Saturday 16th April 2016

Foreign Investors Now Reinvesting Trapped Funds in Equities Market Yemi Adebowale with Agency Report Still smarting from inability to convert their Naira funds into United States Dollars and repatriate same home, some foreign investors are now reinvesting their trapped Naira in

the Nigerian equities market, reports the world’s leading investment firm for frontier and illiquid markets, Exotix Partners LLP of London.

“A lot of our clients have trapped naira sitting in Nigeria; so, now, we see recycling of that Naira back into the equities market.

There is no point sitting in a foreign-currency line not knowing when you are going to get your FX. You may as well buy the stock that you like over the long-term and hold it,” Ali Khalpey, head of equities at Exotix said yesterday.

“While the amount of

investor funds trapped in the country is unknown, it’s increasing. People aren’t allowed to take their dividends out. Clearly, that number is growing on a daily basis,” Khalpey added.

Nigeria risks being kicked out of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI)

Frontier Markets Index by the end of the month because of the currency controls.

If the New York-based organisation decides to exclude Nigerian stocks, the country could see about $480 million of equity investments exit, Oscar Onyema, the chief executive officer of the

Nigerian Stock Exchange, said in an interview on Tuesday.

With the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Central Bank of Nigeria has rebuffed demands that it devalues the naira, a sore point for many in the market.

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Adeosun: 363,000 Companies Never Paid Any Tax ...Page 6 Saturday 16 April, 2016 Vol 21. No 7654 Price: N250

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Navy Launches Massive Operation to Secure N/Delta

Action coming 48 hours after Buhari’s warning to vandals Accuses Tompolo of being behind resurgence of N’Delta militancy Osinbajo: Vandals as bad as terrorists

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja In response to the upsurge in piracy and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta region of the country, the Navy yesterday launched a massive operation to ensure effective

security of the maritime sector of the nation.

The operation, which is code-named 'Operation Tsare Teku', is coming barely 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari issued a strong warning to deal decisively with the

trouble makers in the region in the same manner the federal government is tackling the Boko Haram terrorists.

The Navy also indirectly accused former Niger Delta war-lord, Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo of

masterminding the resurgence in militancy in the Niger Delta.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral IbokEte Ibas who spoke at a press briefing in Abuja, said that he had set up the Task Force Committee (headed by

a Commodore) to handle the operation aimed at clearing the nation's territorial waters of criminals.

Ibas who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP), Nigerian Navy (NN), Rear Adm. Henry

Proofof-Life Video Credible, Says Shehu Sani

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THISDAY HOME DEBUTS TODAY

MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO

Yemi Adebowale with agency report

Senator Shehu Sani has thrown his weight behind the CNN proof-of-life video, which showed 15 of the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok town two years ago, saying that the video is credible.

Sani and his colleagues in the Senate had on Thursday

Babalola, disclosed that seven Nigerian Naval Ships (NNS) would be involved in the operations.

He said that four had been deployed and they are: NNS

Being a Pastor Doesn’t Mean I Should Dress Ugly, Ugliness Isn’t Holiness

SuperSaturday pg. 8-9

GLOBAL ECONOMY ON THEIR MINDS

L-R: President, Center for Global Development, Nancy Birdsal; Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda, Clover Gatete; Minister of Finance, Nigeria, Kemi Adeosun and Deputy Managing Director, lnternational Monetary Fund (IMF), Mitsuhiro Furusawa during the Sub-Saharan Africa Seminar, themed; Just a Rough Patch at the World Bank/lMF Board of Governors Springs Meeting in Washington DC ...yesterday Abiodun Ajala

Saraki Fails in Another Bid to Stop His Trial at CCT ...Page 10

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Adeosun: 363,000 Companies Never Paid Any Tax Kunle Aderinokun, Chika Amanze-Nwachuku and Funke Olaode in Washington DC Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has disclosed that in the last seven months, the Federal Government has discovered 363,000 companies operating in Nigeria that have never paid any tax before. These companies were said to have evaded several billions of naira in taxes.

Adeosun, who made this disclosure yesterday at a panel discussion on “Sub-Saharan Africa: Just a Rough Patch” on the side-line of the ongoing 2016 spring meetings of the IMF-World Bank in Washington DC, USA, said getting the tax evaders to fulfil their tax obligations and ensuring unpaid taxes are remitted to treasury is a major priority of the government.

Adeosun stressed that there were enormous revenue realisable from taxation to keep the

economy going on a sustainable level without bothering about oil revenue. Realising that taxation is a goldmine yet untapped, she pointed out that the government had been working assiduously to ensure it plugs all loopholes in tax revenue collection.

According to her, “there are still low-hanging fruits in revenue collection. We are using technology, we are using cashless platforms and we are very serious about hitting those targets. Are there risks, yes, are we aware of them, are we trying to mitigate them in our action plan, absolutely yes.”

Lamenting that at the moment, the economy recorded only 5 per cent government revenue to GDP but now targeting 10 per cent, Adeosun noted that the level of compliance in VAT revenue collection was 12 per cent.

Adeosun explained that the federal government’s approach was focused on improving the efficiency of tax collection and broadening the tax base.

“We are using technology to enhance collection, linking up databases from diverse government agencies, auto debits of VAT from corporate entities and government contractors and the rollout of Biometric Verification Number (BVN) across bank account holders.

We have also ensured that FIRS staff receive increased incentive pay for delivery on targets,” she said.

Contrary to widespread notion, the minister insisted that Nigeria’s economic future is not gloomy. “We have a framework for our economic future,” she argued.

According to her, “this framework for the future will tackle our problems through three critical areas, namely fiscal discipline, targeted investment, diversification of the Economy.”

In the area of fiscal discipline, she said plugging the leakages must be approached simultaneously by tackling corruption, inefficiency and negligence. This, she noted, the administration had been

doing.

Said the minister: “This administration has a strong focus on transparency and an increase in government openness. We will remain solid in our anticorruption drive and continue in our commitment towards a streamlined administration.

“We will guard against wastage and leakages within the system, strengthening institutions weakened over the years through corruption, inefficiency and in some cases simple negligence.

“We have lacked sufficient and adequate systems for monitoring how funds are being utilized nor did we embed the controls to arrest the leakages.” “Therefore, along with the transformative capital investment we are undertaking, we will concurrently develop the much needed systems and controls for monitoring, tracking and ultimately optimising the investments we intend to make,” she added.

Specifically, she stated: “The government has launched

offensive against corruption.

As part of our fiscal housekeeping, we have introduced programmes designed to audit and rationalise personnel related expenditure, which accounts for over 40 per cent of total government expenditure, reduce overheads, increase expenditure efficiency, and consolidate extra-budgetary revenues.”

Besides, Adeosun noted that, the government will focus on policies that will stimulate economic growth, reduce the cost of governance and strengthen institutions to combat corruption extract efficiencies in public service, she said.

More importantly, the minister pointed out that, the government is focusing on infrastructure development to unlock economic growth rather than things that will attract spending such as travels and training.

In addition, she noted that the government was working hard to diversify the economy and growth of the non-oil sector.

IMF Deputy managing

director, Mitsuhiro Furusawa, said even though there was currently a slowdown in economic growth in Africa and globally, he was optimistic in medium and long term prospect of the continent. Essentially, he said the Africa Rising mantra was not over as he was optimistic about the future. “I see a bright future.”

He nevertheless pointed out that, despite the global slowdown in growth, many countries were moving fast.

“For instance, the China GDP has moved faster. Thirteen countries including Ivory Coast are enjoying growth in the last four years in their business environment. So, I am optimistic. I went to Chad and the situation there is different.

Though the growth is slow but the stakeholders are trying.

There is a lot of significant variation in the region. And some policies being introduced are favourable to the system.

So Ivory Coast is gradually recovering from the rough patch.”

I Did Not Indict Jonathan, Says Okonjo-Iweala

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The former Coordinating Minister for the Economy/ Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has debunked some media reports purporting her to have indicted the President Goodluck Jonathan administration for lacking the political will to save for the rainy day when oil prices were high.

Citing her speech on “Inequality, Growth and Resilience,” at the George Washington University, United States of America on Thursday, some media reports

had quoted the former minister to have indicted the Jonathan administration of not having the political will to save when oil prices were selling at over $100 per barrel.

But reacting to the reports yesterday via a press statement captioned “Low Savings: Okonjo-Iweala Did Not Indict the Jonathan Administration”, her Media Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu said some recent media reports have distorted the comments "Contrary to the slant given by these loud headlines, Okonjo-Iweala did not indict the Jonathan administration in

NAVY LAUNCHES MASSIVE OPERATION TO SECURE N/DELTA Okpabana, NNS Kyanwa, NNS Sagbama, and NNS Andoni, while the remaining three naval ships would join the operation later on. These are NNS Centenary, NNS Burutu, and NNS Zaria.

The CNS said that the nation's economy was feeling the bite of the piracy and other related criminal activities in the maritime area.

He warned that no serious country would tolerate the sabotage of the vital sectors of its economy and vowed that the region would be cleared of all criminal activities.

"As you are all aware, the jugular of the Nigeria economy is at the maritime area of Niger Delta. So, when we noticed

an infringement in that area, it affects the economy of the nation.

"The CNS has inaugurated Operation Tsare Teku to clear the area of these miscreants.

It’s to be headed by a Senior Flag Officer in the rank of Commodore," he said.

Speaking further, Ibas observed that the criminal activities increased after some former Niger Delta militant leaders were declared wanted, in addition to the fact that the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) would soon end.

Even though, the Naval Chief did not mention names, his description of the major suspect behind the criminal activities

which she served. Rather, she was referring to what many Nigerians already know; the strong opposition by some governors to the Jonathan government’s efforts to save in the Excess Crude Account and the Sovereign Wealth Fund sabotaged this important national priority.

“The governors’ criticism of Okonjo-Iweala’s many calls for the country to save for the rainy days are still fresh in the minds of Nigerians. This opposition culminated in the governors taking the Jonathan government to the Supreme Court in furtherance of their position

that the Federal government had no right to “compel” them to save,” Nwabuikwu said.

The statement added that several knowledgeable persons including a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi confirmed these facts.

“So the issue of OkonjoIweala indicting the Jonathan administration over this very public issue simply does not arise. We urge the media to always consult for clarification whenever the need arises,” Nwabuikwu admonished.

To lend credence to the position that the ex-minister’s comment was not an indictment

on Jonathan, she had in an interview with an international magazine, Le Monde, last weekend said: “When I was finance minister, the first time, the volatility of oil prices, and therefore state resources, cost at least three points of growth in the country.

“We then established a stabilisation mechanism and opened an account for the oil surplus, which posted up to $22 billion. In 2008, when prices fell from $148 to $38 a barrel, no one had heard of Nigeria because the country was able to tap into this fund. And that I am very proud of.

“When I returned to the department in 2011, there remained only $4 billion on this account while the price of oil was very high! I tried again to put money aside.

The president agreed, but the governors did not accept.

“I suffered a lot of attacks from them and now that the country would really need this account, these same people accuse me of not having saved. If Nigeria had been more careful, we would not be here today. It hurts me. We have the mechanism, we had the experience, but we were prevented to act.”

pointed towards Tompolo, who has been declared wanted by the Federal Government.

The CNS stated that the Navy has measures in place to arrest the situation, having identified the two major hotspots in Brass and Bonny in Bayelsa and Rivers States respectively.

He said: "There is no nation in the world that will allow this to happen in its maritime domain. It’s not as if the Navy has not been doing anything all this while to secure our maritime environment. This is because we have had more ships in the maritime area than any other time. However, since January 14, 2016, we have had increased pirates activities and ship hijacks.

"In every society, we have criminal activities. However, you must note that up until January 11, 2016, we have had zero criminal activities but from January 14, this changed.

"Meanwhile, you are well aware that some persons were declared wanted (Tompolo) and we promised some actions. You know that it was no longer business as usual and coupled with the facts that the Amnesty programme is about winding up. So these criminal elements might have gone back to their activities."

"The major thing is that the criminal groups have regrouped.

We have localised these problems at two major areas, offshore Brass and offshore

Bonny. These are two major areas we have been having the challenges," he said.

The Naval Chief, while noting that Buhari's pronouncement is for a larger military operations, clarified that the current operation was a purely NN initiative in line with its rules of engagement and scope of activities.

"This is not totally divorced from the matching orders the President gave but it is part of our statutory role. The order from Mr. President is for the whole armed forces. It’s not the kind of blind response to the Presidential pronouncement as we are guarded by rules of engagement," he clarified.

Ibas also said that the Navy

had been up to the task in policing the coastal areas of the country, collaboration with other neighbouring countries and international partners.

He disclosed that the NN recorded one of the biggest naval successes in the rescue of a Naval Ship Maximus, which was hijacked off the Ivoirian coast.

"We have arrested the pirates that hijacked the Maximus. We want to tell you that it was hijacked off the Coast of Cote D'Ivoire and we were alerted by the US and pursued it towards the tail end of Sao Tome & Principe. It was a big success that some countries were amazed that we could pull off such feat,” he said.

proof-of-life video, calling it credible during an interview on CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

Asked why the security chiefs had not appeared before the Senate at any

point in the last two years, Sani told CNN by phone that the government's focus had been on military action against Boko Haram, the terrorist group thought to be responsible for the

kidnapping.

“The military has succeeded in rescuing hundreds of women and girls, but CNN's video has now given the Senate renewed impetus and added a new dimension.

“CNN's reporting of the Chibok girls' proof-of-life video makes it clear that the kidnapping was not a hoax and that the girls had not been killed or sold as sex slaves," said Sani.

Images of a broken Rifkatu Ayuba who recognized her daughter, Saratu, in the video produced by her captors and obtained exclusively by CNN prompted renewed outrage over the 2014 kidnappings.

From protesters marching in Nigerian cities to social media users in distant countries raising their voices, the story stirred fresh outpourings of anger and

frustration at the atrocity, and the official response.

The video, obtained by CNN and showing 15 girls in robes identifying themselves, is believed to have been made in December during negotiations between the government and parties claiming to represent Boko Haram.

Shot on Christmas Day, it was released by someone eager to give the girls' parents hope that some of their daughters were still alive, and to prompt the government to help secure their release.

Two of the three women to whom CNN screened the footage recognised their daughters; a third was distressed that it did not show her daughter.

A classmate of the missing girls also identified several of the teens in the footage.

PROOF-OF-LIFE VIDEO CREDIBLE, SAYS SHEHU SANI demanded updates from the nation's security agencies on attempts to rescue the girls.

"With the video and other things brought in, we need the security agents to brief us on what they have been

able to achieve. We expect the security chiefs to speak to the Senate early next week, " Sani told CNN by phone yesterday.

Sani was the first Nigerian senator to comment on the

FOREIGN INVESTORS NOW REINVESTING TRAPPED FUNDS IN EQUITIES MARKETS “There comes a point when he needs to understand that the whole country has already devalued,” said Kato Mukuru, Exotix’s head of equity research.

Exotix also reported yesterday that the Nigerian foreign-exchange controls were undermining political reforms

by President Buhari and making Nigeria uninvestable for buyers who measure returns in dollars.

“The reorganisation of the state oil company’s structure, changes to the nation’s bureaucracy and Buhari’s efforts

to curb corruption all point to root and branch changes to the country’s governance structures,” Hasnain Malik, head of frontier markets strategy at Exotix said in an interview in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

“All of that is a pretty powerful political and governance reform story. It’s undermined from a foreign institutional investor standpoint by a very repressive economic policy and specifically a currency policy,” Malik added.

The Nigerian central bank has pegged the Naira at 197-

199 per dollar since March last year, and restricted trading in foreign currencies, making imports more costly for a nation that’s a net importer of refined fuel and food. Importers struggle to access foreign exchange at the official rate, with the naira falling to around 320 on the black market.

“If you’re a dollar-based investor, you can’t get over the fact that you could see either a major deterioration in the dollar value of your investment or your investment may be stuck,” Malik said.

The Nigerian stock exchange’s All Share Index has lost 14 per cent of its value this year alone. Share-trading volumes plunged to a sevenyear low in the first quarter, as foreigners shun the market while they wait for a devaluation of the Naira and as the country’s economy grows at its slowest pace in 17 years.

“Volumes have recovered in the past two weeks as companies have paid out dividends and those who are prevented by the foreign-exchange policy from repatriating their funds are reinvesting,” said Khalpey.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

SUPER SATURDAY Matthew Ashimolowo

Being a Pastor Doesn’t Mean I Should Dress Ugly – Ugliness Isn’t Holiness The fervor in his voice is heart-warming; the choice of his words is contemplative and his demeanor is soothing.

Gesticulating, looking right into the eyes of his congregation and nimbly moving to and from the rostrum, he lifts each one up as they give him a rapturous standing ovation. His practical messages are both soul-searching and heart-stirring. But the debonair preacher does not just talk the talk through some fanciful Bible quotes – he is known to always walk the talk too. Nigerian-born but London-based pastor, Matthew Ashimolowo, popularly known for his charismatic and often televised ministry, Kingsway International Christian Centre, (KICC) with headquarters in London and many branches all over the world, has been a voice to be reckoned with in terms of inspirational and soul-lifting messages. Recently, he has been doing more than that. He has delved into something exceptional. In this interview with Mary Ekah, Ashimolowo speaks about his long-time dream that came true, the reason behind his newly established Kings University and why he chose to start it off on charity by placing all the pioneer students on scholarships unlike every other Christian-based university With Kings University, My Dream is to Transform Lives I Read Hundred Books a Year

Y

ou are a well travelled man, what’s your perception about Nigeria?

I believe Nigeria is great.

Nigeria has great hope. I travel around Africa every year; sometimes I visit eight to 10 nations. Nigerians are the most complaining but they don’t know what they have. I go to some African nations, when I come back, I feel like kneeling down to kiss the ground of Nigeria. We are very blessed.

Multiplicity of ethnic groups, various kinds of opportunities, multiplicity of even food, just thinking of the soup you can eat in Nigeria and there will be no less than 500 recipes of foods.

Some African nations all they have is corn. In fact, anything below Cameroon, all they eat is corn. In Nigeria, we have rice, we have beans, and we have versatility. Africa cannot survive without us. I go to eight to ten African nations sometimes every year; I look around Africa and my heart is broken because I see resources without good managers; without good leaders.

With all due respect to many of our governors, they collect money from the Federal Government and spend 70 per cent in paying salaries.

That’s bad business. They should find a way to invest the money. If you were using 70 per cent to do salary, how would you build infrastructure in the future? The average Nigerian wants to do business; many don’t know how to do it. We teach people why you should own your own business. I lectured in a church recently on 30 reasons why you should own your own company as a young person. It was a young boy of 20 years old who started Facebook and all of us want to be on Facebook and now he is the second wealthiest man on earth at the age of 30. It’s just a simple concept. Be proud of Nigeria. I believe our president is a man of great integrity and a man who wants the best for Nigeria, but please spend 20 per cent of your time to pursue those who stole, spend 80 per cent of your time to create a future for us, so that we who did not steal, are not punished.

In the interim, create an enabling environment that people will come and invest. 20 per cent of our time should be spent to take care of the past and face the future because if your eyes are on the rear view mirror all the time you cannot drive fast.

Ashimolowo

Now that you have finally inaugurated Kings University, how do you feel?

We are very excited that finally after so

many years Kings University took off today. It is very challenging to have to go through the Nigeria process of starting the university. It is very discouraging, because N2 billion was tied down here and the NUC is the final authority, they say anything they like and whatever term they like. If it were a business then we would have been bankrupt. Our dream is to transform lives; our dream is to change lives and we know they have a good reason for their method but many of our kids are running to other nations. It is my opinion that they should encourage private universities. If anybody thinks private universities are profitable they don’t know what they are talking about; Maybe not Kings University because N2 billion built this place and the students admitted are on scholarship – every one of them. So we are the first private university that offered 112 scholarships to students. The only thing they have to do is to buy books. We are taking care of every other thing including paying the lecturers and the accommodation. Academics and accommodation should have been between N400, 000 and N500, 000.

Is the scholarship only for Osun State indigenes?

No, it is not. We made it open to the whole of people in Nigeria not just Osun, as long as they are ready to conform to the principles of our university. We only gave indigenes of the town opportunity to bring a few students because it is where we are sited but aside that we have different names; people who came all the way from Anambra and other parts of the country. It’s our dream and joy that we are able to do something for the nation.

What is the focus of the university?

The focus of Kings University is to specialise in particular areas. We have many faculties but we want to be a university that emphasises on Information Technology, Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ILE). We believe that you can use timely technology to achieve timeless things. Leadership is the biggest problem for Africa. I go to like 10 countries of Africa every year and when I look around Africa my heart is broken because I see resources without good managers and leaders. The average Nigerian wants to do business but many don’t know how to do it. For example, we teach people how to own your own business. And here we want to raise young people in Kings University who will use timely technology, who will be

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

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SUPER SATURDAY I Visit Eight to Ten African Countries Every Year...

Ooni of Ife and Ashimolowo at the event leaders and who will be entrepreneur.

Why is the university sited in Ode Omu, Osun State?

Firstly, this is the origin of my father; secondly, it is a state that needs encouragement. Thirdly, part of the challenge of Nigeria, in my opinion, having lived in Europe for 32 years, is that there is no even distribution of infrastructure and facilities, businesses, governmental institutions, but instead, every thing is concentrated in Lagos and Abuja. And so we have problems because people are stressed out in those places. So I think a university in Ode Omu would encourage even development in the country and lastly, imagine the serenity and quietness of this place. You are able concentrate and I am confident that we are going to be rolling out students with minimum of 3.0 GPA because of the fact that there are limited distractions for the students who are here.

You seem to have a good understanding of the education system in Nigeria. How would you assess the standard of education in the country today?

I think we are at the crossroads of great challenges. I don’t want to say too much but I have to say this: certain people prefer the disorder because the disorder is enriching somebody.

If a student passes JAMB, why can’t you keep that result for two years, so that if I cannot get admission this year because space is limited, then I can easily have my admission the next year? But it is not so here; students are meant to pay another year to sit for the exam even when they had passed it the previous year while their admissions for the previous year is considered invalid – that is for the regulators. Then when we come to the school, we need to talk to our young people that it is not about paper but it is about being a rounded person; preparing yourself to be a leader, a transformed man and to contribute to society. We who are building this university are putting in huge sum of money and you would even wonder if we are okay. My wife and I paid for the 300 hectares of land bought in this town for the university project. We have nothing really to gain here. Our children are all graduates who have finished their Masters and they don’t even live here; they live abroad. We are doing all these because we want to transform society and be part of change.

Then you find that there are people we give this kind of platform and yet they want to be notorious and want to destroy it. That is why you hear some students in private universities causing riots after their parents have paid half a million Naira for school fees. Not everything requires banging and tearing down, I think our students have to wake up. Cultism and prostitution must stop. The unfortunate thing is social media has made the world to be a global village. The whole world is reading and they have no respect for degrees coming out of our university.

You are so versatile in messages. How do you get these inspirations?

I love to be informed. I love reading. I read two books a week, and I try to go through hundred books in a year – most times not really within theology but anything that will really make me very well informed.

We expected to see high-rise buildings around here.

There isn’t any here. Why? The reason we started it this way is to maximise the little we have. Many people have asked that question. In the phase two, this place will just be a college. The phase two of the university that is where you will have the high-rise building and all you have here is the college under the university.

You are a pastor, writer and now a chancellor; do you have time for recreation?

I relax. I play golf a lot and very often. You need to learn how to live what I call strategic living or quadrant life. You put things

Deputy Governor, Osun State, Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola and Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo during the official flag off of Kings University, Ode Omu

A cross section of prominent clergymen in Nigeria who graced the event

Newly admitted students at Kings University in box. As strategic living is when you see me stand to preach, that sermon is a CD; it’s a DVD; it’s a TV broadcast and it’s a chapter of a book. That message, when my congregation hears it, it’s for that moment, when it’s on CD it’s for 10 years, when it’s in DVD it’s also 10 years. For social media, we don’t know how long that will last. It’s a new technology. I’m on Twitter, I have 70, 000 following. I’m on Facebook, I have 800, 000 following.

But every message I preach is a chapter of a book but book last forever.

You are a very stylish man, how do you achieve that?

I do not think that being Christian should make me dress

ugly. I think it’s a total package. I’m 64 but young people want to hear me; the reason is because I speak their language and I didn’t see in the Bible anything that makes a person to think that ugliness is holiness. The Bible calls us peculiar people, royal priesthood, holy nation. We are royal, and when kings came in here today we knew. When the Ooni of Ife came in, we knew.

Then he stood up and said he has known me before and that he came to my house and I was trying to find out when. When he now came and whispered to me, I almost fell apart. You see what royalty has done to him. Believers are royal, not arrogant, not the one making the fashion statement but being decent; that is the best way to reach our world.

People Think My Wife and I Are Crazy Giving Free Admission into Kings University

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •APRIL 16, 2016

NEWS Saraki Fails in Another Bid to Stop His Trial Before CCT

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

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki yesterday lost his bid to stop his on going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja okayed the powers of the tribunal to try him.

The court also held that the trial of Saraki was not in any way a breach of his fundamental human rights.

Saraki had approached the court seeking to enforce his fundamental human rights as provided by Chapter IV of the 1999 constitution.

Saraki also sought to stop his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on grounds that it lacked jurisdiction to sit over the matter.

He had also asked the court to quash the charge against him before the tribunal.

Delivering judgement in the suit, the trial judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati held that on careful perusal of Saraki's application, it was meant to stop the on going trial at the CCT. He further held that the CCT was competent to prosecute the applicant over assets declaration related issues.

Justice Kafarati noted that the applicant had earlier taken the same application to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, and the judgements there were against him.

He also noted that Saraki

had also argued the same issue before the tribunal but was dismissed.

Justice Kafarati held that if he decided otherwise, his judgement would be in conflict with the earlier decision of the tribunal.

On the breach of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, the court held that the trial had not in any way breached the provision of the chapter and that the applicant could raise a no case submission after the prosecution had closed his trial.

He added that reliefs sought

by Saraki were not available under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

The court further held that the application constituted an abuse of court process and consequently dismissed it.

Justice Kafarati had earlier refrained from delivering judgement in the suit on the grounds that an online report alleged that a sum of money was paid into his account in order to favour the applicant in his judgement.

The judge had then showed his displeasure about the report and consequently returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

The CJ, Justice Ibrahim Auta however on Tuesday mandated the trial judge to go ahead with the delivery of the judgement.

The Federal Government is prosecuting Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on 13 count charges bothering

REWARD FOR HARDWORK...

L-R: Director, Brian Munro Limited, Brian Voakes; winner, Ndubuisi Onyenanu; and Area Manager, Campari International, Michael Reder at the 2016 Campari Distributor Awards held at Classique Events Centre Ikeja, Lagos recently

on alleged false declaration of assets.

Saraki had traversed all the hierarchy of courts in the land to stop the trial, but the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court had in separate rulings held that the Senate President should go back and face his trial.

Saraki had also challenged

PDP to Pick Presidential, Other Candidate through Direct Primaries Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Ahead of its national convention, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it was planning to amend its constitution to provide for the emergence of all it's candidates for elective offices through direct primary election.

On its silence over national issues, the party said it had decided to temporarily stay off from criticism so the ruling party could devote energies to putting its house in order.

Speaking during a meeting with the former National chairman of the opposition party in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party, Peter Mac Manu, the PDP Spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh said that as part of the reforms taking place in the party, the leadership had proposed a constitutional amendment to allow its candidates for the 2019 general elections to be selected by the people at the grassroots level.

"We intend to elect our presidential candidate starting from ward level. We are going to apply Option A4 in electing our presidential candidates, means it is not going to be restricted to presidential election but others like governorship, senatorial,

House of Representatives and all, everybody would be elected from the ward level," he said.

The proposed amendment which Metuh said had already been sent to state chapters of the party nationwide would have members line up to vote for the candidates of their choice in a manner similar to the pattern popularly known as 'Option A'.

Metuh said, "People would have to queue up behind the candidates of their choice. This proposed amendment has been sent to the state chapters for their inputs in line with our desire to have people’s opinion.

"PDP is changing and in the convention we would present it for people to vote. We are going to change our system to be that our presidential candidate would be voted for by all party members in the country. It would be done at the ward level, we would no longer elect presidential candidate at the national convention.

"It would now be for every party member to vote for whoever would be our presidential candidate. Whoever would vie for our presidential ticket would have to tour the entire country before he can be elected. This is part of the reform we are coming up with. Basically, this would be the last convention where we

would have people to be elected at the national convention. We are taking the party back to the Nigerian people," he said.

He said that the amendment was part of the reforms that was contained in the Ike Ekweremadu's committee recommendation.

Metuh also lamented that as the opposition party, PDP was presently faced with various challenges ranging from persecution and defection by members into the ruling party, adding that the leadership was working hard to reposition things and to ensure that the next convention brought about a new lease of life to the party.

"Some people defect because they are hungry, that they are not well treated, while others defect because they want to be part of the cake from the ruling government or the party in power. Whereas, others also defect because they are afraid of prosecution in the belief that once they belong to the ruling party, they are safe from all manner of embarrassments," he added.

On his part, the Ghanaian opposition party chieftain said that the PDP had a lesson to learn from his party's experience, especially in the area of restructuring and rebranding.

the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar while ruling on the application had dismissed Saraki's request and consequently assumed jurisdiction.

The prosecution had since opened its trial by calling the first witness, Michael Watkas.

The witness had told the tribunal how Saraki operated three different accounts in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), namely; Naira account, Dollar account and Pounds Sterling account.

He also told the tribunal how Saraki made about 70 lodgements into the account

on a single day through one of his personal assistant.

The witness had also told the tribunal that the Kwara State Government was still paying salary to Saraki four years after he ceased to be the governor of the state. The tribunal had since adjourned till April 18 for further hearing.

Grazing Reserves Bill Portends Grave Danger for Peace, Unity of Nigeria Anayo Okoli

A pressure group, Igboekulie, committed to the cause of good governance and the upliftment of the economic status of the Igbos, has called for the stepping down of the National Grazing Reserve Commission Bill in the National Assembly.

The group in a statement signed by its chairman and Secretary, Prince Ben Onuora and Mr. Benjamin Obidegwu, said the bill, which had passed second reading in the Senate portends grave danger for peace and unity of Nigeria.

According to the group, the bill, if passed, would create many other problems. "The bill has the potential of creating more tension and ultimately more violence.

The bill is wasteful, self-serving, retrogressive, discriminatory and deceitful.

“In the Senate, there is a bill for the creation of National Grazing Reserve Commission and it has passed the second reading. Though the bill had been proposed in the past and was thrown out for good reasons, there is an attempt to resurrect the bill and rush it through the legislature process.”

Analysing Section 17(1) of the bill, the group said, “There is an element of compulsory acquisition

power granted to the Commission once ‘it appears’ to it that the land is good for grazing to seize the land of peasant and other farmers all over Nigeria for the use of the herdsmen for whose benefit the Grazing Reserves are to be created.

This is unacceptable. Otherwise, we should expect violent resistance across Nigeria.

“This bill seeks to violate the Constitution of Nigeria by authorising the Commission to merely give “due notice” in Section 18(1) to any State Governor in whose state land is to be acquired.

“It follows that the Commission has the power to seize people’s lands for the benefit of Fulani herdsmen who conveniently fall into” any class of persons”.

This bill must fail on account of this alone.

“Which Nigerian would permit his land to be seized by the government and given to another ostensibly for a public purpose which is indeed private? Robbing Peter to pay Paul is a recipe for disaster and ethnic crises.”

While stating that the federal government had no business participating directly in the business of planting and maintaining grass for herdsmen, the group noted that land was not as abundant in the South, particularly in the South-east zone where people find

it difficult to even get a plot for building a house or farming.

“With the attitude of the average Fulani herdsman, most Nigerians are indeed skeptical of this attempt to legitimise the occupation of other people’s lands with the connivance of the Federal Government. No legislation can cause this suspicion to disappear. Therefore, the bill has the potential of creating more tension and ultimately more violence.

“It is clear that this bill is unconstitutional, wasteful, self-serving, retrogressive, discriminatory and deceitful. It is a time bomb capable of igniting monumental crises in all places where attempts are made to dispossess the poor who are victims of the aggression of the herdsmen of their lands.

“The bill, if allowed to be passed into law, will shake the fabric of this nation in terms of the violence it is bound to generate. It is an ungodly attempt to reward impunity and ironically, further punish the victims of such impunity who are mostly poor.

“We hereby call on the members of the National Assembly with conscience, civil society groups, farmers and all other Nigerians to rise up and ensure that this bill is jettisoned immediately. The bill must fail as it did previously. A stitch in time saves nine”, they insisted.

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APRIL 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

Osinbajo and the Message from Seething Masses of Kano

V

ice President Yemi Osinbajo was in Kano State last Saturday to commiserate with traders at Sabon Gari Market who lost billions of Naira in a fire incident that destroyed a large chunk of the market. The visit provided an opportunity for the seething masses of Kano State to confront Osinbajo over the economic hardship foisted on the people by the archaic economic policies and the scandalous ineptitude of the Buhari administration. Efforts by security agents to suppress hundreds of Sabon Gari residents failed as they chanted, “We are suffering, no fuel, no power, no money.”

Some also carried placards with different engravings lamenting the current economic conditions across the nation. This was a big opportunity for Osinbajo to meet face-to-face with the real Nigerians feeling the brunt of our sliding economy. It was an opportunity to meet the masses, most of whom had been reduced to beggars in the last 11 months of this administration.

Of course, the vice president tried to console the seething masses of Kano State with the usual rhetoric. He told the protesters that the government was aware of their suffering and had rolled out several policies to cushion the effects.

It was Just the same old story. There was nothing new to tell the people in practical terms. Osinbajo was just showboating.

For me, the most important thing our vice president should do after this visit to Sabon Gari is to sit his principal (Muhammadu Buhari) down and present to him the facts and figures of what transpired at Sabon Gari Market on Saturday March 9, 2016. Buhari is expected back in Nigeria from China tomorrow. So Osinbajo should do the needful. He should let Buhari know that the masses across the nation are boiling, based on this first-hand experience. Is Buhari not already aware of the agony in our land? I guess this is the big question many would probably be asking me this morning. Yes, wailing Buhari and his deputy are already aware, but have not taken any practical step to suggest that they care. Perhaps, the Sabon Gari experience will ginger them into action. This

Osinbajo

is why Osinbajo has to sit his boss down and narrate the Sabon Gari experience to him. If they are not careful, the smoldering masses will start stoning them from Lagos to Kano.

The nation’s economy is not just in trouble. It is in tatters and the masses are feeling the squeeze. Just this week, it emerged that inflation had jumped to 12.8 per cent in March. The currency curbs introduced by this administration, coupled with the fuel scarcity contributed to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, to 12.8 per cent in March, compared to 11.4 per cent in February and 9.6 per cent in January. This is according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). It blamed the 1.4 per cent rise in the headline index on an increase in the prices of goods and services across the country, the highest year-onyear rise since July 2012. This is galloping inflation and it is killing our nation.

Also, the latest unemployment statistics

Buhari Received on Arrival in China by ‘Assistant Minister’ I was so depressed on Monday after seeing pictures of President Muhammadu Buhari being received on arrival in the People’s Republic of China by Mr. Cheng, the Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs. The level of the Chinese government official sent to receive him speaks volumes about the regard Chinese President Xi Jinping has for our President and our country. This was a clear case of insult.

Haba! How can they send a junior minister to receive our own Buhari? I thought that with all the hype to the State Visit by the Nigerian government, Xi Jinping would be at the Beijing International Airport waiting for Buhari. This was not the case. This is what a country and its leader get when they go all over the world begging for all sorts of funny things. Ours is now a beggar nation. The Chinese President knew that we were coming to beg. That was why Xi Jinping simply sent a junior minister to receive Buhari. He did not even send Vice President Li Yuanchao or Premier, Li Keqiang.

They no longer have regard for us because we are always running to them

Buhari

for all sorts of loan. Now, let’s look at the ugly side of the Chinese loans we beg for.

They determine the cost of the projects we propose; award the contract to China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) at whatever amount they want and pass the cost to us as a loan. If some of these projects we push to them to fund are allowed to go through Open Competitive Bidding, the cost will certainly be lower; the CCECC may not even get many of them.

by the NBS pointed to the fact that rather than a decrease, the unemployment index rose to 10.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year (Q4 2015) compared to 9.9 per cent in the previous quarter.

Buhari’s job creation strategies, if there is any, appear to have yielded little or no concrete results for now. The latest unemployment figures by the NBS showed 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. No doubt, the forex policy of this administration is creating crisis for the economy, particularly the refusal to allow the Naira to float, thus aggravating the unemployment crisis in the country as companies resort to sacking of workers to survive.

This forex policy, which encourages corruption, has led to unprecedented colossal speculative trading and roundtripping.

Again, we are still contending with the piercing fuel crisis, epileptic electricity supply, decaying infrastructure, hunger and disease. Just as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said on Monday, Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) government are largely responsible for the depreciation of the economy and the ensuing suffering of the masses. For ASUU, our president and his party are running a change government that is devoid of transformation.

The remarks of the ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Isa on the 11-month administration of Buhari is instructive. It is food for

thought. He said: “The symptoms of the prevailing economic crisis have become obvious with its attendant consequences and overall burden on Nigerians. There is no doubt that Nigerians are suffering. There exists a socio-economic crisis in Nigeria.

We are all aware of the manifestations of the crisis. There are many symptoms of the crisis - rising level of poverty; increasing rate of unemployment and heightened expectations leading to heightened frustration among Nigerians due to the failure to realise an improved living standard.”

“Food prices are higher and access to health facilities has not improved; life and property remains insecure. In short, Nigerian people are still suffering. The disappointment of Nigerians stems from the fact that we have a government whose leadership promised change but which is not practising transformation (deep, fundamental change). Democracy in Nigeria is still seen superficially as what leaders do for the people rather than government by the people. Democracy is essentially popular participation in governance and popular sovereignty.”

I sincerely hope that our Johnnie Walker will listen to the voice of wisdom and take steps to reduce the suffering of the masses.

Lest I forget, kerosene, patronised mainly by the masses, is now selling for between N150 and N200 per litre in government–approved fuel stations. This is the same kerosene that ought to be selling at N76 per litre. No government official is talking about this. May Allah save the suffering masses of this country from the “change” that has turned to “chain”.

Yes to the Bill to Remove CCB, CCT from Office of the SGF In this part of the world, when the executive and the legislature are at loggerheads, the people profit. We are clearly profiting from the current bitter relationship between Buhari and Saraki. Until last Tuesday, many Nigerians were not aware that two sensitive bodies in the war against corruption - the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) - are parastatals in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

This is undoubtedly preposterous. For years, the executive has been using this power to deal with its political opponents because these two bodies take instructions from the SGF. This is what the current SGF, Babachir Lawal is believed to be doing with the two bodies. Again, the National Judicial Council (NJC) can’t discipline CCT judges because they don’t report to the council. This was why the NJC could not discipline the current Chairman of the CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, in spite of the huge corruption petitions against him. Many are not even aware that Justice Umar is on administrative bail from the EFCC after being grilled for alleged corruption.

I was very happy when a Bill to amend the Act establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) passed the first reading at the Senate on Tuesday. The amendment aims to move the bureau and the tribunal away from the office of the SGF. Some may say that the move is coming because the current President of the Senate is on trial at the CCT. This point is immaterial here. The proposed amendment is about the future of our country and our democracy. It is about equity and justice. The objective of the proposed amendment is just and fair. How can bodies performing a quasi-judicial function reside in the executive arm of government?

They should be moved to the judicial arm of government to reduce manipulation by the executive.

I fully agree with the sponsor of the CCB Act amendment Bill, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who said: “The secretary to the government is a politician and can use it against political opponents or perceived political opponents. He oversees the CCB and the CCT; they report to his office. Since the Supreme Court in their judgment has said that they are a court of some sort, they must be seen to be neutral in nature and not to report to a politician. We want to make it completely neutral, either move it to the judiciary or move it to the National Assembly that has the power to remove the chairman and members of the tribunal.

“Otherwise, one day like we are seeing now, if you are an enemy to the SGF, he will use the CCB to put you into trouble and charge you there like we are seeing now. The intent is not because of what is happening; you cannot put a quasi-judicial arm under the control of the SGF who is a politician, appointed by the President.” The senator added that the amendment to the Act would include stipulating a timeline within which the bureau should investigate assets declared by a political office holder. This is also just and fair.

It is clearly out of place for the CCB to prescribe that a political office holder should declare belongings at the beginning and end of his tenure while the bureau decides when to investigate. Nwaoboshi clearly made sense when he added: “Within the time you came to office and the time you are leaving office, they (CCB) must have investigated your assets; what is left is to investigate the assets declared when leaving office. You do not just leave it for so many years, and then all of a sudden, someone wakes up and says `56 years ago you did not declare your asset’; that should not be so. The court has said that it made a mistake in Tinubu’s case which means another political party can come up tomorrow and pick up Tinubu.”

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APRIL 16 , 2016• THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE FUEL CRISIS

I

There is need to address the challenges in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, argues Emma Agu

be Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, continues to remain in the eye of the storm as government tackles the fuel crisis. Although the agonisingly long queues, chaotic scenes, violent outbursts and endless frustration at filling stations are beginning to abate, it will be erroneous to conclude that we are out of troubled waters.

If anything, forthright as ever, the minister has unequivocally stated that measures put in place to tackle the current crisis are indeed just short term solutions. I call them palliatives.

In the nature of things, there are those who choose to remind us that fuel queues are still with us, that Kachikwu is yet to deliver on his promise to eradicate the queues on a particular day. That is, ignoring the fact that what he actually said was that the queues would begin to abate on a particular day. Nonetheless, if the queues are yet to abate, in spite of the demonstrable effort of the minister, it behoves us all, especially the media, to identify the cogs in the wheel of progress. But what I see is the persistent effort to paint the dark side of things, to always see the glass as half empty and not half full!

Part of the problem is that we often dwell on the effect of poor policy or lack of it and ignore the root causes of our problems. By the same token, responsibilities that ought to be shared by the various arms of government are shoved to only the executive branch with other arms of government posturing as if they can extricate themselves from responsibility. We shall return to this shortly.

One salutary effect of adversity is that it throws up opportunities that, explored, can lead to very beneficial outcomes. I think we stand a good chance of altering the balance in our favour if matters arising from the fuel scarcity are subjected to objective scrutiny.

The first matter arising is that there exists, at all times, those whose stock-in-trade is to sabotage every government policy for personal benefits. They did it to Olusegun Obasanjo, they did it to Goodluck Jonathan; they are now doing it to Muhammadu Buhari.

These unscrupulous petroleum marketers continue to sabotage the effort of the department of petroleum resources (DPR) to stabilise the fuel supply situation. To them, it does not matter if Kachikwu, like other ministers before him, decides to shout himself hoarse, adopt the most novel strategies or even preach to them from the pulpit. Ask any motorist in Lagos and you will be told how some petroleum marketers divert truckloads of premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol from the city centre to the outskirts after escorts from the DPR would have left the gas stations. These unscrupulous dealers deploy every strategy to beat NNPC surveillance.

Out of the prying eyes of the DPR, the diverted fuel is sold at much higher prices and the rest recycled to the city centre to be sold in the open ‘black market’ at cut throat prices. Certainly the fuel being hawked by vendors, Nigeria’s army of jobless youth, did not rain down from heaven. Somebody gave it to them. And it is not Ibe Kachikwu, who has been doing a yeoman’s job, trying to clean up the Augean stables created in the decades when the locust ravaged our common patrimony with reckless disdain and unconscionable rapacity.

Now, we must return to the realistic choices that need to be made, no matter how unpopular they may seem in the short run. Here is the scenario. Over time, when PMS is scarce, vehicle owners are ready to pay any price to obtain it. Not only that, for

UNTIL WE CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS LOCAL REFINERIES TO PROVIDE THE BULK OF THE COUNTRY’S PMS REQUIREMENTS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE PERIODIC DISRUPTIVE FUEL SHORTAGES

far too long, PMS has never really sold at a uniform price all over the country. Thus there have always been spatial and temporal disparities in the price structure. Paradoxically, for largely political reasons, government has always retained a uniform pump head price of PMS that defies practical logic or economic sense, rates that are unattractive to suppliers either from local refiners or importers.

This explains the crippling subsidy that has been exploited by the oil cabal to the detriment of Nigerians. Either way, the people suffer double jeopardy: prices go up even as scarcity persists.

To understand the situation, we need to listen to former treasurer of the western zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr. Shina Amoo. Quoting Amoo in its story, “Scarcity: Queues grow longer despite Kachikwu’s promise,” the Saturday Punch of April 9, 2016, reported thus: “The former IPMAN chief said oil marketers could not buy above the recommended price and sell below the price…” Punch quoted Amoo further: “The April date given by the minister (Ibe Kachikwu) is not feasible. The man first said the scarcity would end by May and he came under heavy attacks so he apologised and gave another date. I don’t think the scarcity will end earlier than end of May. “The last time I bought fuel, I paid N182 per litre and how much do you expect me to sell that?” he queried, adding: “It has to be higher and that is why filling stations now sell as high as N200 a litre”. Some home truth, you will say. So where do we go from here? Blaming Ibe Kachikwu or any other person for that matter is begging the question. We cannot eat our cake and have it too. Something has to give. We either restore subsidy, with all its adverse effects on public finance or we allow market forces to stabilise the system. Ask any cab operator or any vehicle owner and the response will be that they don’t mind paying more for fuel so long as supply of the product is guaranteed. I think that should be the strategic index in tackling the fuel crisis. If that is what the price modulation principle is all about, let’s muster the political will to get cracking!

But the most important matter arising from the fuel crisis is the need to enact a policy framework deregulating the downstream sector in such a way that gives investors the confidence to prefer Nigeria to other investment destinations. Until we create an environment that allows local refineries to provide the bulk of the country’s PMS requirements, we will continue to experience periodic disruptive fuel shortages.

We are back to the issue of shared responsibilities. What is the role of the legislature in all these? Why is the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) still circulating in the National Assembly? What prospect does it hold for a more robust and efficient oil industry? Why are those interested in killing the bill gaining the upper hand? Can the Eighth Legislature depart from the past and place itself as an icon of patriotism by passing the PIB without further delay?

Rather than the thinly veiled campaign to discredit Kachikwu, as in the distraction of using a private jet on which NNPC did not expend a kobo, we should preoccupy ourselves with addressing the fundamental structural challenges that have discouraged investors in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

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

CHIBOK AND THE TALE OF TWO NIGERIA

A

Emmanuel Ojeifo argues Nigeria has created two standards of human valuation: one for the rich and the other for the poor

pril 14, 2016 marked two years since Boko Haram stormed the hitherto unfamiliar town of Chibok, Borno State, in the dead of the night and kidnapped over 200 secondary schoolgirls. To date, we have not been able to understand how this mysterious event took place. That over 200 young girls could be whisked away like a flashing light of thunder and no one could raise alarm, no one knew by what means they were transported and where exactly they were taken to, was certainly a symptom of systemic national security failure!

