presents the best option.

“It has door combination lock, also a requirement not available on lower models of competitors we visited. It boasts nice panoramic sunroof sync 3 which works well with android and iPhone.

But the third respondent took a different angle.

For him, the Escape is not keeping up with times.

“No phone storage spot for driver except cup holders, thus losing a cup holder.

Limited storage space throughout, glove box almost hits passenger seat.

“Not functional with

seated passenger. I do not fancy the smaller interior compared to competing brands.”

A female respondent added that “overall the car is awesome for our needs.

We use it to go places, even climb mountains from 1,000+ feet to about 7,200 feet and we are pleased with the fuel usage.

“The 1.6 has a tendency to downshift with anything but casual acceleration, but still has enough power to feel safe in passing.

We have only about 2,000 miles on the car but no problems whatsoever.”

The last person said: “I purchased a 2016 Ford Escape after owning the older style Escapes and Mazda Tributes. I basically went from the boxy type to the more sleek, sporty design.

“The pluses

with the car are pick up and manoeuvrability. If you have a passenger in the front seat and passengers in the back seat, visibility and blind spots become an issue.

“Even with the back up camera, I don't feel confident backing up without visually seeing my surroundings.

“Overall, it's a nice vehicle and certainly far better in engineering than a Nissan Rogue. If it wasn't for the fuel consumption being so disappointing, I would give the car a five star rating.”

5. Windscreen wipers Replace your windscreen wipers once a year to prevent smearing.

lights, brake lights and fog lights – once a week.

Look out for blown bulbs and cracks or dirt on the lenses.

6. Screenwash

9. Power steering

By law, your screenwash system must work. Keep it regularly topped up with a good screenwash additive – one that prevents it from freezing, and clears oily dirt.

Make sure your garage fills your hydraulic fluid reservoir when they service your car.

Then all you have to do, once a month, is check its levels; if necessary, you can top up with a recommended fluid.

Maintenance tips Ways to prevent vehicle breakdown Nowadays most car owners are hardly up to date with maintenance, especially because of economic hardship.

However, some understand the necessity and make sacrifices to keep their cars in good shape.

One of the very first things to do is avoid vehicle breakdown which could cause a serious setback.

The first and most important thing to do if your car is brand new is to stick to your manufacturer's advice on servicing.

Your handbook will tell you when a service is due and exactly what's needed – just take your car for servicing promptly.

The second is to do your own simple car maintenance checks.

Here are professional suggestions:

1. Tyres Every two weeks, check

your tyre pressures and the condition of your tyres (including the spare). Look out for cuts or wear and make sure your tread is within allowable limits.

2. Toolbox If your car has a spare wheel, then at the very least you need to carry a jack and wheel removing tools (plus a locking wheel nut key if appropriate).

3. Engine oil Use your dipstick to check oil levels every couple of weeks, and before any long journey, and top up if needed. Take your car back to the garage if you're topping up more than usual.

4. Water Every week, while your engine's cold, check your coolant level is between the MIN and MAX marks.

7. Windscreen Keep an eye out for stone damage and, if you spot any chips, get them repaired as soon as possible (they can grow and crack if left alone).

If the damage can't be repaired, or it's in a place where it could distract you, your windscreen may need to be replaced.

8. Lights Check all your lights – including indicators, reversing

10. Bodywork Give your car panels an occasional once-over for any damage, or signs of rust.

These maintenance checks are all fairly straightforward, but if you cannot do them yourself, then its better you find a good mechanic in your area to check your car for you.

57

Carmagedeon

By Jonas Agwu 0805 316 6400 jonasagwu65@yahoo. com

Vulcanizer blunders and tyre blowout (2) • Continued from last edition

Motoring/Maritime Editor

ord Escape is one of the cars from the Ford stable trending in Nigeria, promoted by Coscharis.

Like most Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) that ply Nigerian roads, it has enormous strength but has its downsides, too.

Over the years, the Escape has undergone tremendous upgrade that has attracted more buffs. The 2016 Escape is considered an outstanding SUV. Some users of the car in a recent survey said some things about it.

The first respondent said: “I had a 2005 Mazda Tribute before this SUV and the upgrade to the 2016 Escape is outstanding. My fuel economy is greatly improved and Maintenance is a lot lower.

“The driving with the 2.0L has been a blast and the SUV has increasable speed that makes you move.

“The very best thing in the SUV is the design and look inside as the model I have is the higher end with all the bells and whistles.

“I think for the price and what you get in this SUV is a great bargain as friends that drive MB and Audi model now prefer driving my Escape at times.

“I want to mention that I looked around at a lot of models, including the Edge,

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

There are shocking blunders by vulcanizers in Nigeria. An experience I had with one paints a grim picture of the danger all motorists could face daily.

My vehicle has tyre pressure specification of 35 psi by the manufacturer. One day, I drove into a vulcanizer’s shop to pump up one of my tyres. After pumping, the vulcanizer got 35psi reading on his pencil tyre gauge.

I checked with my dial tyre gauge to confirm his reading and got a whooping 60 psi. I asked him to check again with his own gauge. Again he got 35 psi while mine still read 60 psi.

Why the huge differences in reading? Who was right?

The first blunder is that most vulcanizers use the worst tyre gauge – the pencil gauge that malfunctions easily when subjected to heavy usage.

