Saturday 15th October 2016

Court Restrains NPDC, NNPC from Terminating Agreement with Atlantic Energy Says arbitration agreement binding on parties

Davidson Iriekpen A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

from taking any step in terminating agreement they have with Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited owned by businessman, Jide Omokore, in respect of the Oil

Mining Leases (OMLs) 26, 30, 44 and 42 (Forcados assets) and OMLs 60, 61, 62 and 63 Brass assets).

NPDC had abruptly terminated the agreements they entered with Atlantic Energy in respect of the Oil

Mining Leases (OMLs) 26, 30, 44 and 42 (Forcados assets) and OMLs 60, 61, 62 and 63 (Brass assets) despite that the disputes were still pending before the arbitral tribunal.

Consequent upon this, the oil firms through their lawyers,

Babatunde Fagbohunlu (SAN) and R. A. Lawal-Rabana SAN approached the court to challenge the arbitrary termination of the agreement without resorting to the contractual clause of arbitration in time of dispute as clearly stated

in the contract.

In a judgment delivered

by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, he upheld the arbitration agreement contained in Article 22 of the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) entered Continued on page 6

Shi'ite Accuses Kaduna Government of Incitement, Religious Cleansing ... Page 10 Saturday 15 October, 2016 Vol 21. No 7842 Price: N250

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Buhari: Negotiations to Free Remaining Chibok Girls Ongoing Tobi Soniyi and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed optimism about the release of more of the girls abducted at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State

after 21 of them were freed by Boko Haram, following more than two years of captivity.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said Buhari spoke at a joint press conference with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in

Berlin.

The President, according to Shehu said negotiations would continue until all the girls secure their freedom.

Buhari said: "On the Chibok girls, we have been able to secure the release of 21 of them, so over 100 more are still in the hands of the

terrorists somewhere in the Lake Chad Basin area which include Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

“In getting this 21 out, we hope we will get enough intelligence to go about securing the rest of them.

We are very grateful to the UN for their participation in

trying to secure the release of these girls.”

The statement said the President thanked the German government for its humanitarian assistance and support for Nigeria in dealing with the effects of terrorism.

Also yesterday, the Director of Defence Information (DDI),

Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said the decision to release the girl through negotiation was a political one that must be respected "The most important thing is the 21CGS are freed and we are all happy about it. It is a political decision to negotiate," Abubakar explained.

Aisha Buhari's Public Criticism of Husband Gets a Pushback I will not support you in 2019 if… Buhari: I don't know which party my wife belongs

Yemi Adebowale in Lagos, Tobi Soniyi in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari yesterday in an unprecedented move publicly criticised her husband's cabinet warning that some people who did not labour for his victory have hijacked his government, aleniating those who struggled to build the All Progressives Congress (APC).

She bluntly stated that she may not support her husband’s re-election in 2019 unless he rejigs his cabinet.

Mrs. Buhari in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) also said President Muhammadu Buhari did not know most of the top officials he appointed into offices.

In a reaction, laced with laughter, the President who is in Germany on a State visit dismissed his wife's claim saying: “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen Continued on page 6

LANRE ADISA

Dreaming Beyond the Present

SuperSaturday pg. 8-9

OYENIKE MICHAEL IBRU

I Hawked ‘Tin Tomatoes’ for Michael Ibru

Plus pg. 17-19

FROM FIGHTER TO INSTRUCTOR

Ex agitator and amnesty beneficiary, now instructor at Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Henshaw Bassey (left) and coordinator of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh, shortly after Henshaw took Boroh on a 50 minutes flight from Zaria to Abuja ...recently

Boko Haram: 19 Northern Governors to Visit US for Peace Symposium ... Page 10

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CBN Approves Special FX Window for Airline Operators, Manufacturers Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday approved a Special Secondary Market Intervention Retail Sales (SMIS) forex window for domestic airline operators and manufacturers to stimulate ease of doing business in the sectors.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, said the important one-offstop-shop would fast track easy clearance of the backlog of matured Foreign Exchange (FX) obligations.

The disclosure made public

in a statement signed by Mr. James Odaudu, the Deputy Director, Public Affairs in the ministry quoted the minister as saying “also to benefit from the intervention are raw materials and machineries for manufacturing companies and agricultural chemicals."

According to the statement, the resolution by the apex bank to intervene in the Inter-Bank Forex market through forward settlement is expected to engender market confidence, ensure access to Forex by the airlines to settle their obligations and sustain

the integrity of the Nigerian Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange market.

Sirika said: "The import of this peculiar exercise is that the CBN will not apply the relevant provisions under clause 2.4.3 (i) of its Revised Guidelines for the Operation of the Nigerian Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange Market which provides that all, SMIS bids shall be submitted to the CBN through the FXPDs. Consequently, CBN shall receive bids from all the Authorised Dealers.

"The CBN will also not

apply the relevant provisions under clause 2.4.3 (i) of the Guidelines which provide that “Spot Forex sold to any particular end-user shall not exceed 1 percent of the overall available funds on offer at each SMIS session."

CBN said, whereas the bids are on Spot Forex basis as the Authorised Dealers’ accounts with the CBN will be debited in full for the Naira equivalent of the USD bid amount, adding that CBN will settle the bids through forward settlements of 2 months.

Customers that are not

willing to accept the settlement terms, the statement averred, have been advised not to participate in this Special SMIS-Retail.

Sirika, described the special intervention by CBN as a great relief for airline operators in the country who have complained bitterly about their inability to access the required Foreign Exchange to settle their backlog of obligations and which has adversely affected their operations.

According to him, the aviation sector is so critical to the nation’s security and

global image that it cannot be overlooked or toyed with, adding that the apex bank had taken the right decision that would not only strengthen existing airlines, but also inspire confidence in aspiring operators in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Sirika, at a recent meeting with members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) promised to take up the issues with the authorities of the CBN after the operators complained about lack of access to Forex, with many of them on the verge of folding up.

EFCC Prosecution: FCTA Suspends 13 Officers Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has ratified the suspension of 13 officers facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The order was made yesterday by FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye,

citing the Public Service Rule 030406, which states, “where a prima facie case, the nature of which is serious, has been established against an officer and it is considered necessary in the public interest that he/she should forthwith be prohibited from carrying out his/her duties, pending the determination of the case”.

In a statement signed FCTA Deputy Director, Media Muhammad Hazat Sule, Ajakaiye said it was expedient to suspend the officials, who are mainly of the Directorate level officers, in compliance with the extant civil service rules.

It was learnt that, the anticorruption agency, arrested

and prosecuted the officials for financial irregularities.

The affected officers and their designation are: Suleiman Idris - Assistant Director, Transportation Secretariat; Idris Usman - Assistant Director, Engineering Services Department, FCDA; Mohammed Ishaq – Chief Planning Officer, Urban & Regional Planning Department;

Helen Olokpo – Principal Town Planning Officer, Urban & Regional Planning Department; Bamidele Olaitan – Principal Education Officer, Education Secretariat;Ambrose Samchi – Principal Accountant, Treasury Services Department; Hassan Argungu – Principal Land Officer, AGIS; Saba Mohammed – Senior Data Officer, AGIS;

Yusuf Baba – Senior Administrative Officer, AGIS; Abdullahi Musa – Senior Administrative Officer, Deeds Registrar’s Office; Abraham Murtala Belel – Senior Accountant, Treasury Services Department; Andrew Gwani – Land Officer and Abdulmalik Teina – Senior Accountant, Treasury Services Department.

things. It is possible that the arbitral tribunal may take a different view, which I seriously doubt.