Two years after Chibok: quo vadis? No one would have believed that two rounds of 365 days would come and go without us unable to account for the whereabouts of our children. For everyone who cares about the value of human life, this is surely the sorest point in our nation’s attitude to security of human life. For the Chibok girls, wherever they may be at this time, nothing else speaks more eloquently to them about their betrayal by this nation. Each time I pause to think about their fate, I don’t stop short of wondering: What shall we say to our own children a quarter-century to come when they ask us about what we did for those precious, innocent lives when it mattered most?

After Chibok, other tragedies have happened involving our children. The more recent cases of teenage kidnapping and forced marriages only go to reveal the abyss of moral destitution into which we have plunged ourselves as a nation.

A culture of silence, fostered by a climate of fear

continues to create the fertile ground for the treatment of our children as objects of gratification and predatory sexual pleasure. After over a century since the abolition of slave trade in Nigeria, modern forms of human trafficking continue to suck hundreds of our children and young girls into the vortex of despicable human merchandise. We cannot continue to live in denial, as if these problems do not exist. We cannot afford to fold our arms and watch the faces of our nation’s future being expropriated slowly and steadily in an abominable clandestine commercial system that feasts on vulnerable children.

Sadly, our vulnerable children have suffered unimaginable abuses in this nation because we have created two standards of human valuation: one for the rich and the other for the poor. There are two “Nigerias” today and, indeed, two sets of Nigerians: the ordinary Nigerians and the prominent Nigerians. The ordinary Nigerians are those who are routinely slaughtered at checkpoints, who go for days and weeks without electric power, their slums and ghettoes besieged by merciless mosquitoes, obese rats and die-hard cockroaches; they are the ones who have no food on their tables, many of them with no sources of livelihood.

The ordinary Nigerians are often the victims caught in the crossfire of armed banditry, and violence.

Opposed to this group are the prominent Nigerians. While the ordinary Nigerians are

slaughtered at checkpoints, the prominent Nigerians even if they are certified criminals are guarded round the clock by a retinue of servile, bag-carrying police officers. Prominent Nigerians own big generators that supply them with power, build massive homes to house their inflated egos, and dream of ever more depraved ways of stealing from the commonwealth and pauperising majority of their misfortunate citizens. While prominent Nigerians commit crimes with chutzpah and go scot free, the ordinary Nigerians languish behind bars in Kuje and Kirikiri.

No one seems to better capture this disconcerting narrative like Richard Dowden, a perceptive British journalist, in his book Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracle (2010). According to Dowden, “the rulers who steal Nigeria’s future and a poor man who steals a piece of yam at the market are judged very differently.

Pinch a yam in the market and you will have a petrol-soaked tyre jammed round your neck and set alight. Trouser a billion dollars of state funds and everyone laughs and fawns on you.” It is this entrenched system of injustice and impunity that has created the fertile ground for the social dysfunctions that we are all witnessing today.

Let Chibok, therefore, be the end of the manifestation of Charles Dickens’ “Tale of two Cities” in Nigeria. We must vehemently oppose the gradual conversion of our country into a modern version of George Orwell’s animal farm, where some animals are more equal than others.

Chibok must become a monument of change in our nation’s attitude to children. It must become the turning point in our collective effort to rid our land of human predators who feast on the body and blood of vulnerable children. It must become the watershed in our government’s effort to secure the lives of all Nigerian children, irrespective of creed, language, and social status.

The life of the poor child in Kaura Namoda, with tattered clothes and catarrh-dripping nose, must have the same value with the life of the pampered child in Victoria Island. We must accord the same opportunities and provide the same level playing field for the child of a blacksmith in Askira village in Borno and the child of a Minister in Aso Drive, Abuja. This is perhaps the greatest legacy we can bequeath to our children – a society built on the solid foundation of justice, with equal rights, freedoms, and opportunities for all. On the contrary, when we treat our children with two different sets of standards, we provoke a disorder in the equilibrium of social justice with severe repercussion for human lives. When tragedy happens, it should force upon us the burden of critical thinking. With every tragedy comes the opportunity to build a monument of good governance, inspired citizenry and bold actions.

Tragedy is an opportunity to do better, to create better systems and conditions that ensure that such tragedy does not happen again.

Ojeifo is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Abuja.

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APRIL 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Where are they?

T

Nigeria: Waiting for Change

hat Nigeria is the giant of Africa is a hyperbolic expression. The fact is, Nigeria has the potentialities to become the true giant of Africa. One out of every five black person is a Nigerian. Nigeria has a humongous population.

This is a plus for us. Nigerians in the Diaspora are contributing immensely to the development of their host countries, instead of helping Nigeria to achieve technological and economic growth, although they send remittances home for the upkeep of their immediate families in Nigeria. These people with skills, expertise, and knowledge can be lured back to Nigeria in order that they should contribute their quotas towards the development of Nigeria.

Again, unlike in Europe, America, and Asia where acts of God, such as typhoon, Tsunami, and earth quakes cause the devastation of infrastructure, public buildings, and the loss of human lives, these natural disasters do not occur in Nigeria. Nigeria is a very large country that is peopled by diverse ethnic groups. Our strength lies in our diversities as we can utilise our diversities to achieve national growth. Rather, our country is bifurcated along ethnic and religious lines. Here in Nigeria, our weather condition is equable; and our land arable and fertile. Agriculture, which used to be the mainstay of our economy before the discovery of oil, has been neglected and relegated to the background. Has Nigeria achieved sufficiency in food production? The answer is a categorical no.

Food shortages do afflict us.

And mineral resources are deposited below our soil. Such natural resources as bauxite, limestone, coal, tin ore, and crude oil lie beneath our soil. Is Nigeria not the sixth largest producer of oil in the world? Our receipt of foreign revenues is dependent on the sale of our crude-oil. Consequently, the slump in the global oil prices has thrown our mono-economy into recession and tail-spin.

So, why has Nigeria not attained a great height in terms of economic and technological development for all its human and material resources?

Nigeria’s backwardness is not unconnected to bad political and military leaderships. Dictatorial, repressive, and fascist military regimes interspersed with inept and corrupt political leaderships ruined our country’s economy, truncated our political evolution, and stalled our technological advancement. Nigeria has not realised its potentialities simply because our country has not been led by its best politicians.

The factors of the imposition of leaders, a legacy left behind by our colonial masters, and providential interference, threw up our national

leaders. Those unwilling leaders were overwhelmed by the demands and challenges of that topmost and exalted political office. Think about Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua evinced the tendencies of an able and visionary leader, but death cut short his stay in office.

After making some futile attempts at winning the presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari clinched the presidential post during the last general election. The coalescing of some political parties into APC, and the political input of the political titan, Bola Tinubu, contributed to the electoral success of Buhari. He rode to victory on the crest and coat-tails of his distaste for corruption, and Spartan life style. More so, the APC campaign slogan of change resonated with Nigerians. Many Nigerians were disaffected and disenchanted with Jonathan’s insipid, rudderless, inept, and corrupt political leadership.

During his electioneering, President Muhammadu Buhari promised to bring change to our polity. To be fair to him, he hasn’t stayed long in office.

Chiedu Uche Okoye, Uruowulu – Obosi, Anambra State

Rivers is a PDP State

T

he world can now attest to the truth. Rivers State is purely a PDP state. This fact will not change for a very long time. At least, not until 2023. The choice to stand with the PDP was deliberately taken by the people in view of the presence of Nigeria’s most pro-people politician and leader, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as a member of the party.

The rerun elections in the state have laid to rest the vain boasts of political armed robbers, clothed in ‘borrowed federal might’ unleashed on the people through noisy media tour and desperate intimidation on the day of elections, simply because ‘they’ want to capture the “Treasure Base of the Nation.”

Those leaders who were convinced in their hearts in Abuja and Lagos that by simply handing over the security agencies to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi they would intimidate the Rivers people into allowing the APC rig the rerun elections now understand the depth of Governor Wike’s support base across the length and breadth of the state.

Even those who thought they would change the outcome of the process by unleashing media violence, false propaganda, negative profiling and

T H E S AT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R

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T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

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orchestrated violence should be wiser by now.

They tested the resolve of the Rivers people and they have found out that the people know who is their leader. They found out that the era of impostors masquerading as leaders has been jettisoned in the state. Most importantly, they found out that the Rivers people will withstand any form of terror to attain development.

By handing over the security forces to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who declared that he will flood the state with soldiers, the ‘powers that be’ practically declared war on the state. They deliberately removed the neutrality of security forces and compelled them to operate from a political viewpoint. The powers that be simply gave life to the statement of embattled APC National Chairman, Mr John Odigie-Oyegun that the APC was ready to do anything to capture Rivers State.

All the cases of violence witnessed on March 19, 2016, during the rerun elections were traced to the doorsteps of the military supported by the APC. They were extremely overzealous in their negative commitment to favour the APC. The four persons who died in the course of the rerun elections were victims of military high-handedness. That the atmosphere became charged during collation was because Rivers people resisted the several attempts by the military to supplant collated results with results concocted at the Novotel hotel in Port Harcourt.

Elections were cancelled in eight local government areas because the people and other stakeholders stood their ground, insisting on credible polls despite provocative military intimidation. On election day, all the victims of violence were members of the Peoples Democratic Party. APC leaders were assigned soldiers with which they illegally arrested and beat up PDP members.

This writer believes that the rerun elections were a referendum of sorts. Though Governor Wike and his man opponent, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, were not directly involved in the elections, the elections were a true test of who is actually on ground. The results are in the public domain.

Following the heavy defeat suffered by the APC despite its control of the federal might, the party and her leadership have returned to their original turf, cooking up lies and circulating propaganda materials. The APC has conscripted paid groups to link the violence during the rerun elections to Governor Wike. Like every other issue, this will fail.

Simeon Nwakaudu, Port Harcourt

14

APRIL 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLSCOPE

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com 08053069356

Was it a Mistake Voting for Buhari?

N

ot many people will think twice before answering the above question in the affirmative mode. This is understandable. The myriad of problems facing Nigerians, ironically at a time they thought they were very near the Promised Land, is enough to wonder whether or not Nigerians were actually right in their choice of a new president last year.

Indeed, I have heard and read, on the social media, a new campaign: #Bring Back Our Corruption.

And the argument is that if with the monumental corruption of the previous government, we had petrol, inflation was single digit, U.S Dollar was about N200 and available, the electricity companies could still provide light for about six to 10 hours a day, and the general econometrics of life were yet attainable, then we should have that brand of corruption and let life continue. Those who hold this belief argue that Buhari’s fight against corruption, apart from appearing as the mono-agenda of his government, has not translated in any way to better life for the people both for those who voted for him and those who didn’t.

I must admit that the arguments are indeed tempting.

Matters are not helped by the fact that President Buhari’s legs seem to have been whipped by the spirits, hence he keeps junketing round the world and cannot stay at home to solve our crushing problems, especially the fuel scarcity menace , even as he is the substantive Petroleum minister.

Those who are a little uncharitable liken him to Emperor Nero who sat atop his courtyard fiddling away while Rome burnt.

As one who deeply believes in the Buhari ideology of Change and his ascetic disposition, I have been buffeted by calls, and enquiries, some of them in open mockery, on the “foolishness” of the “Change” we clamoured for. They settle for the lousy cliché that “the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know”. The devil in this case being former President Goodluck Jonathan while the unknown angel is President Buhari. Everyday, wherever I turn, it is a heated and drawn argument.

But as bitter and harsh as our experiences may be, I see the rising of the sun. The sun that will brighten our days and light up our lives. The sun that will usher in a new dawn and give us a new lease of life and hope. It is natural for people to resist change. It is even worse when the said change comes with long and sharp spikes.

Yet, I know that the “glory of the latter House shall be greater than the former” Things will get better.

My conviction is built on the Jarikre phenomenon.

Jarikre is an Urhobo word that literally means “it is suffering that appears to last long”. And so it is, for the nearly one month that Nigerians have been going through hell sourcing petrol, it looks like eternity. Nigerians have truly had it to their hilt.

It is perhaps trite restating the fact that the current mess Nigerians are wading through is part of the miasma of inefficiency inherited from past governments.

Yes, the argument can be made that it is because of the sordid performance of the Jonathan administration that the Buhari administration was voted into power with steaming ululation from the Nigerian voters. But almost one year after, the Buhari administration does not seem to have come to grips with the reparative work it elected to fix. And Nigerians are getting impatient not only with the state d’affaires but also with the poor

L

ast Monday, it was the turn of the Nasarawa lawmakers to exhibit their shamelessness.

The state governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura had appointed some sole administrators in some local government areas of the state and needed the approval of the House of Assembly to swear them in. While a majority of the lawmakers approved of the appointments, some six lawmakers accused the rest of receiving bribe from the governor, hence they are supporting the appointments of the sole administrators.

The accusation led to a heated argument

Canticles...

Fayose and Aluko: A Shameless Pair

I

have always told you not to bet even an old rag for politicians. They are just not worth it. Their degree of inconsistency in all things is monumental. I can’t stand it. Gosh!

What or who is getting you so pissed off like this?

Are the evidences that they are not reliable persons not overwhelming? Can’t we see their Camelionic nature everywhere we turn? Is it any surprise that they don’t keep their electoral promises?

Don’t forget they have an operational creed that says. “In Politics, there are no permanent friends, nor permanent enemies, only permanent interest”.

Bull shit! Does that mean no personal principle? No self esteem or no shred of honesty?

Who exactly are you referring to? Don’t forget there are very decent and disciplined politicians as well.

Buhari information flow from those who should reassure Nigerians of what indeed is happening.

But more discerning persons do know that the country was deep in monumental mess. Sometimes, I wonder what our collective fate would have been if Jonathan won that election.

Yes, so much money has been recovered and more are still being recovered from the treasury looters of yesteryears. The amount of financial malfeasance of the past is unimaginable.

It strips some of the past leaders of whatever honour left of them. Even the recent revelations of the Panama Papers are quite very telling.

Many quick-fix ‘experts’ are wont to ask what has been done with the recovered loots. In times past, loots had been re-looted. But I dare say that such cannot or would not happen in this regime.

If nothing else, the Buhari administration has been able to tame the monster called impunity.

I am certain that when all the lousy litigations of some of the recovered loots have been settled, the recovered loots will be ploughed into bettering the lives of Nigerians in very specific ways and manners that can be identified, seen and touched.

My belief in Buhari’s capacity to revamp and redirect the Nigerian economy remains unshaken. I believe that soon as the petroleum product supply normalizes in a matter of days, and electricity supply improves, the economy will recover from the present inertia.

Nigeria will be like a shrub cut down but ready to regenerate, trying to sprout forth from all the buds.

My hope for a better tomorrow is not diminished by the present challenges, so long as we do not depart from the path of national recovery and redemption.

My philosophical interpretation of this phase of our experience is that we are suffering at the moment so we can secure a better tomorrow. A friend countered this by saying that are the same sermon he had heard all his life, right from his primary school days where the gospel of “belt tightening “ has continually been preached. He asked: “when shall this belt ever be loosened?”

So back to the Jarikre phenomenon, I am confident that by the time the teething problems of this administration have been addressed and we seemingly float into a new order of reprieve, Nigerians are very likely going to forget the present sufferings and hardships. The bliss of tomorrow will wipe away the tears of today.

When that happens, the lesson of the Jarikre phenomenon would have been fully achieved.

Did you not hear of the Aluko U-turn?

How he went back to his vomit by reconciling with the man he accused of all kinds of electoral fraud last January?

Did you remember how that man called Temitope Aluko, former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State literally stripped Fayose bare of his so-called election victory by revealing the sordid deals that made Fayose to win the election? Have you forgotten the finite details of the schemes that swung that election in PDP favour? Have you forgotten how this same Aluko addressed…

Enough! Don’t forget it is a struggle for power. And the Machiavellian principle supports the end justifying the means. Just any how is ok, provided the ultimate power is grabbed. After that, all else can be settled.

I don’t understand you. Are you justifying the return of Aluko to Fayose?

Do you know that on account of the Tope and Fayose revelations of Aluko Maj Gen Momoh has been retired prematurely from the Nigerian army? Do you know how many people’s career are on the line because of the revelations? Do you realise how many people Aluko splashed mud on during his confessions? And after all those dirty deals, he goes back to meet the man he accused of these alchemic sins? Is that what you call politics? Or are you saying politics is a synonym for shamelessness?

Wait a minute. The same Aluko has denied going back to want to reconcile with Fayose.

Didn’t you read his denial?

That makes him even more shameless. He was caught by a Channels Television camera in a hotel with Fayose, after a wedding. He spoke for almost five minutes. He defended his action by admitting there have been some pressure on him to make up with Fayose. He said his interest is to move Ekiti forward. Fayose even called him “ my son”. And that they are together again. Aluko said all kinds of things typical of a turncoat… now he denies seeking reconciliation with Fayose, less than 72 hours after.

What kind of man is that?

No permanent friend, No permanent ene… (cuts in) Away with those retrogressive clichés! Look, after all the things Aluko revealed, Fayose should have resigned. Or at best be shamefully quiet all through the rest of his administration. Rather, he had remained garrulous and noisy, tugging at the presidency like a frustrated school boy crying after bully.

Is it true that the Tope Aluko is heading back to Fayose because the APC where he ran to did not offer him anything tangible? And that because typical politicians cannot endure political winter for a long time? Is it also true that he had attacked Fayose with his exposé because the latter failed to given him the appointment they had agreed on?

Do I look like Tope Aluko? When next you see him, ask him those questions.

Please spare me this shameless pair.

That’s the way of politics my brother. Haven’t you seen all the alignments and realignments across board? Never take politicians too serious. That’s all I can say.

The Nasarawa Nonsense and the arguments led to exchange of blows and within a twinkle of eye, it degenerated to a free for all. Bedlam was brought down.

They threw all kinds of things at one another. One of them started jumping from one seat to another like a monkey, and landed on his stomach right on the floor, but pronto, he sprang up and continued the fight. That is somebody’s husband, that is somebody’s father. That is indeed somebody’s (tor)mentor!

activities of marauding Fulani herdsmen, who have chased away their constituents from their homes. That never got them sufficiently vexed to “fight the good fight”.

Here is a state where scores of Policemen, Almost always, it has to be money that DSS Operatives and top government will rev up our lawmakers to the point of officials were massacred few years back by exchange of blows. After the shameful interlude, the lawmakers, some of them with some notorious Ombatse cultists. Till date, torn clothes, and near bare chest looked no the matter is dead and buried along with the victims. Such issues do not trouble the different from the Tokyo Boys, the notoriNasarawa lawmakers. It has to be moneyous Ibadan agbero (NURTW chieftain), related. It is a shame! And greater shame after a motor park fight at Oluyole. They that some of them also went through appeared like scoundrels with their eyes twitching like those of low-base criminals. Universities where they were declared to have been “found worthy in Character Here are lawmakers whose state is and in learning” What a misnormer! almost a massive IDP camp owing to the

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •APRIL 16, 2016

15

NEWS

In Brief Arewa Queries Chibok Girls Video

The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), has queried the authenticity of the video aired on Cable News Network (CNN) an international media network, coinciding with the second year of the girls abduction.The group also suspected that there could be an ulterior motive behind the video.

President of the group, Adamu Adamu in a statement yesterday noted that analysis of the video, provided by CNN, suggested that the tape was shot sometimes around December 2015 and wondered why the network held on to the video for several months and decided to release it on the second year anniversary. Adamu said the Nigerian security agencies must probe the authenticity of the video so that it doesn't end up as mere movie prop that mattered only to the point of boosting viewership and growing ratings. "Without doubt, there are motives behind the release of the video on the anniversary of the day the girls were abducted", they said.

'Show Buhari More Understanding'

PARTNERSHIP THATWORKS...

L-R: Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Willie M. Obiano and the State Commander, NDLEA, Anambra State Command, Momodu Sule after a security meeting in Awka, Anambra State

Tiv Group Faults Buhari's Silence over Fulani Killings

Bukola Eshun in Abuja

Abuja-based Club De Pals, a non-profit organisation comprising young professionals from the Tiv extraction, has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari on his failure to take decisive actions that will end the on-going killing of farmers and innocent citizens by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.

The group also accused President Buhari of marginalising and neglecting the Tiv people despite their overwhelming support for him and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections.

In an open letter to the President, Club De Pals expressed concern that it was becoming worrisome that despite the global attention which the genocidal attacks in some parts of

the state had generated, the Federal Government continued to pay lip service to a crisis that had claimed several lives.

Over 3,000 people have reportedly been killed and property worth hundreds of millions of naira destroyed since the crisis broke out in 2012.

According to the group, President Buhari and his APC-led Federal Government needed to urgently treat the Benue crisis with the same seriousness being deployed to tackling the insurgency in the North-East, as the killings and destructions in Benue were as devastating as the Boko Haram operations in the North-East.

"The latest round of the crisis which started in Agatu local government area with the killing of over 400 people in one single attack, has spread to Tarka, Makurdi, Guma,

Logo, Katsina-Ala, Buruku, Gwer West, Ukum and Kwande Local Government Areas of the state," the group stressed.

Club De Pals noted that the attacks on innocent farmers by Fulani herdsmen who moved freely with sophisticated weapons in the state were coming at a time the state Governor Samuel Ortom had just carried out an amnesty programme where dozens of arms were retrieved.

They therefore condemned the provocative comments by the spokesman of the Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah (Cattle Breeders Association), Alhaji Banire, that the Fulanis were responsible for the attacks in revenge for the killing of their cattle.

The group insisted that it was rather becoming clearer that the adventure of Fulanis into the

state was a well-planned scheme to destabilise Benue people and possibly snatch their ancestral lands by some expansionists who were only operating under the guise of herdsmen.

"We state emphatically that the continued silence of Mr. President on this very significant national security matter, the response of the Minister of Interior, Lt-Gen Abdulrahman Danbazzau to convene a 'town hall meeting' without any specific date, the comments credited to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase during his visit to Agatu community that he could not see the bodies of the 400 people massacred in 10 villages, have all combined to give us the message that we are not liked, unsafe and unprotected by the Federal Government", they said.

BVN: Staff of 23 MDAs in Sokoto may not Get April Salaries Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto Staff of 23 out of the 96 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Sokoto State may not receive their April salaries for failure to meet the April 11 deadline for the submission of the Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) of their various workers.

Speaking to newsmen in Sokoto Friday, the Head of the Service (HOS) in the state, Alhaji Bature Shinkafi, said the state government had early this month directed all the agencies

and ministries to submit the BVN numbers of all their workers latest

by April 11.

He stated that at the close of the deadline on April 11, only 73 agencies were able to meet the deadline, while 23 others failed to do so. ''The state government had also directed that any MDA that failed to meet the deadline will not get the April salaries of its workers.

"In fact, the affected workers will only get their April salaries after facing a special verification committee

of reputable people, “Shinkafi said.

He disclosed that a committee which will soon be set up would receive the details of the service records of the affected workers, after which they would be paid their salaries.

Shinkafi emphasised that the exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting anybody but rather to ascertain the actual staff strength and wage bill of the state government.

He explained that the staff strength of the state government now stood

at about 26,000, with an average monthly wage bill of over N 1.6 billion, adding that the exercise was aimed at sanitising the state civil service, as well as blocking all areas of leakages of the state government's incomes which are becoming leaner by the day.

"The state government wants to avoid a situation where all its incomes goes to the payment of salaries, as this ugly trend will certainly incapacitate the state government from executing projects in the state," he added.

LASWA, Boat Operators, Dredgers Indicted over Mishaps on State Waterways Femi Durojaiye Dredging companies and operators of boat transportation have been accused of being the cause of the incessant boat mishaps on Lagos waterways with their activities.

It was alleged during a Stakeholders Meeting on "The Incessant Boat Mishaps on the Waterways in the State: Causes and Solutions" organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

They agreed that dredgers should be monitored and government agencies such as the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Lagos State Security Safety Commission, Lagos Ferry Services and

the Ministry of Transportation needed to do more to improve safety on the waterways.

The representative of Man 'O' War, Mr. Oladehinde Charles set the ball rolling by accusing illegal dredgers and boat operators of not following the rules of the operation.

He emphasised that there should be awareness amongst the passengers about safety jackets and other safety measures, adding that importance should be placed on first aid box, provision of manifest, distress call and compliance with safety limits.

In his presentation, DSP Ogunbale Benjamin, who represented Marine Police, pointed out that abandoned

logs and timbers sometimes lead to boat mishaps, adding that this was common in Makoko Area of the state.

"Some objects are submerged inside the water and these also cause accidents on the waterways.

Weather is also a natural phenomenon that could cause boat mishaps and it could make the operators run into unseen objects.

"Also, some of the operators are incompetent because they cannot navigate properly. Overspeeding is another problem and some passengers even encourage boat captains to overspeed.

"Moreso, some boats are not seaworthy as they easily give way

inside the water.

There is also a problem of inadequate safety equipment on the part of LASWA. Overloading and pollution are other problems in the sector," he said.

Benjamin then suggested that the waterways should be cleared properly, while the operators should be properly certificated to eliminate charlatans.

He advised the usage of light by fishermen, provision of safety apparatuses, prevention of overloading and effective sand dredging on the water, adding that dredging had caused a lot of shallowness inside the water.

Apparently worried that President Mohammadu Buhari seemed slow in his approach to governance, a businessman and community leader, Prince Henry Omorodion, has called for calm, understanding and patience. He said this in a statement made available to THISDAY over the weekend.

Omorodion, who is the Chairman of Hensmor Group pleaded that given the rot that had pervaded the polity, it would take a lot of efforts to fix the country. He noted that the president was already tackling the issue of corruption and under sundry matters. “I can understand the expectations of Nigerians, but I am equally pleading for patience and understanding on thepartofNigeriansbecauseitwon’tbeaneasyjobtofixthiscountryback.

It will take a lot of efforts as so many things have gone wrong. We should thank God that President Buhari is already repositioning the country and taking it back to where it is supposed to be in the comity of nations”, he said.

Ooni Extols Fajuyi

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II has described the late Governor of the old Western region Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi who was killed alongside the former Head of state of Nigeria, General Aguiyi Ironsi during a coup in on July 29th 1966 as a patriotic Nigerian, victim of absolute loyalty and symbol of national unity that should not be forgotten in the history of Nigeria.The monarch declared this yesterday while playing host to a delegation of Adekunle FajuyiEducationTrustledbyitsExecutiveSecretaryMrs.DesolaOlajuyigbe ( Nee Fajuyi) at his Palace in Ile Ife.The delegation briefed him on plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the heroic passing of the former military Governor of the Western Region as well as the activities of the trust.The spokesman of the trust Mr. Patrick Doyle informed Ooni of the theme of the commemorative event slated for the 29th of July in Abuja, " Heroism and The Yoruba Race”.

Commission Arranges ‘Win a Trip to Israel’

In a bid to forestall a situation whereby only rich Nigerians could afford to travel on holy pilgrimage to Israel, the Nigeria Christians’ Pilgrimage Commission has resorted to raffle draw to help poor Nigerians. Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Friday on the raffle draw, the Southwest coordinator of programme tagged : ‘Win a Trip to Israel’ , Senator Ayo Arise , said the recent steps became imperative following the ways some states had backed out of sponsorship of holy pilgrimage due to financial crisis rocking the nation. Arise said the ticket for the raffle draw, which commencesonApril18inAdoEkiti,wouldcostN500andwouldbeavailable in all the branches of United Bank for Africa across the zone.The former Senator added that the programme would be prosecuted by Fortune Games Limited under the supervision of the Christians’ Association of Nigeria and Nigerian Lottery Commission. Arise, the Chief Executive Officer of Quick Win Lotto posited that winners from all the states of the federation would be sponsored by the commission after emerging from a transparent contest.

ABSU Honours Nkire

ABIA State University will today award Mr.Theo Nkire, the first Attorney General of Abia State an honorary doctorate degree in Law (LL.D Honoris Causa) at its convocation in Uturu. Nkire graduated with a Second Class degreeinLawfromtheUniversityofLagosin1978andhasbeeninpractice forthepast37years,includingasix-yearstintinNewYorkwherehehandled mostly immigration issues. A statement from him said his practices in Nigeria were more embracing. Nkire after secondary education at Ihie HighSchoolandGovernmentCollege,Umuahia,wasateacherandworked with Radio Nigeria in Kaduna and Jos as announcer and studio manager.

He was the first lawyer that Radio Nigeria employed and he set up the Legal Department of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria. He was a member of the 1988/89 National Conference that produced the 1989 Constitution. He was also the National Legal Adviser of the National Republican Party, NRC, which contested the disputed 1993 presidential election with the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Glo Offers Free Phones on Data Purchase

Subscribers to Globacom, national telecommunications operator, are being offered free smartphone when they buy a data plan in a new promotion by the network. The company said in a press statement that the promo would enable subscribers to get a smartphone whose cost was equivalent to the value of the data plan they subscribed to. “For instance, when a subscriber buys a data plan for either N15, 000 or N18, 000, he will receive a smartphone worth the same value at no extra cost”, Globacom explained. In addition to the free smartphones, the subscriber would enjoy benefits offered by the plans. The N15, 000 data plan comes with 1.4Gb data bundle per month for 12 months, which translates to a cumulative of approximately 17Gb at the end of the plan period. A subscriber would also go home with a free handset worth N15, 000. “Similarly, a customer who opts for the N18, 000 data plan will get 1.7Gb data per month for the next 12 months, giving a collective data of approximately 21Gb, and a free smartphone worth N18, 000”, they further explained. The promo, the company said, would be valuable for customers who would like to upgrade their phones as well as for first time data users.

16

SATURDAY APRIL 16, 2016 T H I S D AY

Plus Prof. Itse Sagay

As a Young Man, I Was Shy To Relate with Women

MEMOIRS AUTO GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND FITNESS FASHION FILE

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

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 16, 2016

18

Plus

Everybody is Guilty of Corruption Including Me

Old but bold; blunt and brilliant, the legal luminary is forthright and ready to take on any government seen as working against the people. As a lecturer, he stood against the ills of a Vice Chancellor and the military government leading to his compulsory retirement. Suave, simple and cerebral, he is one lawyer who believes truth is the most important aspect of his profession. But, law has not always been his dream job. He wanted to study medicine. Heeding his father’s voice, he toed the legal path. Erudite and endearing Professor Itsejuwa Esanjumi Sagay, Managing Partner of Itse Sagay & Co Legal Practitioner and Consultant, is an advocate of fairness and moral uprightness. Recently appointed as chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Sagay speaks with Omolabake Fasogbon on corruption going on among judges, his love for his wife and relationship with his children, among other issues

H

ow do you find your new job as head of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption?

It’s quite challenging.

I must confess. It’s not a full-time job as you know that I also have other commitments.

This one in particular takes most of my time. We have so many things to do in the committee and each task takes a lot of time to resolve. For instance, we take decisions and decisions are not just taken at a go. Afterwards, we settle for implementation and forward our advice and recommendations to the appropriate bodies. We are also interacting with judges to lecture them on how to effectively implement the Criminal Justice Act implemented in 2015 in such a way that it will achieve the purpose of the law; as most of the judges have yet to be familiar with the law and implementation process law which makes it more difficult for the committee. For instance, we have a new law which judges are not familiar with and are not ready to abide by the provision despite our interaction with them. This new law states that when a criminal case is brought before a judge and the defendant files a preliminary objection, the judge after listening to the preliminary objection which must have been argued by the defence and prosecution, goes to the corruption case proper and after the conclusion, gives the ruling and the judgment together. However, the reverse is what is obtainable in the sense that after judges might have listened to a preliminary objection, they settle for adjournment to give a ruling and this has been abolished a long time ago. It is most challenging with corrupt judges who are willing to compromise the ethics of law profession for any amount. All what we are doing now can only be fruitful if we have morally upright judges and they are hard to come by. Unfortunately, judges have been frustrating our efforts. They are the thorns in the committee’s flesh because no matter how we try to cleanse the society, cases still fall on their table.

Given the sensitive nature of this job, how did you feel when you were first informed that you will head the committee?

Though it came as a big surprise, I felt positive and so honoured because what they are asking me to do now is what

Sagay

I’ve been talking about in the public for decades. So getting this appointment offers me the privilege to work in a milieu about which I’ve been advocating. I now have official authority to perform in an area where I’ve been speaking as a private citizen. While I must admit that it’s a risky one in terms of security, I’ve always put God first in whatever I do and look up to him for protection and guidance.

In addition to that, I also have adequate protection from state authority.

What has changed about you since you got this appointment?

The fact that I now go about with escort is a development that is very strange to me. I’m not used to such lifestyle. All my life, I’ve been a free person but such is not the case for now. I have escorts who follow me about to anywhere I go including parties, friends’ houses and at home.

I no longer have my privacy to myself.

Though their presence gives me certain level of psychological confidence that I am protected notwithstanding, it is a price I am paying for my country. Besides, their presence is much more important than my privacy.

So far, what are the achievements of the committee in the fight against corruption?

This kind of work, you don’t publicise the means to the end. In other words, there are some things we do that we can’t tell the public – such achievements will be between the committee and the Presidency. What I can only say is what I’ve told you before: that we are training judges on how to effectively implement the new law. We are also preparing a roadmap for prosecution of corrupt persons because there have been so many stalled cases in the past either because the investigations were not thorough or because the prosecutions were not properly done. So we are preparing a prosecution manual which starts from when a petition is made; the whole process of investigation is being road mapped by us. We are preparing forfeiture and acquisition of asset manual and a plea bargaining manual. These manuals will then serve as guide to be followed strictly long after the committee may have been dissolved.

For instance, we are saying that at every stage of investigation that will lead to prosecution, there should be a committee and that committee should have a lawyer who probably will be the one to file the

This kind of work, you don’t publicise the means to the end.

In other words, there are some things we do that we can’t tell the public – such achievements will be between the committee and the Presidency. What I can only say is what I’ve told you before: that we are training judges on how to effectively implement the new law. We are also preparing a roadmap for prosecution of corrupt persons because there have been so many stalled cases in the past either because the investigations were not thorough or because the prosecutions were not properly done. So we are preparing a prosecution manual

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APRIL 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

Plus I Prefer the Classroom to Going to Court to Argue… case so that it is the lawyer who knows the ingredients which constitute a crime, the prosecutor who may not be a lawyer may not be able to collect and identify evidence that will ensure conviction – so the lawyer will be there to put him through.

We are proposing such committee, the process gathering evidence, preparing of charge, training of lawyers in the various anti-corruption agencies that it will get to a stage where they can personally handle a case without outsourcing it, a situation which is very common these days. We are also working on how to recover looted funds particularly on having a system where looted funds can be recovered without bringing prosecution against anybody. Meanwhile, all what we are planning and have put in place can only be justified at the end of the day if our judges could cooperate with us; unfortunately, they are frustrating our efforts instead. Even President (Muhammadu) Buhari acknowledged that his biggest problems are the judges. Like I told you, we are doing so many works and also preparing different manuals.

Getting these manuals prepared didn’t come easy; we have hired specialists and consultant to do this along with us; reading the manual alone is quite tedious not to talk of preparing it. One can do all these works and still, at the end of the day, one unfaithful judge can ruin one’s effort. In essence, the integrity of the judiciary is the major obstacle confronting the whole anti-corruption struggle; that, however, is not to say that we don’t have some upright judges. We are also trying to identify judges in each state and federal high court who have established a reputation for integrity and a passion in the struggle against corruption. When they are identified, they will be transferred to the criminal division of their state’s high court, so they will exclusively handle corruption cases.

Can you mention some of these corrupt judges?

I would not want to mention any name because there are no concrete evidences to show for it. You see, judges are very smart; very smart that they will not indulge in any traceable deals. You won’t see them accept cheques or engage in any bank transactions because they know such can be traced. They rather prefer to accept raw cash which is either buried somewhere or kept at home but they will never bank it.

Including the female judges?

Female judges are equally as corrupt as male judges.

But what could have caused the corrupt judges to compromise the ethics of the law profession?

(I’ll link it to) High lifestyle and greediness. They may not buy jet but they want to travel abroad in style by first class. They want to send their children to the most expensive foreign schools.

They want the biggest houses, the most expensive furniture from Italy. They want to drive the best cars. They want the best in everything; unfortunately, their income cannot acquire such for them. They want to own lot money that they may never need in their lifetime.

In your own word, what is corruption?

Corruption has so many meanings but I will define it as obtaining anything or value for yourself or any other person via illegitimate means.

Some people believe that as far as corruption is concerned, nobody is a saint. If I may ask you: all through your life have you ever indulged in any corrupt act?

There is no way I would not have done something that falls within the definition of corruption. There are situations in which in this country, one cannot survive if one doesn’t indulge in some of these things. For instance, in our courts, if you want to file a case and you don’t tip the likes of the clerk and the accountant, oh God, your case will never see (the) light (of the day). It will never be listed; or say a judgment has been given and you want to get a copy of that judgment, you still have to tip those who are operating where the judgment is given with either N1, 500 or N2, 000. Even the person that will type the judgment too will get his own

the First Republic when I was a young, the parties in power had always been the most corrupt .We had the NPC, which to me is the most corrupt; the best party was the Action Group under Awolowo and I joined as a youth leader and as a student.

After the coup, I joined the UPN, still the opposition party. After that the next party I didn’t join but I supported was the AD and then the ACN and then finally APC. So you can see that there is a trend. It is just by coincidence that APC is in power and when I started supporting APC, it was not in power. It was in the opposition, so it’s a principled decision.

Sagay (tip). Mind you, these charges are not official. Tipping is actually corruption but everybody is doing it otherwise, nothing can get done. Corruption is going on all through the court system. To answer your question, have I ever done anything that count within the definition of corruption?

Yes! Minor ways like that because one has no choice, but I personally won’t do it. But say for instance, the young lawyer from my office goes to file a case, a person who is supposed to process it is demanding for a tip for the case to move, are you now going to go to the chief judge over that? Everybody else is doing that; it is quite unfortunate that this is inevitable in a very rotten system. But we are not dealing with these small fries. We are looking for those who have brought the economy down and who have destroyed the country by the huge amount they have stolen out of the system.

What effort have the government and the committee put in place to ensure that the result of your exertion is being sustained even long after President Muhammadu Buhari might have left office?

We hope for sustainability. In fact, what we are trying to do now is to establish ananti corruption court. I’m glad you raised this. We are working on Nigeria’s anticorruption plan which is a proactive one; basically to re-orientate Nigerians and make them know that they are stakeholders in the whole anti-corruption struggle and that they are the losers when there is any act of corruption. When your female cousin dies in the hospital at childbirth as a result of an ill-equipped hospital, it is due to corruption. When your uncle dies in a road accident because of a badly constructed road, it is due to corruption.

We are working such that Nigerians will take corruption as a personal issue. They shouldn’t see looted funds as government money but as their money which as a result of being looted has deprived them of quality education, good roads, quality health care and so on. To get this done, we are planning strategic media campaigns: there will be jingles, plays and write-ups in newspapers. We will also take the campaign to schools to educate and orientate students. ICPC is already doing this. We want to turn the entire country to an anti-corruption brigade.

Talking about the controversial interview with a national newspaper that never was, how did you feel the first time you read or heard about the interview?

It came as a terrible shock, I must tell you. Luckily for me, it came late in the night after I already had a wonderful day with my friends and family. Just before going to bed at about 10 pm or 11pm, a call came in from the executive secretary of my committee; he asked me if I was aware of the news spreading on the Internet. I said on what and he then explained the content of the interview. I said no, I didn’t grant such an interview.

Not quite long, Sahara Reporters called me on the same interview; I told them no, I never granted such interview. Immediately, with my limited knowledge of the social media, I logged on to my Facebook page and posted a lengthy write-up, disproving the interview and explained that it was all faked, organised and done to bring a gulf between my committee and the Presidency. Other people then took it up from there before Tribune later apologised and admitted that it was faked.

But what was the reaction that came from your people who saw the interview?

Nigeria is a very strange country – very strange. The reactions I got were so funny. People started sending text messages and some called to congratulate me saying that they’ve always known me to be consistent and that I’m very courageous that I could even speak against Buhari that appointed me. I said no! I never granted such interview. I told them that if I relayed such rotten and evil ideas in such a bad English as portrayed in the interview, wouldn’t they have called and asked how come? I lashed out at them for congratulating me, for concluding that I could speak against Buhari. Left to me, I don’t oppose people for the pleasure of it – that is wrong. I told them not to congratulate people for speaking out to promote evil.

But do you really think the interview was cooked or it was a case of mistaken identity as claimed by the reporter?

No! It wasn’t a mistake; that was corrupt people striking back. The reporter was paid for the job and he did it. It was all planned to create confusion and to bring the Presidency and my committee at loggerheads with each other.

You seem to always speak in favour of the ruling party, the APC; does that mean you’ve never found any fault in the party?

Oh, that’s not it. The ruling party has thousands of people and many of them in my view ought not to be in a party that means well for the country. If you say I’m speaking well of the ruling party, I’m talking about the leadership, people like President Buhari, Tinubu, Oyegun; although Oyegun had made some mistakes in the past – mistakes of the heart and not (of) the head. I speak generally of the good intentions of the party; in terms of cleansing Nigeria and bringing sanity to governance in contrast distinction to the PDP, which were just out to totally misrule the country and virtually carted away our resources. All my life, I have always supported parties that stand for uprightness, integrity, honour and good governance. One question you didn’t ask me is how did I feel about being appointed by the party in power? I never thought I would ever have anything to do with a party in power because from

As a lawyer, what was the toughest case you’ve ever handled?

I can’t really say which one was the toughest but there is one that I’m still handling till date that I can say is one of the toughest. We had a situation where Obasanjo as the Head of State wanted to boost the crude oil capacity of the Yoruba part of the country, so he now put pressure on the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori and that of Ondo State, late Olusegun Agagu to exchange territory so that part of Delta State that contain a lot of oil well was transferred to Ondo State while part of Ondo State that I will say contained the Ijaw militants be transferred to Delta State. Then, the Deltans who were transferred to Ondo State, specifically, the Itsekiris, said they did not want to be in Ondo State and that nobody has the authority to transfer them from their state to a foreign state as far as they are concerned. I am representing these people. At the high court level, we won the case and the agreement to transfer was invalidated and declared null and void. And so they came back; so we lost at the court of appeal. Again, I’ve appealed to the Supreme Court. The case is tough in many ways. One, it is a breach of human right for somebody to go to bed as a citizen of one state and wake up in the morning to realise that he has been transferred to another state by signing a piece of paper; it is inhuman.

Secondly, he is doing this not because he loved them but because he wanted the oil that belongs to their territory. So you acquired them and their property as if they were slaves. There is also a breach of constitution involved; the constitution is quite clear about alteration of boundaries that you need to have resolution by the people representing the areas involved – two-third of the representation, the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly must vote in favour of the alteration and then the National Assembly too must vote two-third in favour of the alteration, but none of that was done. So it was a case in which I am emotionally involved because it involves ill-treating people. The fact that we lost at a court of appeal is still very strange to me. I read the judgment and I began to imagine what has gone wrong with the system. The case was clearly a constitutional one; the process involved was unconstitutional and anything that is against the construction is automatically null and void.

Have you ever been tempted to compromise the ethics of the law profession?

Absolutely no! In a situation that I am convinced that a client is guilty of an accusation and he admits that he is guilty, the highest thing I can do is to plead guilty on his behalf but of course, I will defend him. I will plead with the court to give such a person a soft landing based on the fact that we have not stressed the state and its resources by dragging the case for long. If he agrees that I should do that, fine and if he says no, then I will decline to defend him.

What was the feeling like the first day you had the wig and the gown on?

As a young man, I felt so excited and very happy being part of such a noble profession even though I had thought I was going into private practice, I was going to be a university lecturer and already at that stage, I had been employed as a lecturer in the University of Ife when I was in the Law School. But I was very happy to be a member of the learned profession.

Did the fact that your father was a teacher influenced your interest in being a lecturer?

Not really; I had personal interest in

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 16, 2016

20

Plus Godfatherism is a Curse to Nigeria’s Political Development Even if...

(Cuts in) Don’t go there. I am not going to say anything more on that; both of us will stay married until one of us dies.

be. Efficiency is no longer there because the students can’t get more from the lecturers anymore. To be frank, I feel very sorry for the young ones of today because they are disadvantaged. In my own days, it was a sweet different world.

Senator Ndume recently advised men to marry more than a wife as a sign of respect to women. What is your take on this?

I would suggest that we should not take this seriously. This man is talking based on the background he is coming from. He is a Muslim and again coming from the North-East where they believe in marrying more than one wife. As far as he is concerned, he believes the marrying of more than one wife is a way of solving problems. However, one misconception people have is that women are more than men. In actual fact, men are more than women. You can confirm that from the demographic data of the entire census that have been conducted so far in Nigeria. I think he is trying to help; he only feels by marrying more than one wife, all women will be married instead of remaining single.

One hardly finds lawyers in a social setup; is that the same with you?

Maybe you are referring to judges.

Lawyers of today are champagne-popping, chicken-eating and fun-catching.

Left to me, honestly, I don’t fancy social functions as such. I am so reserved when it comes to such. However, at my free time, I read books; specifically novels, biographies and history. I’m also learning to play piano again. I used to play it when I was much younger and at my old age, I became interested in it again.

The law profession is one of the risky professions in the country; does your wife agree with you being a lawyer?

My wife loves the profession; she started as a nurse and retired. Then, she moved further to the university to study conflict resolution which is a closest discipline to law, after which she went to train as a mediator. Now, she is a mediator in multi-door court house in Lagos High Court. She really likes law as a profession.

In fact, we discuss law together. She has her cases and I have mine too. So we are both more of a lawyer.

Did your children go into law by choice or you influenced them?

I actually influenced them to studying law. I have three children; unfortunately, I lost my first child. I don’t like saying this because I have not recovered and I know I will never recover from the loss. She just took after me naturally. In her own case, she wanted to be a lawyer but the small boy who is just coming up wanted to be a pilot – and I said over my dead body.

Why did you say so?

One, look at all these (pointing at the shelf of books in his office): who is going to inherit them? Again, if he becomes a pilot, he will never be home. Today, he is in one town; tomorrow he is in another town flying through the weather and all that. For a person with a small family, I said no. It will not make any sense for me if I allowed him to be a pilot. Eventually, he agreed and that’s what he is heading for now. I have another child in the US; in her own case, she said she wanted to read engineering and combines it with law. How she intends to go about that, I still don’t know. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Who are your role models in law profession?

