Saturday 26th March 2016

Saraki's CCT Trial: APC's Deputy Spokesman Condemns Party's Indifference He gave his time, personal resources and energy to ensure the APC emerged victorious

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has spurned the party's leadership for allegedly leaving the Senate President, Bukola

Saraki to battle with his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal alone.

In a statement issued yesterday, Frank described the continued trial of the Senate President at the CCT as worrisome in view of the manifest flaws and in the processes

leading to the arraignment of Saraki.

Estranged Frank who has been quite critical of the conduct of party affairs in recent times, said it was dangerous that the leadership of the APC has decided to sit on the fence and watch Saraki swim or sink

in this trial.

He said: “I sincerely hold that the current trial of Saraki is not only underserved, but amounts to paying a good man with evil. I also want to say that the leaders of our great party have unfortunately remained quiet in the face of evil.

"I don't believe we have forgotten that the victory of the APC during the last general elections could not have been possible without courageous strategists like Saraki who lent his political weight in favour of the APC at the risk of their own lives and personal survival.

"I don't think we have forgotten how Saraki as a Senator in the 7th Senate brought the attention of Nigerians to the fraud perpetrated by the last administration in the name of fuel subsidy.

Continued on page 8

Fuel Scarcity: NNPC Begs Nigerians to be Patient ...Page 8 Saturday 26 March, 2016 Vol 21. No 7640 Price: N150

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Rivers: INEC Gives Conditions for Completion of Rerun Polls Promises to declare more collated results

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja In reaction to pressure to conclude the March 12 bloody rerun election in Rivers State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said that it would only fix a date for the conclusion after securing guarantees from security agencies, political parties and their supporters on a conducive atmosphere for a credible poll.

The commission in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by its Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, also promised to announce more results from the constituencies where it is satisfied that voting and colla-

Wike: Delay fuelled rumours, suspicion

tion were done in "substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and guidelines.”

In a swift reaction, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike welcomed the news, stating that the delay in declaring collated result was needless since the results in the different polling units were already known by everybody.

According to the commission, election results to be declared are from constituencies where collation had been concluded but declaration or return were yet to be made as well as areas where voting had been concluded and collation was on-going but yet to be concluded.

Continued on page 8

Missing Chibok Girl Nabbed in Cameroon after Failed Suicide Bombing Yemi Adebowale with agency report and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja A suspected suicide bomber intercepted in northern Cameroon yesterday before she could blow herself up is claiming to be one of 219 schoolgirls kidnapped

by Boko Haram terrorists in Chibok, Borno State in 2014, military and local government sources in Cameroon said.

Also yesterday, the military in the ongoing Boko Haram clearance operation, intercepted two female suicide bomber in a

Borno State town; one of them was killed before she could carry out the act, while the second one blew herself to death.

The two girls arrested in Cameroon yesterday were carrying explosives and were stopped by local self-defence forces in the village of Limani, in an area of northern Cameroon that has been the target of frequent suicide bombings in recent months.

They were then handed over to Cameroonian soldiers Continued on page 8

HE LIVES ON...

Anthony Anuduku, imitating the passion of Christ during the Station of the Cross to mark Good Friday, held at St. Dominic Sunday Adigun Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos …yesterday

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

SUPER SATURDAY Carol Alex-Eyitene

My Husband Didn’t Reject Me Because I Was Overweight She is not a run of the mill weight-loss coach; at a staggering height of 6 feet, one inch, she will pass for a first class model.Gangly,gracefulandgorgeous,CarolAlex-Eyiteneperfectlyunderstandshowtogrindoutresults–especially whenitcomestowhippingwomenintoshapewithherweight-lossregimenandcounselling.TheFounderofSlimmer You, at size 22, with massive body frame, feeling unfit and miserable, Carol was warned by her medical doctor to pay closerattentiontoherweight.Athome,theglisteninglookonherhubby’sfacewaswaningjustashisgrumblinggrew.

Carol was not only losing her body to an out-of-control weight gain but her mind too – as she became increasingly unhappy about her body. She cut a pathetic picture as she painstakingly climbed flight of stairs day in, day out. The battle to curtail her body weight seemed lost forever. But like what seems only achievable in Hollywood movies, Carol did not give in as she went from being size 22 to a svelte size 14. She is a magnificent metaphor of what she does; always elegantly turned out in clothes that accentuate her long frame as she stands out in the crowd. Carol tells Omolola Itayemi about her fitness and weight-loss coaching regimen, her own personal struggle and what she’s been doing to help thousands of Nigerian women to stay slim, fit and healthy.

At Size 22, I Found Myself Totally Unfit and Miserable

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Alex-Eyitene

he has worked at it for 15 sweet years, consistently achieving excellent results. Gregarious, goaloriented, she attends to her clients with a depth of personal touch and passion that makes her their role model – Carol Eyitene is a constant source of inspiration to her many patrons.

On speed dial with most of her members who cut across all walks of life, her role in their lives as a weight loss coach cannot be over-emphasised. Further attesting to this fact, are the “before and after” pictures with stories hanging on the wall of her office space which lies at the end of Biaduo Street, South-West Ikoyi. It is quaint bungalow that has turned into a Mecca for every discerning woman who loves to eat right and watch her weight. The interior of this weight-loss centre is a highly sophisticated mix of innovative design pieces that span the contemporary and traditional, from the relaxing melange of terracotta brown and orange walls to the raffia balls placed strategically on a dark-brown commode. Walking into her office, one knows she is in the personal space of a weight-loss coach; from the shelves of weight-loss supplements to the professional weighing scale placed next to her.

Carol comes from a very close-knit family. Her father was a cop and her mother, a retired school teacher.

Her childhood was one of fun and there were no dull moments with her sisters and brothers. She remembers travelling and living in different parts of the country as her father’s job dictated.

“With my sisters, it was the usual girly fights and make-up sessions which invariably drew us closer. We swapped books, make-up, clothes and other titbits. My mother was the disciplinarian of the house and we were always on our toes in her presence. My father, on the other hand was a firm believer in dialogue.

He could talk you out of anything and everything. He rarely used strict

disciplinary measures. It’s funny but I now operate the same style with my children. I’m a firm believer in dialogue,” Alex-Eyitene noted.

A graduate of English and Literary Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, her foray into healthy-eating was not well defined; she stumbled on it while making efforts to lose weight.

“Ironically, I was one of those people who you wouldn’t think would gain weight, but after school I started piling on the pounds. It just happened and I think it boils down to one’s ability to afford more coupled with freedom from your parents and the ability to do anything,” she said.

A billboard model for her weight loss system, she went from a gargantuan size of 22 to a svelte size 14.

“At size 22, I was saddled with a huge and bulky frame which I found totally unfit and miserable. I wasn’t happy with the body I found myself in. I was also getting into my thirties and have been through several diets.

The weight continued piling up and I found it difficult climbing flight of stairs and was always short of breathes. My husband didn’t like the overweight me and kept on grumbling. Also, my doctor advised me to lose weight; so socially and medically, I was unfit,” Carol recalled.

Her decision to lose weight and live healthy strengthened her resolve to find a way to do it right. Tired of different yo-yo diets, she decided to enlist the help of professionals and went out looking for weight loss places that were advertised.

She stated further, “I didn’t find any that suited my ideology of being able to eat everything I wanted without being deprived and yet lose weight. So I told myself, if I had to lose weight, it had to be something I could do forever unlike those days of dieting where it was all about deprivation of food. My next step was to try and do it myself which was no small feat.”

But while she thought she was going to do things herself, an experi-

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

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SUPER SATURDAY I Am More Confident About the Way I Look Now... ence changed her mind and body forever. While visiting her mother and sister abroad, she found a place that advertised: “If you can lose 100 kilos or more, you can train to be a weight loss coach” and Carol was instantly drawn to the place. She enlisted and the rest, they say, is history. But it wasn’t a part strewn with roses as she later found out. “It’s not easy being your own weight loss coach because it involves a lot of self-discipline,” she admitted.

However, she concentrated her energy on losing weight and did not think of making it a fullfledged business until people started mistaking her for her younger sister and wanted to know how she was – remarkably – able to lose weight. An ingenious mind, it did not take Carol much time to provide tips to others and eventually set up “Slimmer You” – her weight-loss centre. “I was on my weight loss journey and every time I looked at the mirror, ‘I’ll say, oh gosh, it’s a slimmer me already!’

So I coined the name ‘Slimmer you’,” she noted with excitement in her voice.

With her mind made up, she quit her job at the South African High Commission.

“When I told my husband I was going to resign (from) my job and be a nutritionist and weight-loss coach, he said, ‘well then, I’ll be your first client’,” Carol recalled.

For someone who doesn’t advertise her expertise, the patronage she gets over the years is noteworthy coming from various parts of the country.

“It’s on purpose; we operate a ridiculous strategy of no advertisement. But it works because for everybody who walks in, they already have a sister, colleague or friend who has passed through us successfully or who knows someone who has, and it is easier to convince them. So I’ll say we rely on word-of-mouth advertising,” she said about her marketing strategy.

The weight-loss guru considers her services cheap because she offers a life-time membership.

“I’ve got a membership base that cuts through all walks of life. It’s a lifetime membership and I’m considered affordable and I’ll say without any modesty, I’ve a different ideology and my members appreciate the fact that they don’t have to suffer when losing weight. I’ve still got the same traffic I’ve always had and I’m not bothered because I’m still very different from others. There are hurdles in every industry and weight-loss centres are no different.

“As a weight loss coach you have to remember weight gain bothers everybody and demands specialised services, which is one of the reasons why expansion is very difficult. Each member has their desired goal and helping them reach it is where I come in. It’s very hard to put down a little loss because of a bigger loss. Every loss is a victory and that is why there’s a variety of success stories on the inspiration board in the reception area.

Every success is celebrated, no matter how small or large it is,” she acknowledged.

Despite her success stories, there is a snag.

“Working as a weight-loss coach is Nigeria is a lot different. I’ve found out some of my members are a bit impatient. We still live in a society where people want to lose weight fast. The only hurdle I have ever had to cross as a weight-loss coach is teaching people to be patient and lose weight healthily,” Carol stated.

She believes it was her call to serve humanity.

Her service is tailored to fit the Nigerian system from offering local meal-plans where points have already been calculated to personalised measuring bowls and cups.

A TV series buff, she loves drawing and is an avid art collector with huge Nigerian and West African following. Her best artiste is Tola Wewe whose works she’s collected since the early 90s.

A very hard worker, her ‘me-time’ is considered sacrosanct and nothing gets in the way. No noise or interference of any kind which affords her time to catch up on her favourite TV series such as the ‘Housewives’ and Wendy Williams show. A long-time devotee of ‘East-Enders’, a soap she’s watched for 19 years out of its 25 years on TV. The late music legend, Michael Jackson, is her favourite singer and ‘Hollywood Wives’ by Jackie Collins is

Alex-Eyitene her best read.

“I’m a street junkie,” she added. “I love all things bright, elaborate and ridiculous which abound in Las Vegas.

But the bright and ridiculous stops with Vegas, Carol is a connoisseur of bespoke clothing which she has a huge input in and of recent, some highstreet pieces which has become her new obsession.

A closet designer, she draws her styles of clothing and sends them to her bespoke tailors which belies the fact that she always turns out stunning and different.

“I’m very tall and have always had problems finding my size of clothing in regular shops. So I had no option than to turn to bespoke years ago, which ironically is the rage now,” she said.

With the rash of slimming options in the market including weight loss clinics springing up all over and promising fake miracles, people are becoming more wary. To put it bluntly, many people feel they don’t have much to offer. On the contrary, Carol believes a lot of people are the wiser towards such fake promises and ideologies and as such has given more credibility to Slimmer You. And as a result a lot of people are now keener on losing weight without giving up their favourite foods and are more interested in learning how to eat healthy and still lose weight.

Nothing rankles her like the word ‘Detox’, which she says is being abused.

“Interestingly, the human body doesn’t need more help in detoxifying itself because that’s what the liver does. This word ‘detox’ has now been used as a blanket word for the use of laxatives for weight loss which by itself is dangerous and doesn’t make any sense because the excessive use of laxatives can be very dangerous to the colon.

So, this detox offers very short-term solutions for weight loss and can by no means be a long-term remedy for weight loss,” the Slimmer You boss advised.

Married to Ian for 21 years with four children, they met and fell in love with love; they still are, as fervently as they started. With her last child born eight years after the last one, motherhood, this time however has given her an entirely different view of life.

“The truth is I have totally forgotten what it was like to be a new mum. For the past five months I’ve been acting like a first-time mom.

Because I still find I’m waking up to breastfeed and still in shock to having a newborn starring at me.

Because he came as a surprise and he is a very kind boy and seems to have understood the circumstance under which he arrived. He is not your typical diva-like baby so common with this time. A lot of fun things have changed from eight years ago, from accessories to the ways things are being done.

“Also, a lot has changed from the way I look and feel about my body.

I’m not so judgemental anymore and that is why I am able to wear shorter length clothing and more confident about the way I look,” Carol pointed out.

Little wonder she’s bounced back to her former pre-pregnancy size. Over the last two years, the change has not been on the home front alone, the centre has gone through its own changes.

She said, “We have added a wider range of local options to our eating guides, to the extent that our members are eating in a way that they don’t feel they are on a diet. Also, we now have available wide range of healthy alternatives on purchase to the members.”

I Am a Street Junkie; I Love Bright and Elaborate Things

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Fuel Scarcity: NNPC Begs Nigerians to be Patient Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday apologised to Nigerians for failing to keep up with its responsibility of ensuring that petrol is adequately available for use in the country having been allocated the largest share of 72 per cent of petrol import in the first quarter of the 2016 allocation.

NNPC said in a statement from its Group General Manager, Public Affair, Mr. Garba Deen Mohammed in Abuja that it feels the pains of Nigerians who have to queue for long hours at filling stations to get petrol.

It explained that it was work-

ing hard to restore normalcy in petrol supply across the country, and once again promised that the huge queues of motorists will clear off within two weeks.

The queues have suddenly increased after admission by the government that the situation was overwhelming it and that it would take a while to get it right.

But the statement said: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) wishes to empathise with the difficulties Nigerians are presently going through due to the current fuel situation and assures that the government and NNPC are not taking their patience for granted."

It urged Nigerians to continue

to be patient, adding: “The difficulties being experienced as a result of the situation will soon be alleviated."

While giving details of what was being done so far to tackle the situation, NNPC said: "We would like to assure all Nigerians that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources/ Group Managing Director, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and everybody else associated with this situation is working tirelessly round the clock to ensure relief is brought to Nigerians.

"Our immediate concern is to make petrol available through the interventions and processes put in place so that the queues will disappear within the next one to two weeks.

"As at 1600hrs of today, one PMS cargo containing 42 million litres has completely discharged, two more PMS cargos with a combined ‘Remaining on Board’ (ROB) of 44 million litres are currently discharging while another PMS cargo containing 44 million litres is berthed and awaiting discharge.”

The corporation further said: "We have enough products lined up to ensure that the supply gap which created the problem is bridged. In order to ensure effective distribution, we are working with Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), oil majors and over 1,000 NNPC staff, nationwide to ensure we overcome the obstacles in the

distribution of the products.

"While not resorting to excuses, we would like to re-emphasise that this present management of NNPC and indeed the government inherited huge and complicated problems with respect to importation, distribution and pricing of petroleum products.

Nigerians would recall that the sum of N522,258,934,505 meant for payment of fuel subsidy, covering the last quarter of 2014 (October to December) and the entire 2015 was approved by the Senate in December 2015 in order to pay for subsidy arrears inherited by this government."

For long term solutions to the fuel supply challenges, the NNPC said that it was working

to put in place machineries to ensure that the country's refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri are fixed and working optimally, while the pipelines which have been under attack for some time now are repaired.

It said that the Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement for crude which it has adopted to use in place of the former swap programme would commence in the first week of April, adding, "all these coupled with the fact that the President has given his support to increase the crude supply to NNPC to ensure local sufficiency of products will go a long way to solve the problems in the short and long term."

Egypt Holds Super Eagles in Kaduna Amid Security Breaches Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Nigeria's chances of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations Cup next year are on the cliff hanger after the Super Eagles drew 1-1 with Egypt.

A late equalizer by Muhammad Salah poisoned the atmosphere for the Nigerian fans.

The intense and lively match was played amid security breaches following over-crowding resulting from the gates being thrown open.

Etebo Oghenekaro put Nigeria in the lead on the 62 minute when he scrambled home a Kelechi Iheanacho shot that rebounded off the post.

The Eagles pressed and

should have wrapped up the March as result of the bucket of chances they created.

Ahmed Musa's shot in the 78 minute was deflected by keeper El Shennawy, while late into the contest, Victor Moses dribbled the keeper, had his sight on goal after a brilliant Alex Iwobi pass, but his shot was cleared on the line by an

Egyptian defender.

Salah scored a stoppage time equalizer that caused a pin silence in the Ahmadu Bello stadium. This led to some fans walking out.

Egypt is now on top of Group G with seven points while Nigeria is second on five points.

Coach Samson Siasia at-

tributed the result to lack of concentration.

He said Nigeria could have won the game if they scored a second goal.

Siasia said the principle of fair play was disregarded by the referee as play was allowed when a Nigerian player was down injured.

He said the Eagles must get

their acts together for the trip to Egypt next week Wednesday.

Team Captain Mikel Obi alleged robbery against Nigeria and echoed Siasia's position that the referee failed to observe fair play.

He said Nigeria stands a chance of beating Egypt in Alexandra considering the way they played.

Nigerian Army’s Explosive Ordinance Device team safely detonated the unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) strapped on the gunned down suicide bomber.

Usman however noted that there was no casualty beyond the two suicide bombers. At present, he said, the troops and the Civilian JTF deployed in the village are now combing the general area to forestall further breach of security.

"The situation in the area is calm and law abiding citizens are going about their normal activities without fear," he added.

In a related development, Usman said that the troops of newly inducted 3rd Battalion, 22 Brigade, in conjunction with Army Headquarters Strike Group (AHQ SG) and the Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF), carried out a spectacular clearance operation on Tuesday, March 22, 2016.

According to him, the military

forces cleared the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in Kala Balge general area.

He said: "The triumphant troops apart from killing 22 terrorists cleared pockets of the terrorists in Wumbi, Tunish, Tilem and Malawaji.

Others are Makaudari, Daima, Buduli, Sadigumo, Jiwe, Sidigeri and Kala villages. The troops also rescued 309 persons held captives by the terrorists.

"They also discovered and destroyed the terrorists training camp, factory, locally made weapons and warehouse at Tilem and then secured Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge

Local Government Area."

In the same vein, the DAPR said that the troops of 3 Battalion with the support of Civilian JTF also conducted a fighting patrol at Kusumma Village in which they killed three Boko Haram terrorists and captured one alive.

"They also rescued 520 persons held hostage by the terrorists and recovered a motorcycle, weapons and axes," he stated.

The troops, Usman said, basking in the unprecedented achievement, are also making efforts to clear remnants of the terrorists in the surrounding areas.

MISSING CHIBOK GIRL NABBED IN CAMEROON AFTER FAILED SUICIDE BOMBING belonging to a multi-national force set up to take on Boko Haram.

"One of them indeed declared that she is one of the Chibok hostages. She is around 15. We are now verifying, because on the Nigerian side they have the names and photos of these girls," said Cameroonian local government administrator, Raymond Roksdo.

Two military sources, who asked not to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the press, also confirmed that the girl had claimed to have been one of the Chibok abductees.

"We need a few days to be able to confirm this information.

We have to debrief all the men who were present and interrogate the two girls before we can say anything," one of the military sources said.

In a high-profile attack that sparked a global outcry, Boko Haram militants raided the school in April 2014 while the

girls were taking exams. They loaded 270 of them onto trucks, though around 50 escaped shortly afterwards.

Former president Goodluck Jonathan was criticised for his slow reaction to the Chibok abductions.

It was nearly a month before a fact-finding committee travelled to Chibok to establish whether the abduction actually happened and how many girls were missing.

Muhammadu Buhari, who defeated Jonathan in an election last year, ordered a new investigation into the kidnappings in January.

Joint operations between Nigeria and its neighbours Niger, Chad and Cameroon succeeded in driving Boko Haram from many of its strongholds in Nigeria last year.

However, as an 8,700-strong regional task force seeks to stamp them out once and for all, the Islamists have stepped up cross-border attacks and

suicide bombings, many of them carried out by young girls.

Military Kills Two Female Suicide Bombers in Borno …

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman in a statement yesterday said that the ever alert and vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison based in Maiduguri, in conjunction with Civilian JTF averted yet another suicide attack on the innocent citizens in Borno State by intercepting two female suicide bombers.

According to Usman, “the troops intercepted two female suicide bombers at about 1.20am, almost 100 metres south of Umurari Village, on the outskirts of Maiduguri.”

He said “one of the suicide bombers on sighting our troops detonated her explosive device, killing herself instantly, while the second bomber in an attempt to escape was gunned down by one of the Garrison’s snipers.

He said that the combined team of the Nigeria Police and

RIVERS: INEC GIVES CONDITIONS FOR COMPLETION OF RERUN POLLS INEC said the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State would give further details of the constituencies and the nature of exercise to be undertaken in the next few days.

On the arrangement for fresh election, INEC said it would decide on a date for fresh elections in the areas affected by the disruption, starting with simultaneous accreditation and voting.

"While the commission is committed to conducting free, fair and credible election, it hereby restates its resolve not to return to Rivers State or elsewhere where there was breakdown of law and order during elections, until there is a conducive atmosphere for conduct of free and credible election," it said.

The statement said at the time of suspending the Rivers re-run elections, the electoral process were in various stages, including constituencies with already declared results and return of winners, results declared but returns not made, collation concluded but no declarations yet to be made.

It also said that while there were areas where voting had been concluded but collation were yet to commence, there were other places where voting did not take place at all.

On the way forward, INEC said: "Faced with the above scenario, the commission restates its earlier decision to uphold the declarations and returns made in the federal and state constituencies where the exercise had been concluded.

"Similarly, the commission will conclude and make returns in constituencies where it is satisfied that voting and collation were done in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and our guidelines".

In lamenting the ugly situation that led to the abandonment of the re-run election in Rivers State, it narrated how some of the registration area centres were invaded and barricaded by hordes of people thus disrupting commencement of the exercise in several places.

While sympathising with family of the slain youth Corper who lost his life during the election, INEC condemned politicians whom it accused

of spewing hate messages that further exacerbated the violence during the Rivers election.

Wike: Delay in declaring collated result needless…

Meanwhile, Governor Wike stated that the delay in declaring the collated result created rumours and suspicion about the credibility of the electoral body bearing in mind the desperation of some individuals to rig the process.

“There was no reason for the suspension of the announcement of already collated result," he declared.

The governor told THISDAY in a telephone interview yesterday night that even if the election was done “45,000 times, PDP would win. We'll win even if it is conducted 45,000 times."

Wike further stated that the state government would do everything possible to promote the conduct of free and fair election in the state but would not allow outsiders “hell bent on using the military to rig the peoples' will.”

The military cannot be used in the election. The duty of the army is to guard against attacks and not to be arresting people

at polling units or carrying ballot boxes. That is not their job. Amaechi has been bragging and dropping the President's name. That he has his support to try to manipulate the electoral process. But we are saying no, you cannot do that. We are resisting his impunity and violence. And we are saying ‘leave the president out of this.’

“The President is busy trying to fulfill his electoral promises and you come here, dropping his name to rig the election.

We will not let that happen.

President Buhari didn't send him to come and rig the election and has repeatedly stated that he wants free and fair elections, we share this position. It is wrong for Amaechi to come here and be dropping the president's name in order to rig the process. It won't work.

They saw that they were losing badly so they ran away from the collation centres to create problems. Again, we are prepared to support the process that guarantees free and fair election. Let the military keep their distance from election points. That is all we ask of INEC.”

SARAKI'S CCT TRIAL: APC'S DEPUTY SPOKESMAN CONDEMNS PARTY'S INDIFFERENCE "I don't think we have forgotten so soon how Saraki led five other governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC – a development that successfully turned the political tide against the PDP and eventually tipped the electoral scale against them during the 2015 general elections.

"I don't think we have forgotten how Saraki led scores of Senators to cross over to the APC on the floor of the Senate.

"I don't think we have also forgotten what he gave of his time, personal resources and energy to ensure that the APC emerged victorious both at the national, state and local government level.

"The question is: Why is the case of Saraki being treated differently at the CCT that in 2011 struck out the case against one of our national leaders because he was not given the opportunity to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in his asset declaration forms in line with Section 3(d) of the CCB/ CCT Act. This is unlike 11 other exgovernors who had similar cases of irregularities whose cases were dropped by the CCB after they were invited by the agency."

"For the avoidance of doubt, Section 3(d) of the CCB/ CCT Act which has been so undermined by the CCT in its Thursday ruling states that the CCB shall: "Receive complaints

about non-compliance with or breach of this Act and where the Bureau (not the AGF or EFCC) considers it necessary to do so, refer such complaints to the Code of Conduct Tribunal established by Section 20 of this Act in accordance with the provisions of Sections 20 to 25 of this Act: provided that where the concerned makes a written admission of such breach or non-compliance, no reference to the Tribunal shall be necessary."

He added: "It is based on the above precedent that I want to ask why Saraki's case is different? Why is the judiciary suddenly giving in to apparent blackmail from a section of the media by refusing to do their job as required by law?

"Already the Senate President has told the world that the trial has nothing to do with corruption but that he is being persecuted for emerging as the Senate President. To me, the ominous silence of our leaders since the day he was arraigned uphill now serves to validate the claims of the Senate President that he is being persecuted.

"Or where else in the world will the number three citizen of a country be brought before a tribunal over alleged irregularities in his asset declaration forms 13 years ago, and the hierarchy of the ruling party, to which he is a bonafide member, will not come out to show solidarity or defend him?"

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MARCH 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

Piercing Petrol Scarcity Amidst Slithering Economy

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he acute petrol scarcity across the nation entered week six today, with the product selling for as high as N400 per litre in some states. This is the same product that should officially sell at N86 per litre. For over five weeks, traumatised Nigerians have been going through hell in fuel stations. Many petrol stations sell this product at black market price while officials of the Department of Petroleum Regulation (DPR) and Petroleum Products and Marketing Company (PPMC) look the other way. I have never experienced this kind of impunity all my life. The regulatory agencies have compromised. The story is that marketers ‘settle’ government officials before getting allocations. No wonder DPR officials have been unable to enforce the official price of this product. Should this be happening in an era of change? Must this continue in an era when the body language of the president ought to be turning things around and hindering corruption? I thought that by now, our dear Petroleum Resources Minister, Muhammadu Buhari would have offered some form of apology to Nigerians over this anguish. This is the standard in sane societies. Unfortunately, public office holders in our dear country operate like big boss. Do they really care?

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu has equally under-performed as petrol scarcity bites harder. He has created so much confusion in the system, thus contributing to the crisis. Loquacious Kachikwu has been doing more of talking and less of action, without addressing the root cause of the scarcity.

This is why we are getting negative result and weltering in pain. Again, this junior minister, who combines the portfolio of NNPC’s GMD, has been economical with the truth, regarding the true situation of this lingering fuel scarcity. Kachikwu is engrossed in the cosmetic restructuring of the NNPC, while the nation bleeds. What we want is to drive into fuel stations and buy petrol without stress. What is our business with NNPC restructuring stories?

We don’t even know the true situation of our refineries. At a point, we were told that they were working. Then, suddenly, all the lies crashed.

This administration has clearly lost the battle against petrol scarcity. Kachikwu’s statement on Wednesday that the current queues at petrol stations would persist till May left many depressed. I was shocked that he said he was not a magician to make the queues disappear overnight. He said: “One of the trainings I did not receive is that of a magician; but I am working very hard to ensure that some of these issues go away.” This is the same Kachikwu that told the whole nation in February that queues would disappear within two weeks. Is it that he has suddenly forgotten what he told the nation? He is clearly clueless about how to solve this problem. On Wednesday, the Trade Union Congress described Kachikwu as ‘incompetent’. For me, he is dangerously-incompetent. This man has no business staying a day longer on his seat.

With the way we are going, we may have to beg Diezani Alisom-Madueke to return as petroleum minister.

This stinging fuel scarcity has compounded the existing problem of epileptic power supply across the nation. Because electricity supply has been erratic for about seven months, many relied on petrol to power their homes, offices and factories.

Then, the fuel scarcity started, and persisted for over five weeks. So, it is double wahala for Nigerians in an era of “change.”

So many communities have been without electricity for weeks. In my community Ikorodu West LCDA - in Lagos, we have been without electricity for two straight weeks. Not even a blink. We have been told that generation has dropped to about 1500mw from a peak of 5500mw inherited from the previous administration. I am

Kachikwu

The biggest challenge we are facing now as a nation is that the people that promised us “Change” are now coming up with all sorts of excuses on why they can’t deliver on their promises. They have also compounded our misery by squandering virtually all the gains of the last 16 years, just within 10 months tired of all these stories. Many Nigerians are equally tired. The biggest challenge we are facing now as a nation is that the people that promised us “Change” are now coming up with all sorts of excuses on why they can’t deliver on their promises.

They have also compounded our misery by squandering virtually all the gains of the last 16 years, just within 10 months.

This epileptic supply of electricity and scarcity of petrol have combined to make life miserable for Nigerians. Manufacturers are also gasping for breath. Generation companies should go and get their gas from anywhere in the world and operate optimally. There are thermal plants in countries without gas. Yet, they operate optimally. This is what this administration should force the Gencos to do instead of making excuses for them. Supply is erratic while the distribution companies continue to charge Nigerians heavily for power not supplied.

The twin problem of petrol scarcity and epileptic electricity supply has increased the pace of our sliding economy. The last 10 months have been horrendous, with so many company shutting down and thousands of Nigerians being thrown out of jobs. The energy crisis and stifling economic policies of the Buhari administration have now triggered a gale of retrenchment

in virtually every sector of the economy.

Just this week, those in the confectionery industry said over 2000 of their members had been sacked. Oil and gas companies have cut over 120,000 jobs in the last 10 months. The former National Industrial Relations Officer, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Hyginus Onuegbu, confirmed this figure, adding: “Precarious job crisis has hit the oil and gas sector for real.”

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry warned recently that manufacturers in Nigeria might be forced to shut down and move their operations to neighbouring countries due to difficulties experienced accessing foreign exchange for critical inputs like raw materials and delays in the processing of Form ‘M”. The construction industry has sacked over 60,000 workers in the last six months.

The telecommunications and online store businesses are also retrenching thousands of Nigerians. There is hardly any sector not affected.

The National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Comrade Samson Ugwoke said recently: “Many industries have started sacking workers. Up till now, we are still having fuel scarcity because the government has not done what it is supposed to do.

We are talking about anti-corruption; we have not seen anything there. That one or two people have been prosecuted is not enough to say we are fighting corruption. There is still oil bunkering, people are stealing the crude oil; a country that produces oil does not have oil. I bought fuel at almost N200 per litre in Nigeria, and we are talking about anti-corruption.

Industries will sack their workers sooner or later because there is no power; the power level is still low. An economy that is generator-based cannot guarantee companies to produce at 100 percent, and it is the workers who are suffering. So, if a businessman cannot make profit, he will reduce workers.”

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has notified the Buhari administration that more Nigerians may likely lose their jobs, with about 200 manufacturing companies likely to fold up by the end of this month. Over 40,000 jobs are now threatened. While predicting an ominous business climate in the months ahead, MAN said impediments like high cost of borrowing; poor infrastructure, lack of power and perennial PMS shortage and multiple-taxation have become burdens too much for their members to bear. The Chairman of MAN in Abuja, Nasarawa and Niger states, Mrs. Wosilat

Shittu Titilola who spoke during its 2nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja added: “The situation has further become more difficult with inadequate power supply, unenviable poor infrastructure, high interest rate and general insecurity. All these factors negate healthy industrialisation and have made it difficult for Made-in-Nigeria products to compete favourably with goods from other economies.”

Official statistics released this week confirmed the mass sack across our nation. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the unemployment rate in the country climbed to 10.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year compared to 9.9 per cent in the previous quarter. The NBS noted that a total of 22.45 million of the total labour force of 76.96 million were either unemployed or underemployed in Q4 of 2015 compared to 20.7 million in Q3 and 19.6 million in Q2 of the same year. The number of unemployed persons increased by 518,102 during the period under review.

The NBC also confirmed the galloping inflation under the Buhari administration. It says the inflation rate in Nigeria is worsening. According to the NBS, the Consumer Price Index, CPI, which measures inflation increased significantly to 11.4 percent in February this year compared to 9.6 percent the previous month. The NBS said the pace of increase of food prices as recorded by the food sub-index increased at a faster pace in February, with the food index rising by 11.3 percent, up by 0.71 percent from what was recorded in January.

The massive depreciation of our Naira in the last 10 months has also contributed to the poverty ravaging the nation and the crisis in the manufacturing sector. I never in my wildest imagination thought that our dear Naira would ever depreciate to the level we are witnessing today. Now that the exchange rate has become extremely ridiculous, people who protested against N220/$ under the Jonathan administration are nowhere to be found. Our scruffy currency was yesterday exchanging at N330/$ at the Bureau De Change following continued scarcity of the greenback. Our symbol of statehood has never been this badly battered in the 55 years history of this country. Yet, Buhari is insisting on continuing with a muggy forex policy that has led to a record gap between the official and black-market exchange rates.

“It would be very insane to continue like this for months and months,” Unilever’s Africa President Bruno Witvoet said last week.

The words of the Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Dr. Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim on the poverty ravaging our nation are indeed instructive. According to Ibezim, the Nigerian economy is collapsing under Buhari: “There is too much hunger in the country and people are angry; the last time I travelled, at the airport you could see sad faces and parents who have children abroad cannot send money to them. The Naira is falling, hardship is severe among the people, and flexible economic measures are needed.

They need to do something because they came with the change mantra; the people are waiting to see that change. It is our prayer that the change will come quickly.

“They should also know that all the energy of the government should not be focused on fighting corruption because it is not all Nigerians that are corrupt. The percentage of those that are corrupt may be one percent. So, you don’t have to leave the 99 percent to be suffering because you are pursuing the one percent that is corrupt.”

Ibezim’s words are indeed words of wisdom. We as Nigerians must raise our game if we want progress in this country. The truth is that no nation can rise above the quality of its citizens. We must learn to consistently hold our leaders accountable and insist that elected officials should deliver on their promises. We should not be seen making excuses for our leaders’ failing as some people are currently doing for Buhari. To continue to do this amounts to self-degradation.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 26, 2016

NEWS

News Editor Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (sms only) Email ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

Collapsed Building: Lekki Gardens MD Regains Freedom, Contractor Granted Bail Akinwale Akintunde Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku of an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, yesterday admitted the Managing Director of Lekki Gardens, Mr. Richard Nyong and one of the contractors that supervised the collapsed five-storey building, Mr. Taiwo Odofin to bail.

Nyong was after the bail allegedly held by the police for some hours but was later freed.

The court admitted Nyong to bail on self -recognition while Odofin was granted bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

According to the Magistrate, the sureties were to be of good standing with verifiable evidences of tax payment.

The court also ordered the duo to deposit their international passports, not to travel abroad and report to the police between the hours of 8am and 5pm every working day pending the determination of their matter.

Nyong and Odofin were arrested shortly after a five-storey building under construction on Kushenla Road, Ikate Elegushi area of the state collapsed and killed no fewer than 34 persons.

The building had crumbled around 4 am with several persons trapped in the rubble, forcing the state government to seal the building.

The duo had earlier been remanded in prison custody by the Magistrate following an ex-parte application brought before the court by the Officer-in-Charge of Legal Department of Police, CSP Thomas Eno-Edobor.

According to the court, their remand was to allow the police conclude its investigation and file proper charges against them.

But ruling on the two separate bail applications filed by the applicants on Friday, Chief Magistrate Botoku found merits on the applications, saying it was within the jurisdiction of the court to admit the defendants to bail Botoku held that there was nothing to show from the prosecution that the defendants would not attain trial or interfere in police investigation.

The court also ruled that it had jurisdiction to entertain the bail application, adding that bail was at the discretion of the court, which should take cognisance of the ability of the applicant to attend trial and the criminal records of

FOR PERFECT SECURITY...

R-L: Former Chairman, People Democratic Party, Alhaji Haliru Mohammed; Former Chairman, People Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki during the Jumat service to mark the police week celebration at Abuja National Mosque yesterday

the applicants.

The Chief Magistrate however dismissed the applicants’ applications seeking to set aside the remand order, saying the order was legal, and in accordance to the law since the police had the constitutional rights to

invite and investigate any allegations without prior knowledge of the person.

In admitting the applicants to bail, the court noted that Nyong was a law-abiding citizen without criminal antecedents.

“He is also a managing

director of a firm, with about 8,000 employees, who is ready to attend trial and his disposition to an affidavit that he will not interfere with investigation has not been controverted or challenged by the prosecution.

The most important

consideration in admittance to bail, the court noted is the attendance of trial, of which the prosecution has no evidence to contradict,” the court added.

Further hearing on the matter has been adjourned till April 12.

Jurisdiction Won’t Stop Investigation into Queen's College Sexual Harrassment

76 Enugu Farmers Dumped in Prison over Clash with Herdsmen

Tears as Olawumi Visits Family of NYSC Member Slain in Rivers

Rebecca Ejifoma

Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

The Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Development has said jurisdiction would not stop investigation into Queen's College sexual harassment report.

This followed claims that school authorities were not cooperating on the case since it was blown open while the Ministry has pressed for the temporary removal of those concerned from the school premises.

Addressing journalists yesterday, the Commissioner, Ministry of Youths and Social, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, explained that although Queens College was a Federal school, it was located in the state, adding that the state had experienced uncooperative attitude of the school authorities and called for the temporary removal of those concerned in the issue, pending the outcome of the investigation.

"We, therefore, implore the Federal Ministry of Education to direct officials of the school to cooperate with state's social workers in the best interest of the children. The state will not stand by and watch. It will always act in accordance with the Child Rights Act," she assured.

She further noted that so long the school was in the state and the alleged act was perpetrated in

the state, Queen's College could not stop it from investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, after over 72 hours in Police custody, the accused Biology teacher, Mr. Olaseni Osifala, regained freedom, yesterday. Osifala, who was held at the Police Headquarters, Ikeja since Tuesday afternoon, was released on Thursday after a former Lagos State Deputy Governor intervened.

The politician was said to have been contacted for intervention by the school management.

On Tuesday, students, workers alongside residents took to the streets with placards in solidarity with the accused teacher, whom they declared as a man of proven integrity.

Even the school's principal, Lami Amodu, released a statement, testifying in Osifala's favour. According to her statement, the allegation was an attempt to ridicule, not just Olaseni, but also the hard-earned reputation of Queens College.

However, last Tuesday, the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, invited the Principal and the accused teacher for questioning. Thereafter, Osifala was detained.

Worried over the allegation, Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, constituted a panel to investigate the allegations.

Life is no longer normal for the agrarian community of Ugwuneshi in Awgu local government of Enugu as the rural folks brood over the fate of 76 farmers now languishing in the federal prison Afara, Umuahia in Abia State following a clash with Fulani herdsmen.