“Indeed, it is noteworthy that while the parties in some parts of the agreement such as Article 22 used “30 days” to define some obligation, but in Article 24.3 on termination, they used “30 working days” to define the notice obligation, indicating that this was on purpose and not an accident.”

The judge while resolving the issues in favour of Atlantic Energy (applicant), stated that the 60 days period of limitation is adequate for it to take all necessary steps they have to take under Article 22 of the agreement to ensure the constitution and in turn, the inaugural sitting of the tribunal.

He said one thing he found

troubling in the suit was the attitude and the inclination of the respondents (NPDC and NNPC) not to obey the terms of the agreement that they have signed to resolve by dispute regarding the interpretation and performance of the agreement by arbitration.

He stated that the notion of the rule of law does not only mean that the government and its agencies and officials should abide by the existing laws but also means that they must respect the terms of the contracts entered into by the government.

While submitting that it does not make any difference if such contracts were entered into by past personnel of government, the judge said government is a continuum and the idea of government as sovereign

invites the construction that acts of government is binding on government irrespective of governmental manpower which can change from time to time.

Justice Dimgba submitted that if governments disregard the terms of the contracts they have signed because new personnel have come on board or because it is popular to do so, that will create uncertainty and compromise order, which will be dangerous for our political and economic stability.

He posited that the court as the guardian of stability and order in the economic and political space would have failed in its responsibility if it allows this to happen.

Lawyers to Atlantic Energy have consistently argued that the entire case was a breach of a commercial contract.

COURT RESTRAINS NPDC, NNPC FROM TERMINATING AGREEMENT WITH ATLANTIC ENERGY into by the parties in the suit in respect of the Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 26,30, 44 and 42 (Forcados assets) and OMLs 60,61,62 and 63 (Brass assets).

The judge held that the SAAs entered into by the applicants and respondents in the suit are still binding on the parties.

He consequently restrained the NPDC and NNPC from taking any step on the basis of the notices of termination dated June 2, 2016 and served on the applicants pending the inaugural sitting of the arbitral tribunal to be constituted pursuant to the provisions of Article 22 of the agreement.

Justice Dimgba however, said the restraining order would elapse on the day of the inaugural sitting of the tribunal or precisely at a period of 60 calendar days from the

day of the judgment.

He said being an order to aide arbitration, it is to enable arbitral tribunal to seize the entire proceedings and to decide for itself if it wishes to grant any interim measures of protection or any orders at all as it is empowered to do under the Act and rules.

The judge faulted the respondents for not keeping to the terms of the SSAs which in Article 24.3 obliges them to issue 30 working days notice of remediation to the 1st applicant of which failure to remedy any identified default within which the set time will lead to the automatic termination of the agreements.

He said the notices given by the respondents to the applicants based on its exhibits T7 to T11 were not “30 working days” but “30 days” which

are two different things The judge ruled: “Although I have held that the jurisdiction on the substantive and procedural validity of the termination of the agreements resides with the arbitral tribunal and not with this court, I cannot close my eyes to the fact that even on the face of it, there are deep questions regarding the validity itself of the notices of termination on which the so-called completed act is anchored.

“The SSAs by Article 24.3 obliges the 1st respondent to issue 30 “working” days notice of any identified default within the set time will lead to automatic termination of the agreements. But the notices that were given on the face of the exhibit T7 to T11 are not 30 “working days’ notices. I believe these to be different

AISHA BUHARI'S PUBLIC CRITICISM OF HUSBAND GETS A PUSHBACK

President Muhammadu Buhari being received by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel during his official visit to the Chancellery in Berlin Germany ...yesterday

and my living room and the other room."

Presidential sources were however quick to point out that the reference to kitchen was not intended to be derogatory but humourous.

According to Mrs. Buhari: “The President does not know 45 out of 50, for example, of the people he appointed and I don’t know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years. Some people are sitting down in their homes folding their arms only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial position.”

She however did not mention the names of those who hijacked the government but simply said: “You will know them if you watch television.”

Asked whether the President was in charge, she said: “That is left for the people to decide.

He is yet to tell me but I have decided, as his wife, that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to vote like I did before. I will never do it again.

“Few people have hijacked the government and they are behind all the presidential appointments and many of those holding appointments

in this government were not part of the APC struggle in 2015. Some of them don't even have voters card. Those who sacrificed are mere subjects now. They are not happy with the way things are flowing.

"We cannot fold our arms and allow some few people sabotaging the government to mismanage the lives of 170 million Nigerians. I fear for the rebellion of the 15 million masses who voted for him.”

She also disclosed that those behind the crisis felt aggrieved that they laboured for, and helped the All Progressives Party (APC) to power in 2015, but received no compensation.

However, Mrs. Buhari said her husband had not told her whether he would contest the 2019 election.

The President in his reaction dismissed his wife's claims saying: “I claim superior knowledge over her and the rest of the opposition because in the end, I have succeeded.

It’s not easy to satisfy the whole Nigerian opposition parties or to participate in the government.”

Buhari’s comments drew mixed reaction from his host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who briefly stared at the Nigerian President.

Our correspondent learnt that the full text of Mrs. Buhari’s interview will be aired this morning on BBC Hausa programme of “Shirn Gane mana Hanya”.

Meanwhile, excerpt of the interview has sparked fierce condemnation in Kano State.

At Jamaatul Izalatul Bid’ah Mosque in Farm Centre, Kano, Shiek Ismail Illyasu Mangu spoke to the thousands of worshipers immediately after the Jumaat prayer, calling on security agencies to arrest the first lady “because her interview is capable of inciting millions of Nigerians against her husband.

“We are sad about the interview granted by the wife of the President. We believe that opposition members in the country are using her against the government.

Her statement is unfair and capable of inciting violence.

It is a threat to the peace of the country and we do hope the security agencies will immediately arrest her.

“We believed that some ungrateful elements in the country are using the wife of the president to tarnish the image of the president and the country. Nigerians are not in her support. ”

T H I S D AY SATURDAY OCTOBER 15, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

SUPER SATURDAY Lanre Adisa

Adisa

Dreaming Beyond the Present Last week, Noah’s Ark, arguably the nation’s leading marketing communication outfit, signed an ‘application agreement’ with Dentsu Aegis Network, DAN, a London-based media and digital marketing communications company. The partnership is expected to be a sign of better things to come in the industry. Samuel Ajayi writes

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The Humble Start

oah’s Ark, one of the nation’s fastest growing marketing communication outfits, is just eight years old. But if one looks at what it packs into its operational packages, one might be forgiven if he or she thinks the agency is 25 years old. That is the extent of its growth that many now see the agency as the reference point as far as integrated marketing communications in the country is concerned. Yet, the story has not always been that of instant success. Noah’s Ark crawled before it walked. Lanre Adisa, the Group Managing.