I used to have a role model who was solid on the ground and I must mention him first. That is late Honourable Justice Kayode Eso. He was the most famous judge Nigeria had in the last 20 years.

There is also justice Oputa, Aniagolu, Obaseki and Karibe-White. I have chosen to model my life after them because these ones are real judges who stood for the truth and nothing else. They were upright with absolute integrity. They were principled and thoroughly fearless.

These people did so many things that no Supreme Court in Nigeria has been able to follow. Their judgments were written to uphold justice and because of this, they took a lot of risk particularly when the military was in power. Of course, they gave so many judgments against the military; an example is the case between Lagos State and Ojukwu.

Who are your most admired political leaders?

I admire Awolowo so much. Awolowo is the greatest political leader that Africa has ever produced except for late Nelson Mandela. I put the two of them together but Awolowo has no rival. They were my models.

Mention some of the traits you took from your father?

My father was a very strict man; he had absolute integrity. He was contented with life. I remember when he was appointed as chairman of a Local Government Service Commission; some people who were lobbying to get one position or the other at the local government would come to our house and drop all sorts of gifts. My

Left to you, do you believe in marrying more than one wife?

Not at all; absolutely no! That is not a good idea. For somebody from my background and culture, it is an anathema.

Sagay father rejected those gifts outright and anybody who accepted those gifts while he was away was in trouble because the person would have to look for means to return them. He established uprightness in us such that everybody in the house knew that corruption was totally incompatible with our existence. All these traits I’ve mentioned about him, you definitely find in me also.

You were meant to study medicine but it didn’t turn out that way. Do you have any regret?

Well, I wanted medicine but my father had always wanted me to study law from the beginning. He knew me more than I knew myself. So far, I have never regretted not studying medicine.

You were denied a political position in the First Republic under the UPN. Are you still interested in active politics?

No, I am too old for that now.

But president Buhari is not young either.

You are right. But I can also say I’m in politics by the virtue of my present appointment. I am a political appointee and that is the best I could do at this stage since I cannot contest to be president and one doesn’t contest to be a minister. So to some extent, I am a politician. Though, I have the zeal to go into active politics but the age, energy, physical and mental capacity are reduced. Take a look at what Fashola is doing now; combining those three energy-sapping ministries, you need to be half my age to be able to that.

You need to be strong, young and agile to be able to do some things. Even if you look at Buhari, he is the standard; the one everybody looks up to but you will discover that he delegates a lot of work to Osinbajo, his vice.

Do you think Godfatherism is necessary to hold a political position in Nigeria?

Certainly, no; that has caused a lot of damage in the country. Godfathers are in for what they can get: patronage, money, position and for corrupting the whole system. Godfatherism is a curse on our political development as a country.

Lawyers are regarded as liars. Have you ever lied?

(Laughs)There is no human being who would not lie at a certain stage or the other, apart from Jesus Christ himself.

Yes! I have lied before; there is no question about that.

Even in the course of discharging your duty as a lawyer?

Oh no! I would not do that. It is unprofessional. Professionally, lawyers are compelled not to lie and I have never lied.

Okay, what kind of lies have you told?

I won’t discuss that on the pages of

newspapers But lawyers are generally seen to be liars.

No, not really. People seem not to understand some things about the profession. You know I told you earlier that if a lawyer is approached to defend a client and he is convinced that the client is guilty, the way out is to plead guilty. You see, most crimes have three or four ingredients, and for a person to be convicted, the four ingredients have to be present.

But if there are three present and one is absent, the lawyer will press on that one that is not present and get his client free.

Would you now say the lawyer has lied?

That is not lying but simply following the law technically.

In one of the interviews you granted sometime ago, you did say that you will go unconscious if you see a billion Naira. Did you mean you don’t have up to a billion Naira?

This time around, I will not faint if I see a billion Naira. Yes because these days, I read it so much about people carting away billions of Naira. It is not a big deal anymore because this is what some people spend on ordinary shopping. You see, one thing this corruption has caused is that it makes us get too familiar with huge sums of money. People talk about billions of dollars now; not even Naira anymore. Familiarity brings contempt, even though I don’t have a billion Naira, I see it much everyday so it doesn’t mean that much to me anymore.

You mean you don’t have a billion Naira?

No way! God forbid. Where do I get that from?

What was your relationship with ladies as a handsome young man?

I caught up quite well with ladies I must say. But I did not womanise. In fact, as far as women are concerned, I was a late developer. I started developing interest in women so late because I was a bit shy to relate with them.

Does that mean you never had a girlfriend before you met your wife?

I never had a girlfriend until I started my post-graduate at age 25. In other words, as an undergraduate, I didn’t have a girlfriend.

How did you approach Madam back then?

I can’t remember how i went about it because its a long time ago. All I remember is that I had a strong interest that overshadowed my weakness as a shy person Would you divorce your wife for any reason?

That’s too personal, but I’m sure that I will not divorce my wife.

The Senate recently dropped the gender equality bill. What do you think about that?

The idea of gender equality is good but I think the proposal of the bill is not considered because already, there is gender equality. It exists already. Please if you don’t believe me, tell me one area that women are not equal to men, apart from Muslim law of inheritance which gives a female child a half of what the brother will inherit and this cannot be changed. Asides this, being a family lawyer, I am not aware of any area of Nigerian law in which the female gender is at a disadvantage. Our law deals with every gender parity, even at times to the disadvantage of the woman because we carry the parity thing too much.

To the disadvantage of women – how?

For instance, if one is married under the Marriage Act, and the wife is wealthy with the man dependent on the woman, if the woman divorces the man, the man can sue her for maintenance because she is bound to maintain the man. Nobody ever thought of that before. We always think a man should maintain a woman. Now, a woman can be compelled by court to take care of a man should the woman divorce a man whom she was maintaining. That is the level of gender equality we have achieved.

Do you foresee a woman President in Nigeria?

Oh Yes! That is inevitable. It will happen. First, we will have a woman governor and then a woman President.

Women are beginning to demonstrate their excellence; if you go to our court now, you will discover that most of our judges are women. You now see a woman professor, vice chancellor, managing director and so on. I will be very happy to see a woman rule this country. I am a strong supporter of Hilary Clinton; I want her to be president of United States more than any other person.

What is your view about democracy in Nigeria today?

I think we are doing quite well. If you want to judge how well a democracy is working, go and read your newspapers and see how much criticisms and abuses the president is getting and he is shaking it off and carrying on as if nothing had happened – that is democracy working.

Jonathan was called different names but there was nothing he could do; same thing with Buhari. You can’t number the amount of criticisms Buhari has got from (Ayodele) Fayose. Yet, he ignores them (the criticisms) and carries on. So, I think democracy has taken root in that regard.

Where we still have problem is conducting elections in the South-South and South-East zones; those two zones are not familiar with democracy when it comes to election. These are the two problems zones that have rejected free and fair elections and want to continue in the old, bad ways of imposing people in power by force.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

MEMOIRS Tayo Akinnibosun

I Once Got Beaten for Getting Intoxicated At his youthful best, he was upwardly mobile. He would change jobs at will, not only within a country but across continents – he had once changed job from Europe to Africa. Filled with zest and intelligence, he was every employer’s delight. Vivacious, humble and hardworking, he’s lived life with purpose despite its vicissitudes. No longer young but still with that imaginative and inventive mind, if one wants a lesson of contentment in life and attitudeofgratitudetoGod,Engr. TayoAkinnibosun,wouldbeinabetteroppositiontoteachsuch.Jovial,humorous and active, he is still smart as an octogenarian. This, he attributes to the grace of God and self-discipline. Born in Ondo Town in Ondo State, he had the best life could offer as a young man. And even at his old age, he still hopes for a better Nigeria. Akinnibosun who turned 80 recently, tells Funke Olaode about the first time he visited Warri and Lagos, the many jobs he did and how he took a plunge by leaving the United Kingdom for Nigeria and how he lost his livelihood in the heat of the June 12, 1993 presidential election presumably won by MKO Abiola I Am My Mother’s Only Child

I

was the only child of my mother I thank God for good health and vibrancy at my age. I was born on January 30, 1930, in Ondo town in Ondo State. By the time I was born my father was a produce buyer and my mother was a trader. I am the only child of my mother; of course, my father married several wives and had many children. I coped very well amongst my half-siblings and my father played a big role in presiding over his family and didn’t experience the intrigues of polygamy.

One would have thought that being an only child, I would be pampered. I wasn’t really pampered as my parents didn’t spare the rod. But I never lacked as my father had enough to feed us. My father was a disciplinarian and we looked up to him as a role model. He was the commander-in-chief of his household and his decision was final.

And for those who wanted to display their rascality among us (the children), he had a cane tucked in the corner of his room. This always put us in check. And of course, it really shaped our character.

Growing up in Ondo Ondo was a primitive setting when I was born. There was no electricity and many basic social amenities were absent. We were happy with our environment because that was the situation we met on ground.

Again, you don’t miss what you don’t have or know about. We grew up with native light called ‘fitila’. Later on, lanterns were introduced and those who couldn’t afford lantern stuck to the native lamp. As time went on, gas lamp was introduced. So it was a gradual process to civilization. It was exciting and memorable the day I saw electricity for the first time. It was like a miracle. I think it was at Hussey College in Warri in the present-day Delta State.

Akinnibosun...cutting his 80th birthday cake recently

I once got beaten for getting intoxicated It was a strict upbringing and we dared not disobey our fathers in those days and this put our rascality in check. What I couldn’t display in rascality I diverted it to sports as I was very active and fairly good at it. I ran short distance races; I did 100 and 200 yards and sometimes up to 450 yards. In the jumps, I did high jump, long jump, etc.

There was a particular prank that landed us in trouble. I, my half-brother and a cousin who was staying with us got drunk and we were severely dealt with. I remember a day my father hosted his friends. As children, we were curious about the green bottle they had been drinking and the cigarette they were smoking. We decided to taste the remnants in the bottles and glasses. It wasn’t particu-

larly tasteful. Nonetheless, we carried on and in the process we got intoxicated and when my father found out he didn’t spare the rod at all.

Going to Hussey College was my first time outside Ondo I began my primary education at the age of seven at AnSarudeen Primary School, Ondo. It was exciting for me having stayed at home running errands. It was a different life and experience completely. We were taken to school by our elder brothers. I spent almost seven years there and took common entrance examination to various colleges and Hussey College was one of them. Ondo Boys School was in existence and Christ School in Ado-Ekiti was also popular. But when I was to go to secondary school I was allowed to take entrance examination to two places: Hussey College Warri and Ondo Boys’ High School. Fortunately, I passed and was offered admission into both schools.

My father wanted me to go to Ondo Boys’ High School instead of Hussey College. I wept bitterly when my father raised that suggestion. Why did I weep? Because as of that time, I hadn’t stepped out of Ondo Town since I was born. I was about 14 years old then. I tried to convince my father that Ondo Boys’ High School was a good school and Hussey College too was good that I preferred Hussey College. I kept weeping and the same day my father gave it a second thought and called me that he had approved my going to Warri. This was in 1950. My joy knew no bounds as I journeyed out of Ondo for the first time. For me, it was an adventure. I loved it and was naturally happy. Hussey College was a mini Nigeria as pupils came from all over Nigeria. I was in the boarding house with a couple of other boys. Senior Augustus Ikomi from Sapele was there. There was Imadojemu; there were people like Aroloyes. One of them, Oba Fredrick Aroloye, is now the paramount ruler of Idanre in Ondo State. It was boys’ only when I was there and it was during my last year in the college that two girls were brought in. It was the introduction of the opposite sex into Hussey College. I entered Hussey College in 1950 and left in 1956.

Seeking for greener pasture in Lagos After my sojourn at Hussey College where I obtained my West African Examination Council (WAEC), I came down to Lagos to look for employment. Prior to that time, I had visited Lagos and was amazed at the level of development going on. This encouraged me to look for greener pasture after my education in Warri. I got my first job in Account Department of Post and Telegraph

Cont’d on Pg. 22

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER• APRIL 16, 2016

MEMOIRS I Haven’t Recovered From June 12, 1993 Crisis Cont’d from Pg. 21 (P&T) on Broad Street, Lagos. I was engaged as a dispatch clerk. I was earning Eight Pounds and 10 Shillings. My job was very easy and after mastering the job I found that I had enough time at hand. I spent about two years there. I was there when I saw newspaper advertisement looking for technical assistant in the Nigerian Railways. I applied and was employed. This was more interesting and challenging for me. I spent four years in the establishment and travelled to the United Kingdom for further studies. I first studied for a year in a polytechnic before moving to Poplar Technical College where I studied Mechanical Engineering. I was blown away when I got to England. It was a completely new environment. You know I had been used to seeing black people all my life.

My inquisitiveness as a child influenced me into engineering My stint in the Nigerian Railways might have probably influenced my going into engineering. But as a child, I had always shown interest and inquisitiveness about the way simple things work. I was in the research laboratory of the Nigerian Railways doing metabological analysis. And of course, we had photography department whereby we developed photographs of some damaged components of railways. We went under the microscope to find out.

Surviving in the UK I didn’t go to the United Kingdom on scholarship. It was my personal effort because while I was working in Nigeria I saved a lot of money that assisted me when I decided to further my studies abroad. I lived with my friend, the (now) late Chief Bayode Ajayi who happened to be my friend at Hussey College. We were sleeping in the same room when I was in Lagos. I stayed with him in the UK for some time before I got my own apartment. I was also lucky to have got a job less than four days after I arrived in the Great Britain. I was strolling outside when I saw a signboard with Employment Bureau written on it. I hadn’t heard about it before so I walked in to make an enquiry whether they could help me secure an employment. Immediately they interviewed me and directed me to a particular company around Trafalgar Square in Central London. I went to the company the following morning where I was interviewed and they asked me to start work the following Monday.

They told me my salary. I asked, ‘Can’t it be more than that?’

The person who interviewed me consulted his senior, came back and they added to what they had offered me before with an instruction to keep my mouth shut about it. This is a Johnny Just Come (JJC) who hadn’t had any job experience asking for more. That was how I began another phase of life in Britain. I was employed as a supervisor in a departmental store. I immersed myself into what the country had to offer.

I was combining the job with my studies. I actually changed jobs several times including working in a company where I produced spare parts for machines. I later landed a big one outside London.

Expanding my tentacles in London I left the company and got another job with Standard Telephones and Cables outside London – Basildon; it was one of the newly created towns to decongest London. By then I had already been married and moved with my wife who was a nurse. I had two children in England but unfortunately I lost my first daughter. The surviving one in London is a lawyer now. I was still with this company in Britain when I saw another newspaper advertisement for a job in Nigeria. I applied and was interviewed. I was employed to one of the subsidiaries of UAC Group in Ilorin, Philip Morris, as a factory manager. I had only spent few months with them when I saw another newspaper advertisement from a company in Ikeja. I came for the interview and passed.

Again, I was employed. I came back to Lagos to assume duty. However, I didn’t work in the company eventually because before my resumption date, the Civil War which was going on in Nigeria ended and the person who was the factory manager as of that time went back to the company that he was ready to come back. The managing director of

There was a time I went to Newcastle to meet her. After chatting for some time she pretended as if she was reading a novel on her bed. But looking closely I found that she was actually reading the novel upside down. This gave me a confirmation that she was actually thinking about me and the relationship would work. I eventually persuaded her to come back to London and she agreed and the relationship flourished. My family in Ondo decided to come to her family in Lagos where they were based to ask for their daughter’s hand in marriage. It was smooth sailing because we are from the same town and both families knew each other.

We eventually got married in England in 1963.

Ondo Boys attending Hussey College, Warri in 1955: L-R: Jerome Akindiose, Ife Adeniyan, Bayode Ajayi, Ayo Adeduro, Tayo Akinnibosun, Elias Akinnibosun and Akin Oladapo

On his wedding day to his late wife, Kofoworola (nee) Ajulo in London in 1963

the company, a white man was kind enough to look for an alternative job for me amongst his circle of friends in the industry. That was how I went into Tower Aluminum on Oba Akran Road in Ikeja also as a factory manager. I worked in this company for some time until I resigned and moved into a smaller company. It was a furniture manufacturing company. I eventually retired from this company at over 60 to become my own boss.

Becoming my own boss…producing wine Having traversed different companies, I felt the time had come for me to be on my own. While I was in Britain, I joined the Basildon Brewers Association. We were making beers and wines. In those days, if I had a party I would brew beer in kegs. I was making wines in big jars. So I saw this as an opportunity to re-awaken that passion for making beer and wine. I was already doing it as a hobby and was already ordering what I needed abroad while majority of raw materials were sourced in Nigeria. It was doing well in the market until the June 12, 1993 crisis broke out. The election result of the would-be President, MKO Abiola, was annulled. That dealt a devastating blow on my business and I haven’t recovered from that shock because it affected my means of livelihood. The seed I had sown was already growing and all of a sudden it was cut off. Most of the traders who were patronising me usually did business on credit. There was a time I went to the Federal Palace Hotel and saw an empty bottle of my wine in their trash bin. It gave me a sense of accomplishment. Unfortunately, the election drove most of my customers away and many went with my money.

Meeting my wife in London I met my wife, Kofoworola Awujo (now late), in Britain where she was studying nursing. She was a native of Ondo town. Our meeting was a mere coincidence because I wasn’t looking for a town girl. We met at a party in England and asked for her particulars and she agreed. Soon after we met, she had made up her mind to further her studies as a medical doctor. And within a short time of meeting she travelled to North England, Newcastle. We started communicating through telephone. There was a time I went to Newcastle to meet her. After chatting for some time she pretended as if she was reading a novel on her bed. But looking closely I found that she was actually reading the novel upside down.

This gave me a confirmation that she was actually thinking about me and the relationship would work. I eventually persuaded her to come back to London and she agreed and the relationship flourished. My family in Ondo decided to come to her family in Lagos where they were based to ask

Akinnibosun...recently

for their daughter’s hand in marriage. It was smooth sailing because we are from the same town and both families knew each other. We eventually got married in England in 1963.

My wife battled sickle cell anemia for 75 years…

My wife was a very pretty and brilliant lady who battled sickle cell anemia for 75 years. She attended Methodist Girls’ High School, Lagos and the ailment was diagnosed while she was in secondary school. She was told she had to look after herself properly. In fact, they told her usually people with such condition don’t live beyond the age of 40. By the time we started courtship I didn’t know anything about her condition. She opened up when the marriage issue came up. She asked me, ‘Tayo, would you be able to look after me properly?’ I said I would and promised to do my best. I get emotional when I remember that moment. That she lived up to 75 years was the Lord’s doing. I didn’t back out of the relationship and I tried my best and we lived together for 50 years and blessed with children who are doing well in their endeavours. One of my children is lawyer and is based abroad. Another one is an estate surveyor,; one is also a pharmacist and the last one studied Business Administration at Owo Polytechnic.

Fulfilling life’s aspiration…

No man fulfils all life’s aspirations. In our case, Nigeria’s situation has not enabled many people to attain the level they would have attained in life. I remember by the time I tendered my letter of notice of resignation in England, the personnel manager called me to his office the following day and asked me why I resigned. I told him that I wanted to go back to my country because I didn’t come to Britain to come and settle down. This was a company that took me out of London and settled me in a newly built house and got everything new because it was a new town and all the facility was installed. The man said I should go and reconsider my position because he said he knew what was happening all over Africa. This was in the 60s. My mind was already made up to come back home. That was how I left England. The experience is better imagined; the Civil War and all the crises that we are still battling till today. All in all, I am grateful to God for sparing my life to attain the age of 80. My next move is to be of service to God and humanity.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

23

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES BY

EBERE WABARA

Back-Page Errors

N

ATIONAL Mirror of March 24 circulated copious errors: “Dasuki’s absence in court again stalled (stalls) trial” “CDHR tasked (tasks) Buhari over recovered loot” “Marketers, NSDC trade blames over fuel scarcity in Ekiti” ‘Blame’ is uncountable.

“Ajimobi mourns death of Oyo APC legal officer” We do not mourn someone’s death, but the deceased.

“Governments and the ghost workers (workers’) saga” (NATIONAL MIRROR Editorial) “Majority (A majority) of secondary schools have neither computers nor….”

“Tenure elongation: Court dismisses Nasarawa LG chairmen (chairmen’s) suit” From the back page of National Mirror under review comes this last entry: “It’s time (high time) something drastic was done about this hell-born evil in the skin of doctors” Daily Sun of March 25 takes over: “Area Commander reads riot act to criminals” Get it right: the riot act “Airfoce (sic) jet crash lands (crash-lands) in Yola” “NBA raises alarm over kidnap of member” a rewrite: NBA raises the alarm over member’s kidnap “5,000 Ogun residents benefit from Aisha Buhari’s health screening (health-screening) initiative” “NFF settles for foreign coach, shifts focus on (to) World Cup” From Daily Sun Back Page of April 1 comes this headline blunder: “Cat and mouse (Cat-andmouse) game in APC” Next is DAILY SUN City News of April 4: Murder of undergraduate: Court remands police officer in prison” Crime, Court & Living: Undergraduate’s murder: Court remands police officer “Osoba formally rejoins APC, holds close door (closed-door) meeting with Tinubu, Aregbesola, Ajimobi” “Taraba flags off 2016 planting season with loan disbursement” Instead of ‘flag off’, use ‘inaugurates’ or ‘auspicates’ Wrong: matriach Right: matriarch

“Her skills in presentation has (have) endeared her to millions of hearts….”

Wrong: harrassment Right: harassment “…following series (a series) of allegations by the staff against the management.”

“As Yakubu cleans the Augean stable (stables) at INEC” (Source: DAILY SUN OPINION Page Headline, April 6) “Igbo must overcome post war (post-war) trauma” Wrong: concensus Right: consensus “Eze Ndigbo title not affront on (to) traditional authorities” “The kids and I wishes (why?) you a special happy birthday today….”

“14th year in His bossom (bosom)” “Back then, I hawked pure (satchet/packaged) water at the airport” (THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, March 12) Lest I am accused of being repetitive in this column, as long as systemic infelicities in multifarious collocations keep recurring, there would be no hesitancy in highlighting them until scholarly exactitude takes place. “Banks lay siege on lawmakers” A rewrite: Banks lay siege to lawmakers.

Wrong: on the saddle Right: in the saddle “As human beings, we are the highest evolved specie.” (FRSC Road Safety Tip) For the Corp Marshal’s attention: species.

“Creating a smoke free environment” Get it right: smoke-free environment! Don’t you appreciate the classicality (and, of course, correctness) of the punctuation mark?

“Nollywood pays last respect for….” (National Mirror, April 12) There is no absolute individuality in orthography and other aspects of the English language: last respects to (not for).

“Rooney’s wife looses temper after Twitter user comment” In doing this weekly critique, I cannot lose my temper.

“Nigerian seamstress per excellence for Dubai fashion show” Just seamstress par (not per) excellence.

“Efforts so far to speak with the Kogi State Police Public Relation (sic) Officer has (have) proved abortive (now a cliché!)” (SATURDAY TRIBUNE,

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

April 9) “It now takes residents leaving (living) towards the bus stop….” (THE GUARDIAN, April 12) “VC accuses lecturers of double standards” There is no periphery of options here: double standard (fixed expression).

“Clearance of non-CRI goods begin (begins) at ports” “Siasia gets sweeping power” Get it right: sweeping powers. “…had said that Newswatch is (was) a credible publication, one not likely to misquote him or twist what he says in a free display of editorial freedom.”

“Like (As) we have said at various fora….”

“So these are the kind of things that create jobs but they take time to take off fully.” Either: this is the kind of thing or these are the kinds of things.

“So the government cannot ask the Supreme Court to interprete the law.” Spell-check, always: interpret.

“Meanwhile, no one can convince me that we are getting returns of any kind from either of these two countries.…” Stock phrase: either of these countries “…the reduction in the number of vehicle accidents and casualities (casualties).”

“Self-styled armies sprung (have sprung) here and there …”

“State, council relationship: chairmen pick hole (holes) in 1999 Constitution.”

“This year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day and Emblem Appeal Week were rounded-off yesterday….” Once more, phrasal verbs do not admit hyphenation.

“The private sector in conjunction with the local governments are in a better position.” The private sector…is (not are), but the private sector and the local governments are….

“At these occasions, Nigerians have been fed with these noble and esteemed virtues that differentiate the men from the boys.” Not my opinion: On these occasions “As a result, majority of the citizens do not even know of the existence of the national population policy of four children per woman.” Many people, small world: a/the majority of the citizens “There was no signs in the air” Random musings: why the discord?

“The truth lies somewhere between the two

extreme positions” (Already addressed) “Government has wetted the public appetite for information enough….” This way: whetted (note the spelling) the public’s appetite for information.

“It is these people that Nigerians would ordinarily believe rather than some whose integrity are (is) in doubt.”

“The research aspect of the campaign was targetted (targeted) towards (at)….”

“Between 300 to 500 million people globally get malaria infection yearly, whilst a sufferer dies every fifteen seconds.” Combating the malaria scourge: between 300 and 500 or from 300 to 500.

“In other words, successive budgets have failed to realize its (their) objectives of improving the living standard of the people.”

“The NEIC should swing into action right from the onset (outset in this context).” ‘Onset’ usually smacks of unpleasantness. So, why not ‘outset’ to be on the safe side? This is my own personal view—without any shred of universalism or morphological authority, perhaps.

“If the demand is granted on the ground (grounds) that he would play his own role….”

“Talking about renaming our institutions after our falling (fallen) heroes....”

“The news out of Libya in the past five months have (had) been about killings....” ‘News’ is uncountable, by the way.

“Lateef Jakande as governor of Lagos State warmed (wormed) his way into the hearts of Lagosians with a single-minded pursuit of his housing programme.”

“Querying Africa’s underdevelopment has become a political discipline of it’s own as much that facts are hardly advanced in the critical political human analysis of Africa’s problems.”

Possessive: its. “…promote international co-operation having due regard to the United Nations charter and the universal declaration of human rights.” In the interest of harmony, let us have regard for (not to) lexical rudiments. Gentlemen of the Press, let’s think! “All these assertions I concord with totally.”

I cannot concur with gradual annihilation of the English language.

“LCCI boss proffers solution on education problems” What solution do we proffer to (not on) deteriorating journalism these days?

PEOPLE2PEOPLE...with Oke Epia

Of Chibok Girls and the Daughters of Damasak

T

he 2014 Chibok abduction affair easily headlines the terror reign of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Like its controversial crusade against Western education, the stealing of some 200 girls from Chibok community by the terrorist sect had sparked off a fierce furore which turned out to be a distraction to and impediment to the rather tepid war being waged against boko haram at the time.

Some like Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State believe Chibok was a mere political contraption to capture power by the then opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Goodluck Jonathan. Others hold the contrary view that Nigeria’s soul stays seared as long as the Chibok girls remain in the captivity of bigoted and depraved outlaws. Yet there are those that are unable to make up their minds which side of the divide to belong.

But a common denominator to the various shades of opinion on Chibok is the embarrassing reality that two years since report of the kidnap episode shot Nigeria into an unwholesome global spotlight, the country is still unable to resolve the fate of the girls or the facts of the matter so as to bring the sordid affair to a definite closure. And thus whatever the truth may be is suffused in speculations sustained by the political winds which drove the 2015 hustle for presidential power. Unfortunately however, the wind of change now blowing across the land has proved to be quite impotent in bringing about a solution to the quagmire.

The fact that the Chibok girls’ narrative continues to attract global attention albeit on a cascading scale sustains pressure on the Muhammadu Buhari administration to actualize its pre-election promise to rescue the girls and reunite them with their distressed families. In spite of signals suggesting that the government is growing impatient with the relentless crusade of the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners led by the irrepressible Oby Ezekwesili, the administration is helplessly seized of the burden to free the girls. And one way or the other, it must have to deal with it. Recycled excuses would not sell sell if the issue of the girls remains unresolved.

It is perhaps within the context of the pervading cluelessness surrounding the Chibok conundrum that government found it convenient to maintain an air of blankness on the reported kidnap of some 400 women and children from Damasak, Nigeria’s North-east Borno State, about a year after the Chibok raid. And maybe because Chibok was yet trending and useful as a political weapon at the time, the world paid little or no attention to an abduction of far more

PEOPLE2PEOPLE WITH

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

Twitter: @resourceme

morbid mortality than what took place in the sleepy Christian town of Chibok in April 2014.

It has taken a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) released this month to turn global attention to another human heist by boko haram that made Chibok looked like a test case. According to an article in the Globe and Mail of Canada, Damasak was the kidnapping that “the world ignored.” This is how the piece described the incidence: “Denied by the authorities, overshadowed by other atrocities, hidden by its remote location, the abduction of about 400 women and children in the Nigerian town of Damasak remains unsolved and shrouded in mystery a year later. It was the biggest-ever kidnapping by the Islamist radicals of the Boko Haram group, yet it was neglected by politicians and activists who focused instead on the heavily publicized abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014.”

In its narration of the Damasak affair, the Huffingtonpost said thus: “Unlike the kidnapping of some 200 school girls from Chibok a year earlier, there was no international outcry, no hashtags, no rallies and no U.S drones scouring the Nigerian forest after the Islamic extremist group’s abductions in Damasak, in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno. Excerpts of the HRW report in reference states thus: “Damasak is the largest documented school abduction by Boko Haram militants.

Yet it has drawn far less public attention than the group’s widely condemned abduction of 276 school girls from a government secondary school in Chibok in April 2014. On November 24, 2014, Boko Haram attacked Damasak, a trading town about 200 kilometers northwest of Maiduguri, near the border with Niger, blocking all four roads leading into the town and trapping residents and traders.

“The insurgents quickly occupied Zanna Mobarti Primary School, shutting the gates and locking more than 300 students, ages 7 to 17,

inside, according to a teacher at the school and other witnesses Human Rights Watch interviewed. The Boko Haram militants then used the school as a military base, bringing scores of other women and children abducted across the town there as captives. The insurgents separated the women from the children and the boys from the girls.

Some of the women held captive later told Human Rights Watch they could hear the screams and cries of the children, but they were not permitted to go to them. Over the following weeks and months, the militants forced their captives to learn the Quran. Anumber of women and children died in captivity after they were fed putrid food, which caused severe vomiting and diarrhea.

“Between March 13 and 15, 2015, soldiers from neighboring Chad and Niger advanced on Damasak as part of a cross-border military operation against the insurgents. As the troops approached, Boko haram fled from Damasak, taking with them the 300 children and an estimated 100 more women and children they had been holding captive there.” How a dramatic event of that nature escaped the prying eyes in the sky maintained by the US and other Western powers that claimed to have intelligence on the Chibok girls but curiously neglected to assist the Jonathan administration with such, betrays the duplicity of global powers on the fight against terror.

Recall that former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Pocock had recently spoken of how the Chibok girls were spotted by American and British surveillance operatives but could not take any action because of the high risks anticipated in a possible rescue operation. “Acouple of months after the kidnapping, fly-bys and an American eye in the sky spotted a group of up to 80 girls in a particular spot in the Sambisa forest, around a very large tree, called locally the Tree of Life, along with evidence of vehicular movement and a large encampment,” Pocock told the Sunday Times of Sunday.

According to the former Envoy, “a land-based attack would have been seen coming miles away and the girls killed, an air-based rescue, such as flying in helicopters or Hercules, would have required large numbers and meant a significant risk to the rescuers and even more so to the girls. You might have rescued a few but many would have been killed. My personal fear was always about the girls not in that encampment- 80 were there, but 250 were taken, so the bulk were not there. What would have happened to them? You were damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

Continued online www.thisdaylive.com

Follow writer onTwitter @resourceme

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 16, 2016

SHOWBiZFlAir

Tosin Clegg

NNENNA

I’m Enjoying Being a Mother Olayinka Olukunga Ademo, otherwise known as Nnenna, came to limelight about a decade ago with the Nnenna and Friends franchise.

Over the years, the brand grew stronger and richer. In this interview withTosin Clegg, Nnenna talks about motherhood, growing up, her career and the Nnenna brand

N

Who is Nnenna?

Nnenna is a model, wife, a mother of a set of twins and she dotes on her children.

How did you come about the brand Nnenna...

This followed the success of the award-winning Superstory series. Nnenna, a gift of love, is where I played the role of Nnenna who was a ghost. The love that viewers had towards the character, especially children, probably because of the supernatural powers she possesses which she uses positively, gave birth to the brand, Nnenna.

Do you regard the brand a success?

Yes! Its acceptance, over the years, by children, parents, schools, stakeholders, and multinationals is a proof to that. Just recently, we added to our accolades; Best Kiddies/Youth Programme of the Year at the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Award. It’s no gainsaying that we have been able to touch lives positively.

Tell us about your background...

I am the first of four children, with a disciplinarian as a father and, a caring mother. Amidst all, it was fun with my siblings. I studied Marketing at the Lagos State University (LASU) and, just recently, I bagged a PGD in Educational Administration from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) due to my love for children and my zeal to acquire more knowledge.

What fueled the need to start Nnenna and Friends cartoon?

We all know that the reading culture, presently, has gone into extinction thereby creating a vacuum in the market. This is why the Nnenna and Friends Entertainment Company, a

subsidiary of Wale Adenuga Productions, publishers of Ikebe Super, decided to bring back the reading culture.

Hence, the birth of Nnenna and Friends Cartoon Magazine; “Clean Fun for the Whole Family.”

But with so many subbrands attached to Nnenna, have been able to get to manage it all and it’s all been possible due to the hard work of my team.

Are you enjoying motherhood?

Motherhood, I must say, is a beautiful and wonderful experience. Nothing compares to it. So far, I have been able to set my priorities right and with the support of my family, friends and team, I have been able to juggle both side by side and create a balance.

And if I weren’t doing all I’m doing now I would still be working for children, probably, in another form like teaching.

Do you have any future project?

Right now, it’s all about the Nnenna and Friends Cartoon Magazine, which made its debut into the market on April 5, 2016. Further projects will be communicated when due.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years I see myself doing much more for children, both locally and internationally, God willing.

What has kept you going over the years ?

God has been my strength and driving force. Also, the belief in the Brand and its acceptance by all stakeholders.

Who’s your role model and mentor?

My parents and my boss, Mr. Wale Adenuga, whose belief in the brand has kept us strong all these years.

Ademo

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 16, 2016

SHOWBiZFlAir

MY STORY TOSIN BEE

AY HOLDS STAR-STUDDED BIRTHDAY FOR WIFE

Musicians Should Be More United

Nigeria’s foremost comedian, AY recently held a star-studded birthday bash for his wife. AY is renowned for his beautiful display of comic characters, entertaining vibes and lots more.

The party was attended by big industry names such as Richard Mofe Damijo, KCEE, Dj Jimm Jatt, Ubi Franklin, Ayo Animashaun, Sexy Steel, Ali Baba and many more.

Adejumobi Oluwatosin Akinkunmi also known as Tosin Bee is a rare blend of simplicity, humility, dexterity and integrity making him a unique man. His sonorous voice continues to captivate his audience. In this chat with Tosin Clegg he talks about his career and more

ADEKUNLE GOLD DROPS NEW SINGLE, READY YBNL’s act, Adekunle Gold has dropped a new single, titled Ready, which would be the last single before his album, titled Gold that is set to be dropped later this year.

The YBNL’s lover boy, thrills on this Pheelzproduced track.

This love tune

by Gold has additional strings

by Fiokee and was mixed and mastered by sultry songstress, Simi.

Gold never seems to fail in delivering master pieces, judging from his 2015 hit, “Pick Up”.

BIGMAXX: HOW DAGRIN INFLUENCED MY CAREER Fast-rising indigenous rapper, Bigmaxx, whose real name is Makanjuola Adigun Oluwaseun is a performing and recording artiste who grew up in the northern part of Nigeria.

He was born in Oyo State and graduated with B.TEC degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State.

Bigmaxx began his professional career as an indigenous rapper many years ago and he has just released his official single titled ‘Lewon’.

In a recent chat, Bigmaxx said the late rapper, Dagrin was a big influence on him, saying “Dagrin really

opened the way for many rappers like myself and several others. Truth is that Dagrin influenced a lot of indigenous rappers we have today and I’m just one of the many.”

Asked if he copies the late rapper’s style, Bigmaxx said, “Not at all; my sound is quite unique and different, though I rap in Yoruba language but I also leverage on the trending ‘Trap music’ sound and you can feel it from my sound and production.”

Over time, Bigmaxx has worked with popular pop stars like Vector, Phenom, Ill Bliss, Cynthia Morgan, Phyno, Tha Suspect and others.

H

ow long have you been in the music industry?

I started singing professionally way back in 2003, when I joined a group called ‘Da Roots’, a three-man band which consisted of Rumide, Sam and myself.

We rocked the town and traveled through the western states of the country to bless lives through our music-ministration.

What is the genre of your music?

My style of gospel music largely consists that of R n B, HipFuji, Jazz, Ewi (Traditional Yoruba chant).

What are your biggest challenges as an artiste?

Challenges are common in life because that is the true test of your faith in Christ; you must face them and overcome them to become better and stronger. I just desire that the industry practitioners, especially the gospel ministers, should be more united. When there is unity of purpose, we can easily depopulate the kingdom of the devil. That is only what can take the industry to the next level.

Who have you worked with so far?

Wow! Quite a lot of people, but the ones that readily come to mind are Big Bolaji and Tosin Martins. But if you mean who I worked with on my debut album, Testimony, then I’ve worked with Nosa, Efe Nathan, Big Bob and Ayobamidele.

Who are the acts you intend to work with?

The industry is blessed with wonderful and loving people.

I would love to work with anybody once I’m led to do so.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Five years is too long for the manifestation of God’s blessing in my life. I want to become a force to be reckoned with as far as Gospel music is concerned. I mean I want to be known as the one that carries the Fire of God, such that when I minister, it will be backed-up with supernatural happenings. Of course, I want to be on the big platforms too. But so far, it has been testimony galore and, in the future, it will still be testimony all the way.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 16, 2016

Auto

All-new 2017 Kia Sportage Receives Top Safety Pick Plus Rating

Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he all-new 2017 Kia Sportage has earned the highest designation possible – Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) – from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) when equipped with optional front crash prevention.

The rating reflects top scores in each of five crashworthiness tests as well as the integration of driver assistance technologies to aid in crash prevention.

Officials said this demonstrates Kia Motors’ ongoing commitment to safety and continuous improvement.

“The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is one of the most recognized and respected organisations in the industry when it comes to evaluating vehicle safety,andassuch,theTopSafetyPickPlusdesignation is a significant achievement,” said Orth Hedrick, Vice President, Product Planning, KMA. “We are especially proud to have our all-new Sportage earn thatTSP+ratinginlightofIIHS’new,morechallenging standards, validating the efforts of our engineers and the priority we place on safety.”

IIHS testing parameters were changed for 2016, requiring each vehicle to earn “good” ratings in five crashworthiness tests – small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength and head restraints – as well as an “advanced” or “superior” rating for front crash prevention in order to qualify for a TSP+.

The 2017 Sportage is available with a wide range of driving-assistance systems and safety features includingAutonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)1, Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)1, Blind Spot Detection (BSD)1 with Lane Change Assist (LCA)1, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)1, and Bi-HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Light

The all-new 2017 Sportage

(DBL)1 technology, high-beam assist (HBA)1, and front and rear parking assist.

Furthermore, the structure of the all-new Sportage is significantly improved due to the extensive use of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS). With 51 percent of the Sportage’s body-in-white consisting of AHSS, versus the outgoing model’s 18 percent, torsional rigidity has improved 39 per cent. In addition, the Sportage utilises more than a football field’s

length (338 feet) of structural adhesives.

The all-new 2017 Sportage features advanced driver assistance technologies, significant suspension and steering improvements, and available intelligent AWD, while premium materials and world-class craftsmanship create a class-up experience in an otherwise utilitarian segment. The fourth-generation Sportage is available in three trim levels. The sporty SX turbo model is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four

that makes 240 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque.

TheLXandEXtrimsuseanormallyaspirated2.4-liter engine that produces 181 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. Inside the spacious, modern and refined interior, Sportage is the first Kia to offer UVO3, featuring 14 telematics services, eight GB of music storage, and access to onscreen apps and Wi-Fi tethering capability, complete with Android Auto2, Apple3 CarPlay® (late availability), all free of charge.

Over 70 OEMs Confirm Participation at Lagos Motor Fair

O

ver 70 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), from all over the world, are already preparing to be at the Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island to participate in the 11th Lagos Motor Fair and Spare Parts expo.

The fair will hold at the Federal Palace HotelArena, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island Lagos from April 28-May 4.

Disclosing this at a stakeholders/media briefing recently, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu said all strategies had been deployed to ensure that the fair, more than ever before, received the needed attention from participants, institutional, trade, professional and individual buyers as well as visitors. “We have packaged a show that could effectively be used by the participants and visitors to maximise the benefits that they drive from the fair. This edition will bring out all the potentials and investment opportunities that abound in the Nigerian automobile industry, which we know are very attractive so that the existing and potential stakeholders will utilise the opportunities offered by Lagos Motor Fair to get the best.

“Strategically, as we have been doing since the last five years, we are laying strong emphasis on the Spare Parts sector. This is as a result of our guided intention to enhance the development of cottage industries in the spare parts sub-sector of the automotive business sector of the economy with the attendant multiplier effects on the economy of the nation. Our target is to attract many reputable Original Equipment Manufacturers of Spare Parts

from across the globe to participate in this edition as well as in subsequent ones.

“In conjunction with our foreign partners: SENEXPO International Fairs Inc of Turkey, we have reached out to many of such companies and happily the response has been tremendous and we are expecting close to 150 of them. Our intention in bringing them to Lagos which is the hub of automotive business in West Africa is to enable Nigerians and neighbouring West Africans engaged in auto spare business work out rewarding and lasting business relationships with the main companies engaged in the manufacture of auto spare parts.

These relationships which can come in the form of: sole agencies, distributorship, manufacturers’ representatives amongst others will ultimately boost their businesses. It would save them the troubles of going abroad to seal such business deals and most importantly it will bring these foreign companies into the country, resulting in increased activities in the sector, more productions and increased products lines and qualities; which will in both the short and long runs rub off positively on the sector.”

Agwu said to fast track the establishment of automobile assembling plants which would lead to having them manufacturing in the country in the long run, “we must ensure that there are a lot of small scale companies seriously engaged in the production of different auto parts and accessories, so as to lessen the recourse to importing them from abroad. This will go a long way in making the cost of production cheaper and thereby making the products more competitive.

L-R: Managing Director, Stallion NMN, Mr. Parvir Singh; and Chairman, ASD Group, Alhaji Sani Dauda, at the inauguration of ASD Motors Limited as independent Nissan dealer in Lagos… recently

Stallion NMN Appoints ASD Motors as Nissan

S

tallion NMN, manufacturers and distributors of Nissan automobiles has appointed ASD Motors Nigeria Limited as independent Nissan dealer at a sign-on ceremony in Lagos to cater for growing Nissan clientele in North Central Nigeria and its adjoining states.

The inauguration brings to seven the number of independent Nissan dealers appointed by Stallion NMN. They include: Gbose Automobiles Limited Ilorin – Kwara State, RealPoint West Africa Limited Warri – Delta State, Emmanuella Motors Limited Awka –Anambra State, SATAMotors Benin, Enebros Motors Uyo –Akwa Ibom State,AC Okocha Motors

Asaba – Delta State.

Addressing ASD Motors’ executives including the Chairman of the Group, Alhaji Sani Dauda, the Stallion NMN Managing Director, Parvir Singh said: “the strategic appointment of dealers across the country is in line with Nissan business expansion plan to guarantee seamless access to valued Nissan products and services with provision of quality customer satisfaction.”

He enjoined the new dealer to be steadfast and embrace Nissan global vision of being “customers’ lifetime companion while also moving closer to them to make Nissan brand customers’ preferred application.”

CIG Set Up 4S Ultramodern Showroom

A

frontline Chinese investor in Nigeria and the country’s exclusive distributor of GAC Motor and Gree Air-Condition, Choice International Group (CIG), has unveiled a new facility in Lagos to bolster investment in vehicle sales, spare parts and after sale services, among others.

The organisation, which also unveiled a new 2016 GAC GA3s sedan, to compete with others in the marketsegment,saiditsvehicleassemblingplantwas almost completed and would soon be showcased to support government’s economic diversification plan, particularly in the automobile sector.

Speaking at the inauguration of the facility at Ojota, in Lagos, Chairman of the group, Ms. Diana Chen said: “This is a great move for us. We are determined to support government’s resolve to overhaul the automotive sector and turn the country into an automotive hub in Africa.

“Also, today is a fantastic day for us, particularly as we continue to build bridge of investment between China and Nigeria and we are able to bring stakeholders from across the world, particularly China and Nigeria to witness our success growth as we invest in Nigeria.”

Speakingaboutthecompetitivenessofthecompany’s

products in the Nigerian market, Chen said CIG, which also markets electronic and other emergency home appliances has delivered quality products which has been tried and trusted to meet needs in Nigeria. This is a testament to the fact that products from China are capable of competing globally.

“We are careful about our image. Our intention is to sustainably build a lasting relationship in Nigeria.

Thatiswhyweassociateourselveswithonlyproducts that we believe in. We have the best products and that is the reason we are able to gain trust, especially from stakeholders in the country”, she said.

Chen insisted that the move was “a symbol that

the world is a global village and we need to be part of the success story of countries across world since nations are dependent on each other to build a stronger economy and empower individuals.”

The event, which also bring together the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, Director of International Business Division, GuangzhouAutomobile Group (GAC), Motor Co. Limited, Jerry Liu; Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Michael Ade-Ojo; former Chief Executive Officer, First Bank Nigeria Plc., Bisi Onasanya, also put smiles on the faces of some participants as the organisation gave out brand new vehicles at huge discounts to reward loyalty.

27

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 16, 2016

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

Echoes On Speed Limiter Enforcement

M

All new Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz Renders C-Class as an Outstanding Mid-size Premium Car Stories by Bennett Oghifo

R

enowned automaker, MercedesBenz has styled the new C-Class to be sporty, emotional and impressive, making it an outstanding vehicle in the mid-size premium segment that features inspiring design and driving enjoyment.

Weststar Associates Ltd., is the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria. According to the company’s officials, “Superiority creates room for passion,” adding that the customer has maximum configuration options between energising comfort and refined sportiness.

“The new C-Class Saloon appeals to a heterogeneous customer group - its alluring exteriors and interiors as well as a fresh, youthful vibe yields a classy appeal to its

customers.

“When it comes to travelling in style, Mercedes-Benz is the first most reliable brand.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class is here to stay particularly with its elegant features and specially assembled components,” they said.

These features include; Distinctive and powerful front end, use of high-quality materials, sleek exterior bodywork and an attractive colorful scheme, better performance and higher energy efficiency.