How? This gauge has a calibrated piston that is pushed by air that comes out from the tyre when connected to the valve stem.

The extent to which the piston is pushed depends on the pressure in the tyre.

The higher the pressure, the farther the piston will be pushed and the higher the reading.

With heavy usage (as in everyday application by a vulcanizer), the hole through which air passes to activate the piston can be constricted by dust coming out from the unprotected valve stem of the tyre and also by the rust due to moisture from the damp air coming out from the tyre.

With the air passage so narrowed, the amount of air passing through it no more corresponds to the air pressure in the tyre, and so a faulty reading results.

Worse still, when this happens, there is no way the user will know.

It will still give reading but a highly incorrect reading.

That was the case with vulcanizer I had the encounter with.

When I explained to him why his gauge was the one at fault, he did not agree, saying he had been using the gauge for long and never had any problem with it.

Because of the seriousness of the issue, I had to prove to him conclusively that he was wrong and endangering the lives of road users.

We got a brand new pencil gauge that has not been compromised by dust and rust. When it was used to gauge my tyre, the reading corresponded exactly to what I got with my gauge.

He had no more argument and willingly complied with my demand to submit the dangerous gauge to me because I insisted he must not use it again.

This type of gauge is also affected by temperature, humidity, and altitude. So, the readings got at different locations and weather conditions could differ substantially.

Most vulcanizers have used this type of gauge daily for years.

The one used by the vulcanizer mentioned above had signs of abuse and over-use all over it. It is the same story North, East, South, and West.

But why do vulcanizers use this type of gauge? Essentially because it is the cheapest in the market.

The second blunder is that vulcanizers use one pencil type of gauge for all tyre pressure measurements.

Why is it a blunder? Every gauge has a calibration range designed for a certain pressure group and will only be accurate when used for such pressure group.

Gauges are accurate when used to measure pressures whose values fall within the middle range of the gauge.

For instance, if you have a gauge with range 0-60psi, the middle range is 30psi. This gauge will be accurate for pressures whose values fall around 30psi. So, pressures that should be measured with this gauge should be about 25-35psi.

Gauge of range 0-100psi should be used for pressures of 45-60psi or close. Gauge of range 0-160 should be used for pressures of 75-120psi.

If one uses a gauge not designed for a particular pressure group, one will get incorrect and misleading reading.

Vulcanizers are ignorant of this. Most of them use 0-160psi or 0-120psi gauges for all their tyre pressures, thinking that a wide ranged gauge should accommodate all the tyre pressures they measure.

This sounds logical but grossly wrong and very dangerous.

You can imagine the combine effects of blunders one and two discussed above.

So, while someone drives into the vulcanizer’s shop to fix a tyre pressure problem, he or she inadvertently sets a problem up for the very problem one has gone to fix.

The result is that almost all the vehicles that ply our roads have their tyres incorrectly inflated. Just run a random check and you will confirm this. What a time bomb these vehicles could be.

You can imagine what could have happened if I had driven away with 60psi pressure in a tyre designed for 35psi. Yet this is the fate all motorists face every day.

How many people have a personal gauge to confirm what the vulcanizer pumps into their tyres?

Since lives are involved, a reliable tyre gauge cannot be compromised. The correctness of the tyre pressure is as good as the gauge used to measure it. So, it is of vital importance that tyres are accurately gauged and pumped.

This therefore emphasises the urgent need for vulcanizers to use accurate and reliable tyre gauges that can also tell when they malfunction. Otherwise one will get readings without being aware of them, and that could mean disaster.

A reliable gauge has a fully geared precision movement parts and with bourdon tube. Unlike the piston-plunger type gauges (the pencil type), the bourdon tube movement is not affected by changes in temperature, humidity or altitude, and so will give correct reading anywhere and anytime.

When it malfunctions, the needle on the dial indicates by erratic movement when gauging tyre pressure. A sample of this gauge has been presented to vulcanizers and they are willing to use it.

A vulcanizer should also have at least two gauges of different ranges (0-60psi and 0-100psi) as explained above.

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June 26, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Tourism/Aviation

Tourist spending in Japan reaches record one trillion yen • Chinese accounted for 47% of the spending in third quarter • Slide in the yen, looser visa rules luring overseas visitors

F

oreign tourists to Japan spent a record 1 trillion yen ($8.3 billion) in the three months through September 2015 as Chinese visitors – encouraged by a weaker yen – continued to splash their cash.

The number of visitors rose to 5.35 million, up 54 per cent from the third quarter of 2014, the Japan Tourism Agency said.

Not only are more people going to Japan, but they are spending more, with the average person using about 187,000 yen per trip – a rise of 18 per cent.

Chinese tourists accounted for 47 per cent of the spending – an average of about 281,000 yen per person – followed by visitors from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

A relaxation of visa restrictions is helping to lure visitors, and

the Japanese currency’s slide makes it cheaper for foreigners to snap up duty-free products and stay in the nation’s hotels.

Diplomatic ties between the governments in Tokyo and Beijing have also thawed in recent months.

With the world’s third-largest economy stalling, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is betting that overseas tourists will take up some of the slack.

He is targeting a rise in international visitors to 30 million by 2030, from the 12.9 million that came in the first eight months of 2015.