Director of the outfit, has this to say: “When Noah’s Ark opened shop eight years ago, we started small.

We were a team of less than 10 men and women with no assured accounts or financial backing in the sea of very intimidating big players. But we had a big dream; a dream powered by a simple believable vision. Our vision was, and still remains, to be in the league of the most successful brand builders out of Africa.”

The Dentsu Connection

Last week, the agency took a step further in its quest to join this league. It signed an application agreement with London-based Dentsu Aegis Network, DAN. Such partnership should ordinarily have passed without attracting much fanfare. But when one takes the pedigree of Dentsu into consideration, perhaps one begins to appreciate the business coup Noah’s Ark had just pulled off.

Dentsu, from all indications, is a

media and digital marketing communications company with presence in more than 145 countries but with headquarters in London, the capital of United Kingdom.

It is owned by the Japanese advertising and public relations firm, Dentsu. According to information supplied by promoters of the company, “the international agency is into communications strategy which its carries out via digital creative execution, media planning and buying, sports marketing and content creation, brand tracking and marketing analytics.”

Interestingly, Dentsu has subsidiaries like Carat, Dentsu Media, Mcgarrybowen, MKTG, Posterscope, Isobar, iProspect and Vizeum. As at today, the international agency has over 30,000 staff across 145 countries. That is not all. As at 2011, the agency did a total billing of £1.4billion

while operating income stands at £197million with net income standing at £81million.

‘Beyond Advertising Traditions

With an international agency with this pedigree entering into an affiliation (though it called it application agreement) with Noah’s Ark, a statement has been made. It is not only that. It is also an indication that perhaps, operators of the nation’s advertising industry are beginning to think out of the box and see beyond the rudiments of traditional advertising.

Dentsu does not do traditional advertising as it is known, not 20 years ago, but today. It is more into media content development, digital media marketing as well as sports and entertainment marketing. Understanding where the future of the business lies is

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

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SUPER SATURDAY ...Dreaming Beyond the Present

L-R: Mr. Lanre Adisa, Group Managing Director/CEO, Noah’s Ark Communications Ltd;Mrs. Daon Rowlands, Chief Executive Director, Sub-Sahara Africa, Dentsu Aegis; Mr. Emeka Okeke, Group Managing Director, Media Fuse Dentsu Aegis Network and Mr. Abolaji Alausa,Executive Creative Director, Noah’s Ark Communications at the media parley/signing of the application agreement between Noah’s Ark communications and Dentsu Aegis Network in Lagos

the key to being able to perform in today’s emerging markets and ability to communicate with different publics in languages that are unique to them and which they can easily relate with.

The communication needs of brands and clients are changing every day with different media channels coming up beyond what traditional advertising recognises.

It is not surprising when Noah’s Ark has this to say about itself: “We believe understanding your audience is key: What their motivations and needs are? What their behaviours tell us? Using answers to these questions as foundations, we consequently embark on primary and secondary research, with which we paint a picture of what makes your audience tick.

With clarity of this picture in view, efficient strategies are usually our results.”

Speaking at the affiliation agreement signing ceremony, Adisa said works of the agency have been winning awards within and outside the country. He explained that last year, “we emerged the de facto Agency of the Year at LAIF Awards with our winning of the only Grand Prix that was awarded for that year.”

He added that this year, the agency “won one Silver and two Bronze (medals) at the Loeries Awards in Durban, South Africa.

Just very recently in Marrakesh, Morocco, we won two Gold and Three Bronze (medals) at the African Cristal Festival.” He announced that it was the first Gold to be won by any Nigerian or West African outfit at any international awards ceremony.

But the gladdening thing is that the Noah’s Ark boss seems to be aware of the industry’s existential ‘banana peel’. He told reporters at the ceremony that he felt bad that agencies that used to be reference points some 20 years ago are either dead or struggling.

“It gives me great concern,” he stated. “Even the agency where I started my career is no more. That is not gladdening at all. You are not as concerned as I am. No one is happy that some agencies that we used to look up to are no longer there. But we want to change that narrative and that is why we are doing what we are doing today. We want this business to outlive us, professionally.

That is why we are looking at options and new trends beyond traditional advertising and signing this application agreement with Dentsu is part of our long term strategic plan.”

Going Global, Thinking Local

With clients like Indomie, Three Crown Milk, GoTV, Hypo and so on, many might be wondering why an agency like Noah’s Ark would be entering into any partnership with another international agency.

“Those who know me know that I have always relished our independence. But they also know that I have always been a great advocate of collaboration. At different times, I have had cause to speak on the need for our industry to steer clear of isolationism. I believe that to go far we have to seek out like-minded people from other parts of the world to raise our game.

When we had the first interaction with the DAN team, the first thing we asked ourselves was how would this relationship help attain our vision,” Adisa said.

Ms. Daon Rowlands, Chief Executive Director, Sub-Sahara Africa, Dentsu Aegis, speaking at the signing ceremony, said her outfit did not come about Noah’s Ark by accident. She said anywhere they went, they were always referred to the agency. “We were looking for a Nigerian agency that would be able to help us realise our dream in the West African market and everywhere we went, they always told us: ‘talk to Noah’s Ark.’”

Going Beyond the Flash

As rosy as its story sounds, Adisa and his team have to study the history of marketing communications in the country and what they are likely to discover is that no agency has been able to be a reference point in the industry for

more than 10 years. They always fizzle out. While there was no point mentioning names here, the nation’s advertising industry has more ‘former ’ giants than ‘present’ big performers.

It is always like the case of old empires that rose and also fell.

But the gladdening thing is that the Noah’s Ark boss seems to be aware of the industry’s existential ‘banana peel’. He told reporters at the ceremony that he felt bad that agencies that used to be reference points some 20 years ago are either dead or struggling.

“It gives me great concern,” he stated. “Even the agency where I started my career is no more.

That is not gladdening at all.

You are not as concerned as I am. No one is happy that some agencies that we used to look up to are no longer there.

But we want to change that narrative and that is why we are doing what we are doing today.

We want this business to outlive us, professionally.

That is why we are looking at options and new trends beyond traditional advertising and signing this application agreement with Dentsu is part of our long term strategic plan.”

Noah’s Ark might just be eight. But its dreams seem to look at the next 80 years and that is why it is perhaps the time for the marketing communication industry in Nigeria to have enduring giants. Not just seasonal big players.

And if there is any agency that is capable of breaking the jinx, it is Lanre Adisa’s Noah’s Ark. The signs are reassuringly there; just like the Dentsu partnership.

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NEWS

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

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

Shiite Accuses Kaduna State Govt of Incitement, Religious Cleansing Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shiites Islamic Sect has accused Kaduna State Government of inciting people and religious cleansing.

The President IMN Media Forum, Mr. Ibrahim Musa, in a statement yesterday, said that the State government on Thursday, reportedly issued a warning to residents in Kaduna and other towns not to take laws into their hands on any individual or group, in reference to the attacks, arson and destruction of properties of members of the IMN that occurred days earlier.