Compared to its predecessors, the C-Class engine is with lower CO2 emissions.

The C-Class has an intelligent drive system. These intelligent systems actively support the driver and noticeably relieve the driver’s workload. They help to analyse and monitor the vehicles environment in order to warn and identify potential dangers.

Other generous safety functions include the attention assist, adaptive brake control system and the blind spot assist to mention a few. All C-class models use the company’s tried and true 7-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel consumption is greatly minimised due to the Blue EFFICIENCY function. This is responsible for shutting down the engine while the vehicle is stationary or in a red traffic light situation. Its powerful four cylinder engine also assures environmental compatibility and diligence as regards fuel consumption.

The new C-class has more legroom (due to the longer wheel base) unlike the slightly cramped feelings of rear seat passengers in the past as well as bigger boot space (with a capacity of 480 litres).

Other available features in the C-Class include; leather

upholstery, ventilated front seats, Audio-20-CD with touch-pad, a Burmester audio system, Mercedes’ COMAND infotainment system, navigation, a rearview camera, parallel parking assist, front and rear parking sensors, a head-up display, a Wi-Fi hot spot (requires subscription to Mercedes’ mbrace telematics service), pedestrian and cross traffic detection, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, rear wheel drive, active lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and a hands-free power trunk lid. All-wheel drive (4Matic) is available in both sedan and coupe models.

The new C-Class Saloon is the leading vehicle in the mid-size premium segment from Mercedes-Benz.

The traditional high standard of quality as well as the various design options differentiates it from its competitors.

Toyota Recalls Certain 2016 Model RAV4, Lexus RX, ES Vehicles

T

oyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. today announced that it was recalling approximately 4,170 Model Year 2016 Toyota RAV4; approximately 90 Model Year 2016 RX 350; and approximately 12,400 Model Year 2016 ES 350.

Toyota has also recalled certain 2016 model year Sienna.

The involved 2016 Model Year RAV4, Lexus RX, ES Vehicles are equipped with a Brake Actuator assembly that enables enhanced brake control functions including the Antilock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control (TRAC), and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), among others. There is a possibility that a component inside the actuator could have been damaged during manufacturing, preventing the actuator from operating properly. This could cause a loss of vehicle stability control, increasing the risk of crash.

All known owners of the affected Toyota vehicles will be notified by first class mail.

Toyota and Lexus dealers will check the serial number of the

2016 Toyota RAV4

Brake Actuator and replace actuators assembled during a specific production period.

Information about automotive recalls, including but not limited to the list of involved vehicles, is subject to change over time. For the most up-do-date Safety Recall information on Toyota, Lexus

or Scion vehicles, customers should check their vehicle’s status by visiting toyota.com/ recall and entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Safety Recall inquiry by individual VIN is also available at the NHTSA site: safercar. gov/vin. For any additional questions, customer support

is also available by calling Toyota Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331 and Lexus Customer Experience at 1-800255-3987.

Also, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. has announced that it is recalling approximately 230 Model Year 2016 Sienna Minivans.

y friend and brother, Patrick Adenusi of Safety Beyond Borders, a Non-Government Organization on road safety, once threw a thought provoking poser to a gathering of stakeholders when he asked rhetorically, ‘what is the value of the life of a Nigerian’? Frank Nneji of ABC Transport threw a similar poser when in response to the issue of thecostofaspeedlimiter;heasked if the cost of a speed limiter, no mattertheamountcouldbuyalife.

This same question haunts me each time a road traffic crash claims the life of a Nigerian on our roads. It equally haunts me each time I receive a report of a staff killed by a driver for merely slowing him down from killing himself or maiming others. The same thought ran through my mind when prior to the April 1 deadline for the enforcement of speed limiter,, I read stories questioning the rationale behind the move by the Corps, including those challenging the authority of the FRSC to enforce the speed limiter. In fact, ever since the House of Representatives’ resolution halted theApril1,2016enforcementdate, I have deliberately adopted the siddon look posture knowing fully well that anyone who values thelifeoftheaverageNigerianwill naturally applaud the novelty in the introduction of the limiter by the Federal Road Safety Corps.

My optimitism was further boosted when I had the privilege to attend the public hearing of the House Committee on the Federal Road Safety Commission on the subject last month where overwhelmingly the imperatives for the initiatives was drummed by over 99percent of stakeholders who attended the hearing. Even those who had reservations merely proposed for its implementation to be complimented by other technologies. However, my optimism was again partly jolted when I learnt of a litigation filed at the Federal High Court Abuja by the Registered Trustees of International Human Rights and Anti Corruption Society in Suit No FHC/Abj/CS/805/15 challenging the powers of FRSC on the speed limiter.I am relieved to hear that the High Court Presided over by Justice Chukwu last week dismissed the suit, describing the position of the opponents to the device as lacking in merit, stating that the FRSC has acted in line with its statutory powers by introducing, imposing and implementing the use of the speed limiting device in Nigeria.

This statutory powers referred by the Court on the regulation on thecompulsoryuseofspeedlimiting device on vehicles in Nigeria is contained in the FRSC EstablishmentAct (2007) and the National Road Traffic Regulation 2012.In Section 10, sub section (m) of the (Establishment) Act, 2007,the

Commission is empowered in „ determining and enforcing speed limits for all categories of roads and vehicles and controlling the use of speed limiting devices . It states that „ All motor vehicles plying the highway shall be in possession of good electric or air horn, jack, wheel spanner, tools, fire extinguisher, • Inflated spare tyre, first aid box, emergency warning triangles or cones, laminated windscreen and mirror, speed governor(ie. speed limiter), wipers, insurance certificate and road worthiness certificate. Similarly, in the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR, 2012) it provides that,’’ A person shall not drive a vehicle on any public road which is not fittedwithaspeedlimiter(ie.speed limiting device).

Iamnotahumanrightsactivists andIhavenothingagainstthemas I am convinced that their passion is for our general good which I believe should include buying in into government strategies to preservelifeincludingthisnovelty tocheckexcessivespeedingwhich according to my boss,Boboye Oyeyemi in his presentation during the Public Hearing has been identified as a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, influencing both the risk of a road crash as well as the severity of the injuries that result from injuries. Speed affects the driver, the vehicle, other road users and the environment underscoring the reason behind the FRSC initiatives.

Thefunctionsofthespeedlimiting device he further maintained are therefore multi-dimensional.

The effects of speed include: increased driver’s response time to objects and increase risk of collision, reduces the driver’s ability to steer safely and around curves and objects on the roads, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation. Between January to November,2012,Nigeriarecorded increased rate of road crashes and a greater percentage (35%) was attributed to speeding and over 58% are speed related. Interestingly, there has been a downward reduction in RTC since Nigeria began the campaign on Speed limiter in 2012 and the Speed Violation (SPV) percentage has also fallen respectively, indicating that Nigeria has started reaping the benefits of Speed Limiter. The benefits of the initiatives include; lower speed resulting in less fuel consumption by vehicles, lower speed also cuts down vehicles maintenancecostandslowsdown depreciation value thus vehicles last longer. It will significantly impact positively in changing the individual driving behavior which has been hard to achieve over the years as it will reduce the speed of vehicle to pre-set limit thus reducing overall crash risk and likely to lessen severity of crashe.

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

FAMILY HEALTH with

Stress in Your System

I

f you are flesh and blood, then you must have some element of stress in your system. This can range from minimum, that is at times, to maximum, when you are always stressed up.

What then is stress ? It is the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change. Stress could be positive /good stress, Eustress, or negative /bad stress, Distress.

This is so because this state can be perceive differently by different people. This is why in this article, we will be looking at everyday stress, and how it affects man and the remedy to alleviate and restore normalcy.

Physiological stress is response to a stressor such as an environmental condition. Stress is a body’s method of reacting to a challenge. In response to a stressful event, the body’s way to respond to stress is by sympathetic nervous system activation which results in the fight-or-flight response.

Because the body cannot keep this state for long periods of time, the parasympathetic system returns the body’s physiological conditions to normal (homeostasis). This is why it is common that people go in and out of stressful conditions.

In humans, stress typically describes a negative condition or a positive condition that can have an impact on a person’s mental and physical well-being.

Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of life. Many events that happen to you and around you and many things that you do yourself put stress on your body. You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts.

Stress in humans results from interactions between persons and their environment that are perceived as straining or exceeding their adaptive capacities and threatening their well-being. The element of perception indicates that human stress responses reflect differences in personality, as well as differences in physical strength or general health.

Risk factors: For stress-related illnesses are a mix of personal, interpersonal, and social variables. These factors include lack or loss of control over one’s physical environment, and lack or loss of social support networks. People who are dependent on others (e.g., children or the elderly) or who are socially disadvantaged (because of race, gender, educational level, or similar factors) are at greater risk of developing stress-related illnesses. Other risk factors include feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, extreme fear or anger, and cynicism or distrust of others.

Common Symptoms The symptoms of stress can be either physical or psychological. Stress-related physical illnesses, such as irritable bowel syndrome, heart attacks, arthritis, and chronic headaches, result from longterm overstimulation of a part of the nervous system that regulates the heart rate, blood pressure, and digestive system. Stress-related emotional illness results from inadequate or inappropriate responses to major changes in one’s life situation, such as marriage, completing one’s education, becoming a parent, losing a job, or retirement.

Psychiatrists sometimes use the term adjustment disorder to describe this type of illness. In the workplace, stress-related illness often takes the form of burnout—a loss of interest in or ability to perform one’s job due to long-term high stress levels. For example, palliative care nurses are at high risk of burnout due to their inability to prevent their patients from dying or even to relieve their physical suffering in some circumstances.

Effects of stress : • The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger.

• Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. As a result, the person becomes overworked and stress-related tension builds.

Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress -- a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated

Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response.

The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses.

Stress is a normal part of life. Many events that happen to you and around you and many things that you do yourself put stress on your body. You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. life goals, to find out if you have this kind of Research suggests that stress also can bring on or conflict in your life.

How are you coping with stress? worsen certain symptoms or diseases.

Your lifestyle choices can prevent your body • Stress also becomes harmful when people use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to try to relieve from recovering from stress. For example, as you their stress. Unfortunately, instead of relieving sleep, your body recovers from the stresses of the the stress and returning the body to a relaxed day. If you’re not getting enough sleep or your state, these substances tend to keep the body in sleep is often interrupted, you lose the chance to recover from stress. a stressed state and cause more problems.

The way you act and behave can also be a sign • Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse of stress. Some people who face a lot of stress react health effects from stress.

• Seventy-five percent to 90% of all doctor’s by smoking, drinking too much alcohol, eating office visits are for stress-related ailments and poorly, or not exercising. The health risks posed by these habits are made even worse by stress. complaints.

Your body feels stress-related wear and tear • Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, in two ways: • the stress itself , diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depres• and the unhealthy ways you respond to it. sion, and anxiety.

With all of these looked at, you can now • Stress is declared stress a hazard of the ask yourself how quickly you recover from your workplace.

• The lifetime prevalence of an emotional stress condition.

How to deal with stress: disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic, Engage in stress releasing activities like: untreated stress reactions.

Meditation, Managing stress by measuring it : Get enough sleep, nap regularly, try to get at Stress can be Managed by Measuring it. What least about 7hours of sleep daily are the causes of stress in your life ?

Massage, Feeling stress is a fact of life for most people.

Swim leisurely, But it affects everyone differently. What causes Keep a journal. stress for you may not be stressful for someone Exercise regularly, as this triggers the release of else. That’s because how you view a situation affects how much stress it causes you. Only you chemicals in the brain , that blocks stress.

Reading a good book can figure out whether you have too much stress Get into a hobby in your life.

Engage help by walking, running, jogging with Ask yourself these questions to find out what a loved one, is causing your stress: Take a time to close down on intruding What job, family, or personal stress do you have?

1. Stress can be caused by an ongoing personal conditions, a deliberate time of shutting down situation such as: Problems in your family or everything. This can be done with only your close family enclosed. with a relationship.

Cut off caffeine drinks, and taking tobacco.

Caring for a family member who is elderly, has The secret is that you must deliberately reduce chronic health problems, or is disabled. Caregiving things that cause you stress. Live a healthy balis a major source of stress. anced life. Try and eat right, exercise and get 2. Your job.

3. Dealing with a family member who is under enough sleep. Taking decisive steps can actually go a long way. stress.

Chewing gum, increases blood flow to your 4. Have you had any recent major life changes?

Life changes such as getting married, moving to brain, this helps. Spend some time outdoors in a new city, or losing a job can all be stressful. You calm natural environment, it calms you. Take time can’t always control these things, but you can out , and be with friends and family that make you happy. Smiling with loved ones, relaxes the control how you respond to them.

Always try to find out your current stress level muscle around your facial area, which helps to release tension. based on recent changes in your life.

Talk all nagging issues with a trusted friend, What Is Your Stress Level? write down issues bothering you, it translates Do your beliefs cause you stress ?

Some people feel stress because their beliefs to a burden shared. Think nice about yourself. conflict with the way they are living their life. This gives you the assurance that all will be well.

Examine your beliefs, such as your values and

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

Blues at War PAGE. 29

16.04.2016

Anthony Joshua

Boxing is a Sweet Science

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Joshua with

My Aim is to Beat Guys Like Tyson Fury He was born by Nigerian parents and spent much of his early years in Nigeria before going to the UK to join Kings Langley Secondary School. Last Saturday, Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua defeated Charles Martin to claim the IBF world heavyweight title. With Nigerian boxing battling for revival, Kunle Adewale looks at what it could have meant for the country had the 2012 Olympic gold medalist opted to compete for his fatherland instead of Britain

B

ut for GOtv that is working to revive boxing in the country through its GOtv Boxing Night, which enters Season 7 on May 1, the game was virtually dead. Aside from the likes of Olanrewaju Durojaiye, Gifted Cole and probably Segun Ajose, no Nigerian boxer is in a good stead for a world title for now, Nigeria is in short supply of men with the "sucker punch."

However, there are Nigerian-born boxers abroad who are winning laurels. One of them is the British boxer, Anthony Joshua, who recently won the IBF world heavyweight.

Interestingly, Joshua, whose attempt to represent Nigeria at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China was allegedly frustrated by the Nigeria Boxing Federation, NBF, had played down his IBF world heavyweight title win, saying the Olympics gold he won four years ago would be more cherished.

It was an emphatic, flawless statement from Joshua, the super heavyweight Olympic gold medalist of 2012 cementing his professional credentials when many said he had been rushed into this challenge for the IBF title way too soon.

In fact, it was the belt holder whose keen acceptance of the money on offer – rather than choosing a less lucrative but easier option elsewhere – that aroused the more meaningful speculation that he was cashing in while he could. And so it panned out.

“I ain’t gonna get too carried away,” Joshua said of his 16th straight stoppage

win from as many fights. But there are others who will do it for him, including his promoter, Eddie Hearn, who was quick to describe him as a global sporting superstar.

“Every fight gets better and better,” the new champion said. “It’s not just about power. It’s about speed and precision. Martin was big and brave enough to bring his title to the UK. Respect to him.”

Joshua admitted that he had felt more pressure going into the Olympic final in London in 2012 than he felt last Saturday night when he took the belt from American Charles Martin, which he won by second round knockout.

"The Olympics was different level.

That was crazy. That was different altogether, but it moulded me to deal with these occasions better. I would not downgrade yesterday, but for the fact that where I've been, coming through my last fight, the adrenaline that was involved, that helped against Martin, the boxer said."

Joshua was still a novice - in amateur terms - during the Olympic Games.

"Because it was in London, a home game, it got you used to the noise, the pressure. And amateur boxing at the Olympics is a serious business. These guys are elite. They have been around for years fighting. It is tough at that level," he added.

Joshua recalled not just the pressure of expectation on British athletes to win in London, but being three points down against defending Olympic super heavyweight champion, Roberto Cam-

marelle, who was the defending gold medallist.

"How many Olympics did he go to?

Three? He knew his stuff. I boxed him in the worlds, so I knew he was a good fighter. So the pressure was there, and you had to deal with it. In these professional fights, you can look yourself away in the changing room, but at the Olympics, you can hear the crowd.

"During the whole Olympics, the loudest noise was at the boxing. How many people were in the athletics stadium? Yet the loudest noise was at the boxing. How mad is that? That's why I said about that final that it was like 'Sparta' night, like something from the film 300. Knowing you are locked away behind stage. You can hear the crowd roaring for blood and you're fighting next. That was gladiator stuff.

That was class, he said."

Last Saturday night, and the buildup, explained Joshua, had felt like a "smooth" experience. The 26-year-old also felt as if he had boxed better against Martin.

In his previous fight, last December, he had had an emotional build-up against London rival, Dillian Whyte, followed by a seven-round war in the ring.

“Yeah, I was more patient, looking for the shot, setting it up, feinting. Camp was good and I had great sparring, so when I got in the ring I looked back and thought about how I fought against Dillian, but that’s just how we go to war.

"It’s weird because when I stepped Cont'd on page 31

It was an emphatic, flawless statement from Joshua, the super heavyweight Olympic gold medalist of 2012 cementing his professional credentials when many said he had been rushed into this challenge for the IBF title way too soon. In fact, it was the belt holder whose keen acceptance of the money on offer – rather than choosing a less lucrative but easier option elsewhere – that aroused the more meaningful speculation that he was cashing in while he could. And so it panned out

31

APRIL 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Nigeria Professional Football League…

Emodi Joins COD United

Former CAF Champions League winner, Okey Emordi, has been appointed as head coach of City Of David (COD) United.

The Nigeria National League (NNL) club announced the appointment of Emordi on Wednesday and explained their decision to hook the experienced trainer.

The Lagos club added that landing Emordi as their head coach is "another demonstration of our ambition as a club to keep moving forward."

“Okey Emordi’s knowledge, experience and record shows clearly that he has been the outstanding coach in the Nigerian football space in the past decade or so and we are very delighted he has decided to join us.

His appointment is yet another demonstration of our ambition as a club to keep

moving forward and never rest on our oars.

"We want to play in the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League) next season and we believe Okey’s appointment gives us a massive opportunity to do that. Once we shared our vision with him, he decided to take up the challenge and we are delighted he was convinced to join us having seen our vision for the club. We expect him to sustain and improve on all that we have achieved as a football club on the pitch and help our players and young coaches become even better,” COD Utd CEO, Shola Opaleye, said.

Emordi is ready for the challenge of working in the second tier. He said he had to carefully make the decision to return to coaching and accepted the role at COD United because they are "a

very organized club with big ambitions."

“I have joined a very organised club with big ambitions. As you know, I have worked with some of the biggest clubs in Nigeria and even Africa and so I had to carefully consider this. Having spoken to the club and seen what they have done so far, I am excited to take on the challenge of ensuring the club plays in the NPFL next season," said Emordi, whose last coaching role was in 2015 at former Nigerian champions, Kano.

Emordi, who guided Enyimba to win the 2004 CAF Champions League, will take charge of his first competitive in the second tier with COD United against Abia Comets at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos on May 7.

Okpus to Miss Heartland Tie against 3SC Joshua Cont'd from page 30

My Aim is to Beat Guys Like Tyson Fury in the ring on Saturday night I thought to myself did I really go to war like that with Dillian in here? I could have just outclassed the guy. Boxing is a sweet science – why did I go to war with a guy like Dillian in the ring? I must have looked like a novice the way I fought that night. This was the time to show how good I really am and I fought like a bit of a clown.

“The thing I wanted to do with Martin was take what he had. That was what I wanted to do. I knew he wasn’t going to beat me. "I can improve from here because I’m going to fight better fighters at an early stage. Just 34 rounds of boxing to win the world title. But with two more years, when it comes to serious boxing I should be in my prime.

I should be handling my business and beating guys like Tyson Fury in four fights with ease,” the IBF champion said.

Hearn, however, believes that Joshua "would walk through Fury now" and aims to make the match up with the two-belt world champion as soon as it is viable, which could be late this year, indoors, or outdoors in a stadium next Spring or summer.

There will be no holiday, and Joshua could be in camp again in a fortnight.

“No holiday, no, I want to fight again soon if I can. It wasn’t so much the fight that was hard but the camp was. I just need to recover from camp, which should only take a week or two weeks. Hopefully I’ll fight again in early July –maybe July 9. I’m sure Eddie Hearn (Joshua's promoter) has got dates pencilled in somewhere, a Plan A and Plan B. I’ll hopefully fight soon if possible and keep the momentum going," Joshua stated.

Joshua also got a sense of his growing fame with celebrities and sports figures ringside last Saturday night, and by the reaction from the public.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s growing. That’s what we’re saying, it’s more like mums and kids and stuff. Eddie said it yesterday and it’s true. Parents are actually saying to their kids to go to a boxing gym.

Most parents didn’t like boxing but now they’re advising them to go and do it and take an interest, watch a bit of boxing," he said.

Joshua was born in Watford to a Ni-

gerian mother and a father of Nigerian and Irish descent. He grew up for much of his early years in Nigeria and went to the UK to join Kings Langley Secondary School. Growing up on the Meriden Estate in Garston, Hertfordshire, Joshua was called 'Femi' by his friends and former teachers, due to his middle name 'Oluwafemi'. He excelled at football and athletics and broke the Year Nine 100m record with a time of 11.6 seconds.

Meanwhile, NBF chief coach, Obisia Nwankpa has denied the claim in some quarters that the boxing federation frustrated Joshua in his attempt to represent Nigeria at the 2008 Olympics.

“His (Joshua) is not the first. We’ve had similar cases like that before. Most of our athletes living or born abroad, anytime they want to represent Nigeria, they do not go about it the right way.

Moreover, they believe by virtue of having lived abroad, they could just walk into the team without going through the trials. That is not acceptable,” Obisia said.

Continuing, the man who was called golden gloves because of his finesse in the ring said it was impossible for Joshua to make the Nigerian 2008 Olympic team with the presence of Durojaiye in the team.

“As at 2008, we had a boxer that was very strong called Durojaiye. At that time Joshua was not better than the Nigerian boxer. Even the fact that he won a world title does not translate to his being better than Durojaiye. He just happened to have a faster shot at the title by virtue of living in the United Kingdom, where there are opportunities. Durojaiye only moved to America recently and he is now the WBA number two contender,” the former Commonwealth champion said. Obisia, however, agreed that Joshua would have added value to Nigeria’s boxing had he competed in the colours of Nigeria.

Another boxing veteran, Jeremiah Okorodudu, blamed Obisia and his cohorts in the boxing federation for denying Nigeria a great asset in Joshua.

“He was not taken serious when he wanted to represent Nigeria. He would have added a great value to Nigeria boxing. At least he would have won for the country the elusive Olympic gold medal in boxing,” Okorodudu said.

Heartland defender, Brownbraye Okpus will not be available for his side’s today’s top flight clash at Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.

Okpus picked an injury in his side NPFL matchday 11 clash 2-1 win against Rivers United on Sunday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

An official of the Owerri outfit, Solomon Onuh said the medics advised that the player be rested for the clash at the Oluyole Warriors to avoid worsening the shoulder injury.

“Okpus is not on the trip to Ibadan for today’s NPFL Week 12 clash against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).

“The doctors that treated

him from the injury he picked in Sunday’s duel against Rivers United advised further rest to help the shoulder injury heal completely.

“Okpus will just miss the clash at 3SC but will be available for selection against Sunshine Stars in Owerri.

“Of course, the coaches know what to do in the absence of the rugged defender to ensure we get good result at 3SC. “Okpus’ absence will be felt in the game but will not affect the fortune of the side as there will always be replacements.

“It will offer his replacements wonderful opportunity to raise their games as well as chance laying a permanent claim for the position.

“Both teams have tradition

and respect for each other it is certain to be an interesting game that the players will always want to go home with something positive,” said Onuh tosupersport.com.

The Naze Millionaires will be without their top striker, Fortune Omoniwari who picked a straight red card in matchday 11 clash against Rivers United.

Week 12 Fixtures 3SC

v

Heartland

Sunshine

v

El-Kanemi

Tornadoes

v

Ikorodu Utd

Nasarawa Utd

v

Plateau Utd

Rivers Utd

v

Pillars

Giwa

v

Rangers

Lobi Stars

v

Akwa Utd

Okey Emordi (right) signing his new deal with COD United CEO, Sola Opaleye, watching.

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

Nigeria Premier League Table

Team Rangers Abia Warriors Ifeanyiubah Akwa Utd Kano Pillars Wikki Rivers Utd MFM FC Lobi Stars Heartland Giwa FC Plateau Utd El-Kanemi Wolves 3SC Sunshine Tornadoes Enyimba Nasarawa Utd Ikorodu Utd

P 11 10 11 11 10 10 11 11 11 10 11 11 11 9 10 10 11 7 9 11

W 6 5 6 5 5 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 2 3 3 3 1

D 3 5 1 3 3 4 1 4 3 2 2 2 1 4 0 5 2 0 0 3

L 2 0 4 3 2 2 5 3 4 4 5 5 6 2 6 3 6 4 6 7

GF 17 12 14 17 14 12 13 12 13 7 11 11 13 4 11 10 13 6 8 6

GA 11 6 10 11 11 5 12 12 11 7 14 16 15 6 13 11 16 7 12 18

GD 6 6 4 6 3 7 1 0 2 0 -3 -5 -2 -2 -2 -1 -3 -1 -4 -1

Pts 21 20 19 18 18 16 16 16 15 14 14 14 13 13 12 11 11 9 9 26

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Can Chelsea stop Aguero?

Battle of the Blues as City Try to Solidify Champions League Spot Boosted by a semifinal place in the UEFA Champions League, the first in the history of the club, Manchester City would today storm Stamford Bridge as the Manuel Pellegrini side attempt to solidify their fourth position on the league table. Though Chelsea is already looking ahead to another season after suffering one of their worst in recent years this season, yet their pride is still at stake and therefore not ready to fall without a fight. However, it is the visit of West Ham to Leicester on Sunday that would attract more attention as Claudio Ranieri and his men continue their fairy tales

D

efending champions Chelsea FC will try to make the most of what they can in the few remaining games of a highly disappointing Premier League season.

They now face contending squad Manchester City at the Stamford Bridge today.

With six matches left in their current campaign, the Blues are looking to end the season on a high note despite being deposed from their lofty position as champions of the English top flight. After struggling in the first half of the season with former coach Jose Mourinho, the team found light under interim manager Guus Hiddink during the start of 2016.

Chelsea is now set to be guided by former Italy national football team coach Antonio Conte moving forward as the team looks to move on from the disappointment of this campaign to a new season in September.

Hiddink's boys are coming off a 0-1 loss in the hands of middling club Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium last Saturday, as reported by BBC Sport.

The defeat marks the first time Chelsea had lost a match in their last 16 games as the interim manager experimented on a new offensive line of Oscar, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Pedro with new acquisition Alexandre Pato as the lead striker.

Also, Manchester City nipped West Bromwich Albion at their home field of Etihad Stadium last Saturday.

Meanwhile, instead of Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero taking top billing,

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez now star in Leicester City's title challenge as it nears its conclusion over the next few weeks.

From seven points adrift at the bottom of the table and seemingly relegation certainties a year ago to seven points clear at the top and in sight of their first English League title, Leicester's turnaround has become one of the most talked-about stories in world sport.

Since joining the Football League in 1894, their best performance was a runners-up spot in the old first division in 1929 and, until this season, their chief claim to footballing fame, apart from three League Cup triumphs, was the unique achievement of reaching four FA Cup finals and losing them all.

The Premier League is watched by audiences measured in the billions across more than 200 countries. Even the United States is no longer immune, with rapidly growing viewing figures and Newsweek magazine giving up three pages to describe Leicester's quest for the "upset of the century".

Various global Leicester fan clubs, which for years tootled along quietly with a handful of dedicated members, have suddenly blossomed.

Typical are the New York Foxes, founded by twin brothers Jordan and Jason Becker who became Leicester fans in 1998 when American Kasey Keller played in goal for the team.

The club now gathers, along with fans of a host of other clubs, in The Football Factory cellar bar near the Empire State Building to watch the club's games.

"It used to be just a couple of us but we now connect with ex-pats and folks coming over on holiday and now that the club is raising its profile, more and more people want to be around and watch," Jason Becker said.

"I mean, how can you miss a game right now - and Leicester is everyone's second-favourite team now, everyone seems to be pulling for us."

His confidence did not quite run to backing his team for the title pre-season but he did not miss out entirely.

"Sadly, I didn't get the 5 000 to 1 odds that other people had early in the season, but 7-1 is not so bad," he said of a bet he laid when most people were still predicting the bubble would burst.

Thailand, home of club owner and duty-free magnate Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, has taken Leicester to heart too and Bangkok airport now greets arriving passengers with adverts featuring Leicester players.

Market stalls in the Thai capital selling unofficial replica shirts have begun to carry the blue of Leicester alongside their staples of Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Japan has adopted Leicester's Shinji Okazaki as its new Premier League hero.

A Reuters reporter in Tokyo last week was asked by his taxi driver the usual "Where are you from?" opening gambit and when he replied "England" the driver immediately asked the question on everyone's lips: "What about Leicester? Can they win it?"

Cont'd on page 33

Since joining the Football League in 1894, their best performance was a runners-up spot in the old first division in 1929 and, until this season, their chief claim to footballing fame, apart from three League Cup triumphs, was the unique achievement of reaching four FA Cup finals and losing them all

33

APRIL 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Spanish La Liga Fixtures TODAY Getafe Las Palmas Eibar Celta Vigo

v v v v

SUNDAY Málaga Sevilla Eibar Atletico Vallecano

Madrid Sporting Sociedad Real Betis

v v v v v

Bilbao Deportivo Villarreal Granada Valencia

15:00 17:15 19:30 21:05

11:00 15:00 17:15 17:15 19:30

Bundesliga Fixtures

TODAY Levacusen Augsburg Darmstadt Bremen Darmstadt Hoffenheim Bayern SUNDAY Dortmund Mainz

v v v v v v v

v v

Frankfurt Stuttgart Ingolstadt Wolfsburg Stuttgart Hertha Schalke

Hamburger Köln

14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 17:30

14:30 16:30

Serie A Fixtures TODAY

Bologna

v

Torino

14:00

Carpi

v

Genoa

17:00

Inter

v

Napoli

19:45

SUNDAY Atalanta

v

Roma

11:30

Fiorentina

v

Sassuolo

14:00

Juventus

v

Palermo

14:00

Udinese

v

Chievo

14:00

Verona

v

Frosinone

14:00

Lazio

v

Empoli

17:00

Sampdoria

v

Milan

19:45

Hot Shots

Premiership Table

Harry Kane

Tottenham

22

Jamie Vardy

Leicester

21

Romelu Lukaku

Everton

18

Sergio Aguero

Man City

18

Riyad Mahrez

Leicester

16

Odion Ighalo

Watford

14

Olivier Giroud

Azrsenal

12

Jermain Defoe

Sunderland

12

Diego Costa

Chelsea

11

Gyifi Sigurdsson

Swansea

11

Marko Amoutovic

Stoke

10

Graziano Pelle

Southamton

10

Georginio Wijnaldum Newcastle

9

Dimitri Payet

West Ham

9

Troy Deeney

Watfor d

9

Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal

9

Andre Ayew

Swansea

8

Ross Barkley

Everton

8

Roberto

Fimino

8

Premiership TODAY Norwich Everton Man Utd Newcastle West Brom Sunderland Chelsea Liverpool

v v v v v v v v

SUNDAY Bournemouth v Leicester v Arsenal v

Sunderland Southampton Crystal Palace Swansea Watford West Brom Man City Tottenham

12:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 17:00 17:30

Liverpool 13:30 West Ham 13:30 Crystal Palace 16:00

Leicester Tottenham Arsenal Man City Man Utd West Ham Southampton Liverpool Stoke Chelsea Bournemouth Swansea West Brom Everton Watford Crystal Palace Norwich Sunderland Newcastle Aston Villa

33 33 32 32 32 32 33 31 33 32 33 33 32 31 32 32 33 32 32 33

26 35 22 25 9 12 10 8 -6 7 -15 -8 -8 9 -6 -7 -22 -21 -29 -41

72 65 59 57 53 52 50 48 47 44 41 40 40 39 38 37 31 27 25 16

In France, where all-conquering Paris St Germain wrapped up the dullest league in Europe weeks ago, fans and media in search of drama have switched their interest across the channel.

Their focus is on Mahrez and N'Golo Kante as they wonder how the duo bumped along barely raising a ripple for years at Le Harve and Caen but now, after eight months in England, the bargainbuys-turned-internationals are vying for the Footballer of the Year award Spanish fans brought up on decades of dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona are also revelling in the little-man nature of Leicester, and veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas, now playing in Portugal, captured the mood last week when he tweeted: "Everyone is passionate about their club, but everyone feels like Leicester are one of our own. INCREDIBLE!" Much of Italy's interest is centred on manager Claudio Ranieri, their muchtravelled and much-loved compatriot who has belied his reputation by achieving success this season with one of the most settled line-ups of the Premier League era.

Bar-room nostalgia in his native Rome looks back to 1985 when Verona came out of nowhere to claim their first, only and similarly unlikely league title.

In South America, the trend also seems to draw comparisons with local againstthe-odds successes and in Brazil, where as many as five Premier League games are screened live each weekend, everybody is talking about Leicester.

Chapecoense, a small club who were promoted in 2013 and have held their place in the top flight since in spite of their tiny budget, were so impressed by Leicester's achievements that they invited them for a friendly via Twitter.

Leicester host West Ham on Sunday as the club continues their fairy tale.

Newcastle United welcome Swansea City to St James’ Park today, with both sides coming off the back of vastly contrasting runs of form.

Hosts Newcastle thought they were setting themselves up for survival when they appointed Rafa Benitez last month, however the Spaniard is yet to have his desired influence on Tyneside and the Toon’s situation is becoming more desperate as the weeks go on.

Going without a win since mid-February and performances which have lacked both quality and heart have fans resigned

Mehrez and Jamie Verdy

Barcelona Atletico Madrid Villarreal Celta Vigo Bilbao Sevilla Málaga Sociedad Las Palmas Eibar Deportivo Betis Valencia Espanyol Vallecano Granada Sporting Getafe Levante

32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32

60 38 64 15 -7 10 6 1 -2 -7 -5 -6 -16 -3 -27 -21 -24 -21 -28 -27

76 73 72 60 52 51 48 41 41 39 38 37 37 37 36 31 30 28 28 25

Bundesliga Seria A Juventus Napoli Roma Inter Fiorentina Milan Sassuolo Lazio Chievo Genoa Torino Empoli Bologna Atalanta Sampdoria Udinese Carpi Palermo Frosinone Verona

32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32

41 39 34 12 16 7 5 0 -2 0 -3 -7 -6 -7 -3 -19 -21 -28 -31 -27

76 70 64 58 56 49 48 45 44 40 39 39 37 36 36 34 28 28 27 22

Cont'd from page 32

Battle of the Blues as City Try to Solidify Champions

La Liga

Bayern Dortmund Hertha Leverkusen M'gladbach Mainz Schalke Wolfsburg Ingolstadt Hamburger Köln Stuttgart Darmstadt Hoffenheim Augsburg Bremen Frankfurt Hannover

55 39 5 11 14 4 1 2 -4 -5 -8 -13 -12 -11 -11 -20 -17 -30

Head to Head 31/0115

to the fact that relegation is inevitable, with a six-point gap separating them from 17th place. A loss on Saturday will all but seal their fate.

Swansea on the other hand have turned their fortunes around after looking like relegation candidates in January. Thirteen points from their last six matches have lifted the Swans well clear of danger and up to 13th place on the table. Their latest scalp came against a resurgent Chelsea and they will be confident of continuing their revival against a struggling Newcastle side.

29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29

Chelsea

1-1

Man City

03/02/14

Man City

0-1

Chelsea

27/09/14

Chelsea

2-1

Man City

24/0213

Man City

2-0

Chelsea

25/11/13

Chelsea

0-0

Man City

21/03/12

Man City

2-1

Chelsea

12/12/12

Chelsea

2-1

Man City

20/03/11

Chelsea

2-0

Man City

25/09/11

Man City

1-0

Chelsea

27/02/10

Chelsea

2-4

Man City

05/12/10

Man City

2-1

Chelsea

75 68 49 48 45 45 45 39 39 34 34 33 32 31 30 28 27 18

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

34

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

Nurudeen "Prince" Fatai and Oto "Joe Boy" Joseph daring each other ahead of the national lightweight championship clash on May 1

Cross Section of Pupils of red house and their Teachers posed with their trophy as 1st position of the Golden Trophy Private School Rosonwo Aguda Surulere inter House Sports held at National Stadium in Lagos recently

Hamilton's Chinese GP Hopes Dented Lewis Hamilton's hopes of ending Nico Rosberg's winning run at the Chinese GP have suffered a blow after it was revealed he will take a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.

The world champion, the pole sitter at 2016's opening two rounds, will start no higher than sixth for Sunday's race after Mercedes opted to change the gearbox in his car after it sustained damage in Bahrain. Hamilton confirmed the contact with Valtteri Bottas at turn one two weeks ago was not the cause.

F1 gearboxes have to last for six consecutive race weekends.

"It has been a good track to

me for many years so I feel good coming here," Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.

"Naturally when you arrive in Shanghai and find out you're already going to be starting five places behind wherever I qualify is a kick in the goonies, but you just take it. Challenge is another opportunity to arise, rather than looking at the glass half empty, look at it half full."

Mercedes later tweeted: "Not the ideal start to the #ChineseGP weekend, admittedly, but of all the places to take a grid hit, this is one of the better ones."

Despite the damage to the gearbox not being the result of accident damage, Hamilton

insists he is not worried about the reliability going forward.

"Not for me. They change it and I go again. I don't use it as a concern, I'm sure the team are focussed on it," he said.

Asked what caused the damage he responded: "It doesn't really matter."

Following poor starts from pole in each of the first two races, Hamilton already trails Rosberg by 17 points in the Drivers' Championship.

The Briton has started either first or second amid a run of eight consecutive Mercedes front-row lockouts, with last September's September Singapore GP the only time in the last 29 races Hamilton

has not started in the front two.

Hamilton's penalty now presents Ferrari with the chance to claim a rare front-row start as they look to recover from reliability problems in the first two races which have left them 50 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship.

With Rosberg on a run of five consecutive victories since his team-mate clinched his third world title in Austin last October, Hamilton will now bid to improve on a statistic which has seen him only win once - the 2014 British GP - when starting from outside the first two rows.

GOtv Boxing Night 7

Joe Boy, Prince Nurudeen In Ultimate Grudge Clash The Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, will on 1 May witness one of the biggest grudge fights in Nigeria's boxing history. It will see Nurudeen "Prince" Fatai, reigning national lightweight champion, defend his crown against savage puncher Oto "Joe Boy" Joseph is the headline bout of GOtv Boxing Night 7, organisers announced in Lagos on Wednesday.

The fight, which has twice been rescheduled on account of injury to the champion, will offer Nurudeen the chance to redeem himself after being knocked out

in the fifth round of their explosive challenge clash at GOtv Boxing Night 4.

Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director of Flykite Promotions, organisers of the event, said at a press conference that the time is ripe for the two boxers to test themselves again.

"The fight was twice shifted because of injury to Nurudeen, who is an explosive boxer in his own right. The challenger is one of the rising stars of Nigerian boxing and previous winner of the best boxer award at GOtv Boxing Night. The fight has all the ingredients of a

thriller: grudge, determination, chance for glory and an eye on the N1million cash prize for the best boxer," he said.

Sponsored by GOtv, the event is sanctioned by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control and supported by MultiChoice, Paragonis Multimedia Limited, Complete Sports, KSquare Security, Newsbreak,ng, Brila FM, Bond FM and SuperSports, which will broadcast it live in 47 African countries.

Five other fights are lined of for the event. In the cruiserweight division, Idowu "Noble" Okusote will

fight Chibuzor "Chibunky" Vincent. Another lightweight clash will see Osamudiamen "Shiso" Goodluck, a graduate of the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, duel with exciting Rilwan "Real One" Oladosu.

The middleweight category brings together Chukwuebuka "Wise King" Ezewudo and Ganiyu "Energy" Kolawole, both graduates of GOtv Boxing NextGen Search.

Another graduate of the search, Godwin "Emirate" will make his professional bow when he takes on Ebenezer 'Anambra Tiger" Okoli in a heavyweight challenge bout.

The Masters 2016: Willett Savours Homecoming Danny Willett is enjoying being home with his wife and baby while reflecting on a meteoric 18 months that have taken him to the top of the game.

The first Englishman to win the Masters in 20 years is back in Sheffield soaking up the adulation with his wife Nicole and their baby son Zachariah, who was born just two weeks ago.

Willett hopes Sunday's win at Augusta, where he took advantage of a back-nine meltdown by defending champion Jordan Speith to land his first major title, will signal the start of more success.

"It's about the quiet self-

belief that I've gone about my business," said Willett, who has leapt from a ranking in the 100s to world No 9 in a year and a half.

"I've done all the preparation and I've worked hard over the last 15 years to try and get in that situation.

"You work hard, you never quite believe it's going to happen - all the practice and all the hours that you put in, you dedicate yourself to what you're doing, they just pay off."

Reflecting on what has changed in the past 18 months, Willett said he had been able to put a few years of injury behind him and was finally playing the level of

golf he was capable of.

"A lot of it was injury - I think I got my card in 2008, I've been on the tour for a long time now," he said. "I had a couple of good years when I first started, then I had a couple of torrid years with injuries.

"It took a long time to get back from that. You need the six months break and then you need to rebuild everything, do all the rehab work for your body and then obviously do the rehab work for your golf swing and try to improve it.

"That's what set me back and then over the last three years I'd say it's been a nice progression slowly up there, more so the last 12 to

18 months, it's been a real upward shift."

It doesn't look like ending there. Willett's victory at Augusta has made him a certainty for the Ryder Cup in September, while his place on the Great Britain team for the Olympics is almost assured.

All players within the top 15 of the Olympic rankings on July 11 will be eligible, although no more than four players can come from any one country.

"That'll really finish this year - just awesome - going from little man [his son] to the green jacket, to then obviously playing for Europe in the Ryder Cup, it really will be a dream," he said.

American Promoter Hails Britain Boxing Revolution American promoter Lou DiBella has admitted British boxing rules the world ahead of today's clash between Jose Pedraza and Stephen Smith.

Smith (23-1-KO13) can swell Britain's total of world champions to 13 if he dethrones IBF super-featherweight champion Pedraza (21-0-KO12) in Connecticut, live on Sky Sports.

DiBella told Sky Sports: "The quality of British boxing right now is, I think at an all-time high.

"I think Stephen is reflective of that quality - he's No 1 contender for a reason. He earned it. He's not a joke or a political situation - he earned the right to fight Pedraza.

"I think every British fighter out there fighting for a title is dangerous because they're all watching what's going on around them. It's like a British boxing revolution. It's pretty amazing what you guys are doing over there.

"Stephen thinks he can win and he's here to win. You guys are hot. Right now, there is no country in the world hotter than Great Britain. You have more world champions than any place else.

"You have a Brit fighting for a world title and it's one of the Smith brothers. It's one of the great fighting families to ever come out of the UK with a 154lb champ, a 168lb European champ, a world title contender and now 'Swifty trying to win a world title against Jose Pedraza.

"It's a terrific match-up. He's a legitimate No 1 contender and is trying to bring another championship back to Great Britain, to Liverpool and to his family. I think people should tune in because that's a great fight."

Also on the bill is a potential future opponent for Wales' IBF featherweight king Lee Selby - WBC holder Gary Russell Jr (26-1-KO15), who fights Ireland's Patrick Hyland (31-1-KO15) DiBella added: "I'm sure you guys can root for a guy from Ireland, too, in Patrick Hyland.

"He's had an amazingly difficult year, is a really inspirational young man. He's got his hands full with one of the fastest, most athletic champions in boxing in Gary Russell Jr. "Patrick is going to bring the fight. He has a lot to be fighting for. He's focused. Everything he has, he's going to be laying out there. When you have those kind of matches, you want to be staying up and watching them."

Sharapova Still Faces ITF Hearing into Meldonium Use The International Tennis Federation says Maria Sharapova is still facing a hearing after testing positive for meldonium, despite recent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) pronouncements.

The drug was added to WADA's banned list at the start of the year and five-time Grand Slam championSharapova tested positive at the Australian Open.

However, WADA issued new guidance earlier this week which said that athletes who tested positive for meldonium beforeMarch 1 could have bans overturned, as the agency was unable to establish how quickly the drug cleared the human body.

The statement appeared to offer a lifeline to Sharapova, who is currently serving a provisional ban, but the ITF saidon Thursday that the Russian still faces a hearing and possible sanctions.

The ITF statement read: "In light of the recent notice from WADA regarding the process for dealing with cases involving meldonium, the ITF can confirm that the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme case involving Maria Sharapova will proceed to a hearing in accordance with WADA's recommendations. "The ITF does not intend to make any further statement until completion of this process due to the confidentiality of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.

"The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is a comprehensive and internationally recognised drug-testing programme that applies to all players competing at Grand Slam tournaments and events sanctioned by the ITF, ATP, and WTA. "Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and, upon a finding that an Anti-Doping rule violation has been committed, sanctions are imposed in accordance with the requirements of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme and World Anti-Doping Code."

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

35

TRAVEL&LEISURE

by OMOLOLA ITAYEMI omolola.itayemi@thisdaylive.com 08054699602

‘Brand South Africa’ Visits Lagos

DESTINATION NIGERIA

Recently, Linda Magapaton-Sangaret, the new Chief Marketing Officer, Brand South Africa, was in Nigeria with her team to meet with the Nigerian stakeholders and public

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She spoke about efforts of her organisation at managing her country’s reputation and her country’s aims to do this by promoting the positive perception about South Africa in Nigeria.

“The global market is becoming more competitive for every nation.

South Africa has renewed efforts to forge stronger economic relations with Nigeria.

Brand South Africa, an agency within the South Africa Ministry of Communications, is in Nigeria to collaborate and discuss the potential project that the two economic giant in Africa can work together.

“We are here to share experiences about what has worked and what has not worked. We have invested a lot of research and we would like to share the result of those researches and analyse it together, and to reassure Nigeria that the relationship we have built over the year will remain a priority. So we are not bringing new things to Nigeria, rather we are renewing the basis of how to build our relationship.

“In fact, there is a lot to be learnt from the countries that got independent before us and Nigeria is one of such countries,” Sangaret said.

Sangaret, who has also served South Africa as a diplomat in Paris between 19951999, said there were a lot of similarities between Nigeria and South Africa.

According to her, Nigeria and South

Gashaka Gumti National Park entrance

Indulge in the Natural Scenic Attractions of Gashaka-Gumpti National Park

Magapaton-Sangaret

Africa are well endowed with natural resources and economic means, and it is important that the two countries exploit their resources for the development of the continent.