Yoshihide Suga, the government’s top spokesman, said the figures are proof of the need for further administrative and regulatory reforms in Japan.

• Culled from www.bloomberg. com

The number of visitors rose to 5.35 million, up 54 per cent from the third quarter of 2014, the Japan Tourism Agency said. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

Swiss investor sees Alpine hotel dwarfing London’s Shard

quired from the federal government, and citizens could also challenge decisions in court.

“I don’t give this project such big chances,” said Lukas Buehlmann, director of the Swiss National Planning Association. “In Switzerland, one is generally very skeptical about skyscrapers – people tend to think small is beautiful.”

Switzerland’s tourism industry has faced tough times in recent years, with the number of guests declining in part because of the franc’s strength.

Towns such as Grindelwald, Interlaken, and Davos have tried to attract more visitors from Asian countries.

An architectural rendering shows the design of a hotel, proposed to be built in Vals, Switzerland. Vals, a Swiss mountain village of about 1,000 people known for its thermal spa, will become home to a luxury hotel taller than London's Shard under plans announced by the project's investor, Remo Stoffel.

Source: Morphosis Architects, 7132 Ltd. via Bloomberg

T

he owner of a spa complex in the Swiss mountain village of Vals says he now wants to build a luxury hotel nearby that would be taller than London’s Shard at a fraction of the cost.

The 381-metre (1,250-foot) tower would cost less than 300 million francs ($313 million), Remo Stoffel, 38, said.

The Shard and a neighbouring

building, which opened in 2012, cost about 1.5 billion pounds ($2.2 billion).

Stoffel said he has access to sufficient funds to pay for the project, without elaborating.

For it to come to fruition, the local zoning ordinance probably will have to be revised and the canton will have to give its approval, according to planning experts, including Heinz Beiner at Zurich-based Planpartner.

A green light may even be re-

UNWTO to hold global conference on wine tourism in Georgia

By Nnanna Okere

American architect

Special Correspondent, Helsinki

Designed by American architect, Thom Mayne, the Vals hotel would have 107 rooms on 82 floors.

The budget is less than the 550 million francs set aside for a 50-story tower that drug maker Roche Holding AG is constructing in Basel.

That will be Switzerland’s tallest skyscraper when it’s completed in 2021.

Vals is about a two-hour train ride from Zurich in the eastern canton of Graubuenden.

Adding to the challenges faced by mountain resorts, where tourism is a significant source of local jobs, Swiss voters in 2012 approved a ban on the construction of vacation homes in a bid to counter what they feared was unbridled development of the Alpine landscape.

Voters in nearby Celerina opposed the construction of a 17-storey hotel in 2008. More recently, Graubuenden voters shot down a proposal to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics in a 2013 referendum.

The Vals project is “marketing”, architecture critic Benedikt Loderer said in an interview with the newspaper Tages-Anzeiger.

“If I were allowed to vote in Vals, I’d definitely vote ‘no.’”

• Culled from www.bloomberg.com

he first United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Global Conference on Wine Tourism, to be held in the Kakheti wine region between September 7 and 9, 2016, was officially launched by UNWTO and the Georgia National Tourism Administration at the World Travel Markets in London.

UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, led the presentation with the Head of Georgian National Tourism Administration, George Chogovadze, and the Georgian Ambassador to Spain, Zurab Pololikashvili.

Rifai said: “Wine tourism represents a growing segment with immense opportunities to diversify demand.

“In the case of Georgia, this potential is well known and we are very

T

pleased to be holding the first UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism in the country.”

Dimitry Kumsishvili, Georgian Economy and Sustainable Development minister, explained that “Georgia’s unique winemaking traditions date back 8,000 years and are part of UNESCO’s intangible heritage, creating the ideal base to host the Wine Tourism Conference.

“Herewith, the country’s recent success in attracting a growing number of tourists, its development in terms of tourism products, branding and marketing present an excellent platform to share best practices, experience and knowledge.”

Gastronomy and wine have become key components for experiencing the culture and lifestyle of any destination and a growing travel motivation.

To develop this segment, UNWTO launched the UNWTO Gastronomy Network in September

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ATHLETICS

TENNIS

FLASHBACK

SPORTS

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FOOTBALL Football

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Ayo Bada Senior Correspondent 0805 410 3980, 0803 332 2615 ayobad@yahoo.com a.bada@thenicheng.com

BASKETBALL

»

Let’s focus, Austin tells fellow Rivers Utd players

FOOTBALL

PAGE 63

»

Adebayor mourns Keshi

Pinnick confident in Enyimba’s CAF Champions League pedigree

N

igeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, has charged players and officials of Enyimba FC not to drop their heads or lose focus following last Sunday’s Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Champions League defeat by visiting Egyptian side, Zamalek FC. Nigeria’s flag bearers in Africa’s most prestigious club competition fell by a lone goal against the Egyptians, who scored through Bassem Morsy in the first half at a waterlogged Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Teams playing in the group stage know every match counts not only for the money but also for the points.

Defeat in the very first game of the lucrative pool stage could demoralise a team, but Pinnick expressed optimism that Enyimba could still go all the way.

Morsy headed Zamalek in front in the seventh minute, when his effort lobbed over goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai.

