Saturday 2nd July 2016

Ikpeazu No Longer Abia Governor by Law, Says Agbakoba, Falana Akintunde Akinwale Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has stated that Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu is no longer the Governor of Abia State in the eyes of the Law. This Senior Advocate of Ni-

geria stated this while lending his voice to the controversy trailing the sack of governor Ikpeazu by a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Justice Okon Abang, in his judgment of Monday, June 27, 2016 in a suit filed by Uche Ogah, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member held that Ikpeazu does not possess

the requisite qualifications to contest the election as governor, in that he did not furnish credible evidence of payment of tax, to the Abia State Government.

The judge ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Ogah who came second in the PDP primary, as the elected

candidate.

In the suit, Ogah had contended that Ikpeazu evaded tax prior to his election and as such was not qualified to hold elective office.

Agbakoba said by Law Ikpeazu has been removed by the court and he is no longer the governor of Abia State.

“The court has removed him

as governor but the problem is that there’s a transition period.

But the court has removed him as governor and there’s a new governor-elect who is yet to be sworn-in. and that is why I think there’s a major political vacuum. Clearly, the Ikpeazu is no longer the governor by Law. “I don’t know the grounds

which the other order from Abia State was obtained by one of the parties. But I do know that a judgment was given and a certificate of return was issued by INEC in Abuja. If they want to stay that order they have to go to the very court that passed the Continued on page 6

Police Service Commission Retires Mbu, 20 AIGs ...Page 6 Saturday 2 July, 2016 Vol 21. No 7738 Price: N250

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US Raises the Alarm over Starvation in the North East, Buhari Sends Food, Drugs Ambassador Entwistle: Nigerians are dying of starvation in Nigeria Sponsors seed distribution for IDPs Offers technical assistance, training for war against corruption

Yemi Adebowale in Lagos and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The outgoing United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle on Thursday expressed strong reservations about the humanitarian crisis in the North-east triggered by the ongoing war against Boko Haram, saying that Nigerians are dying of starvation in their

Respite for PDP as Court Dismisses Sheriff’s Suit

country, and called for urgent action from all stakeholders.

Apparently reacting to the humanitarian crisis, President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched food and drugs to the camp of Internally Displaced Persons in Bama, Borno State.

Entwistle, who spoke in Lagos at the celebration of the 240th anniversary of the US independence, declared: “Nigerians are dying of starvation in Nigeria. How

can that be?

The Ambassador said: “As you fight Boko Haram and secure and rebuild the Northeast, and as you strive for harmony in the Niger Delta and across the land, we will continue to help in every appropriate way. Indeed, let us all redouble our efforts on the humanitarian front in the Northeast.”

The US ambassador promised that his government would continue to provide support for

Nigeria’s war against corruption: “As you fight corruption, we offer technical assistance, training for investigators and prosecutors, and a commitment to ensure that no stolen funds are laundered through our banking system.

“As you improve the business climate, we encourage expanded trade and investment.

As you continue privatisation of your power grid, through President Obama’s Power Africa initiative, we stand ready

to, among other things, help companies invest in building more electricity infrastructure, especially environmentallyfriendly power generation. As you increase your commitment to healthcare and education, we support those efforts too.”

Entwistle, who described Nigeria as a great nation, said his country had maintained a robust engagement in Nigeria for many years and that the partnership runs deep.

He remarked: “We’ve

worked with the Government of Nigeria on a host of issues, elections, security, fighting infectious disease, and spurring broad-based, inclusive economic growth, just to name a few. It seems like at least once a week, I stumble on some U.S.-Nigerian area of cooperation between academic institutions or civil society groups or businesses Continued on page 6

PETER UKHUREBOR

As a Kid, I Always Dreamt of Sitting Down with CEOs to Sell Ideas

SuperSaturday pg. 8-9

Ousted chairman's camp makes overtures to governors

Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Alex Enumah in Abuja

OLUBUNMI OKOGIE

Respite came the way of the Ahmed Markafi-led Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an FCT High Court sitting in Abuja, Thursday, struck out a suit by Ali Modu Sheriff seeking to be recognised as the authentic Chairman of the party.

Sheriff and 17 members of the PDP had dragged the

Plus pg. 17

Continued on page 6

Any Fool Can be a Priest, I Was Told

WELCOME TO THE BIG HEART

L-R: Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; Ag Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the state's Commissioner of Police, Zanner Mohammed during a courtesy call by Idris to the Government House in Asaba ...yesterday

Gunmen Abduct Sierra Leonean Diplomat, Demands $40m Ransom...Page 11

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Lagos-Ibadan, Calabar-PH Railway Projects to Cost over $11bn Amaechi: $800 million saved through re-negotiation of initial contract sum of $11.917bn

Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The federal government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the China Civil and Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan and Calabar-Port Harcourt railway corridors for N3.157 trillion.

At the signing ceremony in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi said government was saving $800 million as

a result of the re-negotiation, which took some time and effort to conclude with the company.

The railway contract, billed to crisscross the entire Southwest and South-east zones, was initially awarded by former President Goodlluck Jonathan’s administration for $11.917 billion.

He assured that the project would be completed in 2019.

While expressing optimism on the timeline for completion, he said President Muhamadu

Buhari had promised to fulfill government's 15 per cent counterpart funding, while the China EXIM bank would defray the remaining 85 per cent cost of the project.

He admitted that the project was also captured in the 2016 appropriation.

Amaechi said: “This contract was awarded by the former President Goodluck Jonathan regime for $11.917 billion, but when we took over at the ministry, we re-negotiated with CCECC and we succeeded in

reducing the contract sum from $11.917 billion to $11.117 billion.

Here we are able to save $800 million after renegotiating with the CCECC and that has to do with the fact the prices of commodities like steel and other costs were brought down.

"We concluded discussion and negotiation with the China EXIM Bank and they will commence construction of the first segment from Calabar-Uyo, Aba-Port Harcourt, and this will include all the sea ports on this route."

Meanwhile, the entire contract, he said covers CalabarUyo-Port Harcourt-YenogoaOtuoke-Ughelli-Warri-BeninAgbor-Asaba-Onitsha-Benin City, Ore-Shagamu and Lagos through to Ibadan.

He said: "I thank the CCECC for their cooperation and I hope that this will be completed within two years since funding will not be the problem. Lagos to Ibadan will be concluded in two years and Calabar to Port Harcourt will also be completed in two years. My dream and

Police Service Commission Retires Mbu, 20 AIGs Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

The Police Service Commission yesterday approved the retirement of 21 Assistant Inspectors General of Police

(AIGs).

The affected officers were senior to the new Acting Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Mr. Idris Ibrahim, before his elevation

The affected AIGs, in a statement signed by Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission’s Head of Public Relations on behalf of the Chairman, Mr. Mike Okiro,

ambition is to see its timely completion.”

In his remark, Gang said over 5,000 workers will be engaged at the construction sites on all the corridors, adding that on completion, it would grow the nation’s economy.

He said: "We hope to complete the project in two years; the one from Lagos to Ibadan and the other one from Calabar to Port Harcourt will take two years to complete.

include: Bala A Hassan, Yahaya Garba Ardo, Irmiya F Yarima, Danladi Y Mshebwala, Tambari Y. Mohammed, Bala Magaji Nasarawa, Musa Abdulsalam, Adisa Bolanta,

and Mohammed J Gana.

Others include Umaru Abubakar Manko, Lawal Tanko, Olufemi A. Adenike, Johnson A Ogunsakin, Adenrele T. Shinaba, James

O. Caulcrick, Olufefemi David Ogumbayode, Edgar T Nanakumo, Kalafite H. Adeyemi, Patrick D Dokumor, Mbu Joseph Mbu and Sabo Ibrahim Ringim.

after the presidential inauguration, and as President Obama told President Buhari directly when he received him in the Oval Office at the White House last July, the people of Nigeria have no better friend than the United States. In my country, our commitment to democracy is right there in our Declaration of Independence.

“Here in Nigeria, you demonstrated to the world your commitment to democracy in historic elections last year. We all remember the euphoria surrounding that groundbreaking event. In both of our great countries, commitment to democracy is deeply woven into our status as free and independent peoples; indeed, I often describe our relationship as two great democracies working together to make the world a better place.”

United States Sponsors Seed Distribution for IDPs… Meanwhile, the US government, through its Agency for International Development (USAID), has delivered over 160 metric tons of seeds (maize, sorghum, millet, groundnut, and cowpea) to over 6,000 households in Adamawa and Borno states.

More than 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) in the local government authorities of Madagali, Michika, Gombe, and Fufore of Adamawa, and Kaga of Borno benefitted from this effort.

According to a statement from the US embassy, the USAID collaborated with the Adamawa State Ministry of Agriculture, the American University of Nigeria’s Adamawa Peace Initiative, and the Borno State government to ensure the distribution occurred ahead of this year’s planting season.

“These distribution efforts are literally sowing the seeds for recovery and resilience of IDPs. Working with the Nigerian

government and other partners, USAID plays an active role in helping the Northeast realise its full potential.

“USAID supports several humanitarian, transitional, and longer-term development activities in Northeastern Nigeria, totaling $133 million in collaboration with the Nigerian government at the federal, state, and local levels. Current and forthcoming activities will improve governmental capacity and performance, strengthen food security, and provide services for IDPs,” said Michael Harvey, USAID/Nigeria Mission Director.

Buhari dispatches food, drugs…

In a related development, President Buhari has intervened at the Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp with the delivery of drugs and food.

A report by Borno State Government claimed that about 200 children were killed by malnutrition in a month at the camp in the heart of Bama which was recently liberated from Boko Haram.

The President’s team to Bama was led by his Special Adviser on Social Investment, Hajiya Maryam Uwais.

Uwais, in her address to the IDPs on Thursday, acknowledged the enormity of the challenges they faced and assured them that President Buhari was concerned and committed to addressing their plights.

She said: "We are here to see for ourselves the situation on the ground and report back to the president. The Federal Government will continue to lead the efforts towards helping you as well as other internally displaced persons until you are finally resettled back to your communities."

Uwais commended the military for their gallantry and dedication to securing and caring for the displaced

persons, while acknowledging that “this is a crisis situation.”

She assured that the federal government would work with the state government, international community, local partners and civil society groups to ensure that all the needs of the inhabitants of Bama camp, and the several others like it, are speedily met.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on IDPs, Dr. Mariam Masha, who was also in the entourage assured that alongside the humanitarian work, the federal and state governments are also focusing on the longer-term work of ensuring that the reconstruction and resettlement is effectively hastened to enable the IDPs return to their homes and communities, and rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

She added that as the military continues its task of liberating hitherto isolated communities from the grip of Boko Haram, the scale of the humanitarian crisis is certain to increase, and called for increased support from all partners and stakeholders.

The North East zonal coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Kanar disclosed that the Federal Government through the Presidential Initiative for North East had commenced the construction of 500 new tents each in some identified camps in Maiduguri as well as all the satellite camps including Bama, Dikwa, Moguno and Konduga.

The delegation was taken around the Bama camp, home to 25,000 adults and children, by the Brigade Commander of the 21 Armoured Brigade, Bama, Colonel Adamu Garba Laka.

The Commander highlighted the challenges faced in the camp, including shortages of medical personnel, shelter, water and sanitation facilities.

UNITED STATES RAISES THE ALARM OVER STARVATION IN THE NORTH EAST that have been going on for decades. It’s truly remarkable.

“The future of Nigeria belongs to the people of Nigeria.

More specifically, it belongs to Nigeria’s heroes – to those men and women who are brave enough to believe that they can change the world. And the United States stands with every Nigerian who believes that this country can be healthier, safer, and more prosperous.

“President John F. Kennedy famously told Americans, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” Perhaps less well known is the line that followed, ‘My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.’

“I can’t wait to see what Nigerians will do – and we can do together – for the freedom of all. Not just the political

freedom you exercised last year, but freedom from fear, freedom from want, freedom from sickness, and freedom from corruption.

“Every step of the way, we will fulfill the commitment our Declaration of Independence made 240 years ago, to treat all of humanity, in peace, as friends. I am here – every American and Nigerian who works at the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is here – because we are committed to that endeavour.”

On his tenure in Nigeria, the Ambassador remarked: “This evening also holds special resonance for me and Pam (referring to his wife) since I will shortly end my assignment in Nigeria and I will retire from the U.S. Foreign Service at the end of this month after 35 and a half years. I always tell young Foreign Service officers that we’re the luckiest people in the world. What could be

better than representing your country overseas? As I look back at my long career, I cannot think of a better capstone than having been entrusted by President Obama with the heavy responsibility of representing him here in Nigeria, the most important country in Africa.

Entwistle said the 240th anniversary of the US independence celebrates the heroism of the 56 men who signed the US Declaration of Independence.

He said: “Stepping forward, signing their names to a public document was a very brave thing to do. They launched an experiment in self-governance that many – if not most – thought would likely fail. They risked everything – their lives, property, and reputations.

“As I told President Jonathan when I arrived in Nigeria in November 2013, and as Secretary Kerry told President Buhari when they met immediately

RESPITE FOR PDP AS COURT DISMISSES SHERIFF’S SUIT FOR LACK OF MERIT party to court following the dissolution of the National Working Committee of the PDP at the convention of the party in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The convention was supposed to produce the next party executives following the expiration of the last executive.

Before the dissolution of the convention, Sheriff was the sole contestant for the chairmanship.

The convention had dissolved the National Executive Council, National Working Committee and set up a seven-man Caretaker Committee headed by Makarfi.

However, following the dissolution of the convention and the setting up of a Caretaker Committee, Sheriff and 17 other members of the PDP went to court to seek an order nullifying dissolution of the convention as well as disregard the leadership of the Caretaker Committee.

However in his ruling, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf struck out the suit for lack of merit.

The judge held that for the fact that sheriff did not seek the consent of some of the plaintiffs before joining them in the suit, the suit therefore lacked merit.

The judge stated that the submission before the court showed that some of the plaintiffs had no interest in the matter and never gave their consent.

At the court’s last sitting, the name of one of the plaintiffs, Olisa Metuh was struck out following an application by

his counsel, Henry Leonard.

Earlier, counsel to Sheriff, Alex Izinyon SAN had urged the court to strike out the names of other plaintiffs on the grounds that they claimed not to be properly included in the suit.

Apart from Metuh, other plaintiffs in the suit had through their counsel urged the court to strike out the suit.

Sheriff's Camp Pleads for Soft-Landing…

Meanwhile, the former vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who is now the deputy national chairman of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriffled faction, has said that they were ready to end the dispute if the party allowed Sheriff to hold a fresh convention.

He said Sheriff was not insisting on holding on to the chairmanship position, but that he felt he should not be disgraced out of office the way it was done at the ill-fated national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

However, the position of the Sheriff's camp came just as the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP, yesterday, reacted to the injunction granted to Ali Modu Sheriff group by Justice Abang, describing it as void and of no effect.

While addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, Ojougboh said that the genesis of the latest crisis in the PDP is traceable to the struggle for control of the party’s structure ahead of the 2019 presidential contest.

He said the main reason some leaders of the party,

especially some governors, moved against Sheriff at the Port Harcourt convention was that they were afraid that he may not toe their line in the choice of the presidential candidate of the party in 2019.

Meanwhile, the National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi has said that the court injunction granted in favour of Sheriff by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday was done in error and as such cannot stand.

In a statement signed by the Spokesman of the Committee, Adedayo Adeyeye, the party also described Ojougboh's postulations as lacking in credibility.

"We believe it was granted in error by misrepresentation to his Lordship. Two judgements given this week by two justices of the FCT High Court and Federal High Court are to the effect that Sheriff was never even a chairman of the PDP. He was described as a busy body in one of the judgements.

How can the Court then grant an injunction to a busy body, who has no locus in the party.

"Cairo Ojougboh is a rabble rouser trying to hold on to the last straw for relevance. He was part of the stakeholders group in Abuja who were vehemently opposed to Sheriff.

Now, he claims to be his ardent supporter. Where in lies his credibility? These people will keep on shopping for all manner of court orders. But they will fail in the end," he said.

Sheriff had suffered series of legal set-backs in his attempt to hang on to office.

IKPEAZU NO LONGER ABIA GOVERNOR BY LAW, SAYS AGBAKOBA, FALANA

judgment.

“It is procedurally wrong to want to arrest that judgment using another court of coordinate jurisdiction. The order of the Federal High Court in Abuja should be obeyed.

“A Notice of Appeal is clearly not a Stay and INEC has broken no Law in issuing Certificate of Return to Ogah.

But they should have relied on the prudential principle by cautioning themselves, giving the fact that they have received a Notice of Appeal, which in itself, does not constitute a stay of execution of the order of the court. However INEC has broken no law by issuing the certificate of return to Ogah,”

Agbakoba said.

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana also stated that INEC had done the right thing by obeying the order of the Federal High Court.

“Federal High Court ordered that Uche Ogah be issued with Certificate of Return and should be sworn in as governor of Abia State. INEC complied with the order. The order exparte issued by a judge in Abia State High Court is illegal and contemptuous. The Abia State High Court cannot sit on appeal over the order of the Federal High Court as it is a court of concurrent jurisdiction,” Falana stated.

In his reaction, the President

of Nigeria Bar Association, Austin Aleghe, stated that while he was not fully briefed on the issue, the position of the law is that when a stay of execution and a notice of appeal has been filed, it is incumbent on all parties to stay action to avoid a situation where one's interest will be rendered nugatory.

He however, stated that he cannot say for certainty that a stay of execution was filed and INEC put on notice.

Yesterday, INEC confirmed that it received notice of appeal but was not accompanied by stay of execution from Ikpeazu's lawyers and that a notice of appeal did not amount to stay of execution.

T H I S D AY SATURDAY JULY 2, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

SUPER SATURDAY PETER UKHUREBOR

AsaKid,IAlwaysDreamtofSitting DownwithCEOstoSellIdeas Peter Ukhurebor is Principal Consultant and Chief Strategist at Osaukus Playground, an advertising firm based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The outfit covers all conventional media of propagation and digital marketing technology. Before he relocated to South Africa, he had started his advertising career as an art director with 141 Worldwide, a member of the Prima Garnet Group, working on Etisalat, British American Tabacco, BAT, and IEI accounts. Like most restless creative minds, he moved to Blue Seal Advertising as the Head of Copy handling accounts like PZ Cussons Haier Thermocool and Golden Penny Pasta. In South Africa; he work for Globe Creative Advertising as Head of Business Africa. He then joined Osaukus Playground before moving back to Nigeria. He is also Head of Jupiter Drawing Room, a West African new business acquisition. He spoke with Azuka Ogujiuba on advertising and technology and why he loves what he does and why he is just who he is.

A

Ukhurebor

What’s the difference between marketing and advertising? t first glance, marketing and advertising seem to be different terms to describe the same thing: getting a product or service sold. In actual fact, although they both contribute to the same end objective, they are distinct from each other and each has its own process. Understanding the difference between marketing and advertising will help you streamline your customer acquisition strategy. Advertising is the process of making your product and service known to the marketplace.

It is essentially spreading the word about what your company has to offer.

While marketing is the way in which you convince potential buyers that you have the right product for them.

Advertising is how you communicate to them the existence of that product.

Advertising attracts and intrigues a consumer while marketing persuades the consumer to use the said product, service or idea. You cannot have one without the other.

Your vast experience in advertising seems more deployed in South Africa than Nigeria. Why? I studied Advertising in South Africa. After graduation, I decided to stay back and work with a firm called Globe Creative. Prior to graduation in 2009, I worked with two agencies in Nigeria one of which is 141 Worldwide. I was the art director. I was given my first job by Steve Babaeko who gave me the opportunity of a life time.

I then worked on accounts like IEI, British America Tobacco and Etisalat. I moved to Blue Seal Advertising where I was the head of the copy department. I worked on Haier Thermocool, Golden Penny Pasta as well as PZ Cusson accounts. After this I went back to South Africa to study more.

In today’s economy where most organisations and individuals use the cyber space to advertise, is your business not threatened?

The world has changed a lot in the past 16 years when looking at technology . The internet became more relevant and agencies became aware of the new trends. So they braced up for the new challenges ahead by creating subsidiaries to cater for this new form of engagement. Then came internet enabled phones and the communication

got easier by 2005. Some advertising agencies took note. By 2009, communication had changed and major search engine systems now had advertising platforms where all you needed was to engage your niche market via progragmatic marketing. Programmatic marketing is marketing to a specific target audience. For example Wedding Naija Digest has a platform for people planning to get married to showcase their pictures via instagram, Facebook or a blog. With this, you have a chain of vendors contacting them to advertise on their page; from photographers, to make-up artist. And these vendors are targeting a niche market that needs such services.

So to answer the question; yes it is a threat we must all face. Clients cut budgets and focus more on in-house brand management teams. But at the end, we are called professionals for a reason; we know how to engage and maintain the respect of our clients’ consumer market; no matter what platform. The norm has moved to digital and we ready.

What does your company do differently for clients in South Africa and Nigeria?

I work with Jupiter Drawing Room on an advisory level on New Business acquisition and Osaukus Playground as a Senior Partner. We are setting up shop in Lagos in first quarter of 2017 as Jupiter Drawing Room, Lagos.

Jupiter is one of the biggest agencies in South Africa with its founder, Graham Warshop, starting the agency in his 30s in Cape Town to become Africa’s biggest and brightest agency with its expansion across the SADEC region of Africa and it has become a force to reckon with worldwide. The award winning campaigns for its clients and position strategies for brands like ASBA, Burger King has given it worldwide recognition. It is mantle is to put the clients’ needs first with positioning strategies that will maintain the respect of the client’s consumer market. As for Osaukus Playground, it is an agency with a presence in Lagos and Cape Town. It is with a business model that attracts a unique line of clientele. Our model is ‘all work, no play’. We believe in burning the candle at night to achieve our clients’ needs and going the extra mile to educate our clients why their products or services are not doing well in the marketplace while offering a solution to their

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

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SUPER SATURDAY My Mother Made Me Develop Interest in Politics Growing up, I wanted to be different. I wanted to be able to wear a pair of canvas Allstars with a funny hair style and sit with CEOs of the biggest companies in the world and they will listen to me speak

Ukhurebor

problems.

How do you manage clients both countries at the same time?

Having the right team is important.

An advertising agency is divided into three parts: creative, brand management and human resource/traffic.

Each agency assigns people to handle businesses (accounts). So once an account is won, there are people who are the custodians of such accounts in the agency. So when I am urgently needed by a client, I make myself available.

At what point did you realise your best shot in life would be advertising?

Growing up, I wanted to be different. I wanted to be able to wear a pair of canvas Allstars with a funny hair style and sit with CEOs of the biggest companies in the world and they will listen to me speak. Then came my undergraduate years as a geology student at University of Port Harcourt.

A friend invited me for modeling casting in Lagos for Limca at JWT in the year 2002. When I stepped in the agency and saw what they were doing, I knew what I wanted to for the rest of my life. I knew I wanted to be in advertising. I kept coming to Lagos for more jobs; did a few adverts like Zip up with Society for Family Health.

After graduation, I ran off to South Africa to advertising college to learn more about being an adman.

How is your company dealing with economic downturn in Nigeria?

Clients are currently cutting budgets. The economy is currently in a horrendous state, but this is the time that businesses can bounce back and create mega chains. We are taking time to educate our clients on the best way to structure their businesses during this imminent recession.

Was xenophobia impacted on your business?

Xenophobia is carried out by people with the lack of understanding of the word Ubuntu. In translation, it means ‘Brotherly Love’. An average South African man has love in his heart towards his brothers from other African countries. Doing business within South Africa is risk free in rela-

tion to security. The ANC government with its vast knowledge of the role other African countries contributed in the struggle taken time to educate its populace.

As the principal consultant of Osaukus Playground, what is your role?

Osaukus Africa, of which Osaukus Playground is a subsidiary of, has been in existence since 2011. I operate as the chief operating officer of the company which takes orders from the advisory board. My duty is to engage new and prospective businesses and see how we can help them in building or managing their existing business. Osaukus Playground is an agency meant to cater for the needs of businesses that require 360 brand communication services. This service is basically through the line advertising. Our mode of operation is simple. Before we work on any business we have to under what makes the business tick. For example, let’s say a confectionery brand. We have to understand its products. Why you think you can sell more than your competitors? How good are your products compared to the next? Most of the time agencies are too scared to tell a client their products are not up to standard and cannot meet the markets desires even after carrying a market survey they go ahead to give the client a false sense of feeling about their products. We won’t represent a business if we feel we can’t add value in marketplace.

Nigeria is the biggest country in Africa. We like small businesses to grow into chains and the country has the potential for any business. We understand this; hence every client we take up, we sit down with their team and understand their plans for one, two, three to 10 years. We look at an expansion plan. We don’t look at just creating beautiful campaigns but building good business. For example, Insight Communication did a great job with the then Bank PHB campaign creating a futuristic theme but the communication was lost when starting into the bank. Their communication

was brilliant but the delivery to the consumer’s market expectation was not achieved when stepping into their branches. So being able to create good ads is great but making the client deliver on a promise you create is important.

That’s why we are called brand custodians.

While you worked and practised advertising, which advertisement was memorable to you as part of the team and why?

I think the most would be when I worked with Globe Creative using Augmented Reality in 2010 on a campaign in South Africa. We were the first to introduce that in Africa on an advertising campaign via point of sale materials.

Which advertisement is your favorite and why?

The best advert is a press advert from Levis from 1978.

You are so politically inclined, alert and very vocal. Do you have any political ambition?

I love my country Nigeria. My mother started with politics under the now defunct Social Democratic Party, PDP, in the 90s. That was when I first got introduced to what goes on in the political sphere of the nation. I have a desire to see my country in a better light when aboard; be it in the United States of America or Japan because I am proud of my heritage. That’s why we created CSR campaign in 2014 called ‘ivotenaija’ which was basically a system to encourage Nigerians to vote. I project a possibility for 2023 in my state of origin.

From your perspective as an entrepreneur, do you think the present government has any plans to support small scale businesses and do you think they are creating enough good atmosphere for foreign investors to come down for businesses and investments?

The present government is still finding its feet in relation to a direction they want to lead the country. I do applaud the efforts of the president. He does mean well for the nation. As of going to press for this interview, Nigeria might be heading for a recession at the end of second quarter. A few policies need to

WeSitDownwith Clientsto Conceptualise IdeasThatSell

change for the economy to bounce back and a lot has to be put in place not just by the government but by every Nigerian. What the government needs to do is call for a National Economic Summit with a focus on small and medium scale businesses. President Buhari said something a few days back which I totally agree with. Nigeria has been too dependent on oil and neglecting other sources of generating income within the country. It is therefore imperative to grow the economy by building small scale businesses.

What can be done for good business and investment atmosphere and to also make Nigerians in Diaspora to relocate back home?

Now, this is what I passionate about. In 2014, I relocated to Nigeria and understood what the problems facing Nigeria were. In order to attract an atmosphere for investments, a lot has to be put in place. I have to dive into all parts of the economy. Let’s take it step by step. Nigeria has the third biggest movie industry in the world but has no structure. South Africa makes 10% of Hollywood movies giving a rebate of 25% for every $7million spent. Why can’t there be a Nollywood in the vast land of Epe in Lagos and capitalise on such huge market?

In the area of music, Nigeria music has gained worldwide recognition. That’s why you can walk into a predominately white club in Amsterdam and hear a DBanj song being played, but in relation to corporate package for the music industry a lot still need to be done on a collective stage. It is terrible to note that Nigeria has no retain chain. I love the initiatives of the likes of Lagos Fashion Week and their ideas, but a lot still need to be done, imagine having the first Nigerian owned retail chain or a proper walk in departmental store where you can buy Deola Sagoe at an affordable rate because of mass production.

We have not taken certain thing serious yet. Finally, security is still an issue. Investors will not come in if they feel there is no guarantee of their lives and business. The government is trying to curb this menace and other Nigerians should join in support. These are the issues.

10

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULy 2, 2016

NEWS

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

DSS Alerts of Plot to Attack Parks, Worship Centers Across the Country during Salah Nabs Tompolo's ally, NDA, IPOB masterminds, suspected Kidnap kingpins

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Department of State Service (DSS), has raised the alarm over plans by the extremist groups to attack public and worship centers across the country during the Salah celebration.

The DSS in a statement signed yesterday by Mr. Tony Opuiyo, also disclosed that they had arrested some suspected leaders and members of the various insurgent groups as well as kidnap kingpins.

"Also, this Service wishes to alert the general public to be wary of suspicious packages and persons, as celebration of the Eid-el-Fitr approaches.

"The Service is availed of intelligence which indicates threat by extremist elements to attack selected locations across the Federation, particularly parks and congregations of worshippers, in order to further their cause," Opuiyo stated.

He stressed that some "States of the of the Federation have witnessed spate of kidnapping incidents perpetrated by criminal elements in a bid to further their selfish pecuniary and/or criminal interests".

"In furtherance of security measures initiated to checkmate this trend, series of special tactical operations were carried out by this Service, where successful arrests of masterminds of these criminal gangs were made by the Service, while their hide-outs were decimated."

According to him, the measures being put in place had yielded results, especially in a bid to stem

the activities of vandals in the Niger Delta, with the arrest of one Selky Kile Torughedi on June 17, 2016, in Calabar, Cross River State.

He claimed that Torughedi was an ex-militant and suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and was arrested for planning to assassinate one MB Yahaya, a serving military officer.

"Torughedi, who is a close associate of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), had already conducted surveillance at the residence of Yahaya in Kaduna, preparatory to his plot when he was intercepted.

He is also fingered as a sponsor of pipeline vandalism in some States in the South-South region.

Suspect is currently assisting the Service, with critical leads," he stated.

In a related operation, Opuiyo said that the Nigerian Secret agency also arrested one Christian Oluba, who is acknowledged and known as 'Sensor', another suspected militant with the NDA. He said that 'Sensor' was arrested while perfecting plans to carry out explosive attacks on critical oil and gas pipelines, including critical storage points.

He said that "sequel to increasing threat posed to public peace by the activities of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), this Service arrested one Chidiebere Onwudiwe, a graduate of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering and known member of IPOB, on June 22, 2016".

He claimed that Onwudiwe and his associates within and

APPRECIATING RESILIENCE...

L-R: Former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle; wife of U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Pamela G. Schmoll; and U.S. Consul General Francis John Bray during the 240th anniversary of U.S. Independence celebration held in Lagos recently...

outside the country, were planning to carry out coordinated attacks against religious bodies/edifices, Police-Check Points and the computer village in Ikeja, Lagos State, with Improvised Explosive devices (IEDS).

"The suspect was apprehended while making logistics supplies for their nefarious plan," he said.

Concerning the apprehension of suspected kidnap masterminds, Opuiyo said that the DSS on June

Ex-Adamawa Acting Gov., Fintiri Gets N500m Bail Alex Enumahin Abuja

Former Adamawa State Acting Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of N500m by the Abuja division of the Federal High Court trying him on alleged corruption and money laundering offences.

Trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed in a ruling on the bail application said the prosecution failed to show reasonable cause why the defendant would not be granted bail.

The judge rejected the claim of the prosecution led by Mr. Larry Aso that the former governor would jump bail if granted bail, adding that the claim could not be sustained because the defendant did not jump the administrative bail granted him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Part of the bail conditions was that the defendant shall produce sureties in like sum with proof of property ownership in Abuja.

The sureties were also to deposit title deeds of the property with the court alongside two recent passport photographs.

The defendant shall also

deposit his international passport with the court and could only travel outside the country upon receipt of permission of the court.

Meanwhile the trial has been adjourned till October 6

by Justice Mohammed.

Fintiri was on Thursday, arraigned by EFCC on a five count charge bordering on money laundering involving about N2 billion.

The former governor was alleged to have defrauded the state government of N970 million and another $4. 830m during the three months period he managed the state as acting governor.

However Fintiri, denied all the charges when read before him.

He claimed that the money complained of by EFCC was his personal money and not that of Adamawa State as alleged by EFCC in the charge preferred against him.

He vowed to put up a good defence as soon as the trial commenced by the court in October.

Following his denial, his counsel, Mahmud Magaji applied for his bail on the grounds

7, 2016, along Murtala Muhammad Bridge, along Lokoja-Abuja Highway, in Lokoja, Kogi State, nabbed one Kabiru Shuaibu, the ring-leader of a kidnap gang, comprising his accomplices: Haruna Saleh, Tukur Shuaibu and Abdulmumuni Adamuna.

He said that the suspects were part of a criminal gang which had been terrorising innocent citizens in the Northern region of the Federation.

Opuiyo said that during their arrest, a locally-made pistol, seven cartridges, 14 mobile phones and six hundred and fifteen thousand naira (N615,000) were recovered on them.

Part of the statement read: " On June 8, 2016, one Reuben Akinbehinje aka Chairman, the ring-leader of a notorious kidnap syndicate, was arrested by this Service in Akure, Ondo State, along with five other members of

his gang namely; John Imoleayo Uche, Seun Lajuwon, Seun Iseoluwa Akintayo, Lateef Fayemi Hammed and Saheed Oyewo.

The Akinbehinje gang has been the brain behind the kidnap of two Catholic nuns in the State and other criminalities such as armed robbery, hijack and diversion of fuel tankers and cult-related activities in Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Kwara States.

Shia Sect Holds Quds Day Procession Across Nigerian Cities Unmolested that the alleged offence was a bailable one.

The counsel anchored his argument for bail on section 35 subsection 6 of the 1999 Constitution which presumes his client innocent until proven otherwise.

Magaji also cited sections 158 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, in urging the court to admit the defendant to bail.

"We rely on these sections in seeking the order of the court to admit the defendant to bail pending the determination of the case.

"At this stage, the accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the prosecution. Mogaji submitted.

While acknowledging that the admittance of the defendant to bail is solely at the discretion of the court, the defence counsel stated that, prior to the arraignment of the defendant, he had been on administrative bail of the EFCC. "Part of the requirement of the bail was that the defendant had to deposit his international passport with the EFCC", he said.

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

Millions of people have attended the International Quds day marches organised by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) known as Shias, across various cities of the country unmolested, contrary to fears expressed in some quarters that they may be stopped by security agencies.

The President of Media Forum of IMN, Mr. Ibrahim Musa, in a statement yesterday, said that their members marched to show their solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people and condemn what he described as "Israeli atrocities in occupied territories of Palestine".

Musa stated that "thousands of Members of the IMN in Sokoto, Katsina and Potiskum started their peaceful procession in the morning before Friday prayers, where they followed the major streets chanting slogans in support of the Palestinian course".

In Katsina, he said, Sheikh Yaqoub Yahya addressed the mammoth crowd that participated in the march, calling on the international community to sever the hands of Israeli

usurpers in Palestine.

He said that in Sokoto, it was Sheikh Qasim Umar that called on the thousands that attended the march not to relent in their efforts to see to the liberation of Palestine from the clutches of Israeli Zionists.

However, he stated, the Quds Day marches were held after Friday prayers in many other cities like Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Bauchi, Yola, Lafia, Gombe and Jalingo.

Musa said that with members of the Movement clad in white T-shirts with inscriptions “Free Sheikh Zakzaky”, Free Palestine” they also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the leader of the Movement who has been in detention since the Army attacked the center of the Movement in Zaria last December.

He said while addressing the protesters at the close of the event in Kaduna, Malam Aliyu Tirmizi who led the demonstration, warned against the importation of state terrorism by the Nigerian government from Israel as evident in what happened in Zaria last December.

He stated: "Even though prior

to the Quds Day procession there was wide spread apprehension that Nigerian Army will attack the protesters, it ended peacefully.

"Soldiers were sighted in Katsina and Sokoto during the marches, however they did not make any effort to disperse the protest."

Musa said that during the marches, public statement was issued and distributed to bystanders, signed by Sheikh Abdulhamid Bello, part of which read: "As we march out today in millions on the streets to protest against Israeli occupation and aggression in Palestine, we are answering the call made by Imam Khomeini in 1979, wherein he declared the liberation of Quds ‘a religious duty of all Muslims.’

"I invite Muslims all over the globe to observe the last Friday of Ramadan as Al-Quds Day, and to pledge support and solidarity to the people of Palestine and their legitimate rights. I ask all the Muslims of the world and the Muslim governments to join hands and sever the hand of this usurper and its supporters,' said Ayatollah Khomeini of blessed memory".

11

JULY 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

Reflections on Our Nation’s Sliding Economy

I

am glad that my months of campaigning for flexible forex exchange rate and deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry has finally yielded result.

In just a few weeks after, our economy is already reacting positively to the implementation of these policies by our extremely archaic federal government.

The appreciation of the Naira in the parallel market is a reflection of the impact of the flexible exchange rate. The new forex policy has the potential of frustrating the activities of currency hoarders and speculators. Because of partial deregulation, queues have disappeared from our fuel stations. The shops of those milking this country dry with dubious subsidy claims have been shut. Full deregulation will also attract private investors to this sector. In the long run, the prices of petroleum products will fall. Those wicked people, who called me names because of my position on these issues, obviously don’t want this country to progress. They are the ones benefiting from the warped economic policies of the Buhari administration.

Let’s go straight to the issue of the day. It is pertinent to draw attention to some pragmatic steps this government can take to pull our depressed economy from the brink. Perhaps, our president will read this. In the last 13 months, our economy has been experiencing what economists call “stagflation.” This is a situation where inflation, persistent negative growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and rising unemployment are occurring at the same time. Volatility in the global oil market and lack of clear-cut government policies for stemming excessive imports have contributed to this crisis. A technical economic recession is imminent. If we are not careful, we will go into depression.

It is only the real sector –manufacturing and agriculture – that can get us out of this crisis.

This can only happen if this administration creates an enabling environment for them.

What the Buhari administration has been doing in the last 13 months is unacceptable.

Its policies have been stifling. The sector has the capacity to employ millions of youths with the right policies and enabling business

environment from the federal government.

Just as an economist, Mr. Henry Boyo, said: “The manufacturing sector should be the galvanising agent for investment expansion, economic diversification and employment of labour in Nigeria, but unfortunately, the sector has not been able to satisfactorily perform these roles because of misguided government policies. Government is expected to provide the enabling environment for such positive participation of the sector.”

Right now, the real sector is in crisis, with government’s confused policy direction, multiple taxation, harassment of manufacturers by government officials, insecurity, decaying infrastructure, power crisis, high cost of borrowing, fall in consumer purchasing power and a whole lot of issues. As a result of this stifling operating environment, industrial capacity utilization has fallen to about 10%.

This is why so many Nigerians are being laid off. Government needs to reconsider the 41 items it banned from accessing forex at the interbank spot market. Some critical raw materials are on this list.

This government has to swiftly reflate the economy by spending massively on infrastructure. Our MDAs should be allowed to judiciously spend the huge amount locked up in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) on critical things. The money in the TSA is rising while the economy suffers. This policy that was adopted ostensibly to ensure transparency and avoid misapplication of public funds, now constitutes a clog in the wheel of progress of this country.

Manufacturers are spending fortunes powering their factories with generators. The last 11 months have been harrowing. This idea of blaming the crisis in the Niger Delta for epileptic power supply has to stop. Enough of excuses. Generating companies must be challenged to source their gas needs from any part of the world. Thermal stations exist in countries where gas is not produced.

Now, the biggest drain on our forex remains imported petroleum products. Just as some experts stated recently, “We cannot continue as a country that produces oil without capacity to refine it. When we produce oil and export all

Rauf Aregbesola’s Jaded School Feeding Programme After almost six years of his administration, the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s school feeding programme in Osun State is yet to take off in middle, junior and secondary schools in the state. I can say it with all authority that all the noise being made on this programme is just a political gimmick. In Aregbesola’s so-called Elementary School 1-4, where the illconceived feeding programme is taking place, many head teachers confirmed the charade.

The quantity of food given to these hapless pupils can barely satisfy a small bird. Besides, the quality of food served is abysmally low.

My contacts went round some elementary schools in Osogbo to observe the programme and discovered that it was a travesty. The schools visited were Methodist, Benedict and St. Francis Elementary School, Isale-Aaro; Anthony Udofia Elementary School; L.A. Gbeja and St. Andrews Elementary School, Oke-Bale; Rasidi Igbalaye Elementary School; Baptist Elementary School, Oke-Okanla; A.U.D Elementary School; L.A Elementary School, Gbonmi; Union Baptist Elementary School, Odi-Olowo; Community Elementary School, Owode- Garage Ilesha and Gidado Elementary School, Ijetu.

In some schools, pupils were served as low as two slice of bread with jaded stew. When rice is served, pupils hardly get up to two table spoons with funny-looking stew. Some head teachers told me that they could not complain for fear of being sacked. Besides, virtually all the food contractors are said to be Aregbesola’s cronies, which makes it difficult for them to be checked.

Again, governor Osun should reverse these illegally-introduced elementary and middle schools in the state. This is creating confusion.

Teachers in Osun are sickened by this policy.

What the laws of this country recognise is 6-3-3-4 system of education. Aregbesola has added unwieldy elementary and middle schools across the state. In the process, schools

Aregbesola

were recklessly merged and demerged.

Teachers who are being owed nine months’ salaries are being forced to implement this unenthusiastic policy. One of the most painful actions in this direction was the demolition of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, along Aregbesola’s office and the callous acquisition of the land for a proposed shopping complex.

This co-educational school was merged with an all-girls school - Baptist Girls High School – thus creating crisis.

Again, I am still waiting for Aregbesola to obey the recent ruling of the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oyebola Ojo on the issue of Osun’s worn-out finance. The judgegranted an order of mandamus compelling the governor to provide necessary information in respect of the state’s debt profile and its defrayment modality. The order came on the heels of an application by a lawyer, Kanmi Ajibola. Ajibola also sought an order to compel Aregbesola to provide information about the financial cost of all the capital projects executed so far by his government; and an order directing the governor to tender evidence of the lodgement into civil servants’ retirement savings accounts. The judge granted all the reliefs sought by Ajibola. So, I am waiting for Aregbesola to respond appropriately.

It is only the real sector –manufacturing and agriculture – that can get us out of this crisis. This can only happen if this administration creates an enabling environment for them. What the Buhari administration has been doing in the last 13 months is unacceptable. Its policies have been stifling. The sector has the capacity to employ millions of youths with the right policies and enabling business environment from the federal government

as it is the case currently, it is creating value in somebody’s economy.”

Existing refineries should be sold to investors with the right technical knowhow to run them. We also have to urgently raise our domestic refining capacity through the modular approach. Investors should

be encouraged to build refineries in modular form, near existing ones. This country has the potential to become a hub for the refining of petroleum products in Africa. This is how we can create jobs for our people.

On his part, President Muhammadu Buhari must start spending quality time with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and with other stakeholders in the real sector. The idea of spending virtually all his time and resources on running after looters must come to an end. Loot recovery cannot create jobs for our youths or reflate our economy.

This is why our president must concentrate on economic recovery and allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies to do their jobs. Again, this country cannot afford a confrontation with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), else, it will compound our economic woes. Everything should be done to sustain the peace accord with the NDA in the interest of our economy.

Buhari must also lead in cutting the cost of governance. I still can’t fathom why the president is operating with four media aides and a retinue of other special advisers/special assistants, amidst economic crunch. I can’t understand why the president is maintaining 10 aircraft in the Presidential Fleet when he is talking about cutting cost. I can’t understand why the State House Clinic and National Hospital in Abuja can’t handle the healthcare of our president to save the forex spent on treatment abroad. Buhari has to reduce his foreign trips to save our forex. The Archbishop Emeritus of Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okojie aptly captured all these when he recently advised Buhari to restart his leadership of the country by returning to his inaugural speech as well as the ruling All Progressives Congress’s Manifesto.

Okogie declared: “If President Buhari wants to make a quick turn back, he should take his inaugural speech and the All Progressive Congress manifesto, study them and then start afresh.”

Is the Federal Character Commission Dead?

I spent most of yesterday looking through the Federal Character section of the 1999 constitution in relation to appointments so far made by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Indeed, Section 8 of the third schedule sets up the Federal Character Commission and it provides as follows: “In giving effect to the provisions of Section 14(3) and (4) of this constitution, the commission shall have the power to work out an equitable formula subject to the approval of the National Assembly for the distribution of all cadres of posts in the public service of the federation and of the states, the armed forces of the federation, the Nigeria Police Force and other government security agencies, government owned companies and parastatals of the states.”

The FCC has clearly not been effective as seen from Buhari’s appointments; the most frightening being the lopsided appointments in military and para-military departments and agencies. They are the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris;

Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali; Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, Abdullahi Mohammed; Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Joseph Anebi Garba; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer NDLEA, Mustapha Abdallah,Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammed Babandede; Controller-General of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Ahmed Ja’afaru; Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshall Monday Morgan; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura.

These key positions are headed by people mainly from a section of the country. This is clearly against the federal character principle.

I hope our president is listening. May Allah grant him the wisdom to be fair to all sections of this country.

A Word for Lagos Police Commissioner The response of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni and his men to the recent brutal attacks on innocent Nigerians by militants in some boundary communities between Lagos and Ogun states was appalling. Communities affected were Igbo Olomu, Oke Muti, Elepete, Ajegunle, Ola Imam, Ereko junction, Pakisa and Magbon. The police only responded after several days of killings in these places.

According to some landlords in the affected areas, over 50 people were killed. It is even more painful that several days after the attacks, the Lagos Police Command is yet to apprehend even one of the attackers. My dear Owoseni, I find it repulsive that you said “anywhere in the world, the military and police hardly operate in the night.” I thought you were misquoted. I waited for you for several days to debunk this but it did not happen. Policing is done round the

clock in standard societies. Ours should not be an exception. The brutalised residents of Ikorodu expect to see your patrol teams working round the clock.