“We (Nigeria and South Africa) have a great responsibility to contribute greatly to the development of the continent to ensure that the action we take is for the benefit of Africans. We recognise that South Africa cannot develop if other African countries do not develop, “ She said.

Wakanow, KQ Holidays for Travelscope Youth Tourism Forum

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The foremost online travel company, Wakanow. com and KQ Holiday, the affiliate of Kenya Airways will partner with Travelscope 7th Youth Tourism & Hospitality Leaders’ Forum holding on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 in Ibadan. The organiser and publisher of Travelscope Magazine, Omololu Olumuyiwa said in a press statement.

“This year’s edition of the annual Youth tourism forum as expected, will rally participants from all walks of life to a day of tourism education and scholarships for some lucky participant”, Olumuyiwa said.

Olumuyiwa stated further that the theme of this year’s edition was ‘Reviving Tourism and Hospitlaity Sector in Nigeria - A Way Forward’ and would throw light on different areas to solve issues bothering the industry and stakeholders.

Among the confirmed speakers at the forum are Dr. (Mrs) Carol Ogunlade of Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management, Federal Polytechnic, Ede; Mr. Kenneth Oudah, Stay Up Aviation Institute of Technology and Dr. Tijani Olawale, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).

Also, KQ Holidays and Wakanow. com, an online travel company will be at the forum to educate participants on its online platform and their various services that will be of great value to the participants, travel agents and stake-

Omololu

holders in the travel industry.

The seminar in its seventh edition is expected to improve on the contents of the platform not only to reawaken youths to the plethora of opportunities in the tourism sector, but also to educate and link them up with stakeholders for gainful employment in different fields.

“Youth must be encouraged as they are the future of the tourism advancement in Nigeria and Travelscope Magazine will continue to work assiduously to see that youth tourism is given its rightful place in the scheme of things”, Olumuyiwa said.

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ashaka-Gumti National Park being the largest and most biologically and ecologically diverse of the seven national parks in Nigeria, can boast of breathtaking scenic beauty and an abundant wildlife. It was gazetted from two game reserves in 1991 and is Nigeria’s largest national park. The park lies in the mountainous northeastern region of Nigeria, bestriding the southeastern part of Taraba, which makes up the Gashaka enclave, bordering the temperate Mambilla Plateau, and the southern part of Adamawa State which is the Gumti section, stretching to the Cameroon border, particularly, the Faro National Park in Cameroon. Thus, the park is divided into two sections, north and south, with each having its unique habitat and unique species of fauna and flora. There is abundant river flow even during the markedly dry season. Enclaves for local Fulani pastoralists exist within the park boundary that allow for farming and grazing.

The Conservator of the Park, Dr Agboola Okeyoyin, said the park’s ecosystems were essential for specification, citing the montane forests in the Gashaka enclave to “habour at least 24 threatened plant species, several of which are Afromontane endemics. Prunus Africana, a specie believed to poss certain medicinal properties for the cure of prostate cancer, is found in the thick forest fragments of the Park.”

The park, with an estimated land mass of 6, 731 square kilometers of rolling landscape and deep plunging valleys, also has pleasant natural scenic attractions that can sweep the tourist off his feet. But the biggest challenge is the rugged terrain. If you are not adventurous, your heart will make so many somersaults taking a bumpy ride in the land rover, from Bodel, at the entrance of the park, through the winding jeep track, often plunging down the deep valleys and then labouriously climbing up the steep hills.

The park is home to a variety of animals including rare and elusive leopards, endangered elephants, lions, wild dogs, antelope, forest hogs, golden cats, as well as eight species of primate, including the chimpanzee, and many more. The park is also abundant with bird life, insects, aquatic life and reptiles.

Mayo Kam, the headwaters of the Taraba and Benue Rivers: Mayo Kam being the biggest river in the park takes a meandering course, with looping bends defined by sedimentary rock formations, down River Taraba, River Katsina Ala and then River Benue. Just a few metres upstream from the seasonal wooden bridge is the hippo pool. The thick foliage on the river banks, the chirping birds on the verdure boughs of the trees and the swift flowing river would give you a paradisal feeling. But just when you are about to immerse yourself in the elixir of stress and boredom and free yourself in the wild world of nature, stories about crocodiles near the river gorge and the nearby hippo pool would make hairs on the

nape of your neck stand up. Nevertheless, there are safe areas and guided by the park rangers, one can still enjoy the serene waters of Mayo Kam. It is a recognised site for sport fishing and the park management, with assistance from Chester Zoo, England, has built a Rangers camp to serve a dual purpose of a fishing camp for tourists and a rangers guard post, as according to Dr Okeyoyin, villagers around there have been using harmful chemicals and explosives to fish.

Within the same Gashaka part of the park, particularly in the rainforest region are, animals like the giant foresthog, leopard, yellow-backed duiker, golden cat and primate species like chimpanzees.

The Gumti section in the north of the park has vast woodland, ideal for park-viewing of most of the mammals - buffalo, lion, elephant, wild dog, waterbuck, roan antelope, giant eland kob and hartebeest.

Gumti section could also host terrific natural sceneries like Chappal Wade, the mountain of death, which is the highest peak in the country, standing at 2, 400 metres above sea level.

Recreation and leisure could be sought and ponny trekking on horses, donkeys and mules, especially along the historic German routes: Toungo to Tipsan, Toungo to Mayo Butale to Kila to Jiman to Gashaka and then from Gashaka to Salbe to Filinga to Masabere and Njawai area.

But the Park authorities said the ideal time for park-viewing, when some of the big animals could be seen in the open is from late December to April, when controlled burning is done so that animals can be seen.

Okeyoyin said, “Infrastructural development is one of the challenges we are facing but to the best of our abilities, and based on the limited resources at our disposal, we have opened jeep tracks and trails, for park-viewing, particularly, in Gashaka. From Bodel to Gashaka, it is an all season road. Then from Bodel to Majarandi, it is an all season road.

Even in the northern sector, there are roads leading to the major tourists attractions. What remains in this Gumti enclave is accommodation, so we need to put up more structures so that when tourists come, they can have somewhere to sleep.”

According to him, Gashaka-Gumti National Park is unique in up to five ways. “It is the only park in the West African sub region that you have natural transition from savannah to rainforest, to montane. Two, the park is the only park that has the highest concentration of Chimpanzees in the West African sub region as at today. It is also where the highest peak in the country is located, that is Chappal Wade; that is a plus for us. It is also the only park in Nigeria that has a sub temperate climate. The last one is that it is the most ecologically diverse park in terms of fauna and flora.”

He added that the park is an important bird area in Africa, with over 477 species of Avifauna having been recently recorded which include rare and endemic species.

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JUNE 16, 2011 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

FAIRGROUND

The Unfinished Business: An exhibition by Chinze Ojobo

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

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hinze Ojobo, no doubt, is a lover of arts. Her creative mind runs riot when she is in her element. You can’t ignore whatever she spews out from her creative pot.

Recently, she had an exhibition titled, ‘The Unfinished Business’, which was opened by Peterside Dakuku, the new Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The event was well attended by dignitaries, art lovers and enthusiasts, which included Leo Stan Ekeh, her husband, Tony Ojobo of Nigeria Communication Commission, Shina Badaru one of Nigeria’s respected IT experts, and Chied Frank Oknonta of Nkem gallery.

Now, she sends a poser with her creative message, What happens when a business, a deal or a creative idea is “Unfinished”? What happens if that thought process of unfinished business has been bothering the artist or inventor for about three decades and an eventual manifestation of the near conclusion of the intention is about to be unveiled?

Answers to the above questions is are what Ojobo tried to provide in the solo outing, after almost three decades of experience and exposure. There is no doubt that the artist was undergoing some metamorphosis during these years of creative incubation. The artist’s unique transformation from the hitherto formal paintings elements of strong hues and shades to a more intricate rendition, mostly in installations, is the manifestation of this hibernation.

Some of her works, exhibited, are the Girl Child, Social Media, the Seed of Potential, All about Ojobo…

Chinze is a multi-talented Nigerian artist who studied Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. Chinze has travelled extensively to cities around the world such as: Accra, Paris, London, Washington DC, California, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Istanbul, Guangzhou and Plovdiv. She has been able to absorb the art and culture of these diverse environments, giving her experiences that have greatly enhanced her limitless repertoire and creative energy.

Chinze also studied Interior design in the USA. She also has two post graduate diplomas in Public Relations and Advertising and Business administration.

Chinze Ojobo, Niyi Idetan, Peterside Dakuku and Tony Ajobo

Shina Badaru and Chinze

Chinze and Loe Stan

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

37

FAIRGROUND

Obiora Okonkwo Plans Mega Relaunch of The Dome, Abuja

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op Abuja investor, Chief Obiora Okonkwo, has major interests in different sectors. But many simply know him as the man behind The Dome Entertainment Center Abuja.

Okonkwo, who holds a PhD in Economics from the Russian Academy of Science, is an apostle of economic diversification and this led to his being one of the early investors in the entertainment and tourism industry in the capital city.

But the Anambra-born businessman, who chairs the Nigerian-Belgium Business Forum, has had to operate The Dome skeletally since 2012 and it remained that way until late 2015.

However, a recent visit to The Dome Entertainment Centre showed that 2016 will be the year that the one-stop leisure destination will come back to life fully.

The Dome, which is still located beside the World Trade Centre in Abuja’s plush Central Business District, now comprises the Summit Restaurant, Octagon Lounge, the Wesley Snipes and Eagle VIP Rooms, the Camelot Spa, the Body Trust Gym, the popular Dome

Bowling Alley, the Capital Bar, Bridges Garden Bar and a newly introduced boutique hotel.

It, therefore, wasn’t much of a surprise when Okonkwo confirmed the talk in town that millions of naira has been invested into repositioning the center that once hosted major events in Abuja.

The Dome boss declined giving a figure, but, investigations revealed that though work is still in progress, not less than N200 million was budgeted for the current facelift being given the entertainment centre. All things being equal, events will return, full swing, at the centre in July.

According to sources, this much was being re-invested into a tourism/entertainment business due to SWOT analysis conducted by the management of The Dome and Okonkwo’s long held belief that entertainment and tourism is a sure route to economic diversification.

“I believe that by investing heavily in entertainment, I heeded the call by government for people to open up new economic frontiers that will better position the country. I know that we are pioneers in The Dome. Before we came on board nobody had invested huge amounts

Okonkwo

into all-purpose entertainment and recreation center like we did. I have no regrets that we invested heavily because just like when I

BON Hotels Places Strong Footprint in Nigeria

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ape Town-based hospitality company, BON Hotels has taken over management, sales and marketing of four Protea Hotels in Nigeria.

BON Hotels has, over the last few months, added Protea Hotel Abuja, Protea Hotel Delta, Protea Hotel Ikeja and Protea Hotel Victoria Island to their recently-formed West African joint venture, BON Hotels International West Africa.

Certain hotels will be managed by BON Hotels, utilising the Protea Hotels brand, while others will become fully-fledged BON Hotels.

Commenting on the transaction, founder and CEO of BON Hotels, South Africa, Guy Stehlik said: “This forms part of our broader strategy to be a strong contender in the African hotel management landscape. We are confident that we will be adding significant value to hotel owners by instilling our practices, backed up by our Nigerian and South African teams.” It will be business as usual, according to Stehlik, as all current general managers and staff will remain in place.

BON Hotels International West Africa, founded on April 1, 2015, carries significant clout with the board, comprising among others Executive Chairman Otto Stehlik - the founder of Protea Hotels, pioneer of the hospitality management concept in South Africa - who spearheaded the expansion of international hotel brands into Africa with strong ties in Nigeria at all levels. Ex-Protea Regional Director, Bernard Cassar is a seasoned advise on doing business in Africa. The final board member is founder of BON Hotels. According to Stehlik, Nigeria is ready for tourism .

The infrastructure is sound but properties and venues are in need of hospitality management skills with an African approach.

With a population of 147 million and a

natural disposition for commerce, Nigeria is fast becoming a commercial hub. Recent tenuous circumstances - Boko Haram, Ebola, diesel shortages and the elections have not made things easy, but with economists predicting positive trends and strong signs of stability, BON Hotels recognises the economic viability and aims to be a significant part of hospitality and hotel management in Nigeria and West Africa, and are already negotiating a further five hotel management and marketing agreements in the region.

BON Hotels, founded in 2012 manages and

markets hotels throughout Africa.

Its management team has over 100 years’ collective experience in hospitality. Focusing on every aspect of hotel management and operation, BON Hotels delivers a relevant, modern approach to hotel management, property openings or major repositioning. With specific needs of hotel owners in mind, BON Hotels has emerged as a forward-thinking company which is bringing a fresh perspective to African hospitality landscape.

By structuring a partnership with hotel owners, BON Hotels delivers above-average

A

market-related returns and improved viability.

Their winning recipe of taking on only those hotels to which they can definitely add value has resulted in an organic, steady and successful portfolio growth. This approach, along with their excellent management infrastructure and unique fee structure, has resulted in ethical, transparent long-term business relationships.

Having been successful in the business rescue efforts of some of South Africa’s ailing hotels, Guy Stehlik and his BON team have gained a high-level reputation as business rescue specialists too.

Olympic Milk Hosts, Celebrates Mothers on Live TV

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lympic Milk, one of Nigeria’s most sophisticated milk brands, has again thrown its weight behind mothers across Nigeria through the sponsorship of the Mothers’ Day TV Show. The programme is the initiative of Media Industries Concept, which is promoting the emancipation of women.

Mothers’ Day TV Show, conceived to showcase, celebrate and appreciate mothers across the world, with special interest on Nigerian mothers.

According to the team leader at Media Industries Concept, Mr. Precious Eze, the TV programme keys into the worldwide celebration of Mothers’ Day, which is set aside to recognise and appreciate mothers for their invaluable contributions to the upkeep of the family and the society. He explained: “It is a day for honouring mothers, celebrated in many places around the world. It’s a time when we acknowledge our mothers’ contributions to our lives and pay tribute to them.”

L-R_ Joy Agbara, Abiola Laseinde, Tokunbo Tobun Agbesanwa, Nkechi Ali-Balogun, Yetunde Arobieke, Ngozi Sodeke, Josephine Oluseyi-Williams, Omotayo Aramide-Oduntan and Yinka Ogunde

This year, Olympic Milk Nigeria is providing a bigger platform through sponsorship to advance issues that concern mothers. The theme is “Mothers: Veritable Tools for National

Peekaboo Productions Releases Debut Movie ‘Fusion’ fter almost a decade of positively projecting the industry, Peekaboo Productions, a content development company run

by Darlington Abuda, has produced its first major feature film titled ‘FUSION’. The romantic comedy was released in cinemas across Nigeria recently Fusion is a hilarious yet thought-provoking movie that seeks to provide a positive analysis of newlyweds from a comedic vantage point. The movie, which was released simultaneously across cinemas in Nigeria is being distributed by Silverbird Distribution West Africa and features some of Nollywood’s finest actors, including Ay, Ireti Doyle, Victor

started, I believe that Nigeria needs world class recreation centers, like we have in other parts of the world,” Okonkwo said.

Olaitan, Yvonne Jegede, Beverly Naya, Peggy Ovire, Seun Akindele, Bucci Franklin and Naija Fm’s Onoge Tega Ben. The steamy romantic comedy, which was produced by Darlington Abuda, is written by award winning writer of the Box-office Breaking ’30 Days in Atlanta’, Patrick ‘Koinage’ Nnamani and directed by award winning director, Niyi Towolawi.

Analysing the movie, Darlington Abuda described ‘FUSION’ as a no holds barred movie loaded with excitement, love and laughter and told with a finesse that will keep the movie enthusiast enthralled. He went on to urge all to brace up for a thrilling experience in the cinemas.

‘Fusion’ is a captivating movie based on an everyday story that any couple can relate

to. The movie is a romantic comedy that explores the unfolding realities of life that newlyweds experience as they negotiate the dynamic curves thrown at them by the experience called marriage. After an eye-opening honeymoon, three couples return home to begin their life together and are surprised to find out that living together comes with unique pros and cons which their period of courtship did not prepare them for. They discover that wearing the shoes of husband and wife is totally different from the experience of courtship or dating. One by one they meet seemingly innocuous issues that suddenly look like mountains to them.

As these challenges are met and surmounted the couples learn that each marriage is unique and that it is no one-rule solves all.

Development.”

The special guests include; Chief Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Group Managing Director of The Rose of Sharon Group; Mrs Olufunsho Amosu, wife of the Governor of Ogun State; Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education; Mrs Ibim Semenitari, acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission; Prof. Viola Onwuliri, former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Senator Rose Oko; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Hon. Nnenna Ukeje; and Adebimpe Akinsola, Special Adviser, Arts and Culture, Lagos State.

The Mother’s Day TV Show is a one-hour talk-programme that will allow the audience dissect issues, and seek solutions to the challenges facing mothers, while also examining the scourge of cancer. A mother-survivor will feature in the show to testify to how she made it. Olympic Milk has consistently demonstrated its support for mothers through programmes such as the Olympic Milk August Meeting Show in the south-eastern part of Nigeria and now, the Mothers’ Day TV Show.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 16, 2016

38

BUSINESS INTERVIEW Managing Contending Interests in the Port is Tough The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello though a lawyer is a man versed in shipping. After being on the saddle and experiencing the intrigues and demands of the seat, he told John Iwori that managing the contending interest in the port was not an easy task.

He submitted that the present position where NSC was an economic regulator in the nation’s seaports placed an enormous responsibility on the Council which had been protecting interests of shippers over the years. He also spoke on many other national issues

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he Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) was eestablished in 1978, charged with the responsibility of protecting the interests of Nigerian shippers across the country. It carries out this function through the provision of what it called “adequate and up-to-date trade information” to Nigerian importers and exporters as well as the international business and shipping community. One of the ways it executes its roles and responsibilities is the provision of an avenue for port users to ventilate their grievances.

It is called the Shippers’ Complaints Unit (SCU). The SCU attends to the numerous needs of shippers. To ensure that this gets to it target public, it has provided an enabling environment for the establishment of Shippers’ Associations all over the country.

These aside, NSC had also taken on other responsibilities that are adjunct to the execution of its immediate mandate. One of such is the conceptualisation of Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and Container Freight Stations (CFS) across the country. It was also the arrowhead of the creation and nurture of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

However, its efforts to protect interest of Nigerian shippers have created the desired impact as not a few port users erroneously perceived it as a toothless bulldog. These importers and exporters see it as a council that only bark but not bite. Why is it that many stakeholders in the cargo clearance chain see it so? What is the council doing to change the present narrative as it has now been given a fresh mandate by the Federal Government as the economic regulator of the nation’s seaports? These and many more questions agitate the reporters mind as he climbs the staircase of Shippers Plaza, the imposing multi-storey building that serve as the corporate headquarters of NSC to see the man that calls the shot this faithful afternoon.

Bello who has served in several capacities in NSC said the council was not leaving any stone unturned in its quest to execute its mandate. “We have been embarking on retreat and strategic plans on the way forward”. Giving an insight into the council’s plans, the NSC boss who hails from Birnin-Kebbi in Kebbi State said: “We had a three-day management retreat where we had a three year strategic plan for the council and the whole issue is that the council should work closely with the private sector to ensure that government provide enabling environment for their operations. It is important that government have well-articulated polices, government should give framework of operation to the private sector to ensure to profitability and attract more investments”.

He stressed the need for Nigeria to begin to compete for investments due to the dwindling price of crude oil in the international market. He explained that this would not only give Nigeria an edge but also place her in a vantage position to get out of the woods earlier than envisaged.

His words: “We should be competing for investments. We need to attract more investments to Nigeria. This is more feasible now because we need to have alternative sources of revenue and diversify the economy, we think that the maritime industry is one of the major sources of such diversification. It is important that the Nigeria Shippers Council work with the private sector closely this is what we are poised to do. It is important that the value chain should be intensified and articulated, the council will articulate its new port order and the hallmark of the new

Bello

port order is continuous consultation with the private sector operators and all other stakeholders in government such as Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), National Agency Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

On what NSC intends doing in this regard, He said: “We want to increase the comparative advantage of Nigeria. We want to streamline the cargo clearance procedure, so that they are in tandem with the world best practices. We want to encourage the deployment of appropriate technology in our ports, in order to allow for increased efficiency and transparency. Once you have appropriate technology, underhand dealings and corruptions will disappear”.

He hailed the concessionaires, shipping lines and other stakeholders in the maritime industry for the strides they had made since the conclusion of the concession programme during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

“The terminal operators and shipping companies have contributed their investments in ports and they have also changed the way we do business, so what is needed now is for the government to have consultation with all concerned. So we reposition the maritime sector. We are happy with the contribution of certain agencies, such as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). We want to ensure that they redeploy appropriate technology for doing business. They are in tune with their maritime services because they dredge the ports as we have bigger ships coming”, he said.

The NSC helmsman did not limit his commendation to the concessionaires and shipping companies. He was full of praise for the Federal Government for its support and co-operation to build deep seaports and ensuring that the day-to-day running of the nation’s seaports was successfully handed over to private investors.

Said he, “The Federal Government must

also be commended for having deep sea ports. These deep seaports are solutions to the problems we are presently facing in the existing port. This is because we have large volumes of cargo. Now the trade is very low because of foreign exchange issues. Overall, I think government should put appropriate structures in place to see that we are competing favourably for cargo and Nigeria will be the preferred destination for cargo in the West and Central African Sub-Regions”.

Bello who cut his teeth in the legal profession in the Sokoto State Ministry of Justice as a Pupil State Counsel from 1981 to 1986 before his foray into the maritime industry debunked speculations in some quarters that government agencies were not on the same page on the way forward for the industry.

“There have been a lot of consultations and the government agencies operating in the ports all have one goal. Nigeria Customs Service has one goal. That is, trade facilitation, increase revenue by blocking leakages and loopholes in the system. This applies to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), NSC and NPA. Our roles and responsibilities are geared towards repositioning the sector. The council was able to channel this energy through active consultation. The important thing is that there should be collaboration and synergy.

This is due to the fact that synergy is key to ports operations because of the chain of interests, issues and stakeholders, no matter there must be unionism”, he said.

He however maintained that the council was central to the attainment of set goals and objectives because of its mandate as an economic regulator in the nation’s seaports.

“This is what the council is trying to do.

Presently, the council is central to what ICPC is doing on the standard procedures of every agency at the ports. The council is bringing its standard operating procedures (SOP) and it is contributing to the harmonisation and the procedure will soon be launched, so everybody knows their functions. It has

Presently, the council is central to what ICPC is doing on the standard procedures of every agency at the ports.

The council is bringing its standard operating procedures (SOP) and it is contributing to the harmonisation and the procedure will soon be launched, so everybody knows their functions.

It has to do with time so that we have efficiency, so we have good turnaround time for ships, less dwell time for cargoes and this we can only do if we are efficient

39

April 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

BUSINESS INTERVIEW Managing Contending Interests in the Port is Tough to do with time so that we have efficiency, so we have good turnaround time for ships, less dwell time for cargoes and this we can only do if we are efficient.

“We have facilitated that and we have to thank TUGA and ICPC who are the lead agencies, but shipper’s council because of the involvement have to contribute to the standard operating procedures (SOP). The SOP will eliminate waste, save time and cost of doing business in Nigeria. The ease and cost of doing business are key to the competitiveness of our ports. If there is ease and low cost of doing business, others will be having more cargoes. This is what the council is doing. We are looking at the indices, what the other ports are offering. Then we are trying to fine-tune all that is required so that we become a hub in the West and Central Africa Sub-Regions. Becoming a hub is a function of competition”, he explained.

On the face-off between NSC and terminal operators under the auspices of the Sea Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Bello maintained that the council was not opposed to out-of-court settlement.

“Trade disputes are better settled outside the courts. It is always the position of Nigeria shippers’ council that such disputes are settled outside the courts. There are alternative dispute resolution mechanisms which are faster and more efficient. It is true we were taken to court and I think the issue is to seek interpretation. This is what you do when you are in relationship. You always seek interpretation. It is not a good thing. We are proud of the fact that we want to have it settled amicably.

“Despite all the cases in court, we have been having intermittent dialogue with the parties because we work in the same industry. Our staff goes to these terminals and they are given assistance to top shippers’ company and this is bided for. There are some industry issue that will arise and they would have no choice than to come together and discuss them”, he said.

Bello stated that the case between NSC and STOAN presently in the Federal High Court, Lagos was a distraction that rubbed off negatively on the statutory roles and responsibilities of the council.

“I think the case is a distraction. However, it is not so much of an inhibition that it will stop us from performing our respective functions. The important thing is what the council is for. It must be neutral. It will serve the shipping company as serve the shipper.

It will serve the terminal operators and truck owners. So we need to have independence and neutrality. We have taken the case of the operators to the federal government.

“We have frowned at certain policy flip flop of the government on behalf of the stakeholders. We have realised the contribution of the terminal operators to the development of the economy. If you visit certain ports they are doing great improvements. The shipping companies have added value to shipping in accordance with the agreement governing their concession.

Therefore the council is the centre and we will help all the stakeholders so we will have a common purpose. We try to create conducive atmosphere so that the federal government will guarantee the investment of those who invested and the profitability.

On the contrary, we welcome out of court settlement, we will rather be out of the court than inside”, he added.

He expressed NSC readiness to continue to partner other players in the cargo chain to ensure that the sensitisation of stakeholders on its functions is carried out periodically.

“We have gone far. We are doing it in collaboration with state government. The Kaduna State government has declared about five places for the truck transit park, they have asked for expression of interests and received biddings because it is done is public private partnership and we think we can assist. Currently, we are talking with the Kogi State government and Enugu State government. Recently, the Senate Committee on Marine Transport made some observations that we should increase and bring more governments to setup parks in certain locations and this is what we are going to do.

“It is a long process but the most important thing is that we have started. Presently, Kaduna State expressions of interest have been concluded. We are aware of and very soon the result will be out. They may have transaction advisers and outline business cases and they are following the process

Bello

of procurement so that the contract will be awarded. Once they are awarded, I think the gestation is high. That is why there must be collaboration. I just finished a meeting of the road haulers National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) where I told them that they are key to the efficient operation of truck terminals and we are going to bring them and sensitise them. We cannot have situations where trucks are parked on the roadside. It must be a model infrastructure.

The NSC chief executive enumerated the benefits of having Trucks Transition Parks (TTPs) in strategic locations across the country. “We hope to see a modernisation of truck infrastructure. It will create employment where they are located. It will also be a revenue source because the utilisation will come with a certain fee and improve the safety of cargoes, as the safety of cargoes will no longer be left to vagaries”.

On the components of the TTPs, Bello said: “The truck transition park is a place where you have weigh bridges to measure the cargoes. You have a mechanic workshop for the truck. The important thing is to dignify the drivers. These drivers travel distance and sleep in their cabs. But with TTPS, they have a place where they can stop and rest, fuel their vehicles. They also use the TTPs to check their vehicles and rest their head. This implies that the safety of cargo is central to the operations. We have provided corners in the TTPS for people to pray either as Christians or Muslims. You know as Africans, religion is very central to us. We will also provide a unit to serve as a centre of information in the TTPs. The information unit is for those looking for trucks to carry cargoes and it can be done online. We are working with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to make sure the operations of the TTPs is enforced. Therefore, the idea across the country is that TTPs is a collaborative effort between NSC, other government agencies and private investors. At the FRSC, it is very receptive of the new idea.

Therefore we need to work with FRSC and other stakeholders to ensure that it becomes successful”.

Bello explained that dry ports and freight stations would not only provide employment opportunities but also ensure sustainable development of the country.

According to him, the dry ports also called inland container deports (ICD) had already started in Kaduna. “You have trains carrying containers to the Kaduna dry port. It is the first dry port in Nigeria, but we are still working as to the operations. In this industry, collaboration is important. Therefore, I have asked the minister to set up a committee in order for us to look at all the issues and operate smoothly. Here I’m talking about

Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) the Shipping Companies, Terminal operators, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) and others.

Describing the dry ports as consolidation centres, he revealed the Futai ICD which is been operated Alhaji Mutallab had recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a German firm on its operations.

“They are also working with the NRC to revitalise the lines that goes deep inside the container terminals. For the ICD in Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, the state government is keenly interested and we have already had two meetings. There are other ones in Kano and Jos. By our calculations, we will soon be in Jos”, he said.

According to him, there were many interests because the issue is that we have to export or we perish. This is due to the fact that export is very important to the diversification of Nigeria economy. “This is why the freight rates and other things are very high. We must work in collaboration with the appropriate agencies such as Nigeria Export Promotion (NEP) and the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) and others to attain set goals and objectives. We have just returned from Ilorin, the Kwara State capital where we had a one-day sensitisation seminar concerning the cargo airport. As you are aware, Ilorin is the centre for agricultural products. Therefore there is the need to start exporting”.

On the much awaited Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), the NSC helmsman said: “There are no more changes, except that the procedure is simpler because some agencies have been removed from the being part of the handling process, though it still goes through the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The provisions in it are source of revenue itself, but if you know what technology can do you may not have those fears. Whatever is obtained from the port development levy is well known. It is just the transmitting of the funds to various agencies which is faster than before”.

He dispelled the rumours in some quarters that CTN was an NSC affair without the involvement of any other government agency.

His words: “Actually, it is not Nigeria Shippers’ Council affair alone. In fact, our Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) will be administered by many agencies, including Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) which was the government agency that handled CTN in the past. Now, there is a technical committee that has been set up to look at this cargo tracking loading such as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NPA, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Shippers Council and some other agencies. Therefore it is not housed in one place like it was

The truck transition park is a place where you have weight bridges to measure the cargoes.

You have a mechanic workshop for the truck.

The important thing is to dignify the drivers. These drivers travel distance and sleep in their cabs.

But with TTPS, they have a place where they can stop and rest, fuel their vehicles. They also use the TTPs to check their vehicles and rest their head. This implies that the safety of cargo is central to the operations. We have provided corners in the TTPS for people to pray either as Christians or Muslims. You know as Africans, religion is very central to us before. It is more encompassing and more technical”.

He maintained that there was no opposition to the implementation of the CTN in the country. According to Bello, they were not opposed to it. “If you look at it critically, what they are opposed to is the modalities, adding, Working with shipping companies has enriched our work knowledge. We thought it was just something you could just go and do because of its disadvantage. It is done everywhere. So what we asked was that it should not be a burden, which means it shouldn’t add to the procedures of doing business. So it has to be interrogated and it is very important that we have worked with the shipping lines or agents”.

Bello revealed that members of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) raised fundamental issues. He revealed that they asked many questions on the execution of CTN in the ports.

“For instance, they asked how CTN is different from any other transport document. It is going to be an added cost to the shipper?

Will it not be added to the cost of doing business in Nigeria? As a result of the fact that we engage with MAN and the foreign shipping companies, they have enriched the discussion. This industry is stakeholders are industry sensitive. We cannot do anything without appropriate consultation with the stakeholders. We need their support”.

Continuing, he said: “I think there was opposition in the CTN because it is not a product everybody knows what it does. It is not opposition, but observations. Now we have opened it up. We have a technical committee who are working to see how the CTN can be perfected. They have brought many options which we are considering and up till now we have not signed any agreement with the technical partners.

Every observation we think it is worthwhile, we will consider it to a near perfect system.

We will give it a trial period to see how it operates with the assistance of the shipping companies and other stakeholders. These are all things that would make ports more efficient. Implementation of the CTM has been going on and people have keyed into it, so we are giving it as a trial.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 16, 2016

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FITNESS FILE

Actions That Dramatically Improve Your Health (II)

The Edenlifestyle corner with

MAJE AYIDA

majeayida@edenlifenigeria.com www.edenlifenigeria.com, 07062614551

L

ast week I talked about healthy actions and really didn’t have the space to explore all my suggestions.

So this week’s column picks up where I left of. This article is a testament to just how many healthy actions there are out there, and I’m barely scratching the surface.

Choose BIG BANG Exercises and Save Time If your goals are to improve your fitness and lose fat then you shouldn’t waste your time with small exercises.

Small exercises only target small muscle groups, like the biceps or triceps. To get a quicker response from your workout you need to focus on big exercises that hit large muscle groups.

Here’s a list of top 5 Big bang exercises: 1. The Lunge – a basic movement that not only works most muscles of the body but improves your balance and movement skills 2. The Row – pulling your hands towards you is excellent for recruiting most of the muscles in your back.

Perform this exercise standing up and you will use the legs and core muscles too!

3. The Squat – uses most muscles in the body but in particular the buttocks and thighs 4. The Push Up – avoid the bench press and stick to the push up. The push up targets the chest, triceps and core muscles and you can do them anywhere.

5. The Deadlift – again uses most of your 600 muscles but heavily works the back of the body so great for posture Put these exercises together in a circuit in the same order as above and you have a quick and highly effective workout.

Take a Walk in Nature There is nothing more natural and uplifting than taking a walk in nature.

If your mind is busy, you are feeling the pressures of the day, or you simply need a break from the office. Taking a quick stroll through a park, fields or woods, is great for the soul.

Walking in nature can offer you some active meditation. A time to let yourself go and re-assess your situation. Remember we all come from nature so get out there and reconnect.

Plan Out Your Meals for the Week OK, don’t turn your nose up at this suggestion. A little planning can go a long way. There is nothing worse than opening the cupboards and finding them bare. Empty cupboards usually means eating and drinking things that you know you shouldn’t.

Take 5 minutes and write down a list of meals for the week. Once you have your meals jotted down, split each meal up into ingredients required. You then have your shopping list for the week.

This is a simple technique that only has to be done once a week, but the time and aggravation it saves is well worth it. Also, once you have written down a few weekly lists you can combine them to save even more time.

Follow the Rainbow Diet It’s a fact that different coloured vegetables contain different nutrients.

Next time you are out grocery shopping try and choose as many variations of colours as you can find. The brighter and more colourful your shopping basket the better.

Dream about What You Really Want Do you know what you really want out of life? Have you ever taken the time to think about it?

Setting goals and taking control of your life is important for your overall happiness. There is something very intrinsically rewarding about achieving a goal. Generally the harder and longer a goal takes to achieve the more rewarding it will be. The subconscious mind has a clever way of finding solutions for you but you have to set it a goal first. Dream big and don’t worry about how you will get there, just let your subconscious take care of it.

Here’s a proven goal setting technique 1. Close your eyes and dream about what you want your life to be like in 5 years. How will it look and feel?

2. Now ask yourself what skills you need to achieve your dream? List them down.

3. Next work backwards and plan out your pathway to your dream. Where will you need to be in 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, 6 months, 3 month, 1 month, 1 week?

4. Write out your road-map and stick it on the wall. Tick off each week as you progress towards your 5 year dream.

This technique is highly effective.

Don’t sweat over the small stuff, it will sort itself out. Trust your subconscious to find a way. Take control of your life and you could be living your dream in only 5 years!

Spend More Time Standing For some people the idea of standing more often terrifies them but the truth is sitting down is not very good for our backs. When we sit down huge amounts of pressure is transferred to the lower back, far more than when standing. It always amuses me when people say their back hurts and so they need to sit down. If you have a bad back you

are better to either lie down or stand up.

I’m sure you know that we live in a sitting world. We sit going to work, at work, going home from work, and finally at home in the evening. Try to spend more time on your feet. One simply technique to prevent prolonged sitting at work is to set a stopwatch on your computer. Every 50 minutes take the time to get up, move around, drink some water and look at something other than the computer screen. You will be amazed at how much more productive you will become by using this simple method.

Turn the Lights Down and Chill Out in the Evening Dig out those candles, dim the lights, and play some soft music. In the evening it’s time to relax and work with your hormones not against them.

I mentioned earlier how we are influenced hormonally by the sun and how these hormone levels change throughout the day. Well, in the evening we should be winding down and preparing to sleep. Bright lights and stimulating TV will activate the cortisol hormone. High cortisol levels should naturally occur in the morning when it’s time to wake up and get going, and not in the evenings. So in the evenings try to avoid all stimulants, relax and wind down the right way.

Limit Your Fruit Intake to 1 Piece Per Day What? I know what you are thinking.

Reduce fruit, I thought that was good for me? Fruit is good for you but only in small doses. Fruit contains high amounts of sugar. I know it’s the natural sugar Fructose but it’s still sugar.

Sugar is the largest cause of obesity today. No it’s not fat, it’s sugar. Sugar consumption has drastically risen over the last 50 years and fat consumption

has drastically dropped, but we are all in worse shape than ever. We have more gyms, medical practitioners and health carers than ever before but we still can’t stop the obesity epidemic. Stop sugar and it all goes away!

Here’s a quick guide to Fruit and Sugar 1. Avoid all Sugars including syrups and artificial sweeteners (they are even worse than sugar).

2. All ingredients that end in “ose” are a sugar. For example: Sucrose, Glucose, Fructose, Maltose etc.

3. Limit fruit to one piece a day. Only eat seasonal fruit. Fruit is not a meal.

Fruit has changed a lot over the years.

Our ancestors would have eaten fruit that was much smaller and more sour.

They would have only eaten it when it was in season and usually to fatten up for the winter. Be very very careful with fruit and sugar!

Do Something Different Remember the feeling you last had when you did something different? We are creatures of habit and although most habits keep us safe they don’t always challenge us. Have some fun by changing a habit and doing something you haven’t done before. It can be as simple as taking a different route to work or waking up in the middle of the night and looking at the stars. The challenge is to experience something new.

Spend 5 minutes looking through Google for something new. Try a new sport, join a new club, start a new business, try a new hobby, reconnect with an old friend, go to a play, book a weekend break.

Life is short. It’s amazing what happens when you try something new.

With new experiences come more new experiences. Without change you get the same results so get out there and explore.

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APRIL 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FASHION FILE

Lagos Purple Collection

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

FASHION FILE

Lagos Purple

P

tion Vel-

urple Lagos debuts its new collection featuring gorgeous intricate luxury hand – beaded dresses and separates perfect for the party season.

The brand which is known for couture ventures into ready-to -wear with this new collection. From alluring shift dresses to cocktail dresses, pencil skirts and flirty tops with a contemporary twist in a range of bright and classic hues.

“This collection features go-to occasion pieces that make the right statement. It is designed for the sophisticated woman who desires to be glamorous and appreciates exquisite craftsmanship,” says Betty Lewis, the Creative Director, Purple Lagos.

Shop this new collecat 41 Luxe Abuja, Grey vet Stores and Zazaii.

T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R • APRIL 16, 2016

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IMAGES

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

CRIME WATCH

with Femi Ogbonnikan

08126483389

JSS Student Nabbed for Robbery

T

he long arm of the law has caught up with a Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 student of a private college in Sango, Ogun State, who is currently in police net for alleged armed robbery.

Opeyemi Johnson, 13 years old, said to be a member of a notorious cult group, ‘Awawa’, which has been unleashing mayhem on residents of Agege and its environs in recent times, was arrested recently, along with another member, while returning from a street carnival somewhere at Agbado Crossing, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State after which they started robbing people of their valuables.

SATURDAY THIS DAY gathered that nemesis however, caught up with the 13-year-old, when a victim identified him to operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RSS), the Lagos State Government security outfit, who were on routine patrol of the area.

According to Opeyemi, “I followed my cult members, numbering 20, to a carnival at Power Line, Agbado Crossing, which falls within the territory of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. On our way home, our Capon (head), nicknamed ‘Ijaomode’ instructed us to start robbing anybody we met on our way.

“We robbed not less than 10 individuals of their belongings, before we got to Fagba Junction.

At this point, we saw a young girl, whom we immediately surrounded and collected all her belongings, including phones and jewelry. She later went to alert RRS men who chased us and they arrested me, while my other colleagues

Opeyemi Johnson managed to escape.”

Opeyemi disclosed that he joined the cult group about a year ago.

“I was initiated into the group about a year ago. It was one brother whom I simply know as Ola, that introduced and forced me to join the group.

“Initially, I never knew it would turn out to be this. Immediately, I saw their ways of life and characters, I wanted to quit, but they threatened to kill me, if I dare leave the group”, he claimed.

While narrating how the cult initiation was performed on him, the suspect said, “It was on

a Sunday evening at Abattoir, Agege. Ola took me to one dark room and ordered me to kneel down. In that room, I met six other members of the group already waiting for my arrival. The cult leader, ‘Ijaomode’ blindfolded me with a black piece of cloth, and all the six members descended on me. They gave me the beating of my life.

“After a while, they stopped. They gave me an alligator pepper to chew and also, an alcoholic drink to gulp it down. One of them stood up, he drew tattoo on my forehead and below my eyes as a sign of being a bonafide member of the group. Since that time, I have been going out with them for operations, and also, I stopped going back home. I used to sleep in a shanty plank room at Abattoir, Agege.”

The suspect added that his mother never showed him his biological father since he was born.

“I don’t know who my father is till now. My mother just told me, he is a Congolese. I had made frantic efforts to see him, to the extent, that I had to travel to Congo alone to look for him, but I couldn’t see him. Rather, I saw some of his family members, who told me, he had travelled out of that country. But now, I have made a headway and I can only talk to him via phone,” Johnson said.

In her own accounts, the suspect’s mother, Mrs. Johnson said, she had tried all her best to give him sound education and good upbringing.

“He is my third child. Though I had remarried, that doesn’t stop me from playing my motherly roles toward him. His two older siblings are in higher institutions. I have tried enough to

ensure that he didn’t go astray. I enrolled him in a private school at Sango, I wondered how he got to Abattoir, Agege. I gave him and his siblings all my best,” the mother said.

A victim, Soerayion Naisha Akiomon, who alerted the RRS operatives after she was robbed, also narrated her ordeal to the police.

“I was on my way to Balogun market, in Lagos Island. On getting to Fagba junction, hoping to board a bus around 4:00 a.m., about 15 boys surrounded me, with dangerous weapons and asked me to surrender all I had on me.”

“I had to cooperate with them, and they collected a sum of N58,000.00, permanent voter’s card, three ATM cards, phones and other valuables from me. I had to run to the other side of the road to shout for help. Fortunately, I saw RRS operatives patrolling and I explained everything to them. They followed me to the crime scene, but immediately the rampaging boys sighted us coming, they all took to their heels. The policemen chased after them and arrested only one of them,” she said.

While confirming the arrest, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Dolapo Badmus, a Superintendent of Police (SP), admonished parents to give their children and wards good education. She said the teenager’s confessional statement helped the detectives in the arrest of another member of the group, identified as Mohammed Korede, 19.

The police spokesperson added that the two suspects had been transferred to General Department of the State Police command for necessary actions.

having carnal knowledge of the 10-year-old in an abandoned building within the Estate.

It was learnt, that the girl, who was sent on errand by her mother, was lured into the building by Wahab who forcefully defiled her.

It was gathered, that the mother of the girl, who saw her daughter shedding tears and writhing in pain before she confessed to her mother the unfortunate incident which befell her on her way to a nearby shop to pick certain items. The mother thereafter reported the incident to the

police, who swiftly arrested the suspect, who has allegedly confessed to the crime.

According to Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident, the Commissioner of Police of the State, Alhaji Abdulmajid Ali, had directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Ojodu Abiodun to transfer the case to the operatives of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence (DCII),

Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and prosecution. Ali advised residents of the state to always encourage owners of abandoned or isolated structures to work on them or make them clean, always so as to debar hoodlums from using them to perpetrate evil acts of this nature.

The police boss further advised members of the general public to cooperate with the police in the fight against crimes and social vices that must be totally eradicated, and to report such to the police, not minding any social stigma.

Man 20, Arrested for Defiling 10 Year Old Girl

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uck has run out on a 20-yearold man for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl at Sparklight Estate, Isheri Olofin, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State as he is currently in police detention.

SATURDAY THIS DAY learnt that the suspect, Wahab AbdulAziz, currently detained by operatives attached to Ojodu Abiodun Divisional Police Station, Ogun State Command, was apprehended for forcefully

PERSPECTIVE

Cocoa Industry, Ede Roars to Life

Olumide Lawal

This Cocoa Products Industry, Ede has a big story surrounding it. I therefore owe great gratitude to many people in government and outside it. The then military government was very ardent to break a monopoly of bad fortunes for Ede, by actively supporting the quest to site the industry here. It is my earnest prayer, that everyone connected with the operation of it in whatever category, would find joy and happiness in all their undertakings”.

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hat was the late Oba Tijani Oladokun Oyewusi, Agbonran II, Timi of Ede’s message of hope, delivered at the commissioning of the multi-million naira Cocoa Product Industry, Ede on October 17, 1982, with late Chief Bola Ige as old Oyo State governor in attendance.

From the onset, one squabble or the other reared its ugly head. The first expatriate Managing Director of the company, Mr. K.W. Sheldon, tried his best to put it on sound footings, but he lost out in a dirty board-room politics in a dramatic manner. The government-owner of the company, thereafter felt concerned about happenings in the company, and decided in 1990 to lease it out. This brought about a ‘marriage of strange bed partners’.

And the resultant effect saw rounds of muscle

flexing. The two principal leases of the factory at the time - Worldwide Industrial Ventures Limited and Dalami (Nig.) Limited - got involved in allegations and counter-allegations, which resulted in a fierce legal battle, that saw two legal luminaries – Late Chief Fredrick Rotimi Alade Williams (Timi the Law, SAN) and Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) slugging it out at an Osogbo High Court.

This went on for a period, before sanity prevailed, as the administration of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the first Governor of Osun State, took the bull by the horns, by giving the final nod to Worldwide Industrial Ventures Limited, to effectively run the affairs of the company. Dalami (Nig.) Limited again went to court to contest its termination and this went on for years, before it was resolved by Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s government.

At the time Worldwide Ventures Limited took over, production capacity level was at 5 per cent. But within a short period, it raised the production capacity to 60 per cent, by injecting substantial funds into importation of spare-parts as well as locally sourced ones from the Nigeria Machine Tools Limited, Osogbo and Nigeria Sugar Company Foundries, Bacita. The FFA contents of cocoa, cake and butter, under Worldwide Ventures Limited hovered between 1.40 and 1.55 as against 2.24 before it took over.

Globally acceptable FFA content for cocoa butter is 1.50.

Most unfortunately, the unexpected again happened in 1995, when the leasehold agreement

of Worldwide Ventures Limited with Osun State Government, was crudely, illegally and arrogantly terminated by some over-zealous officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, acting on the instruction of a Commissioner, who has his own ulterior motive of bringing in his friend to take over the leasehold of the company. Worldwide Ventures Limited was “thrown” out of Cocoa Product Industry premises in a jungle manner.

It was like scaring away foreign investors. What followed could be better imagined than described.

There and then, began the unending and protracted problem of the industry for a long time. Osun State Government’s only industry, which In fact, is a goldmine if properly managed, is the Cocoa Product Industry, Ede. It is a veritable source of foreign exchange earnings for the state. It is capable of generating the much needed internal revenue for the state at this crucial moment of its socio-economic development. Moreso, with the need to tap into all natural resources that abound in the state.