Musa however, described the directive as "nothing but an afterthought".

He said that what happened in the wake of their" peaceful Ashura mourning procession was a carefully planned plot, meticulously executed with all machinery of government".

He stated that the government had all along tried to give their brutal clampdown on IMN members a semblance of an altercation between IMN and the masses.

The Shiites Spokesman claimed that Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai alluded to this right from the outset of the attacks in December, 2015 in his infamous state-wide broadcast.

He noted that El-Rufai's utterances and body language since then left no one in doubt his disdain for IMN members.

He said: Using all the tools of governance at his disposal, in private and openly, often in total disregard to reason, sanity or law, he exhibited extreme hate for IMN. As a forerunner to the latest brutality, he issued

an executive order banning us from exercising our rights to practice our religion with a threat to jail anyone who does up to seven years in his jail. For daring to mention that his order is in clear violation of all known sane laws of the land and beyond, he ordered the arrest and prosecution of Ibrahim Musa, the President of the Media Forum. How then can El-Rufai now shed crocodile tears having incited violence on a people through his hate posture and actions against such people? They read the body language of the government in their favour and acted based on that, and with full support of all the instruments of governance over which he presides.

"We have it on record how certain individuals and hate preachers took to the media and the podium respectively calling on the masses to join the government of El-Rufai in what they termed an “all-out war on Shia.” The government and El-Rufai has neither refuted that nor call the perpetrators to order or better still arrest and punish the culprits, since they are well known and the actions were done in broad daylight. Simply put, El-Rufai is very much culpable."

Musa reminded members of "the public that incitement to murder a vulnerable population can be so subtle".

According to him, people read body languages, take cues, pick up signals and act accordingly, adding that other governors have quickly taken cue from him.

He continued: "Plateau state has taken cue and similarly banned activities of IMN, attacked and torched lives and properties in the same

READY TO SHOWCASE...

L-R; Brand Manager 7UP, Segun Ogunleye; Artistic Director, Bisi Silva; Founder/ Director, ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside; and Head, Corporate Communications, Access Bank Plc. Olubusola Osilaja, at the Press Conference for the upcoming Art Fair tagged A ‘ RT X Lagos’ held at Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos fashion as El-Rufai. Kano, Katsina and Sokoto states are gearing up to follow in their footprints. Unguarded utterances of political and traditional rulers, military and other security commanders as well as other hate

preachers are on record and will be invaluable in due course at The Hague.

"Let them be reminded that cases abound where leaders are held responsible through acts of

commission or omission for crimes against humanity. Post-election violence of 2001 is still being looked at by the Criminal Court. Similarly, the Kenyan election violence case has been taken to the ICC, where

those in authority are being tried because of the way they instigated the violence that led to the death of innocent people. Ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims and the Rwandan examples are still fresh in our minds.

Boko Haram: 19 Northern Governors Enugu Demands to Visit US for Peace Symposium Refund of N22.8bn State Department’s top official will meet with U.S. officials as most affected by Boko Haram, Spent on Federal Zacheaus Somorin in Washingfor Africa from 2009-2013. well as business leaders to discuss 240,000 children are suffering from ton DC “The symposium will provide Nigeria’s development and severe malnutrition, according Roads Nineteen Northern governors an opportunity to share our investment opportunities in the the United Nations; and across would be visiting the United States Institute of Peace next week as part of the US government's effort in the sustenance of peace in the region. ''The urgent challenges for Nigeria’s powerful northern state governors range from addressing a humanitarian crisis sparked

by Boko Haram’s insurgency to boosting economic growth with alternatives such as agriculture to make up for declining oil revenue'', Johnnie Carson, a senior advisor at the U.S. Institute of Peace, said ahead of a governors’ symposium to be held at the Institute next week.

The northern states of Africa’s most populous country are its poorest, and they are beset by social, economic and environmental problems that affect the stability of the whole nation, said Carson, a former U.S. assistant secretary of state for Africa who is helping to organise the meeting. ''Such issues are the cause of underlying tensions that gave rise to the extremist Boko Haram group, and the governors have the clout to begin tackling them. ''The Boko Haram situation cannot be resolved by military means alone,” said Carson, the

experience and open the way for new thinking and new ideas”, he added.

For the governors, the priorities include immediate reconstruction of schools, hospitals and water systems as Boko Haram is pushed back, leaving behind a humanitarian disaster; expanded educational opportunities for girls; economic development; and easing tensions between farmers and herdsmen over land use. ''The shock of Boko Haram has created the understanding that things have to be different,” added Princeton Lyman, a USIP senior adviser who was ambassador to Nigeria from 1986-1989.

The symposium—the second for northern state governors hosted

by USIP—comes at a difficult time for Nigeria in other respects that have highlighted the need to revamp policies and practices, he said.

Lyman added that the collapse of world oil prices has left the governors with about 60 per cent of their former budgets and made clear the need to diversify their economies further.

During the three days of the symposium which holds between October 18 and 20, the governors

northern region. After the event, the governors are expected to coordinate with a Senior Working Group of Nigerian civic, business and other leaders that USIP has helped establish to assist with implementing ideas coming out of the symposium.

“The conversations will be broad,” said Oge Onubogu, a senior program officer at USIP who works on Nigeria. While most of the symposium will be closed, governors will discuss their issues in a webcast forum, with the public posing questions via Twitter.

Three northeastern states where Boko Haram is most active live under states of emergency and 26,000 people have been killed over the past seven years, Carson said. Kidnapping, assassinations and destruction of infrastructure have weakened the reach of the governors in the region who, like all Nigerian state chief executives, wield extensive fiscal, territorial, security and legal powers.

More than 2 million people in the northeast have fled their homes and need to be returned or resettled, Onubogu said.

Meanwhile, in Borno, the state

the northeast about 4.5 million need food aid.

In 2014, Boko Haram ranked as the world’s deadliest extremist group, killing 6,644 people and outpacing the self-styled Islamic State, or ISIS, according to the Global Terrorism Index, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace. The group came to particular international prominence in 2014, when it abducted hundreds of young girls and sparked a civic movement called #BringBackOurGirls.

Under President Buhari, military campaign against the group has accelerated, and US has committed special operations advisors to aid in the fight. The group’s militancy already had spilled into neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

The work with the governors is part of a broader USIP program to address the roots of violent conflict in Nigeria that includes strengthening interfaith cooperation and the ability of young people to hold authorities accountable. Nigeria’s youth population is due to expand by 60 per cent in the next 15 years, according to a United Nations report.

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Enugu State Government has appealed to the Federal Government to reimburse N22.8 billion to spent on rehabilitation of FG roads in the state, saying that it would enable it to speed up ongoing projects in the state.

The appeal came as the State Executive Council yesterday approved the award of contract for the rehabilitation of more sections of federal road along 9th Mile (Mechanic Village) – Egede Junction –Umuoka – Okpatu - Army Checkpoint and additional works at Holy Catholic Church Ochima Town to Opi Junction.

Briefing journalists at the Government House, Enugu, after the State Executive Council meeting, the State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Godwin Udeuhele, noted that the contract, which was awarded to Comag Steel and Construction Company

Limited for N114,841,938.75, was to stem the negative effect of the dilapidated sections of the road on the socio-economic fortunes of the state.