Owoseni

12

JULY 2 , 2016• THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

SICKLE CELL: SOME BEAUTIFULLY SAD MEMORIES Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu urges intending couples to know their genotype before marriage

L

illian left when I was just 10 years old. She might have been a year or two older. It was my first year in secondary school and my first time of becoming acquainted with what ailed her. Days before she passed, Lillian came to school very early in the morning after being absent from classes for an extended period. She dropped her bag on her desk and walked towards mine.

“Chika, could you please massage my elbows?”

I set to work after Lillian showed me how she wanted it done; palm straightened out and rubbed up and down her upturned elbows. As we talked, pupils shaped and coloured like palm nut and swimming in yellow fluid looked on as my rough palms tried to carefully rub her delicate skin. When her elbows appeared to hurt much from the massage, Lillian’s yellow palms grabbed on to the desk. But she never asked that I take it easy. Her silence was that of someone used to pain, pain that made no sense, pain that must be endured, pain that meant being alive. I was split between rubbing hard and not so hard, I wanted to rub hard, so hard as to rub away the pain and the disease from Lillian forever, but a look at her protruding spleen and belly, reminded me of the fragility of my patient.

A cane wielding teacher entered the classroom and asked why we were not lined up at the assembly ground with our mates.

“Lillian is not feeling too well and asked that I massage her elbows.”

I paused from my task to explain. The teacher’s eyes rested for one moment on Lillian’s sick little body - the cane, previously raised as he advanced towards us was brought down as he made a hasty exit.

I continued to massage Lillian and to keep her amused. Her perfect dentition would flash out in smiles, but mostly laughter in response to my jokes. That was the last interaction I remember having with Lillian.

It was beautiful, she was frail but her spirit was very strong, almost as if death was not an option. Days later it was announced by the school authorities that Lillian had passed on from complications of sickle cell disease.

Chidi: In June 2014, about three months before Chidi passed, she wrote an article to commemorate World Sickle Day. It was a deeply personal piece. She felt quite vulnerable about putting so much of herself out there and wrote me to inquire as to my thoughts before going to the press. I called her to talk. “I feel as if I have written everything there is to write about my condition and life as one suffering from sickle cell,” Chidi’s voice came to me. “I worry that I will have nothing to write during next year’s World Sickle Cell day.”

I found myself telling her not to worry about that, that next year, what she will write will come to her, that the most important thing is that she has written what she feels she should write about.

“But I hope I have not shared too much,” she had asked.

“Do you feel as if you have shared too much?” I inquired.

“Not really, but I am not really sure how it will come across” I told her of my convictions that our often unfounded fear of others in Africa is a huge part of why we are not yet where we should be as a people. The truth sets free, I reminded my friend. “If you think what

I WAS SPLIT BETWEEN RUBBING HARD AND NOT SO HARD, I WANTED TO RUB HARD, SO HARD AS TO RUB AWAY THE PAIN AND THE DISEASE FROM LILLIAN FOREVER, BUT A LOOK AT HER PROTRUDING SPLEEN AND BELLY, REMINDED ME OF THE FRAGILITY OF MY PATIENT

you have shared will help someone else live a better life and you feel you needed to share it, that is what matters most.”

With that conversation, Chidi gave me permission to send out her article to the news media. Her articles were published and got very good feedback from readers.

Chidi brought life all around her. The sincerity of Chidi’s spirit and her love for people consistently shone through her countenance. Despite her health condition, Chidi studied to become a medical personnel and practiced in one of Nigeria’s teaching hospitals, while also acting as the president of a chapter of Nigeria’s Sickle Cell Club of Nigeria. Her last piece is more of a testament to having lived a life filled with joy and love that arose from her faith in God, love from family and friends, but no doubt punctuated with pain and tears.

Nkechi: It still hurts so much to write about Nkechi. From being acquaintances, fate had us share the same room over a period of four months where her quiet self-assurance and confidence drew me to her.

Nkechi’s belief that unconditional love and respect for self and others triumphed over every other material or emotional situation lay at the very core of her being. She hardly mentioned her ill-health and did not want to bear that as a label. I marvelled privately as she explored life possibilities and options like every other healthy woman would.

Young at heart and in looks, it took me a long time to realise that Nkechi was not my age mate. She easily made friends across age, faith, ethnic and gender lines. A human being in Nkechi’s eyes is exactly that, a unique individual who should be seen as such, one person at a time.

Her faith in a good and loving God in whose image and likeness she was created brought so much goodness out of her, such that her illness seemed irrelevant to the beauty and abundant possibilities life offered.

I really thought Nkechi had beat sickle cell disease. I looked forward to a lifetime of friendship, of growing old together, after all, had she not lived well above 35 years and was her crisis not much reduced in frequency. About three weeks before her transition, I spoke with Nkechi on the phone. She was moving her clothing and fashion business to a new location, she told me excitedly. She only needed to follow up with the interior designer to get the place ready. I looked forward to the day I will be in Nigeria and travel to Abuja to see her new shop. I had smiled at the thought of what she did the last time I visited her business location. Without asking me, Nkechi had ordered banana and groundnuts and when the order arrived, she joked that there was no need to ask if I wanted my favourite snack. Did I devour that delicacy that day! With a heart full of gratitude to the maker of mankind, I count myself extremely blessed to have encountered Lilian, Chidi and Nkechi in my lifetime. I do not take my good health, or that of any other healthy human being for granted. I am also hopeful that a complete and available cure will soon be found for the sickle cell disease. But before then, let us keep creating awareness for intending couples to know their genotype prior to marriage. A wise decision can save everyone years of avoidable pains and tears. www.chikafraorafrica

THE ICE IS BREAKING

Sokoto State Government is addressing the dismal state of education, writes Jibril Shehu

I

n recent years, education in northern Nigeria was at a point of collapse. Sokoto, my home state, is one of the states most affected. To lend some perspective: In 2015, the National Universities Commission (NUC) ranked Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) and Sokoto State University (SSU) 82nd and 104th in Nigeria respectively. However in 2016 UDUS was ranked 37th, while SSU still couldn’t make the top 100.

Based on a 2010 report by Sokoto State Ministry of Education on the State Strategic Education Sector Plan (SESP) 2011-2020, the gross and net enrolment rates were 71 per cent and 55.5 per cent respectively for the primary school-aged population. While the net attendance rate for the 2009-2010 academic year was 68 per cent, completion and gender gap rates were at 40 per cent. Thus, 44.5 per cent of school-aged children were not enrolled in school in 2010. The report puts the enrolment rate for boys at 69.8 per cent and 30.2 per cent for girls, as compared to the national average of 86 per cent and 75 per cent respectively. Recent outrage, expressed largely through impassioned internet debate, has ignited an awakening to the present dire state of affairs.

Last year, we began a social media campaign (#TransformArewa), which brought to the fore some of the most notable educational deficiencies and vulnerabilities of our present educational system, as well as the consequences. My research discovered the colossal disparity between the standard and quality of education in the North compared to the South. A significant difference exists between the performances of Northern students compared to our Southern counterparts. This can most likely be attributed to a lack of structure and attention given to education in the North. In addition to low quality of education, our school infrastructure is dilapidated and often poorly equipped.

The National Common Entrance Examination cutoff marks released by Federal Ministry of Education showed that while the highest cut-off marks in the

country were 139 in 2013 and 66 in 2014, particularly alarming were cut-off marks in some Northern states for males and females respectively. In 2013: Zamfara (four and two), Taraba (three and 11), Yobe (two and 27), Sokoto (nine and 13) and Kebbi (nine and 20). In 2014: Sokoto (15 and seven), Zamfara (14 and 12), Bauchi (both 18), Taraba (both 19) and Yobe (both 20). According to statistics of results released

by WAEC in 2014, eight of 36 bottom-ranked states recorded worse than a 10 per cent score (five credits or more including English and Mathematics). These include: Adamawa (8.75 per cent), Jigawa (7.4 per cent), Sokoto (7.12 per cent), Zamfara (6.65 per cent), Kebbi (6.3 per cent), Gombe (5.68 per cent), Bauchi (5.28 per cent) and Yobe (4.85 per cent). These are all Northern states, and in fact the bottom 13 states were all from the North. WAEC results released in 2015 were also not heartening. The following eight Northern states were ranked at the bottom: Yobe (37th), Zamfara (36th), Jigawa (35th), Gombe (34th), Katsina (33rd), Bauchi (31st) and Sokoto (30th).

For several years, the North has been at a great educational disadvantage, a condition which will continue once there’s no drastic measure or robust intervention to halt it. This obvious trend should worry our leaders, who witness this persistent plague upon our region, but do nothing but fold their arms and watch. A temporary lapse in judgment can be forgiven, but a myopic leader who is immune to these issues should be questioned, both as to his moral conscience and to his qualifications to engage in governance. We need visionary transformational leaders who will employ experts that possess both technical merit and knowledge of the nuances of these educational problems.

We may not see the scale of destruction this has caused our region now, but we will soon see how collectively impacted we all are in terms of economic and industrial growth, employment and security if nothing is done.

One such leader is Governor Aminu Waziri Tam-

buwal. Once Governor Tambuwal was inaugurated, I paid close attention to the state’s activities. I was initially critical of what I perceived to be a slow start, but quickly learned that Tambuwal and his team were in fact crafting a plan to solve the education crisis, an issue whose urgency has no equal.

Governor Tambuwal introduced a bill which will make obtaining education compulsory and punishes non-compliant parents. The bill, which is currently at the public hearing stage, will ensure that education is not just a privilege, but a right of every child which must not be denied. Governor Tambuwal then began to address girl-child education by introducing monetary incentives for rural mothers who allow their daughters to attend school instead of hawking in the street. In the same vein, Alhaji Sani Yakubu, a member of the state House of Assembly, has introduced a bursary scheme for girls in his constituency. The scheme will provide the girls with 2,000 monthly allowance, school uniforms and exercise book for every school term. Such laudable initiatives should be both welcomed and expanded throughout the state, especially in the rural areas where most cannot afford sending their children to school. Based upon the measly proportion of girls who attend school compared to boys, it is safe to assume that the most untapped human resource in the North is the female workforce.

Tambuwal’s greatest strides were made when he declared a state of emergency in education. This effectively signaled that the government understood what it takes to remedy a catastrophic problem and that it would no longer turn a blind eye. Our oncearchaic education system will now be overhauled and upgraded, putting us back on the academic map. Every bureaucratic process that could impede the implementation of reform will be circumvented.

Sokoto now has a clear plan, and Tambuwal didn’t stop there. He allocated 34.5b – the highest of any sector – to education in the 2016 budget.

This represents a staggering 29 per cent of the

budget (UNESCO had recommended 26 per cent).

According to the 2010 SESP, the primary school teacher-to-pupil ratio in Sokoto was 1:47, which is better than the current 1:66 teacher-to-pupil ratio.

Even more disturbing is the “qualified teacher”to-pupil ratio which was an outrageous 1:144.

Governor Tambuwal’s response was to recruit 500 teachers trained by UNICEF to boost manpower in secondary schools. Furthermore, Tambuwal recently announced he would be employing 10,000 qualified teachers, the exact number which was recommended to bridge the gap by the technical committee he established to advise him on these issues. Earlier this year, Tambuwal began construction of special estates (teachers’ villages) across different districts as part of an incentive package for teachers posted to teach in the rural areas. This was his effort to further extend access to education in the rural areas.

Governor Tambuwal then signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Teachers institute (NTI) in an effort to improve the quality of education and maintain the gains already recorded.

Throughout his first year, billions of naira have been earmarked or expended by Governor Tambuwal for renovations of schools, intervention programmes, or support in the payment of school and exam fees (8000 students for JAMB alone) for students studying abroad or locally. He recently earmarked another 1billion to establish a senior secondary school in Gudu local government to increase access to education. Until now, Gudu was the only local government in Nigeria without one. In order to sustain his effort, a one percent levy of all contracts awarded will be set aside for the sole purpose of funding education in Sokoto State. We have already started to realise the dividends of this investment as almost 1.2 million students have enrolled in the basic education schools for the 2015 - 2016 academic year, a huge increase from recent years.

Shehu, a Structural Engineer, wrote from Cleveland, Ohio, USA

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JULY 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Time to sheath the sword...

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An Open Letter to the President

Today, I plead with you to be swift in listening; even as Nigerians appeal to our Excellency: Today, I come not with volume of wit and oratory prowess you to preserve our democratic cultures. but with plainness of speech as I speak to you out of great necessity.

Wars are expedient but not all wars are necessary; the Nigerian Senate under As a disciple of democracy my heart is heavy laden - concerning recent the leadership of Dr. Bukola Saraki is saying you are waging a war against the happenings in Nigeria’s democratic space. The foundation of our nation’s Senate by prosecuting the two principal officers of the Senate for alleged forgdemocracy is shaken; our democratic values are being discarded and the strength ery of Senate standing rules. Saraki and Ekwaramadu are crying out that you and vigour of government is failing; the glory and beauty of Nigeria’s democracy is are humiliating and persecuting them. They maintain that their prosecution is a fading away like the stars in the morning. witch hunt. The two senators insist that by their arraignment before the Federal Governance in democratic set ups is the cohesion between the three arms High Court, Abuja on Monday that you have set out to silence them. of government; the executive, legislature and the judiciary. If it were not so I “It is deeply troubling to note that people in high places who swore to would have told you. In democracy the synergy between these three arms of uphold the law has dwindled into purveyors of falsehood and rumours who government is pivotal; all working together with the ultimate goal of achieving seek to smear and tarnish the reputation of law abiding and responsible the common joy of the people. Democracy is not a battle of supremacy citizens as well as cripple the hallowed institutions of democracy. It is all the between the three arms of government or the three tiers of government, as more disheartening that people who should know better use the colour of their some people would make you believe; if it were so I would have told you, office to pursue private vendetta against people they disagree with,” Senator democracy is unity, freedom and equality.

Ike Ekweremadu said.

The greatest attribute of any democracy is freedom; the freedoms of the From the tone of the senators, it is clear that executive - parliamentary people- freedom to elect their leaders, freedom from discrimination, freedom relations is currently challenged and this is not in the best interest of your from all forms of intimidation and harassment and all other freedom given by government. It is true that the law is supreme over everybody and all abusers God the Almighty to man and prescribed by our national laws. To curtail the of the laws of our land are answerable to the law and other institutions of the freedom of the people by any means is to be dictatorial and undemocratic. state; forgery is a criminal act with sanctions prescribed under Nigerian laws, The freedoms of Nigerians are being curtailed in your dispensation as a democratic President Nigeria and Nigerians are asking; Sai Baba, Do You Love hence, it may not be out of place to enforce the laws of the land. However, the motive of such prosecution is being put to question by Nigerians. our Democracy? Preserve our Democratic Cultures and Values.

Ominabo Wealth Dickson, wealthdickson4change@gmail.com Your Excellency, I know your background is not that of a democrat and this question by Nigerians may sound vague and incomprehensible. Nigerians are asking why you are systematically curtailing their freedom through the instrumentality of state agencies. Opposition figures have not been given a fair space to critique your government.

T H E S AT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R One of the greatest critics of your administration EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE Ayodele Fayose – the Governor of Ekiti State MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO has come under severe humiliation by security DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE agencies and when he seems untouchable his CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI close associates become victims of harassment by EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN security operatives Your Excellency, you recall how the Department of State Services (DSS) raided the Ekiti State House of Assembly and consequently arrested some of the lawmakers. A case in reference was T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D Hon. Afolabi Akanni who was held in custody EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, of the DSS for over two weeks without charging ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU him to court. Till date, the DSS is yet to charge GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA the man to court neither has it given any cogent DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, reason why the Ekiti lawmakers were detained.

MBAYILAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE This is just one out of many cases of how your DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI government is gradually becoming a threat SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO to freedom of many Nigerians. The beauty of CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI democracy is diversity; one of those diversities GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI that accompany democracy is the diversity of GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE opinion, therefore, do not be hesitant to hear ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II alternate views from men who are not within DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO your inner circle- the complaints of a stranger are TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com wisdom and truth but the praises of the jesters are poisonous to the soul if unchecked.

Gov Ikpeazu’s Removal is Unconstitutional

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he judgment sacking Dr Ikpeazu is hogwash, unnatural, curious and highly questionable. It constitutes a blatant breach of the hallowed doctrine of “lispendes”. See Government of Lagos State vs Ojukwu. What was the hurry in INEC giving Ogar the certificate of return when the sitting governor has already appealed with a motion for stay of execution?

The certificate is dead on arrival, as dead as “dodo”, having regard to the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act. As soon as INEC became aware of the extant appeal and motion for stay of execution, it should have been guided by discretion and waited. Read my lips: “the judgment was poorly researched and would be reversed at the Court of Appeal”. Meanwhile, in law, the governor remains the governor until all appeals are exhausted up to the Supreme Court. This is a constitutional right. See Eyesan vs Sanusi (Sc). To be sure, the Abia State High Court is jurisdictionally equal and coordinate with the Federal High Court to have granted the stay. That has surely prevented electoral anarchy and judicial rascality.

If the certificate of return is given to a person who has been dragged to a higher court, what is left for the appellate court to decide? The couching of the judgment to the effect that INEC should issue the certificate, with the plaintiff being sworn in immediately, was quite unfortunate and overreaching, as it literally foreclosed the governor’s constitutional right of appeal.

The Abia State High Court has rescued the judiciary from an otherwise messy, odious, obloquous and opprobrious situation.

Thank God there are appellate courts to always right the wrongs and shortcomings of lower courts. Otherwise, the judiciary would have been interned in a shameful state of nadir and irreversible cataclysm.

Chief Mike A.A. Ozekhome,SAN, Lagos

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JULY 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLSCOPE

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com 08053069356

Fayose : A Gubernatorial Nemesis

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hose discerning enough would have known that it would just be a matter of time for Fayose to land in a big mess, not necessarily on account of becoming a self-styled opposition mouthpiece, but more because of the his guageless garrulousness.

After the defeat of the PDP in last year’s election and the subsequent trial of PDP’s former spokesman, Olisa Metuh, the governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, had become the unofficial spokesman of the party. With his sundry firings from the ruptured cylinder, Fayose had carried on as if the presidential campaigns were yet running.

I cannot forget his signature morbid advert in national newspapers implying that the APC presidential candidate at the time, (now President Muhammadu Buhari) was likely to die in office, just like several other leaders from the North-west zone of the country.

He had gone further to claim at the time that Buhari was terminally ill and had been flown to London (quoting a fictitious address of an hospital-- located at Cavendish Street, Cavendish Square, W2 London West End, London.) claiming that Buhari was already on admission in the said hospital for some terminal ailment.

It was a hate campaign taken to a stretched limit.

One would have thus thought that after the elections, Fayose would be a lot more cautious, sheathe his partisan sword and join hands in building the nation under President Buhari. But no, Fayose continued to fire all the arrows in his quiver, most times, unconscionably, perhaps persuaded by the infantile label of being described as the “voice of the voiceless and the hope of the hopeless”.

He had never ceased to taunt the Buhari administration, rightly or wrongly.

Two months ago, breaching all diplomatic levers of communication, he wrote to the Chinese president urging him not to grant the loan President Buhari had gone to China to solicit in support of rail transportation in Nigeria. Fayose had said many unsavoury things about his country and I could not find a better example of sabotage, if not treachery.

Perhaps he hit the overdrive when he accused Mrs Aishat Buhari, the wife of the President, of corruption having allegedly transferred some money to William Jefferson, a jailed American senator for a money-laundering offence.

It is often said that those who live in glass houses should not throw stone. But our dear Fayose mistook his glass house for a leather house. He kept hauling stones and pebbles at others, thinking that he is covered with a Teflon, on which no guilt can stick. How wrong!

Suddenly, he got linked with some huge money (N4.7Billion) traced to the Dasuki armsgate scandal. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which accused him of partaking in the Dasuki ATM (Arms Transaction Money) said Fayose got N1.2 Billion from the money meant for arms purchase. The account was frozen by the EFCC as part of its investigation process.

EFCC had also claimed that the sum of N4.7 Billion collected from Dasuki was channeled to Fayose through his ally, Mr Abiodun Agbele, who after receiving the “Dasuki money” transferred almost N1 Billion (specifically N956,490,000) into four Zenith Bank accounts (1003126654, 9013074033, 10101170969 and 1013835889), all belonging to Fayose.

But the Ekiti governor in his defence had claimed that the money found in his accounts are the proceeds from his governorship election support fund, adding that his election was mainly funded by Zenith Bank.

Hear him: The management of Zenith Bank, which mainly funded my election called me to a meeting, where I was assured that funds would be provided for my election. I was asked to nominate a trusted ally to be related with and I nominated Mr Abiodun Agbele…”

But the Zenith Bank management had swiftly disowned Fayose’s claims stressing that

Canticles...

Buratai’s Dubai Property and the Challenge to a System

H

ey, my brother, do you know all eyes are on President Buhari now?

Why?IsitbecauseoftheBrexitvotethataskedUnitedKingdomtoleavetheEuropean Union (EU)?Is heDavidCameron whocausedtheneedlessstir? (hisses)Who is talking about Cameron or UK or the so-called exit from EU? I am talking about the latest news in town?

YouhavecomeagainwithyourCNN-without-cableknowledge.Whathaveyouheard thistime?

(whispering)Did you not hear that one of President Buhari’s trusted ally has been fingered in an offshore deal?

Offshore deal?Buhari’s ally?Whocan thatbe?

Hmmm, you mean you have not heard that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt GenTukur Buratai has been accused of owning two big houses in far away Dubai? Did you not hear??? (hisses) Is itthatone?Is thatwhatyoucalladealandmakeitlooklikeitisonegreatoffence?Doesanylawforbida publicservantfromowningpropertiesoutsideNigeria?

Fayose

the bank does not fund political activities, but admitted that Fayose is the bank’s customer.

Already, Fayose has gone to court to challenge the powers of the EFCC to freeze the account of a sitting governor.

But while the court decides the legality or otherwise of EFCC’s action, we can interrogate the claims of the governor.

How much did he realise from the election support fund that a whopping sum of N4.2 Billion will still be a leftover, two years after the election?

How could Zenith Bank, a publicly quoted entity, go so partisan as to brazenly sponsor a politician’s election?

Fayose did not say the fund from Zenith is/ was a loan. He was categorical: Zenith Bank was his main funder!

And pray, if the bank was offering such huge financial assistance to Fayose, why request for a third party; after all, at the time of the said discussion, Fayose was not yet a governor. So why would the bank not deal directly with him? Fayose had further claimed that the bank was even in a hurry to open the said accounts and only remembered to collect the ID card of Mr Agbele a few weeks ago.

Between Fayose and Zenith Bank, who shall we believe?

Perhaps more remarkable is the protest of Ekiti people against Fayose after what seemed like a bubble burst. They protested his mismanagement of the Ekiti resources, pointing out the piling months of civil servants’ unpaid salaries.

Few days ago, a counter group protested in favour of Fayose calling on the federal government not to persecute “the voice of the voiceless and the hope of the hopeless”.

But from here, I have no tears for Ekiti people. They were largely the same people who were overarched in their support for Fayose on account of the “stomach infrastructure” gesture and his political atmospherics. Whatever represented the scale on the eyes of the Ekiti people must have long fallen off.

It is in the same Fayose’s Ekiti state that a teacher who had not been paid for months went to steal a neighbour’s pot of hotly prepared amala (yam flour), and was caught along with her children eating the same amala with, wait for it, Palm Oil!, not soup!, while their governor (a stomach infrastructure exponent) who is fed and clothed at government’s expense, is hosting an idle N4.2 Billion in a private bank account. How low and ironic can a profile get!

It is instructive that Fayose neither denied the amount found in his account or that of his wife nor did he disown Agbele, his ally. His grouse is whether or not the EFCC has the right to block his account, given his immunity as a sitting governor, as provided for in section 308 of the 1999 constitution, as amended. I leave that for the court to determine. But what is clear is that the emerging image of Fayose is that he is the nemesis of a people for whom a measly meal of cold porridge could be exchanged for a heritage of bliss.

(surprise) Really? Is that your take on the matter? Have you asked the value of the said houses?

Idon’tcare.Solongas owningapropertyoutsideNigeriaisnotacrime.

What a specious argument! So why was former governor of Delta State, James Ibori jailed for 13 years in the UK?Was it not for owning properties all over the UK? Please getyourfacts right.Hewasaccusedandprosecutedon chargesofmoneylaundering,wherein hewasfound guiltyandjailed.Notjustbecauseheownedpropertiesin theUK. So you mean there is nothing wrong in a public servant buying houses worth $1.5 million in a foreign land? Is that what you are saying? Or are you slanting your argument because the person involved is Mr President’s man? Is that not the kind of story the EFCC is always excited about?

Don’tmake unguardedstatementsplease.HowisBurataithePresident’sman?Justbecauseheappointedhimas ChiefofArmyStaff?

Ok, He is not Mr President’s man. But please can you tell me how he got $1.5 million to pay for the said houses.

Youaskme as ifIamBurataior anyofhisaides.ButfromwhatIreadfromthestatementfromtheDefence Headquarters,itwas saidthatthemoneyfor thehouseswaspaidinstalmentallyover timefromthesavingsofthe Burataifamily.Theyexplainedthattheinvestmentwasbasedon “capitalmarketprincipleofshareholding” Please don’t confuse me.What does that mean?

Hmmmmm. Buratai’s family. Savings. Instalmental payment… Really? Please how many people constitute this Buratai family?

Don’tyouknowhehastwowives?

So? Whatdoyoumeanbyso?

Buratai youcryingmore thanthe bereaved?

What do the wives do and what is their source of income as to have helped in saving up $1.5 million?

IcanshowyoutheaddressoftheDefenceHeadquarters,soyoucan goaskBurataihimself.Onlyyour backwillgivethetestimonyofyour adventure.

Look,thefederalgovernmenthasclearedhimofanyguilt.Sowhyare

That is the issue: on what grounds was he cleared?Was the clearance not hasty?What investigations have been done to warrant the so-called clearance?

Mybrother,myname is notBuratai.Don’tbathemewith JAMBquestions.AllIknowisthatthematter hasbeen handedovertothe Defence Headquarterstodeterminewhether whatBurataididconstituteanoffenceor not,andifitis, whatsanctions shouldbe applied.That’sallIknow.

I am even surprised that you are merely parroting the silly narrative. Is it not for cases like this that you always jump up with a huge feeling of“yes., he gat them again”?

Are you not bothered that Buratai is handed over to the body he literally heads to determine his fate? Is that right?Why was an independent body not constituted to look into it? Do you even think any soldier worth his khaki will find Buratai, his Chief of Army Staff, guilty of any offence? Seriously?

Sowhatis all the fuss about?DidanybodysayBurataistolethemoneywith whichheboughtthehouses?

Nobody has said so. But how and where did he get the money.That is the million-dollar question. If people are being hounded over N1.2 billion or N600million, shouldn’t we know how a serving soldier got $1.5 million?That is all we ask to know! And let me tell you, everybody is watching how both Mr President and the EFCC will treat this case.

The intensityofyourquestion ismakingmetobelievethatitisindeedacyber attackbyBokoHaramwhomBuratai has defeatedonlandandhas nowdecidedtolaunchcyber spaceattacks.

Please don’t confuse me. How does owning two houses at $1.5million concern cyber warfare?Thankfully, he did not deny the ownership of the properties.

Youdon’tunderstand.He is sayingthoseaccusinghimoffraudarethesameBokoHarampeoplehehasdefeated andare merelylookingforanythrashtohangon hisheadsohecan bediscredited.Don’tforgethehasnotedthatthose properties were declaredinhisAssetDeclarationformtotheCodeofConductBureau.Soitisnothinghidden.Don’t forgethe has beeninthe armyfor over threedecades. Hiswivesarequiteindustriousandveryenterprising.Hehasheld privilegedpositions,butnobodyhasever accusedhimofabusingsame.Look,youcanbesurethathisfeatindegrading the BokoHaramterrorists is generatingcelestialandterrestrialenemiesfor him.Or don’tyouknowheisacourageous militarytactician?

Look, nobody doubts his unblemished military profile. But in spite of all the accolades you may dress him up with, he will need to tell Nigerians how he got that amount, because all his salaries put together for about ten years cannot fetch him that sum. (hissing) Youtalkas ifyouknowhowmuchheearns.

15

July 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

TUNDERAHMAN

tunderahmanu@yahoo.com 08055069548 (Text only)

Governor Fayose’s Redeeming Value

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hen Governor Ayodele Fayose told whoever cared to listen that his wife, a prophetess, had prophesized that he would return to the governorship seat, not many took him serious. But his wife’s seeming outlandish prediction came to pass in the end. In the beginning of the June 21, 2014 Ekiti governorship race, of the 13 aspirants or so then angling for the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, Fayose emerged the preferred candidate. He was more or less foisted on the party as candidate for that election by former President Goodluck Jonathan and company in Abuja. Fayose went into the real election and also emerged winner, defeating incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi of APC (though with the benefit of hindsight now, some would allege that Fayose and co obtained the victory through foul means). Governor Fayose alias Osokomole is one man God has tremendous love for or so it seems. He is also a prayer warrior. You would recall how House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara more or less attributed his emergence as Speaker to Fayose’s powerful prayer. Dogara said he had never seen a man pray that powerfully as Fayose did for him.

Indeed, God gave Ekiti governor a second chance after his disastrous first time. Fayose was forced to abruptly leave the governorship seat and the country after he was impeached.

That was in 2006 during his first term when the sun set on his governorship and political career. But God gave him a rare opportunity to return to that exalted seat, perhaps to right the wrongs he committed in his first term.

Fayose was inaugurated for a second term on October 16, 2014, the same date in 2006 he was removed from office. The rest, as they say, is now history.

Now, some other persons with that kind of humbling experience would thread the path of rectitude for the rest of his life. To be fair, Fayose started that way, I mean on a path of moral correctness. He started with the right rhetoric on assumption of office again. At every turn, he said he would now dedicate his life to service to the people. But he soon went back to his rampaging, rabblerousing way. By the way, why is Governor Fayose so cantankerous? He has made himself a thorn in the flesh of the Buhari government.

It would have made more sense if his attacks were constructive. More often than not, it was to play to the gallery. But those close to him say he is posturing as ‘Leader of Opposition’ in order to position himself to possibly grab the vice presidential slot in 2019 under a Northern presidential candidate. Former PDP National Chairman, the embattled Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, had also fingered Fayose’s alleged 2019 calculations at the root of the fractured relationship between the two of them. Yet Fayose had said shortly after his election in June 2014 that he would quit politics in 2018.

I find it difficult to understand Governor Fayose’s kind of politics, I mean his politics seems perplexing to me. He is full of contradiction in reason and reality. He professes one thing and rubbishes the same thing. He canvasses one thing and does the exact opposite.

I will explain with two clear instances. Like I pointed our earlier, when he embarked on his second missionary journey, he promised to devote his life to serve the people. The bulk of the people who allegedly voted for him are civil servants, artisans, okada riders and what

Fayose

have you. He promised the people heaven on earth. He was then dubbed the Governor of Mekunnu. However, the same people he said he would work for, he now seems to be riding roughshod over them. He has slammed all kinds of taxes on them. Not only is he owing Ekiti workers backlog of unpaid salaries, he also seems to be mocking them. When they embarked on strike over their pay, he said he was also on strike with them. Yet, from recent revelations, he maintains a fat account in the bank. I will soon return to this.

The other case in point is over his statement that he was not afraid of either EFCC or ICPC’s probe. Speaking in February this year during the foundation-laying ceremony of the multi-billion naira Erekesan Market in Ado-Ekiti, Fayose said he would fulfill all his promises to the people of the state, adding that due process had been followed in all his dealings. He had said: “I will concentrate on my work and would not be distracted by anybody making effort to discredit my government. I’m ready for any investigation from anybody; ICPC or EFCC, a man with good intentions fears no foe. I know that I have so many enemies and that is why I have been following due process in all my dealings. There are enemies for me when I sleep and when I wake up, so I have to be careful. I don’t want my enemies to latch on to technicalities to get at me.

“Ekiti is the only state where people want to discredit any good thing you want to do.

As a leader, you must be fearless as long as your agenda is for development. I’m assuring you that in spite of the harsh economic

situation, I’ll fulfill my promises in the budget and I’ve got more for you. You aren’t seeing anything yet.”

But when the EFCC launched into an investigation of his accounts, Fayose wanted the heavens to fall. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission allegedly discovered a hefty sum in his Zenith Bank accounts, which the anti-graft agency claimed was traceable to the money meant for arms procurement by the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). EFCC immediately froze the accounts. Governor Fayose has dragged the anti-graft body to court, saying the agency’s action is illegal and criminal. He says as a sitting governor, he has immunity and that EFCC has no right to freeze his accounts. The fact that activities of sitting governors can be investigated by the police or anti-graft bodies has been already established under the law.

Also, that a serving president or governor can be dragged to court over civil matters has been established as well. But under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, can the EFCC freeze the accounts of a sitting governor?

I don’t think so. But my opinion does not amount to much here. Governor Fayose’s case against the EFCC will help establish the true position of the law on the matter. That would be Fayose’s major contribution to constitutional democracy and jurisprudence.

Who says the Ekiti governor does not have his own positive value?

• Please follow me on Twitter @tunderahmanu

Abia: INEC’s Hurry to Crown Ogah Indecent

W

hy for the life of me did the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a usually reticent body when it comes to implementing court decisions, plunge Abia into the present unnecessary confusion where the state now parades two governors, with its hurried decision on the leadership change? INEC is characteristically slow in implementing court decisions, so why did the electoral body hastily issue Certificate of Return to Mr. Samson Uche Ogah in the extant case? The judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu over tax evasion, was given on Monday. By Wednesday the commission had

issued Certificate of Return to Ogah. Why the hurry? This hurry seems suspicious and it calls the commission’s assumed impartiality to question. Giving an explanation for its action, INEC’s Deputy Director, Publicity, Nick Dazang, admitted that the commission indeed received Ikpeazu’s Notice of Appeal, but explained that the notice did not come with a stay of execution. That’s absolute bunkum I dare say. Granted that an appeal does not necessarily operate as a stay of execution, though Governor Ikpeazu claimed he also filed an application for stay of execution along with his appeal, what happens to the 21-day window granted Dr. Ikpeazu under the law, precisely under Section 143 (1) of the Electoral Act. That section provides

that“if the election tribunal or the court, as the case may be, determines that a candidate returned as elected was not validly elected, then if notice of appeal against that decision is given within 21 days from the date of the decision, the candidate returned as elected shall, notwithstanding the contrary decision of the election tribunal or the court, remain in office pending the determination of the Appeal”. Also, Section 143 (2) provides that the candidate shall remain in office pending the expiration of the period of 21 days within which an appeal may be brought, even though an appeal may not be filed. In this case the appeal was filed and with a stay of execution. So is INEC playing games with the Abia case?

Governor Fayose has dragged the anti-graft body to court, saying the agency’s action is illegal and criminal. He says as a sitting governor, he has immunity and that EFCC has no right to freeze his accounts. The fact that activities of sitting governors can be investigated by the police or anti-graft bodies has been already established under the law. Also, that a serving president or governor can be dragged to court over civil matters has been established as well. But under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, can the EFCC freeze the accounts of a sitting governor? I don’t think so. But my opinion does not amount to much here. Governor Fayose’s case against the EFCC will help establish the true position of the law on the matter. That would be Fayose’s major contribution to constitutional democracy and jurisprudence.

Who says the Ekiti governor does not have his own positive value?”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULy 2, 2016

16

NEWS

In Brief

NeimethMDWinsGSKInventorAward

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Neimeth International PharmaceuticalsLimited,Dr.EbereIgbokoOkpunobihaswontheGSKinventor award for two patent applications covering her inventions during her tenure at theorganization.TheHeadCorporateAffairsofNeimeth,Dr.OkoroNwakaina statementsaid,Okpunobi'sinventionisrelatedtothediscoveryofcompounds potentiallyusefulforthetreatmentofararedisease,addingthattheawardwas institutedbyGSKResearchandDevelopmentCentre,Shangai,China,toadequately recognisethecontributionsmadeintothetakingmoleculethroughthelengthofthe drugdevelopmentpipelinetothelaunchofavaluablemedicine.Inaletterconveying theaward,theSeniorCounsel,GlobalPatentatGSK,Mr.FangQiansaidtheaward recognisedtheimportanceofintellectualproperty andthecontributionofthe inventorspatentsthatwerecriticaltocreatingvalueforpatientsandtheorganisation.

AgraduateofPharmacyfromtheUnversityofNigeria,Nsukka,Okpunobiholdsa PH.dinPhamacyAdministeationfromPurdueUniversity,LafayetteIndiana,USA.

Tummy-TummySigns onHumbleSmith

PROVIDING JOBS...

L-R: Ade Ajayi, Business Director ASG, Microsoft Nigerai; Ikenna Odike, Managing Director, Customer Contact Solutions Nigeria Limited; Omomene Odike, Managing Director, U-Connect Human Resources Limited; Ben Afudego, Partner Advisory Services Ernest & Young; and Rob Giles, Head, Transaction and Electronic Banking, Diamond bank Plc at the Launch of Gr8Jobsng recruitment platform, powered by U-connect in Lagos recently

Gunmen Aduct Sierra Leonean Diplomat, Demand $40m Ransom Alex Enumah in Abuja

Gunmen have demanded the sum of $40m as ransom for the kidnapped Sierra Leonean diplomat, Nelson Williams who was said to have been abducted yesterday along the Abuja Kaduna Expressway.

The victim, a Deputy High Commissioner, was said to be on his way to a military graduation in Kano State when he was kidnapped.

Sierra Leonean Information Minister Mohamed Bangura announced the kidnap of the envoy from the capital, Freetown.

While the minister did not say a ransom was demanded by the kidnappers, staff at the embassy however disclosed that the kidnappers almost immediately contacted the embassy to demand the sum of $40m for the safe return of the Deputy High Commissioner.

According to report the victim was taken at gunpoint from

his vehicle between Abuja and Kaduna. The report also had it that the victim as at the time of the kidnap was traveling in convoy with an armed police escort.

Recall that only last week, three Australians, two Nigerians, a New Zealander and a South African were traveling in convoy with armed police officers when they were attacked by gunmen in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

The incident witnessed the killing of a Nigerian driver, while

five of the hostages were injured.

The victims were all workers of an Australian construction company.

Though they have since been released, however it is yet to be known how much was paid for their release if any was paid.

With the kidnap of Williams in less than two weeks after the Calabar incident, the menace of kidnapping is said to be have reared its ugly head making nonsense of whatever the nation may have achieved recently in driving out insurgency in the land.

UN Fund Releases $13m for IDPs’ Upkeep in North East Paul ObiinAbuja In an effort to tackle the deplorable humanitarian crisis in the North East geopolitical zone, occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency, the United Nations (UN) Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) said yesterday that a total of $13 million have been released to UN agencies in the region to assist Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Jean Gough said the funds would help set in motion a workable plan that would address many of the challenges in the region.

Gough said: "The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund

(CERF), on 27 June, released US$13 million to provide immediate lifesaving food, nutrition and protection assistance to 250,000 newly accessible people in north-east Nigeria.

"The UN and other humanitarian partners are urgently seeking additional donor funding of US$204 million for continued humanitarian response in the north-east," she added.

According to her, “we estimate that there will be almost a quarter of a million children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Borno this year.

"Unless we reach these children with treatment, one in five of them will die. We cannot allow that to happen,” Gough stressed.

The UNICEF Country Representative maintained that "the conflict in north-eastern Nigeria, which had already displaced 2.4 million people, had also pushed food insecurity and malnutrition to emergency levels, the Nigerian Government announced on Monday.

"More than half a million people require immediate food assistance.

Most of those in need are either displaced by the conflict or members of the communities hosting the displaced.

"Additionally, the violence has badly disrupted food production, markets, driven up basic commodity prices and deprived entire populations of livelihoods. Many

communities are currently traversing the initial months of the lean season.

At its peak in October, the number of those needing assistance is bound to rise.

"Despite the persistent insecurity, UN agencies, working closely with the Government of Nigeria and the Borno State Government, along with IOM and other NGO partners, are reaching new areas in Borno such as Bama, Damboa, Dikwa and Monguno that have recently become accessible."

She further stated that "UNICEF was providing health and nutrition support, safe water and other services in the newly opened areas and IOM is providing household and other relief items.

Brexit: More Nigerians Face Deportation from UK, Lawyer Warns Adedayo AkinwaleinAbuja

Following the exit of United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU), a Nigerian Lawyer based in the UK and a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Wales and England, Charles Ete has warned that more Nigerians staying in the UK illegally or whose visa had expired faced deportation.

Addressing journalists after the Business Law conference in Abuja, Ete noted that most Nigerians had relied on the European Convention on human rights article 8 to escape deportation even after the expiration of

their visa, stressing that with the exit of the UK from the EU, the law which was an EU law domesticated by the UK would no longer be effective.

According to him, "there are a lot of Nigerians living in the UK and sometimes they have to go through a lot of trouble to try to get their papers. As a lawyer in the UK, I represent a lot of these clients trying to get their papers.

"In the UK there have been a lot of situations where the government has been trying to remove or deport some nationals because they don't have their

papers sorted; either they have overstayed or they are there illegally. Illegally in the sense that they went with perhaps student visa and it was for certain number of years and that year has passed and they have not been able to renew their papers. So they have overstayed.

"Some of them try to regularise their stay while others don't.

They take the risk of finding a job and living there. The effect is this, for those who are there illegally, or overstayed, when they are caught up with, and maybe the government wants to deport them, there is this European law

called the European Convention on human rights article 8 and that article deals with respect for family and private life.

"It has been a tool in which we have used to stop a lot of deportation. Because simply, the government wants to deport somebody and maybe the person has a family for example in the UK. Maybe he has a child who was born there or he has stayed for some time and has developed certain roots. What that law says is the government must respect the family life of that person.

By doing that, it stops a lot of deportation".

Tummy-Tummy Foods Industries Limited, makers of Tummy-Tummy Instant Noodles have entered into a one year agreement with HumbleSmith as their brand’s ambassador. Tummy-Tummy Instant Noodles is the flagship brand of Tummy-TummyFoodsIndustriesLimited.Thefirmstartedbusinessin2009and infiveyearsbecameanotablenameintheNoodlescategoryinNigeriaespeciallyin theEasternpartofthecountry,withtwodelightfulvariants–ChickenandSeafood flavors.WiththesigningonofHumbleSmithwhosehitsongOsinachi,stillrocksthe musicsceneinNigeriaandbeyond,Tummy-Tummyseekstocreateabondwith theyoungandtheyoungatheart.Tummy-TummyNoodlesasayoungbrandhas gainedhugeacceptanceandispositionedtocreateastrongbrandengagement platformwithitsteemingaudience.

UniversityofAgricultureGetsRegistrar

After several weeks of strenuous screening exercise, the Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, FUAM, has ratified the appointment of Dr. Hellen Nyitse as the new Registrar of the new institution. Dr. Nyitse who emerged tops among the 17 contestants who vied for the position is one of the longest serving staff in the registry department of the institution. Her appointment has been greeted with celebration among staff and students of the university most of whom described the process leading to her emergence astransparentandhighlycommendable.Inhisreaction,Dr.TersaghIchorofthe BiologicalSciencesDepartmentoftheinstitutionsaidtheprocessthatledtothe appointmentofthenewregistrarwhichwasobservedbytheFederalCharacter Commissionwastransparentandcredible.Ichorsaid,"theuniversitycommunityis celebratingherappointmentbecausethetemplatethatwasusedintheinterview andsubsequentappointmentwasnotpoliticalmotivatedanddevoidofanyexternal influence.Itwascredibleandtransparent”.

FanMilkDonatesBus

FanMilkPLC,recently,donatedabrandnewbustoFederalCooperativeCollege, Ibadan,aspartofitsCorporateSociallyResponsibility(CSR).Thecompanywhich hasbeeninoperationinNigeriasince1963hasbeenactiveingivingbacktoitshost communitiesinOyoandLagosstaterespectively.Speakingatthehandingover ceremony,heldatitsfactorypremisesinEleyele,Ibadan,theManagingDirector, Mr.HansPedersenexpresseddelightaboutitscontributiontothedevelopment ofEleyele,addingthatin2013itconstructedculvertsforthecommunityandasan environmentallyresponsiblecompany,itiscommittedtointernationalbestpractice inwastemanagement."FanMilkPLCupgradeditsEffluentTreatmentPlant(ETP) tointernationalstandard.Alltheliquidwastefromoperationprocessesistreated beforebeingdischarged",hesaid.TheCorporateCommunicationsManagerofthe organisation,Mr.AbamCaesarsaidthedecisiontodonateabustotheinstitution isasaresultofdiscussionsbetweenFanMilkPLC,theschool'smanagementand StudentUnionGovernment(SUG).

HelpFixOurRoads

ResidentsofIgbo-Efon,Ogombo,Okun-Ajah,Okun-Alfa,Lafiaji,MopolandMopolIwajucommunitiesofEti-OsaLocalGovernmentAreaofLagos,havecalledonthe stategovernmenttoconstructaccessroadsandrepairtheun-motorableones.This callwasmadeinLagosyesterdaybytheAkogunofAworiLandandtheManaging DirectorofAticanBeachResort,PrinceAtikuAbogun.Hecalledonthefederal, andLagosStategovernmentstocometotheaidoftheaffectedcommunitiesby constructingtheproposedserviceroadthatwouldopenupthecoastaltownsin orderforresidentstobeabletoconnectwithcivilization. Abogunlamentedthat “thegovernmentshaverefusedtodoanything.Theyareonlyinterestedinforcefully takingoverourancestrallandandshareitamongthemselves.Weneedgoodroads forthecommunitiestobeopenedup.Asapeople,wehavedoneeverythingfor themtocometoouraid.”