Much as I am not holding brief for anybody, it is only fair to let the Chinese investors now in control, to operate without let or hindrance.

Neither should any encumbrances placed on their way. There should be no bad blood, as regards who brought them into the scene. What we need in Osun State is accelerated industrial development. The present leasee is determined to put the company on the right footing. The factory is now a beautiful sight to behold.

The Cocoa Product Industry erstwhile managers and workers, who have been on forced

holiday for more than 11 years, are men of proven integrity, who should be given the right of a recall if they so wish and take the company to greater heights. Cocoa Product industry, Ede, is a company of yesterday, today and tomorrow for the people of Osun State. It is posterity-bound and prosperityinclined. The administration of Rauf Aregbesola, has now taken the bull by the horns in giving a new lease of life to the hitherto moribund industry.

Aregbesola in his wisdom was able to put in place, a dynamic board of Directors, under the able leadership of a leading light in the entrepreneurial world, in person of Sir Adewale Adeeyo (OON).

This wonderful leader of men and material, on serious scrutiny of what was on the ground, shifting and weighing, hit upon a world-class investor from China, by name Golden Monkey, who are specialists in Cocoa Industry Management back in their country.

The Adeeyo-led board, in cooperation with officials of the Osun State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, were able to identify the core problems of Osun Cocoa Products industry, major among which, was that over the years of its abandonment, some unscrupulous people have vandalised very important cables, electrical materials among others.

This in effect, had affected the industry badly.

Governor Aregbesola was ready to give executive approval to the urgent needs of the company, whenever they were made. The Governor trusted absolutely in Sir Adewale Adeeyo role to reinvigorate the industry.

Continued online www.thisdaylive.com –– Lawal writes from Ede, Osun State

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

TRIBUTE

Mike Merchandise Lives

Sam Ekpe

I

lions of Naira, the donation of a fully air conditioned church – St. Monica’s Anglican Church Enugwu Ukwu, the t was in the early 1970s. The establishment of Enugwu Ukwu Sports Nigerian Civil War had just Club, motivator and highest donor ended. The music group Peacocks and most recently the gigantic stadium International released one of shaped Umunri Palace Enugwu Ukwu their popular hits in which they of which again he was the motivator praised among others John Anyand highest donor, the donation, along aehie, Toyola Crown and Mike with Igwe Ralph Ekpeh and Senator I. Merchandise Electronics dealer.

That was the first time the name of this G. Abana of Enugwu Ukwu Hostel to Paul University, Awka, a four storey, Aba based industrialist, the business entrepreneur, the philanthropist extraor- four hundred bed project which cost hundreds of millions of Naira, donadinary, the socialite par excellence and the exemplary humanist came to public tion of ultra-modern - ultra sound 3D machines worth millions of naira to consciousness.

Anambra State University. Outside Chief Mike Nkwoji, the OkpataozuAnambra State he made landmark ora I of Enugwu Ukwu na Umunri in Anambra State was a man among men. contributions. They include donation of similar equipment to the Abia State Young at heart, he was only 73 when University Teaching Hospital Aba he passed on, in a London Hospital including dialysis machine for treaton Friday March, 18th 2016. He found ment of kidney disorder, significant the company of much younger men more pleasurable. Christmas Eve party financial contributions to the Aba and Enugu Golf courts . He also sponsored on December 24th every year in his many Nigerians through Rotary Club residence was the venue where all of Nigeria for treatment abroad, and home comers, both in and outside through his Mike Nkwoji Foundation Nigeria, met, socialised and prepared awarded Scholarships to hundreds of for the New Year. After several years secondary and university students. of his 24th night party, he moved the Poverty alleviation schemes were part get together to 1st January every year of Mike’s way of life.All these achieve- New Year buffet Lunch. The event was as usual celebrated on January 1st ments and accomplishments were made without any publicity or fuss.

2016. How could we have known that I related more closely with him it would be the last with him. in the early 1990s, especially on the Nkwoji, was the Obu Uzo Ogu in Creation of New Anambra State in name and indeed - One who is in 1991. He immediately formed the the forefront in any fight. In many Enugwu Ukwu Friendship Association instances in the affairs of Enugwu (EFA) to which all known Enugwu Ukwu he would either conceive or Ukwu elite in various walks of life pioneer a development project in the were invited. He was the Convener/ town. Name them - the first privately Chairman and I served as General tarred road in the town, from the Old Onitsha road to deep inside his village, Secretary. Meetings were held on every last Saturday of the month and atthe first privately dug borehole with tendance was very heavy, from Lagos, taps in the village square, expansion Enugu, Aba, Port Harcourt and various project of Immanuel Anglican Church Enugwu Ukwu in which he spent mil- far way places. Mike would host every

Mike meeting lavishly and looked forward to the next meeting. The Enugwu Ukwu Friendship Association immediately got the massive Civic Center in the town ready for use as the temporary State House of Assembly for Anambra State.

The Old Umunri Hall at Enugwu Ukwu was reconstructed and improvised as the Sports Club to which the members of the House of Assembly belonged, exercised themselves and socialised.

Mike donated the billiard table to the Club Soon after the demise of Igwe Osita Agwuna Eze Enugwu Ukwu na Igwe Umunri, about eight years ago, it was difficult for different factions of the political divide in the town to agree on a mutually acceptable meeting

venue. As soon as the name of Nkwoji was mooted, all the factions consented to his residence being the venue for meetings and as usual he hosted several peace meetings in his residence, resulting in the peaceful selection and election of the traditional ruler of the town Igwe Ralph Ekpeh. Such was the personality of the man whose remains we shall commit to mother earth on Thursday April 28 2016.

It was William Shakespeare who said in Julius Caesar that when beggers die no comets are seen but the heavens themselves blazé forth the death of princes.

Since the news of Okpata’s death filtered in, Enugwu Ukwu has being in a state of confusion and uncertainty. It seemed as if a cloud of uncertainty had descended on the town. How can such a great Patriot whose love for the progress and development of the town was unequalled die? But our great town has gone through this sad episode in her history in the past , One or two outstanding patriots had passed on, but after an apparent spell of doom the town marched on in unity and progress. So we all hope and pray it will be with us without Okpata.

To live in the hearts and minds of those we leave behind is not to die. Therefore Mike Nkwoji, Okpataozuora Global is not dead. He cannot die. The great monuments he established bear eloquent testimony that he is not dead. He lives.

Rest in peace our epitome of handsomeness, humility, decency, goodwill and promoter of regular camaraderie spirit among hardworking people. It is well with Mike Nkwoji.

––Sam Ekpe is an Abuja based Media and P.R Consultant.

TunjiBraithwaite:AQuintessentialCrusaderGonetoGlory

T Egbe Niyi

he recent passing on of elder statesman, politician and legal icon statesman, Dr Tunji Braithwaite at a time when the nation is in need of experienced men to guide it is indeed sad news.

The avid crusader for social justice and the liberation of our beleaguered nation from the manacles of socio-economic injustice and squalor would be well remembered for his many feats in the legal profession and politics.

Braithwaite had a knack for daring the establishment. He was brought into fame initially through his close collaboration with the legendary King of Afro Music, the music maestro Fela Anikulapo Kuti and later his own political activities.

Fela’s had a well-known difference with successive military regimes and tirelessly fought misrule through the instrumentality of music. Of course, such stance always had him at daggers drawn with different military juntas. He was thus a regular guest in some of the nation’s prison houses.

It was the likes of Dr Braithwaite, Chief Alao Aka- Bashorun and Femi Falana that always rose to his defense in courts.

Another notable associate of Dr Braithwaite was the Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Prof.

Wole Soyinka.

Beyond politics, Braithwaite was a social crusader who was always in league with those advocating sanity and fairer deal for the populace. At an advanced age, he still managed to participate in the Occupy

Braithwaite Lagos anti-fuel pump price increase protest of January 2012.

He was forefront in the struggle to achieve a saner Nigeria society denouncing with gusto, every appearance of evil. From his mean resources, he was founding the Nigeria Advance Party a progressive political party that was quite popular among youths and people desiring progress in national political leadership.

The party was the only new political organisation allowed to field candidates for the 1983 elections. The party was deemed an

alternative amidst the corrupted political landscape promising the eradication of deep-rooted corruption. It endeared intellectuals through its advocacy of free education at the university level and also mandatory primary education.

For the Christian community, the passing on of Dr. Braithwaite is one of mixed feelings. Naturally, Christians will miss one of their own - a shinning light in amidst a darkening and debilitating nation.

They found in the late Icon, a hero whose philosophy was in consonance with that of Christ. Christ always had the religious establishment in check – denouncing hypocrisy and attacking every appearance of evil.

However, Christians are consoled by the fact that he has joined the saints triumphant and is now taking a deserved rest after a lifetime of hard fight against social wrongs.

At Covenant Keepers Network, we will quite miss Dr. Tunji Braithwaite a close ally in our efforts to have the Nigerian society become better. He encouraged us greatly in our commitment to rid the nation of social vices and corruption - which he popularly described as “mosquitoes and cockroaches”.

We had Dr. Tunji Braithwaite as lead speaker at the Inaugural Symposium of the Covenant Keepers’ Network on September 20, 2014 that had “Beyond Knowledge; Unto Obedience” as theme. His presence at the event, which was chaired by the former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, drew an instant crowd of admirers especially of his brethren of the same faith.

Again, Dr. Braithwaite did not disappoint.

He went on a long tour of the country’s checkered history, labouring not only to decipher the raison d’etre for the drift of the nation to it’s inglorious state but as well pointing panaceas to national redemption.

Dr. Braithwaite also encouraged us over our commitment to “galvanising remnant Christians who have remained uncompromising in their faith and belief, standing for the truth and truth alone as contained in the Holy Scriptures”. To demonstrate his belief in our course, he along with his dear wife, Mrs Grace Braithwaite joined and pledged a commitment to keeping the ten articles of the Nigerian Covenant, which was adopted by leaders of the Nigerian Christian leaders at the Congress on Christian Ethics in Nigeria held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, November 3 - 6, 1997.

At Covenant Keepers’ Network, we are positive that there is now laid for him a crown of righteousness befitting of every faithful servant of the Most High.

We urge the family, especially his wife Grace, to take heart and see in his good life an instructive barometer for living. The family need, at least be comforted and remain proud of his legendary contribution to the law, national development and social justice.

We are positive that he is now taking a deserved rest in the bosom of the Lord who loves him so. Adieu, great patriot and quintessential son of Lagos.

May your gallant soul rest in perfect peace – Niyi writes from Lagos, niyiegbe@ yahoo.com.

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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • APRIL 16, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

EFCC Advises against Passage of Money Laundering Bill, 2016 After an intensive examination of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) believes it has too many easy escape routes for money launderers. Besides, the EFCC says it weakens enforcement, and should not be passed into law, reports Bennett Oghifo

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issue of competency and compellability of witnesses are settled principles of a law under the evidence Act and judicial authorities.

“Clause 14 which seeks to provide protection for persons making reports under the Bill, may likely stifle or jeopardise prosecution of money laundering offences in the country, although the need to protect witnesses (persons and institutions) that make reports that aid investigation and prosecution of money laundering offences is well appreciated.”

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wants the National Assembly to dump the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2016 in favour of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) ACT, 2011, which is pres-

ently in force.

The Money Laundering (Prohibition) ACT, 2011 “provides for the repeal of the Money Laundering Act 2004 and enactment of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011; makes comprehensive provisions to prohibit the financing of terrorism, the laundering of the proceeds of a crime, or an illegal act; and provides appropriate penalties and expands the scope of supervisory and regulatory authorities so as to address the challenges faced in the implementation of the anti-money laundering regime in Nigeria.”

The EFCC said the ACT is comprehensive and more effective than the content of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2016’, which it does not want the legislators to pass into Law. They said the Bill was counter-productive and that they believe, it sought to protect criminals by giving them easy escape routes.

These comments and observations, among others, on the Bill are in the Commission’s presentation, ‘The Position of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2016’, which it made after a meeting convened by the Senate leader with major stakeholders in the Anti-Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism, recently.

Easy escape routes for money launderers According to the EFCC, the bill provides many escape routes for money launderers, saying “for instance Clause 2(2) makes it an offence for a person to conceal, disguise, convert, transfers or remove ‘from Nigeria’ any property which he knows or ought reasonably to have known or suspects that the property has a criminal origin. The implication is that once such property is not moved outside Nigeria, then no offence is committed. This clearly creates an escape route for money launderers by arming them with a defence in the event of prosecution.”

EFCC said, “Clause 4 (1) also makes it an offence for a person to acquire, use or have possession of any property which he knows or ought reasonably to know or suspects that such property has a criminal origin. However, section 4(2) (b) makes an exception when he acquired, used or had possession of the property for adequate consideration. This provision implies that once you pay the full price for such property, then it is not a crime even if you knew that it is the proceeds of crime. This comment also applies to section 4(3).”

Weakening enforcement The Commission’s position is also that several clauses in the Bill would weaken the enforcement regime. “A good example is clause 2(3) which exempts a person who conceals, disguises, converts, transfers or removes from Nigeria property which he knows or suspects to have a criminal origin if he makes a report or intended to make a report but has justifiable reasons for not doing so. This will go to weaken the enforcement regime.

“Clause 12(2) (c) removes the obligation of a person to make a report if he has a “justifiable reason” which makes reporting discretionary.”

Bottlenecks in the fight against money laundering The bill, the EFCC said creates “unnecessary

Magu bottlenecks in the fight against money laundering, saying they couldn’t understand why Section 5 (4)(b) should make an exception to an untrained employee, who fails to report knowledge or suspicion of money laundering, as it is fundamental that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

Moreover, one should not hold himself out as being capable to do a job without the requisite skills or he should be held accountable to established standards for the given profession.”

Consent to legalise illegality The commission is dissatisfied with the provision that permits a superior officer to order an illegal action without defining what such action should be. It said, “The purport of section 9(1) is that consent can be given by a person authorised by the Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Centre to do a prohibited act.

Moreover, what is a prohibited Act is not defined by the Bill.”

Functions of the Attorney General in the bill The EFCC also queried clause 13 (1), which provides: “The Attorney General ‘may’ by regulations prescribe the form and manner in which a report …”

The Commission said the phrase “may” gives the Attorney General the discretion to make or not to make regulations. “This means that the obligation to report is not applicable if there is no regulation.

This is very worrisome in the light of the importance of the reporting obligations in the regime.

“Given the Attorney-General’s dual role as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, this Section gives him the room to adjust the law to suit the government in power.”

Challenges for the prosecution They said Clause 14 (2) provides that Financial Institutions (FIs) and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) are competent, ‘but not compellable’, to give evidence in criminal proceedings arising from the report which they make under the Bill. The resultant effect is that there would be challenges in the successful prosecution of money laundering related offences.

“Moreover, this provision is contrary to the provisions of the Evidence Act as the

Retroactive provision They said clause 15 (4)(C) is unconstitutional, as it is retroactive, and that on cash payments, Clause 16 (1) “Body corporate” is not mentioned and that only “person” is mentioned with regard to transactions above prescribed limits; “thereby, absolving it of the obligation to be bound by the prescribed limit and this would consequently allow money laundering to thrive.

“Moreover clause 16 (2) does not limit FIs and NDFIs from doing a transaction above the prescribed limit but only places a duty on financial institution or NDFI to report when a transaction was done in excess of the prescribed limit within the prescribed period.”

Reference to non-existing bodies The bill, the EFCC said made reference to non-existing bodies, explaining that clause 17(1) refers to “Centre” which is non-existent in Nigeria.

“S.18 (5), (6), (7) and (10) (b) make mention of a non-existent agency, non-existent legislation and non-existent government account.

“Proceeds of Crimes Recovery and Management Agency are not in existence in Nigeria. S.18(5),(6) and (7); Confiscated and Forfeited Asset Account is non-existent in Nigeria. S.18(10)(b); Proceeds of Crimes Act is not an existing legislation in Nigeria. S.18(10) (b).”

Conflict with other existing legislation According to the commission, section18 (5), (6) and (7) are in conflict with the EFCC Act Section 7(2), stating, “It seeks to divest EFCC of its powers to cause investigation into economic and financial crime offences and by extension attempting to transfer the statutory power to an unknown and non-existent agency - Proceeds of Crimes Recovery and Management Agency.”

Weakening of the Customer Due Diligence Regime The bill, they said weakens the customer’s due diligence (CDD) regime, explaining that “Clause 24 (1) and (2) implies that if a customer conducts a transaction with a Financial Institution or Designated NonFinancial Institution below the prescribed limit, the bank is not obligated to conduct CDD, this is a fundamental flaw that will encourage money laundering and terrorism financing.”

BVN They argued that clause 30 (2) and (3) relating to numbered and anonymous accounts have been overtaken with the introduction of the BVN policy by the CBN. On conflicts with FATF recommendations, the Commission presented Clause 32 (3) on SHELL BANKS which states: “…or such a longer period as may be directed by the Director-General of the Centre…”

Thus, the Agency said, “Extending the period for termination of the relationship with a shell bank beyond fourteen days is grossly unnecessary and leaves room for negligence

and money laundering activities. The Bill also recognises relating with a shell bank instead of prohibiting same and is contrary to FATF Recommendations and international best practices.”

Bureau for Money Laundering Control The EFCC is also concerned about the proposed establishment of a new agency to fight money laundering. It said “Clauses 35 to 49 of the Bill seek to establish an agency known as the Bureau for Money Laundering Control which will be a body corporate, with its own staff and advisory board that will be responsible for the supervision of designated non-financial businesses and professions in their compliance with the Bill and relevant regulations.

“However, the work the agency is proposed to do is already being done effectively and efficiently by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) (which the Bill seeks to dissolve in clause 49). Worthy of note is the fact that it has not been shown in any way that the SCUML has been ineffective in its functions to warrant its dissolution and the setting up of another agency to carry out its functions.”

Definition of terms They said definitions of terms in the Bill appear restrictive and sometimes ambiguous. “For instance Clause 27 (5) definition of politically exposed persons (PEPs) is not exhaustive. This definition falls short of internationally accepted standard as prescribed by the FATF. Clause 50 (2) (D) is unclear.

“The definitions of “account holder” “cash”, “estate agent” are not exhaustive.

“The definition of “estate agent” “Financial Institution” quite is confusing and this is a very key definition that ought to be apt. The definition of money laundering investigation in clause 13 (6) is too narrow and restrictive because investigation can be initiated by other law enforcement Agencies and may not be restricted to intelligence enquiries by the non-existing Centre.

“The definition of Shell Banks is not exhaustive and does not meet the FATF standard.

“Clause 17 (5) defines money service businesses (MSBs) in Schedule 2 in very broad terms. It is not in consonance with the international standard definition of MSBs. “The Person referred to in Clause 12 as “the person at the risk of prosecution” is not defined in the Bill.”

Cross references They said the bill is riddled with complex web of cross references.

EFCC’s mandate The EFCC is the agency charged with the responsibility for the enforcement of all Economic and Financial Crimes laws and also the designated Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in Nigeria. It is unarguable that the Commission is a major stakeholder in the Anti- Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism regime. In addition, the Commission is also the co-ordinating agency for the enforcement of anti- money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism in Nigeria by virtue of Section 7 (2) (a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004.

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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • APRIL 16, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

For Whom the Bell Tolls ‘Femi Fani-Kayode

‘’No man is an island entire of itself. Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is less, as well as if a promontory was, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee’’ - John Donne (Meditation XVII of Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, 1600)

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oday the bell tolls for Nigeria. The Department of State Security (DSS) have claimed that five Fulani herdsmen were abducted, killed and buried in a mass grave by members of IPOB in Abia state a few days ago. They have also claimed that there were up to fifty more bodies in that mass grave and that they are all Fulani.

The implication of this announcement is obvious. It will create more tension and fear in the land and it will lead to reprisal killings in the north. Violence is never the way out and I have always believed that it has no place in any civilized society. Yet, what I find curious about this announcement is the fact that it is unique and historic.

I say this because thousands of Igbos, Yorubas, Niger-Deltans and Middle Belters have been killed by Fulani militants and herdsmen over the last ten months since President Buhari came to power yet the DSS has never announced it and told the country about the details and ethnic identities of the victims.

When Shiite Muslims were slaughtered in Zaria and buried in mass graves the DSS did not speak. When Idomas were massacred in Agatu by Fulani militants the DSS did not speak.

When hundreds of southern and Middle Belt farms were raided by AK-47-wielding Fulani herdsmen who murdered, raped, burnt down and took over the land of their victims, the DSS never gave us details of the victims or made any announcements.

When our leaders in the south were kidnapped and when men witnessed their wives and children being raped and butchered by the Fulani militias before their very eyes, the DSS made no announcements. When the International Terror Index told the world that the Fulani militias in Nigeria are the “fourth most deadly terror organization in the world” the DSS said nothing and neither did they give us details about their activities or their victims.

Worse of all is the fact that our government and our President, who himself happens to be a Fulani, has never deemed it fit or necessary to condemn the activities of the Fulani herdsmen and militants and neither have they expressed any sympathy or displayed any empathy for their victims.

Let me be clear: the murder of anyone, regardless of their ethnicity or faith, is unacceptable to me. I deplore murder and

Fani-Kayode

violence and in my view the killing of one innocent soul diminishes the humanity of every single one of us as a community and nation.

However, it seems curious that the minute that Fulanis are killed in the east, the DSS is quick to rise to the occasion and express concern about it whilst they do not express the same concern when Nigerians from other ethnic nationalities are killed by the Fulani in their own homes and land.

Therein lies the double standard and it is sad and unfortunate. Furthermore, not only is it very dangerous but it also confirms the view that our government and security agencies are not only partial but that they are also attempting to implement an ethnic and religious agenda.

Three questions must be answered: firstly, who is funding the Fulani herdsmen and where do they get their weapons from?

Secondly, why does our government not only turn a blind eye to the mass murder and genocide that they regularly indulge in but also go out of their way to protect them?

And thirdly, why do the government and security agencies have so much hatred and contempt for those that the Fulani regularly target and their victims and why do they believe that those victims do not deserve to enjoy the full protection of the Nigerian Federal Government?

Could it be because they are regarded as slaves and second class citizens? Is Fulani blood and are Fulani lives more important than others? Indeed do non-Fulani lives matter in President Buhari’s Nigeria?

Are we compelled to begin a ‘’non-Fulani lives matter’’ movement which is based and fashioned on the ‘’Black Lives Matter’’ movement in the United States of America before we can draw the attention of the world to what is going on in our country?

Is it not obvious and logical that when the security agencies refuse to protect the citizens from the murderous hordes and herdsmen from hell those citizens will eventually seek to protect

themselves and go on the offensive? That is human nature and it is to be expected.

Is it not clear to those in power that when a people are convinced that their government is no longer impartial in any conflict and that the security agencies of that government have been directed to go out of their way to actively and openly support those that constantly and regularly slaughter their people, it will eventually lead to open war?

Is it so difficult to accept the fact that no government and no force from hell or on earth can compel or intimidate a man into lying down passively and silently watch his family, loved ones and kinsmen being butchered and slaughtered morning, day and night without trying to protect them and without indulging in some form of retaliation?

With the sort of things that are going on in our country today, it is time to tell ourselves some home-truths. No-one wishes to accept it let alone say it but sadly war will come to Nigeria again within the next few years. I do not want war and I consider it to be the ultimate evil but I am constrained to speak the truth and say things as I see them.

Consider the dangerous mix. A crumbling economy. An inept, weak, failing and paranoid government. A hungry, angry and increasingly desperate civilian population. An ignorant, obsessive, arrogant, insensitive, corrupt and self-absorbed political class who are out of touch with reality.

The ruthless implementation of an ethnic and religious agenda by a reckless and irresponsible government that refuses to consider the implications of taking such a course of action and that have an early-1960’s mind-set. The growing unrest, ethnic killings and sectarian murders.

A relentless clamp-down on and persecution of the opposition and all dissenting voices by the government and the use of fear as a tool of governance and control.

The constant and open abuse of power. The impunity and insensitivity of the Buhari administration to the plight of the masses. The hunger, hardship, poverty and suffering in the land.

The failure of the government to get rid of the fuel queues and supply electrical power.

The demonisation of peaceful and law-abiding self-determination groups and the unlawful incarceration of their leaders. The breach of the constitutional rights of the citizens and the ignoring of court orders and judicial processes by the government.

The attempt to intimidate and control the Judiciary and Legislature by the government and so much more. The list goes on and on and history proves that such a mixture of circumstances is dangerous and can only lead to open conflict if not halted.

The country is badly divided today and the people are suffering as never before. The division and hatred amongst some of our ethnic groups has reached pre-civil war levels.

We must do our best to ensure that that division and hatred does not spill over into open war. This is because war is a terrible thing which must be avoided at all costs.

Chibok Two Years On: Remembering All Boko Haram’s Victims Salil Shetty

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n September 2014, a 19-year-old woman whom I will call Aisha was celebrating a friend’s wedding in a small village in north-eastern Nigeria when Boko Haram attacked. The fighters killed the groom and many of the male guests. They abducted Aisha, along with other women, including her sister and the bride.

They were taken to a Boko Haram camp in Gulak, Adamawa State, home to about 100 other abducted girls. Over the three months she was held captive, Aisha was raped repeatedly, sometimes by groups of up to six fighters. She was taught to use firearms, detonate bombs and attack villages. She was sent on “operations”, including an attack on her own village. She says she did not kill anyone herself — but she met women and girls who told her that they had.

Stories like Aisha’s do not make for easy reading. Hers is just one of many told to Amnesty International researchers in the two years since more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted from a secondary school in the town of Chibok, Borno State. The fate of the schoolgirls made headlines around the world. But those girls, still missing, are sadly only a small proportion of those abducted by Boko Haram in recent years.

Thousands of women and girls have been abducted by the armed group. Men and boys have also been taken at gunpoint and systematically executed or forced to join the fighters.

Amnesty International’s research found that abducted girls were taken directly to

Boko Haram’s camps in remote communities or to makeshift transit camps. From these transit camps Boko Haram moved them to houses in towns and villages and indoctrinated them with their ideology in preparation for marriage. The suffering of these abducted women and girls, some of whom were forced not only to marry fighters but also to become fighters themselves, is beyond comprehension.

Over the course of the past few years, there have been notable successes by the combined forces from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger that have given Nigerians some hope, although there are also concerns about the potential for human rights abuses by these forces. In addition, the support from the international community since President Buhari’s election as President provides an opportunity for Nigeria to protect civilians in the northeast. But there is a huge amount to be done.

The abducted must be found and returned and President Buhari should spare no effort in using all lawful means to protect civilians from Boko Haram attacks. But he has to ensure that there is no repeat of the extrajudicial killings and human rights violations committed by the Nigerian military in the past in its fight against Boko Haram.

The authorities must also urgently ensure humanitarian assistance reaches those in need, particularly to more than a million people forced to flee their homes.

The conflict in the northeast has created religious tensions, and the Muhammadu Buhari government will, therefore, have to act swiftly to prevent a lasting legacy of distrust between some Muslim and Christian

Abducted Chibok Girls

communities, especially in areas ravaged by Boko Haram attacks.

An important element of the post-conflict reconciliation process will be a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity.

So far the Nigerian government has not taken adequate steps to investigate crimes committed by both sides of the conflict. This is another challenge that Mr. Buhari must address with utmost urgency. Nigerians and the world are expecting to see if his commitment that the “government will investigate all human rights violations, including by the military” — will soon be translated into concrete action.

But if the International Criminal Court, which has already launched a preliminary examination, determines that Nigeria is unable or unwilling to investigate these crimes or bring suspects to justice, it may decide to initiate a full investigation. It is vital that the government ensures that bodies are

disinterred from mass graves, that victims and witnesses are given the opportunity to give evidence and that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Only then will the pattern of impunity that has plagued Nigeria be broken.

Two years after their abduction, the Chibok girls have come to symbolize all the innocent people whose lives have been destroyed by Boko Haram. There is still hope that the Chibok schoolgirls may one day be reunited with their families.

Aisha eventually made it home. She escaped in January 2015, fleeing through the bush in the dead of night. During her time in captivity she saw more than 50 people killed

by Boko Haram, including her sister. They were buried in shallow graves and the smell of their rotting corpses hung heavy in the air.

Aisha walked for three days until she reached a village where she was given shelter for two days, a change of clothes and 500 naira ($2.50). She then set off again, for another five days, until she reached her home. When she got there she discovered that her father had died soon after she and her sister had been abducted. The local doctor had put his death down to a coronary thrombosis brought on by high blood pressure. Others believed that no medical language was needed: Aisha’s father died of a broken heart.

––Salil Shetty is the Secretary General of Amnesty International.

An earlier version of this article first appeared in the New York Times and is reproduced with their kind permission http://www.nytimes. com/2015/04/14/opinion/the-menace-of-bokoharam.html

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APRIL 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLITY

Crown Prince of Issele-Uku Visits Edaiken of Uselu Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

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he Crown Prince of Issele-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, HRH Nduka Ezeagwuna recently paid a courtesy visit to the Crown Prince of Benin, HRH, Eheneden Erediauwa, the Edaiken of Uselu to felicitate with him on his ascension to the revered position of the Edaiken of

Uselu.

The visit according to Chas Nwam, spokesman for Issele-Uku kingdom, was also to inform him that he has decided to ascend the throne of his fathers in Oligbo Kingdom of Issele-Uku. Erediauwa welcomed the Crown Prince of Issele-Uku Nduka Ezeagwuna and his royal entourage to his palace, stating that he was aware of the link between Benin and Issele-Uku. He noted that the people originally left Benin Kingdom to preside over Issele-Uku kingdom and, as a result, had been united with brotherly co-existence and love. The Crown Prince also recalled that he was aware that former Obis from Issele-Uku usually came to undertake palace administrative trainings from the Oba. “You have come to seek the consent of the Oba before you are crowned the Obi of Issele-Uku, as has been the custom. I have no problems with that; we in Benin kingdom have no problems with that. It has been an age-long relationship and we are obligated to honour it. I want to thank you very much for recognising the value of culture and for deciding to ascend the throne of your fathers, he said.

Speaking further, the Edaiken of Uselu appreciated the regent, who held forth for the Crown Prince to complete his tertiary education before ascending the royal stool. The Benin Crown Prince hinted that in Benin Kingdom, they are usually wary of regents (Idayi) but expressed surprise that in this case, the Issele-Uku Regent agreed to shift the throne to the rightful owner, even after testing power.

He sincerely commended the Regent and asked all the Benin chiefs present to specially pray and bless the Regent for his honesty and forthrightness.

Earlier, the Crown Prince of Issele-Uku had informed Crown Prince Edaiken of his intention to ascend the throne of his father, and to intimate him of the preparation for the coronation which was already in process.

HRH Ezeagwuna, an Engineer, posited that he was aware of the age-long relationship between the Benin Kingdom and Issele-Uku kingdom; hence, he has decided to keep that relationship intact. He maintained that having undergone some form of princely training while in primary and secondary schools in Benin, the impact of that relationship still remains in him.

“This visit is meant to continue with the age-long link of the throne of Issele-Uku with that of the Benin Kingdom, which began as far back as the 13th century AD. 1 am sure that you are aware that Benin Kingdom gave birth to Issele-Uku (Oligbo Kingdom) when Oba Eweka sent his brother, Uwadie to be the first king in Issele-Uku kingdom.

“Your Highness, this is how Issele-Uku (Oligbo kingdom) came into being. The enthronement of Uwadie as king in Issele-Uku was to check the influx of foreigners from the Eastern axis into the Benin Kingdom and to uphold the Benin cultural heritage.

Again, it would be recalled that the royal bronze

L-R: The Idaiken of Uselu, HRH Eheneden Ereduwa, the Issele Uku Crown Prince, Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna and the regent, Mr. Domnic Egbune mask used during the FESTAC’77 was the bronze image of Oba Esigie, which he gave to Obi Oligbo (Origbo) on his ascension to the throne of Issele-Uku in the early 16th century,” he explained.

The young and brilliant royalty, however, communicated the invitation of his coronation to the Edaiken,

adding that the presence of the Edaiken in Issele-Uku for the coronation will be highly appreciated.

Few days after, the Crown Prince with his traditional entourage was at the meeting of all the traditional rulers in Aniocha North for a formal introduction as the tradition demands.

Coca-ColaLaunchesNewGlobalCampaign‘TastetheFeeling’inNigeria

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ver the past 130 years generations of people across social classes and geographies and cultures around the world have savoured a simple, unifying experience – the unique, unchanging and refreshing taste of a Coca-Cola.

Along with this are the pleasant feelings and memories inspired by the typical everyday moments of sharing an ice-cold Coca-Cola. The world’s most famous brand through its new global marketing campaign, ‘Taste the Feeling’, is inviting everyone to relive this experience as often.

Coca-Cola’s new ‘Taste the Feeling’ campaign was unveiled in Nigeria on Friday, April 15 at a well-attended stylish party which held on Coke Island, a brand new ‘floating island’ that emerged suddenly on the Lagos lagoon purposely for the event, thanks to the creativity of the human mind and the wonders of technology!.

The launch party which has set a new benchmark for the audaciously innovative world of event activation, was attended by

the crème de la crème of social influencers from the media, music and movie worlds as well as Coca-Cola consumers, customers and employees.

Coca-Cola’s new ‘Taste the Feeling’ campaign explores storytelling and everyday moments to connect with consumers and celebrate the simple pleasure and experience that makes every moment of drinking Coca-Cola , any Coca-Cola, special.

Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Patricia Jemibewon explained that ‘Taste the Feeling’ campaign will bring to life the idea that drinking a Coca-Cola – whether classic or Coke Zero – is a simple pleasure that makes everyday moments more special.

According to Jemibewon, while Coke’s award-winning “Open Happiness” campaign which ran from 2009 until now leaned heavily on the emotional values of ‘happiness’ and ‘optimism’ which the brand stands, the new “Taste the Feeling” campaign will feature universal storytelling with the product at the heart to reflect both the functional and emotional aspects of the Coca-Cola brand experience.

“With this new campaign, we are

highlighting the core values of the CocaCola brand, using simple, relatable, and emotional storytelling long associated with Coke.’ She further explained that in addition to the use of advertisement that depicts everyday moments and projects the fundamentals of the Coca-Cola brand, ‘Taste the Feeling’ will come to life through a music anthem and audio signature, as well as shareable and customized interactive digital experience, and its target, will be mainly teens.

In her words, “Taste the Feeling is all inclusive but with a special focus on teenagers who are known to live for the moment and who are most demanding as far as creativity is concerned. In the coming days, we will be rolling out several engagement activities that will provide them the opportunity to have memorable moments that keep them talking and expressing their feelings with their peers.”

On the anthem for the campaign, Jemibewon said it highlights those emotional and functional moments that come with the taste of Coca-Cola. “Music has always played a key role in Coca-Cola communica-

tions and “Taste the Feeling” is not an exception. The Taste the feeling anthem includes a new audio signature inspired by the sounds of enjoying a Coca-Cola – the pop of the cap, the fizz and, ultimately, refreshment.”

Speaking on the campaign the, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Clem Ugorji explained that the ‘Taste the Feeling’ campaign is an offshoot of Coca-Cola’s new ‘One Brand Strategy’ which marks a significant shift in its marketing approach and for the first time unites all Coke Trademark brands in one global creative campaign.

“This approach brings the spotlight on all variants of the Coke trademark such as Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, etc. and underscores our Company’s commitment to choice, offering consumers options in taste and with or without calories, so there is a Coke for anyone”, he said.

The campaign will be live from April to August on traditional and digital media channels and will include opportunities for consumers to sing their own version of the anthem and win prizes

49

APRIL 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

LOUD WHISPERS with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Alhaji Falalu Bello on Polygamy

Dbanj tears UBA Plc Apart The koko master himself called me up last Saturday inviting me to come watch him at the UBA CEO awards taking place at the Eko Hotel. I immediately refused, last I checked I was owing them and did not want their recovery agents who would be up for awards that night to catch me and ridicule me infront of their new MD. But he insisted and offered to allow me sleep on the floor of his Eko signature suites hotel room.

That made me change my mind, but still didn’t stop me from calling on my good friend Charles Aigbe the hardworking Head of UBA’s corporate Communications to check their books to see if my name was still on the debtors list. After a long wait which felt like an eternity he called back that I was on the clear even though I still had a small debit of about N15,900 but I should not worry that he will take care of it. That is how I appeared at the venue but in disguise, I no fit trust this Charles guy wey go don dance go. I came dressed like Pastor Joshua of Synagogue so they would fear and not come near me. People, the glitz and glamour I saw was simply breathtaking. This UBA people know how to do things. The arrangement, the food, the classy people all reminded me of Hollywood. The staff were well taken care of and they came with their spouses looking and feeling proud of being part of a strong Nigerian Institution. I saw all the usual suspects, the great Tony Elumelu in his wonderfully made Tux looking like Brad Pitt, my great friend Victor Osadolor who introduced me to my Boss Chuka Onwuchekwa. I also saw Kennedy Uzoka KU the MD designate and the outgoing MD Philip Odozua who gave a brilliant speech that night. A motley of artists graced the stage keeping it warm for the arrival of the legend himself. Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

When Dbanj hit the stage, I did not know when I jumped up and headed straight to the stage. This guy is a king o.

Come and see energy, power, unquantifiable charisma and dexterity on stage, he knew what the people wanted and gave it to them like crazy holding them spellbound while making them forget the fact that the next morning they had to be at their desks thinking of meeting the next yearly targets. Kai, Dbanj is not a human being o. That boy is a wizard. Still good looking and sharp.

He killed us all. I saw the way financial wizards were staring amazed with envy and wishing they had just a little bit of this talent. The UBA women forgot themselves and even my wife jumped up and attempted to grab Dbanj. I swear if she had succeeded na for Kuje prison Dbanj go dey write him next song, Yeye de smell. Well it was a lovely night and I have decided to go and pay off that my small debit so that next year I will not have to appear there in disguise. This is how to say thank you to your hardworking staff. Well done UBA and well done Dbanj and Charles for allowing me show my wife that she marry well.

‘Senator Ndume wrote which I posted on this platform as his arguments from whichever angle you look at are valid. Have lived with three wives for 22years up to six years ago when I married my retirement 4th wife and I most happily allowed one of my daughters to go into polygamy and will tomorrow allow the four unmarried daughters I have to go into polygamy provided the husbands will meet the two conditions put up by Islam. This makes me an unapologetic polygamist. Let me add that even if I am to come back to this world again, I will be a polygamist as I have found it more enjoyable and more in tune with reality than monogamy. Furthermore, the religion I profess (which has though made monogamy the general rule), has made polygamy the exception to be practised subject to these two conditions: 1. Means of maintaining Feedback from a Reader Last week I had asked people to write in and tell me that I was the best ever writer in the country and this reader, Niyi Gbolahan was moved by the Holy Spirit to make this proclamation, ‘Dear Sir Edgar, I am not writing to get a VIP ticket to your play even though I am sure it will be a fantastic outing- I am even more aware that you would have likely picked 20 already by now- I am writing to thank you sir. Your column is the only one I look forward to, I didn’t think it was possible to write the way you do-you must be a genius-I usually feel as though we gisting when I read your column. I am 37 and self employed but your writing inspires me to be a creative person reading you makes me feel everything is possible, if you can churn out such natural wit, charm and wisdom in a few words. God bless you sir for a always making me laugh and learn’. Niyi has only said what I have been suspecting for sometime now- that I am a genius. In fact I have forwarded this mail to Mr. Nicholas who sacked me so he can see what he has lost. My brother Niyi please write me this kind mail every Monday so that me too can be inspired on the fuel queue as I struggle in this our hard Nigeria. God bless you and you have not only won VIP tickets for this perfectly written piece I am also sending you the Calabar version of the budget for you to go through and see if anything coming to your village has been deleted. Have fun.

Olam on the rampage These guys have started work on a N30b agric project. A project that is one of the largest of its kind anywhere in Africa. What is making me happy is that instead of sitting on their behinds and lamenting the scarcity of dollars and lack of government support like their other counterparts they have decided to take matters into their hands by this project. They would not only create employment, support the drive for food self sufficiency but would also furthermore create an alternative source of revenue generation away from the much maligned oil. Well, these are the kinds of things we need to hear in this Country and according to the very likable Ade Adefeko who heads their corporate communications team, Olams is poised to grab the Nation by the sleeve and forcefully lead it towards a resurrection. Well, he did not actually say that na me just add that one. But seriously this is the way to go. Can you

them (wives) and doing justice amongst them. God has given me the means to maintain more than one (alhamdulillah) and can and have been doing justice amongst them ...............’ ‘Finally for today, I believe some like Alhaji Abdulfatah Kekere Ekun who have been provided with means by almighty God will be doing jihad if he marries more than one as there are many good marriageable women who are willing to marry but have not found husbands. They will be too willing to marry him and respect Hajia Kudi as her elder or even mother depending on her age.

So to Ajiyan Katsina and his like on this platform, jihad as they all know is not only fighting a battle, marrying more than one wife in today’s nothern Nigeria where he comes from is a Jihad.’ Need I say more, show me the way, I have joined this jihad . imagine if all these other jokers who brand themselves as manufacturers but rely heavily on scarce forex to import their so called made in Nigeria goods went this way, we would all be living like lords . Well done the Olam people.

Calabar - Lagos Rail Ok, I was immediately summoned home by the paramount ruler of my village to discuss this issue with a view to having a position with which I would now lead a delegation first to Rotimi Amaechi and then to Senator Ashafa before ending with President Buhari. Well, my mandate after the meeting was very clear. My job was to find out from Amaechi if our recent lack of support for his electoral activities in the last Rivers State re-run elections had anything to do with his decision to include or not include this project in the budget since we do not even know what to believe again. I was to also ask Ashafa what advice he could give us on the matter and finally to meet up with the President in China to discuss the matter with a view to getting to the bottom of the whole episode. These my people are funny people, it is me they are sending to these strong people to go and ask this kind question. Me, to go and ask question that concern minority people. I kept quiet and obediently pretended to listen and left. When I got to Lagos, I took my time and wrote them a long letter.

I told my people to mind themselves, that me son of a widow to lead such a dangerous delegation. What do we need the rail line for, since independence that we did not have rail, have that stopped us from cooking and eating afang and edikaikong? What has rail got to do with the fact that we have some of the most

beautiful women in the country? Did Akpabio need the rail to transform the state into the wonderful land of exciting highways and bridges? Please we don’t need the Lagos Calabar rail o. We are content with what we have, the Kano and Lagos people need it more than us.

People sending me this kind errand are not nice people. As I slept after sending the letter to my paramount ruler, I saw myself being driven away from Kuje prisons. I jumped up and woke up from the sleep and thanked God for giving me the presence of mind to reject that kind of assignment. Rail or no rail, we will continue to be the very resourceful people we are known to be. Thank you.

This Olisa Adibua This aristocrat used to be my friend o.

That is how I went to his house during the week to discuss our joint project, the play- Loud whispers. As I entered his plush apartment somewhere in Ikoyi, his cook brought in the first plate of food and a cold drink. Not even asking me to join in, he started eating with relish making me salivate and wishing he could ask me if I was interested. I just dey look this Igbo man and he kept on eating without asking me. I started coughing small just in case he had forgotten that I was seated near him.

The more I coughed the faster he ate.

He finished this first plate and the yeye cook came back with a second plate. I just looked at the cook,if him master no respect me, him no get sense to ask me if I go chop. The black man just ignored me and continued with his service. I wished he would fall down and hit his head on the floor and bleed. Well back to Olisa, he continued demolishing the second plate the way he ate the first one without even looking my way. By this time I decided to ignore him too and started watching the match that was on. I wasn’t really hungry sef, but still he should have still asked me na.

That’s how he finished the second plate, finished the drink and promptly slept off. I just looked at this man and wished I could get a chicken feather and put it up his nose so he can slap himself. Well what can I do, but to just learn that next time I am going to his house, I will go with my food and drink and get that his cook to serve me. Na wa.

Winners of the free VIP tickets I had promised free tickets to 20 people, but when I did the maths I realized that I was about to just give out N400,000 just like that. This Buhari time? And when I am not Dangote? I changed my criteria and picked only those I knew had hawked bread like me before. This is to show solidarity.

So here are the lucky ones who will be sitting with me with their VIP tickets at the play come May 1, at the Muson: Mrs Oghogho Makinde, Enefiok Isong, Niyi Gbolahan, Genevieve Mbama and Fahm Aboyade Cole.

The rest of you kindly just come buy the ticket, we need to pay school fees.

Thank you, na beg.

50

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

medIA & mARketIng

100 Years of Coca Cola Bottle: A Behemoth on the World Stage

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heir brief was clear and unambiguous: “create a bottle that could be recognized when broken on the ground or by touch in the dark. The new bottle must have ability for mass production using existing equipment, yet also be distinct.”

An Atlanta based Pharmacist, Dr. John Pemberton, had invented a cola drink in 1880.

At this time, it was sold in glasses at pharmacy shops and soda fountains. Within a short period of about 13 years, the demand for the cola drink had increased so much that it needed to be bottled to meet growing demand across different states of America. With the success of coke came a floodgate of other competing brands which wanted a share of Coca Cola market. And with competition came pass offs and cloning.

As Georgia businessman Asa Griggs Candler became the majority shareholder of Coca-Cola in 1888, he saw a need to protect the brand by differentiating the Coke bottle from competition in a distinctive manner that would be difficult to replicate. In 1915, Candler was reported to be losing market share to hundreds of competitors duo to pass offs. To stem this downward slide in his business, he launched a ‘national contest for a new bottle design that would signal to consumers that Coke was a premium product that couldn’t be confused with some other brown cola in an identical glass bottle.’

“The bottles used in those days were simple straight-sided bottles that were typically brown or clear. The Coca-Cola Company required that the bottlers emboss the famous Coca-Cola logo onto every bottle. However, competitor brands like Koka-Nola, Ma Coca-Co, Toka-Cola and even Koke copied or only slightly modified the Spenserian script logo. These competitor bottles created confusion among consumers. While The Coca-Cola Company began litigation against these infringements, the cases often took years and the bottlers were constantly asking for more protection,” said an online report.

With this chaotic state of affairs, Candler reportedly launched a campaign for a bottler of repute that would change the face of Coca Cola packaging into an easily recognizable form.

That challenge of producing a unique bottle for Coke opened a new vista for not only the fast growing brand but also for the duo of Joseph Whitehead and Benjamin Thomas of Indiana-based Root Glass Company who entered the contest and based its design off the product’s brand name.

Inspired by an illustration for “cocoa” the iconic global contour bottle which the world is celebrating today was born.