Enyimba was only a shadow of itself at the adopted home ground in Port Harcourt as it failed to get the better of the Egyptian giants, who surprisingly were missing some key players, including inspirational captain, Mahmoud Shikabala, and playmaker, Ayman Hefny.

The kick-off was delayed by heavy rain, and the waterlogged pitch made it impossible for both teams to string passes.

Pinnick said: “What matters is not

the beginning, but how well you cope along the way and how strongly you finish. Nothing is lost.

“You are not nicknamed ‘People’s Elephant’ for nothing.

“I remember that it was not all smooth-sailing in the group stage when you won the trophy for Nigeria for the first time in 2003, and even when you went ahead to retain it the following year.

“Your spirit matters, and I know that you do not lack the winning mentality.

“The important thing now is to forget the loss to Zamalek and re-strategise, and believe you would not only top your group at the end, but go ahead to win the CAF Champions League trophy.”

In 2003, Enyimba was pole-axed 6-1

by Ismaily of Egypt in the group stage, only to beat the team over two legs in the final to win the trophy.

In 2004, Enyimba lost 0-1 in Nigeria to Africa Sports of Cote d’Ivoire, and got only one point from two clashes with Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in the group stage, but defeated the Tunisian club on penalties in the final to lift the trophy.

Enyimba next faces Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in Pretoria, in a competition that rewards winners of every match with $10,000 and pays $1,000 for every goal scored.

In the other game in Group B played penultimate Saturday, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns stunned ES Setif 2-0 at Stade 8 Mai 1945 in Setif.

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June 26, 2016

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Basketball

I gave everything to win NBA title, says James

I

gave it everything I had. I poured my heart, my blood, my sweat, and my tears into this game."

Those were the words of LeBron James as he made Cleveland Cavaliers to become the first team to overturn a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven National Basketball Association (NBA) finals as they beat Golden State Warriors.

A LeBron James-inspired Cavaliers won the deciding game 93-89 to complete their comeback against the defending champions, who had won a record 73 games out of 82 in the regular season.

James scored 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds to help Cleveland to their first NBA title.

Cleveland coach, Tyronn Lue, who replaced the fired David Blatt in January, said: "We made history tonight. Cleveland,

Ohio, we're coming back, baby!"

Kyrie Irving scored 26 points for the Cavaliers, including a three-pointer with 52 seconds remaining when the scores were locked at 89-89.

Cleveland's historic comeback was completed against the best regular season team in history.

Led by Steph Curry, the Warriors had set a new record by winning 73 games, beating the mark set by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls side in 1995-96.

Cleveland's success also ended the city's 52-year wait for a major sporting title.

Their last significant success was an NFL crown for the Cleveland Browns in 1964.

The gap between victories represented the longest barren spell for any city in the United States.

James was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the finals for the third

James won the finals' MVP award for a third time time. He also won the award in 2012 and 2013 while helping Miami Heat to the title.

Following last Sunday's

Athletics

D

ouble Olympic champion, Kelly Holmes, welcomes the decision of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to uphold Russia's ban from international competition.

The ban, imposed after accusations of statesponsored doping, means Russia's track-and-field team is suspended from the Rio Olympics, although individual athletes can compete if they prove they are clean.

Holmes, who won the 800m and 1500m in Athens, told BBC Radio Kent: "Until we make a stance, nothing changes.

You can't go through life in sport with everybody being speculated on and everybody having a downer on sport.

"Being an ex-Olympian, I'm passionate about my sport. You don't want it

tarnished by issues that happen in Russia and all over the world and in other sports, where people are cheating the system."

The International Olympic Committee has the power to overturn the IAAF's decision, but has strongly supported it, saying the ruling is in line with the IOC's "zero-tolerance policy".

It said in a statement it "fully respected" the IAAF's position, adding: "The eligibility of athletes in any international competition including the Olympic Games is a matter for the respective international federation."

Holmes, who retired in 2005, said her view is influenced largely by her own experience of competing against athletes she suspected of doping.

"It's been exposed now, but it's been happening for years.

"You had people like myself, who went through

victory, James, who ended his four-year spell with Miami to return to his home-town side in 2014, said: "I've had a goal for

two years since I came back to bring a championship to the city.

"I can't wait to get off that plane, hold that

trophy up and see all our fans at the terminal. To continue to be an inspiration to our city, it means everything."

Holmes backs IAAF's ban on Russia

Holmes won both prestigious middle-distance races at the 2004 Olympics years and years of determination, commitment, hard work and emotional trauma to try to reach my full potential, and you knew you could be in the

same race as someone who has done it with no tears.

“That's not funny and not fair.

"There are many –

99.9% of sports people – who do it the way I did it, for the love of the sport and the dreams that you have.

"It's really not right

when people do it by (unfair) means. That needs to be stopped. Until we make that stance, it's going to continue happening."

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

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61

Football Let’s focus, Austin tells fellow Rivers Utd players

R

ivers United captain, Festus Austin, has urged fellow players not to be downcast because of the 0-2 loss to FC Ifeanyi Ubah (FCIU) in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) last Sunday.

Goals from Wasiu Jimoh and Ismaila Gata won the game for the ‘Anambra Warriors’, the first time United would lose a game by more than a goal in all competitions this term.

Austin is, however, eager to see his charges lift themselves up and focus on upcoming games.