MajekodunmiFoundationHoldsWorkshop

TheMosesAdekoyejoMajekodunmiFoundation(MAMF)recentlyorganiseda one-dayNurses’CapacityTrainingWorkshoptoenlightenandeducatehealthcare nursingprofessionals.AccordingtotheExecutiveDirectorofthefoundation,Mrs. BolajiFati,theworkshopfocusedonstrategiesandperceptionofpatient’scare by healthcare delivery professionals thereby enabling them to attain their full potentialsascaregivers.Shedeclaredthatthetrainingworkshopwasdesigned torefocusandre-energisepublichealthcarenursesintoreceivinglifesustaining skillsforthefuture.Mrs.Fatiaddedthat:“Nurseshaveatransformationalimpactin thelivesofpatients,providingcompletehealingservicesandmakinganimmense differenceinapatientcurescenario;weatM.AMajekodunmidesirecontinuedvalue in healthcare delivery service and are committed to supporting the healthcare sectorofNigeria.

NeboEulogisesOjoMaduekwe

FormerMinisterofPower,Prof.ChineduNebohasbemoanedthedeathofformer MinisterofForeignaffairsasawakeupcallforthosestillprevaricatingaboutchoosing goodoverevilandserviceofhumanityoverpersonalaggrandisement.Nebo,acleric oftheAnglicanChurch,saidthesuddennessofthedeathoftheformerNigerian AmbassadortoCanadamustremainaveritablelessonthatmanmustprepare himselfforlifebeyondtheearthandthereforebelessattachedtoearthlypossessions whichwereephemeral.TheformerMinisterinastatementtocondoleNigerians andthefamilyoftheOhafia-bornpolitician,describedhisdeathasastabtothe soulofintegrityandforthrightness,sayinginpublicandprivatelife,Maduekwe displayedunparalleledknackforstandingtallbehindhisbeliefs.

Plus

LOUD WHISPERS SPY GLASS AUTO GLOBAL SOCCER FITNESS FASHION FILE

pg. 20 pg. 21 pg. 26 pg. 29 pg. 40 pg. 41

Olubunmi Okogie

Any Fool Can be a Priest, I Was Told

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 2, 2016

18

Plus

Buhari is Not Behaving as a Father of the Nation

Stern, stoical, selfless and saintly in posture and temperament, he speaks as someone with fire in his belly. He abhors silence in the face of injustice. Religious, radical and reasonable, he is a symbol of how religion and politics converge. Revolutionary in thoughts, gentle in approach and committed to non-violent struggle against oppressive regimes, he stands tall and incorruptible amongst his peers.

With decades of untainted priesthood and political excursions to ensure Nigeria’s ruling elites remain democratic, the last has not been heard of his reverberating voice. Though retired, he is not tired.

Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie (retd.) means so many things to so many people. When he was the Archbishop of the Lagos Diocese of Catholic Church, he was a thorn in the flesh of successive governments for what he termed non-performance by those in power then. Recently, he clocked 80 – and the fiery clergyman, not one to mince words, shared his personal narratives on various issues ranging from his childhood, educational pursuits, and Buhari’s government. Adedayo Adejobi and Bayo Adeoye capture the essence of the quintessential clergyman

G

rowing up like every other child, young Olubunmi Okogie was both timid and stubborn, with a survival instinct to live long in the Lafiaji area of Lagos Island where he was raised in his formative years.

His aim then was to be on an island between fear and bravery. Now retired as a clergy, he spends his time mostly on counselling people.

He also gives a helping hand to the incumbent archbishop from time to time.

Raised in a Catholic background, there was no room for young Bunmi to be a rascal. Growing up in such a staunch Catholic family, gave him just an option to put his thinking cap on always. By 7am, his father said the rosary and they all went to church. The consciousness of God was foisted on him from the very beginning. Most important, his mom would always say, if you don’t fear any other thing, you must fear God because He is always looking at you.

Okogie spent most of his time in the mission and became an altar server.

Gradually, he began to develop an interest in priesthood. Back in those days, the mass was always in Latin and memorising the Liturgy was the only way.

In 1951, he went to St. Gregory’s College up to 1953. By then he was bold enough to face his father. When he eventually did, he informed him of his intention to go into the priesthood.

“He looked at me and asked if

Okogie

I was stupid. He didn’t like it. He had wanted me to be an engineer,” Okogie smiled in reminiscence.

Sooner than later, with his mother’s support Okogie got a nod from his father to become a Catholic priest.

In 1963, he went to Rome in Italy to study Theology and came back as Reverend Deacon.

In those days, there were seven steps: four minor steps and three major steps. After he had finished the sixth and last one, Okogie asked his mentor if he could be a priest.

The reply he got left him baffled.

“Any fool can be a priest, just as any fool can marry,” his mentor retorted, which pushed him further to include ‘good’ in the aforementioned question. In the course of that conversation, his mentor pointed at the three slippery points he must avoid if he wanted to be good namely, money, women and wine.

There were different analogies made but the one that stuck to his memory like glue was that of people in the bank and money, even though they are surrounded by money, that doesn’t make the money theirs.

And when they begin to pilfer and the auditor comes, the bubble will burst; same thing goes for a priest.

“For women, three-quarters of your life, you will be seeing them. 90 per cent will be coming to you for one issue or the other. If you are seeing 10 people in a day, seven of them will be women,” the mentor warned Okogie.

Like a prophecy, that was what Okogie truly experienced.

“If you let yourself too loose, you

Any fool can be a priest, just as any fool can marry,” his mentor retorted, which pushed him further to include ‘good’ in the aforementioned question. In the course of that conversation, his mentor pointed at the three slippery points he must avoid if he wanted to be good namely, money, women and wine. There were different analogies made but the one that stuck to his memory like glue was that of people in the bank and money, even though they are surrounded by money, that doesn’t make the money theirs

19

JULY 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

Plus My Father Thought I Was Stupid for Choosing to be a Priest are finished,” he mused.

For drinks, the clergy quipped, “if you are stupid enough, your friends will give you drink and you’d get drunk. One thing you have to know is that no one is perfect. Those three things I mentioned were just to guide if you want to be a good priest.”

With women, he mentioned a practice called “custody of the eyes.”

“Although it is not easy,” he noted.

“When we studied psychology, all these things were part of it. If you want to be perfect like the Scripture said, then go and sell all you have and take all the proceeds to the poor. To be a good son of the Father, money must never be a distraction. If satisfying the Father is our goal, then we must remember the devil our adversary is not asleep, which calls for treading with caution and care, lest he catches us off-guard.”

Priests are human and they are taken from among men. When students enter the seminary, they are ‘panel-beaten’ to proper form. The very first thing they learn is obedience. The bell dictates and guides and informs them. In a short while, new students fall in line with what the others are doing. Remember, there is no issue of force. Gradually, the training starts to sink in.

“No one is truly holy except God. Remember, in the writing of Paul, he called all Christians saints – be holy as your God is holy. Even Mother Theresa would not tell you she was holy but you have to behave as gentlemen and ladies,” Okogie stated with emphasis.

The priesthood training in those days was not easy, he recalled. It did get to an extent young Bunmi packed up his things to leave. Thanks to his maternal grandfather that saved the situation. He used to live in the mission.

“I don’t know who told him but he came to meet with me and told me that he must not hear of such again.

You see God loves us, if He is giving you a vocation or calling and you are trying to run away, he has a way of bringing you back. And if you refuse, He has a way of punishing you,” Okogie recalled with laughter.

Marriage has never crossed his mind since he left St. Gregory’s College. He called it the vanity of life.

Said Okogie, “If you have N100 million now, I give you three months to check and you begin to wonder what you have done with it. I tell you there is nothing in life.”

He said as the edge of his mouth curved in a smile, “Passion control is not easy. It’s just like eating plenty of food. Remember, the threshold you get to and the body starts reacting; it’s a way of saying I can’t take it no more. At that point, if you add to it you’re looking for trouble for that body. The same thing goes for sex.”

As a young man, Bunmi had a girlfriend but not the type obtainable today. In his days, you couldn’t even hold your girlfriend’s hands in public.

“That is why God allows us to grow. Every day, we learn new things. Infallibility is a tall order; but discipline is a must. Contentment is key,” he counselled.

After marriage, individuals come across many others who would like them and whom they would like in return, but sacrifice remains the watchword. Self-control is a must.

“A man that has already told himself this is the kind of life I want to live should exercise self-control, and if he is cheating; if you find your husband or wife cheating on you, God forbid! Even if it is temptation that leads him or her to it, will you kill him or her?” Okogie asked.

Okogie

The government should go and study the origin of all these problems; whatever that has a beginning must surely have an end. It is not all about guns. They are passing the grazing reserve law that can’t work. We all know the land is not theirs. Can that be done in the North? It is true we all are Nigerians but we are not living in unity. Everybody is looking for a problem because of our selective sentimentality. And he, Mr. President is not behaving like the nation’s father. He must be able to stick out his neck and not be afraid to say the truth Man is one sided. Just as it is difficult to stay 100 per cent faithful to one’s spouse, he said it is the same with the priest. That is what makes the job interesting. That is where the true sacrifice is. We are all human.

The mere fact that some people are stealing does not make it right.

Christianity does not avail one of

temptation but coming out victorious shows the Christ in us.

Celibacy is one heated topic.

Okogie said, “While some are called to that line, others are not. And the Church cannot change it. It is not biblical because it is not written, but don’t forget that Jesus Christ said that some are born eunuchs and some made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of God. What does that tell you? It is not written that you must marry. After all, Peter got married, but the moment he knew Christ, he had no time for the woman again. It is a sacrifice.”

Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie’s low point was probably when he was still trying to make ends meet in the priesthood, still doubting if he was in the right place or not until finally he found his feet and said “yes, this is indeed the right place for me.” And the high point surely was when he became a Cardinal. The priesthood has given him so much joy derived from his various responsibilities as a father and confidant to be entrusted with confidential information. The respect that comes with his position and the ability to say a word of prayer for or on behalf of others gives the Cardinal immense joy from time to time.

A one-time president of Christian Association of Nigeria and a critic of the government of the day, Okogie is not afraid.

“I have one good advantage; apart from having courage as one of my mottos, I am naturally bold. I took that from my late father,” he said.

As a chaplain in the war front, he has eaten and swallowed fear with a full glass of courage under the late Benjamin Adekunle, aka Black scorpion.

Talking of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the Cardinal ranked it very low.

“If you listen to his inaugural speech and match it with the blueprint of the APC, you will see a wide departure. If you are too far away from home and you don’t check yourself, you will never get back home,” he pointed out.

“Indeed, tackling corruption in Buhari’s administration has left

Nigeria stagnant. It is okay to tackle corruption. The big question is: how does it translate to reviving the economy? A lot of things have gone wrong. But shouldn’t Buhari go back and match his speech with the blueprint of his party?”

His first article, ‘Enough is enough’ is just to call Buhari to order, and another, ‘We are watching.’ If care is not taken, he said, Nigerians will wake up one day and find out that Nigeria has been Islamised.

Okogie also wondered about the floundering state of CAN as it is being dogged by allegations of financial impropriety.

“We now have the body of greedy people under the name of CAN. What you now hear is the Catholic has been there, the Methodist has been there, so it is our turn. They must go back to the constitution, except if they have altered a few things there, and face the work God gave them if they are real pastors.”

Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie believes dialogue is the only solution to the current agitation in the Niger Delta and all other related issues affecting the country’s development and peace.

“The government should go and study the origin of all these problems; whatever that has a beginning must surely have an end. It is not all about guns. They are passing the grazing reserve law that can’t work.

We all know the land is not theirs.

Can that be done in the North? It is true we all are Nigerians but we are not living in unity. Everybody is looking for a problem because of our selective sentimentality. And he, Mr. President is not behaving like the nation’s father. He must be able to stick out his neck and not be afraid to say the truth.

Has Okogie finally retired? He doesn’t think he has. According to him, priests do not retire following the order of Melchizedek in the Bible.

“They preach on till the very end.

But in the strict sense, yes, they do because there is a church law that says once you are 75, you are free to relinquish your duty in this physical world with the approval of the Pope.”

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •July 2, 2016

loud Whispers

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Honourable Chike Ogeah, Brexit and the Nigerian Story Honourable Chike Ogeah is my elder brother. He it was who first reached out to discuss the Brexit and I began to really believe that the world is truly coming to an end. Or how do you explain a Delta man’s wahala with the issue of Britain staying or leaving the European Union? Well, my Lord was very sad that day and in a very gentle voice and almost in tears proclaimed his worry for the Queen. He did not want anything to happen to the Queen. With this vote, he feared for the consequences that will befall Britain and the world by extension. As the day wore on, his fears were beginning to crystallise, the Pound fell to over a 30 year low, the rating agencies dropped Britains ratings and even Morgan Stanley announced it would be taking away 2,000 jobs.

For me, my take in all of this is the respect for the will of the people, the institutionalisation of the people’s will climaxing in the announced resignation of the Prime Minister in less than 24 hours after it emerged that he had failed in reading the true minds of the British people. My people, in all these, nobody’s account was frozen, ballot boxes did not disappear, no court cases annulling or de annulling the results, no big god-father claiming that his political enemies where behind his loss in the referendum and no violence, no lives were lost, no cross-carpeting, no code of conduct tribunal trials and much more important, no claims of rigging or ballot box stuffing. This was political maturity at its best even where the results reflect a huge swath of ignorance about the workings of the global economic village the institutions still upheld the will of the people and as I write is working assiduously to making sure the decisions as carried by the referendum are implemented. Kai, what a country, God save the Queen.

Governor Ayodele Fayose : the Most Influential Nigerian Alive Yes o. He is by far the most influential Nigerian alive today. Nigerians follow his every move with bated breath and huge excitement. We all go to bed wondering what next will Ayo be throwing at us and I am sure by the time his story would be turned into a movie it will be a major thriller. From his Chinese trip, to the raising of hunters to fight Fulani herdsmen, to his prediction of the mortality of the President during the elections down to the freezing of his accounts and his claim that the Bank had come to beg him, it has been a continuing rise of infamy. Today, I hear he has organised an anti-Buhari rally and may soon take his fight to the United Nations where he would most likely be seeking Buharis extradition to The Hague to join Charles Taylor for daring to freeze his account. But this our new Government no dey fear sha;

emadu by all means so that our case will not be further complicated and finally confess all your sins including declaring all of your assets again and vowing to feed all the widows for one year in Abia if you get your job back. Thus says the Lord.

The Story of Aisha Buhari I can imagine the level of anger that must have enveloped the usually very calm and extremely beautiful wife of our favorite President, Aisha Buhari. She must have just been about to sip her lovely evening green tea when her attention would have been drawn to the statement made by my dear friend from Ekiti. She looked at the write up, dropped the tea and immediately walked straight to the office of her darling who was at that time still very busy trying to understand what was happening with his Vice President who seemed to be growing more gray hairs these days. His Excellency was really not in the mood to listen to this latest distraction from the clown of Ekiti and as such asked his beautiful First Lady to just ignore. She would however not have any of it, this was one provocation too much. This Amala eating and stew-loving person must be taught a lesson. He can not just continue to libel everybody all in the name of opposition politics.

What exactly did madam do to warrant such an unprovoked attack from the Lord of Ekiti. Why would he drag her into this wahala, but why? So after carefully deciding what she needed to do, she locked herself in her room, charged her phone to the fullest not wanting the battery to die as she was a whole Lord of Ekiti, the only credible opposition left, the only man who has ever worn jeans to present his budget; the only one who fought Baba Obasanjo to a stand still. Got impeached and still came back on the platform of stomach infrastructure; the conqueror of Fulani herdsmen, the conqueror of APC, the Okada riders lover and the Prince of Magodo. Haaaa!!!! EFCC are in trouble, all their accounts too will be frozen; they will also come and kneel down and beg like the bankers and they will issue a letter of apology to be published in all national dailies in Zimbabwe apologising and promising never to dare the most high again. We need a rally led by the Chief Judge of the Federation and all the APC Governors in tow and a delegation from Katsina to go and beg in Ekiti otherwise, let me just keep my mouth shut. All hail the the most influential Nigerian and we collectively say sorry for the incident, the account would soon be unfrozen salaries of the hunters need to be paid. Teheeeee!!!!

Governor Ikpeazu and the Banana Peel Well, I refuse to say sorry to His Excellency because I had warned him. In my

sending her message through Twitter. She carefully looked at the phone, pointed it towards Ekiti making sure the message did not mistakenly go some where else, Googled the Ekiti henchman not even knowing what he looked like and his bald dark face came up and with a hiss, she fired the missiles. Kai, a ‘mad d......g.......’ and as she sent the message,she began to feel the relief that comes with the satisfaction of finally having your own say. The message not only got to Ekiti it landed and exploded all over the land and the effect left the Lord of Ekiti with a hunchback and tones of regret for trying to look for trouble in wrong places. Seriously, I personally think dragging the name of the First Lady into whatever is the problem between the Ekiti overlord and his many enemies is kinda low. I will not fight my Neighbour and start abusing his wife at the same time. I will face my adversary and give as good as it gets instead of trying to distract everybody by bringing in a spouse especially one as beautiful as madam. So let me declare it here that the enemy of the First Lady is my enemy and from today onward any weapon sharpened and aimed at the First Lady will fail. Madam, do not worry, I have the cure for rabbies. book of prophecy the one I had copied from Prophet Joshua, I had warned him to be careful of the banana peel in the State House. I had told him to be very prayerful and that he should embark on a three-week dry fast, staying off sex and eating only periwinkles and cold akanmu so that this tragedy which I have seen would pass him by. He ignored my warnings and even refused to receive the book I had sent to him and today see what has happened. I saw Tunde Fowler the other Sunday in Lagos and tried to bring up the matter since it concerned tax clearance. Tunde Fowler for those of you that do not know is the chief tax man of our country, hence my request for him to see what he can do to salvage the situation. Well, Tunde asked me to see him with His Excellency after the Ramadan. My Lord do not worry all hope is not lost, we can still get back our mandate if only you would listen to advise and instructions. Please come and see me at the Synagogue in Shomolu, we must immediately embark on serious prayers and fasting and this time, you must really stay off sex, do not go near any hijab-wearing person, avoid Governor Fayose, Saraki and Ekwer-

Pope Francis : Apologise to Gay You see wahala. You see why I only attend Catholic Churches for weddings and nothing else. The Pope says we should apologise to Gay people, me I do not understand this one o. Apologise to gays; that what, that it is correct and God prescribed to indulge in sodomy?

Have we finished apologising to all the little children that have been sexually molested in this world? Have we finished apologising to all the women who have endured one form of sexual molestation or the other, including rape? Can’t Catholics do their own referendum and push for the removal of this very Pope before his is funny reforms lead to the Catholic Church getting their very first ever gay Pope? This gay thing is really funny even here in Nigeria, it is beginning to look like we that are not gay are not normal. We are witnessing the tyranny of the minority. Everywhere you turn now you see gay things as if it is the natural thing to do and when authorities like the Pope endorse it then it is over. The way we are going we would soon have our own first gay president in Aso Rock for if you see how Catholics reverence the Pope and the moral weight he carries, then you will not take this statement lightly. As for me, any gay waiting for my apology, na slap he go get. Apology my a......s, pun intended.

Loud whispers - The Magazine Let me announce it here first that Loudwhispers the Magazine would soon hit the stands. For those of you who love the column and what it stands for, , the Magazine is another platform that would further tickle your need for satire, fun and light-hearted banter about Nigeria and the Nigerian spirit.

It will be a 100-paged all gloss pull-out.

Spiced with caricatures and illustrations of stories that have continued to excite and annoy Nigerians. It will be by subscription only, meaning that you will not get it on the road sides or at your regular vendors stands. We have decided to design a unique distribution strategy which involves only lightskinned, tall, slim female distribution executives whose sole jobs is to wear very skimpy skirts and visit you in your offices, churches, and your father-inlaws house to get you to subscribe to this magazine. Let me invite you on this journey as it is once again another fulfillment of one of my major dreams.

Thank you.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

SPY GLASS Abba Folawiyo Simmers Down

Ageless beauty and fashionista, Chief Mrs. Abba Folawiyo, wife of the late businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo, is a showstopper anytime, any day. Indeed, her powerful dress sense and graceful steps are always an attraction.

Among other things, her upscale fashion outfit, Labenella, has clothed top celebrities, and participated in several fashion shows at home and abroad. It will be recalled that in 1986, the company staged fashion shows “Labanella Goes Ecowest” in many West African countries.

The secret of her continued relevance is simplicity and ability to understand the trend; she never loses touch with modern trends in the fashion world. Little wonder she reigned supreme in social scenes. In fact, no octane party is believed to worth its salt if the beautiful woman was not in attendance, as she was a reference point in the social circle.

It is not because she is a freak of shindigs, but simply because many socialites couldn’t digest the fact that their party was complete without Sisi Abba in attendance.

However, the amiable woman, famously called Sisi Abba, seems to be taking the back seat on the social scene nowadays.

While some people, within the social circle, attribute this to the fact that she is well advanced in age, others say it is because she has seen it all; thus, allowing younger and other stylish socialites to enjoy the scene.

Isiaka Adeleke’s Second Chance

Senator Isiaka Adeleke is one of the few politicians to whom providence has been most kind.

Reason: the Ede, Osun State-born politician and first civilian governor of Osun State has had a checkered political career, having served as a Senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007. While he held that position, Adeleke reportedly enjoyed life to the hilt. But very few of his followers in Osun State, it was alleged, got the dividends of democracy, which he promised them during his campaign. This, we gathered, resulted in his failure to get their votes in 2011. He lost

with Bayo Adeoye ....08054680651 to Mudasiru Oyetunde Hussein, hence he could not return to the Red Chamber.

He, however, bounced back when he joined the All Progressive Congress (APC), with the active support of the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Interestingly, since he returned to the Senate on the platform of the APC, he is said to be extending the dividends of democracy to his constituents. The popular saying now in the state is that he has become ‘born-again’, politically.

Dimeji Bankole’s Desperate Moves

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, had occupied an enviable position in Nigeria’s political scene. He shot to national limelight at age 37, following the removal of the former Speaker, Patricia Etteh, over an alleged financial malfeasance.

However, in what may be described as an anti-climax, he lost the bid to return to the House in 2011.

Thereafter, he contested for the number one job in Ogun State under the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

But the ambition was truncated, as the party leaders seemed not to have any confidence in him. The popular choice was Gboyega Nasir Isiaka.

Faced with this reality, soft-spoken Bankole is said to making frantic efforts to re-launch his political career into reckoning. As a result, he is making some political moves, which many have described as ‘wrong moves.’

As the race for the 2019 general elections gathers momentum, his caucus has reportedly merged with that of Ladi Adebutu, another member of House of Representatives, who is said to be interested in the state top position. Adebutu is said to be in control of the structure that was once controlled by Buruji Kashamu.

In the eyes of many, Bankole is desperately trying to save his political empire from total collapse.

The ex-speaker is the son of Chief Alani Bankole, the Seriki Jagunmolu of Egbaland, second republic politician and former national vicechairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). His mother, Atinuke Bankole, is the Ekerin Iyalode of Egbaland.

Bola Shagaya’s Success Secret

Very stylish and fashionable woman, Bola Shagaya has been recognised at home and abroad as a successful entrepreneur. Unlike many other women, she likes to run neck-to-neck with men, as long as the race is for a noble cause. And she has successfully engraved her name in the hearts of people and nobody can deny the fact that the name is essentially synonymous with success.

While growing up, she had a clear vision of what she wanted to do later in life and she pursued it with unwavering doggedness. Indeed, the only thing that caught her fancy while growing up was business

and she has refused to be swayed by any other interest.

Many know her as an entrepreneur; she sees opportunities, always.

It is clear that she is a woman born under the proverbial lucky star; it is also clear that she is endowed with the proverbial Midas touch.

A big player in photographic materials, real estate, sugar business, banking and oil, she is surely a consummate businesswoman. Yet, in the thinking of many, especially her traducers, she is not more than a beneficiary of government waiver and concession. Those close to her, however, say the secret behind her success is her endless prayers.

Shagaya recognises that only God is the unseen hand behind her success story and she submits absolutely to His will. Of course, she also recognises that hard work pays, so she loathes laziness. In spite of her very engaging daily schedule, she worships God as would be expected of a grateful soul. As a devout Muslim, she spends her spare time in total worship of God. As gathered by Spyglass, the beautiful woman doesn’t make any move or take any step without seeking divine guidance. Her armour against failure is ceaseless prayers and fasting. We also gathered that she visits the Holy land often to present her heart’s desires to God. As fashion and art enthusiast, Shagaya is a patron of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, (FADAN), and she is also a sports lover, especially Polo.

Fred Ajudua’s Property Rots Away

When Fred Ajudua built his Victoria Garden City (VGC) home some years ago, it was cynosure of all eyes. Many people purposely took trips to visit the house that was styled after Arabian palace; the building was the one of its kind then. It was a display of wealth and affluence and, in fact, it was worldclass architectural masterpiece.

But today, Spyglass was informed that the story has changed tremendously, as the house is now a shadow of itself. The once glowing paints are fading away, while weeds have taken over the building, making it lose its beauty totally.

Fred Ajudua had been involved in some notorious cases of Advanced Fee Fraud, otherwise known as 419, which is the number that refers to the section of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud, the charges and penalties for offenders.

He had been brought before the Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2003, alongside

one Alex Okorie for defrauding two Dutch businessmen of $1.69 million.

The EFCC had alleged that the defendants deceived the victims by claiming that the money was for sundry payments to various government officials.

The EFCC further alleged that the defendants claimed that the payments would help them to facilitate a contract worth $18 million on behalf of the complainants. While the matter lasted, Ajudua, who is said to have been critically ill, was refused bail by the court.

Until his descent into infamy, the Delta State-born businessman was a top socialite and one of the biggest boys in town. He was also popular among some top musicians, who constantly sang his praise for handsome rewards in return

Onari Duke’s Uncommon Charm

Although she has been out of office as First Lady for some time, Onari Duke, wife of former governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke, still has a place among the strikingly beautiful wives of former governors. She still possesses the charm and candour that made her a reference point when she held sway as First Lady.

It would be recalled that while she was in office, celebrity journalists usually scrambled to snap her picture to grace the covers of their magazines. Also, her handsome husband comes across as a stylish man, making the couple two of a kind. Their ranking on the social scene is also something to write home about.

Their presence at high-octane events has always not gone unnoticed, though the elegant former First Lady could be said to be selective about the social event she attends.

Duke, a legal practitioner, an entrepreneur, a certified mediation/dispute resolution consultant and philanthropist, is the managing partner of the law firm of Duke&Bob-manuel. Mrs. Duke serves as the Executive Chairman, Allied Merchants & Brokers limited, a merchandising and brokerage firm.

Unlike some other first ladies who discontinued their pet projects immediately after leaving office, she is still busy with her own project, Child Survival and Development Organisation of Nigeria, (CS-DON).

The NGO, which was set up in 2002, was borne out of the need to create a platform where people can come together to heighten advocacy, create awareness and raise funds for cancer patients across West Africa.

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JUNE 16, 2011 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY• JULY NEWSPAPER THISDAY, THE •SATURDAY NEWSPAPER 2, 2016

FAIRGROUND

The Rémy Martin Influencer’s Party

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

T

he Nigerian entertainment and cosmopolitan personalities recently attended the Rémy Martin Cognac party for its influencers. The company announced the launch of its global campaign last year and since then a number of individuals, including Noble Igwe, DJ Jimmy Jatt, and Shina Peller, have all been celebrated with more to come later on this year.

The campaign tagline, ‘One Life/ Live Them’, which assumes its grammatical accident, identifies that today’s consumers are not defined by one talent or skill, but are multifaceted and should be applauded for their many passions. Rémy Martin’s ‘One Life/Live Them’ campaign encourages consumers to explore and celebrate all their talents. It is a call to live richer, larger lives, to expand the horizon and seize all the wonderful opportunities that life can offer, beyond the one-dimensional paths that former generations could have embraced.

The new #OneLifeLiveThem campaign influencers, Zainab Balogun – the first female on the campaign – Falz and Shody were hosted at an intimate party last week at the Rémy Martin XO Club. The outgoing influencers, Charles Okpaleke, Shina Peller and VJ Adams were presented with Pacesetters Awards. The next set of influencers will be unveiled in August.

These were faces of people at the party.

Bolanle Olukanni

Tosan Wiltshere

Chris Ubosi and Shina Peller

Charles Okpaleke

VJ Adams

Olisa Adidua

Akpororo Vs Akpororo

A

Bolaji Kekere-Ekun

ce comedian, Akpororo, is set to host 2016 Edition of his annual event, Akpororo Vs Akpororo Live, at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos, on Friday July 8, 2016. The event, which features the best in the music and comedy industry, promises to be one of the finest events of the year and it will be hosted by star actress Kate Henshaw.

The Airtel ambassador, who just got back from a comedy tour, promised to unleash 100 per cent comic madness on audience at the forthcoming event.

The comedy show will be attended by

dignitaries such as the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, and many others.

According to the event organiser, Lanre Makun Events, this year’s edition will be headlined by bigwigs of the comedy industry such as: AY, Gordons, I Go Die, Klint Da Drunk, I Go Save, Elenu, Funny Bone, Osama, Acapella, and Akpororo himself.

When asked about the musicians on call for the day, the event mogul said music on the day would be by supplied by Yinka Ayefele, Sammy Okposo, Frank Edward, E Ben, Joe Praise, OJD, Wonder J, Onos, Chika, DJ Nana, among others.

Shody and Temilade Oshodi-Glover

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

23

FAIRGROUND

Jack Daniels Celebrates 150th Anniversary with Worldwide Whiskey Barrel Hunt

I

n celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Jack Daniel Distillery, the oldest registered distillery in the U.S., Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, last week, announced the Jack Daniel’s Barrel Hunt – a global scavenger hunt that will unite Friends of Jack across the world.

The first Barrel Hunt took place at the home of the distillery in Lynchburg and will visit more than 50 countries in 90 days, including Nigeria. Jack Daniel’s will provide clues via its local Facebook pages to help fans find the hidden whiskey barrels around the world, giving them the opportunity to win unique, specially designed prizes to commemorate the distillery’s 150th anniversary.

“Jack Daniel’s has grown from a local name in Lynchburg to an iconic brand in more than 170 countries by remaining true to its legacy of authenticity, independence and integrity. The 150th anniversary is a major milestone for the distillery and is a perfect opportunity to invite everyone to join us in our celebration of Jack Daniel’s with our first-ever global Barrel Hunt,” said Mark McCallum, President of Jack Daniel’s.

From July through September, 150 handcrafted whiskey barrels will be hidden in various regions across the globe at historic and cultural sites, with clues on Jack Daniel’s Facebook pages to help guide fans to the secret location.

Clues tied to the history of each region

will be provided on the day of each local Barrel Hunt and barrels will be opened when the first person to arrive speaks the correct barrel password.

Updates and results will be shared as barrels are found around the world and prizes are claimed in each region.

Each hidden barrel in the scavenger hunt was handcrafted from the distillery and used to mature Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey before being specially fabricated for the Barrel Hunt to house prizes, including an original, one-of-a-kind bar kit made with white oak from the barrels. Barrel Hunt winners from Nigeria will also receive the authentic Jack Daniel’s barrel they found along with a travel ticket to experience the 150th anniversary celebration

Sotayo Sobola Speaks Child Rape in new Movie

E

Enchanting Nollywood actress, Sotayo Sobola, has successfully brought down the curtains on two movies packaged by her firm, Sotee Entertainment.

The movies tagged, “Omo Eleso” (fruits seller) and “Ise Won”, featured screen stars such as Iyabo Ojo, Doris Simeone, Eniola Badmus, comic star Tayo Amokade, popularly called Ijebu, Enitan Fashina, Latif Adedimeji and Sotayo Sobola.

Speaking on the two movies, Sotayo explained that “Omo Eleso tells the story of a fruit seller played by my humble self and a lousy office assistant, played by Tayo Amokade or Ijebu, who was after the fruit seller even as the manager of the company, she supplies fruits, was also asking her out.

“But the fruit seller, who knew her worth and what she

wanted in life stood her ground, maintaining her dignity and made firm choices that changed her life story at the end of the day. Movie lovers should watch out for a lot of intrigues, comedy and topnotch delivery in this movie.”

“Ise Won”, on the other hand, addresses the issue of child abuse and rape from a very unusual angle.

“In Ise Won, we see a successful young woman who grew up hating men because she was sexually abused as a child.

Instead of seeking help through counselling, she kept nursing bitterness to the extent that she only employed women in her company, and this anger took her into a lot of heart-breaking experiences. Let me not tell you the whole story just watch out for the two movies,” the actress stated.

The movies, according to information from the company will soon be released.

Pasuma Storms UK for Itunu Awe Celebration

S

howbiz queen and showbiz entrepreneur in the UK, Dupe BNS, is staging a spectacular celebration for Muslims in the United Kingdom, tagged ‘Itunu Awe Celebration’. Oganla of Fuji, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, is set to entertain music lovers and Muslims in the United Kingdom. The show, according to Dupe BNS, will also feature Afrobeat rising star, Moelogo, while UK-based on-air-personality, Gaby Arow, is the anchor of the show. BNS is the executive producer of the show. Fans who desire to be part of the event will have to converge at 709 Old Kent Road, SE15 1JZ Unit 2 Cliwon Building by 10pm and prepare to leave at 4am.

Sotayo

Patoranking is New Face of TLR Couture

D

ance hall sensation and judge of “The Voice” Nigeria, is set to be unveiled as the new face of Tailorloran Couture –TLR Couture.

According to Folami Abiodun, the CEO of TLR Couture, the singer was picked because “he exudes everything our brand stands for, which is, charisma, perfect looks and appeal.”

Abiodun revealed that Patoranking will be unveiled in a few weeks and that the fashion line would also use the occasion to launch its 2016 collections.

“We have been working very hard to meet the expectation of our clients and I can assure you that, every male who loves unique fashion will love our 2016 collections,” he said.

On the challenges of running a fashion line in Lagos, Abiodun believes the challenges are not different from the regular challenges of running a business in Nigeria as an entrepreneur.

“The only thing that is giving me sleepless nights aside power and multiple taxes is the exchange rate that has forced us to increase our charges.”

For someone who has been into men’s fashion for eight years, he was asked to name a Nigerian that he admires his fashion sense and cannot wait to style. His response was straightforward: “That will be Darey Art-Alade. He gets it right all the time and I cannot wait to see him in our outfits.”

in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

“The barrel is key to crafting Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, as it accounts for 100 per cent of its color and 70 to 80 per cent of its flavour. It’s an important part of our process that’s remained unchanged for 150 years, and that tradition will continue to live on in every barrel we make and each drop of our whiskey.

“The Barrel Hunt celebrates the distillery’s history and gives fans a chance to own a barrel and be forever linked to Jack Daniel’s.” Official rules and regulations, and details on locations and dates for the Jack Daniel’s Barrel Hunt will be released in the coming weeks,” said Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller, Jeff Arnett.

Patoranking

For someone who started designing from his university days, Abiodun survived a million and one hustles but one experience made him a fulfilled person.

“I passed through a lot of things before getting to this point in my business; my passion kept me going. But the day my father wore my outfit and said he is proud of what I am doing; that is the day I knew I had a future in this business because he never believed in my abilities at the onset but I thank God that today he pays me to make his clothes.”

When international fashion shows hold in

Lagos, it is reported that Nigerian models are used to do the hard part of the job like fitting all through the night for foreign models and the foreign ones come and showcase the outfit on the runway and earn big pay while local talents are left backstage and paid peanuts. What is Abiodun’s take on the issue?

“I am against it totally and I think all relevant persons have to do something about it because this is the only country we have and these models rarely have opportunities abroad; so why deny them of opportunities at home? It is totally wrong and I am against it.”

A great number of people believe majority of the men in fashion industry are gays, does he know any gay and what kind of relationship does he have with them?

“Yes, I know a lot of gay guys. I mean you see them every time in the cause of this job, either at parties or shows or where we buy fabrics. They are actually nice and interesting set of people in the business.”

What worries does he have for the fashion industry and what words does he have for lads coming into the business?

“Everybody you meet on the street now is a stylist or a fashion designer, and most of them commit unpardonable errors and this is a big problem for the business. For the genuine young ones, I will tell them not to get carried away by money. The truth is, there is a lot of money in fashion and most people get carried away but you need to stay focus on your job if you want to last.”

Organic Reggae Is Dead In Nigeria – Dublin-based Weirdz

R

epublic of Ireland-based reggae artiste, Osaze Moses Wilserhun – aka Weirdz, has sensationally declared that pure and organic reggae is as good as dead in Nigeria. The cinematographer-turned singer noted, “I find it very funny when people see a singer with dreadlocks, or listen to him speak patois (Jamaican Pidgin English) or watch him smoke Indian hemp you are qualified to be called a reggae artiste. “And it is not so, with all due respect to acts that I respect a lot like Burna Boy, Patoranking, and Cynthia Morgan, who are doing great dance hall music, but we still lack organic reggae in Nigeria. Listen to Bob Marley, Majek Fashek, Lucky Dube or even Raskimono you will see that no current musician is playing that kind of pure reggae and that is the dish I am bringing to the table of Nigerian music.”

Presently, Weirdz has dropped his debut single “Celebrate”, produced by VC Perez. On the challenges he has faced since storming the Nigerian music industry, Wilserhun said “I think the first part is music producers duplicating the same beat for artistes and that is why I worked with VC Perez because of the time he spends in studying to meet each act’s demand. Secondly, is the issue of fraudsters who claim they can help you but in truth they mean to dupe you of your money.”

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

VINTAGE ‘NIHOTOUR Has Culture of Excellence’ The present image of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), the nation’s tourism training school, cannot be compared with the image it had few years ago when the institute was comatose. The Director General of NIHOTOUR, Mrs. Chika Balogun, tells Justina Uzo about her commitment to reposition the institute for efficient service delivery

Balogun

C

ritics used to refer to NIHOTOUR as a ‘sleeping institute’, what has really changed?

It is true that a lot has changed in the administration and activities at the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).

Organisations like societies are dynamic and change is a constant, especially if a culture of excellence must be built and maintained. This attitudinal change accompanied by academic and administrative changes is what has elicited the positive and energetic vibe that is being observed in NIHOTOUR today. We started by boosting staff morale and orientation on commitment to their jobs so as to have the desired input in terms of carrying out both administrative and academic activities, geared towards meeting the objectives of the Institute.

We are constantly working on improving the work environment to make it conducive for staff to work more efficiently. A series of train the trainer programmmes are also being actively pursued.

As an institute, whose functions are hinged on manpower training, capacity building, personnel/service regulation and research in hospitality, travel and tourism, we need to make sure that our programmes are of real value to the student (trained personnel), investor and end user, who are the customers.

To this end, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), approved our application to be a training centre for the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) levels 1 – 6. We were also appointed the Sector Skills Council for the Hospitality and Tourism (HOTOUR) sector in Nigeria. The

Council is made up of major stakeholders represented at the highest level, so that we understand the appropriate skills needed by industry per time and match same through appropriately tailored training. The recent validation of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Hospitality, Travels and Tourism Trades levels 1 – 3 (these will become the minimum standards for training in Nigeria within the sector) by the Council is a major milestone and, though it happened relatively unsung, Nigeria will feel the impact in a couple of years when the industry begins to bear fruits of well trained professionals across all levels of this hugely service- driven sector. We have also entered agreements with International Training Organisations to further expand the quality and scope of our training. The ABE (Association of Business Executives) is one such body. This partnership is through the WINIGROUP, with whom we have a training consultancy MoU. We are also in ongoing talks with a few National Universities to deliver training through their platform.

We are also partnering with a Tourism Club to deliver sensitisation training to young children in primary and tertiary schools to create an understanding of the business of tourism and expose them to the benefits of a career in Hospitality and Tourism and the culture of excellence in service very early on.

I am glad to note that we have extended our collaboration with members of the organised private sector who are the real operators of the industry, and they have been very cooperative in the efforts to sanitise the sector and raise the quality of service delivery in line with global standards.

NIHOTOUR Alumni association has also recently been formed. This will further help our graduates tap into the huge resource available within this network.

The tourism industry will be a major factor in the process of diversifying the nation’s economy, how does NIHOTOUR fit into this strategy?

The diversification of the economy is no longer a dream but now active work in progress. The recognition of tourism as one of the sectors for diversification is warmly applauded. Globally, tourism is acknowledged to be one of the first three contributors to the GDP of many countries.

Our government has recognised the importance of this sector and is working hard to improve the business of tourism and its entire value chain, which cuts across so many other sectors. Getting a synergy across the entire value chain is critical to success and growth because if one member of that value chain drops the baton then it affects the end result regardless of the excellent services some other members of the chain have provided. So, a cohesive and project-based approach, with a well mapped out 5 – 10 year plan will go a long way in building a solid foundation for this very important sector of our economy. Progressively attaining milestones set in the plan will then help boost consumer, practitioner and investor confidence in the viability and sustainability of the sector.

Tourism is one of the world’s largest economic sectors in terms of wealth creation and job opportunities for a large number of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour.

Tourism is a major global business and therefore must be developed with a vision set on sustainable growth, job and wealth creation.

Tourism is largely experiential and the customer usually goes home with only

memories of a good or bad series of services and possibly some arts and crafts. This largely experiential nature of tourism is why the quality of services provided is critical to success and sustainable growth.

The Tourism industry is basically a service industry run and powered by people. To, therefore, deliver quality services, operators in the industry must be well trained in the requisite skills that will enable them offer excellent services across the different sub-sectors of the industry. This is where the vital role of NIHOTOUR comes in. The major objective of NIHOTOUR is to provide training and capacity development, including research for operators and practitioners in the industry and to regulate the professional conduct of personnel and the quality of service delivered by the businesses. This is key to the growth and development of the industry as it is the foundation to the economic pillar that Nigerian Tourism must become.

Our training ensures that the quality of workers in the industry are of high standards and are able to provide high quality services to their customers in a measurable and standardised manner in line with global best practices.

We are also an approved National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) training centre for Hospitality and Tourism under the National Vocational Qualifications Framework as set out by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

NIHOTOUR has also been appointed the Sector Skills Council for Hospitality and Tourism. This is a very critical role as it bridges the skills gap between training programmes and the actual requirements of sector practitioners. The Council, which is populated by the heads of sector associations and some relevant government agencies, is already working hard and recently validated the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Hospitality, Travels and Tourism Trades (Levels 1 – 3). The validated NOS becomes the minimum standard for training in the industry.

Recently, I was elected the Chairman for the National Mirror Committee on Tourism under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). This opportunity will go a long way in radically raising the bar for service delivery standards, as Nigeria will now actively work towards benchmarking requirement standards for the industry and getting the ISO’s needed to boost investor and consumer confidence in the sector. As part of our internal quality control, we are also undergoing a series of re-training for our lecturers as well, so as to make sure that they deliver current and qualitative training to industry practitioners.

We have also forged training relationships with other global trainers to improve on our training offerings across board.

How is NIHOTOUR helping Nigeria?

The Tourism industry is one of the greatest providers of job opportunities in the world because of its multi-faceted and multi-sectoral nature and dynamics. Therefore, in the discharge of our statutory functions of providing training and capacity building, we are empowering Nigerians to acquire knowledge and skills that make them valued members of society contributing to the socio-economic growth and development of the country. Also, our role as regulator of personnel and quality of service delivered in the industry will help to set and enforce global standards and by so doing sanitise the industry, stimulating growth and sustainable development through increased and enhanced economic activities in the industry.

Read full interview online: www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

TRAVEL&LEISURE

by OMOLOLA ITAYEMI omolola.itayemi@thisdaylive.com 08054699602

Lagos to Take Spotlight at Toronto International Film Festival If you have any doubt about the status of Lagos as the tourism hub of Nigeria, quell it. Come September, eight films produced in the state will feature in Toronto Film Festival, Canada. Despite the absence of Film schools, Lagos with a population of over 22 million people and second in the world for film production is nurturing a thriving international arts scene, a growing prosperity and a new found awareness that taps into its storied past. Omolola Itayemi writes

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he capital of one of the world’s most prolific film industries, Lagos, Nigeria, will step into the spotlight at the Toronto Int’l Film Festival this year as the selection for its annual City to City programme. Now in its eighth year, City to City features recent work from filmmakers living and working in hot spots of global cinema. Previous editions have showcased London, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Athens and Seoul.

The crowd at the Baguada Kaltho Press venue was a rich mix of actors, directors, reporters and some members of Lagos State EXCO at noon this Monday. There was definitely a need to share the good news and chart projections towards having the state’s tourism and entertainment potential showcased at the 2016 Edition of Toronto International Film Festival. The state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde addressed newsmen alongside his counterpart in Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, and the Artistic Director, Toronto Film Festival, Mr. Cameron Bailey.

Ayorinde said that eight films produced in the state would be selected to feature at the festival.

He said that the development would help project the tourism potential of the state to the audience at the festival. According to him, the move is in line with Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s campaign promise to make the state a hub for tourism.

He said the eight films to be selected do not necessarily have to be about Lagos, but would be films produced by directors based in the state.