It was gathered that the hapless farmers, including youths were rounded up by “men in military uniform” and bundled into trucks only to surface at Umuahia where they were divided into three groups and arraigned at magistrate courts.

After the brief court appearance the farmers were whisked away to prison custody as none of the magistrates agreed to grant them bail.

Confirming the arrest of his subjects the traditional ruler of Ugwuneshi, His Royal Highness Igwe Godwin Nwobi, said that the incident, which happened last week Thursday was the high point of the menace of herdsmen in his community.

He said since the Fulani herdsmen settled in the community on their own they had been destroying crops with their cattle and over the years all entreaties for them to exercise caution had always fallen on deaf ears.

According to him, the people of Ugwunesi had been enduring the impunity of the herdsmen as

they continued to ravage crops and rendering farmlands unproductive, adding that neither security agencies nor government had done anything to call them to order.

After several warnings and pleadings, the royal father said the youths of the community could no longer bear the excesses of the herdsmen and decided to protest the unending impunity. He further stated that things came to a head when information filtered into the community that herdsmen had abducted two women who went to farm.

"When we got such information, the youths and men were gathering in our village square to discuss the matter and plan for a rescue mission when suddenly they were surrounded by men in military uniform who arrested 76 of them and carried them away in trucks," he said.

Igwe Nwobi said that the farmers and youths had not returned since they were taken away over a week now. He appealed for the intervention of Enugu State Government to secure the release of the detained villagers now languishing in prison in the Abia State capital.

He lamented that with the arrest of his people the herdsmen who were the aggressors were now being portrayed as victims, adding that the people of Ugwuneshi had done nothing wrong by protecting their means of livelihood.

The pains inflicted on innocent Nigerians by election violence resonated on Friday as emotions were uncontrollable when the Director-General of the National Youth Service (NYSC) Scheme, Brig-General Johnson Olawumi, paid a condolence visit to the family of late Mr. Samuel Dumebi Okonta, in Illah, Delta State.

Samuel Okonta, a youth corps-member, was killed during the re-run election in Rivers State last week.

Tears flowed freely when relatives of the deceased received the NYSC Director-General delegation, which included the Delta State Coordinator of the scheme, Mrs. Olive EssienEtukudo and other senior officials of the corps.

He said that the gruesome murder of Samuel Chukwudumeibi Okonta in the same community where he was carrying out his national service was saddening.

Olawumi noted that the late corps-member had actually finished his assignment at the polling unit and was going home when he was shot dead along with two other persons by unidentified hoodlums who were still at large.

He nevertheless assured the family and entire Ilah Community that no effort would be spared to apprehend and bring the killers of the political science graduate of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma,

Edo State, to justice.

The NYSC would not abandon the family in this time of grief, he promised, saying it would participate actively in the burial of the late corps-member after a postmortem by the Rivers State Government.

Nonetheless, Olawumi expressed his sense of loss when he wrote in the condolence register at the Illah home of Samuel Okonta: "It is so sad that you were cut down in the process of serving your nation.

“Myself, the entire management and staff as well as all members of the corps nationwide are deeply grieved by your death.

“I promise that I will not relent until we ensure that those who keep you permanently silent forever are brought to book. Adieu Samuel and RIP!" Responding on behalf of the family, Chief Chikwenye Maduku, noted that they (relatives of the deceased who was an orphan) had put in so much to train the slain corps-member, saying, "We can only pray for the repose of his soul."

The eldest sister of the late corps-member, Mrs. Victoria Akpa, told newsmen tearfully that Samuel suffered too much till graduation, saying his death was shocking to the family.

"The news of his death was shocking" Mrs Akpa, lamented.

"They stabbed my heart; they killed me", she wept.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 26, 2016

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NEWS

In Brief PSC Punishes Police Officers

The Police Service Commission has confirmed the dismissal of one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and approved the reduction in rank of a Superintendent (SP) and an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) over various establishedcasesofmisconduct.TheCommissionalsorejected23appeals from dismissed Policemen for reinstatement and restoration of ranks.The decisionswerethehighpointsofthe15thPlenaryMeetingoftheCommission heldinAbujaandpresidedoverbyitsChairman,MikeOkiro,retiredInspector General of Police. The Commission also approved the reinstatement of 10 otherPoliceOfficers,exoneratedthreeandcommutedthedismissalofthree otherstoretirement.OneservingDSPandASPreceivedseverereprimand while an Assistant Commissioner, two DSPs and an ASP are to be issued letters of reprimand.

Sultan to Inaugurate Mosque in Iwo

ACCEPT MY CONDOLENCE...

L-R: Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu; Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and wife, Rachel with the at the service of songs in honour of the late mother of the governor, Margaret Umahi, at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre, Abakaliki on Thursday

UNICEF: 87m Children Raised in Conflicts Zones Risk Brain Trauma Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Chief of Early Child Development, United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF), Pia Britto has revealed that more than 86.7 million children under the age of seven had spent their entire lives in conflict zones, putting their brain development at risk.

Britto stated that during the first seven years of life, a child’s brain has the potential to activate 1,000 brain cells every second.

Each one of those cells, known as neurons, has the power to connect to another 10,000 neurons thousands of times per second.

This was contained in a news release made available to Journalists in Abuja.

According to the release, "Brain

connections serve as the building blocks of a child’s future, defining their health, emotional well-being and ability to learn.

"Children living in conflict are often exposed to extreme trauma, putting them at risk of living in a state of toxic stress, a condition that inhibits brain cell connections -- with significant life-long consequences to their cognitive, social and physical development.

“In addition to the immediate physical threats that children in crises face, they are also at risk of deep-rooted emotional scars,” UNICEF Chief of Early Child Development Pia Britto said.

UNICEF figures show that globally one in 11 children aged six or younger had spent the most critical period of brain

development growing up in conflict.

“Conflict robs children of their safety, family and friends, play and routine. Yet these are all elements of childhood that give children the best possible chance of developing fully and learning effectively, enabling them to contribute to their economies and societies, and building strong and safe communities when they reach adulthood.

“That is why we need to invest more to provide children and caregivers with critical supplies and services including learning materials, psychosocial support, and safe, child-friendly spaces that can help restore a sense of childhood in the midst of conflict.”

"A child is born with 253

million functioning neurons, but whether the brain reaches its full adult capacity of around one billion connectable neurons depends in large part on early childhood development. This includes breastfeeding and early nutrition, early stimulation by caregivers, early learning opportunities and a chance to grow and play in a safe and healthy environment.

"As part of our response in humanitarian emergencies and protracted crises, UNICEF works to keep children in child-friendly environments, providing emergency kits with learning and play materials. The emergency kits have supported more than 800,000 children living in emergency contexts in the past year alone", he regretted.

Ambode to Release White Paper on Lekki Free Zone

Child labour: Teachers Beg Fayose to Reinstate Suspended Members

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has said the Government White Paper on the civil disturbances at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) on October 12, 2015 which led to the killing of Alhaji Tajudeen Disu, Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Company, would soon be released.

According to a statement by the Habib Haruna, Spokesman for Ambode, the Governor stated this while inaugurating electrification project in 67 communities in Ibeju-Lekki area of the state where he asserted that no meaningful development could thrive in an atmosphere devoid of peace, and as such the people should shun all acts that could lead to break down of law and order.

The late Disu was said to have been shot by assailants during an official visit to one of the villages within the zone.

Disu was said to be resolving a land dispute between members of Okunraye community and some private companies embarking on various projects within the LFTZ. Ambode had set up a fiveman Panel of Inquiry chaired by a retired judge of the Lagos

Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti

State High Court, Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi, to look into the remote causes of the civil disturbances, and recommend steps to be taken to permanently resolve the issues connected to the clash.

Justice Olateru-Olagbegi, while submitting the report of the panel to Governor Ambode, had said members looked into the remote and immediate causes of disturbances which claimed the life of Disu.

He said that the tribunal also considered ways and means to be adopted to prevent a recurrence.

Olateru-Olagbegi said the tribunal received 22 memoranda and had 33 witnesses, while 24 recommendations were made.

According to him, the LFTZ had vast potentials to transform the economic landscape of the state in terms of job creation and revenue generation, among others.

Speaking on the planned release of government white paper, Ambode appealed to residents to continue to live together in peace and avoid any act that may result in wanton destruction of lives and property.

Following the suspension of six teachers for allegedly engaging some students in private farming, teachers in Ekiti State have appealed to Governor Ayodele Fayose to temper justice with mercy and reinstate their affected colleagues.

They also appreciated the governor for offering immediate appointment to the husband of one of them, Mrs. Ayodele Taiwo, for returning a sum of N101, 000 wrongly paid into her account by the state government .

The teachers under the auspices of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, in a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun on Sunday, said what the affected teachers allegedly did contravened the civil service rule and Ekiti State Child Rights Act 2013.

Adigun pleaded with governor Fayose to use the suspension as a warning, assuring that such a sordid scenario would not repeat itself.

The ASUSS boss said Fayose’s rewarding of Mrs. Ayodele for displaying honesty would further encourage other teachers in the state on the need to be dedicated to duty and be patriotic.

“ASUSS appreciates our welfarist –oriented and honesty-rewarding Governor for rewarding selflessness and honesty displayed by a member of this union.

“It is on record that a sum of N101,000 was mistakenly paid into her account . She beckoned on the government to retrieve the money. In appreciation of her honesty, the governor offered her a sum of N50,000 which she declined.

“Based on her request, the governor offered her unemployed husband immediate appointment into one of the state’s institutions. We want to put on record that this was the second time ASUSS members will benefit from the humanitarian matters like this. We are indeed appreciative”, it said.

The union said its members would continue to work assiduously for the actualisation of Fayose’s dream of revamping the education sector and make it a beacon to other states of the federation.

Fayose had last week Saturday suspended some teachers in Elo High School, Ayetoro Ekiti in Ido/Osi local government for allegedly engaging some students in private farming during academic hours.

TheSultanofSokotoandthePresident-General,theNigerianSupremeCouncil forIslamicAffairs,AlhajiMuhammadSaadAbubakar111,willtomorrow,inaugurate theWingsSchool’sCentralMosqueinIwo,OsunState.Theeventisbilledfor 10 am. Sultan Abubakar will be accompanied to the ceremony by Prof. Ishaq Oloyede,formerlyViceChancellor,UniversityofIlorin,KwaraStateandcurrently theSecretary-General,NigeriaSupremeCouncilforIslamicAffairs(NSCIA).

AstatementissuedonbehalfoftheWingsSchoolbyProf.LaiOlurode,former IndependentNationalElectoralCommission(INEC)NationalCommissioner for South-west, said Governor Rauf Aregbesola would be Special Guest of HonourandOluwoofIwo,ObaAbdulRasheedAdewaleAkanbi,theChiefHost.

Developing Global Reach on Trade

NigeriahastaskedAfricancountriestodevelopglobalreachintheirtradeas ameansofgettingoutofthewoodsintheyearsahead.Shespecificallycalled ontheWestandCentralAfricansub-regiontoriseupandtaketheirshareof theglobalmarketbydevelopingaglobalreachintradeandenterprisesintheir economies.Inordertoaccomplishthis,theMinisterofStateforTransportation, SenatorHadiSirikawhospokeonbehalfoftheFederalGovernmentduring the Sub-regional Workshop on Transport Cost and Regional Connectivity of African Countries which took place in Abuja noted that this required connectivity nationally, sub-regionally and internationally. The minister added that this would include a multimodal, integrated and sustainable transport system in order to foster quality connectivity within the West and Central African sub-region and indeed the rest of Africa.

Nasarawa Partners Singapore

Governor Umaru Tanko Al - Makura of Nasarawa State has said that the state government would partner with Singapore for capacity building for technicalandvocationaleducationteachersinthestate. Al-Makurastated this when he paid an unscheduled visit to Assakio Technical School in Lafia local government area of the state. He said that the state government had taken delivery of vocational facilities worth N350m from Singapore which would be manned in technical and vocational institutions across the state.

Hesaidthatthefacilitiesincludedthatofcarpentry,welding,plasterofParis (POP) technical equipment for the repair of air conditioners, among others.

Heexplainedthattheexpertsthatwouldtrainstaffofthetechnicalschools and vocational institutions would arrive the state from Singapore in three weeks’ time to mount the equipment, give expert advice on the utilisation of the facilities.

Gunmen Kill Mobile Policeman

Suspected gunmen yesterday killed a Mobile police personnel attached to Mopol23Squadron,LionBuilding,Lagos. Thepolicemanwaskilledat Satellite area of Lagos in what many described as ‘mysterious circumstances’. It was speculated that the policeman was attached to a new generation bank in the area, but the Lagos State police command swiftly denied it and said the policeman was attached to Satellite Division. THISDAY gathered that the policeman was killed in the early hours of the day while he was walking along the street in the area. However, the Commissioner of police, Lagos State command, Fatai Owoseni is said to have ordered investigation into the brutal killing of the officer.

Kogi First Lady EmpowersWomen

Nofewerthan42ruralwomenacross21LocalGovernmentCouncilsofKogi StatehavebeenempoweredbythewifeofKogiStateGovernor,HajiaRashidat Bellobydistributingsewingmachines,cashandSaloonhairdryers.Sheurged themtoformthehabitofsavingtobettertheirlivesandthatoftheirfamilies.

Similarly,sherehabilitatedthreehealthcentersinIjumu,OlamaboroandOkene LocalGovernmentCouncilsanddonatedbeds,drugsandhospitalequipment worthmillionsofnairatothehealthcenters.Addressingthebeneficiariesin Lokoja,shesaidthegesturewhichwasunderherpetproject"KogiWomenand YouthEmpowermentFoundation"wasgearedtowardtrainingandassisting those who had acquired skills, but could not stand on their own as a result of paucity of funds.

Show Buhari More Understanding

NofewerthanInthemidstofcomplaintsfromNigerianswhoareapparently worriedthatPresidentMohammaduBuhariseemstooslowinhisapproachto governance,abusinessmanandcommunityleader,PrinceHenryOmorodion, hascalledforcalm,understandingandpatience.Hesaidthisinastatementmade availabletoTHISDAYovertheweekend.Omorodion,whoistheChairmanof HensmorGroupandtheOdunanobaofBeninKingdom,pleadedthatgiventhe rotthathadpervadedthepolity,itwouldtakealotofeffortstofixthecountry.

Henotedthatthepresidentwasalreadytacklingtheissueofcorruptionand under sundry matters. “I can understand the expectations of Nigerians.

GKS Holds Lay Members Confab

The 40th annual Lay Members Conference of God’s Kingdom Society, The Church of the Living God will take place on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at the SalemCityheadquartersofthechurchinWarri,DeltaState.Theconference accordingtoastatementbythechurchsaidtheconferencewouldberounded off with a thanksgiving service at the GKS cathedral inWarri tomorrow had as its theme “Unity: An Effective Tool for Development and Growth in New Jerusalem.”

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MARCH 26 , 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

RIVERS OF BLOOD

The INEC has proved incapable of conducting a rerun election in Rivers State, argues Chuks Iloegbunam “When you use soldiers to kill, just to win a rerun election, just know that you will need the same soldiers to protect you while in office. Or else, INEC will conduct a bye-election to fill your seat.”

-Senator Shehu Sani

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ooking at last weekend’s charade generally referred to as rerun elections in Rivers State, the profundity of Senator Sani’s statement strikes with the force of brutal truism. How come that a broad segment of Nigerian politicians carry on with the mentality of creatures who possibly feed through their anal cavities?

The imagistic representation out of Rivers State is a vast canvass of mindless violence by the two dominant political parties in contention.

What was the objective of all the wantonness – a State Assembly to make laws for the living, or a funereal conclave for cemeteries?

The following front-page story in the Sunday Sun of March 20, 2016, is entitled Rivers of Blood: Election Rerun Turns Deadly: “NO fewer than 10 persons, including one Immigration officer, were killed in yesterday’s Rivers State. Also, two National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members working as ad hoc staff were abducted at Abual Odua. But they were later rescued at 5 pm, by a team of mobile policemen.

“Meanwhile, heavy shooting marred voting in Abalama Town, in Asari-Toru Local Area. It was during the sporadic shootings that a bullet hit the Immigration officer.

“Sunday Sun gathered that some thugs had stormed the RAC centre and shot sporadically, after a disagreement between supporters of two major political parties.

“Also, four persons were feared dead in Ogoni, in Rivers South-East, following late arrival of voting materials, which created tension in the senatorial district.

“Also, a soldier allegedly killed a young man who came out to cast his vote at Rumuokwuta area of Port Harcourt. In Nonwa, Tai Local Government Area, a voter, simply identified as Tombari, was shot dead by some hoodlums who stormed the area. The victim was said to be on queue, waiting to cast his vote before he was shot dead. Another person was also feared killed in Eleme, while two persons were reportedly killed in Abual/Odua and Ahoada West Local Government Areas, respectively.

“Meanwhile, security men arrested over 32 persons for various offences. Of the number, 18 were arrested for being in possession of military uniforms and electoral materials.”

Other media houses reported stories. Elections were postponed in Abual/Odual, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme, Gokana and Khana.

Dynamites were used to blow up the INEC office in Gokana.

Many swore that the so-called INEC ad hoc staff were, in fact, militants. The sum total of this mess is that INEC proved incapable of conducting rerun Assembly elections in one of the country’s smallest states of just 319 wards and 4442 polling stations.

Nigerians must not pretend that the cause of this maelstrom is unknown. The Judiciary stands accused. A document was published by elombah.com, which was neither denied nor refuted, and which showed that the All Progressives Congress considered the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party in oil-producing states in the last general elections as “a national security risk.” What followed, therefore, was a wholesale nullification of gubernatorial and Assembly elections on grounds that called to question the sense of justice of the courts and tribunals that handed down the verdicts. Abia, Akwa Ibom and Rivers gubernatorial elections were not sorted out until the Supreme Court attended to them.

The Hon Justice Muazu Pindigi made a public statement to this

HOW COULD LIFE HAVE BECOME SO MEANINGLESS IN NIGERIA THAT ANY NUMBER OF CITIZENS MAY BE CUT DOWN IN ORDER THAT POLITICIANS MAY GRAB POWER?

effect: some unknown people and some security personnel offered him bribes that he refused. He was invited to curious meetings that he declined. What followed was his abrupt removal as the Chairman of the Rivers State governorship petitions tribunal. A country seriously fighting corruption will not sweep this grave matter under the carpet. Those judges and courts that abuse their privileged positions and sacred mandates to negate justice, what becomes of them? Who takes responsibility for the lives needlessly lost on account of their iniquity? Do they retire ever after to happily enjoy the filthy lucre from their miscarriages of justice?

Further, what does it portend to flood the military in towns and villages, intimidating voters, arresting many and shooting some?

Does this promote democracy? Does it promote amity? Does it chart a proper way to a life of fulfillment for Nigerians?

To introduce President Muhammadu Buhari. What is his sense of the bloody developments in Rivers State? President Buhari knew that Nnamdi Kanu, the arrowhead of the media campaign for Biafra, holds two passports – Nigerian and British – but had arrived the country using neither. If he knew so much on a minor matter, what information was fed him by the Security and Intelligence services on the Rivers reruns?

The multitudes that swear by Buhari index their incessant oath-taking on the man’s straightforwardness. But personal virtue does not abide in itself alone; it does not begin and stop with the person that is its embodiment. If someone is a saint, his best friends and closest associates cannot and should not be assassins, pedophiles, looters and incorrigible election manipulators. Perforce, the grace of the virtuous rubs off on all those around, especially on those that are subordinates. This is the point: Unless, the style of the military was all along misunderstood, it must be assumed that if the Nigerian Commander-in-Chief expressly forbade the involvement of men and women under arms in electoral manipulation, that became the law cast in stone! How did President Buhari pronounce in the matter of the run of election reruns that have left an avoidable trail of blood?

Someone laughed at the consternation expressed on the political desperation in Rivers State. He thought it should have been obvious that the idea all along was to topple Governor Nyesom Wike, a man sworn to “expose” his predecessor’s plundering of Rivers’ patrimony in order to bankroll Buhari’s presidential campaign. The Supreme Court saved Wike from the spectre of a gubernatorial rerun, he argued. Therefore, it was imperative that one of two enactments should come into force. The one was to douse Rivers in a sponge of blood and, by so doing, utilise federal might to impose a state of emergence, an effective way of forcing Wike from office.

The other was to seize a majority of the seats in the State House of Assembly, and then employ the sledgehammer of impeachment to achieve the same purpose of making Wike’s tenancy of the Rivers Government House defunct.

The one extrapolating couldn’t explain why not even one of all those killed for nothing is remotely related to either of ex-Governor Amaechi and Governor Wike. He didn’t claim not to have heard of karma, which natural law makes people to reap what they sow.

How could life have become so meaningless in Nigeria that any number of citizens may be cut down in order that politicians may grab power? How could Senator Sani’s wisdom be out of range to politicians? How could they miss William Ralph Inge, the English educationist, who said that, “A man may build himself a throne of bayonets but he can’t sit on it”.

Iloegbunam wrote from Abuja

WHY BUHARI SHOULD EMBRACE ABARIBE’S WAND (2)

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ut let no one think that this will be a roller coaster. To start with, our importers whose businesses stand to suffer could pursue the path of sabotage as we are witnessing in the oil sector. Meanwhile, the epileptic power supply that has been the bane of our industries remains unabated just as skewed policies that place primordial considerations above competence and national survival continue to subvert honest attempts and local industrial capacity. We should also not ignore the arguments that seek to hold us captive to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). As obtains in other countries, it is the responsibility of policy makers to find a way round these conventions. Nigeria first!

Perhaps, this campaign could not have started at a more opportune time. Some will argue that Abaribe is driven by the need to revive Aba’s dormant industries. That, in itself, is a good way of justifying the mandate he received from people of Abia South.

But beyond partisanship, in the instant case, what is good for Aba is good for Nigeria.

We need to get all our industries back on course: the textile mills, the cocoa-based industries, the other agro-based industries,

Emma Agu argues the need for Nigerians to wean themselves of foreign made goods

the wood-based industries, etc. In his quest to address the issue of quality of goods and access to equipment and markets, Governor Chuba Ikpeazu of Abia State has taken the practical step of facilitating partnerships between manufacturers in Aba and their counterparts in Turkey. But Buhari can and should turn the campaign to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods a national movement starting from the primary schools. Details of how to achieve this can be worked out by an inter-ministerial team but the National Orientation Agency can be charged with the specific task of achieving national benchmarks within the next two years.

We cannot afford to prevaricate any further. We can take a cue from the contribution of Nigeria’s rising legislative star, Senator Ben Murray Bruce who commended Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu for patronising made in Nigeria cars. His suggestion that it be made compulsory for all public officers to use made in Nigeria cars needs to be given official stamp by the president. If public officers are looking for SUVs, they should not look beyond Nnewi in Anambra

State where Innoson Motor Manufacturing Company is providing practical evidence of patriotism, focus, determination, quality and national pride.

What is left is for Buhari to muster the political will to give effect to this patriotic proposal because there is, in fact, a precedent to serve as guide. As military head of state in the seventies, President Olusegun Obasanjo had made it mandatory for all public officers to use locally assembled Peugeot vehicles. We need to reenact that now. Same should go for furniture, school uniforms, military and paramilitary uniforms, etc.

We must act fast. The disturbing evidence is that our descent into recession is fast approaching the experience of Greece: we can’t pay workers and pensioners without feeling the stress; social services have been in disarray for decades, prices are shooting into the roof while at every point, Nigerians jump at the opportunity to flee the country.

Put succinctly, we should stop living in denial.

Who bells the cat? Abaribe has pointed the way out: the way to the change we desire. It

is not significant that his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) never held up change as its mantra. Lest we forget, the challenge of the moment is not partisan; hunger, unemployment, naira decline, decaying infrastructure and disease, among other societal ills, do not recognise political parties or ethnic and religious boundaries. The same goes for the Abaribe Action Plan: the huge opportunities promised by faithful implementation of a buy made-in-Nigeria campaign transcend cultural and traditional boundaries, are gender neutral and blind to region, age, creed or political party affiliation.

At moments like this, when there is a fundamental life changing opportunity, nations unite behind their leaders to do the work at hand. But the president should set the stage by assuming ownership of this laudable initiative. Call it the Abaribe Action Plan or since the president is accustomed to wars, you can call it Buhari’s War against Nigeria’s Decline (B-WAND) and it will provide the magic wand Buhari needs to bring about the CHANGE Nigerians want.

Agu is publisher of Zest Traveller magazine and CEO of Gavinta & Associates Ltd

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MARCH 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

The agony of fuel shortages...

We’ve Not Seen the Change (2)

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r. President, kindly ensure that this war on corruption is fought procedurally so that its effect can permeate the system and ensure that never again shall we return to the days of the locust. Already, the initial Buhari fear is waning. Masu gudu sun bari gudu. They have seen that it is all bluster and little depth so they have returned to their old ways.

Mr. President, the goats are still very much in the barn and they are having a fill.

Mr. President, your economic policies are difficult to pin-point. Nigeria is no longer the premier investment destination and things are really difficult. In certain decisions you have taken relative to economic policies, it is as if you are engaged in criminalising enterprise. From the Forex regime to economic policies, it has been one befuddling confusion after another. Surely, we can do better than this. And while we are on this topic, it is no longer expedient to blame Goodluck Jonathan for everything wrong with Nigeria. You have been in charge for 10 months sir. Start showing us your own workings and stop blaming others.

Mr. President, under your watch, we are poor yet we are acting rich. I am hard-pressed to find justification for your retention of the full Presidential Air Fleet 10 months into your administration. Your greatest personal attribute is your frugality and your disdain for ostentation but it sadly has not reflected in your presidency. I know you have heard of the Magufuli effect in Tanzania. Where then is the Buhari effect in Nigeria? Where is the cut-back on wastages? Where is the attitudinal adjustment to our economic realities? Some of the provisions in the 2016 budget make it difficult to take this change serious. Not just you but your ministers are living large. Upon their inauguration, a statement was issued that ministers will only move with two cars. We all applauded but alas, we did too early. That was a hoax. Your ministers drive by in Abuja daily in convoys of upwards of seven cars complete with Pilot and Escort vehicles. Where is the change?

Mr. President, let me make this as clear as possible: There is suffering in the land and I do not see any urgency on your part to fix this. From the difficulty in getting fuel to worsening power situation and so on, Nigerians are groaning.

Your ministers have been largely ghost workers since their inauguration. If it was a private company with six-month probationary perform-or-be-sacked policy, they would all be gone because there is no sign of their impact after six months of their appointments.

What we are getting daily is you and your party denying promises that were made to us during the campaigns or waiving them aside like unrealistic demands of truculent children. Incidentally, they were not demands, they were promises freely made by you and your party to Nigerians as benefits of change from

the former party to your party. Now that you have been elected, you are distancing yourself from those promises. We are observing. You will need our votes again.

Mr. President, this is the truth and perhaps the most important message in this letter: You are losing your most ardent supporters. Those who used to vociferously defend you all over the place are not so bothered anymore. They either keep quiet when you are being castigated or worse, join the complainants. Granted that you have good intentions for Nigeria but the truth remains that intentions are not enough. Ability must match intentions and at the moment, there is a disconnect between your good intentions and the demonstrated ability to implement them. There is something that your political advisers failed to tell you in the euphoria of your electoral victory last year. Granted that a lot of people voted for you as a person but there is yet an army who voted not necessarily for YOU but AGAINST the status quo obtainable at the time due to disappointment with the way things were. Those ones are independent thinkers and they are not beholden to your party or your persona and trust me, they are in the majority.

This is no longer about Jonathan supporters and Buhari supporters. This is about Nigeria and the way forward. I am involved.

Sam Hart, hartng@gmail.com

Electricity Generation and Transmission: The Limiting Factors

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ut of the three components of Nigeria’s electricity mathematics – generation, transmission and distribution, the government seems to have been smart enough to hold on to the transmission component, with the advantage of ascertaining the total quantity of power available at every point in time. It shows how much has been generated and the aggregates as well as how much has been consumed.

However, the expected quantum leap has failed to materialise substantially, more than two years after the unbundling and privatisation in the sector.

At this point, every concerned citizen and patriot should be asking questions.

Such questions will include: “Why have we covered so little mileage? Why have we generated disproportionately low megawatts per thousand dollars compared to other economies? Why have we failed to surpass the 6,500 megawatts landmark which some

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claim was the figure being generated way back 40 years ago?”

Why awaiting answers to these questions by the sages and the appropriate government agencies, I have, on my own, researched and articulated the following issues: It takes far too long to get approval/ licenses to build power generating plants in Nigeria, sometimes even more than two years. No serious minded investor is willing to tie down funds for this length of time. Second, it takes far too long to construct approved power projects, sometimes up to four years, partly due to community issues and partly due to cumbersome procurement and logistics procedures. Third, the process of procuring fuel to power the plants, especially gas is often disjointed and constitutes a separate project with unique challenges. Fourth, providing transmission facilities through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is a herculean task, which must be subject to the full dose of Nigerian bureaucracy.

These issues are the common denominators preventing Nigerians from enjoying full benefits from investment in the power sector.

At this point, it’s apt to suggest some changes which will ameliorate these difficulties and make power freely available for the rapid industrialisation of the economy.

Rather than issue licenses to companies to generate power, government should completely deregulate the process by changing the rules to allow the TCN set long-term purchase contracts, guaranteeing a preset take-on price per megawatt generated by any private enterprise.

The process should prescribe the minimum standard of operation that will allow such companies operate safely, competitively and in an environmental friendly manner.

This, for instance, will enable platforms such as the NIPP canvass and link up investors and technical partners in turning out modular power generating facilities across the country on a continual basis.

Dan Aibangbe, Lagos

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MARCH 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLSCOPE

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com 08053069356

Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru (1935--2016): A Reflection

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ack in the days, while growing up in Delta State, the Ibrus were generally a standing metaphor for wealth and fame. Their name only collocated with bottomless financial power. Matters were not helped by the length and width of myths woven around the Ibrus. All kinds of fables spread around them.

For the natives, the mystery around the Ibrus was further strengthened with the story of a storey building “standing on one leg” in Agbarha-Otor, the homestead of the Ibrus. It was a display of financial power enough, to put up a storey building in those days, but to make such a building “stand on one leg” was the capping of the financial mystery.

And so, we grew up regarding the Ibrus with awe, especially as even white men served and obeyed them with observable fright.

Many of the mysteries around the Ibrus began to clear and wear when I got to Lagos in 1991 and began to work in The Guardian, as a reporter.

Sometime in 1993, my news source at the time, Hon Solomon Edojah, then a member of the Federal House of Representatives, in the course of our many interactions, took me, one evening, to Olorogun Felix Ibru’s residence, in GRA, Ikeja.

I was excited that I was going to meet my former state governor. He had invited Edojah for a discussion on politics. Even Edojah regarded it as a prized invitation as he hurriedly rushed into his room and soon appeared in very prized and princely outfit that suddenly transformed his status and value in my eyes. I cannot remember what I wore, but it could not be more than the usual modest apparel of a typical reporter.

In no time, we were at Ibru’s gate.

Typical of him, he had informed his security men of our coming. I was struck by the kind of lighting that beamed the house to every visitor.

The house itself was an architectural mystery.

Dome-like, it’s entrance and general ambience, at the time, were rather exotic. The house was quiet.

Very quiet. Almost with an official air hanging in the atmosphere.

There he was in the family lounge, waiting to usher us in. He stood up with hands stretched forth as we shook the soft but firm hands.

Edojah introduced me to him and the discussion began amidst some soft drinks/tea.

Since it was largely on political developments both at the national level and in our home state, I was able to make meaningful contributions, which I think, he appreciated. And that was it. I became his friend and boy.

Many years after, we were either meeting in his private office, on the Opebi Link road, opposite Sheraton Hotel and Towers, or in The Club, right inside the Sheraton Hotels and Tower itself.

From the years of interaction, it was clear he was a man who had a passion for decency. That he was meticulous will be an understatement. He would say it is better not to make the mistake of the head, hence he is slow to acting, just to ensure he does not make the mistake of the head. Everything was calculatedly worked out. Even the setting of his office bore this mark. He was a stickler for time. But for me, he waived it a couple of times. In those days, his then vivacious secretary, one auntie Josephine (now late), an Igbo woman who could sustain a meaningful conversation in Urhobo language on account of working with Ibru for many years, would say, “your brother is busy now but if you wait for 30 minutes he can see you”.

He was an establishmentarian. Cautiously conservative and full of deep insight. We reflected on many national and local issues and his perspectives were usually rich. He told me many stories, some private, others of his experiences in politics and governance. There were many lessons to learn from his stories. Many of such lessons have remained helpful to me in latter years.

He was hardly in a hurry on any matter. He detested shortcuts. He insisted on doing just what is right, no matter the price. One little but evident way he proved this was, whenever we were leaving his office for the Sheraton premises, he would insist the driver drives down to do a U-turn at Eko Hospital (at the time) and drive properly to The Sheraton instead of just rushing (against traffic) through the less than 50

Olorogun Felix Ibru metres stretch between the Link road and the Sheraton gate Many times, he expressed concern with how the nation was being run, and would say, ‘if we find that there is something wrong with the structure, as an architect, what we have to do is go back to the drawing board”.

Two things he never joked with at the time, was his playing Golf on Tuesdays at 2.00pm and his Igbobi College Old Boys’ meetings. No appointments could waive those meetings.

He was rather fanatical about his Igbobi College engagements. On one occasion, he chided me for not covering the launch of a book, which I think, was published by the wife of an ICY (Igbobi College, Yaba) old Boy and said he would manage to forgive me by giving me a copy of the book, Hallmarks of Labour, written by Patricia Dede Otuedon which he personally signed in a handwriting that looked like Technical Drawing lines: “To my Friend, E. J Odivwri—Felix Ibru, 15/06/01”. Same day, he gave me another book, Breaking New Grounds, Reflections on the Nigerian Capital Market, written by his younger brother, G.M Ibru.

Yes, the Ibrus are rich, but they never flaunt money.

Once, he had made reference to how hard it was for them to make their money, suggesting that it is not like modern day wealth which many stumbled into.

It is not a surprise that when he served as a governor and other public service assignments either as senator, UPU President General etc, not for him, was the public treasury ever a temptation. There was never a scandal of any sort on him.

For many years, for instance, he drove mainly a Peugeot 505 Evolution, in an age where SUVs had become commonplace for even the less endowed persons.

Yet, he was quite caring. I recall how he was unable to attend my father’s funeral in 2009 because he was out of the country, yet sent a five-man delegation with cartons of drinks and “a purse” to the funeral ceremony.

He was not the typical politician. He was reticent and not loud. He didn’t quite have the gift of the garb, but he was deep and venerable. He was not everywhere. He carried himself with Victorian gait and dignity. He was a self-respecting gentleman. Yet he was deeply interested in politics. I understand his interest in politics dates back to his College days at Igbobi where he had served as the Head Boy in 1955, just as his elder brother, Michael did before him.

He was a progressive and had leaned strongly on the Awolowo political philosophy. And that explained why he sided with defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), even when his elder brother, Michael had openly supported National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

That also explains why in the aborted Third Republic, Felix Ibru was elected the First Executive Governor of newly created Delta State on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1991.

He was a liberal Christian. An Anglican. He was not fanatical on religious matters. He was open and verily de-tribalised. Yet he loved his people. He was very concerned on how to move the Urhobo nation

forward. He spoke the Urhobo language with rich linguistic tapestry flavoured by the Agbarha idiolect.

His middle name-Ovuodoroye, literally meaning Everyman with his own greatness, was indeed quite descriptive of his life. While he believed and manifested his own greatness, he also acknowledged the greatness of others.

He had submitted a powerful paper on the creation of Urhobo State during the 1991 constitution review exercise.

His love for the Urhobo nation, it must be, that also led him to become, the President General of the elite and influential Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU).

Although his tenure was not crowned with great feats, Ibru yet remarked that he managed to pull UPU from the background and made it a national and even international organ He boasted at the time, “With all sense of modesty, I wish to report that the UPU under my leadership has been transformed from a local union into a national/ international organisation, which now is a reference point” When he was going to run for the senate, he summoned me and we formed a small committee with late Justus Esiri, the Nollywood actor, as the head to work out the election plans, especially in the media.

For him, nothing was ever left to chance. He planned every process to the last bit. And he won.

His humility is legendary. While in his office one day, he had placed a call to then Governor James Ibori to formally inform him that he would be travelling to England for his medicals. When he dropped the telephone, he explained that he usually takes “permission” from his state’s governor before leaving the country.

Always dressed in white outfits, the Ibrus, generally have made a myth of white clothings. His was no exception. Often clad in sartorial white Guinea Brocade, specially starched, Felix always looked very organized. Even his handkerchiefs, usually bigger than normal, are also starched and carefully ironed.

Although he may have been tamed by age and experience in latter years, Felix Ibru was said to have been the most rascally of the Ibru brothers.

He smoked, but decently and discreetly.

Yet, he was very intelligent and influential.

He had won the Elder Dempster Lines Scholarship to study Architecture in England on the instruction of his elder brother, Michael, whose foresight had indicated to him that the future of Nigeria will be in construction. He qualified as an architect in 1962.

He later went to Israel to have his Masters Degree in Architecture and that began his flourishing career in Architecture.

With several projects in Nigeria to his credit, it is noteworthy that he was behind the Sheraton Hotels design, UNILAG Sports centre, UNIBEN Sports Complex, Oguta Lake Resort, The Diette-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, Office extension for Elf Nig. Ltd. Victoria Island, Lagos University master plan, Faculty of Science buildings, University of Benin & Ogun State and the Ogun State Polytechnic Master plan, amongst others.

His architectural adroitness is what explains the famous storey building “standing on one leg” in their Agbarha-Otor hometown, as well as his dome-shaped Lagos residence.

Afew years ago, when THISDAY Newspaper gave him a life time achievement award, he was very happy. Aweek after the awards ceremony, he had called me from Paris, where he had gone for his medicals and asked how he could thank my publisher for considering him worthy of the award especially as it was neither asked for nor was there any price tag to it. We both considered a few ways of showing appreciation and settled for a well-worded “Thank You” letter to Mr Nduka Obaigbena, my Publisher.

Ibru had asked that we should meet on his return.

But we never did. As life rolls, living becomes the art of avoiding the unobtainable. And that was it.

Ibru ‘s health began to fail and his trips for medical treatment became a little more frequent.

But when last year, he marked his 80th birthday, I was happy that he was trudging on.

However, since all men are mortals, his journey here ended March 12, as his journey to eternity began. For Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, his sun in eternity is just rising, because who is not forgotten is not dead.

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March 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

NEW REVIEW

Why ‘Palm Wine Drinkers’ Want Emefiele Out Deep and vested interests rather than love of country are at the bottom of the cowardly siege on the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, David Emefiele, writes Bennett Oghifo

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eoffrey Chaucer says in ‘Wife of Bath’ one of his Canterbury Tales that the utmost wish of a woman is to control the man; add to that, the wish of everybody is to control everybody and everything.

But first, they must have tons of money or have easy access to it. This is the reason a few bad people do all that is necessary to be filthily rich at the expense of man and country.

“In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power,” Tony Montana says in the movie, Scarface.