The Cocoa bean pod that inspired Coca Cola contour bottle

Said a report: “In Terre Haute, Indiana, the Root Glass Company received the brief and had a meeting to begin to work on their design. The Root team was composed of C.J and William Root, Alexander Samuelson, Earl Dean and Clyde Edwards. Samuelsson, a Swedish immigrant who was the shop foreman, sent Dean and Edwards to the local library to research design possibilities.

“When the team came across an illustration of cocoa bean that had an elongated shape and distinct ribs, they had their shape. The team developed the bottle idea and Dean carefully sketched the now recognizable shape on heavy linen paper and under Samuelsson’s direction, a few sample bottles were struck.

“The Root Glass Company put forth a patent registration under Samuelsson’s name which was granted on November, 16th, 1915. That date was later incorporated into the lettering on the final design of the bottle. It is interesting to note that the patent submission was made

without the signature embossed Coca-Cola script lettering. This was done to protect the secrecy of the design and the ultimate client.

“In early 1916, a committee composed of bottlers and company officials met to choose the bottle design. The Root version was the clear winner and The Coca-Cola Company and the Root Glass Company entered an agreement to have six glass companies across the U.S. use the bottle shape.”

The bottle which was patented at the time made history when it finally received a trademark endorsement on April 12, 1961 in part bolstered by the fact that a 1949 study showed that less than 1% of Americans could not identify the bottle of Coke by shape alone.”

Design critic and Coca-Cola historian Stephen Bayley described the bottle thus: “It’s a masterpiece of American vernacular design, whimsical, intuitive. The shape has an erotic suggestion about it. Functionally, it works. You can hold it in your hand very easily.”

LIFe

Medical Student, Olumuyiwa, Seeks HelpTo Live

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Third year medical student, Olaoluwa Oluwamuyiwa, (Dr Lulu) who is down with renal failure has appealed to Nigerians to help save his life.

Born on February 16, 1988, 28-year old Oluwamuyiwa hails from Ondo State from a small family of four, comprising his parents, himself and his younger sister.

Dr Lulu, as he is fondly called, began to experience difficulties in pursuit of his childhood dream to become a medical doctor in 2000 when his father lost his job.

Shortly after, he had a ghastly accident that made him unconscious for several months.

He has been unable to fully use his legs well till date.

Undeterred by the challenge, Dr Lulu travelled to Ukraine to study medicine, but had to abandon the study owing to financial difficulty.

He came back to Nigeria. But refusing to give up on his dream, he went to China after some years to study medicine again.

He is currently in his third year.

However, Dr Lulu now faces a major challenge as he is suffering from renal failure. He is currently undergoing dialysis pending the time he will be able to raise the N7m required for kidney transplant.

His family has appealed for assistance from good spirited Nigerians and corporate organizations to help raise the funds.

He undergoes three dialysis sessions every week at the cost of N60,000, with his friends and family helping him run around to raise the fees to ensure he lives.

You can help keep Dr Lulu alive by donating to OLUWAMUYIWA OLAOLUWA OYINDE’s account no. 0108134961 at GUARANTEE TRUST BANK. Enquiries can also be made via telephone numbers 08177356420 (OLAOLUWA) or 08036607719 and 08029140079 (Dr Lulu’s father).

Olumuyiwa

with

KASIE ABONE 08057511558 (sms only) There is no gainsaying that the unique contour bottle was part of Coca Cola marketing strategies that drove the brand from its local Atlanta home to become a global icon.

What came to play in designing the coke bottle were research, innovation and technology; key ingredients needed by every brand if it must surmount the monster called counterfeit in the market place. Businesses are consistently investing in advancing technologies to improve the level of sophistication not only in the quality of the content of their brand but also in their packaging over time build a behemoth brand.

Over the years, the contour bottle has transformed, yet retaining that unique shape that has distinguished Coca Cola for generations since its birth. The introduction of canning during the 1960s also marked another milestone in the Coca Cola packaging. The can was emblazoned with a picture of the classic glass bottle to attract their loyal customers.

The contour bottle has inspired a different genre of culture across different markets. As the bottle marks 100 years, Coca Cola has created huge global campaign activities across different markets to further entrench the brand in the minds of its consumers. A one year global activation and promotional campaigns have been on going to celebrate the iconic bottle.

The campaign comes in different shades across different markets. An authorized documentary which will premier in 2016 to tell the definitive story of the bottle’s enduring legacy on the worlds of art, culture, design, and cinema; an exhibition at Coca Cola Archive at Atlanta headquarters chronicling its history from 1915 to date; global travelling art exhibition tagged the Coca Cola Bottle Art Tour with a planned visit of more than 15 countries throughout 2015 showcasing pieces featuring the Coca-Cola bottle produced by 20+ multidisciplinary artistes from icons like Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell and Clive Barker, to up-and-coming artists and graphic designers plus historical artifacts and interactive experiences that showcase the bottle’s imprint on the art world and pop culture; #MashupCoke project which saw over 250 artists, designers and illustrators around the world recreate and reimagine vintage Coca-Cola bottle among other activities; iconic campaigns and parties among other activities.

2015 was therefore the Coca Cola bottle year.

As 2016 rolled in, millions more people across the world are still served bottles of Coca Cola as many people still argue that despite Coke being packaged in different innovative forms over the years, aluminum cans and plastic bottles for convenience, the age old drink still tastes better when drunk from its iconic glass bottle.

51

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

TOWN HALL POLITICS

Ambode Levels with People of Ikorodu at a Town Hall Meeting

It was a time to render accounts of his stewardship when the Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode was hosted to a town hall meeting by the people of Ikorodu during the week, Samuel Ajayi reports

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Carnival-like Atmosphere…

It was a full house at Ikorodu, a sprawling Lagos community, on Thursday, this week during the First Quarter 2016 Town Hall meeting, when the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, gave account of his stewardship to the people of the state. It was also an opportunity for the governor to feel the pulse of residents of the area and respond to the issues placed before him by residents of the state, especially, people of the area.

It was third in the series and by 9 am, the place had been packed full. And in an environment like that, politics would not be far away. As a result of that, the venue was jam-packed as early as 9am with top government functionaries, former public office holders, traditional rulers, community leaders, party chieftains, market men and women, youths, religious leaders, artisans, members of the private sector among others.

Many of them in what is commonly known as “aso ebi” in Yoruba land. But this did not remove from the seriousness of the issue at hand. The concept of the public engagement, which was introduced by Ambode, was geared towards rendering account of stewardship and directly engaging the people on their views about governance and more importantly where government should intervene on issues affecting them.

Giving Account of Stewardship..

Before welcoming questions and suggestions from the people, Ambode gave account of how he has managed the state over the last quarter and also unveiled the numerous projects to be embarked upon in the months ahead.

For instance, he said the state government

would formally sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with investors for the construction of the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge before the end of next month, adding that once the agreement is signed, work would begin on the bridge, which according to him, would go a long way to boost the economy of Lagos East Senatorial District.

His words: “Many investors have shown interest in the actualisation of our dream for the 4th Mainland Bridge, which will run from Ajah to Ikorodu to Isawo and berth at Ojodu, Ikeja back to the Ibadan expressway.

By the grace of God, we will sign an MoU and commence action before May 29.”

He revealed that investors have equally shown interest in the redevelopment of the fish market to an international fish market and the redevelopment of inner roads in Epe and Ibeju-Lekki.

Ambode said the intention of his administration was to ensure that no part of the state was left undeveloped, expressing optimism that the Lagos East Senatorial District, which used to be the economic hub of the state in the then Western Region, would regain its position.

“Over the years, the economic activities have continually dwindled resulting in urban migration, underdevelopment and unemployment. It is with a view of revitalising the economic activities of this zone that government has identified the need for urgent intervention. To this end, government will be relocating the Mile 12 Market to Imota. Work on this will commence next week. Our vision is to make the East Senatorial Zone economically viable and livable,” Ambode explained.

Taming the Okada Menace…

Responding to complaints on the menace of Okada (commercial motorcycles) transpor-

tation in the state, the former civil servant turned politician asked the people whether they would support a total ban on such mode of transportation in this age and time and in a city like Lagos, a question which was answered in the affirmative by majority of the stakeholders in the hall who raised their hands in support.

He then explained: “I’m encouraged by this very transparent, credible, free and fair affirmation which I just got from the people.

From the response, many of the people in this hall are in support of a total ban on Okada and since this is a government of the people, all the security agencies in Lagos, including the Police, Task Force, LASTMA and others, to start with, are hereby directed to fully enforce the ban on Okada between Mile 12 and Ikorodu. We will not tolerate Okada on the road and I hereby emphasise that there is no more Okada on Mile 12-Ikorodu Road. Anyone caught flouting this directive will have their Okada impounded and we would prosecute such people, as well, before the court,” the Governor said.

Opening Up Ikorodu. Electrifying Communities…

Ambode, who also responded to pleas by residents in Ikorodu on the need for the expansion and rehabilitation of the road network, assured that government would explore the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative to transform the Ikorodu-ImotaAgbowa-Itokin-Epe Road into a standard 8-lane Road.

He also directed the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, as well as the State Electricity Board to look at the possibilities of providing electricity for Igbo-Olomu community in Ikorodu, who have been without light for over 10 years.

Highlighting some of his administration’s

Governor Ambode at a town hall meeting in Ikorodu

strides in the last quarter, the governor said the state achieved major breakthrough in security, saying that since the launch of the N4.78 billion equipment, the state had won several battles against crime.

He said the quick response in the rescue of the kidnapped girls in Ikorodu and the quelling of the Mile 12 riot were testimonies of the effectiveness of the security system in Lagos. He added that many criminals had so far been arrested since the launch of the security equipment, saying that he was ready to pay for information given that would lead to the arrest of hardened criminals.

“I am ready to pay monetary compensation for information on hardened criminals as we proceed to make Lagos crime-free. We are happy to report that crime rate has also reduced in the last three months,” he said.

Governor Ambode also used the occasion to appeal to residents to continue to pay their taxes, take ownership of projects the government has initiated and support the government to achieve the policies and programmes aimed at ensuring a safe and prosperous Lagos.

PHOTO NEWS

R-L: Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed; Chairman, Brand Journalist Association of Nigeria (BJAN), Mr Goddie Ofose; and the Vice Chairman, BJAN, Clara Okoro, during the presentation of a plaque to the minister as Grand Patron of the association... recently

L-R: Ag. Group Managing Director, Dangote Refinery Plc, Mr. Abdullahi Sule; Group Executive Director, Dangote Flour Mills Plc, Hajia Halima Aliko Dangote; and Mr. Sunday Akeju of DSR Fleet, during the Dangote Sugar Long Service Award, held in Lagos... recently

L-R: Sales Manager, Polymed Distribution, Ibrahim Halabi; Sales Manager, Polymed Distribution, Tony Lattouf; and Managing Director, Dow Packaging West Africa, Tony Groosman, at the Dow packaging exhibition for customers in Lagos... recently

L-R: Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), Ben Langat; one of Nigeria’s Leading Music Stars, Adekunle Gold; and Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Patricia Jemibewon, during the launch of the new Coca-Cola Global Campaign, ‘TASTE THE FEELING’, held at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos... recently

52

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 9, 2016

WILD NATURE

Osprey’s Dive for the Kill

A hungry osprey shows off its impressive wings after swooping to catch a trout.

The bird of prey dived in for the kill after spotting its plump lunch in the River Spey.

It was one of several stunning pictures taken by wildlife photographer Bill, from Northumberland.

Courtesy: Cater New Agency

53

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •APRIL 16, 2016

WITH

MARKET PLACE

OMOLABAKE FASHOGBON 08033621009

L-R: Business Manager, TD-IPG, Mrs. Modupe Adesiyun; Managing Director, TD Marketing, Mrs. Chioma Chimere; Managing Director HP Inc. Nigeria,Mrs. Ify Afe and Mr. Eromosele Akhuemonkhan, Technical Consultant, HP at the official opening ceremony of the HP Demo Center in lagos recently.

Regsitration point for exhibitors and visitors at the 2015 Fairtrade

Economy

Experts Offer Survival Tips for Business Owners Wishes, HR Knows and Does’, Michael Ikpoki, former chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, pointed out that for entrepreneurs to adapt and respond to trends in the environment, there is need to bridge and narrow the gap between CEOs, who should have listening ears and human resource personnel who should not stop talking. In addition, he added that organisations must be very quick to adapt to innovations and must have in possession right talents, process and structure.

Howard Wallack, global market executive for SHRM, who spoke on ‘Emerging Strengths and Success Competencies’, while explaining some of the characteristics of the future economy, said, “Technology will be

Isolo Rotary Club Empowers 20, Donate Classrooms to School

Power Instability: Agro Challenges: Experts Seek Nigeria’s Collaboration with International Specialists Manufacturers As preparations for the forthcoming sec- exchange and cooperation between Urged to Embrace ond edition of the Nigeria Agrofood and Nigerian food and drink producers Natural Gas Plastprintpack exhibition hit top gear, and international specialists for food

In line with its core objectives of community service and economic empowerment, the Rotary Club of Isolo has empowered not less than 20 indigenes of the area just as it donated a block of two classrooms to Isolo Comprehensive Senior High School.

At the commissioning of the newly constructed classrooms where the 20 beneficiaries of the empowerment programme were hosted, members of the club also extended gestures to the indigent but brilliant students of the institution with a promise to sponsor them through their university education and also offered to give N100, 000 cash reward to the best performing male and female students in this year’s Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, (SSCE).

According to the President of the Club, Mrs. Lolade Ogungbe, the club strongly believes in services to communities which are not limited to interventions in health services, education and empowerment of small businesses.

“For instance, we got a letter from this school seeking our assistance for two additional blocks of classrooms. About two weeks ago when we came to distribute waste bin to some of the schools in Isolo environment, we realised that the school actually needed more classrooms to make learning more convenient for the students and within twelve days, we were able to put this structure in place. Providing these classrooms have added value to learning in the school. More so, the school has automatically become a West African Examination Council (WAEC) centre. Before now, WAEC did not hold exams here because there was no hall to accommodate examinees.”

Ogungbe also called on the present administration to invest heavily in public schools such that they can compete with private schools in every area, thus, encouraging interest and patronage from parents.

Also at the event, former federal lawmaker, Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju enjoined corporate organisations and able private individuals to offer helping hands to communities in whatever capacity they can afford and not to see the welfare of citizens as solely government responsibility.

experts have advised Nigerian food and drink producers to look beyond the country to tackle the challenges besetting the agro-food sector.

According to the managing director of the German trade show specialists, FairTrade and organisers of the forthcoming exhibition, Martin Marz, the firm is ready to join forces with Nigeria to address issues relating to food hygiene, safety, cost efficiency and creating an ever greater diversity of food and beverage products.

In tackling these challenges, however, Marz said: “It is all about technological

applied more ubiquitously in all parts of the global business and supply chains; changing political and social environments will impact the ability of companies to work freely across borders and their ability to maintain talent in unstable regions while companies will need to be more aggressive and proactive in defining their global talent management strategy to attract and retain the best talent available.”

As one of the keys for survival, he posited that in the present era, it is imperative for organisations particularly private firms to employ in-house economists rather than the usual contracting deals.

“The growing complexity of the global

economy and the fast changing business environment and requirements have spurred the demand for in house economists in every firm,” Howard maintained.

For Funke Amobi, human resources practitioners should be adequately equipped on how to respond to future challenges in business world by developing appropriate tools that will position their functions to meet up with expectations.

These tools, according to her, include strategic tools, operational reporting tools, leadership skills and technology tools. She added that there must be a strong combination of these four compartments to bring about efficiency and result.

As innovations, unstable environment and technologies continue to alter business directions, there is urgent need for chief executive officers to build a future-ready organisation that will perform consistently and deliver optimal value to stakeholders for relevancy.

This was highlighted at a forum organised by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), in Lagos recently. Experts also harped on the need for enterprises to establish a future-ready human resource in order to build a robust business that will overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities in global future economy.

In his presentation titled ‘What the CEO

ingredients and food and packaging technology.”

The three-day exhibition programme which is slated for between 26th and 28th of April in Lagos will be playing host to not less than 1300 visitors, with over 700 world technology entrepreneurs on ground to showcase their latest solutions.

Exhibiting countries include Austria, Benin, China, France, Germany, India, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and USA.

BlackBerry Releases ‘Retraction’ Apps on Messenger The new ‘retraction’ application from BlackBerry on its messenger feature has yet added another value to the device users who may not have to wear any regretful expression once they send any unwanted or erroneous messages via the instant messaging app, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).

The latest app, recently launched by the global leader in secure mobile communications, also offers enhanced privacy and control features that allow customers to take control of messages and content they share without any subscription fees.

Commenting on this development, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry, Mathew Talbot, said: “This innovation provides unmatched level of privacy and control to users without any subscription fees having built on the renowned immediacy, reliability and security inherent to BBM. Keeping control over the messages and content

that they share, BBM users can be ensured that what they share is always theirs to control.”

The new release also enables users to retract pictures sent mistakenly to recipients or if they no longer wish them to be accessible. Also, by setting a timer, users can also control how long contacts can view messages and pictures that have been shared or communicate their location for only as long as they want to.

Additional value from the latest innovation include ability to forward messages from one chat to another, ability to mute notifications for a multi-person chat on Android, freedom to choose if users want pictures taken within BBM chats saved to their device, multi-select mode to allow multiple messages to be deleted, retracted or forwarded at once and to retract and edit messages in group chats.

As manufacturers continue to count huge losses in business as a result of the present harsh economic weather which is further worsened by unstable power supply and scarcity of premium motor spirit, popularly called petrol, there have been calls from stakeholders on the need to make a quick switch to natural gas as an alternative to cost-consuming and scarce petrol and diesel.

According to experts, the high cost of imported diesel and petrol which has resulted in persistent electricity shortfall and high tariffs in Nigeria has not only led to high cost of living for the populace but high operational costs for industries.

Reacting to the present power situation in the country, National President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN), Frank Jacobs, lamented the huge cost, running into billions of naira, that members expend on fuel to generate power for their businesses.

“Erratic power supply and billions spent on fuel are not acceptable as they are impeding growth of business,” Jacobs lamented.

Suggesting a considerable alternative, the chief executive officer of Powergas Africa Limited, Mr. Deepak Khilnani, encouraged industrialists to use natural gas which is considered to be cost effective and environment friendly.

According to him, Powergas being the pioneer in the Nigerian Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) market to deliver an innovative ‘gas on wheels’ solution to customers across the country is heavily committed to providing industries with cheaper, cleaner and more efficient fuel through its mobile solutions.

Asides the benefit accruable to businesses, Khilnani stated that “natural gas is domestically sourced with the potential to boost local employment, economic growth and reduces strain on the foreign exchange market for US Dollars.”

He lauded the federal government’s readiness to increase domestic natural gas utilisation rather than importing expensive and air-polluting diesel. This, he said, would impact positively on Nigeria’s long term growth.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

INSIGHT

The Heart of Darkness Jon West

J

oseph Conrad, the white racist writer and colonial voyager wrote his seminal work, Heart of Darkness, about the experiences of a Mr Kurtz, colonial civil servant in the Belgian Congo( first Zaire and now DR Congo) in the 19th century. The horrors and savagery Kurtz was supposed to have witnessed on his journey down the Congo River, and while living with the native Congolese were encapsulated in the infamous phrase “The horror, the horror!!”

In his reviews of Conrad’s seminal novella , the revered Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe was scathing in his condemnation of Conrad’s obvious racism and the stereotypical description of life in 19th century Central Africa. It is quite interesting that in his twilight years , Achebe was less judgmental of people like Conrad , perhaps because of the descent of Africa into a Hobbesian state, where life is short, nasty and brutish, a seemingly scathing and shameful realization of the self-fulfilling prophesy of Joseph Conrad and his racist ilk.

No nation presents the sad state of Africa, in spite of positive growth, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and size of the economy(after rebasing) statistics like Nigeria under the Government of the All Progressive Congress(APC).

In the last few months, life in Nigeria has deteriorated so much that a modern Conrad would be quite comfortable with a remake of his seminal work, with Nigeria substituting for the Congo. At no time since the dark days of the 1966/67 pogrom and the resultant civil war has life been so hard for the average Nigerian as is currently being witnessed.

In Africa’s largest crude oil and natural gas exporter, petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas, products taken for granted in even non oil producing countries, have become so scarce that citizens erupt in celebration whenever these products are available at retail stations even at exorbitant prices, far above the recommended retail prices for these items that are essential for life in a modern industrial economy. Compounding this improbable scenario, is that for the past many months, a double jeopardy situation has been imposed on the Nigerian people by the breakdown of the power generation, transmission and distribution system, in a way that has never been experienced in Nigerian history. The Government’s version version of the power debacle is that most gas power plants are

shutdown due to lack of gas, the gas pipelines having been sabotaged by Niger delta militants, unhappy with the APC Government.

The debilitating power situation has therefore combined with the petroleum scarcity situation to sentence Nigerian citizens to life in the heart of darkness, an improbable situation in the second decade of the second millennium, the age of the Internet of things, social media and other miracles of technological developments that have enabled other developing countries leapfrog the economic and technological divide with advanced societies.

The seeming absence of both a petroleum products and power policy by the APC Government has further driven Nigerian citizens to the depths of despondency. How can a country that has three refineries with a total installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day and that also flares enough natural gas to meet the power needs of the European nation of France, be without both petroleum products and electrical power, two critical drivers of a modern industrial society?

Why has the APC Government of Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seemingly abdicated its responsibility to Vehicles queuing for fuel in Abuja provide Nigerian citizens, who they promised a change for the better in 2015, with the tools through the towns and villages of modern and possibilities of an even very ordinary 21st Nigeria will witness the same horrors of a century life? Citizens , who one year ago were celebrating the ousting of the PDP Government brutish life, with people pulling faces at petrol stations with kilometers long queues, where of President Goodluck Jonthan , are today motor vehicles and electricity generators secretly yearning for a return to the years of the” clueless one”, when they at least had a less compete for places in the process of getting the seemingly impossible petrol, diesel and kerosene stressful life.

It is quite instructive that a recent poll by the that make life a little less foreboding in Africa’s largest economy, whatever that economic Bloomberg Organisation, of the most stressful statistic means. countries to live in, rated Nigeria first, ahead Granted the APC Government inherited a of such other obviously stressful countries damaged goods economy and business environsuch as war-ravaged Pakistan , Jamaica, drug ment, however there has been no policy thrust ravaged Colombia and El Salvador and crime to get the nation out of the hole that a combinainfested South Africa. The seven variables used tion of bad government , self-immolating and in this poll are Annual Homicide Rate, GDP contrived Islamic insurgency, designed to assure per Capita, Income Inequality, Corruption, regime change, put in into. As the economy Unemployment rate, Urban air pollution atrophies and society balances on the brink of and Life Expectancy. This poll result will not anarchy, Government is continuously missing in surprise any Nigerian citizen currently caught action. Even the loquacious Lai Mohammed,the in this maelstrom of negative variables. Surely, Minister of Information (and propaganda) has urban air pollution from the millions of generakept very quiet as the nation groans under the tor users will be an immediate and obvious greatest hardships to be endured by an already presentation of the decay in the provision of famished population. basic services for the Nigerian citizenry by its The President, like Nero of Old Rome, Government. Also, waiting in a fuel queue for fiddles while the nation burns. Just this week, a whole day, and getting no petrol , will not do he has jetted out to China on the back of a anything positive for your life expectancy. visit to Washington DC to attend a nuclear A 21st century Joseph Conrad, on a journey

non-proliferation conference, a joke for a nation that cannot even provide water, petroleum products and electricity for its over 100 million citizens. Having caught the China Syndrome, the latest affliction of the African political elite, where China has replaced the West as the validator of policies and provider of funds and technology for the running of the state, President Buhari is off to China for talks on the flow of Chinese investments to help Nigeria out of the economic woods. However, the Chinese know better after their experiences in the past with Nigeria and will probably proffer the usual platitudes about economic cooperation and political solidarity. On his return, the President is billed to attend David Cameron’s Anti-Corruption conference in London.

Perhaps if President Buhari could just stay home for a few months and dedicate his time and his party’s focus on ameliorating the angst and genuine deprivations of his hapless citizens, caught in a web of political deceit and economic strangulation, he may yet prove Joseph Conrad wrong and show that Africa’s largest economy will provide a counter tale to the Heart of Darkness, even if after a hundred and twenty years.

––Jon West, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Nigeria: History, Appeasement and Failure

I

Jon West

now appears to be a virtual reality civil war.

This scenario is compounded by several low intensity civil conflicts in all parts of Nigeria; n recent Nigerian banking parlance, de-marketing is a process used to destroy from the constant spectre of marauding Fulani and Moslem alien mercenaries and herdsmen the perception of the viability of a bank by its competitors in the banking market in the Middle Belt and Southern States, the cattle rustling gangs and female abductors of place. It is a tool that has had to be the Northwest and Northeast, the militants of deployed in the shark-infested waters the Niger Delta and the now ubiquitous ethnic that is the Nigerian finance industry.

De-marketing is also a veritable tool used clashes , the foremost of which was that of Mile 12 axis of Ikorodu road, Lagos state in March by competitors in the international economic this year. and business market place to undermine the What all these negative security situations perception of potential competitors in the eyes portend, is a de-marketing of Nigeria as an of the business, social or political community. investment destination and, worse still, as a It is quite interesting that Nigeria spends humongous amounts of resources on improv- place of any modicum of tourism, which is itself the easiest source of FDI for any country. ing the international perception of the country It appears that those entrusted with selling the as a place to do business. Our Presidents and country’s potential in the global market place politicians are always airborne to all the four do not understand the requirements of the corners of the compass, on a permanent mission to sell the business viability of the Nigerian job. That is why whenever the global spotlight shines on Nigeria, the opportunity to get across economy and attract the permanently elusive a positive message is wasted or worse still used foreign investors. to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

President Buhari is on the basis of time in Nothing illustrates this tendency to convert office, the most travelled Nigerian President an opportunity for positivity to a disaster as the and perhaps the most travelled, per time, in global history. However, while the travels may events of last week, on Good Friday, in Kaduna or may not have resulted in an inflow of Foreign State.

A high profile football match between the Direct Investment, events inside the country Egyptian and Nigerian national teams was have always conspired to rubbish whatever dividends may accrue to the country from this scheduled in, of all places, Kaduna, in a Northern Nigerian state that has serious internal investment in international travel. security challenges , having been a hot bed In the area of security, there is the Boko Haof the Boko Haram insurgency and constant ram insurgency, for which “technical” victory has been declared by the Government, in what ethnic and religious conflicts. This choice was

made, basically on the Nigerian propensity for pleasing certain interest groups to the detriment of the general good. Reading and watching the international news of the uncontrolled surge of over 40,000 people into a stadium designed for 25,000 made my skin crawl. Pictures of people hanging from all sorts of platforms in the stadium, from floodlight fixtures and telecommunications towers to stadium walls, exposed to the global news audience the lawless nature of the Nigerian society.

That the situation did not deteriorate to a calamity of global sporting proportions is something to be grateful for. What would have happened to Nigeria’s global reputation, if Boko Haram attacked the stadium and killed or abducted our footballers and their Egyptian counterparts? Did anyone really think about this possibility? When the Kaduna State Government opened the gates of the Ahmadu Bello stadium to all-comers free of charge, did they consider the possibility of a stampede that could have cost thousands of lives, knowing the tendency of the citizenry to be disorderly without compulsion? And why were the Nigerian police, whose responsibility it is to maintain public order and ensure compliance with global crowd control procedures, unable to play its role. Why did they relinquish their responsibilities to the Kaduna State Government?

However, the question is whether it was even necessary to hold this football match in Kaduna when there are better and safer venues in Abuja, Lagos, Uyo, Calabar, Enugu etc. This constant tendency to appease the North to the detriment

of the rest of the country has cost Nigeria dearly. In 2006, Nigeria lost the opportunity of a place in the World Cup held in Germany, when in deference to the then Chairman of the Nigerian Football Association and Kano businessman, Alhaji Galadima, a critical qualifying match between Nigeria and Angola was held in Kano and we lost the opportunity to go to Germany at that match.

A Nigerian team, composed of wholly foreign based players was compelled to come from the wintery conditions of Europe to play in 40 degrees centigrade heat and extreme humidity of Kano, against an Africa-based and climate-conditioned Angolan team. The exhaustion on JJ Okocha’s face as he laboured to recreate his magic dribbles and passes was obvious to all spectators.

You would think that having made that mistake in 2006, our football and security officials would be wiser ten years after. But like an American president once said “History never repeats itself; men repeat history and then blame history for repeating itself”. We never seem to learn from even recent history in this country and keep making the same mistakes in the hope of achieving a different outcome; the social definition of insanity. If we finally lose a place in this Gabon 2016 AFCON competition, the role of the Kaduna stupidity should haunt our football and security people forever, but knowing them it won’t, as shown by the refusal to learn from the Kano debacle ten years ago.

––Jon West, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •APRIL 16, 2016

EVENT NFPAWA

Fire Prevention in Focus as Safety Confab Kicks Off

Next week, the maiden edition of the three-day National Fire Protection Association West Africa Safety (NFPAWA) conference will kick-off in Lagos. Raheem Akingbolu writes on the necessity of such conference at a time the nation is experiencing fire disasters.

N

ext week, all roads will lead to the highbrow Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos for the maiden edition of the National Fire Protection Association West Africa (NFPAWA), Fire Safety Conference and Training. First of its kind in West Africa, organisers of the event told THISDAY that the training and conference offer cutting edge technological tips on latest fire safety measures and means of egress.

Antonia Beri, lead consultant of Safety Consultants and Solution Providers Limited, main partners of NFPAWA in Nigeria and main organisers of the event, said the aim of the conference is to bring engineers, builders, risk engineers, insurers, architects and safety professionals to be up to date on new trends and development in safety issues and for risk insurers, especially, to know what they are insuring.

“If a risk insurer knows what and what to expect in terms of safety measures to be put in place in building on edifice, he or she would know if it is advisable to risk-insure a particular building or not. The reason being that when the chips are down, he or she is the one that will be the cost of insurance payment and indemnity,” Beri told THISDAY during the week.

She said engineers and architects also need to be part of the conference because they are the designers and executioners of the designs respectively. According to the American trained safety engineers, a structural engineer needs to know where and where to put means of egress in a building and the kind of materials to be used in a building. In the case of the architect, he needs to know new developments in building design and drawing.

Roland Ngong, Vice President of the organising committee of the conference told THISDAY in a separate interview that the

Ngong

Beri

conference is important to stakeholders in the safety industry as it is coming at a time when the nation is facing a lot of challenges in terms of fire outbreaks and building collapses which have claimed quite a number of lives and rendered many people homeless and means of livelihood destroyed. Ngong said some of these disasters were preventable but for some defects in structural set-up of some of these buildings which made fire prevention and containment almost impossible.

He explained that safety experts and engineers have to be up to date in safety measures and means so that when designing and building structures, they know what and what to put in place to not only prevent eventualities

but also mitigate effect of disasters.

“The conference serves to combine riveting and cutting edge educational sessions targeted towards getting fire professionals up to speed on the latest in prevention, response and monitoring technology in addition to intriguing presentations which would deal with everything from eyes in the sky, to new tools for the front line which can be used to improve fire and disaster response, to product design as well as how to gather, analyse and deliver data to make the world a safer place.”

He explained further that while it might not be possible to bring together all those involved in building design and implementation, it is pertinent to help those attending

focus on things needed in case of fire outbreak. He said the first element of safety is to get the people out. He added that the focus for now is how to get the building insurers to while carrying out their duties.

“They would harp on the need for building owners to have fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and different alert systems and suppression systems. Bear in mind that it is not the duty of the home owner to extinguish fire in his house. This conference is the first of many stages in the line of fire safety and is actually geared towards the design codes. It is not a matter of how to combat a fire situation when it occurs rather it is about what to do at the design stage to ensure that if there is a situation, the chances of it happening are less; secondly, if it happens, people in there can get out quickly and be safe. With regards to the common man and the need to be fire safety compliant, he may not necessarily be a part of this stage but as a fall down to it, it leads to it.”

Rapporteurs and trainers include Russell Leavitt; who is the Executive of Telgian Corporation, an international firm providing fire, life safety, and asset protection engineering and consulting services. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and holds a Level IV certification from NICET in Fire Sprinkler Layout and a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS).

He is a recognised professional with over 32 years of experience in the design, installation, and testing of fire protection systems.

Also expected is John Campbell who has more than 25 years of experience in the fire protection community including all areas of the fire sprinkler industry. He has extensive experience in fire suppression system design, fire hazard analysis and fire protection system inspection and testing. He is licensed as a professional engineer in all 50 United States, District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico and also in the Canadian provinces.

UNIPORT Protest

The Intrigues, the Politics Odede Charles

T

he last may not have been heard of the recent violent protest by students of the University of Port Harcourt that had the hallmarks of the most massively mobilised protest known to the University in recent memory. The protest which lasted for several hours left in its trail the destruction and large-scale looting of valuable property belonging to staff and the University worth millions of naira, as well as the alleged shooting to death by the Police of Peter Ofurum, a purported final year student, a charge the Police vehemently denies. In this article, It has become pertinent to examine the dynamics, intrigues and political undercurrents behind the violent protest.

Residents of the University of Port Harcourt and its environs and users of the East/West Road witnessed a mammoth crowed of protesters which started building up from 4am on April 11, 2016. All the gates leading to the University were blocked and vehicular movement on the inter-city East/West road was made impossible. The protesters carried placards with all sorts of inscriptions ranging from ‘Lale must go’, ‘N45,000 fee, too much’, ‘No fee, No Exam Policy is Wicked,’ to ‘Lale: APC VC Must Go.’ Based on these placards, the popular media reportage of the event is that the Vice Chancellor had hiked tuition fees to what was considered unacceptable by the students and that the University Management under the leadership of Prof Lale insisted that all fees must be paid before examination is taken. Indeed, in the communique released by the Student Union Government later that day, the students made the point that the Vice Chancellor implemented this policy ‘without recourse to the student Union leaders and representatives of the

students,’ a point contradicted in a later section of the same communique where it is stated that ‘the student Union leaders did all that was humanly possible to dialogue with management…’

My checks reveal that the public is grossly misinformed about the events leading to the protest. In the press conference held by the Vice Chancellor, the key issue had to do with a policy that insists that students must complete course registration forms before writing their examination. This is standard practice for universities worldwide. This no doubt entails the payment of N45,000.00, an amount student union representatives agreed to pay with the previous management long before Prof. Lale became the Vice Chancellor only nine months ago. Indeed, it is on record that Prof. Lale had announced reduction in fees and charges on the Part Time programme from over N200,000 that students paid per session to the current N90,000 as well as a rebate for all debts owed barely two months on assumption of office as Vice Chancellor.

Contrary to the claim of non-consultation put about by students, checks indicate that the earlier deadline for registration expired on the 12th of February 2016. Following consultations with students, this was shifted to 11th March. Further appeals by the student body took the deadline to 30th March and then to 7th April. Convinced that there would always be a demand for further extension and as over 90% of students had paid their charges, Senate directed the management to implement the policy of ‘No Registration, No Exam’ only few days to the first semester examination.

In the protest that ensued, criminals and miscreants, some of whom were armed with guns were engaged to do maximum damage to the University. Vehicles of staff were destroyed and offices were vandalised and looted. The Computer Based Test centre was broken into and 100 laptop computers were carted away by the protesters. When

the university went to bail those arrested, it turned out that over 50 per cent of those detained were not students of the University.

That apart, the university records show that Peter Ofurum who was purportedly killed by the Police had not completed the annual student registration form for the past two years, meaning he is not a bona fide student of the university.

Given the background above, which is supported by documentary evidence, a number of questions suggest themselves.

Where else do students write examination without registering for the session? How may we explain the large-scale mobilisation of students against the University when only 10% of the students are in default of payment of their charges? How may we explain the failure of the police to disperse the students when they started gathering?

A search for answers to these questions compels us to look beyond the surface of the events that transpired on 11 April 2016.

Two probable theories may help. The first is a conspiracy theory. It is alleged that a PDP stalwart in Rivers State had vowed to work with PDP members of the Governing Council to cause the Vice Chancellor to be removed in the heat of the controversy on the alleged role of the Vice Chancellor in aiding and abetting the recruitment of a list of INEC ad hoc staff from the university that was meant to favour the APC in the recent re-run elections, a charge the Vice Chancellor denies.

According to him, he does not belong to any political party. Those who subscribe to this opinion allege that that was the reason the police authorities at the bidding of some high level Rivers State Government authorities failed to use tear gas to disperse the crowd until it gained critical momentum. Now that this has happened, it is further alleged that as the PDP-dominated Governing Council in its next meeting will remove the Vice Chancellor for poor management of the crisis.

A second theory utilises what is called the

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu

‘frustration-aggression theory.’ Those who subscribe to this theory argue that the students of the University of Port Harcourt have over the years been victims of bad governance. For instance, their hostels are old and decrepit.

Even when money was sourced from TETFUND to renovate the hostels, internal politics of Council has prevented it from approving the contracts for the renovation of the hostel.

More than five months after bids were submitted for Council’s approval, the hostels remain largely uninhabitable. It is suspected that this grievance may have helped to cause the high level of mobilization that was the hallmark of the April 11 protest.

Odede Charles wrote from Port Harcourt

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 16, 20 16

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ENTERTAINMENT FILE

with AKPOR GBEMRE; 07063000929. instagram: @mister411

Meet The Top 10 Music Producers in Nigeria

Nigerian music has become a big deal in the global entertainment scene and it is gradually gathering momentum to become the biggest in the world. These are officially the finest producers in Nigeria at the moment. Let me say as at the time of putting this piece together, they are responsible for almost all the hit songs currently making waves in the country and beyond. This list and rating aims at shedding spotlight on the big names behind the creative direction of music-making process in Nigeria DON JAZZY Don Jazzy (Michael Collins Ajereh) is a multi award-winning record producer, singer-songwriter, musician, current CEO of the Mavin Records label. Don Jazzy was born on November 26, 1982 in Umuahia, Abia State.

With over 100 hit songs to his credit, Don Jazzy is no doubt the number 1 producer in Nigeria at the moment.

Most people are of the opinion he’s undeniably the king of Nigerian music.

His various ambassadorial deals and the success of artists (Dija, Reekedo Bank, Korede Bello, Tiwa Savage, D’Prince, and Dr Sid) under the Supreme Mavin Dynasty (SMD) are testimonies of his greatness and clout in the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

SARZ Osabuohien Osaretin popularly known as Sarz is in a world of his own when it comes to making dope beats.

The Edo born beat maker’s charges for beat range from $2000 upwards. Sarz has made hits for the likes of Reminisce, Wizkid, 2Face Idibia, long list. He continues to stay strong and relevant despite the influx of new dope producers in the scene. He is popularly known for the tag Sarz On The Beat, at the beginning or end of all his music productions.

His first full credit production work was for Lord of Ajasa’s “See Drama” in 2007. He has produced tracks for Wizkid, Naeto C, Banky W, Skales, Shank, Reminisce, Goldie, Eldee, Wande and YQ. He was formerly signed to Trybe Records, but left the outfit after his contract expired in November 2013.

LAGENDURY BEATZ DUO Legendary beatz duo ( composed of brothers Uzezi Oniko and Okiemute Oniko) are a blessing to the contemporary afro-beat music genre. The two siblings hit limelight in the music industry after producing the critically acclaimed “Azonto” song for multi award winning artist, Wizkid. The duo have produced many songs with vocal contribution from artists such as American rapper Wale, British rapper Tinie Tempah, 2face, IcePrince, Efya, Banky W, Seyi Shay and Chidinma, amongst others.

MASTERKRAFT Sunday Ginikachukwu Nweke popularly known as Masterkraft is a genius of some sort in the beat making sphere. As a bonafide connoisseur of the music industry “MASTERKRAFT” started his career journey at age 11. Since then his repertoire includes some of Africa’s leading musicians and celebrities such as Banky W, Jaywon, Sammie Okposo, Stella Damascus, Bracket, Capital F.E.M.I, J. Martins, Sound Sultan, The Pulse and Busta Rhymes to name just a few. His acquaintances with such prominent names has earned him

Don Jazzy

Sarz

Del-B Legendury-Beatz

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APRIL 16, 2014 •THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

ENTERTAINMENT FILE

Puffy T and Ara

top acts like Banky W, Omawumi, Waje, Timi Dakolo, Dare Art-Alade, Rooftop MCs, Faze, Mode 9, Ego, Dekunle Fuji etc. He cuts the image of a genius in the Nigerian music industry and he has performed in international events. He currently operates his music business under the name C.A.M.P (Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions).

diverse experience in producing almost all genre’s of music, ranging from gospel to soul, jazz, RnB etc.

MASTERKRAFT is indeed a force to reckon within this industry with his diversity and contemporary efficiency. As a professional and experienced music/band director and piano instructor, he has been a major contributing factor in the LIVE performance move taking over the industry.

YOUNG JOHN (THE WICKED PRODUCER) This young dude is shaking up the scene with his productions and street beats at the moment. He’s one of YBNL’s favourite producer at the moment having laced several hits for Olamide and the rest of the crew. “He is best known for producing the critically acclaimed single “Story For The Gods” and “Shakitibobo” With music production credits on albums includingStreet OT and 2 Kings, Young John was ranked #3 in The Net’s list of “Nigeria’s Top 7 Biggest Music Producers and went on to be nominated in the “Producer of The Year” categories at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and The Headies 2015.

Young John is currently to signed to YBNL Nation”.

LERIQ Aristocrat’s in-house producer/ artist Leriq is a dope guy when it comes to “cooking” hit beats and music in general. Leriq produced the whole songs in Burna Boy’s L.I.F.E Album. Since then he has carved a niche for himself and his recent foray into music as a recording artist has been a successful one as his collaboration with Wizkid on his first single was a massive hit which earned him a category in 2015 Headies Awards. His album is one of the most epic compilation I’ve heard in recent times from Producer/Artist. Leriq’s Album “The Lost Sound” featuring the Like of Illbliss, Chidinma, Burna Boy, 2Face Idibia, Wande Coal is one of the best

Cobhams Asuquo

sounds released in recent times.

DEL B Del B (Ayodele Basel) started getting recognition after producing “Shake” for Flavour in 2012 N’abania and “Limpopo” for Kcee in 2013. We don’t really have much to say about this dude but for the steady hits that keeps coming from his Kitchen. He also worked on “For your Matter” and produced “Sisi”

by Praiz featuring Wizkid, one of the massive songs last year among many others.

PUFFY T Puffy T AKA the beat miscreant is another talented producer in the country at the moment. We first heard about him for producing Olu Maintain’s hit song “Yahooze:” Since then he has produced several hits songs for the likes of Oritsefemi, JJC, Presh Yung6ix and others.

COBHAMS ASUQUO The list won’t be complete without a Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo on it. Cobham is responsible for Asa’s popular songs “Fire on the Mountain” and “Jailer” and he produced the internationally acclaimed album Asa and has produced for

SPELLZ Signed to 323 management company, Benjamin Obaze popularly known as Spellz In 2009 he recorded and engineered the hugely successful dance-hall anthem ‘Champion’

by General Phype, and that was just the beginning. In the year 2011, he produced the 2012 anthem ‘Gaga Crazy’ by Chuddy K and also worked with 9ICE on ‘Mu Number’ and ‘On Point ft WizKid’ of his album BASHORUN GAA and VERSUS. He produced a couple of songs on the EME Mixtape namely ‘ROLL IT’, ‘LONDON GIRL’, ‘CHANGE’, ‘DONT DELAY’, ‘FOLLOW GO HOUSE’, ‘FIND MY TROUBLE’ just to name a few, and also worked with BankyW on his ‘RnBW’ album by producing ‘Find you’, ‘Good Good Loving’, ‘My way’ and ‘Good Good Loving rmx Ft Tuface”, where he was able to show his major strengths which are his ablity to adapt and be versatile in production. Some of his other notable works are; ‘My Dear’ by Dammy Krane, ‘Because of Love’ by D’Prince feat. Bracket and ‘Ojoro’

by D’Prince feat. Wande Coal. He worked on four tracks off the most anticipated album ‘Once Upon A Time’ by Tiwa Savage. “Folarin, Shout Out Ft Iceberg Slim and Sarkodie, Ejimafia, Stand As One Ft General Pype. Currently signed to 323 Entertainment under the able guidance of TJ ‘TeeBillz’ Balogun, Spellz Aka “Magik Boi” is bound to claim his spot in the music industry.

•Akpor Gbemre is a Lagos based promoter/publicist & one of the most sought-after talent managers in the music industry.

Masterkraft

Young John

Leriq

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 16, 2016

VINTAGE Abagana Ofala Festival Builds Bonds of Love and Friendship For Abagana community, headquarter of Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, the sleepy town usually comes alive during its annual Ofala festivals. It is a day set aside for people to rest from their work, relax and enjoy themselves, take stock of the previous year’s activities and plan for the New Year. For the royal institution, the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Mbamalu Okeke, it is a day set aside to give account of his stewardship as well as plan for the year ahead. It is also a day of merriment and thanksgiving. For the sons and daughters of the land who have distinguished themselves in communal works and philanthropy, it is a day for special recognition and rewards. Kasie Abone reports.

Igwe Abagana, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Mbamalu Okeke as he rose to retire after the festival supported by his royal cabinet members during his recent Ofala Festival held in his palace at Abagana recently

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he last edition of the 17th ofala festival was not different. The day started with an interdenominational church service to give thanks to God for the peace and progress in the land and to commit the land into His divine protection, guidance and care in the New Year.

That over, the traditional breaking of kola nuts followed with pouring of libations and blessings followed. With excitement in the air guests began to arrive in their droves from different walks of life. The event attracted the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, the former National Chairman of APGA and current Anambra Central Senatorial candidate, Chief Victor Umeh, former PDP senatorial candidate Iyom Uche Ekwunife, traditional rulers from different communities, top government officials and the business communities among many others. The event also witnessed a large turnout of the indigenes who were on hand to lend support to their Igwe.

Dr. Okeke who represented Governor Dr. Willie Obiano and Chief Umeh at different occasions thanked the town and the traditional ruler particularly for the huge support given to the state government and the commitment of Obiano’s government to delivering democratic dividends to the town.

The day was a very busy one, full of activities, masquerade and cultural dances; other performances by age grades, different groups, and invited dance groups including the Iyom group.

There was so much to eat and drink. It was fun galore as the youths and children pranced around, generally having fun. The indigenes look forward every

year to the occasion as they return from far and near to be part of the annual celebration of love and sharing.

Speaking to our correspondent on the significance of the Ofala day in the cultural calendar of the Abagana people, Igwe Mbamalu said it is a day set aside to review what he had done for his people and unveil his plans for the next year. One of his major achievements in the past year was attracting the attention of the state government to the erosion menace devastating the town. “Government is doing something about erosion menace in the town,” he said.