“What is important is that the films that will be selected will be films by film makers that are Lagos-based.

It won’t matter what subject matter you are dealing with; it is about the creativity, the talent you are exhibiting as a Lagos-based film maker that Toronto is interested in.’’

Ayorinde said the State Government would be fully involved in any collaboration to celebrate the city, market its potential, as well as appreciate the talent of the motion industry. “What this government’s policy implies is that it will promote any initiative that will project Lagos as the home of film making not only in Nigeria, but before the entire world,” Ayorinde said.

Folarin-Coker, on his part, said the move was in line with government’s policy that entertainment could be used to create employment and improve the revenue generation of the state. He said that the long term plan of the government was to take back “dead” public spaces such as under the bridges across the state and develop them for residents to exhibit and develop their talents.

Ralph Nwadike, Steve Ayorinde, Caameron Bailey, Folarin Coker , Wale Ojo and Keith Shiri at the unveiling of city project

Folarin-Coker said that the state was collaborating with the Federal Government to build a car park at the new museum to help drive tourism. He explained that the Ministry recognized the importance of strategic branding of destinations to the development of tourism and is exploiting the identified benefits of destination branding by registering the “One Lagos”, “Love Lagos”, and the “One Lagos Fiesta” brands at the trademarks registry.

According to him, the ‘One Lagos’ brand, which is the master brand for Lagos is packaged to showcase the true spirit of Lagos through different creative expressions while leveraging on the City’s abundant “soft” power to reverse the negative conversation often associated with Lagos; reinvigorate tourism across the State by celebrating our unique people, places and heritage and positively promote Lagos as the ‘The Destination’ in Africa.”

The Commissioner noted that the formal launch would boost the promotion and development of the culture of entertainment, arts and leisure in the state, adding that the event will also be used to unveil the One Lagos logo and memento in order to maximize economic benefits from tourism.

Also, Cameron said that the drive behind the Lagos and Toronto spotlight for the festival was because much of the films Lagos produced were not being showcased in Toronto. He explained that the idea was to seize the opportunity of this year’s festival to begin a new dawn for Nigerian films and also tap into the ingenuity of the new generation

of emerging directors.

He reiterated the benefits of such synergies like better exposure to international buyers from over seventy countries looking for films to buy for television and streaming rights.

“We have had films like Tunde Kelani’s Abeni feature at the festival, as well as Half of a Yellow Sun, which is a collaboration between Nigeria and the UK, but I think this is an opportunity to do more and to go bigger.

“So, what we are doing this year is a spotlight on the film makers who live and work here in Lagos and two actors out of the eight films selected.

We have been so impressed with the ingenuity and creativity of individual film makers who have made the Nigeria film industry one of the largest in the planet,” Cameron said.

He said that Lagos, like Los Angeles, Paris and Mumbai, was one of the big capitals of film around the world.

Cameron said that films produced in Nollywood had spread all over the world, noting that though the Nigeria film business had gone global, the next step was to fully integrate it into the international film industry.

“The films that are bought and sold at our festival, the films that are written about and reported on by the critics and film journalists, the audiences that embrace the films that go on to win the big prizes like the Oscars, those films should include the films from Nigeria,” Cameron said.

The Toronto film festival ranks among the largest festivals in the world and attracts over 500,000 fans and over 12,000 media in attendance.

TRAVEL NEWS Uja Receives NCPC Board Members The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Tor Uja recently received Federal Commissioners on the Board of the Commission and thanked them for their visit which he said was not just a visit, but a blessing.

He informed the federal Commissioners that he had made a resolution not to leave the Commission the way he met it.

He stated that the former Executive Secretary of the commission, John Kenedy Opara did very well and as such must be appreciated publicly.

He promised to organize a befitting sent forth for him sometimes in July and would invite the board and stakeholders to grace the event.

He explained that he took over the leadership of NCPC at a very challenging moment when the country is facing serious economic recession. Aside Rev. Dr Zion Ibenye, other Federal commissioners who visited the NCPC boss were Mrs. Helen Ughoro, North Central, Pastor Mike Abrakata, South South and Elder Major (rtd) Dogara Akut, North west.

One&Only Resorts Appoints Viktoria Riley One&Only Resorts, the award-winning collection of ultra-luxury resorts has appointed Viktoria Riley as Director of Sales and Marketing. In her new role, Riley will direct and oversee the iconic resort’s sales and marketing teams and be responsible for developing and implementing strategic plans to achieve the resort’s objectives.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

aUto

Hyundai Tucson, Azera Earn AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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yundai Motor’s Tucson and Azera have earned the top spots in the compact crossover SUV and large car categories, respectively, in AutoPacific’s 20th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSAs).

“With many options in the compact crossover SUV and large car categories, we are proud the Tucson and Azera got the vote from consumers themselves for meeting their wants and needs,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, corporate and product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “These vehicles took the top spot in owner satisfaction for offering better value, technology, safety and design.”

The VSAs are based on survey responses from more than 65,000 owners of new 2015 and 2016 model-year cars and light trucks.

The annual survey measures owner satisfaction on 50 separate attributes. These awards identify the most satisfying vehicles on the market and are an industry benchmark which measures how satisfied owners are with their new vehicle.

“New car buyers have come to expect quality. These awards show how Hyundai is also focused on their customer’s needs and desires,” said Daniel Hall, vice president, AutoPacific.

The all-new 2016 Hyundai Tucson offers an edgy exterior design, a pair of fuel efficient drivetrains, and a stylish interior that is roomier than its predecessor. The 2016 Tucson also earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS’s) 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation.

The 2016 Azera represents an advanced approach to the traditional premium sedan segment by delivering a powerful yet efficient powertrain, modern design, and luxury features combined with Hyundai’s consistently strong value proposition. Azera continues to

2017 Hyundai Tucson

offer customers the highest levels of luxury, performance, and efficiency, all brought together in an innovative design.

J.D. Power too: Hyundai Motor ranked third among all brands in the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) and second among non-premium automakers in the study released today. Additionally, J.D. Power awarded both the Accent in the small car segment and Azera in the large car segment with the highest initial quality honors.

“Hyundai Motor remains steadfastly committed to delivering owners of its products exceptional, quality vehicles,” said Frank Ferrara, Executive Vice President of Customer Satisfaction, Hyundai Motor America. “We take

the improvement of quality on our existing models seriously, and also launch new vehicles with the highest quality right out of the gate.

It is important to keep our customers happy with their vehicles. It starts with quality and continues with education on how to use their vehicle’s many features. Results like these demonstrate how well we connect with our customers on every level.”

IQS, now in its 30th year, serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership. According to the study, Accent and Azera owners reported fewer problems with their vehicles than any other small or large car, respectively.

“Both small and large cars are popular vehicles

on the road today and extremely important to us. In fact, most automakers compete in these vehicle classes. As a result consumers pick from many different choices,” said Mircea Gradu, Executive Director of Engineering and Quality, Hyundai Motor America. “Both the Accent and Azera ranked highest in their crowded segments for high quality, which provides owners peace of mind for this important financial purchase.”

In total, six Hyundai models ranked in the top three in their segments. In addition to the awards for Accent and Azera, the Tucson (second), Veloster (third), Elantra (third) and Genesis (third) rank near the top in their segments.

Toyota C-HR Interior Showcases new Direction

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oyota is showcasing the emotional appeal of its future vehicle interiors with the release of the first official interior images of the new C-HR sport-utility vehicle (SUV).

2017 Toyota C-HR is a compact SUV from the Japanese automaker, which is in the company’s lineup took a place on the step below the midsize crossover RAV4. The world premiere of the production version of the 2017 Toyota C-HR was held at the Geneva Motor Show 2016. Specialists of both the Japanese, and European divisions of the company worked on design of the novelty. Also it is necessary to pay them tribute, the car, ready to production, has turned out in many respects is similar to the initial concept of C-HR for the first time shown on motor show in Paris 2014.

Externally, the new 2017 Toyota C-HR is hardly leave anyone indifferent. The car’s sporty appearance endowed with aggressive bumpers, muscular wheel arches, roof falling floating effect, stylish spoiler on the boot lid and complex podshtampovki on the sidewalls.

Targeting class-leading sensory quality, the interior of the new C-HR delivers a modern and sensual style that stands out in the Toyota range and sets a new direction for its segment.

The Toyota C-HR represents the determination of the company’s global president Akio Toyoda to allow greater stylistic freedom and promote engineering creativity with eye-catching designs and enhanced driving pleasure.

Due in Australian showrooms early next year, the C-HR remains remarkably true to the concept cars that attracted widespread public acclaim at motor shows in Paris in 2014 and Frankfurt in 2015.

Chief designer Kazuhiko Isawa said the C-HR will give Toyota a powerful new presence in the growing small SUV segment, creating a new frontier with a vehicle that is full of originality.

“That newness comes from SUV robustness and strength. But we’re not trying to make an SUV that’s dynamic; rather, a dynamic vehicle with SUV-like properties,” Mr Isawa said.

The interior styling represents a fresh approach

2017 Toyota C-HR new design, interior

for Toyota with a new “sensual tech” design concept combining high-tech functionality with a sensual and fashionable style.

An airy, expansive cabin has been created

through the seamless layered architecture of the instrument panel that continues through to the door trim with a stylish ornamentation and a piano black panel.

NAMA Hails Annual Training for Nigerian Auto Journalists

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he NigerianAutomotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has commended the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) for instituting an annual training for its members, saying it will help the implementation of the nation’s auto policy.

Chairman of NAMA, who is also the Managing Director of VON Automobiles Limited, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran made the commendation, recently, when members of organising committee for the training paid him a visit in his Victoria Island, Lagos office.

Intimating the NAMA chairman about the training, which has been rescheduled to

hold July 29th and 30th 2016, NAJA Training Committee Chairman, Mr. Femi Owoeye said NAJA instituted the training at a time like this to ensure that journalists are well prepared towards contributing their own professional roles to the development of the nation’s auto industry.

“As stakeholders we motoring journalists are aware of the importance of our role in the area developmental journalism, a vital ingredients the industry needs to succeed.”

Responding, the NMA chairman commended the initiative, saying capacity building for motoring journalists will go a long way at complementing the efforts of investors and

federal government towards successful implementation of the nation’s auto policy.

“Instituting this kind of training at a time like this is commendable,” he said. “It will no doubt translate to long term benefit for the auto industry, in terms of information flow and quality of information dissemination.”

Aromolaran, however, appealed to motoring journalists to give more space and time to reportage of activities, products and services of local auto manufacturers.

“Lots are happening now at various auto assemblies and manufacturing plants in the country,” he pointed out. “I know you have toured some of the plants. But if you would

spare time to pay follow-up visits to the assembly and manufacturing plants, you would be able to see our latest products and so report them to Nigerians. This will go a long way at encouraging local consumption of our locally made automobiles and at the long run, accelerate the Nigerian Industrial Development Plan (NIDP).

Already, some auto companies and related government agencies have keyed into the training, just as others are being expected to also support the training.

The training retreat, which was earlier schedule to hold on June 24th and 25th has now been shifted to July 29th and 30th 2016.

27

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 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

The Menace Of Wrong Way Driving

S

2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet

Mercedes-Benz Boasts Worldwide Double-Digit Growth in May Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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ercedes-Benz has reported a remarkable increase in sales May with unit purchase rising by 12.9% to 170,625 vehicles.

Astatementbytheautocompany said in the period of January through May, 818,175 vehicles with the three-pointed star were delivered to customers (+12.3%), more than ever before in the first five months of a year.

This Stuttgart-based company

achieved record unit sales in each of Europe and Asia-Pacific last month. Mercedes-Benz was the market leader in the USA, Japan, Canada, Australia and Taiwan in May. “Our double-digit growth in Europe and Asia-Pacific made a major contribution to the strong unit sales of Mercedes-Benz in May,” said Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales.

Sales in Europe increased by a

strong 14.2% yielding a sale of 74,268 units in May while there was a 24.2% increase in the Asia-Pacific region with a total of 57,438 vehicles handed over to customers in May. This increase was primarily due to double-digit growth in the major markets of Great Britain, Italy, Spain and Belgium. In Germany, the domestic market, 23,343 vehicles were delivered to customers (+4.9%).

Also, in China, the biggest market, Mercedes-Benz achieved a new record of more than 38,000

vehicles sold (+38.9%) while the company’s leadership was continued inAustralia, Japan and Taiwan. In the NAFTA region, 34,323 units of Mercedes-Benz modelsweresoldinMayofwhich 29,299 of those automobiles were delivered to customers in the USA thus maintaining the market leader status among the premium manufacturers in May. Unit Sales by Model: Sales of Mercedes-Benz compact cars increased to a new record this May with a total of 53,618 units delivered to customers (+15.6%).

Ford Sustainability Report Unveils Pilot Programme in Nigeria

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arnessing the power of its advanced vehicles, innovative technologies and commitment to a better world, a new Ford Motor Company pilot programme aims to enhance mobility health services in rural areas of Nigeria and South Africa.

In Nigeria, Ford is working with Riders for Health to strengthen healthcare access by training the group’s technicians to maintain their motorcycles, four-wheeled vehicles and trucks in order to deliver medical professionals and supplies to people in rural areas and extend the amount of time vehicles are in service. The vehicles will be equipped with sensors and Ford’s OpenXC technology to

collect data designed to make Riders for Health work more efficiently. OpenXC technology will also help create the first accurate maps of remote areas of the West African nation.

Ford Project Better World brings together multiple organizations such as World Vision South Africa, and social entrepreneurs to deliver health education, medication, nutrition and basic services to thousands of underserved people in remote areas. The services will be accessed using enhanced mobility and connectivity technologies from Ford vehicles. Ford Project Better World is detailed in the automaker’s 17th annual Sustainability Report, released today.

Two modified Ford Rangers

Ford Ranger

will work as mobile clinics to deliver health services, dispense medication for chronic conditions, and monitor the growth of children in South

Africa.

The information gathered will aid agencies in tracking the health of children and help with protective services.

Volkswagen Agrees to Buy Back Diesel Vehicles, Fund Clean Air Efforts

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erman automaker Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) will pay as much as $15.3 billion after admitting it cheated on U.S. diesel emissions tests for years, agreeing to buy back vehicles from consumers and provide funding that could benefit makers of cleaner technologies.

A deal formally filed by the Justice Department on Tuesday will provide the largest-ever automotive buyback offer in the United States. The proposed

consent decree confirmed that VW will set aside $10.033 billion to cover buybacks or potential fixes for diesel cars and sport utility vehicles that used illegal software to defeat government emissions tests.

VW still may face criminal charges and oversight by an independent monitor, similar to settlements of cases involving General Motors Co and Toyota Motor Corp for auto safety issues, a person briefed on the matter said. A criminal settlement, which could hap-

pen in the coming months, would also include specific measures to ensure that the company would not engage in further cheating.

Shares of VW closed up 1.7 percent at 107.85 euros after rising as much as 5 percent earlier in the day.

“We didn’t follow a multiyear, grind-it-out litigation strategy, which would have been counterproductive for Volkswagen,” said Robert Giuffra Jr., the company’s lead lawyer. “We moved with

lightning speed to settle with our federal and state regulators and the private plaintiffs.”

Under the Justice Department deal, VW will provide $2 billion over 10 years to fund programs directed by the state of California and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to promote construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, development of zero-emission ride-sharing fleets and other efforts to boost sales of cars that do not burn petroleum.

he was the third and only girl child in a family of six. Cute, humble, brillant and athletic, ebony black Cynthia was the darling of the family especially the late father whose bonding with Cynthia was cemented when at the early age of 50,hewasdiagnosedwithadeadly ailment that kept him bedridden forovertenmonthsinthehospital.

For ten months, Cynthia who had earlier lost the mother in a road traffic crash which claimed the lives of over ten passengers was the wife, mother, nurse and the prayer warrior whose soothing voice woke other patients as she daily sought for heavens divine intervention for her father and other patients whose predication only needed a touch from above.

Despite her tender age of 18years whenthefathertookill,sheplayed the script professionally as if she wasdestinedforthatrole.Herfaith played out well as her father after a couple of months miraculously got healed and was discharged alongsidesomeotherpatientswho nicknamedthemselves ‘landlords ‘because of their long stay in the hospital.

Barely twelve months after, Cynthia’s joy was short-lived whenshelostherfatherinabizarre circumstance.Nowanorphan,she struggled, selling and buying in addition to doing odd jobs such as working as nanny to different families at different time. It was in the course of this life struggle that heaven smiled on her when a Christian family took interest and offered to bring her in as a step daughter,promisingtoprovidefor herwhatshelostthroughthedeath of her parents including sponsorship for her education. It was this promise that paved the way for Cynthia who was admitted to one of the famous State University to study for a degree in Law. From the first year, she shone like the star that she is emerging best overall studentbothinherfirstandsecond year. On her third year however, tragedy struck as Cynthia who was in a company of two other colleagues was about crossing the road when a patrol vehicle belonging to one of the security agencies knocked her down and killed her on the spot.Cynthia is not the first as many others have either sustain various degress of injuries,or lost their lives in similar circumstances while others have remained crippled.

One way driving or wrongwaydriving(WWD)isdefinedby WIKEPEDIAastheactofdrivinga motorvehicleagainstthedirection of traffic. It can occur on either oneortwo-wayroads(inthelattercase, arising from driving on the wrong side of the road), as well as in parking lots and parking garages, and may be due to driver inattention or impairment, or because of insufficient or confusing road markings or signage, or a driver from a right-hand traffic country

being unaccustomed to driving in a left-hand traffic country, and vice versa.Peopleintentionallydrivein the wrong direction because they missedanexit,forthrill-seeking,as a suicide attempt, or as a shortcut.

Onadividedhighway,especially freeway, WWD is a serious problem because of the high speeds usually involved, since the result is more likely a head-on collision. In theUnitedStates,about355people are killed each year in crashes caused by drivers headed in the wrong direction on the highway.

Given an average of 265 fatal WWD crashes, 1.34 fatalities per WWDfatalcrashcanbecalculated.

The significance of these kind of crashes is corroborated when this number is compared to the fatalities per fatal crash rate of 1.10 for all other crash types, which translates to 24 more fatalities per 100 fatal crashes for WWD crashes than for fatal crashes in general. Most drivers who enter a divided highway or ramp in the wrongdirectioncorrectthemselves by turning around Depending on the jurisdiction, WWD is a punishable offense. In Efforts to reduce wrong-way driving[ One of the aims of highway engineering is to reduce wrong-way driving.

National Transportation Safety Board’s Highway Special Investigation Report This topic of safety has gained renewed attention in the recent years in the United States. In doing so, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a special investigation report about wrong-way driving in which relevant safety countermeasures to prevent wrong-way collisions on high-speed, divided highways are identified. One important part of this report is Section 4 which providesrecommendationsfordifferent agencies, including Federal Highway Administration and NHTSA, to address wrong-way collisions.

Wrong-Way Driving Guidebook[edit] In May 2014, ICT and IDOT publishedGuidelinesforReducing Wrong-WayCrashesonFreeways.

[8] The researchers compiled the guidebookbyreviewingprevious studies,assessingcurrentpractices, and examining national and state designstandardsandmanualsthat pertain to WWD. The research team also obtained significant information from the National Wrong-Way Driving Summit hosted by IDOT and SUIE as part of this project in July 2013.

Overview of Wrong-Way Driving Fatal Crashes in the United States[edit] In August 2014, Institute of Transportation Engineers published a paper to provide an overview of the general trend of WWD fatal crashes in the United States; discuss general characteristics of WWD fatal crashes; and delineate significant contributing factors. [9]

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •July 2, 2016

FAMILY HEALTH

How Indigestion, Heartburn Affect Your Health

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ndigestion also known as dyspepsia, is a condition that causes symptoms such as pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen or chest, usually after you eat a meal. Indigestion is most common after eating but you can get it at any time. You might get it every day or once in a while. Nearly everyone will get indigestion at some point in their life.

An upset stomach is a general term that describes discomfort in your upper abdomen.

Indigestion is not a disease, but rather some symptoms you experience, including abdominal pain and a feeling of fullness soon after you start eating. Although indigestion is common, how you experience it may differ from other people. Symptoms of indigestion may be felt occasionally or as often as daily. Indigestion can be a symptom of another digestive disease.

Indigestion that is not caused by an underlying disease may be eased with lifestyle changes and medication.

Indigestion and Heartburn have similar symptoms, but they are not the same thing.

Sometimes people with indigestion also experience heartburn, but heartburn and indigestion are two separate conditions. Heartburn is a pain or burning feeling in the center of your chest that may radiate into your neck or back during or after eating.

You have just finished a delicious meal, but your stomach is feeling far from satisfied. What started as a general discomfort in your belly is turning into digestive pain.? Making the distinction is more important than you may realize.

Heartburn is a key symptom of acid reflux. It is that burning sensation typically located just behind or below the breastbone, is caused by acid reflux -- the upward splashing of acidic contents of the stomach back into the esophagus.

The resulting irritation of the esophagus creates burning symptoms that are often accompanied by other symptoms, such as a sour taste in the mouth, regurgitation and belching.

Heartburn Heartburn is a symptom, not a condition or disease.

Causes Eating certain foods (chocolate, pep• permint, fatty foods, and acid foods are common culprits) • Having a hiatal Hernia.

• A reflux disease.

• Medication side effects The most common symptoms of heartburn include: • A sour taste in the mouth that creeps up the throat • A feeling of burning in the chest • Pain in the throat or neck.

Symptoms of indigestion: There are various ways that it can manifest. People with indigestion may have one or more of the following symptoms: • Early fullness during a meal. You have not eaten much of your meal, but you already feel full and may not be able to finish eating.

• Uncomfortable fullness after a meal. Fullness lasts longer than it should.

• Discomfort in the upper abdomen. You feel a mild to severe pain in the area between the bottom of your breastbone (sternum) and your navel.

• Burning in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable heat or burning sensation between the bottom of the breastbone and navel.

• Bloating in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable sensation of tightness.

• Nausea • vomiting . food ingested is poured out, mostly undigested.

• Belching , the involuntary out pouring of gas from within the food cavity.

Sometimes people with indigestion also experience heartburn, but heartburn and indigestion are two separate conditions. Heartburn is a pain or burning feeling in the center of your chest that may radiate into your neck or back during or after eating.

Relieving stress and relaxing may prevent indigestion as can reducing the amount of air that you swallow with your food avoid talking while you eat and close your mouth when you chew

with

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

stomach acid.

Instead, indigestion is more often connected to emotional health and your state of mind — feeling stressed, nervous, or anxious seems to trigger bouts of indigestion, while feeling relaxed tends to prevent them.

• Watching what you eat and avoiding common triggers like spicy and fatty foods and too much alcohol can help to treat both heartburn and indigestion.

• So can limiting your portion sizes and eating slowly.

• Relieving stress and relaxing may prevent indigestion as can reducing the amount of air that you swallow with your food avoid talking while you eat and close your mouth when you chew.

There are medications available to treat heartburn, like antacids and drugs that reduce the acids in the stomach that trigger this condition. In the absence of obvious causes, and if the patient has no alarming features such as weight loss, anemia, or older age with new-onset symptoms [of heartburn], first-line therapy with antacids is perfectly acceptable.

But remember that relying on a bottle of antacids may not always be successful in treating indigestion, and those very antacids may cause some side effects of their own: Taking antacids can result in diarrhea, constipation, feeling nauseated, and getting headaches.

If you have got either heartburn or indigestion that you can’t remedy with lifestyle and dietary changes, it’s best to see your doctor to rule out the possibility of an underlying digestive health or other condition and get advice on getting real and lasting relief.

Generally, it is important that you seek urgent medical help, if you have the following symptoms: • Unintentional weight loss or loss of appetite • Repeated vomiting or vomiting with blood • Black, tarry stools Causes • Trouble swallowing that gets progressively a number of symptoms and can often be a sign worse • Fatigue or weakness, which may be sympof some other health condition. Indigestion is most often traced to: toms of anemia • Foods that are spicy, high in fat, or greasy • Shortness of breath, sweating or chest pain • Eating too quickly radiating to the jaw, neck or arm • Eating large portion sizes • Chest pain on exertion or with stress .

• Drinking large amounts of alcohol • Drinking excessive caffeine Possible complications • Overeating Although indigestion does not usually have • Fatty, greasy or spicy foods serious complications, it can affect your quality • Too much chocolate or carbonated beverages of life by making you feel uncomfortable and • Smoking causing you to eat less. When indigestion is • Anxiety caused by an underlying condition, that condition • Certain antibiotics, pain relievers and iron can also have its own complications. supplements .

Dietary importance There are a lot of foods that can aid digestion.

Underlying conditions for indigestion include Fibre - Eat a lot of fibre . For a healthy bowel, • Conditions like gastritis, or gallstones you need fibre from a variety of sources, such as • Feeling stressed or anxious wholemeal bread, brown rice, fruit and vegetable • Smoking tobacco products , beans • Medication side effects.

Water - It’s important to keep drinking, espe• Gastritis cially water. It encourages the passage of waste • Peptic ulcers through your digestive system and helps soften • Celiac disease stools. Fibre acts like a sponge, absorbing water.

• Gallstones Without fluid, the fibre can’t do its job and you’ll • Constipation get constipation. . A good way to make sure • Pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis) you’re getting enough fluids is to drink a glass • Stomach cancer of water with every meal. Avoid caffeine drinks • Intestinal blockage as they can cause heartburn.

• Reduced blood flow in the intestine (intestinal Fatty foods -, such as chips, burgers and fried ischemia) foods, are harder to digest and can cause stomach pain and heartburn. Cutting back on greasy fried Prevention and treatment foods eases your stomach’s workload.

You can have heartburn and indigestion Spicy food - cut down on spicy foods , that can together, and they may even feel similar, but aggravate acid formation and reflux. they’re not interchangeable. Both heartburn Fizzy drinks - stay off fizzy and carbonated and indigestion describe symptoms that occur drinks , but rather go on milk, herbal teas, and after you eat, often from eating foods that tend yoghurt. to cause these symptoms and from the way that Yoghurt - Live yoghurts contain probiotyou eat — too much or too quickly. ics which are so-called friendly bacteria , that Heartburn can be a symptom of indigestion, also occur naturally in the gut and have been since indigestion is a collection of symptoms, linked to all sorts of digestive health benefits, but heartburn is also its own distinct symptom. including helping irritable bowels syndrome Indigestion, on the other hand, isn’t related to and traveller’s diahorrea.

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

Can Germany End Italy Jinx?

PAGE. 29

02.07.2016

Paul Le Guen

?

Can He Lead Nigeria to Russia 2018

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Can Le Guen Lead Nigeria to Russia 2018?

After failing to qualify for the second successive Africa Cup of Nations, and included in a “group of death” for the preliminaries of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Amaju Pinnick led Nigeria Football Federation is targeting French -man, Paul Le Guen, to lead Super Eagles to the promised land. In this report, Kunle Adewale asks if Le Guen can part the qualification red sea for Nigeria

I

n spite of Sunday Oliseh’s unceremonious exit as Super Eagles coach and Amaju Pinnick’s insistence of his passion for a local coach for the senior national team, it came as a little surprise that the egg heads of the Nigeria Football Federation now favour Frenchman Paul Le Guen to lead Super Eagles in its quest for a ticket to 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“At the moment, everything remains temporal. We are weighing a lot of options and within the next few weeks, we are going to come out with a statement. But inasmuch as we are weighing a lot of options; we are not leaving the door closed. We are still working at the coaches that are in charge presently.

“We are looking at their adequacies and inadequacies. We are looking at the appraisal and if at the end of the day, we realise that they cannot live up to the federation’s expectation, we would look beyond them. At the moment, my dream is to have a Nigerian coach anytime, but it goes beyond technical competence on the field.

What about managerial prowess?

There are lot things that come to play when it comes to coaching,” Pinnick had told THISDAY before going for Le Guen.

The Glass House boss said while he was in Ghana as a match commissioner, he engaged some Ghanaian players and was told Avram Grant spent 18 hours with his18 players – meaning he spent an hour per player. “And what do they do, it’s just all about psychology. Do our coaches have the energy to do that?” he queried.

Speaking further, he said: “We do not want to make any mistake this time around. Even if we are in a group that has Algeria and Egypt, we would still qualify. We don’t care who is in our group. Other countries should be scared of Nigeria now because of the quality of the new team we are presenting.

“One thing I can assure Nigerians is that whatever decision we arrived at eventually, would be in the best interest of the country without any bias.

But my dream is to have a Nigerian coach, but if ultimately we settled for a foreign coach, it will not be for more than two years.

“Nigeria has the youngest and the most enterprising team in the world

today. Look at the Italian team playing in Euro 2016, they don’t have any big name but look at what they did against Belgium that boast of well-known players. Today’s world is youth football; players between the ages of 18 and 21.”

Pinnick, however, agreed that the World Cup qualifying draws that pitted Nigeria against Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia would be tough to scale through "It is a tough draw, but then I have always said that you have to beat the best to get to the World Cup. Now, we have the draw, we know how to prepare. The preparation has to start right now and we must make good use of every single day leading to the kickoff of the series. The other pools are tough as well, because for me, you can never afford to underrate any team these days. Now, we must quickly sort out the issue of Head Coach and his assistants and put every other thing in place in good time,” Pinnick said.

The leadership of the NFF may settle for the Frenchman as the manager to lead the Super Eagles campaign to qualify for the next FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The NFF leadership was said to have weighed all the options available from the coaches that applied for the job and may settle for the former Olympique Lyon and Cameroon coach.

A top level source at the Glass House in Abuja hinted that Le Guen appears to have first-hand knowledge of almost all top Nigerian professional players in Europe and is ready to roll with them as soon as possible.

“He knows our players very well and how to use them. In our meeting with him earlier, Paul (Le Guen) demonstrated to us his capacity to turn around our football. We are also looking at reaping from his knowledge of both Cameroun where he coached the Indomitable Lions and Algeria who are desperate to have him,” the NFF source said.

Meanwhile, former national team coach and captain, Christian Chukwu believes that Nigeria stand a chance against Cameroon and Algeria to qualify for the 2018 World Cup but said early preparations and immediate appointment of a

Le Guen

31

JULY 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Can Le Guen Lead Nigeria to Russia 2018? substantive handler will ensure the country avoid a tortuous route to Russia 2018.

“Why not? We stand a very big chance to qualify likewise others but all depends on our level of preparations. If we prepare very well, we have a very young team that can qualify us from the group. Though they are not pushovers, but the truth is that the way we are talking about them is also the same way they would be having sleepless nights because of us.

“They are very afraid of us and another thing that gives us an advan-

tage is that they would be playing at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations while we will not, which gives us plenty time to get ready and be focused,” he said.

Le Guen had a successful managerial career in France, most notably leading Olympique Lyonnaiis to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles and has also managed Stade Rennais, Paris Saint-Germain, Glasgow Rangers and the Cameroonian national team During his time at Rennes between 1998 and 2001, Le Guen was noted for signing then unknown players, such as Shabani Nonda and EL Hadji Diouf,

Le Guen

who under his guidance, developed into talented footballers. He resigned from Rennes in 2001 after a fall-out with the club's board. This led to his taking a year off from football.

Le Guen replaced Jacques Santini as manager of Olympique Lyonnais in 2002 after they captured their first league title. He experienced a grim start to his managerial career at Lyon, winning only three games of the first nine, but eventually took Lyon to a further three consecutive championships and reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-final. He

resigned in 2005, the day after the club won their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 championship.

After leaving the club, Le Guen embarked upon another year away from football management. During this time, he turned down management positions at several top European clubs including Benfica and Lazio.

In March 2006, Le Guen agreed to replace Alex McLeish as manager of Rangers on a three-year contract with the option to extend his stay at Ibrox, He however made a poor start to his Ibrox career. His record across his first 10 league games was the worst start to a season by an Old Firm debutant since John Greig. He left Rangers by mutual consent in 2007 Le Guen was named Cameroon's national football team manager in July 2009, signing a five-month contract and made an immediate impact by leading the team to qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

However Cameroon were the first team officially knocked out of the 2010 World Cup. He announced his resignation on 24 June 2010.

In 2011, he e accepted an offer from Oman national football team and led Oman to qualification for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Oman were eliminated in the group stage of the tournament with one win and two losses. He was sacked on November 2015 after a poor start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

“We do not want to make any mistake this time around. Even if we are in a group that has Algeria and Egypt, we would still qualify.

We don’t care who is in our group. Other countries should be scared of Nigeria now because of the quality of the new team we are presenting" 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

Le Guen passing instructions to a Cameroonian player while he was in charge of the Indomitable Lions

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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JULY 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016…

Germany Seek to End Italy Jinx Not many would have betted on Italy to put up the kind of impressive performance the Azzuris have exhibited so far in the Euro 2016 considering the lack-luster state of the Serie A and the lack of known stars in the team. However, Coach Antonio Conte had been able to turn the team to a force and a world beater. After sending the defending champions-Spain packing, Italy’s next hurdle is world champions-Germany, who have scores to settle after being eliminated before home fans at 2006 World Cup and the last edition of the Euros. With revenge at the back of their mind and the quality of players at Joachim Loew’s disposal, the Azzurris must be at their best to get pastThe Crusaders.

G

ermany are determined to snap their tournament losing streak to Italy dating back almost half a century when the two meet in a Euro 2016 quarter-final today in Bordeaux, players said on Wednesday.

The world champions have lost to Italy in every tournament’s knockout match they have played against them, starting from a 1970 World Cup semi-final.

They also lost the 1982 World Cup final, a 2006 World Cup semi-final in Germany and a Euro 2012 semi-final to them.

The Germans, four times World Cup winners like the Italians, have also met Italy on four occasions in group stages of tournaments, drawing every time and failing to record a single win over them.

“We have matured and developed but we know that everything is possible. We know we have to bring a top performance but we are ready, ready to rewrite history,” Germany’s goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke told reporters.

Germany, who have won just eight of their 33 encounters against Italy since 1923, have yet to concede a goal in their four matches of the tournament and, after winning the 2014 World Cup, are deservedly among the title favourites in France.

Indeed, Germany coach Joachim Loew insists the world champions have no Italian complex as they attempt to break their Azzurri curse in today’s quarterfinal.

German fans will at least take heart from a 4-1 rout of a lacklustre Italy in their most recent meeting in a friendly in March. But Loew knows today’s clash with a place in the last four at stake will be an utterly different proposition. “We have no Italian trauma. We don’t have any fear of them, just trust in our own skills,” Loew said.

In the same vein, Germany defender, Mats Hummels, said they will use painful lessons, learnt from their Euro 2012 defeat to Italy, for today's quarter-final against the Azzurri.

Hummels knows the onus falls on him and centre-back partner Jerome Boateng to shut down Italy's attack while Germany are the only quarter-finalists yet to concede a goal.

"We've learnt from 2012 that we can't fall behind, or it will be brutally hard, because they are very flexible with their three or five-man defence. I'd be very happy if we don't go behind. Like us, Italy are a tournament team and it will be very difficult to beat them," said Hummels.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is unbeaten in his last five games dating back to a pre-Euro 2016 friendly win over Hungary, a Germany record.

It promises to be a busy afternoon against Italy for Hummels, Boateng and Neuer, who will be Bayern Munich team-mates next season, after Italy threw down a marker in their 2-0 last 16 win over Spain.

Despite beating Slovakia 3-0 in an impressive last 16 display, Loew has said his side must improve across the board.

"That's pretty much the bigger picture. Italy is not Slovakia and we realise that we'll need to bring more to the table," agreed Hummels.

He explained how Germany's water-tight defence in France is down to the whole team, not just their back four.

"We defend very high (up the pitch) and try to keep our opponent away from our goal by pressing them early. It's a good balance for the whole team," he said.

However, Italy Captain Gianluigi Buffon claims Italy have proved they can beat anyone after knocking out Spain and had fired a warning to quarter-final opponents Germany that the world champions are next on their hit list.

The 38-year-old Juventus star, was part of the team thrashed 4-0

by Spain in the final of Euro 2012.

But he helped Italy get their own back with their first competitive

Italy's Chielini celebrating Azzuri's first goal against Spain

Loew

Conte

win over the Spanish since 1994.

Buffon said: “This result is very important for us. We’ve shown by beating Spain that we can beat world-class teams.

Germany will have to be even better than we were in this game to beat us. We came here full of confidence because we knew what we could achieve in this tournament.

We have nothing to fear from anyone else left in the competition.

“After many years of defeats to Spain, we made up for it. Okay, it was only a roundof-16 tie, but it’s better than nothing.There is a long and tortuous road ahead of us and very difficult teams on our path. We cannot yet say that it is a great Euros for Italy, as we’re only in the quarter-finals.

“Having said that, I will not forget that many thought very little of us before the tournament began. We have proved that we were vastly underrated and I am proud of that.”

Italy are a team of few real stars held together by the strict tactical discipline of incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

Buffon said: “He is an expert tactician and he gets the best out of his players. He is an important coach and we are looking forward to the rest of the tournament now.”

Germany will look to reverse the tide of history when they take on Italy in the third UEFA EURO 2016 quarter-final in Bordeaux.

33

JULY 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016… Euro 2016…

France Set to End Iceland Fairytale

S

Facts

• Italy have never lost to Germany/West Germany in a competitive fixture and have beaten them in three semi-finals, including at UEFA EURO 2012.

• Three-time winners Germany have won all of their five UEFA European Championship quarter-finals while Italy, champions in 1968, have won two and lost two of their four last-eight ties.

• Italy have posted almost twice as many wins as Germany in their 30 previous encounters, their record reading W15 D10 L8.

• Germany, however, claimed a 4-1 friendly victory over Italy in Munich on March 30 – their first success against the Azzurri since a 2-0 friendly win in Zurich in June 1995.

• The countries also played out a 1-1 friendly draw at San Siro, Milan on November 15 2013.

• Italy have come out on top when it mattered most, beating Germany 2-1 in the UEFA EURO 2012 semi-finals in Warsaw.

• Italy's competitive record against Germany is four wins and four draws.

• The Azzurri were 2-0 victors over Germany in Dortmund in the 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-finals thanks to goals late in extra time from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero.

• Italy and West Germany's 1970 World Cup semi-final was a classic won by the Azzurri 4-3 after extra time.

• Italy overcame West Germany 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu in the 1982 World Cup final, their 40-year-old captain and goalkeeper Dino Zoff lifting the trophy.

• Germany goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke saved a penalty when the teams met in the EURO '96 group stage, a 0-0 draw eliminating Italy.

• Germany have not conceded in five straight matches (including four at UEFA EURO 2016) since a 3-1 pre-tournament friendly loss to Slovakia.

• This is Germany's first game in Bordeaux; German clubs' record in the city in 14 UEFA away fixtures against FC Girondins de Bordeaux reads W4 D1 L9.

• Die Mannschaft are participating in their 12th successive EURO since missing out on the final tournament as West Germany in 1968, their first attempt at qualifying.

• EURO winners in 1972, 1980 and 1996 – and three-time runners-up – Germany were last absent from the semi-finals in 2004, when they did not survive the group stage.

• The defeat by the Republic of Ireland halted a run of four consecutive victories for Antonio Conte's side, during which they had not let in a single goal. They have nevertheless won five of their last six matches, keeping a clean sheet in every victory.

• This is Italy's ninth EURO final tournament and their sixth in a row since sitting out the 1992 edition in Sweden. Only twice have they failed to advance through the group stage – in 1996 and 2004.

• Italy won the 1968 EURO and have been runners-up twice since – in 2000 and 2012.

• Italy (W7 D3) were among four teams unbeaten in qualifying alongside England, Austria and Romania. The Italians also have the longest ongoing UEFA European Championship qualifying unbeaten run, having avoided defeat in their last 30 qualifying fixtures.

• This is Italy's second trip to Bordeaux following a 2-2 group-stage draw with Chile at the 1998 World Cup. Italian clubs' away record against Girondins de Bordeaux is W4 D1 L3 – all games at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

urprise Euro 2016 quarterfinalists Iceland want a fairytale ending to their run, like the one that Leicester City enjoyed when they stunned the soccer world by clinching the Premier League title this season.

Leicester, with no big names in the squad, finished ahead of far more illustrious English clubs in what was one of the biggest upsets in club football.

Iceland, in their first major tournament, have already taken the competition by storm, advancing past the group stage and then beating England 2-1 on Monday to set up a quarter-final clash with hosts France.

"I think I would like it to end like it ended with Leicester City," Iceland joint coach Heimir Hallgrimsson told reporters. "They played on their strengths and we are trying to play on our strengths.

"There is the same team spirit in both teams. We are willing to work for each other."

While Iceland had already exceeded expectations, they were ready to face France in much the same way as they did

Head to Head 01/01/23 23/11/24 28/04/29 02/03/30 01/01/33 15/11/36 26/03/39 26/11/39 05/05/40 30/03/55 18/12/55 31/05/62 13/03/65 17/06/70 26/02/74 08/10/77 14/06/78 11/07/82 22/05/84 05/02/86 18/04/87 10/06/88 25/03/92 23/03/94 21/06/95 19/06/96 20/08/03 01/03/06 04/06/06 09/02/11 28/02/12 15/11/13 29/03/16

Italy Germany Italy Germany Italy Germany Italy Germany Italy West Germany Italy West Germany West Germany Germany Italy West Germany Germany Italy Italy Italy West Germany Germany Italy Germany Germany Italy Germany Italy Germany Germany Germany Italy Germany

3-1 0-1 1-2 0-2 3-1 2-2 3-2 5-2 3-2 1-2 2-1 0-0 1-1 3-4 0-0 1-2 0-0 3-1 0-1 1-2 0-1 1-1 1-0 2-1 2-0 0-0 0-1 4-1 0-2 1-1 1-2 1-1 4-1

England.

"This was a game for them (England) to lose. All the pressure was on England," Hallgrimsson said. "They mocked us a bit before the game but we had nothing to lose. When you go into a game like that, you can be relaxed and show your best.

"Against France we can go relaxed and show our best. We don't have the pressure of the entire world that we need to win this game. We want to win but we don't absolutely need to. That is a big benefit for us."

Hallgrimsson and joint coach Lars Lagerback warned, however, that France would be keeping up the pressure until the end.

"That is why they are scoring at the end of games," Hallgrimsson said.

"Because they are really tiring their opponents. Everybody is playing against France with that in mind, not to concede.

"They keep on going until the end.

They tire their opponents and at the end of the games they score vital goals.

We have to concentrate the whole Germany Italy Germany Italy Germany Italy Germany Italy Germany Italy West Germany Italy Italy Italy West Germany Italy Italy Germany West Germany West Germany Italy Italy Germany Italy Italy Germany Italy Germany Italy Italy Italy Germany Italy

International friendly International friendly International friendly International friendly International friendly International friendly International friendly International friendly International friendly International friendly International friendly FIFA World Cup International friendly FIFA World Cup International friendly International friendly FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup FIFA 80th Birthday International friendly International friendly UEFAEuropeanChampionship International friendly International friendly Centenary UEFAEuropeanChampionship International friendly International friendly FIFA World Cup International friendly UEFAEuropeanChampionship International friendly International friendly

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

34

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

L-R: Marketing Manager, DStv; Chioma Afe, President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Tijjani Umar and Liaison Officer, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos, Tayo Orewemen, presenting the winners trophy to the Captain of Kano Pillars during the Final of 2016 DStv Premier Basketball League in Lagos recently

Former internationals, Henry Nwosu and Tajudeen Disu admonishing participants at COPA Coca Cola in Port Harcourt...recently

Joshua Warned to be Wary of Price David Price would present a far more serious threat to Anthony Joshua than Dominic Breazeale or Charles Martin did, says the Liverpudlian's trainer Dave Coldwell.

Joshua defended his IBF world heavyweight title for the first time last weekend with relative ease - halting Breazeale inside seven rounds at The O2. Back in April, he easily blasted aside another American, Martin, to win the belt.

With the Londoner (17-0-KO17) not certain to face mandatory challenger Joseph Parker next, Price has thrown his hat into the ring as he looks to re-establish himself as a major player on a British boxing scene enjoying an all-time high. Coldwell believes Price is well capable of doing so.

He told Sky Sports: "We're back in training and he's looking very good. Pricey works really hard in the gym and is very focused. We're waiting on a date and we'd like to get out in July but I'll leave that to Team Sauerland.

"He would need a couple of fights before facing Anthony Joshua. We'd like a step up for his next one, then another and then let him off the leash. It depends on what activity he gets.

"If he can get busy and get out a couple of fights then I'm happy for him to fight Joshua in November.

"There's a difference in Pricey now. He went through a very negative spell of his career where he would doubt himself, walk out and

not even get his jab off. He wasn't seeking and destroying - he was waiting to see what the other guy was going to do.

"Now, Pricey is going out there to inflict damage. This is heavyweight boxing and if you let a 16st, 17st or 18st bloke have a shot on your chin, I don't care if you're the heavyweight champion of the world - you're going over.

"Joshua is a good fighter and Joshua can punch but, equally, he's got to deal with the firepower that Pricey has got and it's serious. I'm talking world-class punching power. Anybody who knows anything about boxing knows that David Price can really punch."

Kano Pillars Win 2016 DSTV Premier Basketball Following its loss to Mark Mentors in last season’s finals, Kano Pillars Basketball club came back from a 4-point deficit against Lagos-based Nigerian Customs after the first quarter to win the 2016 DStv Premier Basketball league finals last Saturday.

Kano Pillars defeated Customs 71 – 53 points in the final match up which took place in the indoor hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

In a towering display of skills and experience, Kano Pillars tutored by Sani Ahmed were losing 13-17 after the first quarter but came back to emphatically dominate the second by 27-7 points to lead 40-24 at half-time.