Udeuhele also disclosed that the council applauded Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his remarkable contributions towards the emergence of Enugu Rangers International Football Club as champions of the Nigerian Professional Football League after 32 years, describing him as a “jinx-breaker” who had made the state proud.

The council equally approved the participation of the state in the “Saving One Million Lives“ federal government programme aimed at enhancing access to immunisation and utilisation of Vitamin A for the benefit of the people.

On the issue of security, the council reminded the public that the State’s Emergency Number (117) was fully functional and available on the MTN and Airtel networks.

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OCTOBER 15, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

Enough of Rhetoric about Our Sliding Economy

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n practical terms, the Buhari administration is yet to start doing something pragmatic about reviving our comatose economy. It has been all talk with no action. The travails of indigenous tomato manufacturer, Erisco Foods Limited testify to this. The company has announced plans to shut down its manufacturing businesses in Nigeria owing to unfavourable operating climate.

The truth is that the real sector has a big role to play if this country is to quickly exit recession and tackle unemployment. If this government wants to reduce hunger, disease and poverty ravaging this nation, manufacturers must be given special attention. Unfortunately, while pilgrims get easy access to forex, Nigerian manufacturers are struggling to get same. I don’t know how the Central Bank of Nigeria provides forex for all sorts of funny purposes with ease, while failing to meet the needs of manufacturers. Even at inter-bank spot market rate of about N308/$, our industries get an average of about 10% of their forex requirements. As a result, they resort to patronising the Bureau de Change.

In the case of Erisco Foods Limited, about 1,500 Nigerians will be thrown into the already saturated labour market by the time it shuts its operation. About 100,000 others indirectly employed by the company will also join the labour market.

President of the company, Eric Umeofia said the cost of running its farms in Katsina and processing plant in Lagos had become so exorbitant given the high cost of sourcing for forex, as well as the inability of regulatory agencies to halt the high rate of importation and dumping of imported tomato paste into the country.

The federal government needs to guarantee access to forex for the likes of Erisco Foods if it is genuinely interested in rescuing this economy from recession.

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria and NAFDAC must also move to end the importation and dumping of substandard manufactured goods in Nigeria, which is disrupting efforts to sell locally processed goods like Umeofia’s tomato paste.

Umeofia laments: “The CBN has refused

We have had enough of this unnecessary diversion called anti-corruption war. Buhari needs to focus on our comatose economy. Nigerians are daily regaled with stories of massive recoveries from so-called looters, yet, the economy continues to slide. Many are tired of recoveries that are not impacting on our lives and economy. We are tired of stories of recoveries that can’t be spent on decrepit public universities, polytechnics, hospitals, roads, airports and other infrastructure. We are tired of stories of recoveries that can’t be used to fight hunger, disease, malnutrition, unemployment and other problems ravaging our nation to give us forex to import machinery, machine spare parts and our raw materials to be used for production of Nigerian fresh tomatoes/tomato paste. The CBN, like NAFDAC, is against my business because while it refuses me forex, it is approving intervention loan and forex to companies mostly owned by foreigners to import the same finished tomato paste and other items like frozen fish, fish heads and supermarket items that we don’t need at all or we can produce better in Nigeria.”

Managing Director, Vitafoam Nigeria, Taiwo Adeniyi adds: “We, the real manufacturers are calling on the CBN to create a special window to enable us get forex so as not to halt production. If we cannot access forex to get raw materials for production, how can we continue in business? If we

Let’s Rise Up and Rescue Little Habiba Isiyaku For those who have not been following the story, little Habiba Isiyaku (just 14 years old) was allegedly abducted in Warkaza, Kudun Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State and married out by the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji AbdulMumin Kabiru Usman. Little Habiba’s father, Tanko Isiyaku made the accusation on Wednesday in Abuja. According to Isiyaku, his little daughter was abducted on August 16, 2016 by a staff of the Palace of the Emir of Katsina called Jamilu Lawal.

Isiyaku, who spoke through his lawyer, Yakubu Bawa, alleged that the Emir’s palace guards manhandled him while trying to rescue his daughter.

Bawa remarked: “Habiba is under the guardian and control of her parents now until she clocks 18. That’s the age of maturity and accountability. The second point is that Habiba cannot be forcefully converted to Islam by the Emir of Katsina. He has no right to do that.

“And when the CP summoned the parties concerned to his office, what baffled me, and my heart is still bleeding, is the fact that an ordinary security detail from the palace told the police that the Emir had instructed him to bring back the girl to the Palace. And yet, the CP that has the entire command under his control could not even take a position but unfortunately succumbed to the instruction of an ordinary detail and released the girl to the Palace.

“The CP instructed the man to go to the Palace the following day to retrieve his daughter. For me, with due respect, the CP has failed in his constitutional duties as enshrined in the Police Act. On reaching the

Emir’s Palace, the Emir asked his aide, the Kilishin Katsina to tell him that his daughter had been converted and that there was now a big barrier between him and his daughter.”

Bawa alleged that the Emir then said that Isiyaku had committed a crime and that he was compelled to say that the complaint he made to the Police was not true. “Isiyaku left the palace shattered, broken, helpless and emotionally broken. Habiba is about clocking two months now in captivity,” Bawa said.

The lawyer described the abduction of the minor as vicious, barbaric, and a callous act.

An official of Stefanos Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation, Mark Lipdo, decried the pain the family had been going through since the forceful abduction of their daughter. Lipdo further stated that Habiba would clock 15 years today and would have resumed school in the new academic term.

The Chief Executive Officer of Fantastic Mum Nigeria (FMN), Mrs. Joy Akanonu, pleaded with President Buhari and his wife, Aisha to intervene and secure Habiba.

These allegations are frightening. It is even nauseating that the Katsina Emirate Council held a press briefing on Thursday to say that little Habiba consented to the marriage and conversion to Islam. We can’t allow this horror to go unchallenged. I am pleading with our lawmakers and human rights activists to step in and rescue little Habiba.

I am shocked that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Usman Abdullahi have not responded appropriately to this abduction. Let us all rise up for little Habiba.

She must be set free.

cannot produce, then we would be compelled to sack staff. The government should react quickly if it really wants the economy to move forward. As it is now, nothing is moving in the sector.”

Clearly, investors are losing confidence in Nigeria. That was why, a few days ago, Diageo scrapped plans to lift its stake in Guinness Nigeria. It said it was due to “tough conditions” in Nigeria. The multinational company had last year announced plans to buy 15.7 per cent of Guinness Nigeria for up to N41.37 billion, which would have taken Diageo’s stake to 70 per cent.

This would have been good inflow for our economy in dire need of forex. The decision by Diageo is another blow to Nigeria’s economy, headed for its first full-year recession in quarter of a century. Guinness, which is 54 per cent owned by Diageo, reported its first fullyear loss in 30 years for its 2016 financial year, mainly due to the biting recession and forex crisis.

This forex crisis contributed to many businesses leaving Nigeria due to difficulties in repatriating their income.