“The way we lost made us angry but it is a good reaction because it will spur us to perform better in subsequent games.We did not take our chances in the game and that was

why we lost,” he said.

“It is football though.

You win some and lose some. We will try to bounce back from this.”

Two players, Aremu Afeez and Bright Babatunde, made their debuts for United but Austin does not believe the team chemistry was affected.

“Our usual fluidity was not affected by the addition of the two new players. I am happy that we have very disciplined players who are willing to work.

“Our objectives remain clear and we will continue to work hard.

What happened last Sunday was just one bad result and we will put it behind us and focus on the games we will play in the coming days.”

Rivers United is second in the NPFL standings with 38 points from 22 matches.

??????????

Austin leading out his colleagues to the field

NFF frees Giwa FC’s players for other clubs

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has given provisional clearance to all players of Giwa FC of Jos to join other clubs.

A letter to the chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), signed by NFF General

Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said: “Based on the LMC’s expulsion of the club from the Premier League and the NFF ratification of the same measure and with special reference to article 14 & 23 of the FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players, all players of Giwa FC as pronounced by the LMC and the

NFF Disciplinary Committee are free to provisionally register for any club of their choice till the end of the 2015/2016 football season.

“Note also that all the players are to return to the management of Giwa FC after the last match of the 2015/2016 league season.”

place at the right time to score from 23 yards, after a poor clearance for Comets defender saw Martaba lash on to score, a goal Ugbade described as miraculous.

Ugbade said: "Well, it's was quite an interesting encounter today for the neutrals but I am not too satisfied as both teams had to share the points.

"As a technical man that I am, I would expect more from the lads but this does not take away the fact they gave a good account of themselves because it's not easy that we've seen two miracles in two matches."

Ugbade admitted he needs to address the team’s conversion of chances.

"Yes it is a very big problem for a technical crew, and at my level, creating the opportunities is one thing and converting them is another.

"We were not too good today because a team I handle for about one month is always about 50 per cent.

“The ability to listen and put to practice simple instructions is still amiss and its something I have to keep working on to ensure the team gets past the 50 per cent mark."

Fabiyi promises to bounce back Ugbade displeased with players

R

emo Stars Football Club remains unbeaten in the Nigeria National League (NNL) after it secured a vital 1-1 draw away from home in the Week 4 encounter against Abia Comets.

The Sky Blue Stars have won two and drawn two of their opening four games in the 2015/16 NNL season.

Pascal Eze set the ball rolling for the host in the second half after the first half ended scoreless.

Umar Martaba was at the right

Fabiyi in action for 3SC

S

hooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) goalkeeper, Emmanuel Fabiyi, plans to return to action soon, after he was stretched out in the away win against MFM FC at the Agege Mini Stadium, Agege, Lagos.

"I injured my toe and couldn't continue. It was a painful experience but

I'm hopeful that I'll make a return pretty soon.

"The scan will determine the extent of the injury but basically I think I may be out for two weeks and most likely make a return in three weeks’ time,” he said.

Fabiyi, former Kano Pillars goalkeeper, has played in 22 matches in all competitions for the Ibadan based outfit this term.

Remo Stars

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June 26, 2016

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Football

World Cup focus for Brazil's pragmatic new coach

Tite holds a Brazilian jersery after being appointed

A

denor Leonardo Bachi, better known as Tite, is the new head coach of the Brazilian national team.

His appointment was confirmed by the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) on Monday June 20, when he was unveiled at a press conference led

by CBF President, Marco Polo Del Nero.

"I've been given the nod to become the national team coach, and as I see it, the best way I can contribute is by applying the principles that have guided my life and career up to this point: transparency, democratisation, excellence and modernity," Tite said after being presented with an Auriverdes shirt

by Del Nero.

"We want the national team to grow and evolve.

This is a very big responsibility."

Rumours about his appointment had been rife since the CBF relieved Dunga of his duties on June 14.

By upper Friday, meanwhile, all that was missing was confirmation from the CBF, as Tite's mother

had even spoken of her emotion at her son getting the job.

The 56-year-old tactician feels that he is currently in the "best period" of his career and takes up the hot seat on the strength of winning a second Campeonato Brasileiro with Corinthians in 2015.

Joining him in his new post will be his son, Matheus, and Cleber Xavier, both of whom were part of his backroom staff at Corinthians, as well as Edu, who has resigned his position as the club's director of football to take on a coordination role for the national team.

Reaching Russia the priority Tite takes the reins following Brazil's disappointing Copa America Centenario campaign, although his most pressing task is to get it back on track in 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifying, where they currently lie sixth, outside both the automatic qualification and play-off spots.

"The aim is to qualify for the World Cup," he said.

"Of course that is achievable and we will work hard to make it happen. Still, we have to accept that there is a risk of not making it.

“Not accepting that would be to start out under an illusion, but there will be changes and we hope the team can rally and achieve it."

Given this focus, Tite will not coach the team that will compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic football tournament, where star player Neymar will be involved.

That responsibility will fall to Rogerio Micale, who was previously at the helm of the U-20s.

"To reiterate, the priority is [World Cup] qualifying and the upcoming two qualifiers. That's what we're targeting.

I need to get into the swing of that as quickly as possible.

“What's more, there are people who have been working with that team [the Olympic set-up] for the last year-and-a-half."