Pillars continued their impressive form in the third quarter winning by 22 -19, as the Nigerian Customs, Scott Nnaji who were playing in their first Finals in over a decade, fought back to take the last quarter 10 – 9.

However, it was a little too late as Kano Pillars had won the finals with veteran player, Abubakar Usman of

Kano Pillars, amassing 24 points and nine rebounds while his teammate, AbdulWahab Yahaya scored 13 points and had nine rebounds. With the victory, Kano Pillars, which has now won its 5th title having being previously crowned champions in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and Nigerian Customs, will represent the country in the African basketball championship.

In the third place match, Coach Ogoh Daudu inspired the Rivers Hoopers to defeat Kwara Falcons in a tightly contested game, winning 59-57 points.

In other classification games, Plateau Peaks defeated Nigeria Potters to emerge as fifth and sixth placed teams, respectively, while Gombe Bulls took a 75-50 point win over Oluyole Warriors to take seventh and eight positions.

Speaking after the action-packed games, Marketing Manager, DStv Nigeria, Chioma Afe expressed delight over the high standard of play exhibited during the finals.

“We are very happy with the

passion, dedication and commitment of the players, coaches and administrators of the game during this league season. At DStv, we are excited at the progress basketball is making, which is indicated in the number of fans returning to court. We are fully committed to enhancing the game in Nigeria by introducing innovation and excitement in the coming season,” Afe said.

Speaking on Pillars and Customs continental chances, President, Nigeria Basketball Federation Tijani Umar said that “Pillars are back to where they’ve always been over the years. We have had challenges with the teams who represent us on the continent. My expectation is that this year, Kano Pillars will rise and surpass past exploits.

They must get creative and better and they must play in the mould of the Kano pillars of old. Customs must regroup, buy better players and put more resources on the table, so that when they go into the tournament, Nigeria can stand tall and at least get

Navy Tests Personnel Fitness for Military Duties Chiemelie Ezeobi To ensure that it's personnel are fit to carry out their military duties, especially in the face of insurgency and militancy bedevilling the North-east and Southern part of the country, the Nigerian Navy yesterday conducted a physical fitness test on it's officers and men in Lagos.

Leading the personnel in the 10km route march, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai, said it was targeted at

keeping personnel fit for military duties.

While addressing the personnel at Navy Town, Ojo, where the route march started from and headed to Kirikiri Prisons and back to Navy Air Station, the FOC said it was also to foster esprit de corps.

He said, "The event is targeted at keeping personnel fit for military duties, fostering esprit de corps and providing an avenue as well as to deter criminalities in the command's area of responsibility. ''In the face of current security challenges in the country, the need to keep personnel fit for operation cannot be overemphasised.

"This is why fitness and mental alertness are among the critical element of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette- Ibas' policy thrust. ''It is with this in mind that the Nigerian Navy organises the one-day route march every quarter aimed at raising the level of physical fitness of personnel in the command."

Bobai also advised officers and men to continue to be law abiding citizens, while stressing the need to maintain cordial and improved relationship with the civilian populace and relevant stakeholders.

WBFN Budgets N5m Prize for Ochei Wheelchair The Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria has earmarked N5 million as prize money for winners at the forthcoming Sir Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Championship scheduled to hold betweenSeptember 19 -24 at the Molade Okoya Thomas Sports of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Disclosing this Thursday at a media parley heralding the 5th edition of the championship sponsored by the former speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, was the president, Wheelchair

Basketball Federation of Nigeria, Bukola Olopade, who having commended the sponsor informed that 15 states within the federation have signified intention to participate while three countries -Ghana, Benin Republic and Cameroon are being expected.

He added that para military teams might be part of this year's edition .

According to the former Commissioner for Youth and Sport in Ogun State,the championship would also not only help discover new talents but will also put

the national Under 23 team in shape ahead of the forthcoming U23 World Cup elimination holding in Durban, South Africa between October 1-8.

He said all is ready for this years edition and that fifteen states and three countries from the West Africa-Ghana, Benin Republic and Cameroon will participate, adding that paramilitary team are been expected.

He also informed that the federation will subsidize feeding allowance of all the participating teams as a way of motivation.

Nwosu: Copa Coca-Cola Grooming Tomorrow’s Stars Today Former Nigerian international, Henry Nwosu has praised Copa Coca-Cola in its drive at developing and growing future football stars for Nigeria.

“Through Copa Coca-Cola, grassroots football can be encouraged to groom our stars of tomorrow, today,” says the former assistant coach at the 2002 World Cup and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The former footballer was a confidence booster to the young footballers at the coaching clinics for the Under-15 football teams participating in the ongoing COPA CocaCola tournament.

The coaching clinics which took place ahead of the Southern regional finals in Port Harcourt was also cochaired by ex-international footballer, Tajudeen Disu, who supported Nwosu’s statement by adding that discipline, determination, and dedication are the ultimate prima needed to train these teens to become football stars and also help them achieve other future endeavours.

Speaking on the coaching clinics, Nwosu said, “I am passionate about coaching clinics because it is one of the ways that Coca-Cola is encouraging our youths to leave the streets and be worthy ambassadors of this country and their families. Through Copa Coca-Cola, grassroots football can be encouraged to groom our stars of tomorrow, today.

Nwosu, who remains the youngest Nigerian player to win the African Nations Cup, shared his teenage experience on combining education and football.

“I am passionate about grassroots football because I started out exactly like some of these teens. I sneaked out of the house most afternoons just to play football because I was that passionate about it. My parents eventually decided to let me play football as long as I focused intently on my education and put in my best.

“To prove to my parents that I could play football and still be studious, I worked twice as hard in class and on the football field and excelled. I want these teens to know that many doctors, lawyers, and military officials had managed to successfully play football and still excel in their education and jobs. If you want to play football, by all means, play but do not let your education suffer,” Nwosu said.

Corroborating Nwosu’s statement, American-based Tajudeen Disu explains why grassroots football remains a priority on his agenda and why he is proud to contribute to the society through the Copa Coca-Cola coaching clinics.

In Disu’s words “Back in the days, my team mates and I took our education as seriously as we took our love for football. Years later, we are glad we combined the two because it is the combination of the two that made us successful. These teens are rising football stars and could be recruited from within their secondary schools like I was.

To build a future they can be proud of and retain their love for football, these teens need to take their education seriously too.”

Reiterating his reason for participating in Copa CocaCola, Disu continued, “This is my second year of training teens in the Copa Coca-Cola coaching clinics and it has been an exciting experience for me. Big kudos goes to Coca-Cola for their continuous efforts in the development of grassroots football because this competition has the driving power to keep teens off the streets and give them a reason to remain in school.

Speaking at the event, The Marketing Manager, CocaCola, Cletus Onyebuoha, expressed his appreciation for the continued support of the ex-internationals.

“Coca-Cola strongly believes in the potential of Nigerian teens and we are well aware that football is a passion point for them. Through the trainings and motivation provided by our partnering seasoned ex-internationals, Copa Coca-Cola will continuously provide opportunities for skills acquisition and sports education.”

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JULY 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

AFRICA PLAYS

with KENNETH EZAGA 0807 0530 677, zigi199@yahoo.com

More Gains for the NPFL as La Liga Partnership Yields Early Fruit The recently-signed partnership between the Nigerian Professional Football League and the Spanish La Liga is beginning to yield gains just a couple of months after both parties sealed the landmark deal in Abuja.The Spanish League Association Foundation has already voted 54,000 euros, as well as sporting materials, including training shirts, official balls and other equipment, to El Kanemi Warriors in a bid to help assuage the problems faced by the Borno State club as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency. Also an All-Star team of the NPFL will head to the European nation in August where they will played friendly games with top-flight outfits Malaga and Valencia.The matches, which will be beamed live, will help to further promote the Nigerian league and open new opportunities abroad for our players.

One fully expects that more encouraging yields will be coming through from this partnership and this would no doubt enhance the marketability our players, clubs and league. In the ultracompetitive world we live in today a country like Nigeria with a population size of 180m, lots of oil and an abundance of mineral resources, should be an irresistibly beautiful bride, if we know how to apply our make-up properly. I have often maintained that if we get our act together, the money to run football and other sports would come in from overseas.This La Liga deal shows that if we keep our standards, the big players in the global sports industry will be keen to get a piece of the action, which then translate to foreign direct investments, jobs for Nigerians, and more wealth, peace and unity in society.

F

Yobo gives the NPFL more bounce rom a marketing perspective the recent decision

by Nigeria great Joseph Yobo to play in the NPFL is massively significant because it would help improve the appeal of the league and likely prompt millions in new sponsorship. From a historical and cultural perspective it could mark the turning point when Nigeria’s biggest football exports started retiring home to entertain fans across the country. From the footballing perspective, Yobo may be past his prime, but playing in the league should set off ripples should lead to improvements in discipline and professionalism among players in the league as well as engender more respect for our players and clubs. Were I a brand manager handling one of the big Nigerian brands, this is that time when I would say to my management: “better to get in on the ground floor and enjoy the ride upwards”. There is plenty to look forward to these days and many reasons why the time has come for us to help the League Management Company cross the line. We all stand to benefit from the business boost in the end.

A new dawn?

Speaking with the LMC boss, Shehu Dikko, in the course of last week, I was quite impressed to find out that Yobo had approached the organization about playing in the league of his own accord. In fact not only is the experienced central defender keen on playing at home, he is interested in helping to persuade other Nigerians stars to do likewise. Wouldn’t it be great if other top players followed his lead like the South American stars often do? Imagine players like John Utaka, Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwingie, Chinedu Obasi, Taye Taiwo wearing our clubs’ colours?

Other younger players could also join NPFL clubs on loan when they are out of favour at their clubs and need to sustain fitness and form. This would pull fans into our stadiums and boost businesses across several sectors of our economy. It would however cost a lot of money, especially as the LMC has to shoulder some of the wages.

Here is why our big businesses must think more about supporting the league rather than throwing money at the European league. The more successful the NPFL is, the more jobs it would create, and the more wealth in society which comes back to sponsoring businesses in form of patronage Two Nigerians who inspire me It is always refreshing to see Nigerians who are ready to fight through daunting odds to bring success to this country; men who have risen above the rampant cynicism and the widespread resignation that have virtually crippled good initiative in this country. Alhaji Shehu Dikko, the chairman of the LMC, and Honourable Nduka Irabor, who is the CEO, have been incredible in the pursuit of success for the NPFL. These two have battled, and are still battling, past obstacles to keep growing the league. I have found these two men, who I know personally, an inspiration.

One a creative mild-mannered leader charming his way through the system, the other a hard-nosed dealer with

the just the right dose of stubbornness and resilience needed to battle Africa's many demons. It is a symbiotic relationship and one that has stuck to its difficult task despite the frustrations of Nigerian fans, media and sponsors being slow to support.

I think we must all now be their 12th man and help the NPFL achieve its lofty potential.

Why sports minister Dalung must rethink the issue of a foreign coach Oga minister, if the Nigeria Football Federation needs to hire a foreign coach for the Super Eagles please support them financially, because you would find that you are doing yourself a world of good.

Success in football is a great way to keep Nigerians, especially the youth, happy, united and engaged. Nigerian coaches have held sway for 14 and a half years of the last 16 and the Super Eagles have somehow become serial losers. There are different ways to look at what is good for Nigeria.

One way is to keep employing Nigerian coaches and watching the Super

Eagles slip to the level of minnows like Swaziland and Chad. The other is to employ a world class coach regardless of his nationality, and watch the Super Eagles become a dominant force in Africa again. There is an economic cost to this. Our failures in recent years have cost us tens of millions of dollars in sponsorships, appearance fees, broadcast rights, endorsements, partnerships etc. Last time, we could only secure friendlies with the likes of Luxembourg – a European team ranked 146th in the world at the time!

We cannot keep making issues like this about nationalist sentiments in an increasingly interdependent world that offers every country to a global pool of world class talents. Even our ‘oga’ England are going for a foreign coach.

The crazy thing is that we employ Nigerian coaches and they in turn hire some K-legged foreign assistants. LOL. Should the consideration not be about the Super Eagles bringing better results and opportunities for Nigerians? Or is repeated failure bearable and consequent loss of business okay as long as it is brought on us by Nigerians?

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • July 2, 20 16

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ENTERTAINMENT FILE

with AKPOR GBEMRE; 07063000929. instagram: @mister411

Peller

Don Jazzy

Top 5 Record Label CEOs in Nigeria

There are only few wave-making record labels in the country at the moment. Akpor Gbemre profiles some of the biggest local players in the music industry who have kept the game going

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SHINA PELLER/ Aquila Records illionaire Shina Peller cuts the image of “Lucious Lyon,” major character in the popular American “Empire” series.

He’s the CEO of wave-making record label, Aquilla Records, home to fast rising Tilla, Base One and Que Peller. Shina is popular for owning the most luxurious club in Lagos, Quilox; built with N1 billion. Shina is the son of late popular magician, Professor Peller and he is well known in the social and political circles.

E-MONEY/5 Star Emeka Okonkwo fondly called E Money is the money bag behind 5 Star Music enterprise and he doesn’t hide the fact that he’s rich and ready to spend to position his record label, which has his elder brother, KCEE, Harrysong and Skibii on its roster. It’s major record label in the country. EMoney who is reportedly a billionaire, also has huge investments in real estate and the maritine sector.

DON JAZZY/Mavin Renowned producer, Don Jazzy is the leader of the Supreme Mavin Dynasty.

SMD is about the biggest record label in Nigeria at the moment and home to Tiwa Savage, Dr Sid, D’Prince, Reekado Banks, D’ija and Korede Bello. All the artistes signed to Mavin Records have inked major ambassadorial deals since inception of the record

E-Money

label. Tiwa Savage (Pepsi/MTN); Dr Sid (MTN); Reekado Banks (Glo); Dija (Glo); Korede Bello (glo). While Don Jazzy is currently an ambassador to MTN, Johnnie Walker and a host of other brands. Don Jazzy-led Mavin is worth over N500m.

AUDU MAIKORI/Choc City Audu Maikori is the President of Chocolate City, one of the foremost record labels in Africa. Born in Kaduna, Audu is a lawyer, creative industry specialist, entrepreneur and social activist. Chocolate City currently boasts of: Femi Kuti, M.I Abaga, Victoria Kimani, Jesse Jagz, Koker, just to mention a few. A former Nigerian Idol judge, Audu has a strong passion for developing talents and championing the cause of Nigerian youths.

STEVE BABA EKO/ X3M Records Advertising industry guru, Steve Babaeko is the CEO of X3M Ideas and X3M Records, home to the following talents: Praiz, Simi and Sammy.

Babaeko’s agency X3M Ideas which is arguably one of the young and most successful advertising and digital agencies in the country at the moment, boasts of accounts like: Etisalat, DSTV, Diamond Bank. What the dreadlocks wearing entrepreneur does is to replicate his mastery of branding into building talents in his record label and so far the former 141 worldwide boss has been successful.

Maikori

Baba Eko

JULY 2, 2014 •THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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ENTERTAINMENT FILE

I’m My Role Model – Bonny Dee California-based Nigerian lyricist, known as Bonny Dee, chats with ‘Entertainment File’ from Los Angeles. Bonny Dee (born Eta David Chukwuji) is an indigenous rapper and street-hop artiste. Being far away from home is not holding him back from carving a niche for himself in the Nigerian music industry

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ho is Bonny Dee? Well, my name is Eta David Chukwudi from Obowo L.G.A in Imo State also from the family of five, am the middle child.

Tell us how you came about the stage name Bonny Dee? Bonny Dee has been a name I had since my high school days which ‘Bonny’ in the dictionary stands for anything or anyone that smell good and ‘Dee’ Is the first letter of my name.

How long have you been in the music industry ?

Bonny Dee started singing at the age of 7 with local drums, acoustic instruments and analog equipments which made him exceptionally good and stood out among his contemporary.

Tell us about your background, family and education.

Apart from my singing career I’m also a model, a 2nd runner up in Mr Africa 2014,and a student of Sacramento University, California, studying law with a degree in Homeland security.

What inspired your hit single “Wo Space” produced by Major Bangz?

Laughs!!, like every other hit, me, Major Bangz, Edwino and Emeretus Squandary just got done on a four

track session we recorded four songs in one day and ‘Wo Space’ was the Last , it came from accumulated vibes I gathered from the previous records.

How does your stay in California influence your music?

We get to hear songs before they even come out so that puts us one step ahead of the hustle.

Which artiste locally and internationally would you like to work with?

Right now, I’m focusing more locally because I am an indigenous rapper so I will say that will be my big brother Eze Nnunu Phyno.

Who are your role models?

I am my role model.

If you weren’t an artist what else do you think you would be doing?

Only God Knows Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

In the next five years I see myself having some artists under my name.

What’s your take on Nigerian music in general?

We all are working harder to make sure the industry does not fall that includes the media, bloggers, presenters, producers, directors, the list goes on an on, so our hustle shall not be in vain.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • July 2, 2016

July 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • July 2, 2016

FITNESS FILE The Edenlifestyle corner

Get The Right Shoes For Your Workout

with

MAJE AYIDA

majeayida@edenlifenigeria.com www.edenlifenigeria.com, 07062614551

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earing the right shoes while exercising can mean the difference between a comfortable workout, and one filled with pain, or worse-injury. Do not underestimate the importance of wearing the right shoes to suit the type of workouts you do. When I incorporated skipping to my workouts I quickly discovered how unsuitable my trainers were and was forced to get a new pair, which totally changed the game.

With thousands of workout shoes on the market, how do you know which one is right for you?

Running Shoes Versus Cross-Trainers Go with running shoes if you mostly jog or walk, since they’re engineered for heel-to-toe motion. Go with cross-trainers if your routine includes an activity like aerobics, weight training, or kickboxing (basically any exercise on a hard surface that involves side-to-side movement).

What’s Your Foot Type?

Runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, and early-onset arthritis are just a few problems that arise from exercising in the wrong sneakers. In contrast, shoes designed to compensate for the impact of your feet can prevent injuries and improve structural alignment and performance. To determine your foot type: Have a podiatrist examine you or get an idea yourself by looking at the soles of a pair of worn-in flats. The wear patterns show where you’re putting pressure when you walk.

Top Outer Edge Worn You’re a supinator (or underpronator).

Supinators’ feet tend to have high arches and roll outward. You will need cushioning (also referred to, confusingly, as neutral)) sneakers for shock absorption.

Evenly Worn You’re neutral and have an average gait with equal weight distribution across the foot. You will need stability or moderatestability sneakers, which offer a balance of cushioning and support.

Top Inner Edge Worn You’re a pronator, which means your feet roll inward. Flat arches or low arches are common. You will need motioncontrol or high-stability sneakers to keep your feet better aligned with your legs.

If You’re a Supinator...

Look for soft midsoles (the layer between the mesh upper and the treads), since this type of foot doesn’t provide enough shock absorption on its own. That means the shoes’ soles will tend to be more flexible. You can also usually spot them by the shape of the sole. A cushioned shoe cuts in at the arch, resembling a kidney bean. In many cases, this foot type has the most freedom and can wear whichever sneakers feel best at the store.

If You’re a Pronator...

Look for shoes that are a contrasting color (often gray) near the arch. This indicates the presence of a dense material that provides reinforcement to keep the arches from collapsing. The shoes tend to be fairly stiff and will flex only near the toe area. The added support can sometimes give these sneakers a boxy appearance.

What’s Up With Those Funky Shoes That

Cycling shoes have a stiffer sole that gives extra support and efficient energy transfer as you pedal away.

They also protect your feet while riding and can help prevent foot cramping and fatigue more effectively than a traditional shoe. The type of bike pedal you have will also determine the kind of shoe needed.

For example, platform pedals don’t require a special type of footwear, but clip-less pedals require special shoes that have a cleat fitted into the sole Look Like Gloves for Feet?

They’re designed for barefoot running, a new movement that tries to replicate the unshod experience using barely-there shoes. This practice, which borrows from indigenous peoples who don’t have the luxury of the latest Nikes, supposedly strengthens the foot muscles and allows the feet to move more naturally. But is it safe? If you didn’t grow up running on

bare feet, it’s extremely risky, resulting in everything from stress fractures to arthritis. Feet not only need protection from hard, uneven surfaces but also require customized support for their unique structure.

Now let’s break things down by the type of workouts: Running While it can be tempting to shop for the biggest bargain at your local department store, investing in a quality running shoe is money well spent. Wearing poor quality shoes that don’t fit your unique anatomy and training goals results in problems. A good running shoe will offer the right amount of cushion, flexibility and breathability, but what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. In order to determine the right running shoe, it helps to know a little bit about your foot type (low, normal or high arch) as well as your pronation (how much the foot rolls in or out when it makes contact with the ground.) Most specialty running stores offer a free analysis of your foot and gait to find the best shoe for you.

Walking/Hiking Purchasing a quality walking shoe is a smart investment if walking is a primary mode of exercise for you. Although some running shoes can be used for walking, the inverse isn’t usually true. Walking shoes are more flexible through the ball of the foot to allow a greater range of motion through the roll of the forefoot. They also have greater arch support to protect where the force is heaviest on the foot.

The type of walking shoe you need will depend on a number of factors, including your foot and the typical walking terrain.

Aerobics/Cross-Training/Team Sports Cross-trainers or aerobic shoes are suitable for a wide variety of activities other than walking or running. They are also an option if you participate in many different kinds of activities without a primary mode of exercise dominating your workout schedule. In this case,

cross-trainers might be better (and less expensive) than buying a number of activity-specific shoes. Cross-trainers tend to have a wider outsole, lateral support all over (for activities that take place in directions other than forward motion) and additional support for the heels and legs. Lateral support is important for the side-to-side motion of activities like aerobics classes and certain sports.

If you do participate frequently in a specific sport like basketball or tennis, it’s worth investing in a shoe designed for the sport and the surface you’ll be playing on. You can even find shoes for aquatic activities like water aerobics that help increase the force of buoyancy in the water and also help protect the foot from minor cuts and scrapes.

Cycling Cycling shoes have a stiffer sole that gives extra support and efficient energy transfer as you pedal away. They also protect your feet while riding and can help prevent foot cramping and fatigue more effectively than a traditional shoe.

The type of bike pedal you have will also determine the kind of shoe needed. For example, platform pedals don’t require a special type of footwear, but clip-less pedals require special shoes that have a cleat fitted into the sole.

Weightlifting Weightlifting can encompass a wide variety of workouts, from a strength training video at home to a CrossFit class that incorporates Olympic powerlifting and plyometrics. The type of workouts you do will determine which kind of shoe is best.

In general, if you are participating in an activity more than a few times each week, it’s a good idea to buy a shoe designed specifically for it. It can be tempting to buy the first pair of shoes you find on sale, but many times, you get what you pay for. Poor-quality shoes can lead to poor-quality results (and injury), so do your homework before deciding which shoe is right for you. Your body will thank you for it.

JULY 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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FASHION FILE

The OSÉ Collection by

ÖFUURË

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

FASHION FILE

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

OSÉ Collection

Ö

FUURË is an african inspired clothing line run

by Tehilah Abakasanga, a 20-year old Nigerian designer and student living in Toronto, Canada.

Tehilah has been designing for TEHILAH since she was 16 but started ÖFUURË last year.

The OSÉ collection OSÉ means beautiful in Edo and she wanted to showcase African beauty with this collection and photo shoot.

The collection is African inspired and designed with ankara prints that have beautiful patterns with bold and vibrant colours, with retro cuts and styles to accentuate the woman’s body to make you feel beautiful. Styled with head wraps, gold and Ankara jewelry to complement the looks and give it an elegant and African feel.

Designed by: ÖFUURË by Tehilah @ofuure Models: Gershona @herapatra Mofe @mofe_t Photographer: Jeremy Rodney-Hall @jeremyrodneyhall Assistants: Yvonne @yvonne_ben Zara @its_zara_

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JULY 2, 2016

WITH

MARKET PLACE

OMOLABAKE FASHOGBON 08033621009

Committee Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Segun Olulade and Representative of Lagos State House of Assembly representing Surulere Constituency, Honourable Desmond Elliot with Reckitt Benckiser officials during the Grand Finale of Dettol Clean Naija Campaign at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos...,recently

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Association Of Business Executives (ABE), United Kingdom, Mr. Gareth Robinson; Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC),Prof. Julius Okojie; and Vice Chairman WiniGroup, Mr. Tim Akano, during the signing of tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on entrepreneurship studies in higher institutions and the conferment of ABE fellowship award on Prof Okojie. In Abuja...recently

Cassava Village Opens Soon in Niger State With over 2000 jobs to be created, a new cassava village, targeted at youth and women will soon be launched in Niger State.

According to Niger State coordinator for The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme, Dr. Mathew Ahmed, the

idea behind the village was to lift cassava production in the state and ultimately create jobs for youths and women.

Some of the activities that would be taking place in the center include: peeling of cassava tubers as well as grating and frying.

Ahmed disclosed that N150 million

would be needed to complete the project which is in Lokogoma, Wushishi local government of the state. He added that the state government had also shown its commitment in the project, having approved N87.1 million for its execution.

The construction of the village is presently ongoing and upon completion, would

UBA Releases Customised Tradeways, EHC launch Job Portal PayAttitude Tag Fast-growing courier firm, Tradeways However, every part of Nigeria has The United Bank of Africa, UBA, has branded its PayAttitude tag for class, convenience and efficiency.

The new customised tag with the bank’s identity replaces the old unbranded tag issued by the bank While there are a few banks in the country who can boast of a branded tag, UBA’s Divisional Head, Digital Banking, Yinka Adedeji, noted that the development further reinforced the bank’s commitment to the creation of innovative payment solutions.

He added: “UBA branded PayAttitude tags can be obtained from UBA business offices. They come in two variants; the PayAttitude Debit and PayAttitude Prepaid tags, depending on customer’s preference.

Pay attitude tag is an innovation in the Nigerian money payment industry that defies network connectivity as customers can easily use it to complete transactions in offline mode.

The payment solution which is attached to a customer’s account makes it possible for users to pay for goods and services with an adhesive payment tag attachable to mobile phones or flat surfaces. It addresses customers’ financial needs at the point of purchase even without payment card.

It is highly convenient for retail transactions and perfectly suits the lifestyle of mobile phone users.

Express International Limited and Edu Hub Consults, have announced the introduction of a job portal ‘TheMap.Online’.

This initiative is borne out of the need to engage the unemployed and underemployed in the country, particularly, the youth.

According to internet infrastructure developer, Edu Hub Consult, Anyanso MMA, the newly created portal would change the economy, empower the youths and boost economic activities within the value chains.

“Evidently, there is an increase in unemployment, high living cost with low standards; rural-urban migration, leading to abandonment of resources with false assumptions that certain areas offer better opportunities.

a unique opportunity for the people.

We want to change these trends through ‘TheMap’, he said.

He explained that the two collaborating firms were targeting one million jobs, out of which they would be offering Federal Government candidates about 10, 000, free online shops; another 10,000 for each of the 36 States, FCT and Local Government candidates, making a total of 370, 000 free online shops.

He added that they had made provision for 30, 000 free online shops for the internally displaced persons.

“The remaining 600, 000 free online shops out of the 1 million goes to every other Nigerian intending to start or already operating a retail business” , he said.

Police Partners Intel, Airtel to Improve Operations The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have entered into partnership with leading telecommunication firm, Airtel and global technology company, Intel, to enhance the digital knowledge of force officers.

This alliance will see men of the force provided with affordable and subsidised technology devices and internet bundles from Intel and Airtel respectively, while NPF microfinance bank would see to financing the devices.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal investigation and intelligence department, Zone 2, Lagos, DCP Isaac Akinmoyede, the latest development would enhance the operations of the force as well as efficiency of officers.

“So many benefits abound for businesses and individuals who are technologically aware and make good use of internet facility which boasts of unlimited information.

“The partnership with Airtel will provide us internet connectivity for free while

Intel will ensure that the best of devices are made available and accessible. This is a great step that has been taken to empower the Nigerian Police Force, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity,” he said.

Country Manager of Intel Corporation, Olubunmi Ekundare pointed that the joint partnership with NPF and Airtel was in harmony with Intel’s values on education and digital literacy by bringing technology closer to the people through affordable devices.

Senior Marketing Manager Devices and Partnerships, Airtel, Bobby Iduoze explained that internet opened a huge door of opportunities for individuals and businesses and informed the firm’s partnership with NPF to equip her members with internet connectivity that was needed for optimal performance.

All members of the force would benefit from the alliance while digital skills training would be made available to them through African Learning.

require services of marketers that would help in taking the village’s products to consumers.

Meanwhile, the International Fertilizer Development Company (IFDC) has promised to give free fertilizer to 112 farmer groups of the 350 farmer groups in the state.

Sterling Bank Puts Smiles on Workers Faces In what can be said to be uncommon in the Nigerian banking industry, Sterling Bank Plc., has adjusted its working conditions to promote work-life balance among its staff.

This adjustment which was effected through new policies introduced by the financial institution: Flexi-time and Flexi-place, allows workers to determine their own working hours by choosing a convenient time to come to work within the options provided by the bank and gives staff the opportunity to choose a convenient location that is closer to their places of residence from where they could discharge their job functions.

The initiative which complies with global best HR practices was according to the lender, currently being piloted in the bank’s corporate head office aimed at introducing flexibility in work arrangements for the Bank’s staff.

According to the Bank’s Executive Director, Strategy & Finance, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, the initiative would enhance productivity of staff, promote bonding among family members, reduce the stress of waking very early and spending long hours in traffic to get to the office early, improve the well-being of staff and ultimately promote work life balance among staff.

To ensure the effectiveness of the initiative which could be said to be a relief to the yearnings of workers, Abubakar noted that appropriate structures and resources had been put in place, adding that each team during the pilot phase, had a succession plan with back-ups knowledgeable on other duties and available at crucial periods.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

MEMOIRS Lisa Adejobi

I Wanted to Be Priest, but My Mother Withdrew Me from Seminary His mother took him from St. Theresa’s Catholic Minor Seminary, Oke-Are, Ibadan, because she objected to him becoming a Reverend Father. Nevertheless, he had resolved to succeed in life. So, he left his hometown, Imeko, without the consent of his parents, and embarked on a 68-kilometre journey to Abeokuta in search of a Catholic College, where he would complete his secondary school education. The Lisa of Imeko, Chief Paul Adesina Adejobi, who is now a force to reckon with today in Ogun State politics, took a bold step and walked up to Reverend Father Mark Andrew, the Principal of St. Peter’s Catholic College, then in Aro, Abeokuta. God used this priest to help him completehis education,withoutschoolfees. Andrewalsogavehimtherequiredrecommendationforemployment as a teacher of Latin at Our Lady of Apostles Catholic College, Ijebu Ode. The erstwhile Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and former Chairman, Ogun State SUBEB, speaks with Femi Ogbonnikan about his experience May we know about your back background?

M

Adejobi

y name is Paul Adesina Adejobi. I was born in Imeko, Ogun State, on July 4, 1946. My parents and grandparents came from Idirin in the Republic of Benin. My father, Francis Akanbi Adejobi and my mother, Justina Aduke Adeoti Adejobi, were born in Idirin. And both came from the grandRepublic of Benin. But my paternal grand mother- that is my father’s mother- was from Imeko. And she came to be in Imeko, because my father was a French soldier in the Republic of Benin, then. He went to the Second World War, and that was the time of conscription. He was conscripted into the Army. His father too grandfawas conscripted into the Army. But my grandfa ther died in the war, but when his son- my father- went, for the first time, and he came home on leave. He went the second time and came home on leave, and then his mother came from Imeko to take him home. She didn’t want him to go back the third time and die the way his father did. So, she brought him to Imeko, and he never left again. His wife, my mother, came to join him later and that was how I came to be born in Imeko. When he came to Imeko, he didn’t have any children for 20 years until they had me on the 4th of July 1946. I went to school, surprisingly, very early. I was taken to school at age five. The Reverend Father started taking me to school at five. And at age six, I didn’t have the experience of extending my right hand over my left ear, no! At age six, I had started my Standard One. It was called Standard AugusOne, then. I had that privilege. I left St’ Augus tine Primary School in Imeko in 1958. It was at this school I started my primary school, Standard One, Standard Two and by 1956, of course, we started primary school. I finished in 1958 and at that time they had started a Secondary Modern SecondSchool, then in Imeko, called St’ Patrick Second ary Modern School. We were all compelled to go there. The Reverend Father decided what he would do with us, as children, and so we started that school. We went to that school in 1959. It was a three-year course, and even if I had waited, I would have finished in 1961. But the Reverend Father again came and I was taken to the Minor Seminary. But before then I was already serving at Mass in Catholic Church. So, I went to serve Mass that morning and a Priest, Reverend Father, Coakley came to me and said, “fine boy, sharp boy, I want to take you to be a Reverend Father.” Well, I didn’t understand what he was saying, and I said, “ok, Father”.

And he took me in 1960 to St’ Theresa’s Minor Seminary in Oke-Are, Ibadan. He took me there to become a Reverend Father. And that was the junior part to becoming a Priest; that’s why they call it a minor seminary, but we had our secondary education in full for six years. You would do your Ordinary Level in Form Five

and your Advanced Level in Form Six. After that you would now go to the major seminary where you would now do three years of Philosophy, three years Theology or four years Theology.

But I started in the minor seminary in 1960. At the time I was taken to the seminary, my mother had gone back to Idirin. So, when she came to Imeko on a visit she heard that I had been taken to become a Priest and she asked, “what? Priest?

That means, he would not have a child. He would not marry. He would not have children.”

She came all the way from Imeko to Ibadan to remove me. She took me away from the seminary. That time I was in Class Four at the seminary. Of course, she just came to remove me, but not to put me in any school, no! She just came and took me away, and dumped me in Imeko and went back to Iderin, satisfying herself, that now I would not be a Priest. So, I came back to Abeokuta here and I was looking for a Catholic School, and I saw the signboard of St’ Peters School, Olomore. It was called St’ Peters College, Aro, at that time. So, I went and I just entered the school. Between the main road and the school, it would be about one kilometre, and it is still like that, but buildings have been constructed along the road. I trekked down and I just entered the school. Suddenly, I just saw this Reverend Father, and I didn’t know he was the Principal, but I saw him. His name was Reverend Father Mark Andrew. He saw me and asked, “What are you doing here?” I greeted him and said, “Reverend Father, good afternoon.

I just left the Seminary and I left in Form Four.

And I don’t want to stop.” He asked why I left and I told him my mother removed me. He then asked where I was from and I told him Imeko and he wanted to know where my parents were and I told him there were at Imeko but that my mother was presently at Idirin, a place he would not know and that my father was in Kajola farm. He wanted to know if I was really interested in going to school and I said yes.

He asked if I had anybody in Abeokuta and I said “no, I don’t have anybody”. He said, “You just came in without anybody?” I said, “I just walked in, because I saw the signboard of the Catholic School.” He asked, “What class did you leave at the Seminary?” and I said, “Class Four”.

And it was in October. “I would not be able to take you to Class Four, but I will take you to school. But you will have to start from Form Three. You will do your third term in Form Three, before you go to Form Four. Who will pay your fees, then?” They were paying nine Pounds per term. And I said, “fees”? He said, “Just come in first. Come in”. So, that was how I started schooling in St’ Peters College. Instead of Form Four that I had almost finished, I started from Form Three again. Of course, I ‘demolished’ all of them down from Form Three. And, you know, when you went to early seminary, and I don’t know what happens now, but you must study Latin. I was very good in Latin. And I had been doing Latin from the primary school.

It got to a stage where I was teaching Latin in

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

MEMOIRS I Wanted to Be Priest, but My Mother Withdrew Me from Seminary... the class. The Reverend Father came to like me. The students liked me. I entered the school, but had nowhere to stay. The Reverend Father would ask me, “where will you stay”? I would say, “I don’t know “. He just said, “Go and stay at the boarding room for one week, while you are finding a place to stay. Forget about fees”. When we started class, a lot of people saw that I was probably brilliant. So, a lot of them took me home, saying “come and teach us Latin. Come and teach us”. I had one classmate, who became my friend at Class Three, Kola Bakare. He was the one, who took me home. He would say, Senior Paul, teach me this Latin. This Latin, I want to know, stay here. And I started staying there. After that, Segun Baiyewu, also took me home, and I had to go and teach them. I stayed in their house of Toyin Ojeshina too, teaching his sister, Bola Ojeshina, now late. When I got to Form Four, I did the Cambridge GCE that I would have done if I had been at the Seminary. I passed. In 1965, I now went for my West African School Certificate and I passed. When I finished there, it was like the end of the road. How would I continue my education? So, when the Reverend Father asked me, “what would you do now?” By the way, he paid for my WAEC examination, 7.5 Pounds. So, when I finished, he asked what would be doing and I said, “nothing, I will go back home. At least, I have got my Cambridge, I have got my GCE”. He said, “What would you be doing with all of that? People don’t wait with all of that nowadays. You will have to proceed and do something”. I asked how and he said, “First, go and teach. You are very good in Latin, and you will teach Latin. They want a Latin teacher at Our Lady of Apostle in Ijebu Ode.” He therefore gave me a letter to the school which read, “I have a chap here, and you won’t believe it, he knows the Latin more than myself”. I know the Latin to say Mass. So, he sent me to Ijebu Ode to one Reverend Sister John, who was the Principal of the school. It was completely girls’ school and I think, it is still a girls’ school. He sent me there. The Reverend Sister greeted me, employed me and she allowed me to teach Latin from Form One to Five. So, I was teaching Latin from Form One to Five. While I was there, I did my A/Level in Latin, History and English Literature. I was the only candidate for A/Level in Latin in 1967 at Adeola Odutola College. I was the only person, who took Latin at A/Level and I was the only person everybody came to invigilate. All the supervisors and invigilators, all of them came to supervise me. So, I did my A/Level in Latin, History and Literature, and I passed.

And I applied to the University of Ibadan, and that was how they admitted me to read BA Classics. BA Classics then was Latin, French, Greek and Roman Culture. And it was a three-year course. So, I went to the University. That time, all you needed was ten Pounds deposit to enter the university. The Reverend Sister gave me 10 Pounds deposit, and that was in 1967. I entered in 1967/68 session. I went and I got only the 10 Pounds that I wanted and, at time, I was earning 15 Pounds at Our Lady of Apostles, Ijebu Ode. And that was what I used for my tuition. I was getting my tuition and I was doing everything for my A/ Level, and I didn’t have anything. The Sister lent me 10 Pounds as deposit. So, I entered after borrowing the 10 Pounds, and I wasn’t sure how I would pay the others bills; how I would pay my way at the University. But, I went there, anyway. I spent three months.

During my three months, I found out that you could be in school and, at that time I didn’t pay, but you would not be in the hall, and they would not prevent you from attending lectures. That time was quite different; that time we had all the opportunities; that time, we had all that I would call ‘conveniences’. I was still attending lectures, even after I came back from the three months and I didn’t have money to pay. I was still attending lectures. The lecturers would still allow me to come in and take lectures.

Nobody drove us away. Even as time went on, I got a room to stay at Tedder Hall. One year after, I got a scholarship. It was a scholarship of the old Western Region, when Dr. Omololu Olunloyo was the Commissioner for Education. We had an association that we called, ‘Indigent Students Association’. They gave all of us scholarship. They called it bursary. They didn’t give it to us directly, but they just paid for our programmes to the bursar. That was how I went to become, after one year, a student, and there was no more running around. I even contested as House Secretary at Tedder Hall, at that time, when I didn’t have any money, and became the Hall Secretary. Anyway, when I entered the University, I found out that Latin and Greek would not be useful to me. I wondered what I would do with Latin and Greek, and I decided to major in French. So, I changed to French and adopted some English courses as subsidiary. But to do French, I did four years, instead of my three years. I went to France for one year mandatory programme. And in our time, we went to a place where we didn’t speak English. So, you were compelled to speak French, and that is why up to date I still speak French, because I didn’t have a choice. I spent one year there and I came back. I did my Diploma there, in French, and I came back home to do my degree in 1971. So, that is a bit of my educational background.

In this context, would you say your educational attainment was by sheer providence?

Whatever I might have achieved today, educationally, I would completely assign to God and Reverend Father Mark Andrew, I didn’t know anybody at St’ Peters Catholic College, but I just walked in there. I was looking for a Catholic School, because I just left a Catholic Seminary and I assumed that they would not drive me away. I just went in. The Reverend Father just took me to the Seminary in 1960. And Reverend Father Mark Andrew sent me to Our Lady of Apostles, Ijebu Ode and it was Reverend Sister John, who allowed me to teach and gave me money to go and deposit, to start with. And there, nobody gave me N1, until I finished. So, call it providence, if you like, and when you talk about providence

....with daughters and wife

you are taking about God. I am sure, that is what you are saying.

Because if you say providence, it is not by my might or not by my capabilities, but if you say providence, God wanted me to attain certain things in life.

After your graduation at the University of Ibadan, where did you first work?

In those days, when you were doing your final examinations, employers would come to campuses. Those who wanted to employ you, not like nowadays when you will be looking for jobs all around the place, no! At that time, employers came and I was interviewed for Total, because I read French as a course. I was interviewed for SCOA, I was interviewed for Elf. But I had made up my mind that I was going back to Imeko. So, my first place of work was Nazareth High School, Imeko. I had decided I was going to teach, that I would turn out the first set of students in 1972.

So, I went there, and that was the first place where I went to teach.

That was where I first cut my teeth.

I decided to teach there in 1971. I was teaching French and English Language, especially the final year class. I made sure they had finished and done their examination before I left the school.

I went there, because they were the first set and I wanted to see them through.

Total Oil came to your campus to recruit. Elf Oil came. SCOA Motors did the same. Were’nt you enticed with attractive remuneration which was to accompany the offer, before you settled for a teaching job?

At that time, I just saw the way I had been coming with my Standard school, my modern school, my secondary school, my teaching experience, all of them were provided by God, and I just decided, that whatever I could do for that place, for my community, I would do it. I just thought at that time that there must be certain pupils that would be like me, with no background to go to any school, and that they would be in that class of 1972. Therefore, at that time, I decided that what I needed was no money, but what I needed was my service to my community. And so, I went in 1972 and, also, I went to that school and told them I had come to teach.

The Principal then was Chief Odeneye. He was surprised, and said, ‘Yes, are you sure?’ and I said, ‘yes’. He said, ‘We are looking for teachers.’ And I said I will teach. I even became their House Master. And as soon as I turned out the first set, I told them I had done my bit and that was what I had come for.

Apart from Nazareth High School, Imeko, which other schools did you teach?

I went to Ahmadiyya College, Agege, Lagos, from Imeko.

Immediately I finished my assignment there, I went to Ahmadiyya College, Agege. I spent just a year at Nazareth High School, Imeko. From Ahmadiyya College, Agege, I went to the private sector. I went to Alraine Nigeria Limited, 26, Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. It was a shipping company. I went there and it was a French company. They advertised and I applied, went for an interview and I was employed. I was there for a few years. I left there and went to Volkswagen of Nigeria, Ojo, Lagos, as their Distribution Manager. After that, I went to SCOAMotors before I veered on my own into private practice in 1982, with my office at Igbosere Road, Lagos Island.

Soon afterwards, you ventured into partisan

politics. How did it happen?

Well, this passion for Imeko has always been there. All the time I went to teach, I would always be in Imeko. I was disturbed by the continued domineering tendency of the Aiyetoro people when we were under them as Yewa North Local Government Area. Everything was Aiyetoro for almost 30 years when we were under Yewa North Local Government Area, and we had nothing; political offices, amenities, whatever we wanted and everything was Aiyetoro. And they would just give us peanuts. In 1978, I had joined the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). I had become a foundation member in 1978, and that was when I was working. I was in the private sector and this domineering attitude of the Aiyetoro people was disturbing my head. So, in 1978, I said what we needed was that I would go into politics. So, I went to Mainland Hotel, Ebute-metta, Lagos to the UPN meeting and I registered as a foundation member. My foundation membership number was 1374. I got for Dr. Dele Ogunsiji, because we were only two graduates at that time- we left at the same time. He was in the Mellanby Hall at the University of Ibadan and I was in Tedder Hall.

He was doing Veterinary Medicine and I was reading Classics. I took his own to him in Ibadan. In 1983, I left UPN when I saw there were a lot of intrigues; even at a time I went for the convention at Mainland Hotel, I had seen a lot of things in UPN that I didn’t like.

I saw that nobody was speaking; nobody was ready to speak, even with the array of personalities like Pa Jonathan Odebiyi, and Pa Tunji Otegbeye. I saw all of them, and I said, “Ah! These people are not speaking.” And everything was yes, and I said within myself I could not stay in this kind of place. In 1983, I went to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The Oyagbolas came to beg me to leave and join the NPN. They wanted somebody who was bold and someone who could contest for House of Representatives in 1983 and I accepted. I had seen certain things, that I didn’t like in UPN and I went to the NPN. Baba Oyagbola and his wife, Mama Ebun Oyagbola took me into the NPN. And in 1983, I contested against Dr. Dele Ogunsiji of the UPN into the House of Representatives.

Of course, NPN had no chance in the entire Yorubaland and it was UPN. I contested and it was tough. That was how I joined politics.

You were Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and subsequently, Chairman, Ogun State SUBEB in the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel between 2004 and 2011. From your experience, what would you say, could have inspired or discouraged you about governance?