This was the same reason autocratic governments became rife in Africa where powerful interests ensured that they were always in charge and in control of all things and of all situations and, particularly of the nation’s till. To achieve the stronghold on man and society always, these African despots execute devious plots, staging military coups and counter-coups.

They still have deceitful plots against the government and the society if things run counter to their wishes.

Recent revelations of onslaught on the nation’s treasure show an age-old systemic and graded distribution pattern and, as it is in organised crime, which this situation looks like, territories have been carved out or annexed by interest groups. Some people believe it is an institutionalised graft system that is not expected to change.

Thus, some people do not like the policy of the Emefiele-led CBN on the allocation of Forex, because they believe they alone should determine how the nation’s foreign exchange should be used and who should trade with it. To them, it is the tradition and, nobody is expected to challenge the norm.

This is the reason the robust endorsement of Emefiele by Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole may have stopped those calling for Emefiele’s sack in their tracks.

Oshiomhole’s unexpected intervention and his characterisation of those calling for Emefiele’s head has thrown spanner in the works of what appears to be a well oiled campaign by some desperate interests groups fronting for some equally desperate VIPs who have continued to fleece the system for their private benefit.

The faceless economic saboteurs have laid siege on Emefiele for sometime now all on the pretentious grounds that the economy is in shambles because of him. How can that be?

Oshiomhole pointedly told them that no one is fooled by their campaign and that the new federal government won election on the basis of a mantra of change and that the government was bent on doing something about “all kinds of people who have made money from the nation’s economy without contributing anything.”

Since President Buhari was sworn in, there has been a silent campaign for the ouster of the CBN governor on social media, in print and on electronic media. Petitions, containing all sorts of spurious allegations have been tendered in their desperation to ensure the president removes him. But they forget that the CBN is an autonomous institution that reflects the monetary stability of the nation.

Oshiomhole reminded the campaigners that the hiring and firing of the CBN governor is not a political decision because institutions such as the central bank are central to economic growth and development of any serious nation.

Those who will benefit from the sack of Emefiele are merely invisible hands who, for so long, have continued to thwart the nation’s economic resources for their selfish interest.

Those behind this campaign, according to checks, are not doing so for the love of the great country but to further their vested interest that is not only parochial but also

Oshiomhole

ethnic-based.

Added to this is a powerful interest group that has been denied access to FOREX. Besides, as Oshiomole said, “If a governor is doing fine, his hiring and firing is not a matter that should be discussed by faceless Facebook manipulators, and by the time you unmask the people behind it, you will discover that they are palm wine drinkers.”

According to the governor, the government already had its hands full, trying to grapple with the challenge of running an economy undergoing recession with limited inflow of foreign exchange, and that it was counterproductive to engage in a needless adventure that would trigger a process that would lead to endless devaluation that, ultimately, would reduce the Nigerian precious Naira to Zimbabwean dollar.

He insists that “President Buhari is not going to be fooled by people who want to have a regime where government is just an onlooker and allow the naira to become worthless and people are making money from speculation. So those guys are wasting their time.”

The CBN governor was right in insisting on the 41 items that had been denied access to forex from the interbank forex market, he reasoned, adding that “people who have been feeding fat on our common patrimony, manipulating the exchange rate and moving money across boundaries are the speculators spreading the campaign for his sack.”

The government’s slogan of change is not a senseless punch-line but a serious resolve to redirect the minds and actions of all to the common good.

“We have a new federal government that has won election on the basis of change and there are all kinds of people who have made a lot of money from the economy without contributing anything by just playing on exchange rates and commercial papers.

“It is these speculators, because the CBN governor has been saying we cannot open the doors to all kinds of imports such as toothpicks, tomato paste and all sorts of things who have been feeding fat on our common patrimony, manipulating the exchange rate, moving money across borders, and taking advantage of electronic money transfers, that are behind these campaigns,” he said.

He said on another level were “some op-

Emefiele

portunistic elements, people who feel that if this man goes, I will get there and they are ready to go to any length to remove him.

“I think this government is making a point that the hiring and firing of CBN governors need not be a political decision, because we should respect institutions; the hiring and firing is not a decision by Facebook manipulators, and by the time you unmask the people behind it, you will discover that they are palm wine drinkers.

“I think the CBN governor is right, he is standing his grounds and those who are opposed to him are free to speak, but I know that President Buhari is not going to be fooled by people who want to see a regime where government is just an onlooker and allows our naira to become worthless and for people to make money from speculation, so those guys are wasting their time.”

Also, the executive committees of a coalition of civil society groups rose in defence of Emefiele and condemned the threat of a protest by “a shadowy, bogus and unscrupulous group parading itself as a civil society organisation”.

The civil society groups stated that the central bank governor was being persecuted for the policies on the implementation of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), restriction on foreign exchange allocation, reform of the bureau de change sub-sector, and refusal by the central bank to devalue the naira.

The groups also stated that the “phony” group threatening to hold a protest against Emefiele was not a civil society organisation and was therefore not recognised by the coalition of civil society groups in Nigeria.

In a statement yesterday, the coalition insisted that regardless of how this phony group tries to mask itself as a civil society organisation, an independent investigation had revealed that it was in fact a political organisation of paid agents and sponsored groups representing the interest of a certain geopolitical zone in the country.

The coalition revealed that the promoters of this group are persons who are known to be troublesome and have the capacity to disrupt the public peace.

The groups said they fully appreciate the difficulties and anxieties of many Nigerians given the present tough economic environ-

ment, but maintained that the situation was not caused by one man or one institution and considered it unfair for anyone or group to try to put the blame on only one person or organisation.

According to the coalition, relative to its peers, the Nigerian economy was not performing that badly.

“Among commodity-exporting economies, for instance, inflation, GDP growth and employment are far worse in countries like Zambia, Ghana, and Argentina with inflation rates of between 19-28 per cent. As a matter of fact, Brazil and Russia are in recession, while South Africa is struggling to record positive growth.

“These are all linked to the fall in commodity prices in the international market.

Emefiele and the CBN have so far managed to keep inflation far below what has been recorded in many comparator countries,” the coalition said.

It insisted that the policies of the Emefieleled CBN are aimed at protecting ordinary Nigerians from the destructive capitalistic instincts of a few speculators.

“Emefiele’s policies have truncated the rent-seeking ability of many of these economic parasites and saboteurs. And we believe it is for this singular reason that both Emefiele and the CBN are being vilified in the most unfair and disgraceful manner by a sponsored group of anarchists.

“Nigerians have been taken for a ride for too long. Our collective patrimony has been cornered by a few looters for too long. We can no longer stand idly by and watch these thieves, in collaboration with foreign neocolonialists and imperialists, keep the masses of our people under perpetual bondage. This is the time to free Nigeria and its people from the dirty hands and greedy mouths of a few,” the civil society groups added.

They stated that Emefiele’s detractors are aggrieved by his implementation of the BVN, which ensures that those who have looted the country’s resources and concealed them under various account names are detected.

“Given their inability to hide their identities these thieves have vowed to hound Emefiele for daring to destroy their criminal activities.

May God never allow them to succeed,” the groups said.

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SATURDAY MARCH 26 2016 T H I S D AY

Plus

INTERIOR AUTO GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND FITNESS FASHION FILE

pg. 21 pg. 26 pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 40 pg. 41

Rogers Augustine Nwoke

We Killed Lizards for Food…It Was that Tough

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 26, 2016

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Plus

Microfinance Banking Has Always Been with Us The indomitability of the human spirit best describes the story of Rogers Augustine Nwoke, Chief Executive Officer of Hasal Microfinance Bank. Born in the heat of the civil war, Rodgers grew up without a father stel. All he had was a mother who dared it all to make him what he is today. From starting as a waiter at a hotel at the age of 15, he struggled against all the odds to become an alumnus of Frankfurt School of Finance and Management with Certifications in Micro and SME Finance. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School/Accion Programme of Strategic Leadership in Micro finance, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria; a senior member and Certified Micro finance Banker of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. Rodgers tells Stanley Nkwazema the story of a humble beginning when lizards served as a delicacy for his impoverished family, to life as a banker and today an entrepreneur who has hundreds of people on his payroll

I

The Struggling, Lizard Chasing Village Boy… was born about 48 years ago to the family of Michael Anukam Nwoke and Catherine Adanma Nwoke of Emebiam in what is now Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo state. Typically, I am a village boy. I grew up under very tough conditions. They said when it gets tough, the tough gets going. I am a very firm believer in destiny, in God and everything that he wants to do. I believe that God will always do what he says he will do.

Being born just before the Civil War started and growing up as an infant during the war was a very difficult experience. Many people must have heard what was called Kwashiorkor but do not know what it means. Some of us suffered it. Kwashiorkor is the local name for malnutrition. Some of us had to be fed with lizards to be able to get some protein. It is an experience I will never forget. Today, when I see lizards running, I remember that they used to be good delicacy during the war. My father died when I was very young and I have never had the privilege of calling anybody daddy since I was born. My mother was equal to the task; she raised me as a single mother, putting together everything that she could do to bring me up. She did all kinds of difficult jobs, even jobs that were considered exclusive for men all to ensure that I went to school.

God Almighty crowned the effort of my mother and provided help from special quarters in times of need.

Today, when I look back, whatever I have become, it’s only God that has made it possible.

In Search of Education: The Journey Within…

I started schooling at the Community School, Emeabiam. From there I wrote my Common Entrance exams and I had the privilege attending what was then J F Kennedy Secondary School in Obibiezena, Owerri North, but ended up in the pioneer class of Eziobodo Secondary Technical School still in Owerri West. It was a big struggle getting education at the

The Nwokes

local level with no science teachers, no laboratories and good facilities for educating children. Thanks to the NYSC programme which provided support. For example, I was best Fine Arts student and officially nominated school artist by the principal but the skill could not be developed further as the NYSC Fine Arts teacher, one Mr. Nyam, left after service and there was no replacement. The present day Anglican Bishop of Egbu Diocese was our French Teacher and French Language was such an interesting subject, but the excitement of learning a second international language died as soon as Mon Ami (as he was nicknamed) left for higher education.

Under those circumstances, it takes a strong determination to succeed backed by an absolute faith in God to make it today.

I started work life at the age of 15 as a waiter at the then prestigious Imo Concorde Hotel in Owerri. I was there until I gained admission to study Accounting at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I graduated in 1992.

University was an interesting learning and personal development for me. A combination of work and study was the tonic that helped shape my life of enterprise today. I was posted to Benue State for my National Service which I did at the Benue Cement Company, BCC, where I had the privilege of meeting and learning under Senator Joshua Chibi Dariye as Head of Finance then. Benue Cement Company gave me my first experience as an accounting graduate. I was trained in the Costing Office of BCC. I started my banking career in 1994, after my youth service, with now defunct Ivory Merchant Bank.

Unfortunately, the owners of the bank could not recapitalise the bank and I had to leave for Diamond Bank where I had my early training as a core SME lender/banker. The last place I worked as an employee was Access Bank. I disengaged in 2008 at the level of Assistant General Manager to start what is today Hasal Bank. As a founder and chief executive officer, microfinance became a passion I developed learning from my experience

Many people must have heard what was called Kwashiorkor but do not know what it means. Some of us suffered it. Kwashiorkor is the local name for malnutrition. Some of us had to be fed with lizards to be able to get some protein. It is an experience I will never forget. Today, when I see lizards running, I remember that they used to be good delicacy during the war

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MARCH 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

Plus Though Mum Died at 86, I Wished She Lived Forever as an SME finance expert while in the banking industry. Before commencing work at Hasal, I had taken time off to do an MBA at the Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, England. I have attended several training both at the managerial strategic levels for both banking and micro finance. I am an Alumnus of Frankfurt School of Finance and Management with Certifications in Micro and SME Finance. I am an alumnus of the Harvard Business School/Accion Programme of Strategic Leadership in Micro Finance.

I am a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a Senior Member (HCIB) and Certified Microfinance Banker (MCIB) of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

Challenging Times,Lessons Learnt from Mother My most challenging time was growing up without a father figure; somebody you could look up to.

Someone to stand up and take responsibility as a man. However, it is also this challenge that helps shape you early in life, especially when you have to start quite early to provide for yourself and the rest of the family.

But when you have a mother who is both a father and mother, a woman with a devotion to God coupled with strength, resilience, character and determination to confront her destiny, and then you have a chance to survive. My mother was in all ramifications, what a mother should be. That time comes when you are driven from school for inability to pay school fees and you know your mother has drawn her last blood to find the school fees and she is not able to; what do you do? Frustration!

When you see a big family of uncles and aunties and none can help you, what do you feel? Depressed! That secondary school age was the most challenging period when it was so difficult to feed, go to school; when you must take up very hard labour as a child just so you can survive but it was the period also when you are truly formed with the values that shape your future, and that’s where my mother comes in for support. It was a period of learning how not to steal even if hunger was going to kill you; how you must learn to trust God who in his promises is the sustainability of the poor; how you must be mindful of people who will take advantage of you and your situation to lure you into acts that are capable of destroying you in life.

High Points and Hopelessness...

What I will describe as my first high point was passing the Common Entrance to attend secondary school. I have been described as a brilliant child, looking at my results and performance in primary school; the expectations were that this child was going to go far academically. After the Common Entrance examinations, everybody’s result was released but I did not see my own. One day, the result came out and I had the opportunity of going to secondary school. I remember when we received the news of passing the Common Entrance, my mother was dancing and a woman said to her that it is not all about me passing the examinations, but would she be able to pay the school fees?. That spoilt the joy for my mother. I remember when I got my first job as a waiter in Concorde Hotel, going for interview with about 120 people, and emerging among the top three was another high point in my life that gave hope that there was a very beautiful path that lies ahead. Getting admission to study Accounting at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka was a beautiful

memorable days. The Bible says that when God finished creating man, he saw incompleteness and decided to make a helper that is fit for him. I think it is equally true for any man who finds that help and I did find help having married Joyce Akpan and today Mrs. Joyce Rogers Nwoke, whom I have named Onyinyechinyere Rogers. The completeness you look for in a man becomes complete because I have been able to achieve much now compared to before marriage. Life is not complete without your other half.

When you look at the responsibilities you have in keeping your home, your children, your business and other needs, to have a wife who helps you build the business and helps you build the home is a privilege and honour which I am very grateful.

Marriage has brought a new phase into my growing up and with the kind of wife I married; I think I have come to that place where I wish I should have gotten married at 25 based on what I have seen today. I got married at 34. If I had married at 25, the kids will be getting ready to leave school.

The earlier the better. Marriage is sweet and should be entered as soon as someone can afford to do so.

Nwoke

expectation to become a professional.

When I finished my National Youth Service and got the opportunity to join Diamond Bank in 1995, it was an exciting experience because as at then, Diamond was one of the best institutions in the financial sector that everybody wanted to work with.

Then came the high point of getting admission to study abroad. A child of a poor village woman who did not have a husband to help her and who struggled, suddenly you are flying abroad to do a Masters Degree programme. What crowns it all is having gone through all these period to be able to start a business as an entrepreneur. The starting and coming to stream of Hasal Micro Finance bank in October 2008 was the height of all expectations. That you have been able to put in time, learning banking, working for other people and you get to the point you are able to create something that today employs more than 400 hundred people and created more than 1000 jobs over the last eight years. We have been able to provide micro loans to more than 22,000 people over a period of seven years.

When you look around, you will see that your creation is helping families feed, helping children go to school, helping businesses survive. What more can you ask for?

Elevation of Esusu and Micro Finance Banks…

Micro finance is not new to Africa.

The traditional African system made provisions for associations where savings and thrift worked. Those were the oldest forms of micro finance as a way of life. Micro finance as we have it today is a formalised and institutionalised way of providing financial services to people at the bottom of the pyramid. It means reaching out to people who are excluded from the formal financial systems. It is an advanced form of the Esusu system which is one of the products of micro finance business. Micro finance goes beyond that. It covers the entire gamut of financial services as long as it is targeted at people at the low income levels. Banking and financial services as provided by the big banks when it is brought down to a microcosm and reduced to a target market that focuses only at the low income people.

Best Day of My Life....

I think the day I got married, February 16, 2002, has remained best of the

Meeting My Wife…

I am a student of the Bible, fascinated by the story of Abraham finding a wife for his son, Isaac, through Eleazar, the chief servant. I knew that choosing a wife was going to be a key success factor to what my life would be thereafter. As a Christian, I started early to pray for a wife and while in secondary school, I learnt about Isaac and Rebecca. That story of how a man can pray to God and set substantive evidence to proof his choice worked for me. When the time came, I asked God for very specific things about how I wanted to meet my wife, and it was so. We met in March 2000, dated for two years and got married in February 2002 when the aroma of Valentine’s Day was still in the air.

And Mother Dies…

My mother lived a much fulfilled life and died at age 86. I would have wished my mother lived for 90 or 96years instead of 86 years but I am not the creator. God knows best. Why I wished my mother would have lived forever is that I have never considered myself to have done enough for her to thank her. Looking back to those days, seeing the pains and sometimes so difficult, you could see the tears in her eyes, going into the bush to clear farm lands, taking up labourer’s jobs, all to survive.

After God has brought you this far, you want to honour her, you want to nurse her forever. In 2014, she had a mild stroke and did not come out of it. It was painful but with a lot of gratitude to God Almighty because it could have been worse or she could have died in those tough days but God kept her and strengthened her.

No amount of those days’ sufferings impacted her old age. She lived as a very strong woman and died not devastated by any particular ailment or disease that you could say was associated with her past or her old age. God gave her a good old age. It was painful seeing her go. I have also had sad periods when my two elder brothers died at different times and sometimes you feel lonely growing up living your life without your brothers. It is all good because at each of these times, God has always provided comfort.

Expectations for the Future…

When it is all over, let it be said undoubtedly that: ‘He loved God. He Served Humanity. He created businesses. And He raised champions.’

Meeting My Wife…

I am a student of the Bible, fascinated by the story of Abraham finding a wife for his son, Isaac, through Eleazar, the chief servant. I knew that choosing a wife was going to be a key success factor to what my life would be thereafter. As a Christian, I started early to pray for a wife and while in secondary school, I learnt about Isaac and Rebecca.

That story of how a man can pray to God and set substantive evidence to proof his choice worked for me.

When the time came, I asked God for very specific things about how I wanted to meet my wife, and it was so. We met in March 2000, dated for two years and got married in February 2002 when the aroma of Valentine’s Day was still in the air

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • March 26, 2016

Loud Whispers with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

A candle for Ibinabo Fiberesima My sister, I hear, has been sent to in prison following the incident that happened about five years ago which led to the death of Dr. Giwa. William Shakespeare, the great bard, could not have written a more tragic episode.

This is really sad for both families. One has lost a breadwinner and father, the other is seeing their daughter in prison.

For me, I remain numb in the fact that even though I agree that the law must take its full course in delivering justice, no matter how long Ibinabo serves in prison, the life of the amiable doctor would not be restored. My condolences remain with his family as they continue to mourn this great loss and my support also goes to Ibinabo’s family especially her lovely kids who today have been left motherless, ‘albeit’ temporally following her loss at the Appeal court. Lessons have been learnt by all sides including observers and my prayers continue to flow to both sides.

Psquare: It’s OK, you can break up Personally I really do not care if this set of twins break up or remain together. The problems facing us in this country are far more serious than what will come out of the eventual breakup of this group. Although they have remained highly successful and have given us so many hit songs flying the flag all over the world, this their breakup issue cannot in any way be compared with the fuel scarcity, lack of power and the spiraling school fees I have to deal with in today’s Nigeria.

So really, if they want to break up they should do just that and stop distracting us with their childish and semi-literate stories of a dream gone bad. They have been lucky and fate has smiled on them and for the rest of us who despite very hard labour will never earn the kind of money they have touched all our lives, we continue to struggle in the mud. So my people with the kinds of endorsement, lifestyle these people have lived through on the back of their pidgin English-laden songs, why should I

Amaechi, Wike and the Story of Humpty Dumpty

When I think of these two especially after the violence ridden rerun elections in Rivers state, what comes to mind is this nursery rhyme. For the sake of those of us who did not go to Nursery Schools, let me repeat it here. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall......... . Abeg I no remember the thing again Jo, but the point I am trying to make here is that Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and there was nothing all the king’s men could do to put back his shattered head together again. Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike have shown very clearly that the interest of the people of Rivers state is very far from their minds as they embark on their ego driven push for power. Today what we have left on the streets of Rivers is the blood of their sons, fathers and breadwinners flowing ceaselessly towards the creeks of the Delta.

Widows and orphans have been created simply because no side wants to allow common sense and civility to guide their ambitions.

Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, from the militarisation

bother my head if they cannot build a structure and be mature about their business? How does their break-up or otherwise reduce the price of Garri in the market? Before I am being accused of envy let me come out and agree fully.

Yes, I envy the fact that despite my Masters degree, 20 years of toiling in the finance industry, I will never earn the kind of money they have used to

of the elections, to the violence, from allegations of bribery and thuggery to the barbaric attempts at the lives of prominent actors and in all these we see a society under severe strain, a society where nothing but tears and sorrow flow with the joys of democracy thrown out the window of inordinate ambition of two gladiators who have nothing but ‘wicked’ aggression to offer. I am sad with my heart heavy. I weep for Nigeria even as I share the sorrow of the very humble people of Rivers who have been subjected to this harrowing experience. Humpty Dumpty and his twin must fall from the wall and the kings men would ride past their shattered heads in their quest to speedily bring succor and comfort to the damaged people of Rivers and till then, I remain on my knees in prayers and in mourning for my brethren who only had but a dream of the gains of a well fought democracy but found themselves in shallow graves trampled upon by the vicissitudes of ambition. Is God still alive?

buy their cheapest house. Abeg break up. Meanwhile, while praying for their breakup, I have started rehearsing and trying some dance step in my bathroom, it’s never too late to attempt a replacement. Guys, get ready for Jsquare, I dey come.

CBN Recruitment scandal I have followed this recruitment scandal with amazement. Why do Nigerians like lying like this? After thorough scrutiny and investigations I have come to the realisation that the allegations leveled against the management of the CBN that they have turned into a recruitment agency for the silver spoon spoilt children of the rich and powerful is nothing but total falsehood. It is a lie from the pit of hell and the figment of imagination of the enemies of the amazing Governor of the Bank who because he is Igbo and has refused to join the cry for Biafra that his enemies have come together to concoct this wicked lie. My investigations show that there is only one poor man pikin in employment there o. His name is Gabriel. His father is a poor palmwine tapper in the village who got his job after going through five years

of continuous recruitment written exams and another two years of oral interview because he did not have the right American or British accent. Well today, he is a bona fide staff of the CBN and the only one in his whole division without a foreign degree. So my people following my thorough investigations and the discovery of this Gabriel, I make bold to proclaim that there is no recruitment scandal, we should let the CBN be, they have too much on their table especially the continuous fight against the dollar. Enough of the distractions.

PTAD N60m salary: in this Nigeria?

Kai, There is God oooo!!!!!!!, So someone can brashly pay herself N60m in this same Nigeria? I am refusing to believe this o. It cannot be true. I read the story from various sources and looked at the picture of the madam and all I could feel for her was intense envy and maybe hatred. N60m a month? For what and by who? Who has been signing off these pay checks? How can this woman be earning more than Dangote and she is not on the Forbes list? Only in Nigeria. Well, it has happened and the only other thing is to find out if she is single and if not, would she take me as her second husband? Where I come from, women can marry two husbands.

Send her my number.

Bank of Industry, Raine Oil support ‘Loud whispers’ To my surprise and utter amazement that wonderful Bank of Industry is supporting my play Loud whispers which is coming up this May at the Muson with Alibaba as the main star.

I got a call from Uche who in a sweet voice informed me that they would be supporting the play. I jumped for joy and gave thanks to the Most High.

Raine oil has also seen the light and jumped on the wagon. Led by my brother Gabriel and his beautiful wife Godrey, they have also sent their support. Gabriel has always supported this my dream and has stood by me again this time. I will call him on stage and make him sing to the crowd as my own way of helping him fulfil his hidden dream of being a singer. Big bro thank you.

I am still begging the following people, Ansalem Tabansi, Tonye Cole, Chidi Ajaere, Mudi not to allow your small Ibibio brother to be disgraced o.

You must come out and be counted o.

This is a passionate plea otherwise, I will send your names to the CCT for trial. Guys let’s make this happen.

Thanks.

Queens college sex scandal I hold my breath. I will not say anything yet but to say that if this was my daughter, I will be sitting down beside Rev.King in the gallows no be placard matter. But like I said, we are still watching.

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March 26 , 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERIORS

5

Ways to Brighten Up Windowless Rooms

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • March 26, 2016

InterIors

Brighten Up Windowless Rooms With the rainy season now well and truly here, there’s all the more reason to focus attention on your interiors. Staying dry inside is the perfect excuse to take a closer look at your property and envisage improvements, whether those are neat little tweaks, or big overhauls. Today we’ll be considering a few updates for one of the trickier spaces sometimes found in homes: windowless rooms. They may be cosy spaces for hiding away from the rain outside, but a windowless room is also a tough space to design for, lacking the natural light which plays such an important part in much of interior design. The tips offered below will help make windowless (or darker) spaces feel much airier and lighter, helping you make the most of every corner of your home – no matter how gloomy

C

1. Avoid white ommon wisdom suggests that, when you’re looking for a colour which maximises the feel of space and light in a room, white is the right choice. However, in windowless spaces, white walls and furnishings can be a big mistake. While white is wonderful for reflecting natural light, under artificial lighting with no natural daylight, white can look unpleasantly dingy and bare, taking on yellow tones which do the space no favours.

2. Be bold Instead of white, opt for bold, bright colours which will hold their own in any kind of light. Artificial lighting works best with warm, rich shades, making spaces feel cosy and cheerful. A windowless room is never going to feel hugely airy, which means you will need to embrace its cosy features if you want

to make the most of it. Rich reds, deep purples and jewel tones all work well.

3. Light cleverly The lighting you choose for your windowless space is all important, after all, it’s the only light source your room will have, which will have a massive impact on its look and feel.

Choose daylight-balanced bulbs which give out a natural glow (too cold and they create a blue tinge, too warm and they create a yellow tinge) and search for lampshades designed to diffuse light evenly around the room to avoid gloomy corners.

You may also like to experiment with the placement of your lighting to get a natural balance. Try pairing an overhead light with floor lamps, wall mounted lighting or table lamps to create even lighting.

4. Manipulate with mirrors Mirrors are a great accessory for

adding an extra feeling of roominess in closed off spaces. If your windowless room is adjacent to a room rich in natural light, using mirrors in corridors and carefully calibrated locations can help bounce natural light into your darker spaces. Even without a source of natural light, a large mirror will help to open up your room and make it feel less claustrophobic.

5. Add art & plants Without daylight, rooms can feel a little barren and unwelcoming. Bringing a touch of nature into these spaces with house plants or cut flowers is a good way to address this. Make sure you keep your plants on rotation and choose species which don’t require much natural light to ensure they stay healthy. Art is another important factor, helping to break up the space on your walls usually occupied by windows and helping to give a sense of balance.

OMON ANENIH-MORDI For questions, comments, feedback and help with your design dilemmas send an email to Saturday@BlueMahogany.com We would love to hear from you

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

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EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES BY

Financial Journalism

“L

ASU alumni honours (honour) kidney transplant team March 31” (South West News, March 14) In the alternative, alumni association honours “The Nigerian economy in distress: policy choices for Buharis (Buhari’s) administration” or policy choices for the Buhari administration (Source: Centre for Financial Journalism Inaugural Lecture Bulletin, March 17) THE NATION ON SUNDAY of March 20 displayed grammatical hypocrisy: “The president should call the group to order for double standards (standard) and flouting our laws” “Rangers’ boss picks holes on 3SC” I also pick my own holes in (not on) this headline.

“TIME Magazine commends Nigeria over (for/on) containment” “…was the outcome of the series of meeting (meetings)” “…Assure (Assure Nigerians) Boko Haram will be defeated” “The source said further that…are (were) now firmly in control of the military.”

“Lassa fever scare in Delta as FMC cordons-off (cordons off) emergency ward” “…the population of the estate has increased considerable (considerably)” Finally from THISDAY of March 20 under review: “Heat free (Heat-free) curls” SATURDAY INDEPENDENT of March 19 circulated a potpourri of misapprehensions: “Buhari’s administration is been (being) sabotaged, says cleric” “Irri community seeks for support” Yank off ‘for’ Wrong: electioneering campaign; Right: electioneering or campaign “Siasia clamours for Nigerians (Nigerians’) support” National Mirror of March 18 disseminated a

few solecisms starting with this banner: “CNS indicts major oil companies in (for/on) oil theft” Yet another lexical crisis: “…that the police was (were) supporting the impeached speaker of the House….” “…at the expense of majority (the majority) of other members of the House” “He said the police cannot (could not) be dragged into the mess….”

“Underfunding, bane to (of) poly education” Still on National Mirror under focus: “… incessant strikes actions….” Education Today: incessant strikes “Truancy among professors and other senior academic staff often percolate (percolates) down the academic hierarchy….”

“Modibbo meets delegates, promises all inclusive (all-inclusive) government” “Obiazor relishes Super Eagles (Eagles’) call-up” “Group insists PDP, APC should pick Christian (Christians) as flag bearers in 2019” “We express these fears, knowing fully well the nature of ….” This amounts to ill-treatment of the English language. Right: knowing full well “The NFF still have to decide on the outcome of some matches” ‘Federation’ takes a singular verb.

“What is good for the goose can’t be bad for the gander. “ I do not understand the use of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ instead of ‘sauce’ in this instance. “…but LifeStyle will not hesitate to remind you about (sic) one of the qualifying criterion for this jamboree…” Singular: criterion; plural: criteria. In addition, ‘remind you of…’

“An alleged hike in school fees has created a row between the management and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of…. “PTA means Parent-Teacher Association.

“The donation of vehicles and communication gadgets provide a good beginning. “ The donation … provides.

“Fear of robbers keep lawyers away from courts” Fear of robbers keeps…

“CBN intervention bouys naira” (BUSINESSDAY, March 21) Get it right: buoys.

“You must be matured and in love with jazz music.” (DAILY TIMES, March 21) Just ‘mature’.

The next three errors are from NTA Network News of March 21: “…. Who presided at the occasion?” NTA correspondents should be civilized: the preposition that goes with ‘occasion’ is ‘on’ (not ‘at’) “He said that the ministry intends to restore back…“ ‘Restore back’ shows unintelligibility.

With ‘restore’, you cannot have ‘back’. We should not use words we do not understand their meanings (or implications). The English language has evolved from the old period to the modern era. Therefore, journalists must avoid Anglo-Saxon expressions.

“Each of the stadia was provided with practicing pitch.” It is not the pitches that practise as implied in the statement. Therefore, the sensible phrase ought to be ‘practice pitch.’ Lexical and semantic appropriateness demands this line of thought.

“Captain…wedded former Miss… in Lagos over the weekend with pomp and pageantry. “ (THISDAY, March 20) ‘Pomp and pageantry’ is not an accepted phrase. The standard expression is ‘pomp and circumstance’ or ‘pomp and ceremony.’ It can simply be left as ‘pomp’. If you do not remember these forms, rephrase. At least, you can always recollect that the Nigerian creation (pomp and pageantry) is uneducated.

“Truely, Jos is a home of peace and tourism.”

(DAIILY TIMES, March 21) Correct form: truly “This development is unlike in some states where education have (sic) died a natural death…” (DAILY CHAMPION, March 21) Indeed, education has died in Champion House!

“SINCE the corruption of political crisis in neighbouring Chad….” (DAILY CHAMPION, March 21) This way: eruption

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“PUBLIC affairs analysts of the most diverse persuasions are agreed on one thing: the world 2016 is at a crossroad. “MARCH (Source: as26, above) This way: at a/the crossroads (not crossroad) “It is therefore, (sic) noteworthy that the AU has now seen the wisdom in pooling the resources of member-states together to prevent ugly incident (sic)… “(NIGERIAN TRIBUNE, March 21) When resources are pooled, there is no need for ‘together’.

“New TV station to take-off soon” (VANGUARD, March 21) Just delete the hyphen to form a phrasal verb.

“The hopes of millions of our country-men are centred around us.” (THISDAY, March 21) ‘Centre’ admits ‘on’, ‘round,’ ‘upon’… never ‘around’.

“Unclaimed properties of accident victims” ‘Property’ in this context is non-count. It can only take the plural form if buildings and acres of land are involved – or scientific references.

“This unrestrained blood-bath follow (follows)….”

“Yes, Nigerians love to eat traditional meals with their bare fingers but that is not to say we cannot provide foreigners with cutleries.”

(Tourism & Hospitality, March 21) ‘Cutlery’ is uncountable.

“Villagers beseige hospital for free treatment” (DAILY TIMES, March 21) Right: besiege.

“In this way, life expectancy bulges as the chances of contacting diseases considerably diminish.” (Source: as above) Nobody contacts a disease… ‘contract’ is the word.

“The progressive social option implicit in President Buhari’s analysis is affirmative action aimed at eliminating or drastically reducing poverty.” (DAILY TIMES, March 21) ‘…an affirmative action.’ Articles are not optional in count words.

PEOPLE2PEOPLE...with Oke Epia

Of Talk Shops and Food to Eat

P

ublic discourse in Nigeria this week centred on the economy. Stakeholders across board recoursed into retreats and other such recycled gatherings to take tea and then lament the parlous state of the economy.At the end of the day, solutions that have been proffered decades ago were re-packaged as fresh offerings of semantics sold in the dodgy demagogy of the change mantra peddled by today’s dominant political class.

Talk they say is cheap, so the cost to the economy of the talk shops which held this week can be said to be of inconsequential value. But the real challenge is having the outcomes of the retreat and roundtable, which held at the aso rock presidential villa and the national assembly respectively, become real catalysts to launch the economy in the direction of progressive and positive change. How would all these talk translate to food on the table for the millions of Nigerians who are finding it increasingly difficult to feed? That is the million-dollar question on the lips of the people.

On Monday, the National Economic Council (NEC) commenced a two-day retreat on the economy at the villa. Same day and about same time, senate president Bukola Saraki, convened a ‘NationalAssembly Business and Economic Roundtable’ also with focus on the economy.

Two disparate high-calibre meetings same day on same subject by two critical arms of same federal government in much the same precinct did not seem like a vote for synergy in a government controlled by same political party. But then, the nation has recently been told of how ‘protocol breaches’ caused the cancellation of a foreign trip by the vice president that would have seen Saraki ‘act’ as president of the federal republic at a time the number one citizen was also out of the country.

Well, so much for the power play within theAll Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party at the centre. But forgive the brief disgression and please return with me to the topic for discussion.

At the presidential retreat, members of the NEC including its chairman, vice president Yemi Osinbajo, state governors and minister of finance, budget and economic planning, among other top federal officials attended. Reports say a trifle of private sector players also attended the event which was declared open by none other than President Muhammadu Buhari. It presented an opportunity for the President to unveil the economic direction of his administration; 10 months after being in charge of the reins of government. Having endured an uncertain period defined by policy incoherence, foreign exchange somersaults, opaque loot recovery schemes, and worsening public services like electricity and staccato supply of petroleum products, Nigerians looked forward to Buhari’s speech with huge dose of expectations. The other opportunity the President had in recent past to outline a direction at least on a short-to-medium term scale, was the 2016 budget presentation: but whatever gains he recorded at that December 22, 2015 event at a joint session of the national assembly got lost in the nasty embarrassment the fiscal document had since become with bemusing tales of padding,

PEOPLE2PEOPLE

OKE EPIA WITH

Telephone (sms only): 07059850016 Email: resourceman.oke@live.com.

Twitter: @resourceme

confusion and commotion.

Whether or not President Buhari met the expectations of Nigerians and that of the international community in his address to the villa retreat is a matter for economic experts to opinionate about. But it suffices for a layman like this writer to note that the impression given was that some key sectors required special attention to get the economy out of the doldrums. Trite a point as this was, the president identified five focal areas thus: agriculture, power, manufacturing, housing and health.

Of note was his declaration that the government has targeted to generate 10,000MW of electricity to the national grid in the next three years, with an immediate benchmark of 2000MW in 2016. Exhibiting some grasp of power issues, the President identified common public complaints on electricity distribution and lamented that “this sector has been privatised but has yet to show any improvement in the quality of service,” adding: “we are facing the classic dilemma of privatisation – public interest versus profit motive.”And then he gave an indication of how his administration would tackle the power challenge: “Government is to fast-track the completion of pipelines from gas points to power stations and provide more security to protect gas and oil pipelines. Power companies should be encouraged to replace obsolete equipment and improve the quality of service and technicians.”

On manufacturing, the President was rather vague on policy direction as he admitted rather ironically that “so many manufacturing industries in the country today are groaning and frustrated because of lack of foreign exchange to import raw materials and spare parts.” (He was silent on the fact that the topsy-turvy forex policy in the last few months was responsible for the situation)And then he offers little hope as to how to solve such immediate problem: “Painful though this is, I believe it is a temporary phase which we shall try to overcome but there are deeper, more structural problems bedeviling local industries which this retreat should identify and proffer short and long-term answers to.”

Apparently, a lot depends on the outcome of the presidential retreat which in turn depends on the two panels set up on ‘Implementation Monitoring’ and the ‘Implementation Steering’ committee headed by the vice president himself.Acommunique released at the end of the event said targets were set for food sufficiency in tomato paste (by the end of this year); rice production (2018) and wheat production (2019).A

coterie of policy advisories for the agricultural sector was also outlined.

Benchmarks and targets were set in several other sectors including finance and revenue generation, solid minerals development, education and human capital development, infrastructure and services, industrialisation and enabling monetary policies, among others.

However, I find it pretty discomfiting that nothing in the communique I read indicated any concrete and detailed plan or policy direction for power generation, transmission and distribution. Even if the retreat had decided to adopt President Buhari’s submission at the opening ceremony on this all-important sector, it should have so indicated in its record of resolutions. But as stated in the opening paragraph of this piece, there is nothing new that was expected to come out of Nazareth anyway.All that was said had been said before. I reiterate that implementation of good policies and not the absence the same is the bane of Nigeria’s development. There has always been an inexplicable inability to walk the talk. Perhaps, rather than dissipate energies on ‘fresh’ policy formulation, efforts should be channeled at a holistic review of laws governing business and economic activities in the country. Good enough, this issue was one of the major highlights of the Business Roundtable held in the national assembly. It is heart-warming that senate president Saraki affirmed the readiness of the legislature to review and amend existing laws that impede the smooth operations of business and which prevent SMEs from thriving competitively in the country and around the world. The roundtable, which agreed on the role of the private sector in driving economic growth and development, identified several laws and regulations that need to be reviewed and/ or amended to enable operators of all cadres. Some of these include the Land UseAct; registration of businesses; taxes and taxation; access to capital and even privatisation of state-owned businesses.

The sooner the national assembly gets down to brass tacks on these issues the better for the economy. Like renowned business mogul and entrepreneurship-enabler, Mr. Tony Elumelu, stated in his remarks at the senate roundtable, “a lot of talking has been done over the years around the issue of improving the enabling environment for business. The prayer of the private sector is that we move from talking to doing. If we make these changes, we can unlock countless jobs and opportunities in the country. Let us go about the business of doing so that our entrepreneurs can go about their own business.” If there is anyone in a more vantage position to say this, it is Mr. Elumelu, whose pan-African $100 million worth ‘Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme’ (TEEP) is raising a new generation of entrepreneurs and future business leaders across the continent. Unfortunately, the likes of him and other corporate giants likeAliko Dangote, MikeAdenuga and FolorunshoAlakija did not feature in the villa event. Maybe the event was designed to exclude them. Maybe ‘protocol breaches’ occurred along the way. But that is not what Nigerians care for. Citizens simply want food on their tables and an opportunity to explore their economic potentials to the fullest.