Open-minded pragmatist Tite was an intelligent midfielder who enjoyed

an 11-year professional career prior to hanging up his boots in 1989. Barely a year later, he ventured into the dugout for the first time at minnows Gremio Atletico Guarany.

Renowned for his upstanding character, rigorous professional ethics and forthright relationship with his players, he was linked with the Brazilian job on several occasions in the past when the coach at the time was under pressure.

However, he always refused to open talks with the CBF because he did not want to step on the incumbent's toes.

Advocating a pragmatic style of football, Tite tends to build his team from the back. Nevertheless, he has never lost sight of the importance of entertaining the fans and has rubbed shoulders with coaches representing a range of different philosophies.

For example, he has shadowed the likes of Carlos Bianchi, Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti during training sessions at Boca Juniors, Arsenal and Real Madrid respectively.

To date, his only jobs

outside Brazil were in the United Arab Emirates, where he had brief stints at Al Ain in 2007 and AlWahda in 2010.

Recipe for success Tite's biggest achievements have come at Corinthians, since rejoining the Sao Paulo outfit in 2010. He had previously spent a year there.

Having taken charge with the club mired in trouble, he promptly guided it to the title in the fiercely competitive Campeonato Brasileiro in 2011.

"If you have a group of players that only look out for themselves, that's the first step towards failure," Tite explained to FIFA.com following that triumph.

"But playing as a team doesn't mean that players won't stand out. They understand that by all pulling together they'll create a winning team that'll give everyone a chance to shine."

This was the start of a glittering period for the club, which also included an unbeaten run to the 2012 Copa Libertadores crown and then glory

in that year's FIFA Club World Cup, in which English giant Chelsea was put to the sword in the final.

Ahead of that Club World Cup, full-back Fabio Santos had offered FIFA.com an insight into how Tite makes teams tick: "The best thing about our squad is that we never rest on our laurels, and it's only logical that 90 per cent of that is down to Tite.

“He knows just how to get through to the players, and we always go into every game full of ambition."

Following a sabbatical in which he broadened his horizons and furthered his education with the aforementioned trips to Argentina, Spain and England, he returned for a third spell with Corinthians in 2015 and once more led it to league success.

Now he has left the club to embark on the biggest challenge of his coaching career, in which he will attempt to restore not just the Brazilian national team's winning mentality, but its sense of identity to boot.

• Courtesy FIFA.com

TheNiche

June 26, 2016

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Football

Adebayor mourns Keshi

T

ogolese captain, Emmanuel Adebayor, has mourned Stephen Keshi who passed away earlier this month from a heart attack aged 54.

Keshi qualified the Sparrow Hawks of Togo for its first and only World Cup finals appearance in 2006 in the first of two spells in charge of the national team.

Adebayor, a prominent member of the squad under the former Nigerian international,

described his former gaffer’s demise as a "great loss to African football.”

He told AFP: "I knew Keshi when I was very young. He taught me a lot in my career.

His death is a great loss to African football.”

Adebayor was speaking after an exhibition game in Lome last Sunday in honour of the late tactician.

The game, watched by almost 8,000 fans at the Municipal Stadium, was between the current Togolese national team and Keshi and Friends. It ended 6-2 in favour of the Hawks.

Keshi and Adebayor were

Hamren, others pay tribute to Ibrahimovic

Z

latan Ibrahimovic has retired from international football after Sweden was knocked out of Euro 2016.

The 34-year-old announced last Tuesday the tournament would be his last and he would not represent Sweden at the Rio Olympics as previously thought.

He scored 62 goals in 116 games, but failed to net at this year's Euros.

The former Ajax, FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Inter Milan striker, has been linked with a move to Manchester United since deciding to leave Paris St-Germain (PSG).

Swedish Coach, Erik Hamren, paid tribute, saying: "In a small country like Sweden, you will not find another player like him. He's really, really unique."

Sweden failed to win any of its three Group E games in France, drawing 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland and losing to both Italy and Belgium.

"It's heavy, it's disappointing, but at the same time I enjoyed it," Ibrahimovic said.

"We got the possibility to play at the Euros and repre-

sent Sweden.

"I have many fantastic memories from the national team."

The 6ft 5in striker made his international debut as a 19-year-old against the Faroe Islands and went on to score in his first competitive match – a qualifier for the 2002 World Cup against Azerbaijan.

He announced himself on the international stage with a spectacular back-heeled goal in the group stage of Euro 2004 against Italy, but missed a penalty as Sweden was eliminated in a quarter-final shootout.

Ibrahimovic was Sweden's main attacking threat at the 2006 World Cup but failed to find the net as the team was knocked out by hosts Germany.

He failed to score a single international goal for Sweden in both 2006 and 2007, a period marred by clashes with management and a shortlived self-imposed exile.

Although he played and scored at Euro 2008, the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup was just around the corner.

His appointment as captain for Euro 2012 qualifying

63

reinvigorated him and he scored one of the best goals of the tournament with a volley in a 2-0 win over France, although Sweden was still eliminated at the group stage.

One of his greatest international displays came against England later that year as he scored all four goals in a 4-2 friendly win, including a magnificent overhead kick from 35 yards.