I was Commissioner for Commerce for three years, and it was Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who gave me the appointment. He was also the one, who employed me as Chairman, Ogun State SUBEB. Perhaps, if you want to talk about what has inspired one about governance, we would be talking about Otunba Gbenga Daniel. I have always said that, for me, about governance in Ogun state, I have not seen an equal, because you would have to work hard; if your Governor doesn’t sleep, how do you, commissioners, sleep? I don’t know, whether you understand what I am saying here.And, it was always a service to the people. It was Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who would wake you up, who would call you at 2:00am and ask you where you were. He would call and ask, “Lisa, where are you at 2:00 am?”You would be wondering where (Otunba Gbenga Daniel) Oga would expect you to be at this time. 24 hours, he was working.

(See full interview on www.thisdaylive.com)

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

POLITY Diversifying Nigeria’s Economy

Made in Nigeria Furniture

Olaoluwakintan Babatunde

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here have been numerous calls for the diversification of the Nigerian economy particularly now, given the current climate – thanks to the scarcity of foreign exchange and the crash in oil prices. We often hear of the times when Nigeria experienced it’s golden era and the once flourishing industries were the norm.

Nigeria’s manufacturing and textiles industries were no different. Yet, for a country so blessed with numerous natural resources, it is a shame that Nigeria is yet to fulfil the potential that we have as a nation in regards to the manufacturing industry in general and more specifically the furniture manufacturing industry. The Nigerian manufacturing sector as well as the textiles sector, as a whole are areas that certainly need a greater deal of emphasis within this nation.

Essentially, the main contributors responsible for the Nigeria’s low productivity in the manufacturing sector derive from the failure to fully capitalise upon the high population that has propelled other nations such as China and India to become global leading economies. As a result of a lack of quality education, a poor climate for investments, unfavourable legislation and poor infrastructure have all been factors affecting Nigeria’s ability to fulfil her vast potential. Within the textiles industry, the emergence of China as a producer has further compounded the failure of our indigenous sector to perform and supersede the heights it was once able achieve during the 1980s. Technology plays a significant role in a company’s ability to provide quality furniture and in many cases the equipment

Okey-Enelamah: Minister of Trade and Investment

and machinery available in Nigeria is not of the same standard of leading furniture manufacturing companies in nations such as Germany, China and Italy. DO.II has been the exception in regards to this issue, as they offers world-class furniture at a truly global standard. This has been achieved as a result of the firm’s high skilled labour force, as well as its SON certified factory situated in Ojota.

Increasing the number of high skilled labourers has been shown to increase the productivity and resourcefulness of a nation, particularly in times of a negative economic

environment. Although overall growth of a nation may be stunted, as was the case during the Economic Crisis of 2008, studies have shown that low skilled labourers are the most vulnerable, whereas high skilled workers are an essential necessity. DO.II provides a model for the furniture industry and the Nigerian economy in this respect.

With over 100 trained employees on site and off site, it ensures that in comparison to other furniture providers, DO.II possesses a competitive advantage. With the view of the manufacturing and all other sectors in Nigeria as a whole, it is imperative that there is an increase in the population of skilled workers. This will ultimately place the country in good stead in regards to the diversification and recovery of the Nigerian economy.

In cases where nations are struggling to promote their indigenous industries, it is typical for the government to implement protectionist measures, which inhibit the importation of foreign goods. This in turn enables the sector to grow within the nation without the worry of undue or unbalanced international competition. Such measures were implemented within Japan in order to safeguard their automobile industry and we can all see just how successful that has been.

In the past, such measures have been put in place here in Nigeria, however, rather than strengthening the sectors it has resulted to increased rates of smuggling. Smuggling further worsens the situation, as it results in not only the undermining of the legislation implemented to improve the economy but also means that the government is not able to make any money and is unable to account for the smuggled goods. Promoting goods that are quintessentially Nigerian will only be of benefit to the country as whole. DO.II

aims to provide furnishing solutions that are predominately sourced from within the country, thus combating the impact of both smuggling and foreign competition within the local furniture market.

Another prevailing issue is the access to reliable sources of power, although this is not an issue that is exclusively Nigerian, rather an issue in Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. Not only is this detrimental to the production of furniture and manufacturing but also the nation’s ability to possess a sustainable GDP. The electrification of Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole will liberate many of the constraints that we face as a nation is regards to our overall productivity.This will also help in empowering local manufacturers’ abilities to produce more high quality furniture at reduced prices. DO.II and other furniture manufacturers at the moment must rely on the electricity provided by the government as much as possible. Although these conditions are not ideal, it does not impact on DO.II’s ability to provide quality, affordable furnishing and interior design solutions.

Despite all the issues that Nigeria faces as a country, we as a nation do not have tobe defined by our setbacks. Michael Porter (1990), asserted that a nation’s competitiveness and their productivity is dependent upon their ability to innovate. Innovation in many cases is born out of necessity and one may argue that the areas in which we lack are also an opportunity to be innovative and in turn productive. With the ever-rising fuel prices, the key to a reliable energy supply may not come in the form of a generator but possibly solar or wind energy.

Read full article online: www.thisdaylive.com

Festus Olakunle Adenisimi

USAF’s Established to Give Back to Society

USAF Foundation’s Mission is to provide social and human services and programmes to underserved communities in the United States and Africa to build better lives.The founder of USAF Global Business Development, Festus Olakunle Adenisimi, who hosted a forum in Lagos, recently, said more investment and training tips would be made available a proposed workshop in OCTOBER in FORTWORTH,TEXAS, U.S.A, reports Bennett Oghifo

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ost people lack the information required to project their ideas.

However, once the necessary push is given, then the ideas will become reality.

This is the kind of work that USAF Foundation does and it is designed to assist people grow their ideas. A major conference has been planned to hold from October 6-8, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A. USAF officials said it would be “An experience with the world’s most forward thinking innovators.”

According to them, “Our mission is to reshape the future of education and entrepreneurship! To develop those who aspire to become the next world ambassadors to lead with confidence and intellect.

We make education & entrepreneurship, translate into success.

“USAF Global Business Development provides leadership guidance and business techniques of success. Members of USAF Global Business Development will gain access to business development seminars, leadership advancement seminars, a network community of businesses all over the world, investment opportunities, and education enhancement.”

USAF’s programmes include; education, social services, and emergency relief. On education, they insist that “Every child deserves a right to an education. Educa-

Some participants at the USAF business forum in Lagos... recently tion transforms lives and breaks the cycle of poverty for children and their families.

However around the world, 59 million primary school children are not in the classroom, and the number is growing.”

In social services, the organization states that “Malnutrition and water related illnesses are the leading causes of death for children. By treating childhood malnutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, USAF Foundation works to provide food, clean water access and shelter options for families in need.”

And on Emergency Relief, it said, “The need for humanitarian relief is massive.

With the aftermath of a natural disaster, relief to children and their families are crucial. USAF will serve as an aid with resources and volunteers to help provide a level of comfort to those affected by the civil conflicts or unforeseen emergencies.”

According to the founder of USAF Global Business Development, Festus Olakunle Adenisimi the idea of setting up the organisation stemmed from his background. “I come from a large family

and I have many friends and these people have a lot of needs. Also, a lot of my friends come to the United States and get defrauded by some unscrupulous people and the only way I can give back to these people is to create an organisation like this to help people.”

He said the country produces graduates annually but that most of them do not get jobs because they lacked knowledge, and that USAF desires to fill that gap.

In Lagos, participants at the membership forum were taught ‘Brand Building & Social Media Marketing’ by Ace Anderson and Donte Dean.

The fine points of collaboration was discussed by LaToyia Dennis, Director of USAF Foundation.

Discussing ‘Why Build a Brand’, the Ace and Dean said, As competition creates infinite choices, companies look for ways to connect emotionally with customers, become irreplaceable, and create lifelong relationships. A strong brand stands out in a densely crowded marketplace.

On Brand Identity, they said it “is tangible and appeals to the senses. You can see it, touch it, hold it, hear it, watch it move. Brand identity fuels recognition, amplifies differentiations and makes big ideas and meaning accessible. Brand Identity takes desperate elements and unifies them into whole systems.”

Read full article online: www.thisdaylive.com

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JULY 2, 20 16 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

THIS WOMAN’S WORK

with ADE RONKE ; @aderonstar; ronkaf@aol.com

Words, Poetry and Ijeoma The Internet can be a distraction, there are countless websites we all indulge in to distract ourselves or bide time where necessary. Whether it is social media, cooking or car sites or gossip blogs, most of the world is addicted to this technology. Conversely, the Internet can be a great source of inspiration, a tool to learn about other cultures, technology, art, languages and everything that can be imagined. Through one of my procrastinating sessions on social media (instagram to be exact), I came across Ijeoma Umebinyuo’s poetry. I instantly became an admirer of her writing. Her writing reflects freedom of thought, fearlessness and a deep social consciousness to her environment. She grew up in Nigeria and is now based in the United States. Though she in no longer resident in Nigeria, her roots are firm to her antecedence. She writes about the experience of being an immigrant but also the experience of being a Nigerian woman. She is unafraid to write about elements and experiences of femininity that most women in Nigeria are afraid to discuss such as abuse and rape. Her work can be dark but also gravitates to light as she rights about love and self-empowerment as well. There is a universality in her writing that all can relate to regardless of where you are from

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y admiration started with her writing style; literal, clear and vivid.

My admiration then extended to the innovative way she shares her work, through instagram, tumblr and twitter. There is a generation of talented writers who share their work through such mediums.

Writers such as Nayirah Waheed, Rupi Kaur and Nigeria’s very own Ijeoma Umebinyuo did not wait for the validation of getting an agent or a publishing deal before they shared their work. It is their self-belief and conviction in their talent that lead them to share their work. Over time Ijeoma Umebinyuo’s popularity increased so much so that her work has been translated to French, Spanish, Russian and more.

As of 2015 she became a published author, her first book is titled ‘Questions for Ada’.

Popular e-commerce site Amazon described her book as ‘a flower that will blossom in the spirit of every reader as she shares her heart with raw candour.’ This book has been well received, furthermore on social media; you will find several retweets and reposts of her work across twitter, instagram and tumblr.

The state of affairs on gender equality in Nigeria is not anywhere near where it should be as reflected in the recent rejection of the recent gender equality bill. Nigerian women are not yet regarded, as equal or else the bill would have been passed.

Ijeoma Umenbinyuo is not waiting for the senate to regard her as equal she is demanding it with every word she writes.

She writes of her experiences, immigration, about Nigerian women, honouring them, as they deserve to be. This sentiment is reflected in one of her most circulated quotes ‘I am too full of life to be half-loved. ‘ If that is the case, then there is something, man or woman, that we can all learn from Ijeoma.

Why did you choose writing?

I would say I did not choose writing, writing chose me. I was in primary five when my family friend whose nickname was Adede called me aside and showed me his poems. I was about ten years old and I believe he must have been between about thirteen or fifteen years old. I actually disliked poetry at first. My school in Lagos had this amazing library and we would all walk in a perfect line every Thursday to go borrow a book. At ten, I fell in love with books and writing. In secondary school, I would create short stories my friends borrowed and passed amongst themselves.

Writing did choose me. I chose to keep writing because it sustains me, storytelling was something my grandfather loved to do and he was an amazing oral storyteller.

Writing is important; it reminds you of the familiar and the unfamiliar. Writing is powerful, nobody can erase your words, I chose to keep writing because I believe

Yes, I am a feminist. I believe in the education of girls. Ending deadly cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation and child bride. Creating safe centres that will protect women and children in cases of domestic violence. I am passionate about laws that should be passed for gender equality. I believe in women being in positions of power to make these changes happen. It is not enough to say these things, it is important women are seen and heard when such laws are being implemented.

Visibility is important.

I am passionate about these issues but most importantly; women need to be protected regardless of class. As a society, if your idea of empowerment is confined only to women of certain class, I am not interested in such ideas of women empowerment. It should protect all women, educated and uneducated, both born rich and poor women. All women. I believe in the importance of women being treated fairly in our various institutions. I believe no nation can claim to be great or work towards greatness when half their population are left behind. I believe in the protection of the girl-child, in working towards protecting girls against cultural practices that destroy their health and frankly, the importance of empowering women through education and economics. A woman who is given tools to grow and be the best she can be will never be a liability.

My father raised me to never apologize for these ideas and being vocal about women’s right. My grandmother inspires me and women like her whose stories are never told; whose histories are never known. I grew up surrounded by strong women, from my own mother to my grandmothers.

It is normal for me.

Image courtesy of Ijeoma Umebinyuo our stories are important and should be documented. I also grew up encouraged to write and to keep writing Why poetry as opposed to fiction?

Funny enough, I wanted to be introduced into the world of literature with fiction and not poetry. My very good friend Dr Ovo Adagha encouraged me to publish “Questions for Ada.” first. I make use of both literary genres. In my book, I also make use of prose.

What was your first ever poem about?

I was ten years old although my father would say I was seven. He believes I was seven years old when I wrote my first poem. I think my poem was about the condition of Nigeria. I remember asking Adede if I could use his poem for inspiration. I was ten and I borrowed from his own voice

and style. Some terrible poem I suppose as I tried mimicking him with big words about issues I did not fully understand at that age.

What has the positive response of your book “Questions for Ada” affected you?

To see people connect with my words, to know I make others feel less alone, to know my writings has been into places that deal with the health of individuals across the world, to know just last week my book was being studied in a women’s library in Scotland is empowering.

You are passionate about Women’s empowerment and equality. Are there any specific gender related issues that you are passionate about? What inspires you about women?

You have a really powerful poem on being an immigrant ‘So here you are, too foreign for home, too foreign for here, never enough for both’ what are your own personal experiences on living in two cultures?

Thank you for your kind words. When I visit Nigeria, I am called an “American.”

However, when I am outside Nigeria, I am constantly being asked where I am from because of my accent. Nigeria is home and I have such nostalgia for Lagos. I was raised in Nigeria. I spent my holidays in my ancestral home back in Imo State; we lived so close to my grandmother’s village in Anambra I would place one foot in Uga and one foot in my village in Imo. Nigeria is always home and home welcomes you no matter how far away we go.

What are your future plans? Another book?

My book ‘Questions for Ada’ will be available in Nigeria sometime in August.

That is all I can say for now because as an Igbo woman, I was raised by my father never to comment on future plans. Thank you.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

TRIBUTE BELLO

In the Spirit of New Lagos Mr. Olatunji Bello, Secretary to the Government of Lagos State, turned 55 just yesterday. As an accomplished journalist, political strategist and a solicitor of the Supreme Court, Bello’s record is indeed a testament to a life of true stewardship and selfless service, writes Gboyega Akinsanmi

P

recisely on June 12, prodemocracy leaders and political actors converged on the Lagos Television complex, Agidingbi in good number. Like previous years, the actors largely discussed the centrality of June 12, 1993 presidential election and its annulment to the emergence of democracy in Nigeria.

But the session was almost endless due to fresh issues it obviously generated. After much deliberation, therefore, the session agreed to a consensus that without June 12, there would not have been May 29, the date now set aside to celebrate the rebirth of democracy in Nigeria after a 29-year staggered military rule.

At the session was the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olatunji Bello. Obviously, Bello was at the session in two capacities.

First, he represented the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who was not in the country at that time. Second, Bello was equally there as one of the June 12 campaigners.

Even though he was standing in Ambode’s stead, Bello shared his own account of the June 12 struggle graphically. And that spoke so much about what the Lagos-born political strategist actually represented in two distinct worlds: in politics and in journalism. In journalism, Bello then vented people’s burden with his pen. But now in politics, Bello regularly bears the burden of the masses.

That was the exact image his record of public service really avails the curious biographer or the researcher. Sadly enough, not many people were conversant with his roles in actualising the June 12 election. As a special assistant to the winner of the annulled election, Bashorun MKO Abiola, Bello pitched tent with National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), fighting injustice and seeking equity for all.

Bello truly attended the 2016 anniversary of the annulled election with the same spirit.

Even though June 12 had come and gone, Bello pointed out, one after the other, the reasons the date “will continue to remain germane in Nigeria’s political history except unjust political structure is objectively addressed.”

Grievously, Bello lamented the unbearable impact of a lopsided federal structure forced on Nigeria’s federating units. He cited the decision of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to seize local government funds in Lagos State without just reasons. He pointed out the neglect of the Nigeria Police, which he said, did not guarantee the security of lives and properties.

As an actor in Lagos politics for decades, Bello reeled out what the Lagos State Government had spent to support the Nigeria Police in the last decade. According to available records, the state government had spent over

Bello

N17.218 billion to support the state police operations under different administrations since former Governor Babatunde Fashola established the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

Under the Fashola administration alone, the LSSTF record showed that N3.260 billion in cash and N9.201 billion in assets were spent.

Likewise, Ambode had invested N4.756 billion in funding the police command six months into his administration. Each of these interventions had helped re-establish public order in the state.

Contingent on this record, Bello noted that the Government of Lagos State “funds almost all things. We are funding the police. We are funding federal road maintaining in the state.

We are the one managing our ecological challenges. By any standard, universally, this does not guarantee fairness, equality and equity.”

For Bello, like other pro-democracy actors, true federalism is an answer. Pungently, Bello contended that if true federalism “is in place, Lagos State will not have actually had only 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). We need true federalism to guarantee fairness.”

Only nineteen days to his 55th anniversary, that was the burden of a true son of Lagos.

As an accomplished journalist and political strategist, Bello never pretended campaigning for decentralised Nigeria; neither did he ever relent in pushing for the special status of Lagos State like other former capitals in the world.

From the passion he exuded at the 2016 anniversary of the June 12 election, however, Bello signaled the next public course he would perhaps live to push valiantly in the years or in the decades to come. The same passion might even define the manner he would celebrate his anniversary henceforth.

Ambode, for instance, had devoted his birthday to fighting cancer and other related killer diseases. Fashola delights spending good time with special children on his every birthday. Likewise, the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu annually marks his birthday with focus on building the nation and deepening democratic culture.

Tinubu, their political mentors, had set up an annualcolloquium, which the now Vice President, Prof. Oluyemi Osinbajo once said, had become a platform for discussing national challenges; dissecting existing public policies and programmes and coming up with informed positions to tackle these challenges.

Curiously, heading to a new phase in his political life, Bello’s passion undoubtedly depicts his resolve to push the more for the vision of a truly decentralised Nigeria, a country where fairness prevails and a country where Lagos can completely unleash its potentials from without undue interference for the federal government.

Right at the state level, Bello’s antecedents showed his relentless effort towards realising the goal of Africa’s model megacity. Under the Tinubu administration, Bello was in the frontline, churning out diverse policies and programmes, which former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba recently said, brought about positive change in the state’s greening project and waste management.

Even though he did not directly serve in Fashola’s first term, Bello’s record was indelible. His successor, Dr. Muiz Banire held forth in good faith and strengthened policies and programmes Bello had laid for sustainable environment in a state faced with diverse challenges i.e. ocean surge and flooding.

Bello’s return to Fashola’s cabinet offered him rare opportunities to make more strategic input at a troubled period. It was at a time because ocean surge had just eaten up Okun Alfa, a shoreline suburb on which Alfa Beach was located and the state was standing a very high risk of losing Goshen Estate too.

It was at a time some critics relentlessly attacked the Eko Atlantic City, which the state government had promoted as a permanent solution to ocean surge. At that time too, it had even ended flooding Ahmadu Bello Way and inward streets on Victoria Island. It was also at a time the federal government could have intervened from the Ecological Funds as the 1999 Constitution requires.

It was also a time when the Apapa Central

In Fashola’s second term, Bello engaged the federal government meaningfully to get some support from the Ecological Funds. At different fora, Bello made hearttouching presentations, screening the plight of the people, showing the danger of ocean surge and explaining the helplessness of the state government. As Osoba said recently, all these efforts are marks of selfless service and continuity Business District faced the deepening crises of urban degeneration. And at that time, the state only required N11 billion to regenerate the business district, which by estimate, had lost more than 75 percent of its commercial activities to traffic congestion and security challenges.

Even in recognition of these diverse challenges, former President Goodluck Jonathan visited Alfa Beach alongside Fashola and Bello.

Also, the then Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Nkonjo Iweala led some members of the Federal Executive Council on a working visit to Apapa. It was Bello who conducted around the business district, explaining what the challenges at different stages.

Even after the working visit and its failure to yield desired outcome, Bello had stepped up intensive advocacy campaigns. Relentlessly, therefore, the Lagos-born political strategist campaigned for a proposal to accord Lagos State with a special status in line with what former Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed promised when Federal Capital Territory was relocated to Abuja about four decades ago.

In Fashola’s second term, Bello engaged the federal government meaningfully to get some support from the Ecological Funds. At different fora, Bello made heart-touching presentations, screening the plight of the people, showing the danger of ocean surge and explaining the helplessness of the state government. As Osoba said recently, all these efforts are marks of selfless service and continuity.

Read the full article on www.thisdaylive.com

TRANSPORTATION

Ojota Violence: BRT Operator Counts Loss, 48 Buses Gboyega Akinsanmi

T

he operator of Ikorodu-CMS Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Primero Transport Services Limited yesterday said no fewer than 48 vehicles were vandalised due to violence that erupted at Ojota on Wednesday.

Likewise, the bus operator debunked a claim that one of its vehicles allegedly killed a street trader at Ojota, disclosing that a truck belonging to a bottling company crushed the hawker to death.

The firm’s Managing Director, Mr. Fola Tinubu lamented the loss at a news conference he addressed at the head office in

Ikorodu, noting that none of the firm’s vehicles had contact with the hawker.

He provided details of what culminated in the violence, explained that at about 12 p.m. on Wednesday, a pedestrian street hawker scrambling “to avert being arrested by Lagos State law enforcement agents ran into an approaching bottling company trailer, crushing him death.”

He clarified that the blue BRT vehicles “did not in any way – directly or otherwise – have contact with the late young man. Unfortunately, suspected hoodlums took advantage of this incident to unleash mayhem and terror on our drivers while causing damage to our buses.”

The managing director added that

some of the drivers “are still receiving medical treatment and some commuters had some of their belongings stolen. Forty eight buses were estimated to have vandalised and damaged by the hoodlums at the scene of the incidents.”

Aside, Tinubu disclosed that some of the passengers numbering about 25 of them “were injured by broken glasses. The affected passengers were brought to our office. We treated them and they have gone home. Two of our drivers are still in the hospital receiving treatment.”

He explained that damages on the buses “range from broken wind shields (front, sides and rear) to side mirrors. Some buses also had exteriors dented. The buses will be parked in our depot until repair works are carried out, which we expect to run into millions of naira.

“We are still quantifying right now. The incident happened on Wednesday. Our insurance company is still calculating the loss.

We know for sure that it will run into millions of naira. But we have not quantified the exact figure right now. We will make it available when we are done.”

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, Tinubu disclosed that some hoodlums “have been arrested and handed over to the Nigeria Police. We will not rest on our oars to ensure that other perpetrators of the unlawful act are arrested.”

He, however, assured that bus operator would maintain unparalleled standard of operations in the transport sector, which he said, had been as a foremost transport company in Nigeria as a whole.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES BY

EBERE WABARA

Modern English

“T

he remaining average between N300, 000 to N1 million.…” (THISDAY, June 27) Between two and three or from two to three “What is good for the goose can equally be said to be good for the gander.” A rewrite: What is sauce (not good) for the goose is sauce for the gander. This is a fixed/stock (idiomatic) expression.

“Expectedly, the debate had centred more around such key.…” ‘Centre’ takes ‘on’, ‘upon’… never ‘around’.

“Out of 35 years of the nation’s political independence, the military had been on the leadership saddle for 25years. “ (Source: as above) In the saddle “The seven bank chief executives currently being investigated by the EFCC for their alleged racketeering roles in the current pension fund scam have been placed under security watch to forestall them escaping outside the country.” A rewrite to save time and space: The seven bank chief executives being investigated by the EFCC for their alleged racketeering roles in the current pension fund scam have been placed under security watch to forestall their escape from the country. The copious blunders in the extract remind me of inflectional Middle English!

“Assailant, vigilante member die in gun duel” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, June 27) Get it right: vigilance member. Alternatively: Assailant, vigilante die in gun duel.

“INEC official arrested over ‘missing’ ballot papers” (THE NATION, June 27) Truth in defence of freedom: ‘arrest’ takes ‘for’—not ‘over’!

“Woman arrested with AK-47, 148 live ammunitions” (THISDAY, June 27) The last word in the extract is uncountable. The Old English (Anglo-Saxon) period is gone!

“This will remove the possibility of passing the bulk (buck)” (THE PUNCH, June 27) No pedestrian English.

“The organized private sector took the bull by the horn recently….” For a better society: take the bull by the horns.

“Britain handed over the reigns of power to the politicians.” (THE GUARDIAN, June 27) Modern English: reins of government.

“One even wonders why government did not adopt that method from the onset (outset).” (Vanguard, June 27) “This is true given the restricted and guarded comments from those who have been priviledged to view the clips.” (Leadership, June 24) Spellings count: privileged.

“Government needs to put (get) its acts together and prosecute the kidnappers.”

(Vanguard, June 24) My own comment: get its act (not acts) together.

“Vigilante group accused of murder“ Get it right: vigilance group.

“Apart from all these, the debt recovery (a hyphen confirms class) level of the banks have not been any issue of interest to NDIC.” (THISDAY, June 27) Question CBN has to answer, debt recovery has (not have).

“It is believed in some quarters that the Nigerian Police has….” (THE NATION, June 27) Get it right: the Nigerian Police have.

The next five blunders are from Daily Trust of June 24: “And the leaders, being new on the saddle of political leadership (another comma) were.…” The challenges of good grammar: in the saddle.

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“Efforts by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his group to remove Akintola from office was (were) fiercely resisted.” Why the discord?

“As a new democracy, there was (were) bound to be problems.”

“In the course of the crisis, Awo and some of his lieutenants were arrested and charged for (with)….”

“Have the previous exercises impacted meaningfully on the lives (life) of the average Nigerian?” (National Mirror, June 27) “This could not have been possible if they had been outrightly liquidated.” (Source: as above) ‘Outrightly’ is a Nigerian creation! The right word ‘outright’ functions as an adverb and an adjective. Therefore, it does not require any inflexion. In other words: This could not have been possible if they had been liquidated outright. Even at that, ‘liquidation’ does not need any qualification because of its causative finality. So, if they had been liquidated.

‘Reopening’ abhors hyphenation. It is not automatic that any word with a prefix must go with a hyphen, except where there is a vowel replication. For instance: re-entry, but readmit, readjust, etcetera.

“Legislators, oil chiefs parley on industry enhancing issues” (DAILY SUN, June 27) Imagine the classical excellence a hyphen between ‘industry’ and ‘enhancing’ would have conferred on the headline.

“I said these are (were) beggars and I told my wife I better (I had better) get money ready for them.” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, June 27) “The remains of the Ovie, sources in the town revealed, was (were) later tied….”

“And just last Friday, it was reported that the police has (had) arrested the….” (THE

GUARDIAN, June 27) “The meetings were about some developments alright....” (THE PUNCH, June 27) ‘Alright’ (non-standard) is unacceptable for ‘all right’ in formal settings.

“My suggestion, therefore, is that our National Assembly members should tow (toe) the line of reason.” (THE PUNCH, June 24) “This is because of the numerous restraints, both social and economical, which is (are) associated with the day to day (day-to-day) life of a convict.” ”…especially those public officers who remain suspect with regards (regard) to their qualifications and credibility to hold public offices.” (Nigerian Tribune, June 27) Alternatively, as regards their qualifications….

“The nation has (had) in the past pardoned and forgiven it’s (sic) past leaders and “Infact (In fact) every (all) loving parents....”

Alternatively, each loving parent “In the agricultural sector, the two countries can learn a lot from one another (each other).”

(Nigerian Tribune, June 23) citizens who committed one offence or the other (or another).” (Leadership, June 24) “Such citizens had since been integrated back (reintegrated) into the system.” (Source: as above) “A recent summit in Kaduna on education in the northern states provided the appropriate forum to revisit, once again….” (THE PUNCH, June 27) ‘Revisit’ cannot co-function with ‘again’.

“Gone are the days when government can (could) go it alone.” (THE GUARDIAN, June 27).

Sex, Reps and Diplomacy

S

ex is a powerful thing. It can bring out both the best in humans and unleash the beast in them.

It is yet a wonder of creation how a moment of sensual excursion can lead to a gulf of glory or a gloom of doom. History is replete with tales of how the lust of the flesh led to the loss of power, fame and fortune. Men of valour are known to have been cheaply vanquished in simple skirmishes of the skirt. Much the same way celebrities and soapbox heroes have been reduced to nonentities and political scums.

Like filthy lucre, lewdness is a known trigger in most of the world’s biggest political scandals. From Greece’s Andreas Papandreou and the ‘Air Hostess’ scandal of the 1980s; to the Zippergate series of Bill Clinton; and then the story of Sani Abacha’s death in the hands of some fabled Arabian damsel bearing luscious apples, illicit sex has brought kings and kingdoms to ruins. Of course Bill of America did eventually escape the whirlwind of hurricane Lewinsky by a hair’s breath but until Hamza Mustapha decides to tell the truth about Abacha’s death, the ‘Jerryboy arrangements’ remain the dominant theory of how the late maximum dictator died mysteriously.

For now however, the yarns are spinning around the trio of Messrs. Mark Gbillah, Samuel Ikon and Mohammed Gololo. These men are honourable members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives. But they are currently ensnared in a most dishonourable bind: tackling a mammoth challenge to retrieve their integrity, reputation and political career from a sex scandal made in America. The legislators were members of a delegation of 10 invited by the US States Department to attend a leadership immersion course in Cleveland, Ohio, in April this year. Trouble started when a letter from the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara was leaked to the media.

Mr. Entwistle brought grave allegations of sexual misconduct against the men. “It is with regret that I must bring to your attention the following situation,” the letter dated June 9, 2016, began. It continued: “Ten members of the Nigerian National Assembly recently travelled to Cleveland, Ohio, as participants in the International Visitor Leadership Programme on good governance. We received troubling allegations regarding the behaviour of three members of the delegation to the US Government’s flagship professional exchange programme. The US Department of State and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs received reports from employees of the Cleveland hotel, where the representatives stayed, alleging that the representatives engaged in the following behaviour: “Mohammed Garba Gololo allegedly grabbed a housekeeper in his hotel room and solicited her for sex. While the housekeeper reported this to her management, this incident

PEOPLE2PEOPLE WITH

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

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could have involved local law enforcement and resulted in legal consequences for Representative Gololo. Mark Terseer Gbillah and Samuel Ikon allegedly requested that hotel parking attendants assist them to solicit prostitutes.”

Trust the media. The story first broken by New Telegraph newspaper, immediately became the staple of virtually all news stables in the land. To the accused, the embarrassment was first class; for the House of Representatives, an institutional blight. It brought Dogara’s House to debatable infamy.

Thus while it was primarily the responsibility of the accused to clear their names and salvage whatever they can of their bruised reputations, it was also invariably incumbent on the entire legislative body to starve off a collective shame.

Expectedly, a staccato of responses, nay rabid rebuttals filled the air. For Gbillah, Gololo and Ikon, the American Ambassador was out on a smear campaign against them, the House of Representatives and by extension, the Nigerian nation. To emphasise their case, the lawmakers threatened legal action even if it meant travelling to Cleveland at their own expense.

Perhaps buoyed by the stout defence put up by his colleagues, Dogara demanded that the US Ambassador provide evidences to back up his allegations. Apparently irked by

the barrage of negative commentaries on social media, the Speaker took to Twitter to call for proofs. Barely days after Dogara’s challenge to the Ambassador, the House at plenary entertained the issue following a motion by one of the accused, Mr. Gbillah. The lawmakers resolved to undertake a formal probe of the affair and accordingly mandated its Committees on Ethics; and Privileges and Foreign Affairs on a joint exercise.

But as all of this was going on, the US Embassy strengthened its position on the matter by revoking the entry visas of the affected lawmakers. Recall that Gbillah had also expressed surprise at the allegation in a letter to Mr. Entwistle. He lamented that within hours of bringing the matter to the attention of the House, the US Government had gone ahead to cancel the visas of the lawmakers. He reiterated an earlier threat to institute legal actions against the US Government, the Ambassador and the Marriot Hotel Brand, among. Gbillah’s letter, dated June 16, 2016 read in part: “Without conclusive evidence of any sort or contact with any of the accused individuals, the US State Department and US Embassy in Nigeria have less than six days after your letter to the Speaker, gone ahead to revoke the US visas of the accused individuals based on hearsay from the employees of the hotel in Cleveland. Affected individuals received correspondence from the US Embassy on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, indicating the denial of their US visas and requesting that they bring their passports with the current US visa to the Embassy.”

Ikon who did not respond immediately like Gbillah, said the allegation that he solicited for sex was not only untrue but also a case of mistaken identity. He stated: “My attention has been drawn to the publication, alleging an act of impropriety against me by the US Mission in Nigeria. I wish to state unequivocally that this is false and definitely not me. This, to me, is a case of mistaken identity and I have already instituted measures both legally and diplomatically to clear my name and the institution I represent.”

But as the lawmakers insist on their innocence while awaiting the commencement of investigations, the US has refused to publicly comment on the matter. This silence in spite of Speaker Dogara’s call for evidence has been interpreted by some as an assurance that the Americans are convinced of their claims against the lawmakers. Would an Envoy worth his salt stake the honour of his home country to lay such weighty allegations against Members of Parliament (MPs) in his host nation if he was unsure of the facts? Another question that has also arisen is whether or not the US Ambassador exhausted appropriate diplomatic channels in handling the alleged sexual misconduct? Was writing directly to the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives the apt and appropriate in the circumstance? And why has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja played mute on this matter so far? These are questions begging for answers whilst the reputations of the accused MPs remain with the dogs.

––Follow writer on Twitter @resourceme

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SATURDAY JULY 2, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY SATURDAY JULY 2, 2016

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52

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

POLITY

SBI Media Shines at the Marketing Edge Advertising Awards

T

he team at SBI Media Limited was all joyous last week as the company was awarded with two of the most coveted awards at the 2016 Edition of the Marketing Edge Advertising Excellence Awards.

The Marketing Edge Award for Marketing Excellence is an annual event to celebrate practitioners in the marketing and advertising professions who have excelled in their

various field of practice.

SBI Media was won the award for the fastest growing agency in Nigeria and the media agency of the year. As a record setting position, SBI Media was the only that won two awards at the event.

Commenting on the awards, Rotimi Bankole, MD/CEO SBI Media said: “Undoubtedly, awards such as this are not gratuitous, they are earned.

They are also a result of a team effort as opposed to an individual one; no

matter how sterling such effort is. It is with this in mind that I dedicate this award to YOU ALL as a sign of ‘result-of-hard work’. You deserve the best recognition and I think you must have it”.

“As they say, with such accolades comes with higher responsibilities.

What this means is that we will need to consolidate these gains, double our efforts and ensure that not only do we keep these titles next year, we must strive to win even some more.”

Olaolu Abimbola, General Manager, SBI Media said: “For me an award is not just a recognition of success but a point to greater responsibilities.

“Having celebrated the success of today, the award is a reminder that tomorrow is another opportunity for the taking. To everyone who had sleepless nights building this dream and to everyone who can relate to the success behind the award, the future is just the beginning and tomorrow is a new dawn.”

PHOTO NEWS

L-R; Chief Executive Officer of the Reddington Hospital Group and member Board of Nidus Aquilae Hospital, Dr. Adeyemi Onabowale, wife of the Senior Pastor, The Fountain of Life Church (TFOLC) , Ilupeju, Pastor Nomthi Odukoya, Senior Pastor, TFOLC, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya and Chief Medical Director, Nidus Aquilae Hospital, Dr. Bode Abass, at the re-dedication of the hospital initiative of the church in Lagos ...recently

L-R: Head of the delegation to the burial of retired Major Flora Abiodun Sogbesan, Brig. General F.O. Pearse (middle); flanked by brothers to the deceased Mr. George Etomi (left); and Mr. Michael Etomi during the burial of Major Floral Abiodun Sogbesan (retired) in Ikoyi...recently

L-R: Head, Regional Sales, South-South/South East, Etisalat Nigeria, Enekwachi Aja; President, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Students’ Union, Nnaa Faith Barigboto; PA to the Vice Chancellor, Mr. Omah David Sam; winner of Cliqfest star prize, a Hyundai i10 car, Uzoma Precious Chima; and Head, Youth Segment Etisalat Nigeria, Olayiwola Onafowokan presenting the car key to the winner during Cliqfest campus activation at RSUST ... recently

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (left) decorates his Aide de Camp, Mr. Amechi Ohayi (centre) with the new rank of Supretendent of Police at the weekend in Abuja, while his Escort Commander, DSP Uchenna Igwebuike assists

L-R: Teniola Sonaiki, Mr. Abidemi Sonaiki and Nifemi Sonaiki, (family of the late Mrs. Omolara Olaide Sonaiki) during the deceased one year memorial lecture and short service held at Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos...recently

L-R: Chairman, United Evangelical Church (UEC), Surulere, Elder Aniekan Ukpanah; Trustee, Elder Christian R. Etang; Chairman of conference, Reverend Chimaobi U. Emelogu; Superintendent, Lagos Township Superintendency, Reverend Emmanuel P Akwu; Superintendent, Lagos Central Superitendency, Reverend Paul Ben, at the official pastoral visit to Lagos Township Superintendency of the UEC in Surulere Lagos... recently

53

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JJULY 2, 2016

SPECIAL FEATURES

Strengthening Ties between Nigeria and United States of America through Exchange Programmes The United States of America exchange programme has opened participants to a new world of endless opportunities in their chosen careers, besides making Nigerians and Americans to know one another’s cultures beyond the stereotypes, writes John Iwori who was at the in pre-departure activities for young Nigerians selected for the programme 2016 participants which took place at the US Embassy in Lagos.

M

any things cropped up in this reporter’s mind when he got an invitation to attend the activities earmarked for participants in the United States of America exchange programme at the US Consulate General in Lagos. What will be the shape of the programme? What are the rules of engagement? Who are the participants?

Against the backdrop that the US does not treat security with levity, what are the security measures invitees will be made to undergo in the consulate? Though it is not one’s first time in the embassy as one has been there on more than one occasion to get visa but it is the first time in the Public Affairs Section (PAS). These and many more questions were up in the reporter’s mind as he inched closer to the premises. The screening into the venue of the event was akin to the one which applicants for the US visa are subjected to. No cameras, mobile handsets, tablets or any other electronic devices. The embassy also took a step further by ensuring that no prohibited item is taken into the premises. To this extent, participants were also made to undergo the screening similar to the kind of security air travellers go through at airports. The officials on duty were brisk and businesslike in the way and manner they go about their duties this fateful rainy Tuesday morning. No side talks. No smiles. Instructions on what to remove or put inside the rolling tray were intermittently announced by the officials on duty at the main entry point into the premises. It was as if one is being taken on a very long journey that one only knows the beginning but not the end.

Though none of the officials on duty was ready to speak publicly on the reasons responsible for the rigorous screening of anyone entering into the consulate, THISDAY checks revealed that they were not unconnected with the need to forestall any ugly incident or terrorist attack on the US Embassy.

Participants were taken through series of exercises as part of the pre-departure orientation programme. These exercises were aimed at preparing them for the nine months that they would spend in the land of the Yankees as participants in the USA exchange programmes. There was a video on “Welcome to America”, Power Point presentation, slideshow of alumni in action in USA, as well as questions and answers sessions.

Alumni of the programme were also invited to share their experiences with the participants just as there was consultation with the programme officers. These were meant to provide opportunity to the participants to ask questions agitating their minds and erase any doubt they might harbour concerning the programme or their stay in America. Many of the participants raised questions on the hotels or apartments they will stay while carrying out their studies in America, especially the cost implications.

The organisers did not only answer all the questions but also gave some useful tips to ensure they get the best. The organisers noted that just as there are some bad eggs in Nigeria, there are also bad eggs in the US and enjoined the participants to do everything possible to avoid them while in America.

The overall objective was to engage, educate and empower the participants in their various areas of competence. From the outset, the participants were loaded with a lot of information that would help them in their journey. The information was also meant to equip them to stay successfully in America. The information was on health, and safety, and how to be successful as a US exchange programme participant. Coming a few days after three members of the lower chamber in the National Assembly were

United States Consul General Francis John Bray (left) with Deputy Public Affairs Officer Frank Sellin (right) in a group photograph with Nigerian participants of U.S. government-sponsored educational and professional exchange programs during their pre-departure orientation Photo: United States Consulate General Lagos session in Lagos...recently

allegedly involved in acts demeaning their status as lawmakers, the US Embassy was on track telling the participants on what to do or not to do during their stay in America.

While welcoming participants, the US Consul General, Mr. John Bray described them as impressive.

His words: “You are a truly impressive group. You are about to attend the leading, most prestigious exchange programmes we have to offer, as Humphrey Fellows, Fulbright scholars and researchers, and participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes programme, the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Programme, and TechWomen.”

Giving an insight into what the participants stand to gain from the programme, Bray said: “You may not yet realise it, but I promise you – your lives will be changed forever, both professionally and personally, as researchers, teachers, and entrepreneurs. In 20 years, you will remember the American friends and colleagues, the universities, the cities and rural areas where you find yourself. It will shape your thinking and your career in ways you never expected. I urge you to be as open as you can be. Be a sponge, soaking up everything you can, and push your boundaries.”

He urged them to remember that these exchanges are not just one-way programme.

According to him, they are bilateral. “We want you to learn as much as you can from what you see and experience in America.

But just as important, we want you to share Nigeria with Americans who will never have encountered your culture before. You have so much music, folk stories and sayings, traditional attire, and ways of thinking that will fascinate Americans. We are a curious people, as you will see.”

It must be noted that the exchange programme is not new. Only last year, US celebrated the 75 thanniversary of the first exchange programmes that the United States government attempted since the end of the American war of independence.

Over the years, the US has learned a lot about how to design a fantastic experience that awaits the participants from around the globe.

According to Bray, “we started such programmes, trying to figure out how humanity could recover from World War II. But there has been one immutable lesson we have taken away from organising bilateral exchanges during and after the Cold War. Mutual understanding across cultures and

national boundaries makes a tremendous difference in international affairs for generations. We do not just advance knowledge and technology and ideas with the creative talent found in every country, we advance lasting human ties and friendships that make peace and prosperity much more possible, and real, for ordinary citizens across the globe.”

He explained that over these 75 years “we have had hundreds of Nobel Prize winners, legislators, governors, ministers, heads of government, and heads of state grow in their careers and emerge as leaders with these titles after they had their immersion experience in a USA exchange programme.”

The strides made by the alumni are not limited to these persons alone as Bray noted that there are less visible ones running into thousands behind the leaders who have shone in their fields without the titles, as professors and business leaders, and expert policymakers for the politicians.

The diplomat stated that the participants are part of that wealth of talents, even as he wondered how far they will take the opportunity to grow in the years ahead in their chosen fields.

His words: “I want each of you to learn from the leaders in this room, but especially about my fellow Americans whom you encounter. And I want my Public Affairs staff to hear from you when you come back.

Most of all, I want to hear news of how you have taken what you learned, and how you have shaped it to the benefit of Nigeria, and to the benefit of the entire world.”

There is no doubt that the exchange programme has tremendous benefits. In fact, from THISDAY interaction with some of the participants at the orientation venue, it was clear that it is a lifetime opportunity that some of them have been yearning for.

For instance, Mr. Osayenweare Erharuyi, a lecturer, said his selection for the programme was a dream come true.

Erharuyi who teaches Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the University of Benin, hinged his assertion on the fact that he has been longing for an opportunity to do further studies in his area of specialisation for years to no avail. “Doing research in Nigeria is very cumbersome. It is not only the resources that are not available but the environment does not also encourage one to embark on any meaningful research. From what I have heard, this American exchange programme is a wonderful one. One will be paid a

Giving an insight into what the participants stand to gain from the programme, Bray said: “You may not yet realise it, but I promise you – your lives will be changed forever, both professionally and personally, as researchers, teachers, and entrepreneurs. In 20 years, you will remember the American friends and colleagues, the universities, the cities and rural areas where you find yourself.

It will shape your thinking and your career in ways you never expected. I urge you to be as open as you can be. Be a sponge, soaking up everything you can, and push your boundaries”

stipend while one is carrying out the research.

Though I have been in Germany and Pakistan on similar research programmes but I am thrilled by my imminent departure to America because it offers more opportunities for self-development and capacity building for a young professional like me, he said.

The young lecturer revealed that the selection for the programme was tough as applicants must meet specific stringent requirements including written and oral interviews. Not a few have opined that the organisers and the participants must do everything possible to ensure that the ideals behind the establishment of the scheme are sustained in the years ahead. This is the only way to maintain the focus of the programme.

Besides strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the US, the success of the programme will place many Nigerians and Americans in a vantage position to know one another beyond the usual stereotypes common in the public space, especially in the social media.

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Tosin Clegg

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

TUNDE OWOLABI

I Look for Challenges and Try New Things Tunde Owolabi is an artist, a photographer and designer. He is the founder of Tunde Owolabi Studios. As an artist, he has participated in group exhibitions, including Lines and Colours in 2003, Inner Thoughts at the Nimbus African Art Centre in 2004, Working with Communities, a Guinness group exhibition, 2004, and Gods of This Age at Didi Museum. His first solo exhibition, African Elegance was at the Battersea Art Gallery, London in 2009. In this interview with Tosin Clegg, he talks about his new collection, Ethnik, his career, future projects and more I have been able to express my creativity in different ways call myself an artist because I see everything I do as an art. I studied graphics design and photography but I have been able to express my creativity in different ways, which has led me to designing fashion accessories.