Follow writer onTwitter @resourceme

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

VINTAGE

AUN-USAID Partnership: Giving Nigeria a Literacy Breakthrough Using Technology Omorogbe Omorogiuwa

I

f Nigeria is to progress, the population must be educated. While Nigeria now has an exceptionally high illiteracy rate, that may soon change.

Nigeria has been projected to overtake the US as the world’s third largest country by 2050 and there will be a rapid increase in the number of children under the age of 25, doubling by 2050. Even now, Nigeria has the world’s highest number of out-of-school children.

What will happen in the next few decades?

The challenge in Adamawa State is particularly acute. With an illiteracy rate of 77 per cent, and the Boko Haram insurgency uprooting much of the population, the future was looking bleak. Situated in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, the American University of Nigeria, Africa’s first “development university” turned its sights on the problem. With few teachers and few schools and few books, what could be done?

President of AUN, Dr. Margee Ensign, believes that innovation in teaching methods could very well be the solution to this educational challenge.

“With the way the education system is now set up, we can’t educate the children unless we use something new. That’s why we are using technology.”

“Technology Enhanced Learning for All (TELA)” is a new child-centered literacy and numeracy program that has both an information technology component (with apps loaded on tablets that the program provides) and a radio component that broadcasts four times a week. The project presents a low-cost initiative for improving literacy and numeracy among vulnerable children, at-risk children, orphans, IDP children, and adolescent boys and girls. The goal of TELAis to create a costeffective way to educate students all over Nigeria.

The new TELAprogram was launched in Yola on February 1 by AUN Founder and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the Adamawa State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla, accompanied by Adamawa State commissioners for education and health, Dr. Kaleitpwa Farauta and Dr. Fatima Atiku Abubakar.

The project is being coordinated with the Adamawa State Government to ensure access to and use of public facilities and schools as nonformal learning centers. There are 750 non-formal learning centers in 88 communities in Adamawa in four local government areas.

Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to the tune of USD $801, 000 as part of its North East Regional Initiative, the TELAproject is designed to expand the scope and activities of AUN’s successful community literacy and numeracy programs. This pilot project targets an estimated 22,000 disadvantaged children.

However, it is expected that the program will reach more than 22,000 beneficiaries in Adamawa State since radio is a common medium of mass communication in the north.

The scope of the pilot project is currently just Adamawa State. It could be replicated across Nigeria if it is successful.

The lead facilitator of the radio literacy program, Dr. Jacob U. Jacob, the Interim Associate Dean of AUN School of Arts & Sciences, explained, “Each location will have between 5-10 people and a facilitator to assist the children’s work. We have also provided radio sets; the numeracy program will broadcast on Mondays at 4:10 pm and the literacy program on Thursdays at 4:10 pm. Repeat broadcasts will air on Tuesdays and Fridays.”

AUN is partnering with Radio Gotel to air the programs. Dr. Jacob said that it was meant to make learning fun and exciting. “It is a radio play, but there are of course instructions that are built into the radio play…We decided to make it like drama so that students will like it and love to come back again and again. And there are lots of songs in the program. You would be amazed that the children will pick up the song really quickly because it is easy to remember and it is easy to sing along. At the initial stage they may not know the song or the words in the song. But, believe me, over time, they will.”

Addressing the 750 community facilitators at a

TELA instructor assisting young girls with their instructional tablets

TELA instructor working with Almajiri kids on their workbook training session before the program kicked off, Jacob stressed the importance of self-preparation for all the trainees and promptness to the learning venue.

“It all starts with you. Because you’ve got to prepare, to believe in the project, and know that this isn’t so much about the money you’re paid or what you hope to get out of it, it’s about the future of Nigeria--and it starts with your preparation for this.”

TELAaddresses the missing link between the home languages as a medium of instruction for these early grade primary school children and later use of English. It also addresses the current lack of appropriate reading materials available for use in instruction. For the creation of such materials, it engages American University of Nigeria students.

Dr. Grace Malgwi, an Assistant Professor of English, spoke on the underlying pedagogy of TELAand what they hope to achieve. She explained that the focus for literacy is letter sound recognition, non-word reading, teaching students how to blend sounds, and the ability to read a short text. For numeracy she listed the ability to identify numbers, number discrimination, missing numbers, as well as simple addition and subtraction, as the priorities.

At the facilitators training session that took place at the University, all trainees, from 88 communities in Yola North, Yola South, Girei, and Fufore local

governments listened to the first episode of the radio program during the break-out session. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding, and each of them received a package of lesson materials, including radio with extra batteries, pencils, and workbooks for the project.

Another set of volunteers are those from within the University community, including students and some staff members. Some help in tutoring while others help in the daily monitoring and evaluation of all 750 centers.

Dr. Malgwi outlined how AUN students play a fundamental role in the literacy program. She said AUN students who are enrolled in AUN Community Development courses are the trained tutors in the after school program. Students enrolled in the course in the last few years prior to TELAhad already written teaching materials translated into Hausa and Fulfulde.

“Within three years of its inception at AUN, we have produced more than 50 children book titles, Fatima Can Count, Mango Mania, The Disobedient Watermelon, Gambo da Giwaye, Kwao Ya Tafi Birni, Yaron da Mayar da Rashi Ya Zama Alheri Defugo bee Inna, and Minyiraawo Meereejo. Hundreds of copies have been printed and distributed. And we have tutored more than 1,000 school children in local schools in Yola and Jimeta.

Within this period, the program has been able to assess short-term impact by using the Early Grade Reading and Math Assessment (EGRA/EGMA) to pupils before and after tutoring.”

Mrs. Lilian Ayuk Tabe, who is in charge of Monitoring & Evaluation in the TELAprogram, said some of the parents of the potential students who didn’t quite know how the program might benefit their children were reluctant to enroll the children at first. They changed their minds after seeing the results, and now these children are among the first TELAprogram participants.

At a visitation to one of the Radio listening centers on March 8 at St Theresa Catholic Church, Mr. Genesis Fonyuy said all children are very excited about the program. This location is a camp for IDPs and the participating children are those displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. Mr. Fonyuy, a teacher with a Catholic missionary school, said that the children are always on time and look forward to the program. He said they love the workbook a lot and see it as a daily gift as they are being distributed. His centers originally had 18 children but there are now six extra who were later accepted following their interest. He said that they sometimes get discouraged because they do not get workbooks like others; the demand for the program has outstripped the supply, for now.

The TELAprogram is also being implemented in another two local literacy programs that the AUN Center for Community Development coordinates: Feed & Read for Boys and Girls. Both of these programs target especially needy and vulnerable children, and the beneficiaries get a free meal every day. The boys’ component of the program targets street begging, male children often called Almajiri.

Following the huge success of the Almajiri Feed & Read program, the University kicked off a similar program for vulnerable girls, some of whom are orphans and IDPs. The Feed and Read program is funded from a small grant by the Irish Government and the university’s own resources. The Feed and Read program for Girls is coordinated by the AUN Academy, whose students and staff members have volunteered to mentor the young girls.

The program’s Coordinator and Executive Director of AUN Schools who oversees the Academy, Mrs. Nkem Uzowulu, said that it is an opportunity for the students of the Academy to touch the lives of the needy in a much more personal way.

Thousands and thousands of children and youth of Adamawa State are beginning to learn to read and write and do basic math for the very first time.

They will pave the way for a better future for all Nigeria.

–– Omorogbe Omorogiuwa

25

March 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FAMILY HEALTH with

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

Fibroids and You

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

F

ibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb.

The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue and vary in size.

They’re sometimes known as uterine myomas. Many women are unaware they have fibroids because they don’t have any symptoms.

Fibroids are abnormal growths that • develop in or on a woman’s uterus.

It is unclear why fibroids develop, but • several factors may influence their formation, such as hormones and family history.

About 70 to 80 per cent of women experi• ence fibroids by the age of 50.

Fibroids are abnormal growths that develop in or on a woman’s uterus. Sometimes, these tumors become quite large and cause severe abdominal pain and heavy periods. In other cases, they cause no signs or symptoms at all. The growths are typically noncancerous. The cause of fibroids is unknown. It is known that about 70 to 80 per cent of women have them by the age of 50. They are benign tumours usually seen in the system female reproductive system. In more than 99 per cent of fibroid cases, the tumors are non-cancerous.

These tumors are not associated with cancer and do not increase a woman’s risk for uterine cancer.

They may range in size, from the size of a pea to the size of a softball or small grapefruit.

Causes While it is not clearly known what causes fibroids, it is believed that each tumor develops from an aberrant muscle cell in the uterus, which multiplies rapidly because of the influence of estrogen.

The location, size and the number of fibroids determines the symptoms and treatment of fibroids. : • Submucosal fibroids. Fibroids that grow into the inner cavity of the uterus are more likely to cause prolonged, heavy menstrual bleeding and are sometimes a problem for women attempting pregnancy.

• Subserosal fibroids. Fibroids that project to the outside of the uterus can sometimes press on your bladder, causing you to experience urinary symptoms. If fibroids bulge from the back of your uterus, they occasionally can press either on your rectum, causing a pressure sensation, or on your spinal nerves, causing backache.

• Intramural fibroids. Some fibroids grow within the muscular uterine wall (intramural fibroids).

If large enough, they can distort the shape of the uterus and cause prolonged, heavy periods, as well as pain and pressure.

Symptoms Fibroids may not cause you any symptoms.

You may get one or more of the symptoms listed below, often depending on where the fibroid is within your womb. You may: • have heavy periods, sometimes leading to anaemia • have swelling in your tummy (abdomen) • feel pain in your pelvis • pass urine more often, or feel an urgent need to pass urine – A firm mass, often located near the middle of the pelvis, which can be felt by the physician • In some cases, the heavy or prolonged menstrual periods, or the abnormal bleeding between periods, can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, which also requires treatment.this happens if a fibroid is pressing on your bladder • have constipation – this happens if a fibroid is pressing on your bowel • You can get severe pain if your fibroid twists or outgrows its blood supply causing it to break down, but this is rare.

Women who are approaching menopause are at the greatest risk for fibroids because of their long exposure to high levels of estrogen.

• A firm mass, often located near the middle of the pelvis, which can be felt by the physician.

• Backache or leg pains • Rarely, a fibroid can cause acute pain when it outgrows its blood supply. Deprived of nutrients, the fibroid begins to die. Byproducts from a degenerating fibroid can seep into surrounding tissue, causing pain and, rarely, fever. A fibroid that hangs by a stalk inside or outside the uterus (pedunculated fibroid) can trigger pain by twisting on its stalk and cutting off its blood supply.

Research has also shown that some factors may protect a woman from developing fibroids. Some studies, of small numbers of women, have indicated that women who have had two liveborn children have one-half the risk of developing uterine fibroids compared to women who have had no children.

Scientists are not sure whether having children actually protected women from fibroids or whether fibroids were a factor in infertility in women who had no children

• In some cases, the heavy or prolonged menstrual periods, or the abnormal bleeding between periods, can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, which also requires treatment.

Risk group Research has also shown that some factors may protect a woman from developing fibroids.

Some studies, of small numbers of women, have indicated that women who have had two liveborn children have a fifty per cent lower risk of developing uterine fibroids compared to women who have had no children. Scientists are not sure whether having children actually protected women from fibroids or whether fibroids were a factor in infertility in women who had no children.

Women who are approaching menopause are at the greatest risk for fibroids because of their long exposure to high levels of estrogen.

Women who are obese and of African-American heritage also seem to be at an increased risk, although the reasons for this are not clearly understood.

Research has also shown that some factors may protect a woman from developing fibroids.

Some studies, of small numbers of women, have indicated that women who have had two liveborn children have one-half the risk of developing uterine fibroids compared to women who have had no children. Scientists are not sure whether having children actually protected women from fibroids or whether fibroids were a factor in infertility in women who had no children.

Diagnosis Fibroids are most often found during a routine pelvic examination. This, along with an abdominal examination, may indicate a firm, irregular pelvic mass to the physician. In addition to a complete medical history and physical and pelvic and/or abdominal examination, diagnostic procedures for uterine fibroids may include: • X-ray. Electromagnetic energy used to produce images of bones and internal organs onto film.

• Transvaginal ultrasound (also called ultrasonography). An ultrasound test using a small instrument, called a transducer,that is placed in the vagina.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A non-invasive procedure that produces a twodimensional view of an internal organ or structure.

• Hysterosalpingography. X-ray examination of the uterus and fallopian tubes that uses dye and is often performed to rule out tubal obstruction.

• Hysteroscopy. Visual examination of the canal of the cervix and the interior of the uterus using a viewing instrument is inserted through

the vagina.

• Endometrial biopsy. A procedure in which a sample of tissue is obtained through a tube which is inserted into the uterus.

• Blood test to check for iron-deficiency anemia if heavy bleeding is caused by the fibroid.

Treatments It is known , that most fibroids stop growing or may even shrink as a woman approaches menopause, therefore, your doctor may decide to just wait. With this approach, it involves monitoring the woman’s symptoms carefully to ensure that there are no significant changes or developments and that the fibroids are not growing.

Exceptions In women whose fibroids are large or are causing significant symptoms, treatment may be necessary. Treatment will be determined by your doctor based on: Your overall health and medical history Extent of the disease Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies Expectations for the course of the disease Your opinion or preference Your desire for pregnancy In general, treatment for fibroids may include: • Hysterectomy. Hysterectomies involve the surgical removal of the entire uterus • Conservative surgical therapy. Conservative surgical therapy uses myomectomy procedure.

The surgeon removes the fibroids, but leave the uterus intact to enable a future pregnancy.

• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH agonists). This approach lowers levels of estrogen and triggers a “medical menopause.”

Sometimes GnRH agonists are used to shrink the fibroid, making surgical treatment easier.

• Anti-hormonal agents. Certain drugs oppose estrogen, and appear effective in treating fibroids. Anti-progestins, which block the action of progesterone, are also sometimes used.

• Uterine artery embolisation. Also called uterine fibroid embolisation, is a newer minimally-invasive without a large abdominal incision technique.

The arteries supplying blood to the fibroids are identified, then embolised, blocked off. The embolisation cuts off the blood supply to the fibroids. Then your doctor will continue to evaluate the long-term implications of this procedure on fertility and regrowth of the fibroid tissue.

Anti-inflammatory painkillers. This type of drug is often effective for women who experience occasional pelvic pain or discomfort.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

Auto

TNL Vows to Retain Top Position in Auto Sector Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he management of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) has said it intends to draw on successes it recorded over the years to hold on to its first position in Nigeria’s auto industry.

According to the Managing Director of TNL, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, the company had come a long way and that in the journey, “we have had very reliable and formidable companion in our customers. You companionship has resulted in great success and outstanding achievement over the years. You can, therefore, understand why we are always excited each time we have our customers around us.”

He said it has become a tradition for TNL to celebrate their customers at every given opportunity, adding that the success of the awards, which started over 10 years ago, had provided a fillip for them to hold it annually.

The Toyota brand, he said was a great one that had stood the test of time, but that they were not unmindful of the fact that the success it enjoyed came from their customers. “We wish to, therefore, say thank you for the support over the years and we will not relent in our effort to provide quality products.”

On the economy, he said, “We cannot pretend that all is well with the business landscape in Nigeria. The previous year was unprecedentedly challenging; however, we managed to get through.”

He said there was volatility in the nation’s macro-economy that was frightening, adding

Locally assembled Toyota Hiace

“the contentious Auto Policy did not help matters,” but that Toyota was able to retain its foremost position, regardless.”

The company, he said would draw from the

inspiration of last year to move ahead this year and “confidently pursue our goals; we remain resolute to retain the top position in 2016 and beyond. We have already started this because in

the first two months of the year, we have already distinguished ourselves from our competitors.

This year would be much better for us than last year.”

Tips from Ford Motor Company for Safe, Easter Drive

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igerians love to travel home for the holidays. Family is what is valued most. Whether you are driving to Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Jos, Port Harcourt, Kano or Benin City, in-car bickering is not what you should be hearing when you are on the road – it only spoils your trip, and wreaks havoc on relationships. Whether stuck in traffic or riding for hours Easter travels can potentially turn family fun into a family feud.

To help ease the stress this Easter, Ford Motor Company is offering some good travelling advice for a fun and safe driving experience. Some simple car courtesies and safe driving practices can make travel more enjoyable for both the driver and the passengers. From polite passenger etiquette to considerate use of new vehicle technologies, these easy tips will have families road-tripping happily this season.

Travel Etiquette and Safety Tips: Visit a Quick Lane. Lagos residents can visit theYaba Quick Lane before starting their Easter journeys around Nigeria. It provides quick vehicle maintenance and light repairs. If you are not a resident of Lagos, visit the Quick Lane as a stop during or at the end of your journey. You do not have to drive a Ford vehicle to benefit from this service.

Ford and Coscharis Motors will open more Quick Lanes around Nigeria in 2016.

Chivalry’s not dead. It just looks different nowadays.

Holding the door open for someone will never

go out of style, but with automated keyless entry and remote ignition, modern protocol can prove puzzling.

Let the grand tour begin. Your passengers may not be all that familiar with your ride. Put them at ease.

Just like you would show a guest at your home where the bathroom is, let passengers know about the controls they have for entertainment systems, seats and windows. Identify power sources for phones and electronics, like the smart-charging USB ports in the rear of the vehicle. Make sure all of your passengers have what they need before your trip begins.

Contentment beats boredom. When stuck in heavy holiday traffic, a little preparation can go a long way. Before hopping behind the wheel, curate your upcoming road trip with sing-alongs, podcasts and audiobooks you can even upload some online classes. Build a playlist. With in-car entertainment and communication systems like Ford SYNC it’s easier than ever to bring a world of content along for the ride.

If the driver is host, the passenger is the guest.

Don’t forget to thank the driver for bearing the stress of high-pressure holiday driving, lighten the load by taking on some responsibilities of your own. Offer to help pay for fuel, fetch snacks and drinks, and pack the car. Also consider bringing some treats or a gift.

Traveling with family. Avoid the stress of the incessant “are we there yet?” conversations by building an itinerary and communicating your plans.

2017 Ford Mustang

Nissan MD, Whitfield Elected NAAMSA President

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issan South Africa’s Managing Director, Mike Whitfield has been elected President of the National Association ofAutomobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) for 2016.

A 38 member association, NAAMSA is the umbrella body of new vehicle manufacturers, importers and distributors in South Africa.

NAAMSAalso compiles data on auto industry activity, most importantly monthly new car sales, which are considered a key economic indicator.

Whitfield brings a wealth of experience to his new role.As managing director of Nissan South Africa, he leads Nissan’s Africa South regional

business unit, which includes the key South African market, and countries in Sub Saharan Africa. He has gained a deep understanding of the South African motor industry during a 35-year career in various positions of increasing responsibility at Nissan.

“Mr Whitfield has a long association with our organisation and over that time has made great contribution to promote the interests of the auto industry in South Africa,” said NAAMSA director Nico Vermeulen.

NAAMSA works with key government, labour and industry stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the local auto industry - an important driver of the economy.

Grills2Grills Showcases Iconic Cars at Motor Show

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ophorn Nigeria Limited, owners of Grills2Grills Restaurant is putting together a two-day unique motor show for classic cars, muscle cars, super cars and a variety of motorbikes at the Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos. The two day event which kicks off on April 2, 2016 has been designed to put Lagos on the world map and showcase the maintenance culture of Nigerias, who prize and cherished their classic cars.

On the maiden edition of the rare motor show, the Chief Executive Officer of Tophorn, Mr. Dapo Otunla, said away from celebrating new

models and latest technologies in the automotive industry, the show would connect culture with automotive, while revealing classic cars, super cars, muscle cars and motorbikes which are iconic and extra-ordinary.

He explained that some people believed that Nigerians did not have maintenance culture, yet people keep these classic cars over many decades, and that “this is what we intend to showcase the world.”

According to him, the event was about creating a platform where unique car and bike owners in Nigeria and Lagos, in particular, could exhibit

their prized possession and share them with members of the public.

The organsiers said some iconic models like the MG Midget, built in 1977, Lotus Elise of 1994 and 1965, and Mercedes 220 SE Coupe convertible would be on display, while promising that visitor would see cars that were made even before Nigeria’s independence at the show.

“You will see real classic. There are others from the 1960s. A few Rolls Royce built many decades ago will also make it to the show that has been billed to display over 70 iconic cars and 30 bikes.”

Otunla, a lawyer and political scientist by training, also hinted that thousands of enthusiasts would be visiting the show, which has been scheduled to hold every year.

He further explained that there had never been a car show around like this as visitors would have on display iconic models built several decades ago but still in good shape.

“We always say we don’t have maintenance culture in Nigeria but the fact that a lot of these cars have been preserved uniquely over the years clearly states that our culture of maintenance is alive and well,” he stated.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

27

Auto

SAFE DRIVING

JONAS AGWU

with

(Asst Corps Marshal) Zonal Commanding Officer Zone RS7 Abua phone 08077690700 FRSC TOLL FREE NO 122 Email:j.agwu@frsc.gov.ng

Should Your NewTyres Be Installed InThe Front Or Back Axle?

L-R: Chief Operation Officer, Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr. Gitesh Yagnik; Kia Assembly Plant Engineer, Mr. Nsikak Tom; Director, Special Procurement, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Eze J. Obasi; Chief Commercial Officer, Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr. Sandeep Malhotra; Head, Research, Training and Strategic Planning Department, BPP, Mr. Adebowale Adedokun; and Marketing Manager, Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr. Olawale Jimoh, during a courtesy visit by the officials of BPP to Kia assembly plant in Lagos… recently

‘2016 Kia Soul , Still the Best Boxy Car Money can Buy’ Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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heboxcarcrazeoftheearly ‘aughts has finally come to an end. Scion recently killed off its segmentdefiningxB,andNissan’s Cube went away because, well, nobody bought one. Still waving the square flag, however, is Kia with its Soul. The Soul has always been a top seller for Kia, and for good reason. Where the other boxes felt cheap (though cheerful), the Soul brings style, a solid build quality and tons of featuresforawallet-friendlyprice.

It’s the clear leader in the small box world, and not just because it’s the only one you can still buy

new. I recently took a brand-new Kia Soul! (the exclamation point is part of the name – you know, to make it more exciting) from LAto Vegas and back.And even after spending almost 700 miles with the boxy Kia, it’s a car I still find myself stoked on.

Keep It Urban That said, a freeway cruiser this is not. With its stiff suspension and short wheelbase, the Soul! (shout it out loud as you say it) feelsnervousonthosehigh-speed straightaways. It does an admirable job clocking in the miles, but by the time I got to Victorville, I found myself longing for something a little larger—more plush.

Something that could soothe the

inevitablehangoverI’dbefighting duringmyreturntrip.Something like a Bentley. Or better yet, an airplane.

But whatever… the Soul! is a city car at heart, and it’s a damn good one. With its diminutive size and nimble handling, it easily dodges Vegas’ throngs of meth-addled taxidrivers.Apeppy164-hp2.0-liter four-banger and not-so-bad CVTprovideenoughgrunttohelp Soul! eagerly get from stoplight to stoplight. This powertrain keeps the Kia moving at a reasonable pace on the freeway, too. And with its 31 highway mpg, I didn’t havetofillitupwithgastoooften, either.

The Look

Outside, the current gen-two Kia Soul doesn’t look too different from the one that has come before. This newest version is sleek and modern (for a box), featuring stylized alloy wheels, HID lighting, and just the right amount of black-accented trim to provide some contrast. Get one in white, squint really hard and it almost looks like a First Order Stormtrooper. Almost.

Interior The inside, though, is where the Kia Soul really shines. I don’t know what it is about Kia, but the company regularly cranks out interiors superior to that of parent company Hyundai.

(Source: Business Insider)

Hyundai Ranked No.1 in Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Index

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or the seventh year in a row, Hyundai is ranked No. 1 in the automotive category in the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Index. Brand Keys, a New York–based customer loyalty and engagement consultancy, publishes this annual syndicated study, which examines customers’ relationships with 635 brands in 72 categories.

“Psychologists say that seven years is a mark that a friendship will last a lifetime. It’s also the seventh year in a row that Hyundai has been named #1 in our customer loyalty and engagementindex,”saidRobert Passikoff, founder and president,BrandKeys.“Whenyou’re a brand that can build that kind of emotional engagement, and a company that can build cars that meet high expectations, you can count on customers being your friends for a long, long time. We congratulate Hyundai for the great job they’ve done and will

Interior of 2017 Hyundai Tucson

undoubtedly continue to do.”

For the Brand Keys 2016 survey, nearly 43,000 respondents self-selected the categories in which they are consumers and the brands for which they are top 20 per cent customers.

Assessments fused rational and emotional aspects of the catego-

ries to identify the behavioral drivers of brand loyalty and customer engagement, which in turn gauged how well each brand met consumer expectations for each category.

“Hyundai has a long-standing history of being on top for loyalty,” said Dean Evans, Chief

Marketing Officer, Hyundai Motor America. “This means more consumers who buy a Hyundai buy another, and more than any other car at any price.

Our brand mission is to make things better, from the owner to the driving experience, to keep our customers coming back.”

Go Cashless, Luxury Bus Operators Urge Travellers ong distance luxury bus routes across the country. They the managers of some leading According to the spokesman

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operators have advised their passengers to always avoid boarding their vehicles with huge cash in order not to tempt criminals.

The advice, they said was necessary because they noticed an increase robbery attacks on various

said rather than carry large sums of money, especially during night journeys, intending passengers should take advantage of the various means of transferring money electronically and keep just enough to take care of their travel expenses. The luxury bus operators, who spoke through

luxury bus transport firms at the popular Upper Iweka in Onitsha, Anambra State, enjoined the travelers to embrace the use of drafts and various e-banking innovations, including automated teller machine (ATM), point of sale (POS) and other internet-enabled platforms in their transactions.

of the managers’ forum, Tony Ogbonna, the enlightenment campaign became necessary due to the frequent cases of armed robbery involving luxury buses lately, especially at night, which result in human and material losses to both the passengers and the transporters.

SAFER TO REPLACE YOUR TYRES IN PAIRS, IF NOT IN FOURS. hen you have problem with any of your tyres and you want to replace it, it is advisable you equally replace the other tyre on the same axle with the bad tyre so that you have tyres that are exactly the same make, same age, same physical conditions, same size – the same everything – on same axle. This will make for vehicle stability, effective control and better handling. Infact, the ideal thing is to change all the four tyres at the same time.

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THOSE YELLOW/RED LINES AND DOTS ON A NEW TYRE WHAT DO THEY MEAN? When you buy new tyres, you will observe that most of them have red or yellow lines running on top and round the entire perimeter of the tyre and red or yellow dots on the tyre’s side walls. Are those mark simply decorations or are they there for information?

They are there with fascinating bits of information.

Let’s start with the red or yellow dots.

The red and yellow spots.

When a tyre is made, the weight is not perfectly uniform throughout the entire size of the tyre. There are some areas of deformity where the weight is greater than in other portions of the tyre. That point is always marked with either red or yellow dot and is called the tyre’s high point.

What do you do with the dots? When you are fixing the tyre onto the rim, you should align that spot with the inflation valve stem on the wheel.

The point where the inflation valve stem is positioned on the wheel is another point of deformity on the wheel (the wheels are never perfectly circular). So synchronising both points – the yellow or red dot on the tyre and the valve stem on the rim – will even out both deformities and make for a better wheel balancing, smoother ride, longer lasting tyres and better vehicle control.

In some tyres, you have both the red and the yellow dot. Note, however, that the red and yellow spots may be seen on a tyre. If so, use the red dot.

The red and yellow lines.

The red or yellow lines run round on top of the tyres. The lines mark areas of imperfection. Notice that they don’t run on the center of the tyre. They are either nearer to the left of the top or to the right. If you are buying two tyres, rotate the tyres to ensure the lines are so positioned.

Don’t buy two tyres with the lines all on one side.

Continue your search until you get two tyres with their lines properly positioned – one having the line nearer to the left and the other with the line nearer to the right.

What do you do with the lines? As pointed out above, you are advised to buy tyres in pairs. After mounting the tyres on the wheels, install them on the same axle ensuring that the lines are of equal distance from the center of the axle.

There are two ways to do this.

With the front of the vehicle facing you, install the one with the line nearer to the right on the right hand side and the other one with the line nearer to the left on the left hand side. This way the lines on the two tyres are away from the centre of the axle. You can also achieve the equidistance condition by spinning the tyres (while they are standing) in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction to get the two lines in the inside position – nearer to the centre of the axle. If you mount the tyres otherwise (one line inside and the other outside), your vehicle will be pulling to one side as you drive.

Mounting the tyres properly ensures the vehicle maintains a straight course as you drive and also reduces vibrations and rough ride that would have been otherwise present due to construction imperfections. You would also be saving your shock absorbers from an early damage.

Please educate your vulcanizer with the above information because they don’t know about it.

CHANGE YOUR VALVE STEMS. With every change of tyre, you must replace the valve stem with a new one otherwise leakages could slowly occur that may lead to under-inflation without your knowing it. Underinflation is a major cause of tyre blowouts.

Concluded

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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • MARCH 26, 2016

WRITERS’ WORLD

More Benefits of Reading Novels Identified

BISI DANIELS bisi.daniels@thisdaylive.com Blog: www.bisidaniels.com, 08093618000

Not many people read novels in Nigeria. Yet studies continue to add to the body of findings on the benefits of this simple exercise. The following are recent research findings, from various sources, on the advantages of reading novels. For example, it has been confirmed that reading may help people suffering from depression

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oosting brain connectivity: A new study by Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns and his team, in which participants’ brains were scanned before, during and five days after reading a novel has found persistent neurological changes. Berns has spent decades using MRI imaging technology to study how the human brain works, but a different question.

The book–Robert Harris’ Pompeii–was given to 19 people to read.

They were scanned every day, over 19 consecutive days, to assess the brain’s resting state: in other words, what it’s doing when it’s doing nothing in particular.

The results, published in the journal Brain Connectivity, showed that there were changes in the brain’s resting state that persisted after participants had finished reading the novel.

The lead author, Gregory Berns, explained: “Even though the participants were not actually reading the novel while they were in the scanner, they retained this heightened connectivity. We call that a ‘shadow activity,’ almost like a muscle memory.”

The heightened connectivity was seen in the areas of the brain associated with receptivity to language: the left temporal cortex. However, these changes in resting brain state were relatively short-lived.

The scans also revealed greater activity in the area of the brain responsible for the sense of touch and embodiment, the somatosensory cortex.

The changes here persisted for five days after participants had finished reading the novel.

Berns commented: “The neural changes that we found associated with physical sensation and movement systems suggest that reading a novel can transport you into the body of the protagonist. We already knew that good stories can put you in someone else’s shoes in a figurative sense. Now we’re seeing that something may also be happening biologically.”

So, while reading a good novel can leave its mark psychologically in the mind, it can also leave its mark biologically on the brain. And, as William Styron said: “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”

He was right: both metaphorically and literally.

Improvement in mental flexibility: Writing which challenges the reader to think more deeply could boost mental flexibility, new research finds.

People who read poetry and other texts that required them to re-evaluate the meaning showed fascinating changes to patterns of activation in the brain.

Greater mental flexibility — which these patterns suggested — allows people to better adapt their thoughts and behaviours to evolving situations.

Rather than always being guided by habits, people with greater mental flexibility are better at seeking out new solutions.

Professor Philip Davis, one of the study’s authors, said: “The research found that the sustained experience of reading poems might be expected to challenge rigid expectancies and fixed thoughts and to increase mental flexibility through the process of the reappraisal of meaning and the acceptance

you’ll ever face.

Additionally, here’s a bit of food for thought: should you ever find yourself in dire circumstances, remember that although you might lose everything else—your job, your possessions, your money, even your health— knowledge can never be taken from you.

Vocabulary Expansion: The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to, and they’ll inevitably make their way into your everyday vocabulary. Being articulate and well-spoken is of great help in any profession, and knowing that you can speak to higherups with self-confidence can be an enormous boost to your self-esteem. It could even aid in your career, as those who are well-read, well-spoken, and knowledgeable on a variety of topics tend to get promotions more quickly (and more often) than those with smaller vocabularies and lack of awareness of literature, scientific breakthroughs, and global events.

Reading books is also vital for learning new languages, as non-native speakers gain exposure to words used in context, which will ameliorate their own speaking and writing fluency.

Chimamanda Adichie of fresh meanings, a process that was experienced as intrinsically rewarding.”

For the research, people rated texts on the basis of their ‘poeticness’ and how much they had to re-think meaning while reading.

Some text required more effort than others.

Brain scans showed increased activity in key brain networks when people read the more complex texts and had greater literary awareness.

Professor Davis said: “This is especially promising since the activated areas of the brain that provided a sense of reward in the very process of activisation is known to be particularly under-vitalised in those suffering from depression.”

Increased empathy and social reasoning: To test this, Keith Oatley, professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, and some colleagues ran a few studies. While the results are preliminary, they are nonetheless interesting.

In one study, Oatley asked people to choose the emotion expressed in a photograph of a

No matter how much stress you have at work, in your personal relationships, or countless other issues faced in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story. A wellwritten novel can transport you to other realms…

person’s eyes (intended to be a measure of empathy). Readers of fiction scored higher.

Professor Raymond Mar wanted to further test that empathy is a product of reading fiction (as opposed to empathetic people being drawn to fiction). He randomly divided two groups of subjects, one of which read a short work of fiction and the other a piece of non-fiction. The subjects were then asked to demonstrate “social reasoning.”

Again, the fiction readers performed better.

Our brains interpret fiction differently.

In another study, Oatley rewrote a piece of fiction as a piece of non-fiction. Basically, he took a story and made it into the transcript of a trial. Subjects who read the fiction version felt more emotion. The more emotion they felt, the more they changed. Oatley speculates the personality shifts may be produced by the reader entering into the fictional character’s mind. That is, we identify with what we’re reading.

More benefits of reading novels Lana Winter-Hébert, writer and editor, lists more benefits of reading novels.

Mental Stimulation: Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the progress of (or possibly even prevent) Alzheimer’s and Dementia, since keeping your brain active and engaged prevents it from losing power. Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy, so the phrase “use it or lose it” is particularly apt when it comes to your mind.

Stress Reduction: No matter how much stress you have at work, in your personal relationships, or countless other issues faced in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story. A well-written novel can transport you to other realms, while an engaging article will distract you and keep you in the present moment, letting tensions drain away and allowing you to relax.

Knowledge: Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when it might come in handy.

The more knowledge you have, the betterequipped you are to tackle any challenge

Stronger Analytical Thinking Skills: Have you ever read an amazing mystery novel, and solved the mystery yourself before finishing the book? If so, you were able to put critical and analytical thinking to work by taking note of all the details provided and sorting them out to determine “whodunnit”.

That same ability to analyze details also comes in handy when it comes to critiquing the plot; determining whether it was a wellwritten piece, if the characters were properly developed, if the storyline ran smoothly, etc. Should you ever have an opportunity to discuss the book with others, you’ll be able to state your opinions clearly, as you’ve taken the time to really consider all the aspects involved.

Improved Focus and Concentration: In our internet-crazed world, attention is drawn in a million different directions at once as we multi-task through every day. In a single 5-minute span, the average person will divide their time between working on a task, checking email, chatting with a couple of people (via chat, skype, etc.), keeping an eye on twitter, monitoring their smartphone, and interacting with co-workers. This type of ADD-like behaviour causes stress levels to rise, and lowers productivity.

When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story—the rest of the world just falls away, and you can immerse yourself in every fine detail you’re absorbing. Try reading for 15-20 minutes before work (i.e. on your morning commute, if you take public transit), and you’ll be surprised at how much more focused you are once you get to the office.

Better Writing Skills: This goes hand-inhand with the expansion of your vocabulary: exposure to published, well-written work has a noted effect on one’s own writing, as observing the cadence, fluidity, and writing styles of other authors will invariably influence your own work. In the same way that musicians influence one another, and painters use techniques established by previous masters, so do writers learn how to craft prose by reading the works of others.

Tranquility: In addition to the relaxation that accompanies reading a good book, it’s possible that the subject you read about can bring about immense inner peace and tranquility.

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

Fanendo Adi

Can He Weather the Storm?

26.03.2016

Africa Rumbles PAGE. 29

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Can He Weather the Storm?

His invitation for the double edged Africa Cup of

Nations qualifier Group D encounter against Egypt was a surprise to many. However, Fanendo Adi has vowed to justify his call. How well he fared, if he performs will likely determine whether he gets another call-up writes Kunle Adewale

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he 1994 Super Eagles that won the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time and also played in the second round of the USA ’94 World Cup will remain a reference point until the Super Eagles regain its lost glory.

A player playing in the MLS would hardly stand a chance of getting a call-up not to talk of picking a shirt during the reign of Clemence Westerhof national coach. In fact, former Nigerian international, Waidi Akani lost his national team shirt because of his failure to dump America for Europe.

But not so anymore, as Nigeria now struggle to qualify for AFCON, and churches and mosques must keep vigil for Nigeria to play in the World Cup and that is why players like Fanendo Adi can now get a callup for a crucial AFCON qualifier.

Adi was a surprise inclusion by Coach Samson Siasia in Super Eagles Nations Cup qualifier against Egypt in Kaduna on Friday and Wednesday in Alexandria.

Even Adi expressed shock at his invitation.

The Portland Timbers stricker revealed that he was looking forward to making his debut for the Super Eagles when they take on Egypt Africa Cup of Nations, while adding that he owed his invitation to his Portland Timbers coach and teammates.

"I’m looking forward to playing for Nigeria,” Adi who won the man-of the match award after Portland's 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake and was named in the MLS team of the week, told reporters shortly after joining the Eagles in Abuja.

“It’s my first time. I’ve never been with the national team, so it’s different for me. I owe everything to Portland, so I have to say a big ‘thank you’ to the coach, to the fans and my mates. Without them I wouldn’t have this opportunity. It’s going to be great for my development and it’s going to help me," Adi said.

The big striker will compete with the likes of Odion Ighalo for a place in the first team.

The 25 year old striker noted: “It’s my first time going to Nigeria. I’ve never been with the national team, so it’s different for me. I’m very humble to be invited. It’s going to be great for my development. It’s going to help me, but I’m looking forward to playing for Nigeria.”

Adi said he wants to show his ability in a group of talented players that constitute the ranks of the national team.

The MLS-based player warned Nigeria to be wary of Egypt which is a good side that may likely play the ball through the middle.

“We need to go into the match and try to win the game. We also know

they (Egypt) are a good team. They are a side that like to play the ball and through the middle. I think if we play as a team collectively, definitely, we can be victorious,” Adi said.

Despite lack of a previous of playing football at the national level, Adi scoffed at suggestion of stage fright.

He insisted that he plays in the big league and would concentrate on what he can do to help the team qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon next year.