Global carriers such as United and Iberia have both stopped services to Nigeria. It is very sad to note that the key managers of Nigeria’s economy are not even inspiring confidence. The other day (at the Nigeria Economic Summit Forum), the Minister of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udoh Udoma was asked how much the country’s debt was at present and he could not provide an answer.

The foreign journalist, CNN’s Zain Asher Ejiofor who asked the question was shocked. This very sound lawyer obviously has no business operating as

our Budget and Planning Minister.

The Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele and the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, have also not been inspiring. President Buhari is similarly a big problem to our depressed economy, by dictating economic policies and direction to the managers of this recessed economy. What this country needs urgently are economic managers with global clouts, capable of “challenging” Buhari. The likes of Adeosun, Emefiele and Udoma are incapable of doing this.

We have had enough of this unnecessary diversion called anti-corruption war. Buhari needs to focus on our comatose economy.

Nigerians are daily regaled with stories of massive recoveries from so-called looters, yet, the economy continues to slide. Many are tired of recoveries that are not impacting on our lives and economy. We are tired of stories of recoveries that can’t be spent on decrepit public universities, polytechnics, hospitals, roads, airports and other infrastructure. We are tired of stories of recoveries that can’t be used to fight hunger, disease, malnutrition, unemployment and other problems ravaging our nation.

This morning, I urge Buhari to reflect on the statement of the former Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who said: “We will not join those who say Buhari should stop reminding us of a past that is haunting us today. But we will join those who remind him daily that hunger is stalking millions of homes. Inflation is making life difficult by the day. People are losing their jobs. Businesses are closing down. Infrastructure is decaying.

Young Nigerians are losing hope of being employed. Our hospitals are full of people who suffer mysterious illnesses, and they cannot afford the fees.”

Crackdown on Judiciary: My Takeaway It is frightening to note that virtually all the judges being stung by the Department of State Security have at one time or the other given judgments or restraining orders or made remarks considered unfavourable to the interest of the Buhari administration.

Let’s look at Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja. I can still recall that he ordered that detained former National Security adviser, Sambo Dasuki be released on bail. He granted the ex-NSA bail on November 3, 2015, in the charge of unlawful possession of firearms, contrary to federal government’s opposition. The bail was scuttled by the DSS operatives, who laid siege to Dasuki’s Asokoro residence on the second day and placed him under house arrest. Justice Ademola severely tonguelashed the DSS for disobeying court orders.

On May 26, 2016, Justice Ademola dismissed Buhari’s preliminary objection in a suit filed by a lawyer, Nnamdi NwokochaAhaaiwe concerning Buhari’s certificate issue.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, whose house was invaded, had equally severely excoriated the DSS for disobeying court orders. He once told the DSS not to appear in his court again if the agency would not obey court orders.

Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from announcing “any results or figures howsoever generated or compiled purporting to be the result of the rerun election for any or all of Khana, Bonny, Gokana, Andoni, Eleme and Tai local government areas of Rivers State or any part of the rerun election conducted on March 19, 2016.”

A depressed Justice Liman remarked after $2 million was allegedly stashed in his house: “I believe most of the members heard or read about the reported raid in Port

Harcourt and my name has been mentioned as the judge in whose house $2 million was stashed. The truth is that all that you’ve read is more of misinformation and disinformation; substantially untrue account. However, I feel distressed that the DSS indirectly claimed they have evidence I stashed $2m, and when contacted, I employed thugs and with Governor Wike to obstruct them from carrying out the search and that I later transferred the money to an unknown place.

“Unfortunately, I have found myself in the middle of a dirty politics between Wike and the Federal Government and perhaps my notoriety for delivering controversial judgments; because the cases are also controversial and the stakes probably very high. I’m not asking anybody to believe or disbelieve whether I stashed $2m, an amount that is equivalent to about N1billion. Perhaps you might think the DSS probably exaggerated the amount, but all these would have been relevant considerations if they had actually searched my house. If I had $2m or even a quarter of it, I would have abandoned this horrible profession that has lost its dignity.

In fact, I have already lost interest in it and have made up my mind to say bye-bye to it.

I believe there is a life beyond every other thing.”

Another stung judge, Justice Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division was the one that insisted on due process in the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal sittings. He was removed midway into the sitting of the tribunal.

Justice Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, both of the Supreme Court sat on some governorship election appeals that gave decisions against the ruling APC. Are all these co-incidents? This is food for thought for us this morning. Lovers of democracy and the rule of law must stand up for the independence of the Judiciary.

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OCTOBER 15, 2016• THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

Nigeria And The Governance Index Charles Iyare contends the Mo Ibrahim index has helped to reveal the extent of mismanagement in the country

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he Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) has released the 2016 governance statistics for African countries.

A highpoint of this year’s survey is the celebration of the 10th year anniversary of the IIAG and the humanitarian contribution of its leader, Dr. Mo Ibrahim in supporting economic growth in Africa. The organisation provides tools to support progress in leadership and governance in Africa, through its economic, developmental programmes. While we celebrate the impact of such an illustrious icon who has shown continuous support for Africa’s economic growth over a decade, this year’s assessment has seen Nigeria in the familiar position of 36th among 54 African countries.

For a decade, Nigeria has constantly lagged behind in the IIAG rating.

Among development practitioners, our rating behind less endowed countries raises fundamental issues: why is our economy always standing on tenterhooks?

According to the reports ‘Nigeria scored 46.5 out of 100 points in the measurement of overall governance that saw Cote d’ Ivoire, Togo and Zimbabwe, become the three most improved countries in the governance rating of all 54 African countries’. The report has it that “Nigeria is one of ten countries that improved in all four sectors that were used for measurement, namely: accountability, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity and human development. Nigeria was, however, rated poorly in the national security sub-sector, having declined by 28.6 points over a ten-year period’ from 2006 to 2015.

Nigeria’ worst performance in the overall ranking on the IIAG index was in 2012 when she debuted alongside the least 10 countries with poor governance system for the first time. Nigerian scored a total of 48.5 out of 100 and placed 43 out of 52 countries.

In that same year, Nigeria alongside Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa recorded poor governance performance and declined in two of the four main IIAG categories — safety and rule of law and participation and human rights. Each of these four countries deteriorated mostly in the sub-category of political and economic participation of her citizenry. Issue of gender equality was also another source of worry. It is also important to note that Nigeria’s best performance was recorded back-to-back in 2008 and 2009 respectively. She was 35th position with an average score of 48.5.

But some worry about the IIAG’s reliability. The argument is that the sources of the data derived from the perception index and so-called fact-based sources are sometimes political, inconsistent, lacking in transparency and comparability, and can be shrouded in overblown data sources and selective bias. Yet, about 1.5 million Nigerians remained jobless in the first quarter of 2016. In an

LEADERSHIP MUST BE SEEN AS TRUE SERVICE TO ONE’S COUNTRY, AND NOT AN AVENUE FOR A FEW TO ENRICH THEMSELVES

unemployment report released recently, about 1.5million Nigerians are currently without gainful employment as at May 21, 2016.