I

What constitutes art For me everything is art. Graphics design is art. Fashion is art. Architecture is art. So, being a creative person, I feel it’s easy to do other things based on what you want to do and that’s the best way you can express yourself. I don’t think I have any limitations, to be honest, except I don’t want to do it.

How I went into fashion designing…

I never thought about going into fashion, and I still don’t see myself as a fashion designer. Fashion for me came as an interest more in textiles; my interest in Aso-oke, which is a traditional fabric. It’s an interest in textile design and in sustaining these fabrics. I make other good use of the fabrics rather than the traditional use. Another thing about fashion for me is that it can be expressed in different ways and with individuality. For me, that’s art as well.

Those things really inspire me.

My latest collection I am into culture and I enjoy culture as I love to protect the tradition we have. These are things I take inspiration from. Folklore in Africa means people telling stories; in some villages, you see people gather under moonlight and tell stories.

These are ways the younger ones are inspired, educated, taught morals and more. That myth that goes around is what it is. As young people, we enjoy the story and get educated by it. I got

my inspiration from there and I have had other collections. The one before this is ‘Skirified’ and my first collection was Oriki, which in Yoruba means praise poetry. Our culture is very vast and very rich having so much to explore.

Working Abroad That was when I was living in England. It’s called Research Studios and I worked on a couple of brands like Nickelodeon and a host of them.

Moving back to Nigeria, I worked with Insight Communication on advertisement for a bit. While I was doing that, I was still doing painting and photography which was like my day job. That’s basically what I have been up to.

Exhibitions and Auctions The exhibition that led me to designing Aso-oke happened in 2014 and that was after about three years research in Aso-oke that inspired me to make fashion with it. I have had a couple of exhibitions and participated in workshops. Adekunle Gold, Kemi Adetiba, Sound Sultan, Bez, Waje are the few artistes that wear my pieces. I have been part of a few auctions with Terra Kulture and you never know who is buying your work, because whoever is bidding for it may not necessarily be the person buying; so you can’t tell where your work is going.

Challenging Myself…

I look for challenges and try new things a lot, because one way or another I get bored easily and when I do I constantly look for new things to explore and how well to express myself. So, that’s what drives me basically. I won’t say I am exceptional because everybody is special in their own way. For me, I take inspiration from my environment and people.

It’s really tough being a creative

Owolabi

person. Especially where we are and it’s getting some attention even though it’s still not getting that much attention as it should. It’s been tough but you live through the time and let the challenges inspire what you do. That’s how I live through it.

Sometimes, you create work and don’t know if it would sell, but a lot of times if you let money drive what you are creating, then you would probably not do anything. But when you create things because you are passionate about them, then money follows and people would see the trueness in the creation and you get the exposure in what you do.

My Style Everybody has their own style. I can decide to tap from so many people and not just one person. But, one person I quite like is Bez; also Asa because her music is my kind of music. Talking about international act, I listen to a lot of Jazz music like Ray Charles and all those type of guys.

If I have to start picking, then I have a lot of hard work to do. I’m more of the

old school and I love good music. If I have to look into music then I’ll probably have a long list of people to look at.

One minute I’m designing shoes and fashion accessories and I don’t know if the next one would be furniture or cars but it depends on what wind of inspiration is blowing at that time.

My Dream I want to see Nigerians wearing my shoes and designs that are made in Nigeria. I want to create sneakers that people can buy and wear comfortably and these will be of good quality, even better than that of international brands.

In five years’ time, I want to see a lot of growth and collaboration, because there is a lot of work to be done.

Fela as his Icon Although he is late and though he has been over-flogged, will still choose Fela. He embodies creativity, a lot of it. Another person is Asa; I see a lot of style and artistic personality in her.

Also Sound Sultan; I quite like him and he is original.

55

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

SHOWBIZFLAIR

MY STORY ASHFLAME TO RELEASE NEW MUSIC ‘GO LOW’; REVEALS CRUSH ON CYNTHIA MORGAN Fast-rising Afropop artiste, Ashflame is currently in the studio working with Shabba, the producer on his follow-up single titled ‘Go Low’, which is certified to go viral when the song eventually hits the airwaves. Ashflame is currently basking in the euphoria of the relative success of his debut single titled ‘Sekosi’ produced

by TPFlex, which is receiving appreciable airplay on radio stations and upscale gigs and shindigs.

The Ondo-State born energetic performer, who is signed on to the stables of Desbor Records owned by the enigmatic Switzerland-

based Desmond Edobor, said he dreams of a collaboration with 2face Idibia and, also squealed that he has a crush on Cynthia Morgan.

When asked what he’ll do if he is behind closed doors with the sexy dancehall artiste, Ashflame replied, “I don’t know but it would be a lot of ash and flames; fire will burn.”

He also revealed why he wants to collaborate with 2face Idibia: “2face has a way of touching lives with his music.

He is a prophet and I already have a song for him. Working with a person like that will positively affect my music.”

JAYWISE

A Fan Almost Stripped Me Naked Out of Excitement Ezerioha Francis, also known as JAYWISE, is an energetic rapper who has a place of his own in the ever-growing music industry. He has worked with Samklef, Sugar boy, Rundatraks, Da genius and more. In this chat with Tosin Clegg, he talks, his career

ZONE 222: NEW COMIC SERIES HITS TV SCREENS Zone 222, a TV comedy series produced by Native Media Limited, the producers of Hotel Majestic, Hush and The Johnsons was premiered on Africa Magic Urban on the 1st of last month.

Scheduled to air at 8:30pm daily, the comic series is billed for repeat broadcast by 9:00am daily.

Starring faces such as legendary actor, Kunle Bamtefa, Anthony Igwe, Patrick Diabuah, Papa Sam, Tomiwa Kukoyi, Muyiwa Donald, Eden Attai, and Vanessa Ogboru, among several others, Zone 222 is a comedy series based on the adventures and youthful exuberance of five male university students and their two female friends all with different personalities and interests.

The story emphasises the perception

of each student to success and how their unique approaches to life and school issues produce similar results.

This carefully and creatively produced series was shot on the campus of one of Africa’s most prestigious universities, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and has the potential of rapt attention.

The comedy series combines dishing out rib-cracking humour, educating the youth on the culture of hard work and showcasing the beauty of the Nigerian scenery.

Speaking on the new series, popular arts enthusiast, filmmaker cum producer, Rogers Ofime, who is the head of Native Media, disclosed that “Zone 222 has been produced to capture the interest of the audience by satisfying

the hearts and minds of viewers with raw comedy every time it is on.”

Native Media is in the business of producing rich and interesting media contents for the satisfaction of both local and international audience.

Apart from striving to build the most valuable media brand in Africa, the brand’s aim and aspiration is to impact human society positively. Native Media’s success over the years can be attributed to the clarity of the set vision and the understanding of it by everyone attached to the dream.

“Native Media Limited is positioned for greatness and we are ready to constantly and consistently satisfy the audience with interesting and thought provoking films and series.”

KORREKT SET TO DROP FA MI RE DO Singer, Kingsley Okonkwo, better known as Korrekt, is set to drop yet another massive tune titled ‘Fa mi re do,’ as produced

by Pay beats and mixed and mastered by leading sound engineer, Indomix.

Korrekt’s love for music started officially at age 16 when he discovered he could play some musical instruments and, after having listened to songs from

musicians that include, 2Face Idibia, Sound Sultan, Bob Marley to mention but few.

Currently studying Computer Engineering at Kharkiv National University, Ukraine, Korrekt first buzz the entertainment industry when he released Gba Gbe featuring CDQ, which enjoyed massive airplay in radio stations.

On his forthcoming work, Korrekt disclosed that the industry

should get ready for this as he is ready to raise the temple of music in the entertainment industry.

He said: “Fa mi re do will be released in a couple of weeks, both the audio and video, as we recently just concluded the video shoot in Ukraine Kiev as directed

by Anton Shantohin.”Korrekt is currently signed on Indomix entertainment Management Company.

Gabriel Afolayan, Nollywood Stars Storm Redemption Camp for ‘King Invincible’ Nollywood artistes will storm the Youth Centre in Redemption Camp, Lagos on Saturday the 2nd of July, venue for the first unveiling of Femi Adisa Film, King Invincible. These cream de la cream of Nollywood stars, who also featured in the movie are ToyinAlausa, Omowunmi Dada, Gabriel Afolayan, Tope Tedela and Bimbo Manuel. Their friends from the industry will also be on ground to celebrate with Adisa.

King Invincible is an epic film that tells a sprawling tale of love and war. A handsome warlord, Taari (Tope Tedela) is fast transitioning into a wolf due to the curse of the dogs that has been placed on him. He must immediately find the cure to this curse or be forever damned. The plot thickens when he discovers that the prince of the village,Adetiba (GabrielAfolayan) will stop

at nothing to prevent him from getting the cure he desperately needs.

Princess Morenike (Omowunmi Dada) who is desperately in love with Taari, goes against her brother and goes beyond all limits to get the cure for her betroth. In his struggle for a solution to his problems, Taari is faced with oppositions from Adetiba, played by Afolayan, who goes an extra mile to deny the warrior the cure he greatly desires. The misery behind the solution and the cure, including, regaining the confidence of lost love and brotherhood are all part of what will be unravel in the unveiling of King Invincible.

Adisa said he decided to screen his movie, King Invincible first in redemption camp, because he considers the camp a place where he has a large family, taken into consider-

ation that he is a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God ( RCCG), more so, he happens to be among the first graduate of the Redeemers University of Nigeria ( RUN).

Speaking on while he went into film production, Adisa said, his journey into film making started from Michael Jackson, whom he loved and emulated. “I wanted to be like him. For everyone who knows Michael Jackson, you will know that there is one striking thing about him - music videos.

They were done very well that you could watch them a million times and not get tired.”

Adisa promised free pop corn and T Shirts for those who will be at the screening as tickets are available at Open Heavens and other outlets on camp.

W

hen did you begin singing?

I can’t really tell but I know I started doing great on stage from JSS1. Back then if I love a song and I don’t know how to sing it, then I’ll just do my version of the song and it will turn out to be better than the original version.

What have been the successes and challenges?

There have been deals here and there, big events, major awards; a lot of travelling, so many shows, and making money.

My first concert had a massive turn out that gave me goose bumps; after the show I got an award as KOC (king of the crowd). The thing is that they don’t know the face but they know the songs, so whenever they hear JAYWISE concert, they turn up well. The challenges are crazy too; you dey vex no be wetin fans wan hear ooo, you must smile or else they tag it as pride; I laugh a lot so I don’t really feel it. My performances are always crazy and, once one of the fans almost striped me naked out of excitement, I had to scream security. I don’t know how to tell fans that music is my hubby and not my career. Music is one of the things I do and it is just that am so great at it.

Who are your role models and who would you love to work with?

Akon has been my role model and he is a great man. I won’t call him a musician; I will call him a diplomat and I will like to have him on a track and work with him. Musically, I will like to work with Akon, Sarkodie, Zeekels, Ok-david, Xbusta, MIc, 2face, Psquare, Phyno, Wizkid and more.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Playing with my beautiful kids, inspire the world. I pray to be bigger and better.

Tell us about your background?

My name is Ezerioha Francis, JAYWISE, and I’m from Imo State. I’m a graduate of History and International studies from Imo State University (IMSU).

56

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Saraki: What Do Buhari’s Men Really Want?

Jude Ndukwe

S

ince Senator Bukola Saraki emerged president of the Senate on June 9, 2015, the Senate has been forced to carry out their legislative functions in an atmosphere of suppressed tension as managed by the current leadership of the upper chamber.

But for the equanimity with which the Senate president and his team have handled the political persecution visited on them by the executive and the cabal within the ruling party, the nation by now would have been in irreversible chaos.

It is very rare in democracies like ours for the ruling and opposition parties in a legislative chamber to strike a harmonious chord to the extent that beyond election of their leaders, they both work together to ensure a smooth running of not only the senate but also the national assembly and the nation in general.

They also have ensured that the usual rift that characterised the relationship between the executive and legislature has been reduced significantly if not removed entirely.

Even in times when distractions are absent, it is enough an arduous task to lead a senate peopled by high ranking Nigerians who come to the senate with the delicate complexities that precariously hold our nation together, not because they are cryonic or parochial, but because they all represent peoples with divergent identities, peculiar needs and expectations, not to talk of when the leadership of the senate has been hit with needless and relentless distractions of persecution engineered by those self-acclaimed godfathers and members of the cabal not only in the presidency but also in the ruling APC. With Buhari’s style of governance, a lot of people who had their eyes on Nigeria’s till were disappointed. It is difficult reaching the till for self-gratification or reward for working hard for the party. However, the ingenuous ones among them who have always been ingenuous in doing what they know how to do best have since fashioned a new way of unfairly getting a share of our national cake.

It is therefore not surprising that the DSS recently raided the home of one of president Buhari’s trusted lackeys who is currently serving in the Presidential Committee on Arms Procurement, Air Commodore Umar Muhammed (rtd), where a whopping sum of $1.5m cash and a series of about 18 luxury cars including Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Buggati etc were said to have been found in his Abuja home. It was also alleged that Muhammed

Saraki was fronting for some high ranking government officials in EFCC and Office of the National Security Adviser.

This is why Saraki’s statement that “there is now a government within the government of President Buhari” is true. For, behold, if there is no government within this government, how would one man allegedly fronting for powerful government officials be so irresponsible as to work at great variance with the main policy thrust of this administration which is the fight against corruption by involving in crass self-enrichment?

If there is no government within this government, how would Buhari say one thing and the Attorney-General does another?

At a dinner with members of the National Assembly and leaders of the All Progressives Congress at the State House to mark Democracy Day, President Buhari had said: “I hereby restate the commitment of this administration to observe the principles of Separation of Powers which defines and delineates the functions and powers of each arm of Government…Therefore I, as the President, and we as the executive arm of Government will not

interfere in the functions , functioning and process of the Legislature nor the Judiciary.”

From Buhari’s avowed commitment on behalf of himself and the Executive arm to the principles of the Separation of Powers, it is obvious that those in government acting contrary to this commitment are working at cross-purposes with the president’s intentions and actions, therefore forming themselves into a government within a government. The reason for this is not far-fetched.

Just like the Air Commodore Umar Muhammed (rtd) saga, godfathers in APC see Saraki as a stumbling block towards their intention to further corner our commonwealth through the Senate. Having stripped Lagos of its prized assets, such godfathers want to extend their sticky fingers to the national till, hence, the need to keep planting their bootlickers in places of authority and privilege so that their notorious intentions for the nation would continue unchecked.

That was why certain persons were tipped and backed by these godfathers to become leaders of the Senate during the last elections into positions of leadership in the Red Chamber. However, providence, having seen their impure intentions, decided to send those set of senators on a non-existing errand at the International Conference Centre, and by the time they returned from that errand, the Senate had concluded its election without rancour, and for the first time in the history of our recent democratic evolution, it was proved and till date that two major opposing parties can actually put their differences aside and work together for the common good of the nation.

It is this beautiful development that should lay the foundation for good governance above bitter rivalry in our continued political development that is about to be destroyed by those who should actually cherish and nurture it by using their powers to relentlessly force a new set of puppet-leadership upon Distinguished Senators just to feather their own nests.

The cabal in the presidency and the APC should better mind what they are asking for.

They cannot afford to push their luck too far at this stage of their administration. After the bitterness and the extremely polluted atmosphere that characterized the last general elections, a situation which still conspicuously sticks to our socio-political fabric till today, it is more than a miracle that Saraki and Ekweremadu have been able to galvanise their colleagues from all political divides to tow the line of working assiduously and concordantly with the executive arm of government despite the fact that APC does not have the required

two third majority in either chambers to push through some Bills. Even the peace that reigns in the House of Assembly today is as a result of Saraki being able to tactically and tactfully sell his party’s agenda to parliamentarians and manage the ego of every individual and party to a point of near-perfection as the president of the national assembly.

Saraki is a blessing to APC, but like most of God’s blessings, they come in surprise packages. That he has a level-headed and focused deputy from the opposition PDP in the person of Senator Ike Ekweremadu is one fact the APC goons should not take for granted.

Ekweremadu has also served as a unifying factor for the National Assembly, always putting national interest above every other interest without necessarily compromising the interest of his own party. It is rare to see this kind of combination in a clime like ours.

One can only imagine where we would have been today if Saraki and Ekweremadu had not managed the issue of the 2016 budget with utmost care. That budget stirred a lot of controversies capable of throwing the nation off balance and further take us from quagmire to the doldrums, but for the legislative sagacity and leadership dexterity of those two men.

The cabal in the presidency and APC should mind what they ask for; they should not push their luck too far.

The moment they rupture the harmonious chord in the national assembly for their own selfish reasons, they put governance at risk.

Some PDP lawmakers are already threatening to withdraw their support for the current administration. The implications of such threats to the smooth running of government can only be imagined than experienced.

The APC big-wigs should not behave like political neophytes who are not aware of the monumental implications of the continued distraction and interference in the affairs of the legislature and persecution of the leaders.

If a harassment-induced revolution by PDP lawmakers and some APC ones loyal to the senate is allowed, the resultant effect would be regrettable. APC’s usual blackmail of the legislature by singing the usual song of putting the nation first to them might not work then. If anyone needs to put the nation first, it is members of government within Buhari’s government, and if there is any time to do that, it is now!

Two rams cannot drink from a bucket, they will surely lock horns. It is the housefly that ignores advice that follows the corpse into the grave!

---jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk; Twitter: @ stjudendukwe

EVENT

Oyo State Wins 2016 Copa Coca-Cola, As JJ Okocha Makes Unusual Appearance

M

ost people lack the information required to project their ideas.

However, once the necessary push is given, then the ideas will become reality.

This is the kind of work that USAF Foundation does and it is designed to assist people grow their ideas. A major conference has been planned to hold from October 6-8, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A. While yesterday started like any other day, it proved to be unforgettable for Oyo state’s Asegun Comprehensive High School boys who won the 2016 edition of the intensely competitive Copa Coca-Cola tournament after defeating rival team, National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu state, at the national final match played at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island.

Determined and focused all through the 60 minutes of play that ended in a goal less draw, both teams put up a strong spirited fight for the trophy and the prize money of a million naira, but in the end, the Asegun boys were able to pull through with a 5-3 in a penalty shootout.

The match, which had in attendance top officials from the Lagos state government,

Copa Coca-Cola U-15 winners, Asegun Comprehensive High School, Oyo State the National School Sports Federation (NSSF), and Senior Staff of CocaCola witnessed super engaging musical performance from rave of the moments and 2016 BET Best New International Act Award winner, ‘Falz the bad guy’ as well as a surprise entry by Nigeria’s Football legend, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha.

The former Super Eagles captain came disguised as an elderly janitor[GO1] ,

tricking both players and the spectators into believing he was just a regular cleaner who was going about his job and simply wanted to join in the game.

Pulling a surprise with his quick moves and impeccable juggling and dribbling skills, Okocha had the young players in awe, before finally revealing himself.

Speaking of his appearance at the match, the football legend remarked that

coming to the event, provided him an opportunity to give wings to the passion and aspiration of the young players, by motivating them to reach for their dreams.

“Just like many football stars today, my football career began at the grassroots level. Today I am what I am because I had people who believed in me and gave me the opportunity to thrive. Copa Coca-Cola is doing just that, inspiring the next generations of Football players. And I am happy to be a part of a platform that is transforming grassroots football in Nigeria,” he said.

Basking in the excitement of the moment, 14-year-old Olanrewaju Fadipe, Captain of the winning team, enthused, “He is my all-time favourite, and I am still in shock that I just played with him. I will cherish the moment forever!”

Presenting the medals and trophies to the Asegun boys, the Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Adeola Adetunji congratulated them for their outstanding performances in the tournament, stating that their hard work and team spirit earned them the victory.

Read full article online: www.thisdaylive.com

57

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULY 2, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Amaechi, Beware of the Verdict of History Bruno Emenike

T

wo personae suitably illustrate Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation. These are Queen Saran, the Bambara fictional character in the poem, “Love Defeats Queen Saran” and Benedict Arnold, the anti-hero of the American War of Independence, who for 20, 000 pounds sabotaged the efforts of his countrymen at West Point fort.

Amaechi’s recent remarks at the Federal Government’s town hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State pertaining to the proposed Maritime University at Okerenko, Delta State pitted him against his counterpart, Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. It is a common fact of history that some people, for whatever reason, are averse to their kith and kin. So it is not entirely surprising that the one-time speaker and governor of Rivers State seems to have a grouse against his people in the South South, therefore, will mount any challenge against their developmental inroads.

For a man that has benefitted immensely from the generosity of his South South brothers to so cavalierly dismiss their aspirations is no less befuddling like Queen Saran.

Saran, the bejeweled wife of Duga, leader of the Bambara, was taken up by the virile splendour of Da Monzon, that she forgot the generosity of her husband; his gifts, devotion and fidelity that she had to betray him because of the appeal of the flesh and the future expectation of bliss.

An excerpt from the poem: “Duga’s wife watched Da Monzon. She was thunderstruck by his virile splendor; it was love at first sight and her desire was so intense that she lost all sense of proper behaviour as well as her self-control. She spent a very bad night, as her flesh was tormented by a hunger she could not satisfy; dark thoughts peopled her brain, she forgot Duga’s favors; she forgot that she was the first queen of a

Amaechi state famous for the courage of its warriors and the wealth of its citizens.

“She was obsessed by one idea - to possess Da, to hold him in her arms, to give all of herself to him; she was lost without knowing it. Her drunken soul plunged into darkness, she forgot everything else; she wanted Da at any price.”

As it was with Saran, so it was with Arnold. The records show that at the start of the American War of Independence, Benedict Arnold was the archetypal American hero, who fought brilliantly surviving bravely in several tough battles.

But like they say, the tide turns in the affairs of men, by the end of the war, the famed general had taken a dangerous turn and was now in command of British troops against his former forces. It is said that Arnold was a general on the losing side who went down in history as a “turncoat” and a traitor. Embittered by what he saw as a lack of recognition of his military genius, Arnold offered West Point to the British in return for 20,000

pounds and proceeded to systematically weaken the defenses of the strategic fort overlooking the Hudson River in New York state. But his plot quickly became known and Arnold’s contact with the British army, Maj. John Andre, was captured by American forces and hanged. Arnold escaped to a British frigate and although the British never really trusted him, he was given command of British troops. After the war, he and his wife went to England, where he died, the most famous traitor in American history.

How do these two characters differ from Amaechi? He was at the forefront of an adversarial campaign against former President Goodluck Jonathan. He not only said that Jonathan was not his brother, but has shown a marked disdain for anything as it relates to those that should be his immediate constituency. It was the very people that he has waged relentless war against that plucked him from the jaws of poverty, dressed him, and gave him the stage to become who he is today.

If the minister is not drunk on some opium of being beholden to today’s men of power, and in particular the north, how can anyone justify his summation at that meeting, which drew jeers from those in the audience. He said: “I am not against the University. I hope you people appreciate that. My argument about Okerenkoko is that the land alone is N13 billion. If you give me N13 billion I will buy half of Lagos. That N13 billion has built the university already so there is no need to spend more money.

“Let EFCC retrieve the money from them and then release them and we would build the University. I believe the Federal government has no money to continue. When we have the money we would continue.

“The Minister of state for Petroleum has whispered to me that he would look for the money to continue...Minister, bring it to me and I will continue.”

Right from the onset of his ministerial appointment, Amaechi bared his fangs against the university when he declared it scrapped without going through proper scrutiny of

the facts. For one, he is neither a cost analyst nor surveyor to determine the exact cost of the land. Also, he unwittingly made himself the prosecutor and judge when he arrogantly said once the money is retrieved, the EFCC would let those behind the sale go home.

What then happens to due judicial process?

Which society can make any meaningful progress with strong arm tactics?

Well, Amaechi was outclassed by Kachikwu, who showed a remarkable understanding of the sensibilities of the audience in the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State.

Perhaps being an active player in the oil and gas industry, Kachikwu understands the dynamics of the development of the region that has witnessed resurgence in pipeline vandalism and has nearly crippled the country’s oil industry.

“First let me say on Maritime University, I disagree with the Minister of Transport. Any facility that is placed in the south south, we should work towards developing it. I don’t care the circumstances under which we are placed…

“It is not my position to determine whether land was valued at N19 billion or N10 billion or N3 billion. The appropriate institutions which are the court systems will determine that.

“That has nothing to do with the development of the infrastructure. As far as I know, so much has gone into that property. So much fiscal assets are being developed. We are not going to throw the baby with the bath water. We will deal with the issues but the university will be developed.

“If he doesn’t want it in maritime, I will take it to petroleum,” Kachikwu said.

Amaechi should read in between the lines of what his colleague brother from the South South told him. History is usually unkind with people who turn their backs against their people for personal advancement.

Nigeria has their fair share of examples of those who have gone into infamy for how their people perceived them.

–Emenike wrote in throughbrunoemenike@gmail.com

POLITY

Independent Candidacy: Civil Society to March on National Assembly July 20 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

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coalition of groups comprising youth advocates, civil society and religious bodies will march on the National Assembly on July 20, to press for the passage of a bill that seeks the introduction of independent candidacy and reduction of constitutional age requirement for running for elective offices in the country.

Samson Itodo, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA)

which will organize the march, said the bill on the allowance of independent candidacy in Nigeria’s electoral laws will strengthen and increase the competitiveness of the political process.

The bill, sponsored by Hon Tony Nwulu, representative of Oshodi/ Isolo Federal Constituency, has passed through second reading and is before the House Committee on Constitutional review.

It seeks to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the Constitution ( as amended ) to reduce the age eligibility for the office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor from 35 to 30 ; Senate 35 to 30; House of Representatives 30 to 25 and

State House of Assembly 30 to 25.

To support the bill, the coalition held a public debate to serve as a catalyst for increased public awareness in addition to giving rise to increased advocacy for its passage by the lawmakers.

To become an Act, the bill requires 217 votes from House of Representatives, 72 votes from the Senate, in addition to the states houses of Assembly, before the President can give his accent.

Itodo disclosed that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, was positively disposed to the amendment when the advocacy group held a meeting with

him two weeks ago. .

The Political Officer, US Embassy, Martin Hardinger, who was among the speakers at the debate, asked the youth to start taking interest in democratic process in Nigeria.

Similarly, the Africa Director of Washington based International Republican Institute (IRI) , John Tomaszewski, said that the average age of African presidents is 78 .

Tomaszewski, who lamented the under representation of youths in decision making process, noted that election offers the channel through which they can be part of policy making.

FCT Charges Landlords against Masterplan Abuse Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

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he FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, has charged landlords in the Federal Capital Territory to strictly ensure that their buildings are used only for the purposes they were designed in the Abuja Master Plan. Bello gave this charge when the Nyanya (Phase I) Landlords Association, Abuja visited him in his office.

The Minister said this charge had become necessary to forestall a situation where some of the landlords were converting residential properties into nightclubs,

brothels and worship centers, against the purposes for which they were designed and approved by the FCT Development Control Department.

He stated that as community leaders, the landlords had a duty to insist that anybody staying in any of their properties subscribe to basic minimum standards of behavior agreed between them and the tenants.

“A lot of activities take place in these buildings that are illegal. They are all done in properties owned by people.

For every property, there is purpose for it. If as a landlord, you allow somebody to rent your house and before you know it, he converts it into a nightclub and the wrong people come there, it affects the

neighbors,” Bello charged.

The Minister who explained that districts and communities in the FCT were specifically designed to have areas for schools, commercial activities, residential and hospitals, regretted that some landlords allowed for mixed use, which he reiterated often, has led to breakdown of law and order in the community.

“If your member rented a house out and before you know it, the tenant has converted it into a church or a mosque or a nightclub and then instead of normal service time that we know, somebody will put up something at 2.00am. This is wrong.

You have to police these things and give

us report so that we can enforce”, he stressed.

While making clarifications on the FCTA’s recent decision to shut substandard schools within the Territory, Malam Bello said some of the schools operated in such deplorable conditions that were simply not conducive for learning.

He said: “We were trying to close so many schools because most of them are not schools. There was an area where a school was located inside a brothel.

You will see small children studying in the school and just by the side, you see people moving half naked. How can they learn in that kind of environment?”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JUNE 4, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

When the Messenger Has the Master’s Ears Emma Agu

It is not surprising that Kachikwu’s delegation was able to pull off that feat.The main credit should go to President Buhari whose global stature and reputation are reminiscent of the high standing in which Nigeria was held when President Obasanjo returned to power in 1999. As a knowledgeable general, President Buhari leads from the front. Yet, his effort could simply go with the winds if he didn’t have an effective lieutenant in the oil industry. It is in this regard that Kachikwu and his NNPC teams share in the credit. It is axiomatic that one of the cardinal principles of national development is that no other person will develop your country for you

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t is not every time that a messenger has the ears of the master.

When the messenger does not have the ear of the master what you get is a level of dissonance that leads to systemic dysfunction. That, in itself, either results in frustration of the messenger or outright displacement of goals.

In Nigeria, the muffled view, in some quarters, is that Minister of State for Petroleum and concurrently, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, could be overreaching himself by his boldness and what I would describe, for lack of a better phrase, as ministerial activism. But why would anybody think that the minister is overreaching himself?

I can hazard a few guesses. For one, there is the feeling that his utterances on a number of issues do not represent the position of President Muhammadu Buhari who doubles as minister of petroleum resources. Here are some examples: while Kachikwu favours dialogue as a means of resolving the of militancy in the Niger Delta, Buhari’s body language and actions appear to favour smoking the militants out by the armed forces.

While Buhari’s initial disposition was towards reducing the price of fuel by fiat, Kachikwu was said to have actively promoted a market determined rate.

The argument goes thus: Buhari, in keeping with his electoral promises was wary of anything that would compromise his integrity; Kachikwu, on the other hand, was keen to prove to investors, local and foreign, that government policy would be attractive enough to guarantee return on investments. The minister’s reasoning is simple: without an attractive policy environment, capital, the indispensable oxygen of industrial life will migrate to other lands, companies will shrink, employment opportunities will tumble and the change promised by the President could become a mirage.

However, it appears that we have now gone beyond the realm of conjecture: the evidence on the ground shows that both Buhari and Kachikwu have struck a rhythm that has turned the oil sector into the most vibrant and result-oriented segment of the Nigerian economy in the past year or so. They have achieved what was considered impossible by pulling off the fuel price magic, something previous administrations labored unsuccessfully to accomplish. Today, the issue of fuel scarcity has been put behind us. Nigerians can now drive leisurely into the filling station and leave within minutes. The nightmare is over. All, because the messenger had his master’s ears!

For those who were cynical about the ability of Kachikwu to drive the reform process to its logical conclusion and deliver on all key benchmarks especially the refineries, empirical evidence points to the man confounding his skeptics and moving at pace that could hardly have been predicted. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) road show in China, within the week, marked a significant milestone in this effort. Undertaken with the aim of consolidation on the gains

Ibe Kachukwu

of President Buhari’s earlier visit to China, Kachikwu’s mission turned out to be an unqualified success, indeed unprecedented in the annals of road shows in Nigeria. His Chinese hosts were no doubt swept off their feet by the presentation by the Nigerian delegation, ably marshaled by NNPC chieftain Anibor Kragba, culminating in the signing of several deals with reputable Chinese firms. At the last count, as reported by the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Kachikwu had signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in the neighbourhood of fifty billion US dollars, with the expectation that this would hit sixty billion US dollars soon.

It is not surprising that Kachikwu’s delegation was able to pull off that feat. The main credit should go to President Buhari whose global stature and reputation are reminiscent of the high standing in which Nigeria was held when President Obasanjo returned to power in 1999. As a knowledgeable general, President Buhari leads from the front. Yet, his effort could simply go with the winds if he didn’t have an effective lieutenant in the oil industry.

It is in this regard that Kachikwu and his NNPC teams share in the credit.

It is axiomatic that one of the cardinal principles of national development is that no other person will develop your country for you. A consummate strategist himself, the minister is well aware that Chinese firms will not rush to invest in the country’s oil industry if high net worth Nigerian investors do not demonstrate enough passion for the country. It was the hallmark of strategic insight for Kachikwu to have embarked on the China road show with reputable Nigerian investors whose track record of performance and integrity lend credence to the Buhari Administration’s quest for global best practices.

Who else could have played this ambassadorial role more convincingly than Dr. Bryant Orjiakor, chairman of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc? His company is one of the foremost indigenous players in the oil industry. For the records, Orjiakor stands out as a highly disciplined, focused and courageous entrepreneur who has seen

the highs and lows of playing in the oil and gas sector. Through adroit business principles, with his compatriot Austen Avuru, an outstanding oil industry professional, Orjiakor made history when Seplat became the first Nigerian company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. Orjiakor has always believed that Nigeria can play the field in the oil industry, that forming strong conglomerates and partnerships hold the key to unlocking the vast potentials in Nigeria.

Kachikwu’s hosts would therefore have no difficulty believing Sir Bryant when he told them that the Buhari Administration was genuinely leveraging the oil sector to expand the economy and that investing in Nigeria was akin to tapping into a goldmine given that the large and growing population guaranteed a steady return on investment. It is noteworthy that he was on the China road show; it marks a significant endorsement of the Buhari oil industry reform program and gives Kachikwu the industry oxygen he requires to forge ahead in spite of the challenges that lay on the road.

Luckily, these challenges are being confronted headlong through a combination of disarming flexibility on the part of President Buhari and the principled commitment of Kachikwu to his strategy for engaging the Niger Delta militants. That was why he had the courage to forecast improved production. That was the source of his confidence when he assured his Chinese audience that President Buhari had authorized dialogue with the Niger Delta militants. Something tells me that this messenger has the ears of his master! Is it therefore not appropriate that we commend the President for shifting, if only temporarily, from his legendary zero tolerance for militant agitation? Nigerians and foreign investors alike should be thrilled by Kachikwu’s disclosure that production had been raised to 1.9 million barrels per day because of the ongoing dialogue with the militants.

Behoove It has become all too obvious

that with peace in the country and focused leadership, Nigeria can and will surmount the present economic setback. But achieving peace is not a task for any one person, group or organisation. This is one challenge that all Nigerians must face and conquer. Therefore, it is incumbent on all well-meaning Nigerians, including members of the opposition to plead with the militants to embrace the olive branch offered by the “born again” posture of President Buhari.

More importantly, commonsense dictates that the militants and all indigenes of the Niger Delta take advantage of the favourable disposition of their kinsman, Ibe Kachikwu who has positioned his neck on the unsparing and treacherous guillotine of Nigerian politics even if that means that his political blood would be shed to catalyze the development of the Niger Delta in a strong, united and prosperous Nigeria under the leadership of President Buhari.

For me, the stakes are high, the prospects are enormous and the deliverables promising. In my mind’s eye, I can picture Nigeria, two years from today, awash with 50 billion dollars of Chinese investment in the oil industry, much of it in the Niger Delta, complementing and competing with the mind-boggling Dangote refinery.

Somebody should tell me why the pump head price of petrol will not tumble to less than one hundred naira per litre or why millions of jobs will not be created directly or indirectly in the Niger Delta region or why the despondent and restive youth of the region will not regain their dignity and self pride or why the hitherto backwaters of development will not turn into the new coastal frontlines of national renaissance; why, why, why, why, why…!

Please let the Chinese come.

Emma Agu, a veteran journalist is promoter of the FEDERAL INSIGNIA, a policy analysis group. He can be reached onbobozest@gmail.com.

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July 2, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

BUSINESS ENCOUNTER Abayomi

Ship Building and Recycling will Increase Nigeria’s Properity London-based maritime lawyer and a ship broker, Mr. Adekanmi Abayomi, tells John Iwori that investments in ship building and recycling was key to driving Nigeria’s prosperity apart from oil and gas in the years ahead. He talks about other issues in the industry

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Cabotage Fund and Proposed National Carrier consider the reported proposal of Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi to divert the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) into the establishment of a new national carrier highly contentious. As a matter of fact, it is illegal and inequitable. According to Section 42(2) of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage Act 2003), the purposes of the fund shall be to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity by providing financial assistance to Nigerian operators in the domestic coastal shipping.

Undoubtedly, Section 35(b) of the NIMASA Act empowers the minister to grant national carrier status to a shipping company if - the vessel owned by the company operates on international route, the deep sea and not in Nigerian coastal or inland waterways. It is clear from a combined reading of these two provisions that CVFF is absolutely and specifically meant to provide financial assistance to Nigerian operators in our domestic coastal shipping and not to operators on international route. Having a national carrier could be interesting but it will be unfair for Federal Government to use the sweat of these private ship owning companies and shipping companies to establish a national carrier.

In as much as the idea of a public–private partnership national carrier looks captivating, I am of the view that we are not yet ripe for a national carrier because I do not see Nigerians benefiting from this arrangement.

Our human capacity is still extremely poor in both bulk shipping operation and management. Seriously, how many Nigerian operators can trade in FFA market? How many Nigerian shipping companies are actively operating on international routes? If you ask me, having a national carrier now will only further consolidate foreign dominance in our shipping. Rather than investing in any national carrier, we should be investing in capacity building, increasing efficiency at the individual port level, adapting with current trade flows and increased ship sizes.

Government should focus more on pressing issues like piracy and other maritime crimes at our sea. According to UN Security Council, Nigeria is losing about $1.5 billion monthly due to the vulnerability of our sea. More than 35 maritime crimes have been recorded in the first quarter of 2016 alone. To be factual, Nigerian Navy has been responsive but we need a robust rule of law, constructive governance structures and more hands in our coast guard to solve this problem.

Non-involvement of Nigerian shipping companies in trading in our wet market is not only as a result of NNPC’s unpatronising attitudes but, unfortunately, our fleet of bulk wet ships is nothing to write home about.

This Cabotage Fund needs to be disbursed judiciously and quickly to save our industry from dying of extinction. Frankly, we are not only facing challenges with disbursement of Cabotage Fund and ships acquisition scheme but government programme designed to refurbish our old vessels is also a complete mess and government keeps voting millions of naira into it every year. Federal Government of Nigeria loses about 1.7 trillion naira every year for not transacting with indigenous ship-chandlers. Like I have said on several occasions, we need to adopt Government Guarantee for disbursement and management of Cabotage Fund. I had previously proposed Nigerian National Guarantee Fund (NNGF) that will power the loan scheme, provide credit risk and financial security to the shipping companies wanting to either buy or sell vessels thus, helping them to mitigate the financial risks involved in the investments.

Abayomi

State of Shipyards in Nigeria Despite our maritime position in Africa, we can count the number of shipyards in Nigeria on the tip of our fingers and the few we have are not even comparable with what is obtainable in Senegal, South Africa and Cote d’lvoire. As Nigeria battles with scanty shipyards, China has over 90 established shipyards - building a wide range of vessels’ sizes and types and about 30 major new shipyards are warming up. South Africa, on her part, is not relenting in striving to be among the world’s top 35 maritime nations, she is taking the expansion of her shipyards very dutifully. South African Transnet National Ports Authority’s Chief Operation Officer - Phyllis Difeto said last year that a total of around 2billion South African rand (ZAR) will be spent over the next five years to refurbish existing ship repair facilities in South Africa, while an estimated 13 billion ZAR to 15 billion ZAR will be invested in creating new repair facilities at the South African ports.

Surely, both Niger Dock Nigeria Plc and Continental Shipyard are trying but Niger Dock is quite expensive for our ship owners and their delivery pace is slow while Continental Shipyard has limited space to serve the market. Starzs Limited has considerably done well in the area of its shipyard’s expansion at Onne but more efforts are still required in areas of expansion and technology.

Nigerian ship owners prefer to take their vessels to Dakar in Senegal for repair without being mindful of the distance and the cost of going there. Currently, Nigeria does not have a dry dock capable of maintaining large crude tankers. According to Tony Okonedo, spokesperson of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Corporation (NLNG), large carriers sailing to and from Nigeria have to go to South Africa for dry-docking. This is a major drawback for Nigeria. However, it is commendable that Nigerian Navy is now ready to open up its dockyard for maximum utilisation.

Badagry Ship Repair and Maritime Engineering Company’s proposed $1.5billion Badagry Dockyard project is an investment at the right direction. Let me use this avenue to implore the management of BSMEC to structure a developmental programme for Nigerian trainees. BSMEC needs to emulate the good job Starzs Limited is doing in accommodating our trainees in its shipyard.

Kudos must also be given to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company for prioritising capacity building in shipbuilding and repair.

Investment Opportunities, Shipbuilding and Recycling Sectors Shipbuilding and recycling remain investment hubs of Nigerian state prosperity.

It is time we started demonstrating strong political will towards local building of ships and recycling in a commercialised form and stop complaining about the floating price of crude oil. For how long are we going to allow the international cabal frustrating us with crude oil price? We should rather look inward and make things happen for ourselves. We stand a chance of revolutionalising our shipping industry with massive fleet of ships by investing in these sectors.

Like oil and gas, shipping is also a huge project. It requires the right quality of human capital to run the ports, the shipyards and the ships. This is widely considered as the most critical success factor. Looking inwardly to create employment is healthier to our economy than importing expatriates to run our ports, shipyards and ships.

Though, ocean shipping industry still faces tough time, especially the dry bulk market.

Despite 12-year low new building prices offered by the shipyards, only four new building orders were registered in the first 12 weeks of 2016. But the recent reduction of bunker price has given the industry a glimmer of hope - bunker fuel price currently at around $150 – $200 per mt, a level not seen for nearly a decade. However, much of these gains from lower operating cost are being absorbed by conforming to low sulphur emission regulations. 2015 was a

year that many in ocean shipping, except tanker owners, would love to forget quickly.

Last year was actually the best year for tanker sector since 2008, Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) rates at the end of 2015 were short of $100,000 per day. While it was a dark year for dry bulk sector, it is not the case in others.

New contracts for dry bulk ships have been on a path of decline in the last year and a half, currently culminating at a level that resembles a standstill. The four orders, made between January and March 2016, amounting to 267, 000 deadweight (DWT) is less than a tenth of the 2.8 million DWT placed by the end of February 2015.

As a matter of fact, the New Year is not off to a great start for the dry bulk shipping industry as the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) reaches a new all-time lowest. BDI dropped by five points in January 2016 reaching 468 points since its previous record low of 471 points posted in December 2015. Lowest level was recorded at 290 levels on 10th February 2016.

All these could be worrisome including decline in new orders and the growing labour unrest in China, Japan and South Korea. But despite these challenges, the market still remains strong. According to Alphaliner, the weak market did not stop ship owners ordering more containerships in 2015. A total of 225 containerships was ordered with a total capacity of 2.34 million TEU. Despite the low ordering of new dry bulk carriers, there is still a large order book for future deliveries. As it is evident from the fact that 13.2 million DWT of new tonnage was delivered in the first two months of 2016, a slight increase compared to last year’s 11.6 million DWT. Reduction in dry bulk new building orders is a blessing to ship recycling market. 144 dry bulk ships have been scrapped so far this year, equivalent to 11.9 DWT. The fact that so much has been scrapped in the first two months of 2016 alone supports experts’ prediction that 2016 will be the busiest year for breaking of dry ships ever. Only in January and February 2016, 111 dry bulk ships were scrapped, equaling 9.3 million DWT. This represents a 42 per cent rise compared to the 6.6 million DWT scrapped in the two first months of 2015 and in the first half of the same year, a record of 30 million DWT was scrapped. Besides, containership scrapping is also anticipated to escalate in 2016. According to BIMCO’s Chief Shipping Analyst, Peter Sand, the increased recycling is taking place despite the fact that the scrap steel prices offered to owners wishing to sell their ship for recycling are run down by a low demand for scrap steel.

Ship recycling market in Nigeria looks buoyant and full of potentialities but unfortunately it is gravely crying for investments.

The scattered ship wrecks, on our waterways, have created gaps for investment. According to the President of Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) in Nigeria, Charles Uwadia, Nigerian water is littered with large number of abandoned ships. I am of the opinion that instead of spending almost N25billion proposed by Lagos State to remove just the wrecks such sum can be invested in providing facilities to recycle the shipwrecks in Nigeria. Investing in this will save investors/ship owners a lot of money from towing shipwrecks abroad for recycling.

It is also pertinent to state here that investors also stand to gain from our energetic and affordable labour which is a big factor in the business of recycling. Even Mr. Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Ports Authority of Singapore described Nigeria as the new destination for future maritime investments. If we must key into this gap, we Cont’d on Pg. 60

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • July 2, 2016

BUSINESS ENCOUNTER Ship Building and Recycling will Increase Nigeria’s Prosperity really need to step up our game because we have South Asian countries like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to compete with. With the aim of making dirty profit, ship owners prefer to break their vessels on South Asian beaches because of their ship recycling sharp practices. Ship recycling yards in this axis are known to be non-compliant of fundamental labour rights, international waste trade law and other international environmental protection standards. However, more international attention is needed to solve these problems. Out of 768 large ocean-going vessels that were recycled in 2015, 469 were broken on the beaches of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. And 79 per cent of ships sold for recycling in the first quarter of 2016 ended up on the same South Asian beaches.

Having said these, if Nigeria can put her economies of scale and maritime positioning into perspective, we stand a chance in this industry.

The rate at which ships are being scrapped now also tends to increase newbuilds, though new building market has its own challenges. The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) reported that international dry bulk shipowners are scrapping ships aged eighteen years or older, while some Chinese owners have scrapped ships that were even younger than that. Nineteen ships out of twenty-eight ships built between 1998 and 1999 got demolished between 2013 and 2015. 40 million of dry bulk tonnage is to be scrapped in 2016 and will be sold for recycling during 2016, making this year the busiest year on record for ship breaking and recycling. Also, Virtual shipbroker said that scrapping of old ships will continue nicely and by 2018-2019 we might see an upturn.