Last season he netted 19 times to help his team win the MLS Cup and has scored three goals this season.

Following his transfer from AS Trencin, Adi scored a goal in his F.C. Copenhagen debut against FC Vestsjælland on August 25, despite not having his work and residency permit. On January 2011, the then 19-year-old Nigerian striker, was invited for the second time by Ajax.

On May 13, 2014, Adi went on loan with the option to buy to Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.

He made his debut coming on as a substitute against Columbus Crew and got the game tying assist which earn him a start in the following match.

Adi scored his first and second goals, in the second half for the Portland Timbers on 28 May 2014, against Chivas USA in his first start for the club. On 7 June he received his second start and scored two goals in the first half against Real Salt Lake.

Adi was signed permanently by Portland Timbers on 23 June 2014 and has become the club's fourth ever Designated Player.

Meanwhile, Pharaohs of Egypt delegation flew direct into Kaduna on Wednesday from Cairo, two days before the qualifying fixture against Nigeria on Friday.

The first of the two Group G fixtures between the two traditional continental powers at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna is the main theme in the Gabon 2017 qualifying matches across Africa this week.

The side coached by Hector Cuper will be boosted by star figures like, Mohamed Salah of AS Roma, Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny, Mahmoud Trezeguet of Anderlecht, Ahmed Hassan Kouka of Sporting Braga Portugal and Amr Warda of Panetolikos of Greece.

The Pharaohs, who are leading Group G with six points, two more than the Eagles, have been holding a closed training camp since Sunday underlying their intent to remain leader of the group.

The Eagles on their part travelled to Kaduna on Tuesday morning, after a training session at the instance of Coach Samson Siasia, to assess the fitness of the foreign-based players to join the six local players picked by the coach.

Adi

31

MARCH 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Nigeria Professional Football League…

Eguma Gets Three-match Ultimatum Rivers United technical manager, Stanley Eguma faces the sack unless results improve swiftly for the club in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in the next three matches.

The Port Harcourt club currently sit in 11thplace in the NPFL standings with 10 points from a possible 24 and have failed to amass even a single point on the road this season.

The sponsors of the club are unimpressed with recent performances and have now read the riot act to Eguma and the rest of the technical department of the club following yet another underwhelming

display on Wednesday.

“The Rivers State Government has invested heavily in the club and so far, the results have been far from impressive.

Following the unimpressive goalless drawon Wednesday with a struggling side like Sunshine Stars who are just one place from the bottom of the table, we have decided to act.

“The technical crew led by Stanley Eguma have now been given a three-match ultimatum to improve the fortunes of the club and justify the huge amount of money spent on the club by the state government or be

shown the way out.

“This is not a witch hunt but an honest and concerted effort in ensuring that all involved in this club key into our philosophy of making Rivers United the most foremost in the country,” Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Boma Iyaye said while reacting to the draw with Sunshine Stars on Wednesday.

United will face Ikorodu United in Lagos on Sunday, El Kanemi Warriors in Port Harcourt on April 6 and Heartland in Owerri on April 10 in their next three league games this season.

MFM FC Admit Pillars were Tough Opponent Mountain of Fire Miracles Ministries FC head coach Fidelis llechukwu has described his side’s clash against former Nigerian champions Kano Pillars as their toughest yet.

The newly promoted side were forced to 1-1 draw by the Pyramid City side inWednesday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match-day 8 clash at the Agege Township Stadium in Lagos.

Defender Stanley Okorom put the home side in front with a wonderful but deflected strike in the 28th minute while Pillars’

midfield maestro, Rabiu Ali, evened score from the penalty spot in the 66th minute. llechukwu said his side often come out of a difficult encounter better and stronger.

“Yea, we thought we could have pocketed the three points but that’s football; you win, draw or lose. We have drawn this one against Kano Pillars and we now look forward to the next match on the league calendar.

“We met a tough test and I’m happy we came out of the encounter with a vital point against a tough opponent.

Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton

Usually, whenever we play tough opponents like Enyimba, Kano Pillars or Enugu Rangers we learn a lot. Today (Wednesday) was no exception.

“Today was a tough test and the lesson we learned will strengthen us even more in subsequent matches. Right now we are looking forward to the next away match at newcomers Plateau United in Jos,” said llechukwu to supersport.com.

The draw against Pillars takes MFM FC to the same number of points as leaders Enugu Rangers (14), but sit second on the log having scored less goals.

Week 9 Fixtures

Odah of Enugu Rangers

Sunshine

v

3SC

Ikorodu Utd

v

Rivers Utd

Heartland

v

Giwa

Rangers

v

Enyimba

Wikki

v

Akwa Utd

El-Kanemi

v

Nasarawa Utd

Pillars

v

Ifeanyi Ubah

Wolves

v

Lobi

Warriors

v

Tornadoes

Nigeria Premier League Table G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE LAYOUT DESIGNER WAHAB AKINTUNDE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

Rangers MFM Lobi Ifeanyi Ubah Pillars United Tourists Warriors Giwa Tornadoes Rivers Plateau 3SC Wolves Heartland El-Kanemi Ikorodu Enyimba Sunshine Nasarawa

P 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 7 6 6 7 7 7 3 6 3

W 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 0

D 2 2 1 1 3 2 2 5 2 1 1 1 0 3 2 1 2 0 3 0

L 2 2 3 2 1 2 2 0 2 4 4 3 3 1 3 4 4 2 3 3

Pts 13 10 12 11 10 11 7 7 8 11 8 8 8 3 3 7 4 1 4 1

GF 9 9 8 7 8 8 4 5 7 11 8 12 7 2 5 11 11 3 7 5

GA 4 1 4 4 2 3 3 2 1 0 0 -4 1 1 -2 -4 -7 -2 -3 -4

GD 14 14 13 13 12 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 9 9 8 7 5 3 3 0

People Making F1's Rules Don't Know How Cars Work

Lewis Hamilton feels too many people making F1's rules have no understanding of how cars work and that drivers aren't listened to enough when regulation decisions are taken.

The world champion was criticised by F1 race director Charlie Whiting in the build-up the Australian GP for failing to attend driver meetings at Pirelli's Milan headquarters in February or in the paddock during pre-season testing to discuss new rules and regulations.

"The drivers get a lot of say," Whiting said in a pre-Australia briefing on the FIA's website. "I can't see how we could give them more of a say. We have sporting and technical meetings to which a driver is always invited.

"We had a meeting in Barcelona. Quite a few drivers turned up which was nice. Lewis was invited but he didn't come."

However, Hamilton says attending the meetings would be pointless as Sebastian Vettel is invariably the only driver to make a contribution.

"I don't know if the drivers need to be more involved in certain things," Hamilton told reporters.

"It is interesting that recently Charlie has hit out at me and it is right that he has called some meetings, but I didn't go as at the time I was really just focussed on doing my work with my engineers.

"But also it is very rare that anything in our conversations gets taken notice of so there is no need for me to be there. Most likely if I do go Sebastian is the only one who is going to be doing the talking so there is no point in me being there, I can just read about it later."

Hamilton then went on to criticise F1's hierarchy for not consulting drivers on rule changes, such as switching to a one-clutch start in Australia.

"I feel it is only a benefit to the hierarchy who are making the decisions to at least ask a driver 'what is your issue in the car? Does making it one paddle off the line make it harder?' because it is no harder for me," he said.

"They've never asked us about the struggles of trying to follow another

car, but they can rely on us for those things. In terms of making decisions and coming up with ideas that is not our job.

"And probably at the top end there are probably way too many people making decisions who don't have an understanding of the car. There needs to be perhaps less people making the decisions and hopefully making the right ones.

"Sunday was no different to any race that I've had terms of how we follow at Albert Park. It is such a great circuit, but you can't get close."

Plans are afoot to make F1 cars five seconds per lap quicker in 2017, but that looks set to be achieved by aerodynamics. And Hamilton feels that will only compound F1's current problems.

"I was looking at an old picture of a start at Estoril and the two Williams were ahead then the two McLarens and they were wide cars, wheels looked great, the rear wheels should always be way bigger than the front wheels," he added.

"We need more mechanical grip and less wake coming off the car in front.

At the moment you see us just sliding around as we don't have much grip as it is on these tyres and then as soon as we get in the wake there is just nothing we can do.

"We are all capable of racing much closer if we were able to get closer.

There needs to be changes to enable us to do that, but they don't seem to be making those changes. Give us five seconds more downforce it will be exactly the same, but just five seconds faster.

"I love this sport, I love racing. Ultimately I don't know all the changes that should be made, but whatever changes have been made it hasn't made the spectacle better, it hasn't made the racing better from a driver's perspective."

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

2017 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier… 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier… 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier… 2017 Africa Cup of Nations

Cameroon supporters cheering their team

Cameroon Players Ready for Bafana Challenge

C

ameroon are ready to play South Africa said their new coach Hugo Broos in the build-up top the African Nations Cup qualifier between the two former winners on today.

Cameroon host South Africa in Limbe in the Group M qualifier and the two sides meet each other again three days later in Durban in matches that Bafana Bafana must win to have any chances of reaching the finals in Gabon in 2017.

Broos had his first training session with the players on Monday and said, “the first contract went really well, it has given me a little more clarity”.

The Cameroon squad have been preparing at the CAF Technical Centre near Yaounde. “It’s been ideal for

preparation with all the conditions perfect for good work. The players in the squad look ready. I have confidence in them,” he said.

“Bafana Bafana are a dangerous opponent. We have studied our opponent and seen a team who know how to play,” the Belgian born coach added.

Bafana Bafana head into the match having claimed just one point from their opening two qualifiers, after being held to a goalless draw at home

by Gambia before suffering an embarrassing 3-1 defeat away to Mauritania.

The Indomitable Lions, in contrast, top the pool with two wins from two: 1-0 at home to Mauritania and 1-0 away to Gambia. This effectively means that South Africa’s hopes of qualifying will depend on them claiming back-to-back wins over the West Africans in the teams’ two meetings.

This match will be the first in charge for Cameroon’s new Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who was a surprise pick for the post and will be looking to make a good impression on home soil.

“We will put the team on the ground, be ready, and will fight to the last minute. Then we'll see, this is football,” said Broos of the match against South Africa.

“South Africa also has its weaknesses. We'll see which team will capitalise on the weaknesses of the other.”

Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has acknowledged that the Cameroon matches are vital for his team as far as reaching Gabon 2017 is concerned.

"These two matches are almost a make-or-break for us. If we want to resurrect our campaign, these are the matches that we will have to do well in,” said Mashaba.

He added, “We have to put up a fight as though our lives depend on these matches. I believe we have selected a strong team that will deliver."

The good news for South Africa is that they have a strong record against Cameroon, with three wins and just one loss from six official matches between the teams.

However, the most recent meeting was way back in 2008 (a 3-2 win for South Africa in that year’s Nelson Mandela Challenge match) and all six encounters have been played on South African soil; Bafana Bafana have never played the Indomitable Lions in their own backyard.

Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa will take charge of the match in Limbe, with the return fixture set for Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday.

Lwandamina Targets Maximum Points

G

eorge Lwandamina is aiming for a six-pointer in the 2017 Africa Cup Group E doubleheader qualifier against Congo-Brazzaville.

The two sides’ meet in a top two clash on Wednesday with both sides tied on four points heading into match-daythree at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Leaders Congo beat second placed Zambia to top spot in Group E on goal difference.

Three points at home for Zambia in midweek and another three away in Brazzaville on March 27 will put Chipolopolo one foot into the finals heading into June’s penultimate round of matches.

“We want the six points but I am sure even Congo want the six points but we have this opportunity to get the six points hoping and trusting we have a better game,” Lwandamina said.

“We are hoping the players will give

us the desired result.

“A home win is a win by any margin and it will also give us impetus to take to the next game but a win is all we need to take into the next week.”

Zambia head into the first leg with just one loss against Congo from ten previous meetings and with four wins and a draw since losing 1-0 in November 1996 in a 1998 World Cup qualifying match away in Pointe Noire.

AFCON 2017 Qualifier TODAY Mauritius Seychelles Burundi Congo DR Cameroun Cape Verde Burkina Faso Senegal SUNDAY Mozambique Kenya Botswana Benin

v v v v v v v v

Rwanda Lesetho Namibia Angola South Africa Morocco Uganda Niger

v v v v

Ghana Guinea-Bissau Comoros Zambia

Action during a game involving South Africa and Cote d'Ivoire

33

MARCH 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Infantino

Football Without the Fans is Nothing After the whirlwind of his election on February 26, new FIFA President Gianni Infantino stepped officially into his role three days later on the first of many Mondays at the Home of FIFA. To mark his first day in the office, he sat down for an interview as he began life in Zurich to discuss his views on the format of the FIFA World Cup, the use of technology in football to his relationship with the beautiful game as a fan.

W

e could see how emotional it was for you when you were announced as the new FIFA President. What was the first thought that came into your head right there and then?

I think haven’t realised it completely yet.

It was just… a mix. All the emotions that a human being can feel at the same time. I felt them all: happiness, pride, responsibility…

The weight of the task you’re embarking on, but also the passion and the energy to do the right thing. So, really, just imagine everything you can imagine at the same time in the same second, to the point you don’t think of anything. You just feel. It was about emotion, like football should be.

Speaking of which, you are renowned as someone who has worked in football for years, but what about Gianni the football fan? How much importance did the game have for you, growing up?

The football virus was injected into me when I was a kid, from my parents and my father in particular. I was a crazy football fan, following my team all over the place. I remember when I said, “I’m going to a game”, I’d prepare myself wearing jeans and the worst shirt I had. Now, when I sit to watch a game I have to wear a jacket and a tie. I think we need to change that and as leaders of the game we need to become a little bit more like fans and less like politicians. If we remember that we all started out as football fans, the game will become much better.

When you played regularly what was your position on the field?

I was normally on the bench – and you saw me during our match on Monday [29 February], so you know why! [laughs] Anyway, I liked to play as a striker, only I didn’t score many goals. In the end, I was really only playing because my mother was the one washing the shirts of my local team. This helped me to get a few minutes from time to time, when our team was already leading and I couldn’t cause too much damage. But still I had lots of fun playing when I was young, as I do now.

What about your relationship with the FIFA World Cup? What are your first memories?

My very first memory is 1978. I was eight years old and I started to watch it on TV with my father. I remember [Daniel] Bertoni and [Mario] Kempes in the final against the Netherlands. I remember the Italian national team, which started quite well with Paolo Rossi, Antonio Cabrini, new players. Then obviously the 1982 World Cup, when Italy won, was quite an experience for a 12-yearold boy. And I see this same passion now, I saw it during the 2014 World Cup. Switzerland is a very international country, so when you take your kids to school in the morning you have all the mothers, fathers and kids speaking about their teams – the English, the Algerians, the Swiss, the Germans. In these circumstances we see the importance of the World Cup, and we must never forget this.

We must always protect this competition.

And what specific ideas do you have for the FIFA World Cup? It’s no secret that I believe in increasing the World Cup to 40 teams. Forty teams is only 19 per cent of the FIFA membership, so it’s not that many compared to the continental final tournaments, which gather between 30 per cent and 100 per cent of affiliated teams.

We give eight more countries the opportunity to participate, but many more countries the possibility to dream of participating; to play the qualifiers in a very solid way.

Of course there are issues that we need to analyse and discuss, like: what impact does this have on the calendar? I think it’ll have no impact. But we need to look into these matters very carefully and seriously and then we have to move forward.

Infantino

What about the other FIFA competitions?

Of course the youth ones, for boys and girls, are critically important. So it’s also important to think about the age categories: whether we’re still using the right ones or if we need to go a bit younger. Also, we need to see if it makes sense to increase the size of the final tournaments or, in any case, to make sure that international competitions are staged locally, with the help of FIFA. Not every country can participate in a World Cup. Some countries will never participate or never even dream of taking part in one, be it boys’ or girls’, men’s or women’s. But they also need to play. FIFA has to be there and help them, because organising competitions is the basis of all that we do.

Can you share your expectations about some of the events coming up during your first year as FIFA President?

We start, of course, with the qualifiers: a great celebration of football all over the world, with teams dreaming of playing in the World Cup in Russia. Then we have the Women’s U-17 in Jordan and U-20 in Papua New Guinea.

It’s important to take girls’ football to these countries; to open them to new horizons. I’ll certainly be there and it’ll be a great pleasure to participate in these competitions, to show the world that we’re grateful to Jordan and Papua New Guinea, but also that we believe in them and in the impact that these competitions can have in these countries and regions.

Besides organising competitions, another centrepiece of FIFA’s mission is to develop football. What is the cornerstone of your ideas for development?

I’ve been traveling a lot to each of the continents and visiting many countries and I’ve seen with my own eyes what the needs are. And I think we can and we should do a lot – and we can do a lot with actually very little. But, particularly, what we have to do is to invest in tailor-made programmes, because the needs are not the same in Bhutan, Madagascar, Switzerland or Paraguay. The needs are completely different, and we have to make sure that we target each of the 209 member associations specifically and that we help them to develop football in accordance with the needs

that they have.

Is it fair to say that there is a need to increase the participation of players and former players in football’s decision-making processes?

We need to listen to the players and involve them in our activities, not only in decisionmaking, but also in football development and social activities – because we have an important task in terms of social responsibility as well. We’ve seen that the former players love to participate in FIFA’s activities. They love to give something back to football, which has given them such a lot. We need to be able to include them and that’s why one of my priorities will certainly be to set up a legends team to shine for FIFA and with FIFA around the world.

Another important engagement during your first days in office is the IFAB Annual General Meeting, whose agenda includes discussions on the use of video technology to assist match officials. What are your views on this topic?

Well, technology is obviously an important topic that we need to analyse seriously. We’re in 2016 and we can no longer close our eyes to it. Goal-line technology is already a reality, so we need to look into the matter and carry out real-life tests, so to say, to see in which kind of circumstances technology should be used.

Because it’s important, even crucial, to see what kind of impact it will have on the flow of the game. One of the peculiarities of football is its flow – it doesn’t stop, like many other sports where you have the time to look at videos. If the flow can be guaranteed, then we can see how technology can help the game. But we need to start with serious tests sooner rather than later.

But you do believe that there is a way to find this balance between using technology more heavily while not jeopardising the flow of the game?

Definitely. I think technology evolves; it’s becoming better and better. So if we can get some help for the referees to take the right and just decision, this is part of transparency as well. And we need to be able to embrace this.

After the IFAB, there is the second FIFA

I love the game. I know what it means to travel week in week out to go and watch your favourite team.

Women’s Football and Leadership Conference on 7 March. What are your ideas for fostering stronger participation of women in football?

We need to have a strategy ready for the development of women’s football. Not only football itself, but to have women as leaders in national associations, confederations and FIFA. With the reform process, this is now part of the statutes. That’s why 7 March is such an important date. And for women’s football, it’s like I said for development: we need to target each country according to their needs. It’s no good having a global strategy, because in Germany or the USA the situation is not the same as in many other countries. So we need to use the expertise of the Germans or Americans – to name but two – to help other countries develop with tailor-made programmes. With the will to develop women’s football that I feel everywhere in the world, I think we can achieve impressive results.

We spoke a lot about being a fan, and a lot of critics claim that there is an abyss between FIFA and the regular football fan. What message would you like to give them?

I would like to tell them to trust us. To trust me, because I’m a football fan as well. I’m like them. I love the game. I know what it means to travel week in week out to go and watch your favourite team, because I did this myself many times. I know what it means to love football and follow a team. Football without the fans is nothing. We need the players and we need the fans, and I think these two elements have been neglected for too long. Now it’s time to change this. It’s time to bring them in and involve them in all that we do.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

34

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

Delta Force slugging it with Oluyole Babes during the 12th Zenith Bank National Women Basketball League in Abuja

Djokovic

Zenith Bank Women Basketball League

First Bank, Dolphins in Pole Position as First Phase Ends Tomorrow

Favorites Dolphins and First Bank Basketball Club lead their respective group as the first phase of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League comes to an end tomorrow in Abuja.

Both teams are yet to drop a game, with Dolphins topping Group A, while First Bank dominates Group B. Both teams have been kept apart in the draws and will likely meet in the grand finale in Lagos.

The first game for today will involve Benue Princess and IGP Queens, Custom will take on a youth First Deepwater team in the second game, Zamfara Babes

will take on AHIP in the third game, while Coal City Queens Taraba Hurricanes will slug it out in the fourth game.

Also, Immigration will take on GT 2000, Sunshine Angels will tackle First Bank, Delta Force will take on Dolphins while the last game will be between FCT Angels and Plateau Rocks.

Meanwhile, First Bank Basketball Club have begun plans to hit the venue of the second phase, which is expected to begin on April 9 or 10.

According to Coach Peter Ahmedu, the coaching crew has met with Segun Odegbami,

who is the consultant to the bank on sports, on the need to arrive in the venue of second phase instead of coming to Lagos. Three cities, Asaba, Port Harcourt and Ilorin are jostling to host the second phase.

He said: “We have met with Odegbami and we have told him about why we need to be at the venue of the second phase early just like we arrived in Abuja two week before the first phase commenced. I also want to put the team in a position of advantage by arriving early at venue of competition.”

He also commended the players

for their performance so far, urging to continue putting in their best as they aim to win the title this season. ”We are meeting our expectation with the performances we are churning out in Abuja and I have told them not to rest on their oars. We are also correcting our mistake so that we can improve with each game,” he said.

He commended his assistants, Chris Okoh and Taye Adeniyi, for the good job they are doing, the players and the management, noting that all the units work together to make the team great.

GOtv Boxing Night 6

Murray Chides Djokovic on Equal Pay Judy Murray says women should be paid the same as men when they compete at the same tournaments.

The row about equal pay erupted again this week when world No 1 Novak Djokovic made comments at the Indian Wells tournament.

Djokovic said men should demand a greater share of prize money because: "The stats show

we have much more spectators on the men's tennis matches. I think that's one of the reasons why maybe we should get awarded more."

She told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's a debate that comes up on a fairly regular basis.

"I do believe than when men and women play in the same event it is great for the sport, it is great for the fans - there is much

better buzz about it. I do believe in those situations they should be paid the same as the guys.

"But what is more interesting for me is the issue of more equality throughout our sport - more girls playing, more women in decision-making positions within governing bodies, more women coaches, more women journalists - in order to promote our sport and grow the female side of the

game." "I think he's woken up and regretted how he said things.

It perhaps didn't come out in the way he intended to. When you are a figurehead in the game you have to respect the men's side and the women's side.

"We are all in it together - we are all playing the same sport.

Thee equal pay issue rises up from time to time. It will never go away."

…Backtracks on Comments over Tennis Prize Money Novak Djokovic has further backtracked on his suggestion that men's prize money should be higher than that paid in women's tennis.

Djokovic initially issued an apology on Tuesday after claiming that "the stats show we have much more spectators on the men's tennis matches. I think that's one of the reasons why maybe we should get awarded more."

The world No 1 was responding to questions about BNP Paribas Open tournament

director Raymond Moore's earlier comments that women's tennis "rides on the coat-tails" of the men's game.

Moore, who has since apologised and resigned, also said female players should "get down on [their] knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born", and commented on the physical attractiveness of players such as Eugenie Bouchard and Garbine Muguruza. Women's world No 1 Serena Williams led the opposition to his comments.

And at the Miami Open on Wednesday, Djokovic reiterated his support for equality on and off-court. "I have just been speaking with Billie Jean King about opportunities tennis players have and the influences we can have in different fields of life," he said.

"Andy sent me a message, we spoke very openly and frankly. I sent a message to Serena, Caroline Wozniacki and others, I just wanted them to understand and I never had any intention to offend or have a negative connotation of my

Winner of Match-past competition, Hope House, at the 2016 edition of the Federal Government College, Ilorin, Inter House Sports, during the exercise in Ilorin...recently

statements. "I don't make any differences between the genders.

I am for equality in the sport.

"I feel very sorry if, in any way, I hurt my female colleague tennis players. I have a very good relationship with all of them. I have a huge respect for all of them." Djokovic, who faces Britain's Kyle Edmund in the second round in Miami, added: "I was shocked at the effect this story had in the media. There is a lot attention on what I say and I want to repeat there were no bad intentions.

Bradley, Brook Clash Underway Eddie Hearn admits Timothy Bradley is the No 1 target for Kell Brook, with work already underway to make the fight.

IBF world welterweight champion Brook takes on Kevin Bizier today in a mandatory defence.

The Special One missed out on an Amir Khan showdown and is looking to take on a big name later this year and promoter Hearn is keeping his options open, but is hopeful a Bradley fight can be made after the American has fought Manny Pacquiao.

"The Bradley fight is one I've always thought could happen for Kell Brook," he told Sky Sports.

"I think he's one of the elite fighters in the world that would travel. "There were talks with Top Rank a few years ago about making it but it would have been a voluntary defence with options, but Kell was the mandatory for the IBF world title at the time.

"I actually think Tim Bradley will beat Manny Pacquiao in which case maybe we'll have to travel ourselves to the States - which doesn't bother Kell or us in the slightest.

"Of course Bradley and Top Rank have got plenty going on but the calls never stop and there has been work behind the scenes for the last month about Kell Brook.

"Top Rank aren't going to make a decision and even if that is a great fight and Bradley loses and comes through that, it would still be a great fight for Kell Brook.

"Brook will be a keen spectator on April 9. And if Pacquiao wins it, we would walk to Timbuktu for that one."

While WBA champion Keith Thurman's defence against Brook victim Shawn Porter has been postponed until June, Hearn believes WBC holder Danny Garcia is "rumoured to be waiting" for a fight with Floyd Mayweather.

Jessie Vargas has recently won the WBO belt at 147lbs, but the promoter behind the Sheffield star wonders if the new champion is a big enough name at the moment.

Hearn is confident Brook could step up a division and take on the likes of Miguel Cotto and Gennady Golovkin, but made it clear a bout against Bradley and a campaign to be the world's best welterweight is the priority.

"The timing hasn't helped, but the one thing we do know is, if Kell beats Kevin Bizier, he needs a big fight," he said.

"Doors close through no fault of your own and you have to be creative and have to make a move - and that might be 154lbs but we want to clean up at welterweight.

"If we can't find the big fights at 147lbs, Kell does have the ability to move up to 154lbs, but he has worked so hard to win this belt and while he is still making the weight effectively, we'd like to clean up the welterweight division.

"We don't want to get held up by politics, or just because Kell Brook is very, very good and many of them don't want to fight him.

"If we have to move up to 154lbs we'd fight Cotto or even Gennady Golovkin at something like 157lbs, but here and now, we want to dominate the welterweight division."

L-R: Mr Eniola Abogunde, Representing Commissioner of Education Lagos State, Asiwaju Fola Osibo, Chairman Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB), Mr Jimoh Shittu, Representing Minister of Sport and Chief Olu Falomo, Member of Sport Committee, FNSB, at The 21st Annual Inter-House Sport Competition of The Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind(FNSB) in Lagos recently.

MARCH 26, 20 16 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

35

THIS WOMAN’S WORK

with ADE RONKE ; @aderonstar; ronkaf@aol.com

Heralding the New Nigerian Kitchen Those of us who are lucky enough to afford three meals a day possess shared memories of food and meal times. At celebratory occasions, your preference may be gorging on a plate of small chops or drowning in a bowl of soft ‘swallow’ and hot soup. There are also the classic selections of dishes such as jollof rice, fried rice with a side of plantain, maybe beans and some beef. These are some of the dishes that represent our shared culinary experience and memories.

Ozoz Sokoh is the talented individual who is trying to create new memories; her stage name is ‘Kitchen Butterfly’. Her approach honours our culinary history but Ms Butterfly takes a step further to build on them. She examines the foundations of our beloved traditional dishes, which are the ingredients, and pushes them to unfamiliar but mostly delicious territory. One of her favourite ingredients is scent leaf, which is traditionally used to make pepper soup. Ms Butterfly rejects such limitations; she uses this ingredient to make exotic cocktails and rich curries. Her website is a repository of her various explorations of local Nigerian ingredients. As with all experiments there are several outcomes, which result in mostly innovative and tasty results. She never positions herself as an expert but an explorer and an artist. She makes no claim to perfection and is brave enough to share her epicurean journey but also who she is. It is through this journey that she heralds the ‘New Nigerian Kitchen’ and the many ways she is creating this new chapter in Nigerian culture

H

ow would you characterise the food scene in Lagos?

The food landscape in Lagos is changing fast- there are creative cooks. There is also a larger emphasis on natural and organic food but most importantly, a new focus on Nigerian cuisine, expressed in ‘The New Nigerian Kitchen’ What is the ‘New Nigerian Kitchen’?

It is a phrase I coined to describe the celebration of Nigerian cuisine - a movement from the traditional eating for sustenance, to a deep appreciation of colours, flavours, nutritive value and textures. Using ‘old’ ingredients like garri in new ways - to crust fish or chicken instead of breadcrumbs, to documenting and sharing these finds.

In the last year in Lagos, I’ve experienced by participation, pop up restaurants, food fairs, lunch clubs and more - a pleasant surprise for me who’s had all these things in mind but never envisaged them.

Even though the economy is a bit tough, there are a lot of international food chains coming into Nigeria. Is our food scene becoming westernised? Are there food practices/techniques that we have lost?

I think International food chains add to the wealth of options diners have. I don’t think they can be entirely blamed for lost practices and techniques. I think we’d begun to lose them long before they arrived. Why? Because documentation wasn’t what it should have been. For any food culture to persist, remain relevant even if to a small group, some sort of collective memory must exist, on paper, and outlive the stories around the mortar full of hot, stretchy pounded yam from the best Edo yams.

I would love to establish a Nigerian Food Repository that documents our culi-

nary history, culture and practices; one that links our varied cuisines to agriculture, health and nutrition. I’m really glad to see so many Nigerian food writers making a difference, even if in new and interesting ways. Unearthing recipes, showing easier techniques to accomplishing traditional dishes (like pounded yam in a food processor versus a mortar and pestle) and writing these ‘on paper’ for the future.

In your My Africa podcast interview you said your father was a big inspiration for you in cooking.You also said he never used seasoning cubes. What are your thoughts on how seasoning cubes have become central to contemporary Nigerian cooking?

Yes, my dad never used seasoning cubes.

He taught me that tasty food was about understanding the ingredients and working with them to coax the most flavour.

Like onions and bell peppers – cook them low and slow, with a pinch of salt and you have the beginnings of sweet, delicious flavours but this may take some time. For majority of people, cooking is about efficiency - preparing good food in a limited amount of time with fixed resources.

Seasoning cubes thus present a very short cut to what might traditionally be seen as a long process of making real stock - cooking meat and bones, etc. Not to mention that stock cubes take up little space.

You are friends with other food enthusiasts (Chef Fregz, Heels in the Kitchen) how did that come about?

Instagram and my blog, kitchenbutterfly. com. Social media has a way of helping people with similar interests discover each other, whether that’s food, celebration of culture, fashion and the like. Funny thing too is the ‘friends of friends’ phenomenon.

My friend, Ramon - an amazing chef who I met through my food blog introduced me to Chef Imoteda of Heels in the Kitchen. So yes, social media mostly is how a lot of my

new connections are fostered.

There is Ozoz the cook, writer, photographer and professional? Where do you find the time? How did these interests develop?

I don’t think it has ever been a question of finding time but one of just doing. ‘The art of finding, making time is the mother of procrastination’, methinks. Food, writing, photography, family, friends, and work – they are important to me so I do them. A lot of people think you need huge blocks of time to accomplish things but you don’t.

My philosophy is ‘five minutes here, five minutes there’. Small chunks of time don’t overwhelm you – they keep you focused on your main goal in doing that thing. Yes sometimes, they make you nervous about ‘not finishing’ but truth is, I accomplish more with this approach than I ever did waiting for 2 hours to write a story.

I do a host of things on the journey to work. I take photos, reply emails, write, make phone calls, sleep and do a host of other things. I let Lagos Traffic work in my favour.

When things surround you, you soak them up, whether or not you realise it. I grew up playing outside a great deal. It wasn’t till I went out for a hike as an adult and a leader of a Girls Scouts troop that I realized how much I knew about nature.

Things I’d absorbed from childhood play. These interests developed before I recognized them as interests. My mum was an English teacher who had her own schools so we grew up reading and writing everything. Photography was one of my dad’s passions and we had tons of negatives and photographs growing up, as well as cameras. From a young age, I knew what Polaroids, for instance were.

Food is great but cooking is not everyone’s forte, any tips for people who want to start cooking?

Not everyone is as smitten with cooking

as I am, I often forget sometimes. Start with the things you like to eat, then find someone you can trust or a recipe you believe in. ‘Don’t give up, no matter what’ would be my second piece of advice. Look, you’ll make mistakes, learn from them, make notes, experiment, and most importantly, forgive yourself if you fail. Don’t be afraid to try again.

As a food blogger and writer, you let people see a bit of your soul and personal thoughts. Essentially, you are putting yourself out there, were you scared that people would reject you or it wouldn’t really take off?

I’ve always been an emotional and an emotionally-aware person. There are bits of myself I keep private but overall, I think being open whether I’m home, at work or with friends makes my life easier.

Food blogging and writing has always been about me, for me and I would do it if no one read me (like it was in the very beginning). Rejection didn’t scare me; I started my blog at a time when I was confused about what I wanted to do with my life. The process of writing, almost wrestling with myself happened on the page. It was both a personal struggle and an overcoming and I emerged mostly confident and determined to live the life that I have chosen for myself.

You talk about food, ingredients, the spices, the tastes and smells. Are you aware of any psychological effects linked to Nigerian food?

I’m not aware of research papers published on the benefits of Nigerian ingredients and produce but I can’t deny the feeling of wellness when I drink pepper soup, especially when made with a stunning combination of aromatic spices.

Or when I chomp on pepper fruit and feel my spirits lift with the almost menthol taste and scent. Truth is, some things are felt, not told.

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JUNETHE 16, 2011 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER THISDAY, SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

FAIRGROUND

Shirley’s Confectionery Unveils Olajumoke as Brand Ambassador

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

O

lajumoke Orisaguna, whose story went virile after gracing the cover of Nigeria’s number one fashion and lifestyle magazine, Thisday Style was recently unveiled as the brand ambassador of Shirley’s Confectionery in Abuja. The Chairman and Managing Director of Shirleys Confectionery, Amarachi Iwuanyanwu who was in attendance with his wife, Adaora said: “We are delighted to be identified with Olajumoke. Her story is inspiring and we are glad to be part of it.

So, from Agege bread seller to Shirley’s bread seller is what we are promoting.”

Olajumoke was so grateful to Mr. and Mrs Iwuanyanwu for making her the face and brand ambassador of Shirley’s confectionery. She is equally happy to be part of their respected corporate organisation.

Shirleys Confectionery is an ultramodern boutique bakery and confectionery shop which began operation on the 25th of January, 2014. Shirleys has over 50 staff working dedicatedly round the clock to serve their dear customers.

It prides herself as a customer-centric organisation. “Our customers are the reasons why Shirleys doors are open. In order to serve our customers well, we opened Shirleys Express a 24 hours shop in Wuse 2 serving with quality confectionery and meal round the clock, none of its kind in Abuja.”

L-R: Managing Director, Shirleys Confectionary, Mr. Amarachi Iwuanyanwu, Shirleys Confectionary brand ambassador, Olajumoke Orisaguna, Senator Osita Izunaso and Mrs. Adaora Shirley Iwuanyanwu

Nene and Engr Paul Dinwonke

Mudi

Olajumoke Orisaguna and Mrs Biodun Obakin

Charles Okpaleke and George Okoro

Abubaka Tafawa-Balewa

Amanze Nwanyanwu

Mrs. Joy Nwanyanwu

Lillian Jonathan

Olajumoke Orisaguna with Livingspring International College Students, Abuja

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

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FAIRGROUND

2015 COOLFM Christmas Praise Jam

From Left to right: Serge Noujaim (assistant to GMD), Onimisi Adaba (Coordination manager), Evita Moussalli (Chief Operations director Cool fm), Engr. Amin Moussalli (managing director, aim group), Aderonke and Dapo Oduwole (lucky winners) and mannie (Cool fm Presenters)

T

he management of COOLFM has presented the star prize of a brand new Ford Figo, courtesy of Coscharis motors to Aderonke Oduwole, winner of the 2015 COOLFM Christmas Praise Jam.

Speaking at the official presentation ceremony held at the AIM Complex in Victoria Island, Group Managing Director, Amin Moussalli said the gesture was the company’s way of giving back to the society. According to him, “the management of Cool Fm is grateful to everyone and the teem-

ing fans and families that made Christmas Praise Jam 2015 and indeed the past 12 editions a huge success”.

Moussalli also thanked the Christmas Praise Jam official sponsors, Golden Penny foods, The Home of Good foods, MTN, Cadbury and Coscharis Motors.

Rémy Martin Unveils Brand Influencers for OneLifeLiveThem

Receiving the key, Aderonke who was amazed said: “I am overwhelmed; it’s like a dream. Here I am with a key to a brand new car.

I am telling the entire world that this is real. I will be inviting all my friends and family for this year’s Praise Jam. I’m not sure the hall will contain all of us.”

Arase Renews Boldfaces’ Psychologist Police’ Partnership

Tricia Eseigbe and Solomon Arase

R

Shina Peller

émy Martin Cognac has launched one of its new global campaigns that recognizes and celebrates individual’s multitalents. Following the selection of DJ Jimmy Jatt, Folarin Falana (Falz the Bahdguy), Noble Igwe; Shina Peller, VJ

Charles Okpaleke

Adams, Charles Okpaleke have been unveiled as the new set of influencers who embody the brand’s philosophy and lifestyle.

The campaign tagline, One Life/Live Them®, which assumes its grammatical accident, identifies that today’s consumers are not defined by one talent or skill, but are multi-faceted and should be

VJ Adams Remy

applauded for their many passions. Rémy Martin’s One Life/ Live Them campaign encourages consumers to explore and celebrate all their talents. It is a call to live richer, larger lives, to expand the horizon and seize all the wonderful opportunities that life can offer, beyond the one-dimensional paths that former generations could have embraced.

I

nspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase recently demonstrated his commitment to the fight against child sexual abuse and violence against women by endorsing Tricia Eseigbe Kerry’s Boldfaces Psychologist On The Move Child Sexual Abuse Media Advocacy Project.

Speaking at the Nigeria Police Headquarters’ Louis Edet House, Arase thanked Tricia and the Boldfaces Psychologist Crew for initiating the Child Sexual Abuse Advocacy campaign and sustaining it since its inception in 2013. He promised

that the Nigeria Police Force will do all that is legally possible to make sure the Boldfaces Psychologist Police Partnership achieves its goals to educate Nigerians on women/ children safety and to mobilize adults, families and communities to take actions that would protect women and children.Nigeria Police Force will do all that is legally possible to make sure the Boldfaces Psychologist Police Partnership achieves its goals to educate Nigerians on women/ children safety and to mobilize adults, families and communities to take actions that would protect women and children.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • March 27, 2016

March 27,, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •March 26, 2016

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FITNESS FILE The Edenlifestyle corner with

Food Done Right

MAJE AYIDA

majeayida@edenlifenigeria.com www.edenlifenigeria.com, 07062614551

Y

ou already know you should limit how much junk food you eat on a regular basis in order to be healthy. Everyone deserves the occasional indulgence, but before you dig in there are a handful of foods you should steer clear of to avoid damaging effects on your body, skin, and waistline.