On the festival, he said, “I feel very happy because so many people turned out. We conferred some titles on some deserving Abagana indigenes that have been supportive of developmental projects in the town.”

He added that the Ofala was a way of celebrating the culture and tradition of Abagana town. “It’s something good for Abagana. You can see everywhere is filled up with people. We wish Abagana community well. We are encouraging everybody to be loyal to the government of Igwe so that it will continue to be well with Abagana.”

Also speaking at the occasion, Njikoka Local Government Chairman, Mr. Emeka Onuorah said, “We are supporting the community to celebrate their culture and tradition. The relationship between the council and the traditional institution is very cordial. The local government is here to support the Igwe in celebrating the culture and tradition of the land.”

One of the Abagana Royal Council members, Chief Boniface Ibegbunam Nwefo while throwing more light on the significance of the day said, “In the entire Igbo land, once a year, Igwe invites

Traditional ruler of Abagana, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Mbamalu Okeke

his subjects, friends and well-wishers to celebrate with him. It is a day everybody has the rare opportunity to interact with Royal Father in public irrespective of class, religion or political leaning where he gives account of his stewardship and plan, call on the illustrious sons to join in the development of the town. Erosion programme put the town on the list.

He thinks of and has the support of the town, he has concern and love for the town; peaceful and truthful, security conscious with strong partnership cum collaboration with president general.

The Youth leader, Mr. Valentine Anene said the huge presence of youths at the occasion was a mark of solidarity with the king. He described the occasion as wonderful and expressed happiness at the turn out, “The Igwe is a father to the youths. We are happy the way he has been leading the town and handling various cases brought before him.”

When night drew near, it was time for Igwe Mbamalu to rise and retire. It is customary that darkness does not meet the royal father outside. His retirement from the arena also signalled the formal end of the festival though people stayed behind till late dancing and making merry.

As the Igwe, adorned in his flowing royal regalia rose, accompanied by other traditional rulers from other towns that came to share in the joy of the day with him, the royal drummers also rose with their drums doling out rhythms of the king’s movement. As he advances forward, they squatted, a sign of respect and loyalty, and in a rhythmic manner moved back and forth. This movement continued till the Igwe reached the traditional ufie wooden gong beaters.

Ufie music is a symbol of royalty and importance. With his horse tail, he directed

Traditional ruler of Abagana, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Mbamalu Okeke

the beating of the music which aligned with the Igwes movement increasing and decreasing in tempo.

Done, he danced round the arena for the final time, waved his horse tail at his subjects, guests and well-wishers and with that, he withdrew into his Obi signalling the end of the ofala festival.

T H I S D AY SATURDAY APRIL 16, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 16, 2016

NEWS ANALYSIS Buhari vs Fayose

As War of Attrition Shifts to Chinese Capital As President Mohammadu Buhari clinks glasses for successful negotiation of a $2b loan from the Chinese government, Ayo Fayose, the vociferous Governor of Ekiti State, has written to the Chinese authorities, detailing why the loan should not be approved. It signals a new chapter in the war between the two men, which predates this Republic, Samuel Ajayi writes

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he battle of attrition between the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and President Mohammadu Buhari took a new turn during the week. Fayose, ever ready to hug the headlines, wrote to the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, advising the Chinese authorities not to grant the $2 billion trading loan to the country which the Far East country had already agreed to in principle.

To underscore his seriousness, Fayose had already written a letter through his chief of staff, Dipo Anisulowo, to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, a couple of days back. Fayose has also vowed to personally deliver a copy of the letter to the Chinese leader when he visits the country in his forthcoming tour of some foreign countries.

In the letter, Fayose said in part: “I write as one of the major stakeholders in the project Nigeria, and a governor of one of the federating units making up Nigeria, to draw your attention to report that the Federal Government of Nigeria is on the verge of obtaining a $2 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank of China. This $2 billion loan is part of the N1.84 trillion the Federal Government of Nigeria has proposed to borrow to finance the 2016 budget, which is yet to be signed by the President, Muhammadu Buhari owing to unending controversies between the Executive and Legislative arms of government. According to reports, Nigeria desires to raise about $5 billion abroad to cover part of its 2016 budget deficit. This is projected to hit N3 trillion ($15 billion) due to heavy infrastructure spending at a time when the slump in global oil prices has slashed the country’s export revenues.”

Writing further, Fayose said though he conceded that all nations, especially developing ones need support to be able to grow because no nation is an island, he added that he was constrained to inform the Chinese authorities that if the future of Nigeria must be protected, the country does not need any loan at this time.

“The government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations, are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget. It will interest the government of China to know that some of the projects for which the loan is being sought are not captured in the controversial 2016 budget, which has been sent to the President by the National Assembly for his assent. For instance, the Lagos-Calabar Rail project was not included in the budget proposal the President presented to the National Assembly and it was not included in the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly.

He said the country was presently servicing debt with about 25 per cent of its annual budget and wondered

Buhari

what would happen to the economy in 2017, when the country would begin to service the additional debt to be incurred this year.

It is debatable if Fayose’s letter to the Chinese authorities is not politics taken too far. Even before Buhari became president, the two have not been best of friends. Besides, Fayose is the only opposition PDP governor that has found his voice in creating a semblance of opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC). Fayose had even started the anti-Buhari campaign since the latter was the presidential candidate of the APC. Some of his attacks on Buhari then were considered distasteful.

Obed Awowede, top media practitioner and book publisher, said while he agrees to how Fayose has been providing strong opposition to the ruling party, he believes the latest move to block the loan might be politics taken too far.

“To me, it is politics taken too far. While I agree with what he has been doing so far, I think Fayose is blurring his own message. When it comes to national issues, we should know how to draw a line. He is doing to Buhari what Amaechi and el-Rufai were doing to Jonathan, but I think he should limit it to just opposing the president on issues that pertain to his party.”

Awowede, however, conceded that he had told some APC members when Jonathan was in power that they were setting a bar they might not be able to deal with if and when they won the presidency.

“I told some of my APC friends then that if they saw nothing wrong in their leaders insulting the president and the institution of the

Fayose

presidency, then they should be ready to deal with such treatment if their party produced the president,” Awowede stated.

Beyond this is the fact that perhaps, Fayose was actually fighting back with this latest pot shot at the president. Lately, the federal government has been doing everything possible to get him off the Ekiti governorship seat. First was the siege by operatives of the Department of State Security, (DSS) at the state House of Assembly which led to whisking away of not less than 13 members of the Assembly. One of them, Akanni Afolabi, nearly died in their custody before they hurriedly released him. While the DSS said they were investigating some infringements on the part of the lawmakers, everyone knew Fayose was the target. Some of the lawmakers said they were told by DSS officials that if they agreed to initiate impeachment proceedings against Fayose, they would regain their freedom. Analysts also believe that even while this is democracy where rule of law and freedom of speech are sacrosanct, Fayose was still working a free man because of his immunity as a governor.

“Fayose is walking free because of his immunity,” a lawyer told THISDAY yesterday. “The APC-led government would have moved after him. I am very sure of that.

They would have manufactured a few charges against him. And I guess Fayose himself knows he has a few issues to deal with if not for his immunity.”

Beyond the politics are the issues raised in the letter. While the supremacy battle between the National

Assembly and the Presidency rages on over the budget, Buhari is borrowing to finance same budget that has not been signed into law. Besides, the APC-led government has been busy announcing to the world that it has recovered billions of dollars allegedly stolen by officials of the previous administration. Many are wondering if truly such money has been recovered, why should the country be borrowing again to finance budget?

Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, too had told the president there was no point borrowing to finance the budget. He said the government should look for alternative means of financing the budget instead of the planned $5 billion, part of which was the $2 billion Chinese loan. Falana, in a letter to Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, had written: “In urging the Federal Government to desist from taking the loan of $2 billion from China or any other country, we are compelled to advise the Federal Government to intensify efforts to recover the nation’s wealth which has been criminally diverted by a handful of local and foreign looters.”

Falana went ahead to list many avenues from which the federal government could access funds which included alleged looted funds, unremitted money from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), which he put at over $4.2 billion, the $250 million paid by telecommunications giants, MTN, as well as monies the federal government claimed it has recovered from alleged looters of the treasury.

Perhaps, Fayose might be making sense after all. Even if it is all spiced with naked politics.

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April 16, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Dangote’s $1bn Cement Investment Brings Hope to Okpella As Dangote rolls in trucks for the commencement of the construction of a six million metric tonnes per annum integrated cement plant in Okpella, Crusoe Osagie writes that the hitherto drowsy community nothern part of Edo State is jolted to life Okpella

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sleepy community in the northern part of Edo State, last Sunday, was jolted, perhaps like it has never been before, since it was founded For a community with a population of 200,000 people, receiving visitors numbering up to 5,000 from Lagos, Jigawa, Abuja, Kano, Kogi,Ekiti, Ogun, China, India and several other places within three days was almost an inundation.

However, the community made up of Afemai people was besieged for good reason.

In the next 26 months Dangote would have completed a six million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) integrated cement plant, with a whooping $1billion expended.

For a community where the total revenue in circulation in its local economy is a few millions, the injection of $1billion in two years would without doubt change its socioeconomic dynamics.

If the news of what the President of Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, had promised to do in the community was earlier received with a measure of doubt from the people, the convergence of the nation’s power wielders and policy makers on their little town certainly banished that.

With the likes of the Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi II, leading the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, other royals from Jigawa, Kogi and several others to the ceremony to announce the commencement of construction of the project, the people of Okpella caught a glimpse of the importance of their humble abode to the biggest black investor in the world.

Other dignitaries who graced the event included the Chairman of THISDAY Newspapers and Arise Television, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena; Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Minister of State for Industry, Aisha Abubakar; President of Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola; former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Dr. Frank Jacobs, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and the Edo State House of Assembly, among many others.

Dangote, at the event, announced the commencement of the company’s $1 billion, 6 mmtpa cement plant as part of the activities to mark his 59th birthday.

Fayemi, who spoke during the ceremony, described the investment as consistent with the policy drive of the Federal Government targeted at the diversification of the economy from crude oil.

According to him, the mining sector would contribute over $25 billion to the national economy, creating huge revenue flows to drive it in the face of rapidly declining crude oil prices.

“The mining sector has the capacity to contribute over $25 billion to the national economy by 2025, creating new employment opportunities, developing local content and increasing tax revenue for the state and the federal governments,” Fayemi said.

Oshiomhole, said the investment was equivalent to the total capital expenditure deployed in the state since he assumed office over seven years ago.

He called on other businessmen and women to emulate the investment drive of Dangote, saying that this was the only way the country would grow from strength to strength and create job opportunities for the nation’s teeming unemployed youths.

“Over the next 26 months, cement will be rolling out of the facility and I want to say that this investment would not have been possible without peace and confidence in the state,” Oshiomhole said.

He noted that the investment would create job opportunities for about 24,000 people directly and indirectly.

Abubakar, in her speech, said the investment

Dangote

was a proof that Nigeria could move away and survive with non-oil products.

She noted that Dangote was the largest employer of labour after the federal government, adding that the ministry would continue to partner the firm in terms of innovation and technological development.

“As we move forward, we want to implore other well-meaning Nigerians to provide opportunities for mentorship for the young ones to grow,” she said.

Africa’s richest man, Dangote, said the new cement plant was expected to further increase the $3 billion the country had been saving from import substitution in cement yearly.

He maintained that the new 6mmtpa capacity cement plant was coming on the heels of a similar arrangement for another 6mmtpa cement plant in Itori, Ogun State, where the company is currently running a 12mmtpa cement plant at Ibese.

He noted that by this investment, Dangote’s production capacity would increase to 41mmtpa in Nigeria alone, adding that he would never shy away from investing in the country because the nation still remained the best place to invest in the world.

“A key factor that drives investments in an economy is the presence of an investor-friendly business climate. Indeed, Edo State today is one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria.

“The economic reforms in Edo State especially in the area of tax, innovations in rural finance and investment on infrastructure, have produced the enabling environment that has further provided a platform for future growth. All these factors made us consider investing in the state,” he said.

Dangote noted that Nigeria was a growing economy, adding: “Our developmental challenges are quite enormous and will require the combined efforts of government and private sector to overcome them.

“It is in this light that we are here to contribute our own quota to transforming the economy of Edo State as we have done elsewhere. This project is only one of our several successful projects presently ongoing in parts of the country and outside in more than 15 other locations in African countries in line with our pan African investment strategy.”

He said in June last year, the group commissioned its cement plant in Ethiopia, Zambia and Cameroun, adding that there were plans to commission other plants in Senegal and South Africa very soon.

“Also last year, in Lagos, we signed a deal valued at $4.34 billion, with Sinoma International Engineering Company Limited for the construction of 10 additional new cement plants across Africa, with one in Nepal in Asia.

The combined capacity of these new projects will be 25 million metric tonnes per annum.

“By the time all these new projects are completed in the next few years, we will have a total capacity of 81 million metric tonnes per annum. This will make us one of the top six cement companies in the world.”

He pointed out that the group was consolidating its cement businesses across Africa in order to reap from the benefits of scale, stressing that its operational offshore cement plants had started to make substantial contributions to its revenue.

“In addition to manufacturing, we are also investing heavily in agriculture for massive employment generation. Recently, we have commenced multi-billion dollar rice projects in some states in the north and we recently flagged off a rice out-grower scheme with the distribution of rice seedling to farmers in Jigawa State to reduce our dependence on imported rice, create massive jobs for the people and provide good returns to the famers.

“We envisage producing up to one million tonnes of white rice with the cultivation of 200,000 hectares of land. This will lead to a conservation of about $11 billion presently spent on the importation of food items that could otherwise be produced locally.

“It is gratifying to know that the federal government has recently announced that it is putting in place strategies that will make farmers have greater access to implements and other inputs,” Dangote said.

In his welcome address, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella Kingdom, Dr. Andrew Dirisu, lauded the doggedness of Dangote Cement and its prompt response to the call for the establishment of the cement plant, and commended the state governor for his support in acceding to the desire of the people to have Dangote Cement in the community given the abundance of the raw materials in the community.

He promised that the community would provide the enabling environment for the investment to thrive as it is to the benefit of Okpella and her people for the plant to operate and generate economic activities.

He urged the company’s management to ensure that the various corporate social responsibility projects that the Dangote Cement was known to have provided for other host communities were also replicated in Okpella.

Dangote Cement is a fully integrated quarryto-customer producer with production capacity of 29.25mta in Nigeria. Its Obajana plant in Kogi State, Nigeria, is the largest in Africa with 13.2mta capacity across four lines.

The Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined installed capacity of 12Mtpa. The Gboko plant in Benue state has 4Mta. In addition, the company is investing several billion dollars to build manufacturing plants and import/grinding terminals across Africa. It has operations in Senegal (1.5Mta), South Africa (2.7Mta), Cameroon (1.5Mta), Ghana (1Mta import facility), Ethiopia (2.5Mta) and Zambia (1.5Mta). We are also building plants in Tanzania (3Mta), Republic of Congo (1.5Mta), Kenya (TBC), Nepal (TBC) and Zimbabwe (TBC). We plan to build import or grinding facilities in Sierra Leone (0.7Mta), Ghana (1.5Mta), Cote D’Ivoire (1.5Mta), Liberia (0.7Mta). Just last week, the Company commenced arrangements for the construction of

3m mtpa grinding plant in Cote d’Ivorie In his comments, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, commended the investment in Edo State which shares a common border his state.

According to him, the presence of the federal government delegation at the event, as well as such a diversity of interests and groups, clearly underscored the importance which the present administration, and other well-meaning people, have placed on the industrialisation of the country.

He said Dangote Cement Factory, Okpella would be a good thing for Edo State, adding that It would also be a good thing for his state.

“As we all know, Kogi State already hosts one of the largest cement plants in Africa, the Obajana Cement Plant, courtesy of this same Dangote Cement Plc. We project that a nucleus of allied enterprises will develop around the two plants providing enhanced opportunities for co-operation and wealth-creation between our two peoples. We wholeheartedly felicitate with His Excellency, my brother Adams Oshiomhole, and the wonderful people of Edo State.

“Alhaji Aliko Dangote is a visionary industrialist with the interest of Nigeria at heart. A completely de-tribalised Nigerian, he employs millions of Nigerians directly or indirectly in his many ventures across the country and Africa. Given the current challenges facing our country, the Dangote Group led by the serially successful Alhaji Aliko Dangote deserves great commendation for defying the actual and perceived harshness of the operating environment to set the pace for Nigeria’s industrial revolution.

“He has through his multi-billion Naira investments, demonstrated that Nigeria is one of the best places in the world to turn over capital investments. I am indeed convinced that Nigeria will achieve the economic greatness that we all desire, at a faster rate, if we have more Dangotes in the country. I therefore wish to commend Alhaji Aliko Dangote for believing so much in this country, and I request that we all rise and give this great Nigerian and his Team a standing ovation.

“It is best to be proactive in managing host community relations. Regular and thoughtful Corporate Social Responsibility interventions will go a long way in maintaining the friendliness with which we are starting this relationship today. Care and respect for the environment is crucial. The people and their health, their water sources, their lands and crops, the atmosphere itself must all be protected from chemical pollutants and effluents. We must all join hands to contain global warming. Accordingly, the carbon footprint of this venture must be ameliorated as much as is humanly possible by the Investors.

“One must be forward-looking at these events. I strongly enjoin Dangote Cement Plc to remain mindful of international best practices in their dealings with the host State and communities. Proactivity in the considerate use of public amenities, including roads, the payment of lawful taxes, rates and levies and inclusiveness in the employment process, are always wise courses of action in this regard.

This is the global norm now for ethical businesses such as we believe the Dangote Group to be. It is also the easiest way to avoid the community unrests that occasion down-time in productivity and cost all concerned both money and time.

“This factory, no doubt, is going to put Okpella, Edo State on the world map. The man who must eat kayan ciki (the intestines) of an animal slaughtered for meat must occasionally come across its dung at mealtimes.

The host communities must also determine to enjoy this blessing like kayan ciki – with a lot of patience. The extractive industry is disruptive, and not too clean. There will be some nuisance from the various segments of the cement manufacturing process. We must be patient, and seek dialogue first, never war.

It is my prayer that this plant will open up these communities to rapid infrastructural development and accelerated provision of social amenities,” he said.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •APRIL 16, 2016

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Customs Sensitises Wood Exporters on Diversification of Economy Peace Obi

GOOD TO SEE YOU...

L-R; Coordinator, Study Group Committee, Research Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, Professor Aminu Mohammed Dorayi; a participant at the Institute from the Nigerian Navy, Desmond Igbo; Deputy Director, Research Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, Mr. Adamu Dauda Abubakar and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Friday

Declining Commodities Prices: G-24 Seeks More Support for Nigeria, other Affected Countries

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku in Washington D.C, USA

The Inter-governmental Group of 24 on International Monetary Affairs and Development, (G-24) has called for further work from the IMF and other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) on mechanisms to support countries coping with the sharp drop in commodity prices like Nigeria.

The falling oil prices have taken a toll on economies of oil producing countries, with countries that rely on exports earnings such as Nigeria being hard hit.

But the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as the apex financial regulator in the country has adopted several measures to strengthen the Naira and stabilise the economy.

At its 95th meeting in Washington D.C. the G-24 noted that the sharp drop in commodity prices had adversely effected the global

economy, as nations continued to face weaker global demand, tighter financial conditions, more volatile capital flows, and heightened security challenges.

The meeting chaired by Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia, Mauricio Cárdenas, with the Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation of Ethiopia, Abdulaziz Mohammed as First Vice -Chair; and Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka, Ravi Karunanayake as Second Vice- Chair, which also had the Nigerian Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun in attendance, warned that these headwinds could further weaken member countries’ growth outlook and contribution to global growth.

The Group observed that the recovery of the global economy remained modest, with greater downside risks, adding that while growth in advanced economies

had remained sluggish, it was moderating in emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs), which still accounted for the bulk of global growth.

“In light of this global reality, managing our policy space, making our economies more Resilient to support macroeconomic stability, as well as achieving higher, more balanced and inclusive growth remained our priorities. Exchange rate flexibility, where appropriate and reserve buffers, where available, could contribute to cushioning the impact of external shocks.

We will continue to strengthen our fiscal and structural reforms and our financial systems, based on country- specific priorities, to diversify our economies and enhance our growth prospects, promote employment, competition, and productivity, while implementing macroeconomic and social policies

to address inequality and alleviate poverty’’, the 24 member group stated in a communique issued at the end of the meeting.

The meeting also okayed the IMF’s ongoing work towards strengthening the International Monetary System (IMS) with efforts in three key areas: mechanisms for crisis prevention and adjustment; global cooperation on issues and policies affecting global stability, including spillover effects from systemic economies; and a large enough and more coherent Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN).

The communiqué added, “We also support the IMF’s review of the GFSN, including the adequacy of the IMF resources and its lending toolkit, and look forward to concrete follow-up steps. In this regard, we reiterate our call for predictable and adequate liquidity support in times of need.

DHQ to Position DICON as Epicenter of 33 Years After, Mimiko Delivers Proposed Military Industrial Complex Abandoned Abattoir Project Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has expressed determination to make Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), as the epicenter of the proposed Military Industrial Complex, aimed at meeting the complete ordinance needs of the Armed Forces.

The Chairman, Committee on Establishment of Military Production, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Emmanuel Anebi, stated this when he visited DICON Ordinance Factories Kakuri, Kaduna with his team.

Anebi in a statement issued yesterday by the Public Relations Officer, DICON, Maj. Emmanuel Adeniyi, said the Committee was constituted by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Abayomi Olanisakin, to work out the modalities for a smooth take off of the Military Industrial Complex.

According to the Chairman, it was high time they moved beyond the level of mere rhetoric on issue of Military Industrial Complex to concrete action, adding that the project would no doubt enjoy the full support of the President.

“I did most of my courses in India, with my level of exposure there, I am quite optimistic if there

is a political will, we can get it right just like India, Brazil, Pakistan and other nations which were once on the same page with Nigeria got it right, “he said.

Anebi said that before he embarked on facility tour to DICON, he had a different mindset, but having gone round the Ordinance Factories with his team, he was quite impressed with what he saw on ground.

According to him, there was no way his committee would sit in Abuja to write a report on Military Industrial Complex of that magnitude without embarking on facility tour to DICON factories.

He said: “Most of the machines in various production lines in the factories were still functioning contrary to the impression of a moribund factory held before the visit. We are impressed with the efforts made by the DG Maj Gen Bamidele Ogunkale and his team to reposition DICON” “The envisioned Military Industrial Complex would be conglomerate of various companies producing one Military Product or the other, while DICON will be at the centre to streamline or regulate all their activities. All these ideas are aimed at making the Armed Forces selfsufficient in terms of local production of Military products.”

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has actualised the dream of a semi-mechanised Abattoir 33 years after the idea was conceived as the project is now ready.

Though land was allocated for the project since 1983 following the need for a befitting and hygienic Abattoir, successive administrations in the state could not make progress with the project until assumption of office the incumbent government.

According to the state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade who was on an inspection tour of the facility with newsmen in company with his Agriculture counterpart, Mr. Segun Ayerin, Mimiko administration had succeeded with the Abattoir project for the use of the people of the state and it is now ready for commissioning."

Giving details of the facility, Ayerin observed that the factory was for the slaughtering and processing of meat, with 78 slaughter slabs, that surpass the grade c traditional abattoir which was long overdue, outdated and had been a major breeder of foodborne disease.

The new semi mechanised Abattoir which he said improved quality of meat, had 12 components which include office complex, meat quality control, public toilet, laboratory, lairage,

administrative block, slaughtering hall and modern water supply system.

He said the semi mechanised Abattoir could process 2,000 heads of cattle in 24 hours, while it targets processing of 200 animals in four hours - 8a.m to 12p.m.

Occupying a landscape of 18 hectares, which houses the cattle market, animal disease inspection and surveillance point, the Abattoir as well as goat and sheep market, that facility which is located on Akure - Ado road in Akure welcomed animal first into the Lirage, which is a twin building in 10 compartments and five cells sited at opposite directions.

Each cell accommodates 15 animals of 100 - 150 kilogrammes, but 10 animals if above 200 kilogrammes.

The Lirage, he further explained, was an apartment at the facility where animals were expected to experience rest, drink but no feeding and be stress - free before execution and accommodated 300 cattle a day for a maximum of 24 hours.

Through the Lirage, the agony experienced by the animals is reduced and the Lirage also helps in keeping up to date record of the animals down to their sources. The Lirage clerk takes a record of each animal cum its owner and its source, before slaughtering.

With the upsurge in the exportation of wood and the subsequent violation of export procedure by the exporters leading to the seizure of several containers, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has organised a sensitisation programme for exporters, agents and the general public to educate them on the standard procedure in the exportation of wood in the country.

Speaking during the programme tagged "Sensitisation of Exporters on Wood Exportation", the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Willie Egbudin noted that the programme became necessary given the shift of focus by exporters from the exportation of oil products to wood exportation.

Attributing the swerve to the fall in crude oil price, the CAC said that the Federal Government had as part of its commitment towards diversifying the economy, opened up wood exportation as another window for economic survival for the country and her citizens.

"The Federal Government is trying to encourage exporters, because in the past, people depended only on the exportation of oil products. But now, that they have known that the price of oil has fallen, so there is a need to look elsewhere. The Federal Government has opened this window for exporters, especially those who are exporting wood. And the message is that if exporters want to export wood, it must be processed either wholly or partially", he said.

Blaming the seizure made by the NCS on the inability of the exporters to follow the standard rule in exporting wood, he noted that the procedure was simple if understood.

"We are not against anyone one exporting wood but it must be done within the ambit of the law. So, I feel

it is necessary for them to understand what it entails, what they should do and the need for them to do the right thing.", Egbudin clarified.

He advised the exporters and their agents to put up their application and initiate the processes involved ahead of the exportation time, even as he pointed out that failure to do so would lead to mounting pressure on themselves and on the system.

His words: "Sit down. Check the processes and see where you are getting it wrong and amend it. We cannot bend the rule or the procedure because it is difficult for you. It is a procedure designed by the FG and it has to be done that way. If you have any challenges in the course of time, contact DC export office for clarification and your questions will be answered. We want you to come forward, tell us your challenges”.

Taking journalists on a tour at the port terminal where processed containers of processed wood which the exporter has been issued the Clean Certificate of Inspection among other documents by the NCS confirming the quality of the consignment, Egbudin said, "This is a clear example of processed wood. This is what is allowed by the Federal Government.

If you are taking anything out of this country, it must be processed. And when this is done, you are also creating employment for the teeming population as well”. “To get this done, the exporter sends his application to the Federal Ministry of Environment, stating what he wants to do. Thereafter, if granted, the approval is sent to the Ministry of Finance, who sends to the Custom headquarters which in turn sends to the respective commands.

You can see the difference between the unprocessed and the processed wood. The wood here are roughly sawn and that is what the FG said should not be exported.

Shettima Pleads for FG’s Intervention over IDPs Kasim Sumainain Abuja Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has pleaded with the Federal Government to urgently come to their aid to enable them handle the increasing number of the internally Displaced Persons returning back to state.

Shettima hinted that the appeal became necessary because the State government had been overstretched by the influx of a lot of internally displaced persons coming to their camps due to the ongoing success recorded by the Nigerian Military.

The Governor appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) to come to them with what would assist the IDPs settle back into normal society, pointing out that they were the poorest of the poor on earth.

He made this disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammed Sani Sidi to solicit for more support from the agency on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, "Out of 2.5 million refugees in the country, 90% of them are in Borno State, Maiduguri metropolis alone, apart from the IDPs in the camps, we have 1.7 million people within the host communities.

"And even in the best of times, our people were the poorest of the poor and Boko Haram has further worsened the situation. So, we are here fundamentally not only to seek support for the IDPs camps but for the host communities as well.

"Our military were able to record tremendous success in the past couple of weeks which led to the influx of a lot of IDPs to our camps.

"Right now as we are talking and due to the successes recorded by our military, we have nearly 75, 000 IDPs in Jepa, we have 28, 000 in Bama, about 38, 000 in Barki town, about 27,000 in Proka. Even as we are speaking, we have an influx of about 2,300 to Poka today which necessitated us to pay a visit to NEMA, to solicit for their usual assistance.

"Because whenever you are faced with challenges, you normally go to places where you believe you can get support. As a State government we are doing our best, but; NEMA has been our natural partner in taking care of the IDPs for the past two years. So, we are here fundamentally to solicit for their additional support towards catering for the needs of our people."

Responding, NEMA DG said, "We have been working with the Borno State SEMA and the Borno State government by extension in catering for the overwhelming number of many Displaced Persons in Borno State.

"Now, that there are emerging challenges, new challenges coming up, more people are coming up to the camps and we need to step up and make sure that all the Internally displaced persons that are registered in the camps and indeed even those in the hosts communities are taken care of. So, we will work with the State government to ensure that we provide our support."

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •APRIL 16, 2016

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7,556 Beneficiaries to Exit Amnesty Programme in 2016

Agents Hail NCS Efforts in Curtailing Smuggling

Ndubuisi Francis inAbuja

Licensed customs agents have hailed the effort of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in curtailing the smuggling across the country, They stated that the numerous illegal routes between Nigeria and her neighbours had made it cumbersome for NCS to carry out its statutory roles and responsibilities effectively.

They however noted that it would have been worse if the officers and men of NCS were not alive to their anti-smuggling campaign across the borders.

The assertion of the licensed customs agents is coming on the heels of the revelation by the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Martin Abeshi that Nigeria had no fewer than 1,400 unmanned illegal entry points into the country.

Abeshi spoke at the 2016 Comptroller General of Immigration’s annual conference and stakeholders’ interactive forum held in Lafia, Nasarawa State recently said NIS was contending with many challenges in the perfor-

No fewer than 7,556 ex-agitators (beneficiaries) of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) are exiting the scheme in 2016 with a total savings of N6.2 billion accruing to the federal government.

A breakdown shows that in the first quarter, 3,232 beneficiaries of the programme are exiting with N2,520,960,000 savings accruing to the federal government.

Another 1,042 beneficiaries are also expected to exit in the second quarter, with N812,760,000 saved while the third quarter will see the

exit of 2,958 beneficiaries, and would lead to a savings of N2,307,240,000, according to the status report of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Re-integration (DDR) programme.

By the fourth quarter, 324 offshore students in the scheme are expected to graduate, with a N560,978,400 savings for the government.

This will amount to a savings of N6, 201,938,400 from 7,556 exiting beneficiaries.

The savings are to be derived from stipends usually paid to the beneficiaries.

Of the 30,000 beneficiaries, 17,000 have so far completed their various

training.

Meanwhile, in the latest status report of the programme obtained

by THISDAY, The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the PAP, Brig.Gen Paul Boroh had lamented that it was beset by various challenges, including the emergence of new militant groups seeking to disarm and be included in the PAP. “These challenges would require not only FGN’s support but also the participation of the multinational oil companies, international community and organisations,” he said.

Boroh stated that the PAP, had

succeeded in stabilising the security and socio-economic situation in the Niger Delta with the resultant economic boost in the region.

According to him, the DDR programme was now in the Reintegration phase, considered the last and most enduring lap.

But he pointed out that there was no exit strategy in the six years of implementation of the programme until he assumed office.

“I inherited the entire 30,000 caseload of delegates (beneficiaries) on assumption of office in August 2015 with the mandate to reintegrate them into the economic mainstream.

John Iwori

mance of its duties.

A Lagos base freight forwarder, Mr. Johnson Nwachukwu told THISDAY at the weekend that men and officers of NCS needed the support and co-operation of Nigerians to succeed.

Nwachukwu said this could be achieved through information sharing with the relevant government agencies.

According to one of the licensed customs agent, Prince Olusegun Ologbese, the efforts of men and officers of NCS in tackling the activities of smugglers across the country should be commended.

Without them, smugglers would have operated freely. Though, there was still room for improvement, their present anti-smuggling campaign is yielding the desired results.

Ologbese who is also the Managing Director and CEO of Ogbese International Limited commended NCS, especially the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos for what he called its “deliberate and concerted war on anti-smuggling” in recent times.

Boko Haram: About 2.5m IDPs to Benefit from IOM's Intervention Yemi Akinsuyi in Abuja

WELL DESERVED LAUREL...

L-R: Chairman, Greenlife Pharmateuticals Ltd, Dr. Obiora Chukwuka; his Personal Assistant, Mr. Nonso Okafor; Master Degree's grandaunt, Ebuka Chukwuka and his mom, Mrs. Oby Chukwuka; during the graduation ceremony of their son who just graduated with a Master Degree in Business and Marketing analytics from the Aston University, Birmingham, U.K

Abuja-Ibadan-Lagos Highway, Shiroro, Benefit from Buhari's China Visit Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

Buhari's Visit to China Yields Over President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his working visit to China, which the presidency said has yielded additional investments in Nigeria exceeding $6 billion.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu said Buhari believed that the several agreements concluded with the Chinese during the visit would impact positively on key sectors of the economy.

In the power sector, North South Power Company Limited and

Sinohydro Corporation Limited signed an agreement valued at $478,657,941.28 for the construction of 300 Mega Watts solar power in Shiriro, Niger State.

In the solid minerals sector, Granite and Marble Nigeria Limited and Shanghai Shibang signed an agreement valued at $55 million for the construction and equipping of granite mining plant in Nigeria.

The statement said: "A total of $1 billion USD is to be invested in the development of a greenfield expressway for Abuja-Ibadan-Lagos under an agreement reached by the Infrastructure Bank and Sinohydro Corporation Limited.

"For the housing sector, both

companies also sealed a $250 million deal to develop an ultramodern 27-storey high rise complex and a $2.5 billion agreement for the development of the Lagos Metro Rail Transit Red Line project.

"Other agreements announced and signed during the visit include a $1 billion for the establishment of a Hi-tech industrial park in OgunGuangdong Free Trade Zone in Igbesa, Ogun State.

"Furthermore, the OgunGuangdong Free Trade Zone and CNG (Nigeria) Investment Limited also signed an agreement valued at $200million for the construction of two 500MT/day float gas facilities.

"An agreement valued at $363

million for the establishment of a comprehensive farm and downstream industrial park in Kogi state was also announced at the Nigeria-China business forum."

Shehu listed other agreements undergoing negotiations to include a $500 million project for the provision of television broadcast equipment and a $25 million facility for production of pre-paid smart meters between Mojec International Limited and Microstar Company Limited.

About 100 Nigerian businesses and 300 Chinese firms participated in the Nigeria-China business forum which took place a day after Buhari began his visit to China.

TSA Will Stop Bank Profiteering, Says Don Proffessor of Accounting at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Michah Chukwuemeka Okafor, has said that implementation of TSA in Nigeria would stop banks from profiteering on free money, which was dangerous to the economy of the country.

The university lecturer further said that it would result in fundamental changes in the country’s economy and lead to better fiscal and monetary policy coordination, advising that Nigeria stood to benefit greatly on the full and holistic implementation of TSA in the country as outlined in the IMF 2010.

Prof Okafor, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants

of Nigeria, said this in a paper titled Full Implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) in Nigeria: Implications on the he presented at a public lecture at the Evangel University at Okpoto, Ebonyi State.

He said, “TSA will lead to better fiscal and monetary policy coordination, as better transparency is achieved through reconciliation of fiscal and banking data, which in turn improves the quality of fiscal information and management that will benefit and improve the country’s economy generally, eventually”.

In the banking sector, Prof Okafor said that banks’ profiteering on free money was dangerous to Nigeria’s economic growth; hence the TSA would make the banks

to return to real banking. He teased the Nigerian banking sector, saying “Nigerian banks claim to be the best on the continent and have received numerous awards, some are ranked among the 1000 banks globally, yet our bankers are worried by the absence of free government funds, which makes them look suspect on their activities.”

According to the professor of Accounting, implementation of TSA in Nigeria would basically result to fundamental changes in the economy and would help government to unify banking arrangements, guarantee oversight of cash resources, promote efficiency, transparency and accountability in government payments, adding

that it would ensure that government has access to funds when needed and reduce overall cost of government borrowing.

Expecting that the new reform initiative of implementing Treasury Single Account (TSA) would restore sanity and prudence in management of financial resources in this country, Prof Okafor considered TSA as a prerequisite for modern cash management and as an effective tool for the ministry of finance/ treasury to establish oversight and centralised control over government’s cash resources, bringing about avoidance of borrowing and paying additional interest charges to finance the expenditures of some agencies while other agencies keep idle balances in their bank accounts.

The International Organisation for Migration, IOM, is working with its partners to help the Nigerian government support 2.4 million people in the country’s northeastern states displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), IOM is also conducting assessments of the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the area and their needs to inform the humanitarian response of the government and the international community.

Speaking at a Workshop by the IOM in Abuja, the Country's Representative, Emira Krdzalic said in the worst-affected state of Borno, IOM teams were currently working in 15 previously inaccessible local government areas (LGAs) and 86 wards and hoped to access other badly affected areas.

He said: "The data emerging

clearly shows very high levels of humanitarian need. According to the most recent DTM report (February 2016), 1,434,149 IDPs have been identified in Borno, out of a total of 2.4 million in the whole area.

"As part of the DTM program, IOM is conducting biometric registration of IDPs in Adamawa and Borno states, as well as in Yobe State, where it is supporting the UN World Food Programme’s Cash Transfer Program.

"As of the end of March 2016, a total of 124,827 individuals – 98,209 in Borno and 26,618 in Yola – have been biometrically registered. The vast majority of IDPs who have been registered live in host communities, where little or no assistance has been provided due to lack of humanitarian access and security concerns."

Continuing, Krdzalic said: “In support of the National Emergency Management Agency, IOM is systematically collecting data on the humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria and neighboring countries".

ECWA Endorses Gado for CAN Presidency, Cautions El-Rufai Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) on Friday rose from the 63rd General Church Council (GCC) meeting with the endorsement of the ECWA President, Dr. Jeremiah Gado, as their candidate for the presidency of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The Council also cautioned the Kaduna State government against the passage of the proposed Religious Bill, saying it contained lots of flaws and raised concerns and contradictions that negate Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to citizen's right to worship.

The church also commended the efforts of the Federal Government to recover stolen funds, but cautioned that such recovered funds should not be "re-looted."

A communique after the meeting, which was signed by ECWA President, Jeremiah Gado and the General Secretary, Prof. Samuel Kunhiyop, added that the decision to endorse Gado for the presidency was because the ECWA-TEKAN bloc of the

association has never occupied the position, noting that the endorsement was in line with CAN's rotational principle among the blocs.

"The Council deliberated on the forthcoming Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN election for the Association's President position.

Considering the fact that ECWA/ TEKAN bloc of the Association has never occupied the Presidency.

"In line with CAN's rotational principle among the blocs, the Council endorsed the ECWA President, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Gado to vie for the position and prayed for his success.

"While commending the efforts of the Kaduna State Government towards ensuring peaceful coexistence, Council however cautions against the passage of the proposed Religious Bill which ECWA viewed in the larger context as containing a lot of flaws.

"The Bill raises fears, concerns and contradiction that will in turn ultimately negate Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to citizen's right to worship", they said.

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MISSILE Okonjo-Iweala’s Media Aide to Critics

“Contrary to the slant given by these loud headlines, Okonjo-Iweala did not indict the Jonathan administration in which she served. Rather, she was referring to what many Nigerians already know; the strong opposition by some governors to the Jonathan government’s efforts to save in the Excess Crude Account and the Sovereign Wealth Fund sabotaged this important national priority.”– Paul Nwabuikwu, Media Adviser to former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala debunking reports that his principal accused the Jonathan administration of not saving during the oil boom.

PENDULUM Dele Momodu

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

My Candid Letter to the Senate President

Y

our Excellency, I’m convinced the time has come to write you this letter despite the fact that I have some measure of access to you. I decided to do this in order to tackle the mischief makers who believe I’m your very close friend and as such must be a rabid supporter of yours. I have been accused of all sorts of garbage including being paid heavy sums of money from your bottomless pocket. I’m aware that most of these guys can never believe that anyone could stand up for principle without pecuniary gains.

But before I go into the meat of this letter, I need to state my background briefly as I’m sure you don’t even know me well enough to understand and appreciate my socio-political trajectory.

I have read all sorts about you and I and it is necessary sometimes to put the records straight for the sake of doubting Thomases who can never see anything good in others.

You were a Governor for eight years and I can’t remember ever meeting you one on one. The only time I believe we exchanged physical pleasantries would have been at the 70th birthday dinner hosted in honour of your mother-in-law, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora at The Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos some years back. I remember seeing and greeting you and a few of the former and current Governors present including Olusegun Osoba, James Ibori, Babatunde Fashola and others.

I would later see one of the pictures I took at the party and read many years after that I was busy drinking champagne with James Ibori who was being wanted for several cases of corruption and so on. I could not believe my eyes because the picture showed clearly that I was chatting with Chief Olusegun Osoba while Ibori minding his business behind me but someone needed to rubbish me for reasons I could never fathom. Not just that, Ibori was still a Governor and would I run away from a function or refuse to greet people so as not to be accused of hobnobbing with corrupt leaders?

The next time I interfaced with you was after you employed Mr Bamikole Omishore who was my American campaign coordinator in Washington DC, when I joined the Presidential race from 2010-2011. I was happy that you got such a brilliant young man to manage your social media. But you and I got closer for only one reason in the past one year plus because we both campaigned vigorously for Major General Muhammadu Buhari and you and Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi were the best of pals and he has been my friend long before he became Governor of Rivers State.

I loved the way you, Amaechi, Kwankwaso, Wamako, Tambuwal, Atiku Abubakar, and others took the bold decision that would change the course of Nigerian history for better or for worse when you abandoned PDP despite threats and harassments. I must have met you about twice in your Lagos home to strategise and was particularly impressed with your ability to rally the likes of Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Wale Tinubu and others who ordinarily would have felt a need to support the government

Saraki

in power. I was informed you were able to raise some stupendous amount of money during and after the APC primaries. We talked more on phone and you assured me constantly that everything was on course.

The rest is history.

However trouble started as soon as victory came. I knew you had only one ambition and that was to become the Senate President.

I thought that was a legitimate dream but did not envisage that it would turn out to be your albatross. Politics in Africa, and probably elsewhere, is a deadly game. You’ve fought several battles in your life but I doubt if you ever bargained for this one. It all started like a joke. Your party apparatchik was obviously opposed to your candidacy.

You were equally determined to realise your life ambition. One of the rumours then was that you could not be trusted with power and that in the next four years you would have become unstoppable if you decide to go headlong for the Presidency. I’m not a member of your party so I could not understand what the hullabaloo was all about. The manner you emerged caught everyone unawares. The biggest problem was the fact that you sought and got the unequivocal support of members of the PDP in the Senate and even did a deal that made it possible for one of them to become your deputy. That was the hara-kiri you committed and your enemies would never forgive you for that.

One thing led to another, and things fell apart and the centre could no longer hold.

You probably underestimated the resolve of your enemies to cut you down to size. The next we saw were allegations of impropriety

levelled against you at the Code of Conduct Bureau. You were said to have been dodgy in your assets declaration forms. Anyway, it seemed you had touched the tiger by the tail and it remained to be seen how you would wriggle out of the monumental trouble you had inadvertently courted by your rebelliousness and bellicosity. I was personally irked that we were back to the Nuhu Ribadu days and I voiced my opinion openly. I was not defending you but defending the rights of man. I had thought naively that APC knew what it was getting into with an ill-assorted assemblage of different characters from varied backgrounds.

I presumed there was an accord that all sinners became saints once they migrated and amalgamated with APC. The deluge of immigrants from PDP convinced me that President Buhari would have to sanctify the pollutants if any in the new party. Not once did I hear of any objection to the proliferation so I assumed all was well.

I never said you should not be prosecuted but that we should discourage a situation where every successive government uses anti-corruption camouflage to punish its enemies. This position was not meant to protect you but to discourage a perpetuation of such tradition. I wrote copiously against the harassment of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he went on similar trial. I had demonstrated publicly against the Yar’Adua cabal when they tried to stop Dr Goodluck Jonathan from assuming power when his boss was terminally ill.

I remember also when I wrote an open letter to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in 2007 and how I was viciously attacked by his supporters. But what happened after? Nuhu himself was forced into exile as a victim of impunity. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and The Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi, formerly known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, became veritable victims of impunity and I was vehemently opposed to their ordeals.

I needed to state this background very well as a way of documenting my modest contribution to the discouragement of

impunity as a former victim myself under the military regimes. Now that it seems many Nigerians are comfortable with setting fire to an entire village in order to catch some rats, I will not belabour the issue further.

Please, permit me to now address the case at hand. I want you to know that no matter what you do henceforth, the case against you will go on. The earlier you resign yourself to fate the better. You have done all you can to prevent this from happening and the time has come for you to defend yourself as best as you can. I understand the psychological trauma you are under.

You are in utter shock that a party you laboured with others to build and nurture has decided to treat you as a pariah. You are stupefied at the sudden turn of events.

But let me advise you, the Judiciary is still the best arbiter and if you’re truly innocent, you will be vindicated but if you are found guilty after exhausting all legal options available in the land you must take a bow and accept the judgment with equanimity. Even if the APC decides to sweep this under the carpet, someone may still bring it up tomorrow. It is in your best interest to face the bullet and hope for a miracle. I’m not one of those who have written off the Nigerian Judiciary. I will also not join those who have already convicted you in the court of public opinion. I’m a Christian and I know none of us can cast the first stone and we should be careful not to gloat over anyone’s misfortune.

Please, note that you must do nothing to pervert the course of justice by enacting hurriedly-packaged laws ostensibly meant to block your trial. It will further diminish you and make your sympathisers recoil in shame. To whom much is given, much is expected. God has been very kind to you and as a Muslim you must submit yourself only to the will of Allah, the only one who can forgive our sins. Who knows what the outcome may be at the end of the day?

I beg you in the name of God to take courage. Stand like a man and carry your heavy cross.

A Toast to Foluke Abdul-Rasaq At 60 One of the very quiet but powerful achievers in Nigeria today is a lady I admire and respect so much, Mrs Foluke Kafayat Abdul-Rasaq who is marking her 60th birthday today. I was stunned beyond words when I came across her resume recently. It is noteworthy that despite her intimidating credentials, she remains humble and focussed.

Mrs Abdul-Rasaq holds a Master of Science in Banking and Finance from the University of Ibadan and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. She is a non-Executive Director of Africa’s

global bank UBA and has been the Chairman of the bank’s Board Credit Committee. As far back as 1997, she was Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State. She later served as an Executive Director of ML Securities, a stock brokerage firm.

A passionate lover of education, she set up the famous Bridge House College in Ikoyi, Lagos, an independent private sixth form co-educational institution. She is happily married with children and grandchildren.

Please, help me raise a toast to this virtuous woman.

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