As a matter fact, a rise in ship recycling has contributed significantly to BDI reaching a mark of 704 points as published in April 2016.

This year 2016 is a good time to invest if we can harness our finance appropriately with a credible business plan. According to Richard Greiner of Moore Stephens, increasing ship recycling in 2016 will not only restore the balance in dry bulk sector but it will also stop the world from mis-judging and blaming China’s insufficient demand for the new lows of the Baltic Dry Index.

It is not only the commencement of US shale gas boom and Russia’s Yamal LNG project that has prompted surging demand for LNG and LPG carriers but Iran’s 40 million metric tons of LNG a year is also a factor influencing a turnaround in the market of new LNG tankers. On this basis, there is nothing stopping Nigeria from capitalising on the partnership agreement she recently signed with Germany on effective supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to consolidate Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company’s perception of shipbuilding which centers on construction and maintenance of LNG and LPG tankers. This will help us to build up a stronger capacity to engage domestic ship owners in exporting our 22 million metric tons of LNG per year and ultimately position our chances of earning foreign exchange from both the products and freight rates.

In 2013, Daewoo Mangalia had 18 new orders worth around $1 billion. By the end of the first quarter of 2016, Daewoo Shipbuilding, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries have order book of 118 ships, 95 ships, 81 ships respectively.

Also in 2013, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Subic yard in the Philippines secured orders worth around $2 billion for 26 container vessels and 8 LPG vessels, while Hyundai’s Vinashin yard in Vietnam diversified from its focus on bulk carriers into new business areas such as tankers in the same 2013, with a 50 per cent increase in its order book. One interesting thing about shipbuilding market is that it serves all the markets; Tanker, Containership, Ro-Ro, Dry Bulk, Multipurpose etc. so it can easily switch to where there is a demand. An example is the sudden return of interest in Aframax crude carriers. No less than 57 new orders were placed in 2015. This was the highest number of Aframax crude oil tanker orders since 2006 when 101 were ordered.

Tanker market, being the most profitable sector of ocean shipping industry at the moment, is still expected to experience a further rise but IHS Maritime and Trade believes that the tanker industry could have already seen its peak. Thus, as long as demand for oil stays high and consumption increases in developing countries, the industry will remain healthy. With all the predictions, demand for crude oil tanker keeps suggesting massive investment in new building. According to BIMCO, crude oil tanker market is expected to grow stronger in 2016, with projected fleet

Abayomi with wife

increase of 4.3 per cent. Crude oil tanker new building market was busy throughout last year. Some 35 million DWT was ordered, out of which 66 were VLCCs. Again, significant growth of the tanker fleet was recorded at the beginning of the year as almost 40 new bunkers, bitumen and asphalt carriers came into service in January 2016. According to IHS, out of these new vessels which range from a few thousand tonnes to 300,000 DWT, eight crude oil tankers with a combined tonnage that make up two-thirds of the total were handed over in January this year. A total of 18 chemical tankers were delivered, while ten MR2 tankers, 486,000 DWT were handed over to their owners in March 2016.

Also, the commencement of sulphur emissions rules within certain geographic zones (Emissions Control Areas or ECAs) and the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new buildings to a 30 per cent reduction in emissions by 2025 are indications towards a low sulphur shipping industry in the future.

It is significant to say that the introduction of global sulphur caps in 2012 has become a major driver in ship design. Therefore, the global 0.1percent sulphur content limit intends to also increase demand for new vessels Positively, there are rooms for new players in this industry. Germany is also launching a comeback into shipbuilding. New private equity owner of Nordseewerke is strategically plotting return to shipbuilding sector.

Nordseewerke is one of the biggest and oldest shipyards in Germany. It is pertinent to point out that shipbuilding industry has a changeable history. According to Martin Stopford in his book (Maritime Economics, 3rd edition) - a century ago, shipbuilding was dominated by Great Britain but gradually Continental Europe and Scandinavia squeezed Britain’s share down to 40 per cent and by 2005 Britain’s market share of shipping had fallen below two per cent and merchant shipbuilding was limited to very small ships. In the 1950s Japan overtook Europe, achieving a market share of 50% in 1969. South Korean shipbuilding output grew rapidly in the 1980s and this posed a challenge to Japan’s dominant position.

China also joined the party by the early 1990s, achieving a 14 per cent market share in 2006.

Today, South Korea, Japan and China are the Mecca of shipbuilding.

Despite Japanese shipbuilders’ edge in safety technology, their production capacity is still limited but South Korea, on the other hand, has the biggest orders but labour related problems are affecting their yards from functioning maximally and this impedes new LNG orders.

According to OECD 2013e, the shipbuilding industry is part of a sophisticated marine cluster with upstream and downstream links as well as connections to other clusters including logistics and electronics. The shipbuilding value chain is composed of many different activities from design to post-sales, and the high degree of modularity in the industry means that production can

be fragmented across different production units and, indeed, countries, in a global value chain.

One important domestic link to shipbuilding is that of steel industry. Availability of steel is very perspicacious to ship construction. There is no doubt about the fact that Nigeria is capable of being one of the world largest producers of steel but local demand for Nigeria-made steel is still very low and this is affecting the growth of our steel industry. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) lately said that many steel plants in Nigeria are currently operating below 30 per cent of their production capacity. MAN’s Director General, Mr. Remi Ogunmefun said four companies have shut down and some others are on the verge of closing shops as a result of low patronage. In the same vein, the Group Executive Director, African Industries, Mr. Uche Iwuamadi, said steel companies are now operating two weeks per month and are closed for the remaining two weeks due to lack of demand. One of the mega ways in which our steel can be patronised locally is through shipbuilding because it is a huge consumer of steel. According to KOSA (2013), shipbuilding has been a major driver of steel consumption in Korea. As much as 77.6 per cent of Korean steel plate shipment went for shipbuilding.

Investing in shipbuilding also tends to resuscitate Nigerian marine equipment and ship spare parts industries. Around 80 per cent of Korea’s marine equipment output is produced by members of the Korea Marine Equipment Association. KOMEA companies recorded production worth $11.9 billion in 2011 and still growing. Again, due to Algeria’s heavy investments in port capacity and skills development, Algeria has jumped straight into the 10 fastest-growing ship-parts trading nations. Through her proximity to the European Union, soaring energy trade and developing relations with China have also helped.

The labour unrest in China, Japan and South Korea has made a lot of shipbuilders to start strategising on how to expand their production sites to other labour-friendly countries. As a matter of fact, China is not only expanding production sites outside her shores but also exporting money into other economies. It takes a smart nation to key into this market gap. Negotiating a strategic partnership with these nations to expand production sites in Nigeria will not only afford millions of Nigerians the opportunity to acquire modern and technical skills of building ships but this will transform the level of our fleet. Recently, such a strategic relationship was cemented in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Aramco and South Korean shipbuilding conglomerate - Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) signed an MOU in November, 2015 to develop shipyard in Saudi Arabia. This comes with a comprehensive business cooperation framework in areas such as engineering, procurement, construction (EPC), downstream and development

of a casting and facility. According to the President/CEO of Saudi Aramco, Amin H. Nasser - the partnership will add greater value to the Saudi Arabia’s economy, boost localisation efforts and help to create jobs for Saudi nationals.

Japan and South Korea are doing brilliantly in shipbuilding as a result of a planned industrial programme and a robust subsidy arrangement. Nigeria is endowed with every ingredient of a maritime nation - largest market in Africa, natural resources, human capital with abundant young and energetic workforce.

Cost of labour has always been one of the ruling factors in the business of shipbuilding. The fact that the cost of living in some countries is considerably lower than in others and so they can produce certain items at a much lower cost is not far from how shipbuilding moved away from Northern Europe and USA to Asia. Modishly, Japan, South Korea and China capitalised on this and were able to industrialise their shipbuilding with the help of cheap labour, until recently that their workers began to seek higher wages.

The availability of enterprising labour forces, strategic planning coupled with loans contributed to their successes in shipbuilding. Nigeria should not hesitate to tap into this gap created by the labour unrest and turn it into our commercial advantage. According to Eme Essien-Lore, the Country Manager for Nigeria, International Finance Corporation, the dynamism of our population is that it is relatively young and it can be regarded as a working population.

Shipbuilding is one of the major industries we should invest in especially when other oil producing nations are intently planning towards post-oil era. Saudi Arabia is presently planning to invest $2 trillion for a post-oil economy. Nigeria stands to gain massive revenue from shipping if she capitalises on her strength in international trade, huge market and labour cost. Nigeria is still a middle income nation with a per capita income of $2,640 while South Korea and China are $27,000 and $8,000 respectively. Mr. Innocent Chuwuma, Group Chairman/CEO of Innoson Group, said one great advantage he has over his international competitors is that the cost of labour in Nigeria is relatively cheap.

Our relationship with shipping and trade is tremendous. NPA General Manager - Public Affairs, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, reported that in the first quarter of 2015 alone, the total of 5,139 oceans going vessels called at Nigerian Ports. Definitely, there is an immediate market for Nigerian shipbuilding industry especially in crude tanker and LNG tanker segments. Nigeria has the potentiality to join the league of shipbuilding nations.

Our maritime domain is not only quite vast to strategically accommodate modern dry docks, yards and large vessels but we are also blessed with working population, access to funds, raw material such as steel and active private sector.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULy 2, 2016

NEWSXTRA

Fitch Downgrades Lagos to 'B+', with Stable Outlook Obinna Chima

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Lagos State's Long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'B+' from 'BB-' with a stable outlook.

The downgrade, according to the global rating agency reflected the application of Fitch's “International Local and Regional Government’s Rating Criteria Outside the United States.”

Therefore, following the recent downgrade of Nigeria's Long-term foreign currency IDR, it decided to take a similar rating action on

Lagos at the same level as the sovereign.

"Lagos's ratings are capped by the sovereign. A downgrade of the sovereign's ratings would lead to a corresponding action on Lagos's IDR. In the absence of a sovereign downgrade, an operating margin declining towards 30 per cent unfavourable changes in the national tax policy, debt rising beyond Fitch's expectations of N350-N400 billion over the medium term and economic instability, even at the local level, could lead to a downgrade.

"A sovereign upgrade could

be reflected by Lagos's ratings, provided that improvements in budgetary performance result in debt levels at 1x the budget size (about N400billion). Further improvement of the local economy giving additional boost to internally generated revenues would also be positive for the ratings," it stated.

Fitch Ratings recently downgraded Nigeria's long-term foreign currency IDR to 'B+' from 'BB-' as well as the country's long-term local currency IDR to 'BB-' from 'BB'.

But the global rating agency

had assigned a stable outlook to the country. Similarly, Nigeria's Country Ceiling was revised down to 'B+' from 'BB-' and the Short-Term Foreign-Currency IDR affirmed at 'B'.

The agency with dual head office in New York and London had pointed out that the downgrade of Nigeria's IDRs, among other things, was because its fiscal and external vulnerability had worsened due to a sharp fall in oil revenue and fiscal and monetary adjustments that were slow to take shape and insufficient to mitigate the impact of low global oil prices.

It’s now Life Imprisonment for Kidnappers in Delta as Okowa Signs Law Omon-Julius Onabu inAsaba

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on Friday assented to four bills including a bill for the setting up of a state Economic Planning Council and the Delta State Anti-kidnapping (amendment) Bill 2016.

The Economic Planning Council is designed to ensure cohesion between state and local government councils in the speedy delivery of democratic dividends, while the bill on amended anti-kidnapping law 2016 sets the penalty for convicted kidnappers as life imprisonment instead of the death penalty prescribed by the amended law in the state.

The other bills also presented and signed into law by the governor are Delta State Security Trust Fund (amendment Bill) 2016 and the Delta State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy (amendment) Bill 2016.

The respective bills were presented to the Governor for assent by the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya, who was accompanied to the governor's

office by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Friday Osanebi and other principal officers of the House.

Okowa, who took pains to explain the essence of the four bills, said that he was excited to have signed the Bills into law and expressed confidence that the economic situation of the state and the country would improve in the next few months.

He assured the people of more infrastructural development, saying the passage of the Economic Planning Council bill would bring it in line with the Nigerian Constitution to ensure that the local government councils were carried along in the developmental planning in the state as well as avoid duplication of projects.

"In this particular law, local government Chairmen will be brought in as members of the Council and it will enable us to compare notes on economic plans between the local government councils and the state government, and ensure greater partnership in the delivery of economic dividends for our people," the governor said.

Boko Haram: Donate to Us Directly, Abuja IDPs Appeal to Individuals, Organisations Senator Iroegbu and Nosa Enobhayisobo inAbuja

FOR CLEAR SIGHT...

L-R Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria, Sesan Sobowale, Chief Medical Director, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Anthony Igwegbe, Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria, Peter Ndegwa and Governor, Anambra State, Willie Obiano at the commissioning ceremony of the Guinness Eye Hospital, Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday

Murder Trial: Wike, Aguma behind Flag-Amachree’s Continued Detention, Says Counsel Ernest Chinwo inPortHarcourt The Counsel to Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, Ken Atsuwete, has accused Governor Nyesom Wike and the state AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) of being responsible for the continued detention of his client.

But, Aguma has stated that FlagAmachree was only standing trial based on the findings of the Police and that his office would not be intimidated into dropping charges of murder preferred against the APC chieftain.

Flag-Amachree, who is also

former chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council of the state, is being tried on murder charges before a State High Court presided over by Justice Margaret Opara, and currently remanded in the Port Harcourt Prison.

Atsuwete, who made the accusation while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, also raised the alarm that the state government, through the office of the attorney-general had concluded plans to arraign his client before the Chief Judge's Court on a second murder charge.

Atsuwete said, "There is now a second charge, which has not been served on him. My client has not received any charge; I think the world needs to hear this. My client has not

been served a second charge. Yet, Rivers State government has gone on air insisting that Ojukaye FlagAmachree has been served with a charge.

"As we speak right now, the Chief Judge's Court is about to sit on a charge that has not been served on Ojukaye Flag-Amachree. We call on the Chief Judge of Rivers State, who is rich in law to see that justice is done because justice is a three-way traffic. We are pleading passionately that well-meaning Nigerians should intervene. Ojukaye's life, as it is right now is threatened. The man is about to die; his bail application pending at the Court of Appeal."

He wondered where the office

of the Attorney-General of the state and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) got the investigation report they were using to arraign Flag-Amachree on a second murder charge, when his client had been in prison custody since April 19, 2016.

According to him, "Ojukaye FlagAmachree is not being prosecuted; he is being persecuted. It was in the news this morning that Ojukaye Flag-Amachree has been served with another charge for another murder.

"Ojukaye has been in detention since April 19, 2016, so when did the Police investigate this second murder charge, when there is a murder charge that is yet to go in for hearing? Where did they get it from?

Diamond Bank Partners SME100 to Boost MSMEs’ Capacity As part of its commitment to building and supporting economic growth and development in the country, Diamond Bank, in partnership with SME100, has rolled out strategic capacity development programmes that would boost the productive strength of Micro, Small and Medium scale Enterprises, MSMEs. The Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Uzoma Dozie, stated at a networking event which held recently in Lagos for MSME operators and stakeholders, that the sector held the key to rapid economic growth, pointing that the adoption of technology in structuring their businesses was the

surest way to business stability and predictable breakthrough.

Speaking on the topic: “The Age of Digital Disruption; Leveraging Technology for Business Growth,” Dozie in his highly engaging session, noted that the need for small businesses to adopt technology in their processes cannot be overemphasised, stressing that technology stimulates productivity while saving time and energy.

“The future of Africa is digital, and technology creates opportunities for the acquisition of useful skills and this should be embraced by all business owners. Business owners should have a platform that will

enable them engage their customers from a conversational to a marketing perspective”. Dozie stated.

According to him, online awareness was very cost effective and good for business. He said the adoption of appropriate technology would position businesses for banks to lend to them, adding that Diamond Bank is in business to help entrepreneurs operating in the MSME segment of the economy and also lend to customers, individuals and corporate organisations.

Dozie pointed that Diamond Bank demonstrated its commitment to the growth and development of the MSME segment of the economy

through its Business Express seminar, which holds every quarter across the country by offering non-financial benefits and services to help them grow their businesses organically.

Earlier in his welcome address, Executive Director, SME100 Nigeria, Charles Odii, stated that businesses could only remain competitive if the management embraced the multiple advantages that technology offered, adding that to shun technology was to “risk extinction”.

He said: “In order to remain relevant, businesses must begin to conform to the change that technology is bringing across various sectors.

The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to spirited individuals and organisations planning to contribute towards their well-being to deal directly with them rather than going through questionable Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that may not have their best interest at heart.

This following stories of starvation and hunger in various IDP Camps despite billions of naira worth of gifts and cash donated for their upkeep.

The IDPs made this request yesterday, when the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), as part of the activities put in place to provide succour to the poor and ensure the well-being of the displaced persons, gave food items worth thousands to the New Kuchingoro Camp in Abuja.

According to the Chairman of the IDPs, Mr. Philemon Emmanuel, they had been surviving since their relocation from the North Eastern states following the activities of the Boko Haram Terrorists in 2014 to the camp, on the goodwill of some genuine NGOs, spirited individuals, and faith-based organisations amongst others.

"We have been here since 2014, we are 1467 persons from Borno State, Kozar local government area and 56 from Adamawa. And we have been surviving because of the help of some churches, organisation,

mosques and private individuals.

“We hear many times that people have donated items to assist IDPs in Abuja but don’t get to see the donations. Recently, we heard that Dangote donated items worth millions of Naira to IDPs in Abuja but we are yet to receive the items. We however want to appeal that if some people want to help they should come through the IDPs camp so we can get the assistance directly," Emmanuel remarked.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS IJEOMA CHIJIOKE MUO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IJEOMA CHIJIOKE BOSINI . All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as EJEH ISRAEL ODE, now wish to be known and addressed as EJEH JACOB ODE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS FAUSAT ABIOLA JEMOH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FAUSAT ABIOLA OKUNOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MR OLOWONIYI OLORUNTOBA JABREL, now wish to be known and addressed as MR OLOWONIYI OLORUNTOBA GABRIEL. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as PATRICK KELECHI ONU, now wish to be known and addressed as PATRICK KELECHI KHALIFA ONU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as SOMEYIN JUBIR ABIODUN, now wish to be known and addressed as SONEYIN JUBIR BIODUN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

62

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULy 2, 2016

NEWSXTRA

BringBackOurGirls Group Rejects Buratai’s Allusion to Death of 218 Kidnapped Girls

Suspected Sea Pirates Kill 3 Agip Workers in Bayelsa

Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja

An armed gang suspected to be sea pirates, have killed three workers of an international oil company, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC in Bayelsa State.

It wasn't clear if members of the deadly Niger Delta Avengers were responsible for the attack, but the militants had warned that any attempt to repair bombed oil and gas facilities would be bloody.

However, it was learnt that the victims were carrying out repairs at a work station in the creeks of Nembe around Obama flowstation operated by Eni Oil, a parent company of Agip, when the incident occurred.

A security source who craved anonymity, said the victims were two engineers and a driver.

He added that the three workers were ambushed and killed along the creeks while carrying out repair work on Agip pipelines that were destroyed some weeks ago by militants in the Niger Delta.

The BringBackOurGirls group said yesterday that it rejected any message from the federal government and the Nigerian military that seem to suggest that the kidnapped Chibok girls were no longer alive without providing any proof of evidence.

The group in a press statement jointly signed by Mrs. Aisha Yesufu and Mrs. Oby Esekwesili, both coordinators of the group, was reacting to a recent report credited to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).

According to the group, ‘’Our attention has been drawn to statements credited to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai at the Nigerian Army

Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2016.

While responding to questions at a press briefing, the Army Chief was reported to have inferred doubts - if they are alive - on whether our Chibok girls are still alive.

“We read the news report with utter shock and disappointment, especially considering that only last month when one of our #ChibokGirls - Amina Ali Nkeki was rescued, the COAS enthusiastically reassured the nation that the military will rescue the rest of her classmates.

“We therefore fail to understand what has changed since May 2016 and what the COAS' rather speculative statement suggesting that our Chibok girls may not be alive is expected to achieve’’, they said.

The advocacy group expressed surprise that General Buratai's infer-

ence --- without any accompanying counterfactual evidence came amidst the successes of the nation’s brave soldiers, the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), and the Civilian-Joint Task Force (C-JTF) in recent weeks and months.

The group added it was shocking that 809 days after the abduction of such a large number of children, the federal government had not offered the public any credible information on their whereabouts, saying it is embarrassing and absolutely unacceptable.

“We have been extremely delighted at the return of large numbers of our fellow citizens, including the military's report of the rescue of over 5,000 from behind enemy lines within the last few days.

“Furthermore, this unfortunate

speculation is inconsistent with every single report of encounters with our ChibokGirls reported by various other liberated abductees of the terrorists or the proof of life video that is now publicly available’’, the group added.

The advocacy group further stated that the ChibokGirl, Amina Nkeki Ali's return on May 17, strengthened the hope and belief of the families of our 219 girls and concerned citizens in Nigeria and across the world that they would be located and rescued.

It added: “We, like our President, President Muhammadu Buhari, during his reception for Ms. Nkeki Ali, believed that the military and intelligence authorities would debrief her effectively and thus generate the missing pieces of actionable intelligence for the rescue of the rest of her classmates.

Emmanuel Addeh inYenagoa

He said, "The sea pirates, who operate in the area, carried out an ambush on the oil workers. The area is a notorious place where gunmen operate freely."

The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Desmond Agu, confirmed the attack, saying it took place yesterday.

He said already, the search team of security operatives had recovered two dead bodies and their corpses had been taken to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by an ambulance.

Agu said, "The search team, made up of civil defence, Navy, Army, gunboat crew and others left Obama station at 0915 hours yesterday in search of the bodies of the killed Agip personnel.

"At about 1100 hours, the dead bodies of two killed personnel were discovered in Oguama River close to Oguama community in Bayelsa.

They were taken to Ogbia jetty for onward movement to Port Harcourt."

Nigeria Requires $3tn for Infrastructure, Says Fayemi Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

To bridge the infrastructure gap of its growing economy over the next 30 years, Nigeria would have to spend about $3 trillion.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this on Thursday in London, United Kingdom, at a business forum organised by the Royal African Society.

Quoting a recent report by the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, Fayemi in a statement made available to Journalists, Friday in Abuja, said Nigeria’s current core infrastructure stocks Minister of Transportation; Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. President China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation; (CCECC) Mr. Cao Bao- gap, based on international gang and Managing Director CCECC Jack Lii; at the signing and exchange of Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) on the Lagos-Calabar benchmarks, was estimated at USD 80 billion.

Coastal Railway project in Abuja... Friday Fayemi who presented a keynote address titled : Mining for Prosperity 'Fueling Nigeria’s industrialisation in the 21st Century, said, "The investment would allow Nigeria to close its current infrastructure gap and after assumption of office last week.

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Lagos State Government road as a result of evading arrest sustain an ideal infrastructure stock Idris, who was welcomed with has said it yesterday commence by KAI officials, I need to tell level of 70 per cent of GDP and and Sylvester Idowu inWarri Itsekiri cultural dance, promised a total enforcement against street Lagosians that over 49 buses build infrastructure assets across The new acting Inspector General to establish police presence in the trading and street hawkers from were actually destroyed and it the seven critical sectors- roads, of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Kpotun community, saying: "we are here what time the law banning their is costing us like almost N139 rail, ports, airports, power, water Idris, yesterday pleaded with Ijaws to help you; we are here to seek activities across the metropolis million to put those buses back and ICT." on the road,” he said.

According to him, "Iron ore would take its full effect. and Itsekirs to allow peace reign partnership with the people."

Consequently, Governor and steel would account for the The IG also promised to see Speaking at a live interview in the riverine communities of Delta State to hasten their desired development takes shape at session on Television Continen- Ambode said the State Executive bulk of materials inputs needed Ugborodo and Oporoza, provided tal, the State Governor, Mr. Council had resolved to enforce to industrialise Nigeria and I urge development of the areas.

This is as the IG, in Benin, Edo the people embraced peace and Akinwunmi Ambode said that the Law, which according to investors to take advantage of State, ascribed poor facilities in the support the government of the day. the renewed enforcement was him made both the hawker and the country’s huge steel market.

The Olaraja of Ugborodo land, in line with Section One of the the buyer liable of the offence.

“We project a steady increase in sector as responsible for the lack “The issue is we need to domestic demand for steel in Niof success in forensic analysis of Priest Benson Dube Omadeli, had Lagos State Street Trading and described the visit as historic, noting Illegal Market Prohibition Law enforce our laws because we geria in the coming decade, driven crime.

He particularly appealed to that people from the Itsekiri political 2003 which restricts street trading already have a law in respect of by increased industrialisation that and hawking in the metropolis. that and then there is a clause will ignite a surge in building members of Ugborodo and headquarters are not criminals.

He appealed to President The Governor, while in it which says the buyer and construction, power, automotive Oporoza communities in Warri South West Local Government Muhammadu Buhari to increase sympathising with the family the seller are both liable and construction, agriculture, road Area of the state to partner with the presence of the Nigerian Navy of a street hawker who was that we are going to fine them and bridge building, military the Nigeria Police in ensuring in the area or better still, relocate knocked down by an articulated either N90, 000 or a six month technology and infrastructure the logistics headquarters of the truck while trying to evade jail term. development, refinery investments peace in the area.

“What we are doing on traffic and other heavy duty machinery.

The acting IG made the appeal force from Oghara in Ethiope West arrest from officials of Kick “This ever-widening vortex during his visit to the Itsekiri and Local Government Area of the state Against Indiscipline (KAI) is that we are introducing new along Maryland Bus stop on strategies to eliminate traffic but of hunger for steel and iron Ijaw communities in the local to Ugborodo.

Some chiefs from Oporoza, Wednesday, regretted that the Lagos being a cosmopolitan city, ore is an opportunity for local government sequel to recent spate of militants' activities that who spoke on behalf of their situation led to the destruction you cannot totally eliminate it and international investors to but now this is the case, in the participate in the consolidation have shrunk the economy of the people, pleaded with the acting of public assets.

IG to help ensure the release of “It is not in our DNA to allow next few days, you will see on and expansion of Africa’s largest country.

The IG, accompanied by senior about 10 school pupils who were someone to just die by road the street of Lagos signs that economy.”

He added that local producers police officers including the new arrested by soldiers in the wake accident or the way it happened will be warning you that buyers Delta State Commissioner of Police, of the siege on the community to in respect of the incident. But and hawkers should be aware were currently meeting just about CP Zanna M. Ibrahim, described which the IG directed CP Zanna beyond the fact that we lost that there are consequences,” 25 per cent of demand in the sub-sector, a development he said one person while crossing the Governor Ambode said. his visit to Ugborodo as his first to follow up.

WRAPPED AND SEALED...

New IG Pleads with Ijaws, Itsekiris to Allow Peace Reign

Street Trading, Hawking now Attracts Jail Term in Lagos

provided the required optimism for foreign investors.

Fayemi hailed the success recorded in the limestone, where Nigeria moved from being a net-importer of cement to a net-exporter in less than a decade of putting in place the right policy and necessary incentives for local manufacturers.

“We are working with all stakeholders in the industry to encourage replication of the limestone success story in the beneficiation of other industrial minerals, towards powering the industrialisation of the country.

“Our aspiration is to build a world class minerals and mining ecosystem designed to serve a targeted domestic and export market for minerals and ores.

The country would focus on minerals , mining and related processing industry over a three -phased period to achieve this.

“Phase 1: Nigeria will seek to rebuild market confidence in its minerals and mining sector and win over domestic users of industrial minerals that currently import. During this Phase, Nigeria will also seek to expand use of its energy minerals. This phase will likely last about 2 – 3 years.

“Phase 2: Nigeria will focus on expanding our domestic ore and mineral asset processing industry.

This phase will last about 5 to 10 years.

“Phase 3: Nigeria should seek to return to global ore and mineral markets at a market competitive price point. We expect this to coincide with the next commodity upswing.”

Speaking further, Fayemi said should Nigeria successfully follow through with the implementation plans, growth is expected to return to the sector in the form of new exploration activity, operations and production from active mining, functional (and expanded) processing and refining capacity, and higher value-addition in exports.

“The net outcome will be the creation of thousands of direct jobs and potentially hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JULy 2, 2016

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NEWSXTRA

Bakassi Militants Give FG, C'River July 11 Ultimatum

Navy Smashes Cross- Border Petrol Smuggling Syndicate

BasseyInyanginCalabar

Navy Smashes Cross- Border Petrol Smuggling Syndicate, Recovers 28,300 Litres of Products Chiemelie Ezeobi In line with its zero tolerance to maritime illegalities within the nation's territorial waterways, the Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry of the Nigerian Navy (NN) has smashed a cross-border petrol smuggling syndicate and recovered 28,300 litres of products.

The syndicate were caught in the act while smuggling those petroleum products across the nation's waterways to Benin Republic, where they will sell at near cut-throat prices to their long list of clientele.

Although the suspects jumped ship and fled immediately they sighted the naval personnel, the Navy not just recovered the 25 litres of 90 jerry cans of petroleum products but also impounded the wooden boats carrying it.

Despite the hot pursuit at the Pashe

Militants, under the aegis of Bakassi Freedom Fighters have issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Cross River State Government that they would return to their former ways of agitating violently if the outstanding allowances owed them were not paid by July 11, 2016.

The BFF who issued the warning on Friday when they took their protest to Government House, Calabar, threatened to unleash mayhem on oil facilities and other critical infrastructure of government located in the Niger Delta region if the ultimatum was not met.

The former agitators accused the federal and state authorities of not

honouring the agreement reached by all the parties concerning the payment of their monthly allowances.

Leader of the BFF ‘General’ Franklin Dukuku, who spoke shortly after the protest, complained that the state government had failed to pay the former agitators the agreed N1.5m monthly allowances for 10 months while the N65,000 paid to them monthly by the Federal Government had not been paid for five months.

Dukuku who was represented

by Clarkson Dauerighe, queried, "Some of us are family members.

How do they want us to survive without money?” However, he said the state government had promised to pay them by Monday, July 4,but warned that, “If they disappoint us by

Monday, we’ll give them an additional one week of grace. This is a warning.

If by the upper week they don’t give us the money as they have said, we will shut down the whole Niger Delta.

"This is a national consensus as all of us, from Bayelsa to Cross River, are being owed."

Dukuku said the militants would bring everything to a standstill at the expiration of their ultimatum.

He said they were communicating with their colleagues across the Niger Delta states for a possible show down with government.

Dukuku lamented that the protesters were given what he said was “only a paltry N50,000" by an un-named government official for them to pay their way back.

The State Security Adviser (SSA), Mr. Jude Ngaji who reacted to the protest said the action of the former agitators was directed against the federal government. Ngaji said former agitators only sent their message to the federal government through the state government because it was the one closest to them. “They went to Government House to drop a message for us to take to Abuja and I called their boss General Franklin who said he had called them in Abuja and they were trying to facilitate payment.

“It is not about the state government but the federal government. It is the federal government that is with their money because they have not been paid for two months and they are demanding payment, “Ngaji said.

creek in Badagry area of Lagos State, the suspects fled and left behind the smuggled products.

TheCommander,ForwardOperating Base of the Navy in Badagry, Captain Simon Dogo, who confirmed the incident to journalists said the seizure was made after the vandals abandoned the boat on sighting a naval team and fled.

Dogo said: “My patrol teams went on patrol at Pashe creek when they saw perpetrators trying to load the petroleum products in a boat for transfer to Benin Republic.

“The perpetrators, on sighting the naval team, jumped into water and fled.

“We intercepted the boat and we discovered that 90 of over 200 of the jerry cans had been filled with petrol.”

Dogo said that the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, had zero tolerance for economic sabotage and the navy was carrying out his directives in that direction.

UNESCO: World Audio Visual Heritage Endangered KasimSumainainAbuja

REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE...

L-R shows the wife of the Cross River State Ex-Governor, Onari with an Award Recipient, Mr Francis Ifeanyi Anyanwu, Profit Centre Manager with the UBA Plc, Lagos his wife Stella, Chief Guest of Honour and the Event Chairman, Ex-Governor Donald Duke and the CEO, Commint Buka Ltd, Mr Jeff Enitan Fayomi at the Commissioning of the Ikeja Outlet of the Commint Buka Ltd in Ikeja Lagos... recently

Ese Oruru Continues Testimony Police Nab Facebook Scammer in Camera, Yunusa may get Bail Using Ngozi Braide’s Identity EmmanuelAddeh inYenagoa

Ese Oruru, the 14-year-old teenager who was allegedly abducted from Bayelsa and taken to Kano, where she was said to have been sexually exploited by one Yunusa Dahiru, continued her evidence in private on Friday.

Just like it happened at the last court session, at the resumed hearing of the case at the Federal High Court siting in Yenagoa, yesterday, parents of the alleged victim and journalists were not allowed to witness the proceedings.

Only lawyers representing Dahiru, who is facing a five-count charge in case No FHC/YNG/17c/2016, between the Inspector General of Police, IGP and Yinusa Dahiru and the legal team representing the federal government were allowed inside the chambers.

But it was learnt that the minor, who was brought to the court under tight security, covered from the head with a brown scarf and hurriedly ushered into the court room, was cross-examined

by Dahiru's defence team.

Just before the private session commenced, the court premises almost got rowdy when policemen prevented journalists from taking pictures of the young woman.

Asource who was privy to the court proceedings however said that Miss Oruru was briefly grilled by the defence counsel led by Kayode Olaosebekan, before JusticeAjiya Nganjiwa adjourned

the matter to next Friday for further private hearing.

But there were feelers yesterday that Dahiru, accused of abducting, inducing Miss Oruru by the use of deception and coercion, illicit intercourse, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge, may finally get bail on Monday next week.

Lead Counsel to the accused, Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan, told journalists that plans to perfect his client's bail conditions had reached an advanced stage.

“We are still working on the bail and we are trying to perfect the bail conditions. The court is in the process of verifying sureties and we hope that by Monday, he will be out,” Olaosebikan said.

Yunusa has been in prison custody over his inability to meet the bail conditions of a level 12 civil servant, a traditional ruler from Bayelsa state axis and a surety of N3 million.

However, the Judge later relaxed the bail conditions to a level nine civil servant, and further granted the prayer of the defendant to also allow an Hausa traditional ruler from any community to stand as surety.

Miss Oruru recently gave birth to a baby girl and is still in the protective custody of the Bayelsa state police command, which has taken responsibility for her upkeep in collaboration with the state government.

GeorgeOkohin Makurdi

The State Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (SIIB) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a serial Facebook scammer, one Peter Ajani, for using the name of former Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ngozi Braide, a Superintendent of Police, to defraud people.

Recall that similar incidents happened in 2013 when Braide held sway as the command's first female PPRO, where about seven fake Facebook accounts were opened in her name and used to defraud innocent citizens.

So far, no fewer than 22 fake Facebook accounts have been opened with her name with different introductions.

The fraudulent accounts have since been yielding money for the perpetrators, who demand for monetary gains from their unsuspecting victims.

In this present case, the 29-yearold from Yemetu Ataadorin, Ibadan, Egbeda Local Government Area, Oyo State, was said to have successfully defrauded several people of thousands of Naira before he was arrested.

The suspect was said to have been operating several accounts

in Braide's name, even though she does not operate any social media account.

Although they have been operating the accounts successfully, Ajani was arrested after he duped a teacher (name withheld) with the Benue State Government of the sum of N80, 000.

The teacher was said to have made contact with one of the dubious Facebook account and was told to bring money to influence his appointment in the ongoing police recruitment scheme.

The victim said he never doubted their authenticity because they had apparently registered the number they called him with Ngozi Braide's identity.

According to him, he had used Truecaller (a social media application that reveals the identity of a caller) to check out the number and it showed that it purportedly belonged to Braide.

However, when they sent an account number, it was bearing a Yoruba woman's name, but again he said that didn't arouse his suspicion as they explained it was a front.

It was only until they demanded for extra N60, 000 that he balked and reported the incident as a likely fraud case.

The Director of United Nation's Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Irina Bokova has disclosed that the world's audio visual heritage was becoming endangered as a result of crises, ethnic, religious strife and natural Disasters.

Bokova however stated that being conscious of this fact, UNESCO encouraged Member States to raise awareness on the importance of audiovisual documents as an integral part of national identity.

This was made known by UNESCO Regional Director, Mr. Benoit Sossou at a training workshop on preservation of Audio Visual Heritage held Thursday, in Abuja.

According to Sossou, "This training programme is meant for Archivists, Film Producers, Librarians and aimed at enhancing participants capacity in safeguarding of Audio visual heritage through modern preservation methods and also raise public awareness of the need for the preservation of our audio visual heritage.

"There is no doubt that Nigeria has had its fair share of disasters that has put its audiovisual heritage at risk, where documentary treasures have disappeared. There is therefore the need for stakeholders to preserve

their audio visual heritage for posterity.

He stress the need to ensure the preservation of documentary heritage that has world significance. Adding that it is important to make this heritage accessible to as many people as possible, using the most appropriate technologies.

"UNESCO takes pride at actions aimed at safeguarding documentary and audiovisual heritage through the Memory of the World Programme. It's vision is that the world's documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved, protect and permanently accessible to all without hindrance."

"We have 10 to 15 years left to transfer available audiovisual recordings to digital media and prevent loss. We need to join forces to change the situation for it important that the recent history be understood and share not only for issues of identity and affiliation but, also for a clearer grasp of relationships and challenges in contemporary societies.

"Preservation, access to and dissemination of information rely on the stability of documents and the retrieval of their contents. Paradoxically, technical developments often result in greater instability and shorter lifespan of documents, therefore, while clay tablets can survive for several millennia, audiovisual documents will only last a few decades and digitally-born heritage may not exceed ten years.

Abia Declares Two-day Mourning for Maduekwe EmmanuelUgwuinUmuahia

Abia State has declared Friday July 1 and Monday July 4 as work free days to honour the memory of Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who passed away on Wednesday on return from overseas trip.

The announcement was made at a joint press conference by the secretary to the state government, Dr. Eme Okoro and the commissioner for information and strategy, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha, saying that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu approved the public holidays.

“This is a time for mourning; a kind of mourning that has cast depressing shadow on us,” Iwuoha said.

He said that the former High Commissioner of Nigeria to Canada was an eminent son of Abia, who had achieved so much in life and served the nation meritoriously hence he deserved to be honoured by the people of Abia.

Meanwhile Governor Ikpeazu has expressed great shock over the

news of the death of Maduekwe, who hailed from Asaga in Ohafia local government of Abia State.

The governor’s grief was contained in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos, describing the late former minister as his “personal mentor, confidant and father”.

According to him, with the death of the elder statesman Nigeria and Abia state in particular had lost a great and worthy leader, adding that he was one of the strongest pillars of his administration offering invaluable advice and guidance.

The Governor recalled his last moments with Chief Maduekwe, saying that he was constantly in touch with the late Ambassador even up until last weekend when he called on phone from abroad and apologised for his absence at the meeting between the governor and the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelama, as well as Abia caucus in the National assembly.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

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MISSILE Justice Kolawole to EFCC

“The practice of arrest before trial is not only absurd; it is a corruption of the due process of law and Constitution. The earlier Magistrate courts and other lower courts realise that they are being used to subvert the Constitution the better.”

– Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja faulting the procedure being adopted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in arresting and detaining suspects.

GUESTCOLUMNIST Jon West

Brexit, Nigeria and Challenge of Biafrexit

T

he sudden reality of the departure of the United Kingdom from its alliance with the European Union holds great ramifications for the future of Europe and the rest of the global village that is the 21st century world. However the radical evolution of this impending split, it holds special relevance for Nigeria and other countries with great diversity, as to the solution to divisions and angst that always dog plurality in these challenged sociologies.

An earlier referendum for Scottish Independence produced a result couched in realism and level-headedness. However, as political opportunists in the British Conservative and the United Kingdom Independent Party (UKIP) smelt blood and the opportunism provided by economic recession, wage inequality and the fear of uncontrolled immigration reminiscent of the “Rivers of Blood” prophesy of Collin Powell, the racist Conservative MP of a previous era, they moved in to reap from the angst of a befuddled and mostly politically and intellectually challenged voting public , to entice the United Kingdom out of the comfort and certainty of the European Union.

Almost immediately after the outcome and of the Brexit referendum became apparent, the ramifications of this decision dawned on the British people and sanity immediately returned to the masses , now realising that they were fed lies and innuendo by the sleek politicians that always want to reap from the disenchantment of the people with their reality.

What lessons does Brexit hold for Nigeria, currently under unrelenting assault from centrifugal forces, threatening to tear its national fabric apart, and the opportunism of the politicians who, as in the case of Brexit, latched on to the angst of an economically disenchanted populace to effect regime change , with the promise of an El Dorado that fizzled out almost immediately , like the terrible hangover that is currently afflicting the Brexit supporters in the UK. Today in Nigeria, like in the UK after the Brexit vote, there are calls for the reversal of the reality of the change that was promised by the same opportunistic political tendencies that promised a lot but pleads not to be compelled to deliver on any promise.

A major lesson from Brexit, the Scottish Independence Referendum, and previous Independence referendums in the politically restive French-speaking Quebec province of Canada, is that level headed politics, economic and social realism and the bitter truth will always trump political opportunism and nationalistic grandstanding, by later day “patriots”. The major lesson is that the people will react positively to reasoned discourse without the embellishment of opportunism and fake patriotism as exhibited by Boris Johnson and Nigel Farrage, both demagogues, intent on profiting from the angst of the voting public, challenged by economics and racism, not to see through the demagoguery of these “patriots”.

Cameron In Nigeria, a certain political party managed to take the country out of a different union, the Union of inclusiveness,real democracy and participation in the 21st century knowledge economy. Like in the UK, the voting public bought their lies and innuendo, and are now mostly regretting their choice as the hollowness of the promises that effected regime change become apparent.

This then brings us to the subject of Biafrexit, the notional referendum for the dissolution of the Nigerian Union, a more fragile and economically unsustainable Union than the European Union, the United Kingdom or Canada. The constant refrain of the “closed question” of Nigerian unity, a stark incongruity in the face of the Nigerian reality, has been put paid to by the Scottish and Quebec Independence referendums, which showed that in a racially and ethnically diverse society, fairness, equity and socioeconomic justice will always triumph over the forces of centrifugalism, disunity and political parochialism. In Nigeria, there has always been a constant decision to ram the concept of national unity down the throats of everyone, especially those that express a desire to better their political and economic circumstances in this convoluted Union. How can unity be achieved in a climate of social, economic and political injustice; a situation where merit and hard work count for nothing, and form takes precedence over substance, and there is an inverse relationship between effort and reward?

What then is the way forward for Nigeria in the light of the foregoing negativity and the current clamour for Biafrexit by certain

Merkel sections of the Nigerian society. Biafrexit is a mindset, not necessarily restricted to the former Eastern region of Nigeria that made a bid for Independence in the late 1960s. It is now defined by a spirit by many Nigerians for Independence or an exit from the suffocating mediocrity that shrouds the current reality of Nigeria, now virtually a failed state.

How Nigeria handles the challenge of Biafrexit, will define the future of this incongruous Union of competing cultures, religions, economies and sociologies. While there is a genuine fear that a referendum on the future of the Nigerian State will open a Pandoras box of secessionist tendencies, there is however the reality that in all of the national conferences organised to chart the future of Nigeria, from Aburi to Abacha’s , Obasanjo’s and finally Goodluck Jonathan’s National conference, there was never a call for the disintegration of the Nigerian state through the Independence of its component units. The worst case was the Swiss-style Canton system of confederation advocated and agreed to by all parties at Aburi, before the forces of revisionism truncated it and plunged the country into a devastating fratricidal conflict, the worst in African history.

The challenge of Biafrexit, is that its champions do not really want out of Nigeria, but want Nigeria to be a “mythical” nation of Biafra, where in 36 grueling months of suffering, sacrifice an sheer ingenuity, a technologically and politically Independent African state ware forged from the devastation of war, the first and only such state in all of African history. The import of the concept

of Biafra or the “Biafra of the Mind” as espoused by the late Ikemba is brought to stark focus by the fact that 50 years ago, Nigerians manufactured missiles, rocket fuel, Armoured fighting vehicles, mines and Improvised Explosive devices that sustained a war effort.

Fast forward to Nigeria five decades later, and under the onslaught of ragtag terrorists in the Northeast, Nigerian officials go cap in hand begging weapons manufacturers in Africa, Asia and Europe for the most basic of weapons to counter the insurgency.

A real shame for the self-deluded Giant of Africa and the continents largest economy.

However, a very interesting and defining product of this disaster was that when Nigeria was reduced to this untenable position of weapons beggarliness, there was a bright spark intervention by a “Biafran” idealist , in the form of Innoson Motors Manufacturing, that reverse-engineered vital spare parts for the aging Alfa jets , the workhorse of the Nigerian Airforce, therefore ensuring that the insurgents are devastated from the skies.

The challenge of Biafrexit is that Nigeria, like Canada and the United Kingdom after the Scottish referendum, can emerge from the ashes of centrifugal politics, religious Fundamentalism and a backward mediocrity to build a modern society , much like its former peers in Asia, who efficiently managed diversity, history , religion and race to forge sustainable democratic systems that have defied the expectations of naysayers and skeptics.

•Jon West, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State

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