Artificial Sweeteners In small doses (think: one teaspoon per serving), sugar is totally fine. But it gets a little dicey when you have too many artificial sweeteners. Here’s the deal: Sweeteners are way, um, sweeter than sugar, and they can reset your taste buds to crave sugary foods. As a result, you end up eating more junk. Plus, people who limit their artificial sweetener use find that they have more energy and don’t have as many cravings.

Margarine Most of us think it’s a healthy alternative to butter, but margarine has loads of trans fats, which increase your cholesterol. And it contains a lot of ingredients versus butter’s one or two. The calorie count is also similar to butter, but we tend to eat more of it because we think it’s healthier. Your best bet: Stick with small does of butter or use heart-healthy olive oil.

Diet Foods Unfortunately, “diet” or “low-fat” doesn’t mean low-calorie. Diet bars and low-fat foods like yogurts usually have more sugar, salt, and unhealthy fillers to make them taste okay. Even worse, we typically eat double the serving we should because we’re not satisfied or think that it’s okay to eat more because it’s “healthy.”

Frosting That store-bought frosting from a tub might taste great on cakes and cookies, but it’s packed with problems. It’s one of the only items in the grocery store that still has trans fats, which are terrible for your health and waistline. Trans fat raises bad cholesterol, lowers good cholesterol, and causes inflammation, which can lead to belly fat and diseases ranging from heart disease to diabetes. On top of that, tub frosting is loaded with sugar, and high-sugar diets contribute to premature wrinkles. Yikes.

Bagels If you’re prone to skin problems and tempted to grab a bagel before you go in the morning, think twice. Bagels have a massively high glycemic index, which increases insulin and leads to increased inflammation in the body, which is shown to possibly accelerate aging and worsen acne and rosacea (google it).

Processed Baked Goods So convenient, so tasty (if we’re being honest here), but so not worth it. Those pre-packaged mini muffins, doughnuts, and dessert cakes will add tons of calories and loads of unwanted sugar to your diet, plus they aren’t easy to digest. These foods are bad on so many levels, because they are filled with high sugar content and preservatives for a longer shelf-life - they can literally sit there forever. Sugar increases inflammation in the skin, which on top of irritating acne, can make you look puffy and bloated. Skip the wrapped stuff and grab fresh fruit for a sweet fix instead.

Soft Drinks Dietitians and doctors all agree: Soda should be removed from your diet completely. One can of soda is like a can of water with 10 packets of sugar in it. The recommended amount of daily sugar is about six teaspoons or 24 grams, and soda has way more than that. Good old fashion H2O is still your best option. If you want to jazz it up, add a slice of fresh fruit for flavor.

Sugary Cereal A bowl of Frosted Flakes or Fruit Loops might taste like nostalgia, but it’ll wreak

some havoc with its high amount of inflammation-causing sugar and gluten content. For some people with sensitive skin, gluten can exacerbate breakouts, leading to increased redness and, yes, more breakouts. Opt for low-sugar, gluten-free options.

Jarred Tomato Sauce It’s easy to forget sources of sugar when you’re making recipes that aren’t traditionally considered sweet, but they do exist.

Tomato sauce is a big culprit. Make your own, because the store stuff has a ton of sugar.

Soy Sauce Soy sauce is low in calories and has some good vitamins and minerals like riboflavin and vitamin B-6, but the extremely high sodium content will leave you bloated and at risk for conditions like hypertension.

There are so many low-sodium, lighter soy sauce options, there’s no reason to buy the regular stuff anymore. We still recommends using the light stuff sparingly. A tablespoon of the low-sodium soy sauce is about 600 milligrams of sodium instead of 900, so it is less but not by much.

Getting in shape is a tough journey, make no mistake, and bad food habits are where problems live. Some of your poor habits are so deeply entrenched that there can seemingly be no amount of exercise that will ever be enough. You can change all that with sustainable choices in the kitchen, that’s pretty much where we all struggle.

The key is to be realistic, you are not going to suddenly stop all unhealthy habits, it’s just not feasible. But you can start making some good choices today, and I mean right after you read this article!

Eat Five Or Six Meals Despite diet experts and new research constantly telling you otherwise, many people still consume the bulk of their calories in two or three large meals each day. Often, in an attempt to slim down, going for hours at a time eating nothing in between. Sure, you can lose weight on a reduced-calorie three-meal plan, but you can’t make your body burn fat more efficiently, which is key to long-term weight loss.

A nutritious meal or snack about every three hours keeps blood-sugar levels stable, feeds your body a steady stream of necessary nutrients and helps control hunger-induced cravings for less-thanslimming snacks like sweets and fats. It also leads to more effective glycogen storage in the liver and muscle tissues, ensuring your body won’t cannibalize muscle as an energy source during your workouts. So make your

meals mini and spread them out. If you have trouble fitting in extra eating times at work, prepare food ahead of time that you can zap in the microwave or eat cold. And stock your kitchen right.

Don’t Let Hunger Be Your Guide The human body is a bit confusing: By the time it tells you it needs nutrients, it’s already deficient. In fact, those hunger pangs are your body’s last-ditch efforts to convince you to eat.

Stay ahead of the curve by eating before your stomach starts growling. If you’re pressed for time, consider the following: A meal can consist of a four-ounce chicken breast, a small baked potato and a salad, all of which can be made the night before and require minimal preparation time.

Dining can also be as simple as a low-sugar nutrition bar, make sure to look for one substantial enough to replace a meal, or small protein shakes and bananas.

Power Every Meal With Protein While eating anything raises your metabolic rate, protein boosts it the most.

Chicken, turkey, beef, egg whites and cottage cheese are just a few of the choices you have for high-rev foods. Protein is also essential to building muscle, and the more muscle you carry, the more efficiently your body will burn the fat you’re trying to fry.

Muscle burns calories even at rest. Fat, on the other hand, just sits there. So the last thing you want from your weight-loss program is loss of muscle tissue. You can minimize this loss by getting enough protein delivered in relatively precise doses throughout each day. And for your body to put that protein to work for muscle building, you’ve got to log weight lifting time regularly.

Diversify Your Carbs When planning meals, you may be tempted to stick to a few familiar sources of carbs. But your system works better when you keep it guessing, so don’t let yourself get caught in a rut.

Keep in mind, that’s not an invitation to gorge on candy. Foods like potatoes, brown rice, pasta and vegetables should make up the bulk of your carbs. As a rule, you shouldn’t eat more than two or three grams of carbs per pound of body weight. Many people overdose on carbs, thinking them “safe” simply because they’re low in fat. But your system doesn’t discriminate: It stores any excess calories, whether from protein, fat or carbs - as fat.

Alternate Carb Volumes Once you’ve figured out your daily carb requirement, the tendency is to eat equal amounts of carbs at every meal. This ap-

proach works quite well in the early phase of a weight-loss plan because it trains your body to expect a certain amount of essential nutrients on a regular schedule. But over time, your body will achieve homeostasis, meaning it will adapt to the pattern and work just enough to maintain its current balance of lean mass to fat stores. To continue getting leaner, you must continue adapting.

Drink Up You body cannot efficiently change carbs into energy without ample water. And, according to the Journal Physiology of Sport and Exercise, you can’t deliver essential amino acids to muscle tissue without adequate water, either. Not only will your workout sessions suffer, but insufficient liquids in your body will also hinder fat breakdown.

Don’t wait until you’re thirsty-thirst signals the first stage of dehydration, which means you’re already too late. You must stay hydrated. Drink often throughout the day, and especially before and during a training session. If plain water bores you, try mixing up an easy batch of detox water, loaded with cleansing citrus. Try to get at least 10 cups of water per day, although up to a gallon is okay.

Start Right Your first meal when you wake up and after working out should contain your largest carb intakes of the day. Your body’s glycogen stores are depleted when you wake up; replenishing them quickly is crucial to physical and mental functioning.

A serious weight-training session depletes glycogen stores. Consume a mix of simple and complex carbs along with a protein within 60 minutes after a workout to restore your energy and ensure long-term muscle recovery.

Finish Light Your last meal (or two, if you’re eating more frequently) of the day should emphasize protein rather than typical slow-burning carbs like pasta. The carbs you do ingest should be the “wet” kind contained in high-water, medium-fiber foods such as cucumbers, leafy green salads, tomatoes and steamed asparagus. High-fiber, low-water foods leaching water out of your system; wet carbs, on the other hand, allow you to maintain relatively adequate levels of water during the night since you can’t drink while you sleep.

Here’s a bonus tip: Get in the habit of eating fish as part of your last meal of the day. Fish makes for a lighter meal, and it’s a good way to replenish aminos while getting essential fatty acids.

MARCH 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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FASHION FILE The Garment Factory Fabric Collections

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 26, 2016

FASHION FILE

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

Garment Factory About Koko ith a degree in clothing and textile management, Koko has had the opportunity to work with and learn from some incredible brands that have helped shape the fashion industry. From merchandising with DKNY to production with American Eagle Outfitters, her experiences inspired her foray into the wonderful world of textiles.

In her words, “I have had a deep rooted love affair with fashion, which has led to an amazing and most fulfilling career in the industry.”

About the garment factory The garment factory, specializes in the reinvention of traditional prints. These prints which transcend generations have in recent times experienced a surge in popularity both locally and internationally.

In staying current they have managed to merge the old with the new, by producing traditional ankara and adire prints using unconventional and unexpected base fabrications. The fabricscome in an array of fresh, new prints and colors that can be used in the production of fabulously fun garments and home furnishings.

In addition, the factory has introduced the option to produce custom one-of-kind prints for commercial use by garment makers. According to Okoko, The Garment factory has “In the spirit of reinventing

W

ourselves and our traditions, ventured into the wedding industry with a fresh take on ‘asoebi,’ a great new way to combine that traditional feel with a contemporary look”.

TGF also offersa one-on-one consultation service with a brilliant and highly experienced in-house textile designer, who upon request, will design your very own exclusive, custom print.

“We are very proud to be part of an impressive and ever growing industry here in Nigeria. We hope to continue to motivate our colleagues to inspire, create, build and grow the institution that is the Nigerian fashion industry.”

The credit- Photos|The Canon Photography @thecannon5 Makeup|TracyEkong @treybaby_|Oglam @oglamrelooking Desserts|TCB:LeReve patisserie @thecookieboxng Cocktails|PinkFlavours @pinkflavours Candy Cart|Party Republic@madcandy Dresses|E4MA @E4MA|DZYN @dzynbabe Headwraps|buba&iro|cushion coversTGF@thegarmentfactory Jumpsuits|ShipinenTseayo@shipinentseayo Direction and Socialmedia|Doosuur TilleyGyado@doosuur

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

INSIGHT Marauding Herdsmen of Nigerian Apocalypse Jon West

T

he Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are described, by John of Patmos in his Book of revelations, the last book of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. This chapter of the Bible tells of a scroll in God’s right hand, that is sealed with seven seals. The Lamb of God, or Lion of Judah(Jesus Christ) opens the first of four of the seven seals, which summons four beings.

Although some interpretations differ, in most accounts, the four beings called the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are seen as symbolising Conquest,War, Famine and Death, respectively. The Christian apocalyptic vision is that the four horsemen are to set a divine apocalypse upon the world as harbingers of the Last Judgement.

Recent events in Nigeria point to a harbinger of our own local version of the apocalypse.

One of the greatest books written about the peoples of Northern Nigeria is Cyprian Ekwensi’s seminal tale of the life of the cattle Fulani, captured succinctly in “Burning Grass”. Burning Grass is an enthralling tale of Fulani nomadic life in Northern Nigeria, where, when the grass is burnt on the plains to prepare the soil for planting, the Fulani cattlemen move southwards towards the banks of the River Niger for grass and forage for their cattle.

Growing up in Northern Nigeria, I was always intrigued by the Fulani cattle herders and milk maids who gave me the yogurt-like drink, Fura de Nono, which I always took against the advice, and with the the great risk of possible severe sanction from my mother, who was of the opinion that the food was unhealthy due to the poor hygiene culture of those rather salaciously beautiful, distant and mysterious maiden. I am now fully convinced that my mother was right.

However, the cattle boys and herdsmen were quite friendly and polite and always ready to help the people near whose property they were allowed to graze their Cows. Throughout the 1950s,60s, 70s and 80s , the Fulani herdsman with his bows and arrows, for protection from the wild animals he was forced to cohabit the forests of the Far North, Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria, was the quintessential nomad with a picturesque mien.

Fast forward to the 1990s, and the debilitating effects of desertification and encroachment of the Sahara to the far reaches of Northern Nigeria especially my beloved Katsina State, now almost the Southern edge of the Sahara desert: a new breed of Fulani cattle herder and cattle boy emerged. Aggressive,arrogant,and dubious in intentions, he is armed to the teeth with AK 47 and military issue Belgian FN rifles with several magazines, in a country where the possession of a single or double barrelled shot-gun used for hunting, without a valid police authorisation, is a criminal offence.

Every day on Channels and AIT television stations in Abuja, the federal capital, news bulletins are issued, warning cattle herders to keep away from roads and highways and restrict their activities to approved grazing areas outside the capital city. Severe sanctions are threatened against defaulting cattle herders , but it appears that these bulletins, issued in their restricted and very specific native Fulfude language, make no meaning to these kings of the highways and roads of Nigeria. Not one of them has ever been arrested for disobeying this publicly aired regulations to date.

Last Christmas , on my way back to Abuja with my family, we were accosted with the closure of one lane of the federal

How Fulani herdsmen at work highway on the bridge across the river Niger in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. On further investigation, it became apparent that the lane restriction was to allow more than 1000 cattle to use the bridge. This in modern day Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa. Cattle ranching appears to still be a vague and distant prospect, and humans have to compete for road space with beasts. Not even in India, where the ox is a Hindu deity and is worshiped, is road space so shared in the second decade of the 21st century and second millennium.

Like the Janjaweed in Sudan, the arrowheads of the Muslim Fundamentalist, ethnic cleansing and land grabbing arm of the Sudanese Mahdis, the equivalent of the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood, the Fulani herdsman has slowly evolved into a dark and foreboding figure in all of Nigeria, operating above the laws of the land without any fear of being called to order. The police seem helpless in the face of this flagrant abuse of the laws of the Federal Republic, but are very willing and able to arrest and extort money from innocent citizens, who have not committed any misdemeanours near in consequence to the menace of the Fulani herdsmen.

It appears that the new herdsman is a harbinger of a new order that intends to enforce an ethnic cleansing process to serve both political and economic purposes, especially in the Christian and animist Middle Belt states who escaped the direct Fulani conquest of Usman Dan Fodio and Modibbo Adama.

Like in the Sudan, they serve the same purposes as the Janjaweed and the pastoralist Messeriya, the militias of the ruling Mahdi/Islamic Brotherhood party, whose evil acts against the Black African tribes of Darfur in the Sudan and earlier against the Nubian, Dinka and Nuer ethnicities, ensured the 99% referendum vote in favour of the partial dissolution of the Sudanese Republic in 2011. Here in Nigeria, the Fulani, called the Peule in their native Futa Jallon area of Guinea, are in the process of ethnically cleansing the Middle Belt and in addition, forcing the rest of the country to accept their cattle grazing rights in other people’s lands, at the risk of unmitigated violence in default.

It is quite interesting that in a country already ravaged by the Islamic Fundamentalist Boko Haram insurgency, ethnic militias, Niger Delta militancy and the new demands of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, a new theatre of terror is slowly taking hold with the tacit approval of the Fulani elite and the Nigerian Government, now fully in their hands.

In the 1990s, a certain retired General Muhammadu Buhari, former military Head of State and now the Life Patron of the Fulani cattlemen’s ethnic and business union, the Miyetti Allah Cattlemen’s Association, led a delegation of Fulani cattlemen and Elders to the then Oyo Sate Governor , Chief Rasheed Ladoja, to complain against the killing of some herdsmen who had trespassed the lands of Oyo indigenes. The killings were is reprisal for the killing of some farmers, but Buhari would brook no such debate.

He publicly upbraided the State Governor for the incidents resulting from herdsmen wanton trespass and murders and accused him of allowing Oyo indigenes to” kill my people”. The words of a former military Head of State, now the Nigerian democratic President!!

The forgoing is the precedent to the current deterioration of security all over Nigeria , on account of the menace of Fulani cattle rearers and herdsmen to local populations all over Nigeria. A leading traditional ruler was kidnapped for ransom and killed in Delta State, forcing another Delta monarch to ban Fulanis from his kingdom. Along the federal Highway between Okene and Kaaba in Kogi State, motorists are routinely kidnapped for ransom by these marauding herdsmen.

The loathing of the Fulani herdsmen has spread to all nooks and corners of Nigeria, including unbelievably in the Boko Haram riddled Northeast region, where they are engaged in cattle rustling. All over the blighted North of Nigeria, these herdsmen of the apocalypse , are involved in the abduction of young women and the rustling of cattle, killing hundreds of innocent people in the process.

In the Agatu locality of Benue State, there is a sustained onslaught by Fulani herdsmen on the defenceless communities, in an apparent bid to cleanse them out of their very arable farmlands, which have always been coveted by the rapacious invaders.

The great surprise in Agatu is that both the locality and state, parades the highest number of retired Generals and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, used effectively in the prosecution of an earlier apocalypse, by the same tendency, in 1966-1970 Eastern Nigeria, but appear unable or even unwilling to use their vast experience and resources to help stem the tide of the Fulani onslaught against their own people, which last week alone took more than 500 Agatu lives.

In the south the herdsmen are involved in kidnappings, rape and armed robbery, being it seems, the only Nigerians allowed to carry assault weapons without licence everywhere in Nigeria.

The intriguing question surrounding the activities of these marauders is the total silence on the part of the security apparatchik in the face of the murderous marauding herdsmen of the Nigerian apocalypse. The federal Government, custodians of security in the country, appears unwilling to confront this latest terrorism, perhaps in deference to the life patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattlemen’s Association, now the democratically elected President of Nigeria.

However, it behoves the President, who swore an oath to defend the lives of all citizens of this country and claimed publicly that he belongs to all but belongs to nobody(whatever that means), to put an immediate stop to this menace of his ethnic and business compatriots in order to save the country from another conflagration , when inevitably, the victims of these herdsmen of the Nigerian apocalypse, decide to arm and defend themselves, in the absence of a security agenda to confront these Janjaweed-like terrorists.

There are lessons to learn from the impunity inherent in the activities of these herdsmen, from similar experiences in Sudan, Kenya , Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia, in addition to the current status of the Peule in Guinea. Indigenous people are ready to take only so much, before they decide to decimate the settlers who have abused their hospitality. In Guinea today, the Peule have been excised from Government, a process that started many years ago, with the disgrace of their most illustrious son, Diallo Telli, who was once the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity, the precursor of the African Union.

The Peule, permanent supporters of Guinea’s serial military regimes, were finally sent on political exile by real democratic rule in Guinea. Their ethnic and religious fellow travellers caused the split of the Sudanese Federation and the domineering and insensitive behaviours of their fellow Tutsi pastoralists in the Central African Great Lakes was the remote cause of the Rwandan and Burundian genocides.

Our Marauding Herdsmen of the Nigerian Apocalypse are therefore warned to leave well enough alone and not give their host communities a reason to end their presence in these communities. This, in spite of their apparent current political advantages, courtesy of the Presidency of the Life Patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattlemen’s Association.

–– Jon West, Makurdi

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Tosin Clegg

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

KINGSLEY OYISAMA

I Was Once Arrested for Shooting ‘Too Close to’ Aso Rock Villa

Kingsley Omoefe Oyisama is an alumnus of Colorado Film School, Aurora, Denver, United States. He is an award-winning filmmaker, director, producer and casting director. He is one of Nollywood’s dynamic directors with major and notable television soap operas and sitcoms to his credit. In this chat with Tosin Clegg, he talks about films, the industry and its future...

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also one of the few directors that sit in the cutting room during post production.

I like supervising the editing of any of my projects. I am also technically up to date; I can operate most of the new cameras and, of course, I can edit my project, even colour-grade. In the past 10 years, I have made it a point of duty and a routine to do at least three professional courses every year.

Directors Guild of Nigeria’s elections... he turnout was unbelievably awesome. Directors and industry colleagues and loads of journalists from different parts of the country came to monitor, support and celebrate with us. It was like a carnival of some sort. Practitioners traveled from all over to converge on Asaba for the Directors Guild of Nigeria’s (DGN) annual general meeting and elections. I was one of the presidential aspirants.

Nollywood in five years...

I see a situation where massive growth will be recorded in terms of good quality and financial returns; more blockbuster films. I am already contributing towards the growth for quite a while now, because for more than five years now I have been taking in film and theatre students on internship in my company and also mentoring a lot more. Presently, I am involved in the setting up of a film school- YabaTech Film Academy- where I am also teaching film making.

My recent and past director’s works...

Well, I just finished recording a new television series, titled ‘We are Family’.

But I have worked as a director on others like Domino, Everyday People, Family Affair, Just The two of Us, One Love, Beauty Parlour, Living Next to You, Nouveau Riche, Haven, the Great Tide, Spider, Yours Faithfully, 2Geda, In My Closet, Inside Out With Agatha, Delta Talent Quest 2012, E234 (A TV fashion/ lifestyle magazine show), SPG at One (A TV Documentary for Sea Petroleum & Gas Ltd.) and more.

Challenges faced as a director...

The major challenges that I have as a director have been lack of proper funding for projects. Truth is, a lot of directors would want to do blockbusters, but funding hampers that wish. You wish to have a good camera and other equipment that would make your film look good, and you want very sound technical crew but your budget cannot afford them. A lot of things go into very good projects. I will also mention lack of proper structure in the industry and good support from government agencies. For example, getting access to our own international airport to shoot was tough.

I remember shooting a sequence on Domino in Abuja, around Eagle Square when a black car with tinted windows pulled up and some people got out, arrested me, for shooting too close to Aso Rock Villa.” See, before I ever travelled to the United States, I could tell you how New York, or the White House looks like and, even the Red double decker bus in the UK. All these were made popular by film makers and through films. But, not here in Nigeria where there is harassment by security operatives, area boys and even by government officials. To even get permission to use the Nigeria police or even any military uniform is another big problem.

So, most times we just make do with whatever is available. Also, the audience seems to be a challenge in that, often times, they prefer films that have known faces on the posters before they buy.

Sometimes, when you produce a soap opera or television series, which usually should be a place for introducing new and hot talents, advertisers and even television stations will be asking, “who is or how many known faces do you have

New project coming out soon...

This is a movie I directed, known as ‘Better than the Beginning’ and my new TV drama series; ‘We Are Family’ and a cook show; ‘Food, Flavour and Recipes’.

Omoefe aside business and directing...

He is from Delta State, an Isoko man, who is happily married with children.

I am an easy-going person. I am not a party person, but a home man. I am a God-fearing man. I am a son a policeman, though he is late. I grew up in the police barracks. I love cooking. I enjoy traveling and discovering new places. I enjoy driving; I can drive anything and to any distance. I like adventure.

What inspires me...

It comes from Jehovah God; also the fear of failure inspires me. I am scared of failure; I wake up everyday to better my person. I want to be sure that my family has a secure future. I want to be able to provide the best for my family and want to live a comfortable life too. All these put together drive me to success.

My mentors...

RMD, Tade Ogidan, Tajuddeen Adepetu, Lekan Ogunbanwo, Jimi Odumosu, Wale Adenuga, Ambrose Alli and late Gamaliel Onosode. They have impacted me in various ways in film business and in leadership.

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in the programme?’ But in all, I know we will overcome some day.

What sets me apart from others…

The fact is that I don’t just take up any script that is brought my way; I would rather work on a project that I will be proud of, even 10 years from now, rather

than take it because money was offered for my services. I also make sure I do my casting, that is, I basically choose my actors myself, because with that, I can introduce new talents.

I believe in giving everyone equal opportunity because I am a beneficiary of such. I prefer also to select my crew. I am

I have always loved film…

As a child, I always loved film making and anything that has to do with electricity and automobile, but I never saw myself as a film maker. I wanted to be a pilot. So, film making as a profession just came about when I was growing up.

I also remember, as a teenager, going to see films in cinema halls; Indian, Chinese and Western cowboy films.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

SHOWBIZFLAIR

MY STORY SHYBOSS

LIL KESH TO DROP DEBUT ALBUM

Expect Nothing But Good Music

YBNL Rapper, Lil Kesh is in the news, ahead of the scheduled release of his upcoming debut album ‘Y.A.G.I’ (Young And Getting It). The album has collaborations with American rapper, Wale; Ycee, Olamide, Patoranking, Davido and others. Lil Kesh has undoubtedly made a name for himself in the industry so far with major collaborations from Davido, Phyno, DJ Jimmy Jatt and more. His hit songs like Shoki, Gbese, Ibile have also grounded his fan-base across the music space.

Shy Boss is a pop artiste signed to BNS Records. He started music as an undergraduate at the University of Lagos and gradually took to music big time. In this chat with Tosin Clegg, he talks about his music and future plans...

BENZEENO SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH ESPIN ENTERTAINMENT Isaac Akorede Bernard, popularly known as Benzeeno has penned a five years’ deal with Espin Entertainment. It was sealed after dropping a new joint, which will be followed by its musical video in a couple of weeks.

CEO of Espin Entertainment, Sanni Sodiq is excited about the new signup and looks forward to giving nothing but the best to the young act. Benzeeno is a graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State. Born and brought up in Lagos, Benzeeno dives into the indigenous lyrics, preaching and rapping about his daily life on the street.

CHARLES GRANVILLE PLANS BIG FOR SHABACH NIGHT Award-winning Nigerian gospel sensation cum actor, Charles Granville has announced plans to stage a night of joyful celebration for music lovers and fun seekers alike.Tagged ‘Shabach Port Harcourt’, the event is billed to hold on Saturday March 26, 2016 at the prestigious Aztech Arcum Event Centre, Ken Saro Wiwa Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Billed to perform alongside Charles Granville, at the historic event are talented acts such as Tim Godfrey, Asu Ekiye, Chioma Jesus, Joe Praise, Wole Oni, Efe Nathan, Sensational Dele, Precious Emmanuel, Chineke Boy, TB One, and many others.

Guests and other attendees

will be treated to rib cracking jokes by comic acts, Omobaba and K.O Baba, while gifted disc jockey, DJ Issy will be on hand to delight attendees with good music.

The show convener, Charles Granville was recently honoured at the maiden edition of the African Entertainment Awards where he bagged the award for the ‘Fast Rising Actor’ in Nollywood. He was honoured for his evident impact in the development of entertainment in Africa, both home and abroad. The multi-talented act who is signed under Kingsville Records also scooped the ‘Youth Ambassador of the Year’ at the 2015 edition of the annual Links Achievers Awards.

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hat are you doing right now?

Right now, I only have one song out called ‘Kilode’ and it was produced by Kiddominat.

It’s doing pretty well on air and we have also dropped the video. Also, I’m signed to BNS Records alongside B Naira.

How has the industry been for you so far?

It’s really been tough but we give thanks to God for his goodness. All in all, we do what we need to do to serve our fans better. But 2016 will be large for me, as late last year I saw positivity from the fans.

What are your plans for the future?

Definitely, I will go back to Building since that was what I studied in school. The music won’t be left out either; it will also be part and parcel of everything I do. Expect nothing but good music, is what I can tell my fans.

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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • MARCH 26, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Nnamdi KanuVs Dss: Persecution Or Prosecution Chike Okeke

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he Nnamdi Kanu Saga has received national and international media coverage in the past few months. Only two weeks ago hundreds of ‘Biafrans’ and supporters of the Biafran cause staged peaceful protests in front of the Vatican, headquarters of the Catholic Church in the world. There had been similar protests by the Biafran supporters in some European capitals. It is therefore timely now to address pertinent issues on the matter.

Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Ifeanyi Ejiofor in a recent press briefing in Abuja, circulated in the social media and published in some national dailies called attention to very serious issues in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu. Mr. Kanu was arraigned before a Wuse, Abuja Chief Magistrate Court on 19th October, 2015 for criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society and criminal intimidation contrary to Sections 97, 97B and 397 of the Penal Code. The trial magistrate Hon. Shuabi granted him bail on the same day on conditions that were promptly satisfied but the Directorate of State Services refused to release him.

During the pendency of this charge already adjourned to 19th November, 2015 for hearing, the DSS rushed to the Federal High Court and applied to secure an exparte order to further detain Nnamdi Kanu for another 90 days, in total disregard of the positive order by the Chief Magistrate Court for his release.

Immediately the defense counsel became aware of the perverse order an application was promptly brought before the Federal High Court, the very court that granted the order, to vacate it. In its well considered ruling the judge vacated the exparte order and further directed the D.S.S to release Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally. The order was again flouted.

In a deliberate effort to legitimize the further detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation filed a six count charge against him and 2 other defendants including this time treasonable felony and belonging to and managing an unlawful social (IPOB). Barrister Ejiofor explained that Nnamdi Kanu was never caught or arrested with any

Kanu fire arm, weapon or ammunition of any form. Radio Biafra as well as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are duly registered under the regulatory laws of the United Kingdom, the United Nation and several countries across the globe. He attached the said registrations Certificates in proof of his claim. For instance, the registration documents of both IPOB and Radio Biafra made available to the press by Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer (Bar Ifeanyi Ejiofor) revealed that IPOB is registered in over 30 countries across the globe with its headquarters situated at united kingdom. Certificate of registration issued by the registrar of companies for England and Wales, certified that Indigenous People Of Biafra is registered with Certificate Registration number 9141882, in the United Kingdom, Given at the companies House Cardiff on the 22nd July 2014. Registration certificate of Radio Biafra issued by the registrar of companies for England and Wales, also certified that Radio Biafra is registered with Certificate Registration Number: 8635030, in the United Kingdom, Given at the Companies House Cardiff on the 2nd August 2013. It is now undisputable in the light of the above revelations that both IPOB and Radio Biafra are duly registered under the law contrary

to the speculations making rounds.

The two den guns listed among the exhibits in course of DSS investigation at the residence of Benjamin Madubugwu are said to be den guns for animal hunting which are fully licensed. Are den guns used for levying war against a country as big and as sophisticated in arms and weaponry as Nigeria?

One recalls that on 29th December 2015, during a Presidential media chat President Muhammedu Buhari informed the whole world that Nnamdi Kanu cannot be granted bail, as he came into the country without a valid travelling passport. Regrettably and very unfortunately, Nnamdi Kanu and other defendants were on 29th January, 2016 refused bail for being in possession of dual passports as a flight risk. This court decision which came on the same day as the Presidential Media Chat gives an indication of where the direction may be coming from, akin to the witch crying in the night and the baby dying in the morning. However the truth remains that Nnamdi Kanu has two valid passports, British and Nigerian which have since been seized by the D.S.S Operatives.

A formal application to secure the release of the passports was made in the open court by Nnamdi Kanu’s defence team on February 9th 2016 but the trial judge refused to grant the application. When did dual citizenship constitute an offence in Nigeria? Dual citizenship is a constitutional right provided under Section 28 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended and is therefore not a crime under our laws except if such was not obtained in the manner prescribed under our laws.

It is interesting to note further that upon the denial of Nnamdi Kanu’s bail on 29th January, 2016, the court directed for accelerated hearing on the matter on 19th, 10th, 11th, and 12th February, 2016. Surprisingly on 9th February at the commencement of trial the Prosecution served an application to conduct the trial in camera (for witnesses to wear facial masks and testify behind screens). The court in its considered wisdom refused to grant this relief.

Curiously when the case was called on 7th March 2016 the prosecution came up with an oral application that the court should VARY its earlier ruling made on 19th February, 2016

against witnesses testifying in camera, to enable witnesses be shielded behind screen while giving evidence. Very inexplicably, the court sat on appeal over its own judgment and granted the application and consequently ordered that the prosecution witnesses be allowed to testify in camera, i.e behind screen, wearing masks, etc. Masquerades will now be prosecution witness against Nnamdi Kanu and his co-defendants. This is a novelty in the Nigerian judiciary and we watch how it plays out. Nnamdi Kanu’s defence team has since appealed this court ruling to the Court of Appeal. They have complained of deliberate and consistent denial of access to crucial documents and materials that will enable them offer their best services to their clients, an action that impedes Nnamdi Kanu’s fundamental rights to fair trial and fair hearing.

The allegation made by Nnamdi Kanu that the DSS threatened to kill him if he fails to denounce his Biafran preposition is a very serious one that should not be swept under the carpet. The elimination of one who has now been seen as the Peoples’ hero may cause serious societal upheaval with dire consequencies for the peace, unity and security of the nation.

The Judiciary is generally seen as the last hope of the common man. That is why its logo is a woman with two arms outstretched to dispense equitable justice. When fundamental rights, enshrined internationally are denied and arbiters in the temple of justice give and change judgments at will against accused people before them, questions are bound to be raised if it is really justice or injustice that is being dispensed.

The prosecution in a criminal charge is expected to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, adducing evidences there are creditable and verifiable. Anything short of this becomes persecution which in a Democracy such as ours is an anathema. Nnamdi Kanu and his co-defendants should be given a trial that is not only fair but should be manifestly seen to be so. They should not be persecuted.

–– Okeke is a political analyst based in Abuja.

Terminate Jinxed Lokoja Port Project, Group Tasks Buhari Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

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ngered by what they described as the ‘mischievous delay of work on the Lokoja River Port by the contracting firm’, an umbrella body of pressure groups in Kogi State, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately determine the project.

The associations, under the aegis of the Lokoja Democratic Development Forum, LDDF, made this call in the state capital at a press conference in Lokoja at the weekend.

Addressing the conference at Patti Suites, in the colonial town, President of the forum, Alhaji Zubair Angulu and the Secretary, Comrade Tade Orungbami, said the contractor was making the project another white elephant project, a situation which should not be allowed to subsist in the present dispensation of change and national rebirth.

Said Angulu: ‘The contract for the Lokoja River Port, was approved in the last quarter of 2012, with a completion period of 57 weeks, by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, with Senator Idris Umar as Transport Minister. The job was awarded to Messrs Inter-Bau Construction Ltd. That was the second time the contract would be awarded, having been initially contracted out in 2007.

The river port was one of the inland ports, including Onitsha and Baro, which were supposed to facilitate the movement of cargo within designated hubs of socio-economic activity in the country, alleviate pressure on our roads, create jobs and generate revenue for government.’

‘Our findings reveal that the contractors had barely commenced work on the project in 2012, then they began to make unreasonable demands from the federal government. This included an

inexplicable request for an upward review of the initial contract sum of N4.1b, to over N10b.

This appeal, however, runs counter to the provisions of the Procurement Act of the Federal Republic, which allows upward adjustment to a maximum of 25% of the original contract sum, subject to the approval of the Federal Executive Council. Expectedly, the request never saw the light of day in the twilight of that administration, even as the contractor attempted to arm-twist the government by demobilizing from the project site to press his case.

Continuing, Angulu said: ‘We are aware of entreaties by the supervising government agency, the Lokoja-based National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, to the contractor to return to site, which have so far been rebuffed.’

This, he noted, is despite recent payments to Inter-Bau Construction Ltd to encourage the contractor to have a change of heart.

According to Angulu, to date, the contractor must have been paid close to one billion naira as mobilisation fees and yet there is as yet no evidence of work done to this amount of money. In a tone which betrayed exasperation at the press conference, Angulu said: ‘In the course of one of his visits to the project site, the former Minister, Senator Idris Umar, assured that the project will be completed and commissioned before the end of the Jonathan administration.

Indeed, it was repeatedly celebrated as one of the infrastructural landmarks bequeathed on our state, our zone, our federal constituency, indeed our local government by the former administration.’

‘Yet, here we are with a project which, because of the attitude of the contractor, may never see the light of day.’

According to him, the initial enthusiasm which greeted the commencement of the project

way back in 2012, has since turned sour.

The forum noted that the Lokoja River Port Project was becoming a jinxed, having been earlier awarded to Messrs Foby Engineering Ltd, at the cost of N2.3b, during the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, in 2007.

The contract was revoked following the contractor’s inability to perform, even after collecting mobilisation to the tune of N800m at the time, revised and re-awarded to Inter-Bau Construction Ltd in 2012. Effectively therefore, a project which was scheduled for completion in a little over a year when it was conceived, is almost in its 10th year and yet to achieve 50% completion, in the administration of the third successive President.

Angulu called on President Muhammadu Buhari to revoke the contract forthwith and consider re-awarding it to a more committed contractor, to break the cycle of abandonment and non-completion of the project.

He said the host communities had come to see the project as a potential fluke, much as they have absolute confidence that the Buhari administration will not be part of any project to deceive Nigerians, nay the people of Kogi State.

The coalition pleaded for the speedy completion of the Abuja-Lokoja expressway which was flagged of in the last quarter of 2006, by the administrstion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, so it does not go the way of the Lokoja River Port.

They expressed the hope that much as time needed for construction works had been lost during the dry season, substantial work can still be done once the 2016 budget is assented to by the President.

Angulu noted that it needs no over-emphasis that the completion of the road will ease human and vehicular movement and stop perennial carnage on the all-important North-South heavy

duty carriageway.

They also drew attention to the decrepit condition of the over 300 kilometre long Lokoja-Obajana-Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road, which traverses the western senatorial zone in Kogi State, which is also host zone of the Lokoja River Port, while also calling for the acceleration of completion works at the permanent site of the Federal University, Lokoja, which has been under construction since it was proclaimed late 2010.

Angulu assured that LDDF will follow-up the press conference with advocacy visits to notable leaders and elder statesmen from Kogi State, who are major stakeholders in the project.

The support of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial zone where the project is sited, Senator Dino Melaye and the Member representing LokojaKotonkarfe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, who is also the deputy majority leader of the house, Hon Buba Umar Jibril, will also be enlisted, he said.

The President of the coalition also listed the chairmen of the Senate and House committees on marine transportation, as key government functionaries who will be visited on the matter.

The press conference was attended by leaders and representatives of socio-ethnic groups and communities in the contiguous Lokoja and Kotonkarfe local government areas, abutting the project site.

All efforts to reach the Chairman of Inter-Bau Construction Ltd, Chief Nath Okechukwu, or any senior officer at the organisation’s port construction site in Ja’amata, near Lokoja, to obtain the company’s input, were to no avail.

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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • MARCH 26, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

TheChangeMantra:APleaforUnderstanding

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Isiaka Adeleke here is nothing more difficult to carry out, not more doubtful of success, not more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. The reformer has enemies in all those who profited from the old order and only lukewarm defenders in all those, who would profit through the new order.

This lukewarm arises, partly from the incredibility of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new, until they have actually experienced it. It is in this situation, that President Muhammadu Buhari, found himself when he came on the scene, on May 29, 2015, when Nigeria progress was at its lowest ebb. But the Daura-born politician, was determined to go the whole hog of making Nigeria an Eldorado, no matter what. Only an administrator with the heart of steel and grim resolve could accomplish such feat.

Setting out to achieve his avowed goals, expectedly met with resistance from those, who profited from the old order of doing things in Nigeria. To the glory of God, President Buhari has opened up Nigeria to certain level of socio-economic development.

One of the most important decisions for those in authority is defining the roles of their personal staff and those in the cabinet.

