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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
Onoshe
Nwabuikwu
airtimeplus98@gmail.com
S
Time to Change the Chivita TVC
ometime in February this year (2016), I wrote this article under the headline: “Does Van Persie Still Drink Chivita? “It’s doubtful if Dutch International and Fernabahce Robin Van Persie (RVP) ever drank Chivita Orange to begin with. But let’s believe that like some other English Premier League players, RVP lived for Nigerian drinks like Chivita Orange and Malt. But what’s the justification for still running Chivita’s TV commercial shot when RVP was (still) a Manchester United player? The man doesn’t even play in England anymore as he has since left for Turkey. Shouldn’t it matter? I suppose it makes sense to query whether these players even know about
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the existence of Chivita’s orange juice? That’s certainly not more far fetched than continuously showing viewers an advert of Van Persie in a Man Utd jersey. Right after the commercial, Van Persie can be seen playing for Fernabahce in the European Champions League. Then there’s the issue of using money made from Nigerians to promote foreign players. Shouldn’t there some kind of advertising body that can regulate this? Or is it possible to catch Kelechi Iheanacho Super Eagles/Manchester City being advertised on Dutch TV enjoying whatever juice is popular? Not even with a name like Iheanacho (The One We’ve been Looking For). I know a part of it is caused by our
TRIBUTE
They could bring in people like Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Van Nistelrooy. And Dwight Yorke could fill in the Black space. Surely they too can testify to the goodness of Chivita in their lives? And why not? Any foreign endorsement is good enough. Our elected leaders are happy to tell us about foreigners praising them. Like we who feel it don’t know it. Why should a product making all its money from Nigeria, spend its hard earned forex on some foreign players? Not foreign-based Nigerian players, mind you. Sounds like I made this point earlier. Anyhow, repetition can’t be bad in this case. And in case you’re wondering about the prominence given to this story (by me), seeing that the first time didn’t do the magic, perhaps someone would help us tell someone to tell someone until it reaches the good people at Chivita.
And My Father Died
COME AGAIN?
y father Honourable Frederick Sunday Uduzeli died on August 25, 2016 and was buried September 9, 2016 at the age of 76. Not so young yes but it was a shock. Not only because he wasn’t a sickly person, a fact my husband and I always thanked God for but the fact that his mother is still very much alive. And because of my grandmother, we always assumed her son would outlive her. But well, man proposes… In the immediate aftermath of his death I was consumed with the needlessness of it all and the big role Nigeria had to play. Barely a month before his death, he along with my stepmother had travelled from Lampese to Benin-City for one big verification exercise. That was the 5th or 6th though. Previous ones had taken place, sometimes for days on end at Igarra, the Akoko-Edo LGA headquarters. They promptly fell in on their return because of the horrible nature of the road especially from Ekpoma to Benin City. And he never quite recovered until he died. My father along with other pensioners was (is) being owed pension of over 12 months by the Edo State government presided over by Adams Oshiomhole. In the early hours of August 25, 2016 when my father took ill, they were turned back from the nearest point of help, the Ibillo General Hospital due to lack of drugs and/or doctors. Two days later when we were discussing plans to move him, Irrua Specialist Hospital which would’ve been the best wasn’t possible because doctors were (and might still be) on strike. However, in trying to put things in perspective, I think my tribute read the funeral service best captures how I wish to remember my father: “Growing up as a child, I felt your love through the stories my mother told me. As I grew older it became clearer just how much you loved each of your children. You took your responsibility to us very seriously. With time I’ve also come to appreciate that you did not bring me up to be hindered by my gender because you always wanted me to get to the very top.
fixation on foreign leagues/footballers. Still.” Fast forward to August 13, 2016. The Chivita TV commercial was still running. That’s when I noticed that in addition to Van Persie, almost every footballer in the advert had left Manchester United. There’s Di Maria, I think there’s also Radamel Falcao and I’m sure one or two who have left. With the possible exception of Rooney (who’s probably going to retire at Old Trafford), that Chivita TVC of Man Utd players ‘drinking’ and recommending the fruit juice is made entirely up of (now) former Manchester United players. This prompted a friend to suggest that perhaps what Chivita is actually aiming for is a ‘Man Utd Veterans’ Endorse Chivita’ TVC.
Uduzeli
In fact, your plan was for me to have a ph.d even before marriage. You named me Priscilla (after Prof. Mrs Priscilla Aletor) for a reason. You always gave me examples of women from around us who were doing well in academics. I didn’t know how revolutionary this was for any part of Nigeria. Yet, you were doing this at a time many hadn’t yet seen the light. All this in an environment with different values. You were a ‘live and let live’ man. Nevertheless, in your own quiet way, you were unflappable in your beliefs. How else would you have withstood all opposition and married my late mother, Margaret Olufunmilayo ‘Ilayo’ Ajulo (as she then was) over 50 years ago? Neither the fact that she was older or had been previously married nor the fact that she had had children could deter you. And to those who said she
could never have children, you said you were not marrying her because of children! Even in these ‘modern’ times, it would still be difficult to do. If not for your dogged determination to marry the woman you loved, I would probably not be here as your proud first child. Papa, you were a man of dignity and integrity. You were also a very grateful man. Anything anyone did for us your children, you thought it a debt you owed them. We cannot question God. He alone knows best. But in our grief, we are happy to discover that unknown to us, you were a pillar to many. The legacy of integrity you are leaving behind is good enough for us. The Uduzeli name is valuable. Paul and I will miss you, especially your phone calls. Sleep on Papa as you are reunited with my mother.”
“VP Osinbajo says accelerated infrastructure development critical to sustainable growth.” -AIT News, Tuesday September 20, 2016, 2.53 pm-ish. “Economic revival, key to reducing human trafficking in Nigeria-Buhari.” -AIT News Headlines, Tuesday September 20, 2.54 pm-ish. I don’t know whether you’ve noticed but I took a conscious break from ‘political’ Come Again? For all kinds of ‘wonderful’ reasons which I won’t bore you with. However, I couldn’t help myself when I saw the two aforementioned headlines the other day. It would appear that the president, his vice and quite a few people in the executive do not get that the campaigns are over. Elections were ‘won’ and ‘lost’ close to 20 months ago. There’s now no need for anyone to talk as if they are addressing one ‘inaccessible’ being at the Villa. What’s more, these two speakers are the new occupants of (the increasingly expensive to run) Villa. So when Osinbajo says “accelerated infrastructure development critical to sustainable growth”, who is he talking to? If he must say “accelerated infrastructure development critical to sustainable growth” at all, that statement must be followed by words like: ‘this is why the federal government has set up’ or ‘created’ or ‘disbursed X sum to tackle…’ Even words like ‘plans to’,or plans to inject’ or ‘about to… set up’ are no longer good enough. And as for the president telling some people about economic revival being key to reducing human trafficking, say what? You don’t say? Really? If this were social media banter, I’d say ‘Flesh and blood have not revealed this…’ (Matthew 16 verse 17). So where’s the blueprint for this economic revival.Or is the current recession part of it? Sorry, I forgot recession was just a word. Aren’t people more likely to engage in human trafficking now more than before? Just because of the general lack a clear economic direction. Nigerians are resilient, yes. Nigerians are optimistic, we know. While most of us Nigerians are getting on or trying to get on with being resilient, it would be good if our elected leaders didn’t add (expensive Dangote) salt to our open wounds.