Sweden failed to reach the 2014 World Cup despite eight goals from Ibrahimovic in qualifying, although his 50th goal in a friendly win over Estonia meant he became Sweden's all-time top scorer.

The qualifying campaign for Euro 2016 promised much – Ibrahimovic scored 11 times – but his international swansong was an anti-climax.

Sweden bowed out at the first hurdle with no wins, while Ibrahimovic managed just one shot on target in 270 minutes of football.

"Swedish style? No. Yugoslavian style? Of course not.

It has to be Zlatan-style."

On whether his mixed heritage influenced the way he plays "What Carew does with a football, I can do with an orange" – Responding to Norwegian striker, John Carew's suggestions that his flicks and tricks were "pointless" in the run-up to a meeting between the two countries in 2002.

"I have given an apology, not because I behaved incorrectly, but because it was a badly chosen occasion” – Ibrahimovic saying sorry for visiting a Stockholm nightclub straight after a poor Swedish performance in a Euro 2004 qualifier with Latvia.

"If you accuse me again, I'll break both your legs – and that time it will be on

purpose" – Response to Ajax teammate, Rafael van der Vaart's claim that Ibrahimovic deliberately set out to injure him in a Swedish-Netherlands friendly in 2004.

"It has always been a great honour, but for the time being I won't play for the national team because I am not motivated" – Sweden's failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup prompted Ibrahimovic to rule himself out of playing friendly fixtures.

"You can't coach brilliance like that" – On scoring with a jaw-dropping bicycle kick to a complete a hat-trick in a friendly against England in November 2012.

"A World Cup without me is nothing to watch, so it is not worth waiting for the World Cup" – Following Sweden's defeat by Portugal in the 2014 World Cup play-offs.

"They said they were going to send me to retirement.

I sent their whole nation into retirement” – A brace in Sweden's Euro 2016 playoff win over Scandinavian rivals Denmark was particularly sweet.

BBC Sport pundit, Mark Lawrenson, said: "It took a lot of people in England a long time to warm to him because he went a long time without scoring against Premier League opposition in the Champions League.

"But in the last two or three years he has been absolutely brilliant. What a player. If I was at Manchester United, I would take him in a heartbeat. He is still outstanding and Jose Mourinho will look after him."

Former Wales international, Dean Saunders: "If he comes to England this summer, there will be at least five or six times next season when you will sit back and clap."

involved in a bitter dispute that came to a head when the latter was left out of Togo’s opening game at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, a 2-0 defeat to DR Congo.

The official line was that of an injury to the then Arsenal striker, but reports later emerged that there was in-fighting on the Togolese team bus, with Keshi being restrained by the rest of the squad from a fist-fight with Adebayor.

Keshi, it emerged, felt he was owed a fee for the player's move from Monaco to Arsenal in the 2006 January transfer window.

Hodgson right to rest me, says Rooney

C

aptain Wayne Rooney insists England’s players "respected" Manager Roy Hodgson's decision to make six changes for last Monday's 0-0 draw with Slovakia.

There were reports that Rooney, who came on as a second-half substitute, was surprised at being left out.

But he insisted England was "a happy camp at the moment".

He added: "I respect Roy's decision. As a player, you want to play, but going into the last-16 game against Iceland I'll be a lot fresher."

As well as Rooney, Hodgson also chose to leave out Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane for the final Group B game.

The draw meant England lost out on top spot to Wales.

It now faces Iceland tomorrow, Monday June 27 for a place in the quarterfinals.

"I think it's a decision that Roy had to make in terms of keeping players fresh and believing in the squad he has got," added Rooney.

"I agree with it. The players that came in were good enough to win the game but you have to give credit to the opposition because they defended very well."

Rooney, leading England at a major tournament for the first time, will win his 115th cap tomorrow, equalling David Beckham's record for an outfield player.

"I've said many times that it is a huge honour to captain my country and

something I try and do to the best of my ability and with a lot of pride," he said.

England drew with both Russia and Slovakia either side of its last-minute 2-1 win over Wales.

Its lack of cutting edge led former England captain, Alan Shearer, to claim that no team will be scared of playing England in the knockout stages.

However, Rooney, 30, thinks differently.

"In my eyes, the group games have been good because we could have got false hope if we'd won all of them 2-0 or 3-0," said the Manchester United player.

"We're confident and we believe we can go to the end of this competition. If we play our best, we can give anyone a game and win."

Round of 16 fixtures

Sunday, June 26 France Vs R. of Ireland 14:00 Germany Vs Slovakia 17:00 Hungary Vs Belgium 20:00 Monday, June 27 Italy Vs Spain 17:00 England Vs Iceland 20:00

www.thenicheng.com

26:06:2016

FREE SPEECH

Reflection on Bayelsa State

By C. Don Adinuba

B

ayelsa State is a quintessence of how crisis of social values is at the root of the economic underperformance of societies and nations.

Speaking on television networks in the first week of this month, Governor Serieka Dickson ascribed his inability to pay the workforce in almost half a year to humungous debts accumulated by his predecessors.

Many governors borrow massively from banks and issue to the accountant general of the federation an irrevocable standing payment order (ISPO) to deduct the loans from source and pay creditors.

“I did not see what they did with all the monies they borrowed,” Dickson moaned.