No general rules can be laid down, because no game plan will work unless you have the players to carry it out. An official or staff member is not useful to the President or Governor because of the position he occupies, but because of the qualities he brings to it.

Cabinet members at all level of government, should have strength, loyalty as well as brain to understand, that it is their onerous responsibilities to represent the President to the bureaucracy and not the other way round. Sometimes, Ministers or Commissioners with unquestionable loyalty to their bosses, could unwittingly become captive of their civil servants also.

If what Buhari told us on May 29, 2015 is anything to go by, government cannot be business as usual. I want to state further, that politics in business is science, whereas, politics in government is an art. Even the strongest-willed businessman or contractor, will become lily-livered or chicken-hearted in the hands of skilled bureaucrats, who are masters at buttering up the bosses.

For one thing, All Progressive Congress (APC) is a disciplined and organized party, that conducts its affairs with absolute decorum and high sense of responsibility. It is therefore, to the glory of God, that President Mohammed Buhari was elected to take Nigeria out of economic woods and give her citizens, real value for their lives.

Buhari has for long sent out the signals,

Adeleke that he means business to provide the right leadership at the centre, with a view to solving her multi-faceted problems, using the country’s endowed abundant human and natural resources, just as he shook his head in disappointment, when in 1984 he got to Agbabu, in the course of his official tour of the old Ondo State as Military Head of State, and saw bitumen oozing out “annoyingly” without being put to advantageous use. The situation remains so, even today. This important natural resources should be forthwith exploited. Over to you Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

He has come a long way to be elected President. His watchwords are transparency and accountability in the conduct of government affairs. In his twenty months as Military Head of State, he ensured financial prudence, religious harmony, security of lives and properties, because he had the strong will to do so. Buhari sees religion of whatever persuasion, as an avenue to be a good human being, as against what his detractors would want the public to believe, that he is against a particular religion.

President Buhari is a principled politician, whose nationalistic zest and zeal cannot be negotiated. Believing in him, a little girl who was nine-year old, endorsed him in Lagos, during the campaign and donated her personal savings of N9, 000 to his campaign. If such a little girl could believe in the President’s ability, no one should be left behind in giving fullest support to his change mantra.

Nigeria is presently on the throes of economic strangulation, caused by uncaring leaders in the past. Leaders that has inflicted a lot of unwarranted economic hardship on the voiceless majority. We

are still trudging on today, because Nigerians are resilient and long distance runners. General Muhammed Buhari, together with other patriots in All Progressive Congress are already breathing a fresh air into our lives since May 29, 2015.

Despite various hurdles placed on his ways by his predecessor, Buhari has remained undistracted from his set goals of giving excellent services to Nigerians and Non-Nigerians alike. But as a saying in Yoruba goes, “an enemy does not kill a fat grasscutter-literally translated – “ta ni, ki ipa odu ya”. President Buhari as the proverbial cat with nine lives, is pragmatic and full of wisdom, to make life more abundant for the generality of Nigerians.

Every human being is fallible. There is no perfect being, except God Almighty. But we learn through our mistakes to evolve with better attitudes. Buhari’s detractors, should not live in illusion, that he is a spent force in the political firmament. The President has since 1984, remain as constant as a shining star, refusing to quit the stage, when it is glaring, that even without a war-chest, President Muhammed Buhari made it to the presidential seat.

At the loss of any presidential contest, he withdrew to his arsenal to re-strategise. He is what we call in Osun State, a QUINTESSENTIAL OMOLUABI, ready to identify with those living below the poverty line and give them succor, through meaningful and populist welfare programmes in its totality. Buhari is a remarkable personality in his own right. His political acumen, sagacity, brilliance, wisdom, knowledge and understanding of Nigeria problems know no bounds. President Buhari, is no doubt facing the challenges, that the likes of Mathama Gandhl, Abraham Lincoln, Wiston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkwema passed through in their quest, to serve their people when it mattered most. But just as these great nationalists surmounted their problems and emerged their countries great leaders, Buhari will perform excellently and write his name in gold in Nigeria hall of fame.

Between President Buhari and patriotic Nigerians, it is a bond forever. A bond, that will see Nigeria returning to the enviable path of greatness. A country where basic infrastructures, shall be taken for granted. That time has come for us all to give Buhari, the opportunity to give his best to us. We cannot afford to miss the golden chance.

All leaders of men, whether political figures, all of those who can get the best out of others, have identified themselves with high ideals, and this has given added scope and strength to their influence. Followed in their lifetime, because they stand for greatness of mind, rather than self interest, they are later remembered for the usefulness of what they have achieved and for the sake of their endeavours.

Nigerians should be very patient with Buhari. I remember a story of a commercial cab driver and his passengers, who were on a journey from Lagos to Ibadan. A journey of one hour. However, the cool and calm driver was making the journey on a steady speed of 100

kilometers per hour. But the impatient passengers kept complaining, that he was too slow. On getting to Sagamu after 30 minutes drive, the passengers requested the driver to take them back to Ojota Park in Lagos, for a driver who could drive them at a speed of 180 kilometers per hour. They got one. But before getting to Ogere, the suicidal driver crashed the vehicle and all of them lost their lives.

President Buhari is the driver on seat of the Nation’s ship. He is driving us slowly and steadily, so as to take us to the promised land of prosperity safely.

He should not be stampeded to rush the affairs of the nation, for slow and steady wins the race. Buhari will take the ship of the nation to a safe shore.

As the Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, I found it compelling, that a lot needs to be done to make the capital market very effective. The need to attract new listings to address the shallow status of the market cannot be ignored.

This stems from paucity of tradable shares in the market. It is regrettable to note that less than 2% of the registered companies in Nigeria were quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange right now, even though the Exchange was established in 1961. Today Singapore had over 500 (established in 1979), Kuala Lumpur 757 (established in 1973), Hong Kong 695 (established in 1986) and Istanbul over 900 (established in 1986). They were all established over 13 years after Nigeria, and all emerging economies. Today there are less than 250 listed companies on the Nigeria stock Exchange. We shall strive as members of Senate Committee on Capital Market, to ensure that more viable companies in Nigeria, particularly the telecommunication giants are listed in the Stock Exchange.

Buhari is making tangible efforts to develop good personal relationship with members of the National Assembly. He is forging a good rapport to make the three arms of government succeed in their different constitutional duties without interference, as against what is been said in some quarters. Buhari has been using his constitutional power wisely and effecting the right changes in all spheres of our endeavours, so as to give us the much needed economic prosperity.

President Buhari should know, that he has a purpose larger than himself and he should pursue them without hesitation.

Win or lose, he will have the ultimate satisfaction of knowing, that he did not stand on the sidelines, when others were making decisions, affecting his fate and that of his country.

–– Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke is the first democratically elected governor of Osun State and Chairman, Senate Committee nn Capital Market

POLITY

Carex Chemistry Challenge Winners Visit PZ Cussons

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iding on the success of the third edition which climaxed last December, PZ Cussons Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to nurture the winners in industrial chemistry by taking them on a facility tour of the company’s Lagos administrative office in Ilupeju, and the factory at Ikorodu.

The four finalists of the 2015 PZ Cussons Carex Chemistry Challenge who went on the tour were Anthony Ekene Ike-Okoro of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere, Wajud Kareem and Samuel Joseph, both of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege, and Jude Nnaemeka Chineke of Great Esteem Secondary School, Surulere. The students were accompanied on the tour by Mr John Nna Odinibe and Mr Tolulope Joseph Odusanya, both

Chemistry teachers.

Mr Christos Giannopoulous, Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons Nigeria, alongside the Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, welcomed the students and their teachers to the organisation and also congratulated them on their emergence as finalists of the rigorous competition.

Giannopoulous said: “I congratulate you on your success at the just concluded chemistry challenge.

The company is focused on chemistry because of its importance to the society. I particularly salute your courage and enthusiasm to study chemistry and I hope in the nearest future you will be working in the corridors of this organisation and making an impact.”

The group was received at the PZ Cussons Group training centre by Mr Pieter Stroek, Head of Research, Development and Innovation, who

conducted them round the laboratories, while Mr Alex Goma, Managing Director, Family Care, encouraged the students to pick up some other skills while on internship with the company to help them become better in terms of management, organisation and accountability. At the Ikorodu factory, Mr Fred Omoiya, Administrative Manager, explained to the group basic safety precautions and emergency procedures of the organisation before they were guided around the factories.

On his thoughts about the facility tour IkeOkoro, the 2015 grand prize winner, expressed satisfaction with the tour. “I want to thank PZ Cussons for this wonderful opportunity and I hope the competition will spur other students to take Chemistry and other science subjects seriously.”

Kareem, the first runner-up, said: “I really enjoy

the experience; the factories, the machines and the way they work is really breath-taking. This tour of PZ Cussons’ facility has enlightened me and with this I hope it will engineer my enthusiasm.”

Joseph, who finished in third place in the competition, expressed his readiness for the internship, while Chineke graciously said: “I am very delighted with the experience of this facility tour and it has further boosted my confidence in the pursuit of my career.”

As part of its commitment to reach out to everyone, not just secondary school students, Carex, the competition’s sponsor, instituted an online challenge that is open to all individuals residing or working in Lagos State. Entry is absolutely free and the quiz is not strictly based on Chemistry. The online challenge will run monthly until April, this year and two winners will emerge every month.

THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • MARCH 26, 2016

48

PERSPECTIVE

Saraki’s Not Guilty Plea and Public Opinion Court Nwobodo Chidiebere

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CCT was not properly constituted ab nitio or is seen as being bias in its handling of the case.

Some analysts on the bench of Public Opinion Court alleged that Sen. Saraki’s defence team is exploiting legal technicalities of our laws to prolong this trial, thereby paving way for political “settlement”, which may see CCT dropping those charges against the Senate President.

Those making these assertions have obviously passed the guilty verdict on Saraki, even before the commencement of the trial. They have turned upside down section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provides that every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until he is proven guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt.

It is also in agreement with Latin expression that says: Ei Incumbit Protatio qui dicit, non qui negat (The burden of proof is on he who alleges, not on he who denies).

Those waiting to see Sen. Saraki convicted of this criminal charges, should also bear in mind that he has to defend himself using every legal options available.

he trial of Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been a burning issue in the court of public opinion, ever since his emergence against political permutation of some chieftains of his political party, the APC. As a result of impact of media propaganda instigated

by Sen. Saraki’s adversaries, a section of the public is already reaching a premature guilty conclusion on the case, even before the trial starts in the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The recent Supreme Court verdict that empowered the CCT to commence this high profile trial has once again raised fresh discourse in the Court of Public Opinion, whether the trial is seen as prosecution or persecution depends on the side of argument one belongs, but the timing validates the latter.

Not Guilty Until Proven Otherwise Senator Saraki pleaded not guilty when the charges were read for the first time at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. In furtherance of the argument of his defence counsel, not guilty is the plea of a person who claims not to have committed the crime of which he is being accused of. Everyone charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent, until proven guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. (Article II of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).

The presumption of innocence sometimes referred to by the Latin expression; Ei Incumbit Protatio qui dicit, non qui negat (The burden of proof is on he who alleges, not on he who denies), is the principle that one is considered innocent until proven guilty. In practice, the presumption of innocence is animated by the requirement that prosecution prove the charges against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

This school of thought falls in line with the fundamental tenets of our criminal justice system cum jurisprudence. It is explicitly elucidated in section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provides that every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until he is proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Court of Public Opinion There is no doubt that corruption has dealt heavy blow on the growth and development of Nigerian nation.

The people at the receiving end of this monster called corruption are always the masses. This necessitated the mob support being generated by the current anticorruption drive of the present administration led by President Buhari.

The Nigerian populace have become so allergic and fed up with this menace called corruption, that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our nationhood, to the extent that any public official accused or charged with corruption, will get automatic conviction in the Court of Public Opinion, long before the trial begins at the court of competent jurisdiction. Even when the said corruption allegation cum trial, is being driven by political exigencies cum persecution, the masses tend to form deaf ears and sealed lips, at the detriment of our laws that made the provision for “not guilty until proven

Saraki otherwise” principle.

The creeping danger associated with emotional reactions of the masses, as regards allegation against any highly placed public official, is that the potency of dictatorship is now being strengthened, using anticorruption fight as a smokescreen. Any discerning Nigerian, who insists on rule of law in prosecuting (persecuting) alleged corrupt officials, is seen as compromised accomplice of the accused. Personal ambition, which entails constitutionally, recognised freedom to vote and be voted, is at risk again. Rule of law which is the foundation of every democracy cum free society, is no longer being respected not only by those who want to install tyranny, but the same masses that may be later consumed by elements of authoritarianism.

The fundamental right of the accused to defend himself and remain innocent until proven otherwise, as enshrined in 1999 Constitution (as amended), cannot be eroded by uninformed Court of Public Opinion.

Those trying hard to exploit moral aspect of Sen. Saraki’s trial, to pressurise him into resignation as Senate President, when the latter is still as free as every other person, are implicitly or explicitly playing into the hands of political desperadoes, who are neither fighting corruption nor defending our collective interest as a nation.

As part of the arguments being canvassed in the Court of Public Opinion, some Nigerians have equally; ignorantly though, accused Sen. Saraki’s defence counsel led by imminent jurist, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), of buying time with his current application of motion that Code of Conduct Tribunal and Attorney General of the Federation lacked powers to proceed with the trial, after the Apex Court had given verdict on a related matter in favour

of CCT. But what those of this school of thought failed to understand is that, it is still part of Sen. Saraki’s fundamental rights in the nation’s criminal justice system cum jurisprudence to question both the jurisdiction of CCT and its powers to trial him, if he feels that the

Those of us in the Court of Public Opinion, that are of the view that this case, has coatings of political vendetta and persecution in it, may end up being vindicated at last.

The timing of Sen. Saraki’s trial says it all. That is why those that are of the opinion that Sen. Saraki should relinquish his position of Senate President on the bases of morality, should at the same time, juxtapose the timing of this trial with the argument of morality vis-a-vis section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provides that any person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until he is proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt

Timing of Sen. Saraki’s Trial It is no longer news that the alleged offence was said to have been committed in 2003 when Sen. Bukola Saraki was the governor of Kwara State. The age of a crime though notwithstanding. The APC as then opposition party welcomed and celebrated him, when he defected to its fold prior to 2015 elections.

It was the same set of individuals that shouted on top of their voices, accusing President Jonathan-led PDP government of witch-hunting Sen. Saraki via corruption allegations for joining the APC. It is sheer hypocrisy and ironical on the part of the current anticorruption fight, that Sen. Saraki’s emergence as Senate President against the dictates of his party, removed all the sainthood “immunity” he hitherto enjoyed for joining the now ruling party. And became a “prodigal” son of the party overnight, simply for expressing his constitutional certified right, not only to vote and be voted for as Senator, but Senate President. The quest to annexed legislative independence may also not be far from this trial.

Those of us in the Court of Public Opinion, that are of the view that this case, has coatings of political vendetta and persecution in it, may end up being vindicated at last.

The timing of Sen. Saraki’s trial says it all. That is why those that are of the opinion that Sen. Saraki should relinquish his position of Senate President on the bases of morality, should at the same time, juxtapose the timing of this trial with the argument of morality vis-a-vis section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provides that any person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until he is proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Court of Public Opinion should rise above emotions, and take a look at this trial with objective lens, not subjective ones. I rest my case.

––Nwobodo Chidiebere wrote in from Abuja. Chidieberenwobodo@ yahoo.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Ambode’sUnworkableDirectiveonLekkiGardens’Residents Kelechi Abah

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he unfortunate incident of building collapse in the Lekki area of Lagos about two weeks has understandably elicited reactions that have bordered mostly on outrage, chiefly because of the high number of casualties recorded. It is, perhaps, within this context that one can situate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s obviously impulsive directive for immediate evacuation of occupants in the buildings in Lekki Gardens estates wherever they are in the state, to enable relevant agencies to carry out integrity tests on the buildings.

The governor said for the period the exercise will last, the management of Lekki Gardens will be responsible for the accommodation of all those to be temporarily evacuated from their residences. He said, and quite rightly so, that the government would not wait for another tragedy to occur before discharging its responsibility to protect citizens in the state.

As governor and chief security officer, it is Ambode’s responsibility to ensure the welfare, security and safety of all residents in the state. Any action he deems fit and necessary to avoid a repeat of the tragedy that snuffed life out of 35 people in one fell swoop, or even one person’s life, is welcome. However, the directive for evacuation of residents in all Lekki Garden estates because of an incident in one building that was under construction is as unwelcome as it is impracticable.

Since the collapsed building was not the only structure being built in the state at the time of the accident, the governor would have been in order if he directed integrity tests to be carried out on other buildings around the collapsed structure, including those whose construction have reached roofing stage.

But he wants occupants of Lekki Gardens estate anywhere in the state, including those that have lived in those houses for the past four years, to move out of those properties for integrity tests. Surely, this is one pronouncement that was not clearly thought out before being made. It is obvious the governor was not properly briefed on the operations of Lekki Gardens and the nature of its business before making the highly controversial pronouncement. For, if he was, he would have been told that residents in Lekki Garden estates actually own the buildings in which they live. They are not rent-paying tenants who could be asked to vacate the properties by executive fiat.

Ambode The business of Lekki Gardens is focused primarily on building and selling out residentaial properties to buyers.

The implication of Amobde’s order is that people would move out of their own properties in which they have lived for periods ranging from one to four years for integrity tests, while the management of Lekki Gardens provides them accommodation for the period of the exercise. This is clearly a matter between the Lagos state government and the owners of those buildings, and not Lekki Gardens. This is one directive the government cannot expect easy implementation.

The government must be prepared for stiff resistance from property owners, which may include law suits, beyond physical resistance. Lekki Gardens does not have a hand in this.

Let us even suppose that it was possible for occupants of Lekki Gardens estates to vacate their properties for integrity tests, are they expected to be moved into a camp for displaced persons, to be built by the company, complete with facilities that would make life as comfortable as in the houses they have been living in? Or does Governor Amobde expect Lekki

Gardens to herd hundreds of families into hotels and keep them there at its own cost for the duration of the integrity test? There is no doubt that the building collapse has impacted negatively on the business of Lekki Gardens, and will continue to do so for some time to come. How, in he name of anything that is reasonable, is the company is expected to finance the accommodation and welfare of hundreds of families for the duration of the integrity test?

The incidence of March 8 was a calamity of no mean proportion, one that deserves condemnation since it could have been avoided. But it is hardly a matter for grandstanding. The governor need not kill a fly with a sledgehammer to be seen to have reacted appropriately to an accident that claimed lives in his state.

Governor Ambode is under pressure to match the performance of his predecessor, if it is recalled that he came under severe criticisms for percieved inaction in the first few months of his tenure. Incidentally, he appears to have found his bearing in the past four months or so, as far as performace is concerned. That is why he did not have to resort to an overkill to be seen to be a performing governor. This directive is what legislators describe as a bill that is dead on arrival. Its workability is seriously doubtful. This is certainly not the time the Lagos state government can afford to start a crisis it cannot manage. Pray, where are the logistics to manage evacuation and temporary settlement of many families from homes they have been used to for years; homes that they own?

The governor’s first official reaction to the tragedy, which came in form of sack of four officials of the Lagos State Building Council Agency for alleged negligence, was a step in the right direction. This should be followed by further investigation into the activities of other regulatory agencies that are involved in building supervision. For instance, there is need to investigate the relevant agencies that approved the materials that were used in the collapsed building.

Was there a deliberate departure from the norm?

Did somebody chose to look the other way thereby allowing sub-standard materials to be used for the illfated building? There is a possibility the factors that caused the collapse of the building in question may be isolated, considering that Lekki Gardnes is not a new player in the real estate sector. If there hasn’t been any record of an incidence of any type in all the estates it has been involved in, there is reason to believe that there may be more to the tragedy in question than meets the eye.

Abah wrote in from Lagos

Health Ministry, SGF Squabble over Laboratory Council’s Leadership Stanley Nkwazema

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he Federal Ministry of Health and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal may be heading for a showdown following the decision of the ministry to disregard a legal advice from the SGF against flouting a court order restraining the ministry against declaring the position of Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria vacant.

The SGF in letter with Ref:No.56331/ IV/1046 to the Minister of Health, Professor Adewole, said: “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your petition dated 19th November 2015, and to inform you that since the matter is sub judice, it is the advice of the SGF that you wait for the legal process to be concluded.”

The incumbent Registrar/CEO of the Council, Professor Anthony Emeribe had gone to the National Industrial Court to challenge the move by the Federal Ministry of Health via a letter dated February 19, 2016 written by the Head of Department of Hospital Services, Dr. Patience Osinubi purporting that the Minister had approved the advertisement of the Post of the Registrar/CEO of Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria.

The Council had through its chairman, Dr. Nathaniel Shidali had on the 17th of December 2014 responded to a letter from the Ministry on the appointment of Registrar and call for advertisement, stating that “the Governing Board of the Council at its General meeting resolved that it is unable to accede to the directive as contained in

the letter on the basis that to act on same, contravenes the clear provisions of Section 23 of the MLSCN Act.” This Act provides that the Minister may give to the Council directions of general character or relating generally to particular matter(but not to any individual person or case) with regard to the exercise by the Council of its functions and the Council shall comply with the direction. “It is clear that this letter is directing on a particular case and thus the Honourable Minister is acting ultra vires,” said Shidali.

The former Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu had in a letter stated clearly that he could not dictate to the board whether or not to renew the tenure of the Registrar as enshrined in Section 5 of the MLSCN Act. The Act states that “the Board shall appoint a Registrar for the Council who shall be the Chief Executive and Secretary to the Council.”

Interestingly, even as the SGF has directed that the status quo in the Council which regulates Medical Laboratory Practice and establishment in Nigeria remain, the National Industrial Court granted an Order of Interim Injunction directing the defendants “by themselves, officers, agents, privies; and any other person whatsoever from interfering with the claimants appointment by the 2nd defendants Registrar/Chief Executive of the 2nd Defendant pending the hearing and determination of the claimants Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction” The court also ordered that “the defendants/respondents in this case are herein restrained by themselves, agents ,privies or any person acting on their behalf or on their instruction from interfering with the claimant/applicants employment, status,

position and privileges as the Registrar, Chief Executive Officer of the 2ndDefendant or in any way filling the said position pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice dated the 23rd of February but filed on the 24th of February 2016.”

On his part, Professor Emeribe who was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar before his appointment as Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of MLSCN had sought and was “granted audience with the Minister on Friday February 19, 2015 “during which the Minister assured that he would study the MLSCN and the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology files before taking a decision based on the rule of law.”

It was however shocking that minutes after the audience with the Health Minister, a letter signed by the Ministry’s Head Department of Hospital Services, was sent out, stating that approval from the Minister had been granted that the position be advertised in spite of the subsisting tenured appointment which will elapse in 2018, even as there was no disciplinary process against the former Unical VC. The same Director of Health Services had earlier written that another Director in the MLSCN, Mrs. Olufunke Omotuyi should take over the running of the place, a situation which had brought another protest from the workers.

It was gathered that Omotuyi, was only promoted to the position of Director in 2014 while one Dr. Mrs Ngozi Amobi who was confirmed as Director since 2011, was sidelined and was not given any letter based on seniority.

Officials from the Head of Service’s office frowned at this, because it contravened Civil

Service Rules.

The workers Union, it was gathered, is threatening a showdown with the Ministry.

According to sources close to Professor Emeribe, the Registrar was left with no option than to approach the National Industrial Court to protect himself. The National Industrial court has also given an exparte order that Emeribe should resume official duty immediately, but the Minister has refused to issue the necessary directive to facilitate the courts Order.

While the SGF wants the status quo to be maintained pending the determination, the Ministry withdrew His official staff, drivers and orderly.

Interestingly, the issue is taking its toll on the activities of the Council as the Minister has asked Mrs Omotuyi to suspend the collaborative effort with the Lagos state Ministry of Health on the task Force on In-Vitro Diagnostic and Medical laboratory inspection in both Private and Public Hospitals.

The Minister in a letter stated: “It is pertinent to note that while the Act setting up the MLSCN empowers its members to regulate the practice of medical laboratory science, the Ministry recognises the provision of the enabling law of the medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) which empowers its members to regulate the practice of clinical laboratory in Nigeria.”

To address the challenges posed by the apparent overlap in the functions of the MLSCN and MDCN in the regulation of laboratory practice, the Federal Ministry of Health has been advocating for the institutionalisation of a joint Monitoring and Accreditation Team from the two stakeholders professional bodies.

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MARCH 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLITY

We’re Using Oversight Functions to Correct Things, Says Orji After a hotly contested election which he won, former governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, representing Abia Central in the National Assembly, in this interview, tells Charles Ajunwa that lawmakers are using their oversight functions to correct things in the system. He also gives his scorecardand talk about other issues

Y

ou have been in the Senate for over nine months.

During your electioneering you promised your constituents effective representation, are you doing that now?

The Eighth Senate was inaugurated on June 9, 2015. Today, I have been in the Senate for 10 months. Apart from bills and motions which are outstanding, because our motions are sensitive and our bills important, that will contribute to the economy and improve the livelihood of the people, I’m also working from the constituency level which is the base; Abia Central Senatorial District. Within this period, I have offered 60 scholarships to indigenes of Abia Central which cuts across party lines. The total cost was N6 million; so each student got N100,000.It can be verified.

Within this period, I have also renovated and brought to standard a dilapidated women’s hall in Umuomainta in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State. It’s there for people to see.

Within this period, I have offered employments to some Abia Central indigenes who are working in my office. They are being paid thereby reducing unemployment.

During the Christmas period, I gave out, for the six local governments that make up Abia Central (Isiala Ngwa South, Isiala Ngwa North, Osisioma, Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South), 100 bags of rice to each local government to my constituents for them to enjoy the festivity.

This does not include the money and other things that I also have gave out.

Within this period, on a daily basis I get requests on my phone for various assistance ranging from payment of school fees even though I have provided scholarship scheme, payment of hospital bills, assistance of various kinds coming to me which also I try to fulfill. I’m reeling out these things so that nobody will come out to say I have not done anything since I came to the Senate. These things are verifiable.

Now that we are going home for Easter, I am going to empower my constituents who voted for me. I want to emphasise that only those that voted for me will receive these items and anywhere it stopped we continue until the items get to those that cast their votes for me. Half of the materials that we are going to use in empowering them have arrived. We shall give out 20 units of 2.5 megawatts generator, 20 units of home grinding machines, 20 units of sewing machines, 100 bags of fertilizer, 14 units of motorcycles, 10 units of tricycles and 15 units of wheel chairs. In addition, I’m also thinking of other things that I will procure to add to the ones that are on ground right now so that it can get to all the local governments and people will feel the impact. These items are at my constituency office- No. 34 Ojike Street, Umuahia.

And more will come on the day of the empowerment. These are the things we are doing to make sure that we empower the people. And my wife will through her foundation, Hannahmay, do a medical retreat. She has in stock eye glasses, drugs for different ailments. What she will do is to bring doctors who will now move from one zone to the other and this one will extend outside my senatorial district for people to have a feeling that we are here and that we remember them.

There are also some schools and health centres within my senatorial zone that are in bad state. I have earmarked them for renovation. For skill acquisition, I have made arrangements where youths from my senatorial zone will be trained in phone repairs, computer repairs and other things that can sustain them in life without

We have met with the Chief of Air Staff and they have told us their problems in terms of logistics and equipment which we noted and which we will try as much as we can to assist them in budgeting so that they can move from one level to the other. We have been active and we will continue being active. Every committee has its oversight functions and there are also other adhoc jobs that we do. The Senate can nominate anyone to be a member of an adhoc committee, one has to go and do it and come back. Anything you hear is in the name of the Senate. I think we are doing very well bearing in mind that I am a first comer and I’m not ashamed of saying it even though I was a governor for eight years. What we are doing here is a different ball game and I’m learning very fast. I am integrating and one day I will be an expert.

Orji

looking for salary jobs. What I promised my people of Abia Central was that before I finish my first tenure in the Senate that appreciable number of people will feel my impact. Employment is priority to me; I can show a file filled up with applications both from people at home and from people in Abuja who are looking jobs. I’m using my connections to see how I can provide employment for these people. If you employ one person you have relieved a problem for that family. These are the things that we are doing and as we progress other ideas will come. The ones I can do, I will do. The ones I cannot do, I will always direct them that this is the way to go about it.

You have touched on legislation and representation, what about your oversight functions as the deputy chairman on Senate Committee on Agriculture and member of other committees… (cuts in) Oversight function is one of the most important functions of a senator because it’s through oversight that you can enforce some decisions that are arrived at. It’s through oversight also that you can make some corrections where people are going wrong; maybe MDAs. As of today, I’m the Vice Chairman on Senate Committee on Agriculture. I’m a member of Marine Committee, the Airforce Committee, the Police Committee and Health Committee.

We have been carrying out oversight functions and if I may start with health, during the outbreak of Lasa Fever we interacted with the minister of health who is doing a good job. We have also visited the National Hospital in Abuja on inspection. We have seen the new structure they are erecting and they have told us their problems and we have noted them for action. We intend also to go to other health institutions to note what is happening and how the Senate Committee on Health can come in.

On agriculture, we have interacted with the minister of agriculture. The other time I came back from Turkey where we attended a seminar on agriculture and we saw for the first time that the country is basically an agricultural country and that

we can learn a lot of things from them and we did learn a lot of things from Turkey which we are trying to implement. Not only that, we have earmarked other areas we are going for oversight in agriculture.

Irrigation has always been a big issue in Nigeria; we saw in Turkey what they have been doing. There are write-ups that are coming from Israel and all those areas that have advanced in agriculture coming to our committee on how to tackle our problems. The last time we interacted with the minister, he intimated us and even was interested in our area, the South-east, on cocoa production. He said that very soon they would bring cocoa seedlings that will yield at a faster rate. If other seedlings were yielding in two years’ time this one might take one and half years to yield. He also told us to look into areas like palm plantation especially in the area of cracking the kernel and that one too is money making and is in demand now.

About marine, we have gone to Lagos on two occasions. First, we went there when this gridlock on Apapa axis was reported by Senator Remi Tinubu. We inspected the whole place and saw the problem and offered solution because they complained that time that they were building a park where these trailers and tankers will be parking. They have gone far in the construction of the park but they were constrained by money and the chairman of our committee also made contacts with the federal ministry. They promised that they would make money available to them to complete the park so that if you have a parking lot for all these vehicles, you would not be having them blocking the road. We interacted with NIMASA, NPA (Nigerian Ports Authority) and other allied MDAs to know their problems and to offer solutions and they have all come to us for the defence of their budgets.

About the police, the Inspector General of Police has come to us severally including the Chairman Police Service Commission and we noted their problems and how we can solve some of them. We also intend to visit some of the police outposts to know their problems.

You mentioned the minister of agriculture’s plans to grow cocoa in the South-east. Is the project targeted at all the states in the zone?

Why I discussed this with the minister of agriculture is because my state, Abia is prominent in the production of cocoa.

You will realise that one farmer from Abia, Chief David Onyenweaku, has been the best cocoa farmer in Nigeria for three consecutive years, which shows that if more incentives are provided, more cocoa will be produced in Abia. This will help both Abia and Nigeria’s economy because our land is fertile for cocoa. The farmers are there and it’s to give the farmers the incentives. And the seedling that we have in Abia now are those seedlings that take some time to yield but this one that will come are seedlings that will produce very early and will continue yielding for a very long time. You know cocoa last for a long time. Abia produces cocoa.

As a member of five different committees, with insight into the budget presentations of the MDAs, are you satisfied with the allocations provided for them?

They are all complaining. The same complaint that what is provided for them is not enough and it will never be enough.

And what we do is to look at what they want actually and try to make adjustments.

We prioritise the whole thing because we don’t have the money. You see we are running a deficit budget. So we are even going to borrow money to run the budget.

We are conscious of that and we cannot give them all they want because we don’t have it. We are trying to prioritise so that we can arrive at something we can manage until the economy improves.

Are there other things you want to do for your people?

I have a lot of ideas on what I want to do for my people and one of them is the water scheme because in some local governments, water is a problem. Some of the boreholes are have there are not maintained. Some of them have dried up.

So I intend to reactivate the ones that can be reactivated, to ensure that water can go round and I will do that not only by myself but by partnering with UNICEF, embassies and others to make sure that water is given to every area of the state because water is life. There are people who suffer before they get good drinking water but there are other people also who have clean spring water like an area in my constituency called Okwuta. If you go there you see water coming from stone but before you go and fetch clibing the hill alone is energy sapping. Such water can be brought to their homes or brought to a central place where they can easily fetch it.

51

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

POLITY

FCT and the Problems of Land Allocations

P

Thomas Adegoke

resident Muhammadu Buhari, as far as the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is concerned, is the governor of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The activities of officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) are therefore his through the delegated authority of the Minster of the Federal Capital Territory.

In other words, the blame for the lack ofremedy for any corrupt tendencies or acts of impunity by officials of the FCTA or FCDA or even the FCT Minister rests securely at the door-step of the President of Nigeria. As a man with the fearsome reputation of dealing with corrupt men and women in the society, it is expected that those who work with Buhari directly at the Presidency and indirectly at the FCT Ministry, etc, must be above board in their dealings with members of the society or in carrying out their duties to the nation.

Any doubts about Buhari’s commitment to the war against corruption could be deciphered from the way the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is handling the arms-gate scandal without being entangled with ethnic sentiments or religious considerations.

Unfortunately, it would appear that all is not well with the way land allocations are being handled in the FCT. Some officials of the FCT Ministry, FCTA and FCDA appear bent on sustaining the corrupt tendencies and acts of impunity that reigned supreme under the past governments even now that the affairs of the country are being directed by ananti-corruption regime. An appraisal

of what is happening now between officials of the FCT and MINANUEL INVESTMENT LTD over the lingering issue of approvals for the reconstruction of 372 houses at Lugbe Extension 1, along Airport Road, now known as Kyami District, Abuja, brings to sharp focus theproblems of land allocations in the FCT. For instance, in a Petition dated February 12, 2016 and signed by Barrister Samuel Ogala for Falana & Falana Chambers and directed to the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye, the 8th Senate has been called upon to intervene and cause the FCT Minister, the FCTA and the FCDA to “approve the building plan for MINANUEL INVESTMENT LTD over plots ……. at Lugbe Extension 1, along Airport Road, now known as Kyami Distirict, Abuja and removal of illegal st reared its head because the FCT Minister and his officials at the FCTA and the FCDA have allegedly vowed not to approve the building plan for 372 houses earlier destroyed on the orders of the immediate past FCTMinister, Bala Mohammed.

This is in spite of a valid court judgment affirming MINANUEL INVESTMENT LTD as owners of the land and declaring “null and void the re-allocation of plots….. at Lugbe Extension 1, along Airport Road, now known as Kyami District, Abuja, to third parties…”

The issue at hand is that since both parties to the case earlier resolved on November 11, 2013 (N.C.R Associates Ltd, suing through its lawfulAttorney, MINANUEL NVESTMENT LTD & the Minister FCT & 2 Ors) are satisfied with the judgment of the court as there is no pending appeal against the judgment, why are the FCT Minister and the officials of the FCTA and the FCDA refusing to approve the buildin plan for the construction of 372 units of housing belonging to Nigerian citizens who took

out mortgage facilities to own houses in Abuja? If these are not acts of impunity and corruption, why are officials of the FCTA and the FCDA allegedly bent on re-allocating plots of land belonging to MINANUEL INVESTMENT LTD to third parties despite a valid court judgment insisting that no such thing should take place? There is no doubt that what is happening at Lugbe Extension 1, Airport Road, now known as Kyami District, Abuja, was allegedly orchestrated

by Senator Smart Adeyemi as Senate Committee Chairman on FCT in the 7th Senate and Alhaji Bala Mohammed as FCT Minister in the Goodluck Jonathan’s PDP-led Federal Government.

The issue is; why should the FCT Minister under a corruption fighting President; condone the acts of impunity allegedly perpetrated under past federal governments? If the FCT officials are not out to sabotage the anti-corruption campaign of President Buhari, why are they not doing the needful to ensure granting approvals for the building plan for reconstructing the 372 housing units for subscribers (Nigerians citizens) who have paid for the structures? It is, however, heart-warming that the senate committee chairman on FCT, Dino Melaye has vowed to see to the end of this matter given that the only way to extend justice to Nigerian citizens who took out mortgage facilities to purchase the said houses in Abuja is “the building plan approval for plots… at Lugbe Extension 1, Airport Road, now known as Kyami District, Abuja and immediate removal of illegal structures currently being developed by trespassers on the land”.

What the 8th Senate appears set out to do in this circumstance is to encourage the FCT Minister and officials of the FCTA and the FCDA to abide by the dictates of a valid court judgment delivered by Justice D.Z. Senchi, on November 11, 2013,

Some officials of the FCT Ministry, FCTA and FCDA appear bent on sustaining the corrupt tendencies and acts of impunity that reigned supreme under the past governments even now that the affairs of the country are being directed by ananti-corruption regime. An appraisal of what is happening now between officials of the FCT and MINANUEL INVESTMENT LTD over the lingering issue of approvals for the reconstruction of 372 houses at Lugbe Extension 1, along Airport Road, now known as Kyami District, Abuja, brings to sharp focus theproblems of land allocations in the FCT

in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/714/12, which held that “the fresh allocation of the plots to private individuals was illegal, null and void and the said allocations… are hereby set aside. Accordingly, the defendants are hereby restrained from taking possessionor re-allocating same or any part thereof to any person or group of persons…”

Anisulowo Gets Support for Ogun 2019 Femi Ogbonikan

T

he agitation of Ogun West Senatorial District to produce the next governor of the state in 2019 and the clamour for the emergence of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo as a suitable governorship candidate, have been endorsed by the Anglican Bishop of Yewa Diocese, Right Rev Michael Oluwarohunbi.

The Bishop said it was time Ogun West Senatorial District produced the next governor and that Anisulowo was a very suitable choice.

“Any public office Senator Anisulowo has held, she has left indelible marks on them.

She is a credible politician and a God chosen

person,” said Bishop Oluwaronhunbi, at a service in honour of Anisulowo on her 65th birthday at the All Saints Anglican Church, Leslie, Ilaro, Ogun State, recently.

According to the Bishop, “She has demonstrated a high sense of responsibility at various public offices and that at a very young age she was Secretary to Egbado South Local Government Area, Commissioner 1, Ogun State Local Government Service Commission, twice commissioner in Ogun State, Minister of State for Education and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Besides, she was the first female Senator from Ogun State and also the first female gubernatorial aspirant in Ogun state on the platform of ANPP. She has served Nigeria

at various capacities without stain, I repeat, without stain and without the fear of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

“This is, therefore, an opportunity for the people of Yewa/Awori to rally round and see the sterling qualities in the person of Anisulowo to contest the 2019 Ogun State gubernatorial seat. She is most qualified and it behooves on well-meaning Yewa/ Awori people to throw their support behind her, preparatory to the 2019 governorship contest in Ogun state. You (Yewa/Awori

Mike Nkwoji Passes on at 73

H

Nwoji

is Majesty Igwe Ralph Ekpeh, Eze Enugwu Ukwu na Igwe Umunri in Anambra State has annonunced the death of Chief Sir. Mike Nkwoji, Okpataozuora, Enugwu Ukwu na Umunri. He was aged 73 years.