From April to September, 2015, about 110 persons were reportedly kidnapped. More are still being kidnapped. There has been constant disregard of freedom of expression and the unsuccessful attempt by the legislative arm of government to gag journalists, bloggers and certain freedom in the media. Over 10 journalists have been arrested and imprisoned within the past one year, some of them without trial.

I believe that the IIAG has helped to reveal the extent of mismanagement of human capital resource, highhandedness, lack of accountability and transparency perpetrated by public office holders and politicians irrespective of party affiliations. The outcome of indicators such as political stability and participation, investor-friendliness to encourage local capacity production, rule of law, access to quality education, human rights, health, healthy environment, gender equality and security, makes it possible to assess the extent of victimisation of Nigerians by its rulers.

Another significant factor of the governance index is that it enables developing countries including Nigeria to assess global economic support to eradicate epidemic diseases, assess quality health care, and identification of grey areas to attract economic investment The current economic recession being experienced by Nigeria is a pointer to the consequences of a mono-economy, corruption in positions of authority and the inability of our industries to function to full capacity. The federal government must take necessary steps to diversify our economy by investing into key sectors such as power, steel, transportation, agriculture, health and security, to enhance optimal productivity for local consumption and export. The conduciveness of our business environment is sacrosanct to encouraging foreign investors and most importantly in ensuring the exportation of our local produce as finished products, to earn more foreign exchange.

For Nigeria to move forward issues of impunity, ethnicity, religious and party affiliation must be addressed. The constitution, irrespective of its many imperfections, must be respected and seen as precedence for institutions, individuals and groups to live by.

Government should as much as possible avoid using sloganeering to drive change. Real change will come when public office holders shun ostentatious life style and lead by showing positive examples for Nigerians. Leadership must be seen as true service to one’s country, and not an avenue for a few to enrich themselves. Public office holders must be seen living the life they preach to Nigerians.

Iyare is of the Monitoring & Evaluation Unit, ANEEJ, Benin City

OBASEKI AND FAILURE OF THE‘CHANGEXIT’VOTE

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Godwin Obaseki won the Edo governorship election fair and square, argues Victor Oshioke

he much publicised gubernatorial election in Edo State has come and gone leaving in its wake much relief in the hearts of the majority of Edo people who feared the worst and prayed for peaceful poll. Of course, the majority of the people voted for continuity, despite the convergence of reactionary forces, in an orchestrated sinister attempt to hoodwink them and ultimately use the outcome as the springboard for an onslaught on the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress government.

While most commentators have been cautious in their attempts to understudy the factors that influenced the outcome of the election, a few paid pipers and halleluiah singers of disenchanted interests have continued to explore all probable and improbable scenarios that could be employed or deployed to reverse the will of the Edo people.

Expectedly the Peoples Democratic Party, after the initial daze from the loss, officially rejected the results of the election, referring to them as being at variance with results widely circulated on Social Media prior to official collation and announcement of result by the electoral body, INEC. The predicament that Edo PDP finds itself though undesirable was quite predictable to those who followed their highly divisive campaign of calumny in the run-up to the election, which left them no space for manoeuvre in the event that they lost the election as it has eventually turned out.

As a strategy, the Edo PDP leadership created an alternative but distorted reality in the minds of its supporters, a false impression that the election was a walk over for them and that there was no possibility of APC retaining Edo State. They unearthed the moribund sub-ethnic myths, falsified history and played communities against each other, all in a bid to divert attention from the massive development that Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s APC government has

bequeathed to Edo State. The idea was to divert attention from performance and concentrate on mudslinging.

Even when the indices on ground showed clearly that the majority of people in Edo State still did not trust PDP enough after their almost 10 years inglorious reign in Edo, to return them to power, the party came up with this bizarre assumption, which was plausible only in their imaginations, that influential members of the ruling APC purportedly working for their party were in fact disgruntled and have promised to work for the PDP candidate on election day.

The consequence was that PDP believed it commanded critical support where none actually existed. It was this wrong assumption that influenced the many paid opinions in the media, indicating that PDP had a chance at clinching the Edo governorship seat. To their amazement, on voting day, all APC leaders stood firm, mobilised their supporters and delivered their respective polling units for their party which ensured a near total routing of PDP across the state.

The beauty of contemporary Nigerian politics is that after all said and done, on voting day the sphere of influence for politicians and voters alike is restricted solely to their individual polling units. This precludes the old culture of influential politicians moving from one polling booth to another tampering with the voting process.

While APC as a deliberate campaign strategy deployed all available resources to convince Edo people on why continuity was desirable and imperative, PDP resorted to their hackneyed strategy of raising questions about Godwin Obaseki’s certificates without offering any convincing reasons why the APC candidate was not fit to succeed Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State. One would think that the party learned a lesson from the 2015 presidential election when they expended valuable resources, time and energy on demonising candidate

Muhammadu Buhari, only to realise too late that Nigerians have reached a certain level of political sophistication where they could no longer be easily swayed by unsubstantiated allegations trumped up to damage the image of opponents.

But PDP as a political party hardly learns from the past essentially because its soul is possessed by old men who have lied for so long that they have simply lost any capacity to truthfully convince or honestly lure voters.

For almost eight years, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has managed to touch the lives of every Edo person in a way that no governor before him had done. In no particular order of preference, he has transformed the state through projects, policies and investments that impacted on the old, the young , men, women, indigenes and none indigenes. So for anyone to have imagined that his party and the candidate could be defeated in an election by the same set of people who had previously run the state aground, was merely an illusion. Edo people are not known to be ungrateful and it would have been a brazen act of ingratitude, if after all Governor Adams Oshiomhole did for Edo, his party and candidate were rejected in the September 28, 2016, gubernatorial election.

It could be argued that PDP lost the Edo governorship election the day they decided to attack Governor Oshiomhole’s record. It was the most callous act of deceit, arrogance and insensitivity towards the expectations of Edo people, for PDP chieftains to drive through roads constructed by Oshiomhole to hitherto inaccessible part of the state and tell the people of such communities that the ruling APC government did nothing in eight years. At that point, the people could clearly see through the baggage of lies that the PDP leaders were merchandising.

One may dislike Adams Oshiomhole as a person, or be averse to his politics, but one cannot deny the fact that as governor of Edo

State, he governed with a vision and passion for developing the state. To a large extent, he judiciously utilised the resources at his disposal to pursue that vision of a greater Edo State to a verifiable and appreciable level worthy of commendation.

Perhaps PDP could have performed better at the polls if as a deliberate campaign strategy, they began each rally or forum with an apology to the Edo people for the 10 disastrous years of maladministration by their past party governors in the state, acknowledge the tremendous development under the leadership of Governor Oshiomhole and then promise that, based on the standards already set by the incumbent APC government, they would strive to do better if once again given the opportunity to govern. This perhaps could have warmed them back into the hearts of Edo voters. But they chose the path of infamy, denigrating Adams Oshiomhole and besmirching Godwin Obaseki.

The outcome of the election, therefore, represents a reward for eight years of good governance, purposeful leadership and investments in the future of Edo children on the one hand and the rejection of politics of godfatherism, “share the money syndrome” and indiscriminate looting of our commonwealth on the other.