Though he did not reveal his predecessors who put Bayelsa in peonage, the list may include Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. If that is so,then Dickson must accept responsibility for the state’s economic mess.

Only last April, he organised a high profile State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in honour of Alamieyeseigha, attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan and Alamieyesieghe’s widow, where he proudly announced the renaming of the state’s banquet hall and the road linking Yenagoa and Alamieyeseigha’s hometown of Amassoma in the late governor’s name.

He also announced that a mausoleum would be built for Alamieyesiegha in Ijaw Heroes Park. At the requiem on April 19 for the former governor, who was jailed for plundering the state (not Ni-

geria), Dickson called him repeatedly “a true hero”.

The governor general of the Ijaw nation, as Alamieyeseighe was fondly called, was one Nigerian public officer whose looting is fairly well documented.

In 2010, seven years after he was impeached, the British government returned to Bayelsa State five million pounds stashed away in the United Kingdom by Alamieyesieghe who had been arrested in September 2012 at Heathrow Airport for money laundering.

He had purchased five properties in London, kept one million pounds in cash in his London home and left $2.7 million in an account with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

He also had houses in the United States and South Africa – all acquired while he was governor of one of Nigeria’s poorest states.

While being tried in London in 2005, he escaped to Nigeria where he hoped that the constitutional immunity conferred on him as a governor would save him.

Many Africans do not seem to appreciate the correlation between high ethical standards and economic development. A society which allows its people to indulge in massive corruption cannot develop economically.

In 1958, the distinguished American sociologist, Edward Banfied, called attention to this reality through his seminal book, The Moral Basis of a Backward Society.

Banfield did a study of southern Italy which is called the Third World of Western Europe because of its economic backwardness, unlike northern Italy which is as developed as any other part of the First World.

The cultural values in southern Italy enable criminal organisations like the Mafia to reign supreme in cities like Sicily and Naples.

This great work by Banfield practically faded from the radar screen of many Western scholars until 1997 when Francis Fukuyama published his second book Trust: the Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity in which the polyvalent intellectual argues that the difference between poor and rich societies is the difference in the levels of social capital.

By social capital, Fukuyama means the stock of values like honesty, loyalty, integrity and trust. He calls societies with a substantial stock of these values high-trust ones and societies where the reverse is the case low-trust.

The examples Fukuyama cites for explaining why many nations in the Third World cannot build big businesses which outlive the founders and their families and consequently contribute significantly to national economic well being are arresting, but beyond the scope of this essay.

As a new millennium was about to dawn, Harvard University organised in 1999 a symposium to interrogate the powerful place of cultural values in societal and national development.

Papers delivered at the symposium were published the following year in Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress, a book edited by Lawrence Harrison and Samuel Huntington.

In a penetrating introduction, Huntington, author of the magnus opus, The Clash of Civilisations and the Remaking of World Order, provides a glimpse into why Southeast Asian nations like

South Korea and Singapore have recorded fantastic progress, despite the absence of natural resources, but not African countries like Ghana, in spite of the superabundance of resources like cocoa and gold.

Writes Huntington: “South Koreans valued thrift, education, organisation, and discipline. Ghanaians had different values. In short, cultures count”.

Despite its low population and relatively sparse population, Bayelsa receives one of the largest allocations from the federation account every month because it is a leading oil-producing state. Still, it owes workers for several months.

In contrast, a state like Anambra which receives almost an infinitesimal amount from the federation account and has a large population and a huge workforce, not only pays workers before month end but even increases salaries, employs more workers and continues with the construction of a large number of roads and state of the art aesthetic bridges.

Why wouldn’t Bayelsa be in financial doldrums when Dickson insists on holding up Alamieyeseigha as a role model in a state with personages like Larry Koinyan, Gabriel Okara and Mrs T. K. Agari, among numerous others who can hold their ground anywhere in the world intellectually and morally?

It should come to no one as a surprise that the incidences of contract padding and ghost workers in Bayelsa have been proved to be the worst in the whole country since Dickson, compelled by the ongoing economic crunch, began to check several leakages in the state’s treasury.

The terrible crisis of values

is not peculiar to Bayelsa.

A major public housing estate in Abuja is named after Ibrahim Abacha for dying on a presidential jet on January 17, 1996 while frolicking with his girlfriend.

Kano State stadium is named after Sani Abacha, a pathological buccaneer, with the millions of dollars he looted still being returned to Nigeria 18 years after his death.

In Anambra, the military regime changed Achalla Road in Awka to Prince Arthur Eze Avenue, after Eze had received $110 million and a huge naira component from the African Development Bank for rural water supply and rural electrification in the old Anambra State and the building of an industrial development centre in Awka but did practically nothing.

Eze took over the chairmanship of Premier Breweries, the biggest industry in Anambra State and third largest brewery in Nigeria, and ran it aground.

He became chairman of Orient Bank and as he was about to ground it, Paul Ogwuma, as Central Bank of Nigeria governor, not only removed him but banned him from ever being on the board of any bank.

But in typical Nigerian fashion, President Goodluck Jonathan awarded him a high national honour. About two months ago, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka bestowed an honorary doctorate on him.

It is a shame that most Nigerian public officers do not know the close relationship between values and economic development. Worse, our universities are steeped in a profound moral cesspool.

• Adinuba is head of Discovery Public Affairs Consulting.

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