The deceased was an Aba-based businessman and industrialist, former Chairman of Monier Construction Company (MCC) and philanthropist who established many structures and facilities in Aba, Enugwu Ukwu and Paul University, Awka. He also built and furnished a fully air-conditioned Church - St. Monicas Anglican Church Enugwu Ukwu - and donated same to the community.

A statement by Sam Ekpe, Media and Public Relations Consultant said funeral arrangement would be announced later.

Anisulowo

people) should also ensure that the Ogun State governorship baton shifts to Ogun West, which has never had a shot at the number one seat of the state, since its creation in 1976.”

Also, the clergyman admonished the celebrant to always give thanks for what God has done in her life.

Dignitaries who graced the occasion included the wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; ex-Deputy Governor of Plateau State and a former Minister for Science and Technology, Mrs. Pauline Tallen and Chief Mrs. Mathilda Iyabo Apampa.

52

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 26, 2016

TRAVEL&LEISURE

by OMOLOLA ITAYEMI omolola.itayemi@thisdaylive.com 08054699602

British Airways Heritage Collection: A Labour of Love Somewhere in British Airways head office in London lies the history and the rich heritage of the airline documented with painstaking “labour of love”. With over 400 uniforms from the 1930s to the present day to a large collection of aircraft models, a historically important library of thousands of photographs most probably serving as the most complete set of aviation posters in the UK. Omolola Itayemi writes on the records and artifacts of British Airways’ predecessor companies BOAC, BEA, BSAA and the pre-war Imperial Airways Limited as well as British Airways Ltd

D

espite the cold, chilly weather that Monday morning, I set out to tour one of the world’s most prolific airline museums, few hours after I landed in Heathrow, London and enjoyed the warmth and comfort of BA’s Galleries Lounge.

Maintained by volunteers, the museum occupies a fairly prominent location on the ground floor next to the building’s famous “indoor street.” I was not surprised when I learnt that a lot of the visitors are the local staff wanting to have a look around.

Like many transport oriented museums, it is actually the archive that is of most interest to most of its users, and there are two floors of documents in the basement.

What the casual visitor gets to see is a decent-size room laid out with a timeline of the various companies that merged over the years to form British Airways as we know it today.

One of the volunteers, Keith offers tours around the museum, which is essentially up to an hour of the history of the company. Something he knows a bit about having worked for the airline all his life.

The early days of flying is an odd combination of the heights of luxury being provided inside uncomfortably shaky tin cans flying comparatively slowly just a couple of thousand feet in the air. With limited fuel, most flights would be short hops during the day, with passengers staying in hotels overnight.

Despite the discomforts, the ability to turn a 6-week cruise into a 10 day flight meant the aircraft gained a lot of custom from HM Government for ferrying its postage and diplomats around – and celebrities.

Naturally, WW2 got in the way of civilian transport, but it was a boom time for the development of the aircraft in terms of technology and most famously leading to the jet engine.

Another civilian group flew deliveries of ball-bearings from factories in neutral Sweden. After being constantly attacked

by German fighters, they ended up being given Mosquito jets planes - the only civilian use of fighter jets — for their speed, and thus the only ones to be painted in civilian colours.

A memorial case is given over to aircrews who have been awarded medals of honour, including Jane Harrison, the only woman to have been awarded the George Cross during peacetime.

As the war ended, civilian aircraft were able to take advantage of the wartime developments and ever larger models were developed. Sadly, Britain’s de Havilland Comet was just too early a development and a couple of crashes set back British airline manufacturing.

At the time, flying was still an expensive luxury, which in turn also contributed its glamorous image – particularly helped by being the era when celebrities dressed glamorously instead of in jeans and t-shirts.

The airline staff of the time also dressed appropriately, and one of the museum’s more popular archives is the stewardess’s uniforms. I suspect, that for many of us, flying regularly is something done in the

Aircrafts on display

heady years of early adulthood, and when settled down, the familiar uniforms of that period evoke memories of childless times.

Your favourite “BA Uniform” is potentially as much an indicator of your age as which Dr. Who you grew up with.

A bit of space is given over to Concorde, but not as much as you would expect for the flagship of the airline – most of the post-80s display is about mass transport as airlines dropped the luxury image and became flying buses delivering people from A to B in an increasingly cheap and tawdry manner.

While the increasing availability of air travel is undeniably a great thing, I do slightly miss the exclusive glamour of the past. Talking of glamour, it was a BOAC flight that conveyed the Queen from Kenya to the UK 60 years ago. A display case has the flight log from the plane noting when it switched from normal plane to Royal Flight.

Thanks to Keith for giving me an extensive tour– it certainly added a lot of background to the airline’s heritage. I was there for about 2 hours in total, and a dedicated fan could probably spend even longer there.

They also have some examples of aircraft seating next to the museum, so if you want to have a chance to sit in 1st class for the probably only time in your life, then here is an opportunity.

The collection comprises an extensive document archive recording the formation, development and operations of these companies and British Airways as well as memorabilia and artefacts. Copies of these photographs and posters are also available to purchase.

My tour ended with an autographed copy of a book from the curator of the museum, lucky me!

History of the uniforms used in the past

Aerial view of Heathrow Airport in the past

53

MARCH 26, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLITY Abdulrahaman Funso

Why Polio Vaccination is Never Too Much for Any Child The second round of the 2016 National Immunisation Days held between Saturday 19thMarch and Tuesday 22nd March. Consultant cardiologist and chairman of the Rotary International Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee, Dr. Abdulrahman Olatunji Funso, speaks to Labake Fashogbon on the exercise, what it entailed and why polio eradication remains so important to Rotary International

W

hat is the relationship between Nigeria PolioPlus Committee and the Rotary Club District 9110?

The Nigerian PolioPlus Committee is a committee set up by the Rotary International is the body to which all Rotary Clubs in the world belong and we have approximately 35,000 clubs in 200 countries of the world. It is an association of Rotary Clubs that make up Rotary International.

Clubs are organised into districts and these depend on number of members as a district comprise 1,800 members. Once you get up to that number, you can ask for a district. Right now, we have three districts in Nigeria but by next year, we are going to have four because the districts in South-east and South-south, District 9140, will be split because they have exceeded 3,600 members.

The PolioPlus Committee was a committee set up by Rotary International to oversee the activities of Rotary International as far as polio eradication is concerned because we are one of the five spearheading partners of polio eradication programme in the world. These are Rotary International, WHO, UNICEF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Centre for Disease Control, in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States.

How much awareness have you created because many are not aware that Rotary International is involved in polio eradication?

Thanks for the question. You are part of our partners. Part of the problem is that you are based in the southern part of the country where we have no polio for some time. Last year, we had two polio immunisation days. Lagos has not seen polio for the past five years but we continue to immunise our children and advocate that mothers and care givers take their children for primary health care

Lagos, between March 19 and 22, we needed the public, in the southern part of the country, where we have not seen polio for a long time to make available their children for the vaccinators when they come. There is no too much polio vaccination. And the outcome was impressive.

Gyar

centres and get immunised. In the northern part of the country where it was prevalent till July 2014, we had journalists against polio who are partners as far as dissemination of information against polio is concerned. But because those were the areas we were concentrating on at that time, many did not know about it down South here. We also try to disabuse their minds so that they do not have negative mind as far as polio vaccine is concerned. We have to let them know that we are trying to safeguard the health of the children. Now, because we just had another national immunisation exercise, which included

What did you want people to expect during the exercise?

What we wanted people to realise was that preparations started for this exercise more than a month ago because we had to train people. We trained different cadres of ad hoc staff because every vaccination team has for staff. You have a supervisor who also takes the record of how many children they immunised, there was also the vaccinator as well as the town announcer.

There was also a traditional leader that usually goes with the team. In every town we go into, we always train them together and separately so they could know what to do. That is part of the preparation. Another one is what is called micro-planning which enables them to know every household in a particular area. As a result of this, if there was any house not visited, we would know. In some states, teams carry a GPS which we monitor at the control centre. Before they go to those homes, those homes showed as red dots on the monitor. When they get there and spend a certain amount of time there, the red dot will turn to green. At the end of the day, we can look at the map and see which houses still showing red dots and we can ask if they have done as much as they are expected to do at the end of the day and if they have not, what are the challenges and how do we surmount the challenges.

How do you finance all these?

Before we even come to financing, Lagos State

alone had 20,000 personnel and all of them would be paid. Some were ad hoc and some are full staff of the state government, UNICEF and WHO. This is Rotary and we have Rotary Staff. Who pay for this exercise? Federal Government, state governments, local governments, Rotary International, WHO, UNICEF, CDC and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Millions of dollars go into this and everybody chips in something.

Does the PolioPlus Committee handle this alone?

No. We have what is called Emergency Operations Centre, EOC, which is the operational arm of presidential task force on immunisation. This is not just a structure. It is made up of human beings who work on the exercise. We have an office in Abuja which is the national emergency operations centre and we have seven states in the north that we call High Risk States and each has an emergency operation centres. This is where the spearheading partners meet about thrice a week to look at the action plans, what needs to be done, who does what and how to do it. At times, others like Dangote Foundation, USAIDS and World Bank join us. The overall coordination is from the EOC in Abuja.

How does Rotary drive membership?

This polio eradication is one of the ways we do that. People like community work more than we think. The polio eradication exercise is our major corporate identity exercise. We have been supporting polio eradication in the world since 1987 and we have spent over $1.5billion on that alone. Nigeria has taken $260m since we started work here. So it is through works like this that we drive membership to know what Rotary is doing to help humanity.

IMAGES

L-R; Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Benue State, Dr.Tersoo Kpebi; Gov. of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and Acting Director General/CEO, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Paul Angya, during SON Promotion on SME to Benue State...recently

L-R; Chairman, Mentoring Committee, Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy (NAP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje; President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Managing Director, Glaxo Smithkline (GSK) Nigeria, Mr. Lekan Asuni; and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi, at the NAP mentoring programme held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Exhibition Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos...recently

L-R: The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja 1); wife of the founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, Olori Abimbola Balogun, wife of Ooni of Ife, Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi and Olori Omo-oba Akile Ijebu, founder FCMB Plc, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, during a courtesy visit by Ooni to Balogun at his residence in Lagos...recently

L-R: Head of Creative, Star Times, Demola Akerele, Zonal Sales Manager, Olumide Oke-Olawuyi, Star Times Dealer in Ilorin, Mrs. Femi Ajibade, Sales Director, Star Times, John Osemene and Public Relations Manager, Israel Bolaji, at the presentation of a brand new Hyundai car to Ajibade, for being the best Star Times dealer in 2015 in Lagos...recently

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 26, 2016

NEWS

3m Nigerians Lack Portable Water, Says OXFAM Adebiyi Adedapo in Abuja Oxfam international, a Nongovernmental Organisation (NGO) has urged the federal government to focus more attention on the water crisis in Nigeria, saying over 63 million Nigerians have no access to portable water.

Country Director of Oxfam, Constant Tchona stated this yesterday in Abuja, while unveiling its intervention on water supply to various communities and schools.

"As we will be celebrating Water Day, we at Oxfam urge all tiers of government to recognise the water crisis currently confronting our nation

for what it is – a crisis of governance, weak policies and poor management, rather than one of scarcity," he said.

Oxfam also appealed to corporate organisations to come to the aid of the rural communities by supporting efforts at making people to have access to good water for a society free of disease and hunger.

"Let us also pledge to reverse the alarming decline in pro poor investment in water and sanitation and give recognition to and protect the basic labour rights of water sector workers. And let us reaffirm our commitment to ending the plight of the more than 63 million Nigerians who, in a world of plenty, still do not

have the safe drinking water and the 112 million people, who still do not have the sanitation they need for a life in dignity and good health. For, without enough quantity and good quality water and sanitation, human health is negatively impacted on and economic productivity declines: people become sick and unable to work," he stated.

Tchona who explained that about 800 million people around the world had no access to potable water, said many more people were without access to sanitation and nearly 3.5 million people die annually from water-related diseases with about 1.7 million children under the age

of five among the people who die each year from diarrheal disease.

According to him, over 1.5 billion people - work in water-related sectors.

Moreover, nearly all jobs, regardless of the sector, depend directly on water.

Yet, despite the indelible link between jobs and water, millions of people whose livelihoods depend on water are often not recognised or protected by basic labour rights.

"In Nigeria, for example, the burden of fetching water continues to fall on women and young girls. More often, women walk an average of 4kms every day to collect water and typically carry 20 litre jerry cans on their heads all the way home", he said.

Lawmaker Petitions IGP over Alleged Forgery Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

The face-off between Hon. Dennis Amadi representing Udi/ Ezeagu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and his predecessor, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi over the legislative seat assumed a new dimension yesterday as the lawmaker petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, asking the IGP to investigate alleged plans by some police officers to frustrate the prosecution of the latter and two others involved in alleged forgery of party primary election documents.

Amadi specifically asked the IGP to unmask those behind a letter from the Force headquarters seeking to withdraw and rubbish a legal opinion of the Director Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federal Ministry of Justice in a case.

Others mentioned in the petition are two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State.

The controversy trailing the primary election that brought in Amadi as candidate of the PDP for the federal seat has refused to

abate over a year after the exercise took place.

Though it was gathered that the IGP had minuted on the lawmaker's petition, directing the DIG Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID) Force headquarters to investigate the matter and report back to him, Amadi said action was yet to be taken on it.

The DPP in a legal opinion had directed the Police to take the case file of Ozomgbachi and co to the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Enugu State for prosecution since the alleged forgery was committed in Enugu State.

The Police took the case file to the Attorney General and commissioner of Justice, Enugu State who commenced prosecution of Ozomgbachi and co on the 9th of December 2015, but the Petitioner, Amadi, said he was worried that such matter which took Police over six months to investigate, submitted case file to the DPP and which the culprits were already being prosecuted in the court of law was now being asked for retrieval.

APC Stalwart Tackles Ganduje on Almajiri School Programme Kasim SumainainAbuja

WE RECOGNISE YOU...

L-R: Corporate Affairs Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Soromidayo George; Human Resources Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Ms. Eniola Onimole receiving the Top 25 CEO Award for Unilever Nigeria’s MD, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh from the Director – IM, Samsung Electronics West Africa Ltd, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas and Head, Product Marketing, Information Technology Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa Ltd at the BusinessDay Top 25 CEOs Awards Dinner 2016 in Lagos

Agbakoba Wants FG to Appoint Minister for Maritime Industry John Iwori A Lagos based maritime lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. OlisaAgbakoba, SAN has urged the Federal Government to appoint a minister to solely oversee the maritime industry.

Agbakoba stated that the appointment of a minister for the maritime industry would enable issues concerning the sector to be given the needed attention for the benefit of the economy.

The lawyer advocated this in his office in Lagos and submitted that the maritime industry should be separated from transportation sector because it was a large sector on its own.

He maintained that there was need

to separate the maritime industry from other aspects of the transportation sector which included ports, terminal operators, maritime transportation, cargo and freight, seafaring, haulage and others where huge amount of revenue were generated apart from crude oil.

He expressed dismay that a lot of money was being lost in the maritime industry because there was no minister at the federal level specifically devoted to the industry.

According to him, stakeholder in the maritime industry had called for the review of all legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks, implementation of policy for Inland Container Depots, cabotage regime, pending bills, Nigeria Shipping Policy of 1987 and

establishment of a national carrier.

Agbakoba stressed that the opportunities would boost the economy, job, build capacity in shipping, huge revenue generation other industries such as steel, agriculture, oil and gas and manufacturing which were tagged as Maritime Action Plan (MAP) to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari.

While appealing to the Federal Government to appoint a substantive minister for the sector, he said due to the dependence on oil, agriculture, manufacturing and shipping sectors had been neglected which negatively affected the economy.

He noted that the maritime stakeholders were now under the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the

ports economic regulator in order to devise the plan called MAP 2015 and look at critical sectors.

He also urged that arbitrary increase in port charges by terminal operators which made the ports uncompetitive should be stopped and stakeholders must address the constraints of disbursement on Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) in the interest of the economy.

Managing Partner Arbitration and ADR in Agbakoba’s chamber, Mrs. Priscilla Ogwemoh said the chamber had canvassed for issues like the MAP and many others which needed urgent implementation in the industry to boost the day-to-day activities in the port and there should

be workshops/conference in place.

Sit up, Kogi CAN Chairman Charges Buhari Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

The Kogi State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop John Ibenu has called on President Muhammad Buhari to sit up and not take things for granted saying he should not wait for three years before putting things right.

The Bishop of Chapel of Grace International Lokoja, who made the call yesterday while speaking with newsmen on the importance of Easter said the last 10 months had not been easy for Nigerians.

Ibenu noted that one single policy by the President could correct everything, adding that Nigerians were hungry and he should do something now instead of waiting for three years.

On the recent election conducted in River State, Bishop Ibenu noted that "The immediate past Government held election country wide in every state without this type of acrimony, so for few States and it is becoming so difficult, he should sit up and make sure there is free fair and credible election in the country "He is fighting corruption we

all like it, let that anti-corruption be done properly because what is going on in the election is not quite satisfactory "He means well but he needs to call to order his foot soldiers to also follow his example to do what is right".

On the dissolution of the boards of the Federal Universities which the President said was a mistake on his part, the Bishop said the President had set a leadership example and by so doing, shown that he is a human being and human beings are prone to mistakes.

"He admitted he has made a mistake, he has done well and that is a leadership example and I expect Nigerians to turn a new leaf and forgive him as he said, put it behind them and let us join hands with him to build a future for the benefit of the coming generation and for a solid foundation" he pleaded.

On the importance of Easter, he said Easter was for the salvation of the world, noting that Jesus died for Christians, Muslims, pagans and for everybody to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and saviour.

An All Progressive Congress (APC) Party stalwart in Kebbi State, Alhaji Mansur Shehu has faulted the statement recently credited to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alh. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on the almajiri's school programmes established by the immediate adminstration.

Shehu explained that the efforts of the founding fathers of the almajiri Programme should be commended noting that the Programmes were laudable.

He disclosed this recently while speaking to Journalists shortly before the Commonwealth Award of Excellence to the President and Founder of Mass Literacy for the Less Privileged and the Almajiri Initiative, otherwise known as MALLPAI Foundation in Abuja.

According to him, "We are talking about the less privileged, the downtrodden, people who are not opportune to enjoy what some of us are enjoying especially in terms

of education, healthcare."

"Well, it depends on how you look at it. I think the objectives of the founding fathers of the Almajiri programme are very laudable. So if he thinks that objective is being derailed I think he is entitled to his opinion.

"If in the whole, the Almajiri project is intended to make a difference for the less privileged in our society, it should be encouraged. You see the situations almajiris are in, if you go around the street in the Northern part of the country, you see them. Most of their Quranic teachers send them to an environment they do not know, so they end up begging everyday to eat, to survive.

He continued: "They are involved in child labour, their lives remain stagnant.

They remain there for God knows when, there is no actual programme.

But if there is a programme in place, like someone mentioned about the Almjiri schools established in Kebbi, some of them are already teachers in schools; some of them are already on their own, fending for themselves.

Govt., BEDEC Reach Agreement to End Ondo South Blackout The perpetual power outage being experienced in some local government areas in the Southern Senatorial District of Ondo State and Idanre in the Central Senatorial District may soon be a thing of the past following agreement reached by the state government and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDEC) responsible for power distribution in the state.

According to the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, the state government had taken charge and commenced the process of returning power to the affected areas as it met with officials of the power distribution company with agreements already reached to end the power crisis.

The government was represented at the meeting by the Secretary to government, Dr. Rotimi Adelola, the Chief of Staff to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Dr. Kola Ademujimi, At-

torney General, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) and Chairmen of the affected local councils.

Briefing newsmen in Akure the state capital, Akinmade said following the submission of the power outfit that power distribution was suspended to the affected areas because of the failure of consumers to pay for services rendered, government posited that it was unfair for the entire communities to bear the brunt of those who failed to meet their financial obligation to the company.

"The company said some people in the communities affected had been owing huge amount of money before they took over from PHCN and needed to recover the debts. But government position was that the innocent consumers who have been diligent in payment should not bear the brunt of the inability of others to pay" Akinmade explained.

55

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 26, 2016

newsXTRA

Ship Owners Back Peterside’s Appointment as NIMASA DG

Increase in Tuberculosis Cases Worry Thoracic Society

John Iwori

The Nigeria Thoracic Society (NTS) has called for collaborative efforts to reduce cases of Tuberculosis in the country, regretting that despite several groups working toward eradication of the disease, Nigeria still ranks high among world 22 nations with highest rate of the deadly disease.

President of the Society, Professor Etete Peters, who made the call during the World 2016 Tuberculosis Day, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State said the increasing rate of Tuberculosis in Africa was parallel with the HIV/ AIDS epidemic.

Professor Peters who is also the Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) noted the theme of the World Tuberculosis Day celebration “unite and end TB”, saying third of the world's population was infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis just as there was a new infection of the deadly disease every second.

Nigerian ship owners have thrown their weight behind the appointment of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) 2015 governorship candidate in Rivers State, Mr. Adolphus Dakuku Peterside as the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The Nigerian ship owners under the auspices of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) said they would do everything possible within their powers to ensure Peterside succeeded in the

onerous task of repositioning the maritime industry for benefit of Nigerians.

While hailing the appointment, SOAN in a statement issued in Lagos by its President, Mr. Greg Ogbeifun, maintained its conviction that the new Director General would take the agency to the desired heights in the delivery of its mandate as Nigeria’s apex regulatory authority.

According to the statement, the appointment was a confirmation of the Federal Government’s well placed confidence in Peterside.

Besides the Nigerian ship owners, other stakeholders have also expressed support for Peterside, pointing out that there was need to give him room to prove his mettle in administering NIMASA as the Director General.

Among the stakeholders who have hailed the Federal Government decision to appoint Peterside are master mariner, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, Captain Adewale Ishola and the Starzs Group, comprising of the Starzs Marine and Engineering Limited and the Starzs Investments Company Limited.

They all congratulated the new NIMASA helmsman for his appointment even as they noted his ability to make positive things happen in the agency in the months ahead.

While pledging to work with Peterside, SOAN offered what it called its “unflinching support and commitment”, as well as prayers for his success.

It expressed strong belief that the Director General had “the intellectual capacity to redirect the affairs of NIMASA” and make a huge difference in the nation’s shipping and maritime sector.

Okon Bassey in Uyo

He explained that the presence of HIV/AIDS pandemic had further led to the increase in the occurrence of Tuberculosis, adding that the problem had been further compounded by the emergence of multi-drug resistance and even more recently the extensively drug resistant TB. Globally, according to him, up to half a million people developed multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), with extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) reported by 100 countries.

The NTS President who decried the slow progress made by stakeholders in tackling drug-resistant TB said that three in four drug-resistant TB cases remained without a diagnosis and that TB affected the economically productive age group in the community thereby affecting productivity.

He maintained that about one in three people with TB were never diagnosed which meant that they would not be treated and they would continue to transmit the disease in the community.

Hoteliers Tackle LG Boss over Multiple Taxation OlakiitanVictor in Ado Ekiti

ESPIRIT DE CORPS...

L-R: Commander, 302 Artillery Regiment (GS), Nigerian Army Barracks, Onitsha, Col. I. M Abdullahin; Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Command, H.H Karma and the State Commander, NDLEA, Anambra State Command, Mr. Momodu Sule during the Armed Forces remembrance day at Ekwueme square, Awka

Dolapo Osinbajo, Migiro Open 2016 African Women in Leadership Conference Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo and Former Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amb. AshaRose Migiro, were among other top influential global women that graced the ongoing African Women in Leadership Conference (AWLC) in South Africa.

Migiro who is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, East African, Regional and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, declared the event open while Mrs. Osinbanjo was the guest of honour.

The Conference, which provides

a platform for aspiring women to achieve their full potential, is organised by African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO), a non-profit organisation with a primary mission to advance the status of African women in leadership positions by creating an empowering platform and harnessing the synergies of alliance.

Speaking yesterday on the 2016 conference tagged; "#1mother1child", the Publicist, AWLO, Ms Ayanda Ngwane, said that it supports, develops and honoured women leaders and create balance in leadership in Africa.

According to Ngwane, the Organisation delivered the AWLC

annually and had always brought together women of excellence across the region.

"It further provides a high level of inspiration, sharing, bonding, sisterhood and networking.

"The Organisation recently started its first give back project tagged: 1mother1child#. It is estimated that 30 million children remain out of school in Africa and in many areas, the girl child is still denied access to education.

"It is settled fact that education is the passport out of poverty and many other vices that plague women and children in Africa.

AWLO’s flagship #1mother1child program is positioned to integrate

the instinct, culture, and passion of motherhood into meeting the needs of these left out children", she said.

Under this program, she said, women leaders were guided and supported to adopt and nurture a mother/child relationship with one girl or boy child per time outside their immediate families.

Ngwane who is also the host and producer of "Sharing with Ayanda" an African Business and Inter-tourism show, noted that "through mentorship, coaching, and material support, each mother shall be responsible to ensure that her child completes their education successfully".

Cross River, Tinapa Add Trade Fair to Calabar Carnival Kasim Sumaina inAbuja Cross - River State Government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that introduces a trade fair to the annual Calabar Carnival.

The aim of the Mou the government said, was to position Calabar as a major trade hub and revive the Tinapa project through introduction of trade fair that was expected to increase the internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State up to N5 billion.

The State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Asuquo Ekpeyong who signed the document on behalf of the State Government with management of Tinapa Business Resort and Cliqit, an e-commerce business management and development platform said, that

'where Tinapa is today is not the idea why Tinapa was conceived'.

According to him, "We have gone to the blueprints, we have identified those issues that prevented Tinapa from going where it should be and we are trying to tackle those issues with a fully detailed plan."

Ekpeyong while speaking to Journalists shortly after the MoU said, "I have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Tinapa, Calabar in Cross-River State, to introduce a trade fair to the annual Calabar Carnival and Tinapa through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV); the Calabar International Trade Fair (CITF).

"The trade fair/Calabar Carnival is expected to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state up to N5 billion, introduces up to

15, 000 jobs and 10, 000 Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and empower people of Cross - River state with skill acquisition, go-to market strategies and ultimately contribute to the development of the state”.

Mr. Ekpenyong, who has been on the management of Tinapa for about a month said his team had identified most of the challenges that inhibited the full blossoming of Tinapa and were ready to tackle them.

"One of the ways we think we can do that is, having an international trade fair, something that would be around the period when Cross-River would be at its peak in terms of travelers.

That is the week of the Carnival in December”.

“We have chosen that date for obvious reasons in terms of the influx

of people and Calabar which should be a major trade hub isn’t where it should be, so, we have partnered with Cliqit. They will be bringing their experience and capacity in driving trade traffic to Tinapa and we will provide the resources”.

The Commissioner asserted his faith in the success of the project, saying there was no infrastructural platform such as the Tinapa Business Resort in the whole of West Africa.

“This platform; Tinapa Business Resort has the capacity to host a lot of trade and businesses and we are trying to use this opportunity of the CITF to showcase the resources Tinapa has and I believe that come December 2016, we will put on a great show and something that will be worthy of repeat year-on-year," he said.

Following introduction of multiple taxation by the newly elected Chairman of Ado Ekiti Local Government, Mr Ayodeji Ogunsakin, the Hoteliers Association of Nigeria, Ekiti chapter, has accused the council boss of stifling hospitality business in Ado Ekiti capital city.

The body, which condemned in unequivocal terms Ogunsakin’s alleged attempt to duplicate taxes being collected from their members by the state government, said the council boss will end up shutting down the sector completely going by this new policy.

At an emergency meeting of the association in Ado Ekiti on Thursday's evening , the association’s President, Ekiti chapter , Chief Samuel Korode and Chairman, Ado Ekiti branch, Chief Michael Osaloni, called on Governor Ayodele Fayose to order the council boss to reverse his decision to save the sector from total collapse.

Osaloni, who spoke extensively

on the new crisis , said some hotels recently closed down businesses in the capital city , because of low patronage, wondering where the local government got its information that they were making outrageous sales to warrant duplication of taxes for their members.

Osaloni stated that taxes being paid by members as of now include: monthly tax to Federal Inland Revenue, Pay As You Earn to the state internal revenue, taxes to the state Ministries of Environment, Tourism, Commerce and Industry and Waste Management Agency.

He asserted that duplicating those taxes at the local government level would contravene Taxes and Levies Act Cap T2 Laws of the Federation.

The Hotliers’ boss expressed worries over the arbitrariness being exhibited by Ogusakin, even when the state government has been treating members with respect and dignity by cautiously resorting to laws governing payment of taxes to deal with them.

Vitafoam Links Product Diversification to Shareholder Rebecca Ejifoma The Group Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi has attributed the company's diversification of products to enhancement of shareholder value and desire to promote healthy living.

He made this known at the 2016 World Sleep Day organised

by Vitafoam in Lagos at the weekend, where he explained that one of the major challenges of the on-going inclement operating environment to the manufacturers was the need to introduce innovative products that could boost shareholder value and promote the concept of healthy living.

According to him, the value added by the company's "Our spring mattress is posturpedic, orthopedic and therapeutic, this mattress helps to support your body in a neutral position, one in which your spine has a nice curvature while your buttocks, heels, shoulders and head are supported in proper alignment.

“This is in line with World Sleep Day. As a global recognition of imperative of sleep for healthy living, WSD is celebrated to create

enlightenment on the need to ensure adherence to the essence of sleep and the use of relevant sleep materials that address peculiar needs of individuals.

"We are confident that good sleep is an achievable dream with Vitafoam as we have gone beyond mattress to offer our target audiences other beddings products like bed frame, bed topper, bed sheets, duvet and various types of pillows (throw pillows, Music pillows and memory pillows etc) that will ensure you achieve good sleep."

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as REBECCA BASSEY UMOH, now wish to be known and addressed as RACHAEL ALEX. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADEOYE GBENGA, now wish to be known and addressed as BOLAJI OLUWAFEMI PRECIOUS JERRY. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

TR

Saturday, March 26, 2016

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N150

MISSILE Timi Frank to APC Leaders

“I sincerely hold that the current trial of Saraki is not only underserved, but amounts to paying a good man with evil. The leaders of our great party have unfortunately remained quiet in the face of evil. I don’t believe we have forgotten that the victory of the APC could not have been possible without courageous strategists like Saraki who lent his political weight in favour of the APC at the risk of his own life and personal survival.”

– The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank chastising the party leadership over the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

PENDULUM Dele Momodu

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Do Nigerian Leaders Ever Watch Television?

F

ellow Nigerians, you must be wondering why I chose this title for my column today.

If you wait a moment and you want to know the real reason, I shall explain in the next few lines. Television has become a most important platform in the world of media today.

Its attraction derives from the simultaneous usage of audio and visual mediums. As a young boy growing up in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, I used to marvel at the magic behind this extraordinary human invention. As a “bush” boy, I actually imagined at some point that some people must have been smuggled into television boxes by those wizards and goblins called oyibo (White people). Till this day it remains the eighth wonder.

In those days, television was a rarity. It was mainly in black and white. Only one big man, Chief S.O. Fadiora, popularly known as Baba Larele, had television in our neighbourhood. We had the privilege of standing by his window to watch some programmes. This opportunity fired our imagination. We saw events from far-flung places. We watched football. We enjoyed musicals. We savoured boxing. Wow, Mohammed Ali was the greatest. We had to stay awake and endure the giant mosquitos making a feast of our exposed parts anytime he was fighting. Even Nigerian television paraded exciting programmes. The adverts were nice, decent and easily remember-able. Life was good and Television was a must watch for us.

If television was that important then, you can imagine how powerful it has become now with live broadcasts in vivid colours from any part of the globe. There is no subject under the sun that is not covered by television. You can virtually study from the comfort of your home.

You can visit anywhere in the world without going near any airport. You can witness human advancement at the speed of light and the collapse of nations at the drop of a hat. The world has become one box office movie. Everything has been demystified and decoded. Television has of course been amplified and expanded by its social media variants through You Tube and other variants.

Where am I going with this preamble? It is simple and straight-forward. No serious leader should have excuse for failure. Ideas are available practically free of charge to those who need and want it. Power is no longer a product of abracadabra. Videos, smartphones, laptops, iPads, and others have contributed immensely to the growth of television. Social media has even done so much to bring information nearer home. Any information can be obtained without fuss or stress. You can build or penetrate any library in the world. Information is knowledge and knowledge is power. How come our leaders have refused to take advantage of the globalisation of anything and everything?

Someone sat down somewhere in Dubai and said he wanted to build the tallest building in the world which used to be the exclusive preserve of American cities. The same man sat down and decided that the biggest airport in the world can be built in a tiny Arabian desert. He didn’t have to travel or globetrot. Anything he wanted was handy at the touch of a button. He probably got ideas first from watching television and thought to himself I could do this better.

I got inspiration for this column this week

Buhari from watching the Brussels, Belgium, attack on television. Even as I sit down to write this the whole world is still gripped and held spellbound by events unfolding in that country which are being beamed live on diverse global news channels. They’ve killed our sleep at night and replaced it with insomnia. My brain is pounding and racing with endless questions about why we are not able to replicate these things despite being blessed with some of the brightest and smartest human souls on earth.

The first lesson I expect our leaders to learn from watching the spectacle on television is that our present problems would never go away until we learn how to do things differently. For example, the war against terrorism is largely a matter of intelligence combining the resources available to different arms of security forces especially the Police. In Nigeria we drag the army out of their barracks to fight terrorists with weapons of war. Watching Belgium on television, the army plays a lesser role and they are called out in very extreme conditions. What this tells me is that we need to retrain and upgrade our ragtag police force. They can’t achieve much in their current configuration. They must be well educated, trained, equipped, empowered and remunerated. The Police is the umbilical cord that joins humans and society. It is not the Army or indeed other segments of the Armed Forces.

It seems that we have allowed our recent past which has been dominated by military oppression and suppression to overshadow the activities of our security forces and how they operate.

That is not the way of the world and it is not how we will make progress if we are to secure our people and even borders. The truth is that the military is ill-equipped for the task and role thrust upon it by our leaders not because they do not have the equipment but because they do not have the temperament and domestic savvy required for operations such as this. On the contrary all the military should do is to complement the efforts of the other members of the security forces like the Police, DSS and other ‘civilian’ security agencies.

The second lesson is the power of determination and tenacity. The Belgian government launched a blistering counter-attack after the bombs that

reverberated through the airport and Metro. True, the security forces appear to have missed early warning signs, but they quickly made up for their lapses in the manner in which they responded to the dastardly and cowardly attacks. Since the bombings, the security offensive has been relentless and productive. What is noteworthy is that the media has been kept as informed as possible. The result is that the people, who are probably the most significant object of security, are fully involved in the security operation, contributing their quota by supplying valuable information, like the taxi driver who provided the valuable nugget of information that led to a second suspect being sought in relation to the Metro bombing.

Nearly two years after over 200 young girls vanished into thin air in Chibok, nothing tangible has come out of the search by the former and present governments. I appreciate the fact that the Government has apparently very recently rescued about 830 hostages from Boko Haram in Borno. In this regard one must commend the security forces and the Government. But this success merely highlights the dismal failure with regard to the Chibok girls after a couple of years. In relation to the missing girls, the body language was and continues to be very worrisome. Life seemingly continues as normal.

What should have been a national tragedy uniting us was even politicised. The few selfless individuals who chose to draw attention to this unprecedented disaster were treated with disdain. In Belgium, about 30 people died and 300 were injured and the world was literally brought to a standstill because the government knew the huge responsibility bestowed on it. It was reminiscent of the attitude to the French shootings and killings earlier on this year. Our leaders get angry when asked to do their job. They take it personal, forgetting that this is one of the reasons they were elected into their positions in the first place. You become an instant enemy.

The third big lesson from watching Belgium on television is what I saw as efficient and coherent management of Information. Every department explains its role and achievement or challenges.

I did not see any Information Minister, Special Adviser, Senior Special Assistant, Presidential Media Support Group, I Stand with the President Group, Special Adviser Social Media, Special Assistant, Chief of Staff, National Security Adviser and others competing to take charge of media.

There was no cacophony of misinformation. No one harassed the Media. Even two prominent Ministers offered their resignations but were rejected. Government elsewhere would have taken hurried decisions before realising that sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don’t know. It would be impossible for new Ministers to know what to do in the middle of this crisis. Better to chase the hyena away before returning to the hen later.

The fourth lesson is the level of preparedness.

Everything needed and necessary was ready and pulled out immediately the bombs exploded; ambulances, oxygen, blood, dogs, fire trucks, hospital facilities appeared in a jiffy. Even hotels were converted to emergency clinics. The nation and the world stood together. Effort was made to identify victims dead or alive. Within days

so many suspected or confirmed terrorists were trailed and apprehended. I saw a sense of mission and commitment. There has been no attempt to trade blames yet. Errors have been identified and accepted. But people have moved on immediately because there is a common enemy to be overcome. No political party or politician took advantage of the brouhaha to advance personal ambition. It is obvious there are sharp disagreements and undercurrents here and there but everyone is doing what needs to be done for now. There is always time for recrimination later.

The fifth lesson I learnt from watching television is that Nigerian leaders are too flamboyant and ceremonial. Even in the middle of our intractable crises, we have refused to tone down the pomp and pageantry of power. Our leaders still waste our dwindling resources on over-bloated personnel. Our leaders still travel abroad with security aides in full military regalia.

If they watch television and take time to study protocol and etiquette they would realise that their style has become outlandishly archaic. Why should journalists want to capture the speech of a President and they are forced to take pictures of two people because of an outdated security trend. As mundane as this may seem, it is one of the things that shows the world that we are not serious. I saw Nigerian First Ladies in the past roaming the streets of Washington DC and London with uniformed orderlies. Why are we so uncouth? I have not seen world leaders or indeed their spouses being obviously attended by uniformed men abroad. The truth is that effective and efficient security of leaders is now an unobtrusive thing. I often wonder how an Aide-de-Camp dedicated to taking a bullet for his charge can do so from behind the person?

Indeed what can he even see from that less than vantage position that would enable him to protect his ward? Na wah!

I’m very convinced that our leaders must watch good channels on television. It is impossible not to do so given the preponderance of votes in their budgets for this purpose. We have a few Nigerian channels but something must be done to bring NTA up to date with the rest of the civilised world. It is shameful that a country as big and powerful as Nigeria is not able to run a world class television channel that would compete with CNN, Al Jazeera, Sky, Fox, BBC, CCTV News, French, Russian, Chinese and others now rocking the world and expressing the views of their home country owners. A nation as strong and powerful as Nigeria should have a voice of its own. This is what Nduka Obaigbeina is doing with Arise News and Tony Dara did with NN24 before it went under. These are geniuses who like their forerunners Raymond Dokpesi, Gabriel Igbinedion, Osa Sonny Adun, Steve Ojo, Busari Gbadeyanka, John Momoh, Ben Murray Bruce, Bola Tinubu and others invested heavily in television, a casino of sorts. Lack of enabling environment and too much government control has made television business extra tedious in Nigeria. A government of Change can turn things around for the better if it sets its priorities right.

But it would amount to nothing or mere wishful thinking if the leaders don’t watch television or prefer channels that engage in hero-worship.

It is time for a CHANGE!

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