Significantly, on a different pedestal, the loss of PDP in Edo State represents a NO vote on the “changexit” interpretation which the party stealthily planned to adduce to the result had the outcome been in their favour. The APC win therefore is the first electoral indication that though things are hard presently in Nigeria, Edo people and Nigerians, in general, are not willing to “change the change” as advocated by PDP. Edo State under Oshiomhole has thus remained the bastion of support for President Buhari’s change agenda in the South-South region of Nigeria.

Oshioke wrote from Benin City

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OCTOBER 15, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Some relief...

A

Protecting The Girl Child

vailable statistics show that there are over 1.1 billion creative and talented girls worldwide. This figure, if exploited positively, is enough to build a global community that has the potential of creating a sustainable world that would make life better for everyone.

But the dreams of this ingenious specie are being frustrated by non- provision of specific needs and tackling of challenges such as discrimination, bias, violence and lack of equal opportunities with their male counterparts. And there are glaring gaps in data collation and knowledge about these specific needs and challenges that girls face in their bid to improve their lives and equally contribute to the progress of their societies.

One of such issues standing on the way of girls’ quest to contribute to the progress of their societies is child marriage.

Although child marriage is against the law in many countries including Nigeria, as international treaties forbid it, it is estimated that about 51 million girls across the globe are annually forced into early marriages. Quite often, in most African countries, parents of child brides are driven by factors such as pressure to conform to age- old traditions like preservation of chastity and economic considerations to give out their young daughters in marriage. It is not uncommon also in poor developing countries for poverty stricken parents to settle debts by offering their underage girls as payments!

These child brides often suffer from physical and psychological trauma as well as exposure to early sexual contact.

Subsequently, pregnancy comes in at a time when the young girl is not adequately physically developed to permit the passage of a baby with relative ease. The outcome of this forced copulation and one of the most demoralising effects of early marriage is Vesico- vaginal fistula. Otherwise known as obstetric fistula, it is a medical condition where there is an opening between the uterus and the bladder because the pelvic bones do not have sufficient time to develop before the process of conception. This often leads to abandonment or divorce by their husbands as urine continuously leak from their bladders. Also, these early marriages deny girls the opportunity for quality education in addition to depriving them of their childhood. Among the more than 100 million children not in school worldwide, approximately 40% are girls.

In Nigeria, Women and girls constitute 60% of the illiterate population. Similarly, it has been estimated that over two million girls are subjected to genital mutilation every year, a practice still rampant in some parts of Nigeria. Intervention into the practice is considered as a violation of privacy, yet many girls face several health risks through this, including severe bleeding and contraction of HIV infection through the use of unhygienic methods in carrying out the procedure. Statistical data shows that adolescent girls have HIV rate up to five per cent higher than their boys’ counterpart.

Equally, rape remains a common form of violence

against the female specie. It is defined as having sex with a woman and lately young girls and toddlers without their consents.

Today, the rape epidemic in our society reflects the extent to which female human rights are flagrantly threatened. Available laws and collective attitudes toward this weapon of domination and repression call to question our combined sense of justice and our level of civilisation. Like a scourge, the regular cases of reported rape in the country’s media and confirmed statistics are threatening to smother the essence of the society. Each day, the media are awash with weird stories of varying degrees of ludicrousness, from child defilement to the rape of old women. Nobody, not even infants are safe from this form of terrorism against the girl child.

Perhaps, one of the most audacious of the dastardly acts against the girl child in Nigeria till date remains the abduction of over 200 secondary school girls, who were kidnapped in a most brazen manner from their hostel at Government Girls’ College, Chibok, Borno State. While some of the girls escaped, and 21 released only yesterday, the rest have remained in captivity after two years, despite wide condemnation and outrage across the world.

In fact, some of the leading nations of the world offered to help in rescuing the girls. A renowned teenage Pakistani child right activist, Malala Yousefzai even visited the country on account of the girls’ plight.

Bilkis Ogunnubi, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

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Return of Night Life in Coal City

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t is no longer news that Nigerian economy is in recession.

The economic consequences of a nation in such crisis is the sharp drop in night life activities —clubbing, hanging out and generally fun-related activities people normally engage in, especially during the weekends. But it is a different case in Enugu, the Coal City.

Recently, I was opportune to spend some days in city when I travelled to the South-east to join family and friends of Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu, wife of Deputy Senate President, to celebrate her golden birthday. One of the new discoveries I made as regards the developments in the city during the course of my visit, was a gradual return of night life in the ancient capital of old Eastern region. As a result of improved security in the state, people are disposed to spending some hours into the night, hanging out with friends, colleagues and business partners without fear of men of the underworld.

The proactive stoppage of robbery attack at Independence Layout of recent also boosted confidence of fun seekers and tourists in the state. The swift responses of security agencies to threats of insecurity in the urban areas can be scored above average, not minding the limitation of security infrastructure in the state. Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has done a lot in this direction to equip security outfits in the state. In fact, it is on record that no governor in the South-east geopolitical zone has invested in security like him the result of which can be seen in the increase in night life activities in the state.

Apart from the diminishing threat hitherto posed

by Fulani herdsmen in the

state—which is being managed by the governor in conjunction with security apparatus, other security threats in the state like armed robbery, assassination, kidnapping, car snatching, nefarious activities of cult groups, have been reasonably brought under control. Residents and visitors of Coal City feel safer and relaxed now than before. This has culminated in more night life activities which are bringing the city back to its lost glories.

From the corners of Achara layout to the serene environs of independence layout, night life is gradually returning to what it used to be in the past. Enugu State is becoming a centre of attraction to tourists. Little wonder United States Department of Security recently rated the state as one of the safest states in the country. Not too long ago, the World Bank evaluated Enugu as one of the states with ease of doing business.

And one of the parameters used by the international organisation in arriving at its rating is the security of lives and property in the state. No genuine investor will take his money to a state afflicted by political, social, economic and security problems.

There is no doubt that the return of night life in Enugu will encourage increased investments in recreational industry which will also impact internally generated revenue of the state at the same time enhance state government quest to diversify the economy from being dependent on monthly allocation from Abuja.

On the area of job creation, resuscitation of night life in the Coal City is already assisting the government in creation of thousands of direct jobs for unemployed youths.

When employment opportunities are provided for the youths, automatically the rate of crime will go down and government will channel security votes into reinvigorating moribund industries and provision of critical infrastructure in the state.

Nwobodo Chidiebere, Enugu

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

NEWS

In Brief

Police Promote Fadairo, 3 Others to AIG

ThePoliceServiceCommission,onFriday,approvedthepromotionofJigawa StateCommissionerofPoliceMr.HenryFadairotothenextrankofAssistant InspectorGeneralofPoliceAIG.TheCommission'sPublicRelationsOfficer, Mr.IkechukwuAniinastatementmadeavailabletothemediainAbuja,said CPs:PiusImue,FelixOgundejiandEzekielZang,werealsopromotedtothe rankofAIGs.ImueuntilnowwasCommissionerofPolice,RailwayCommand whileOgundeji,wasCommissionerofPolice,Intelligence,ForceHeadquarters andEzekielO.Zang,alsoheldswayasCommissionerofPolice,AirWing,Force Headquarters.Thestatementread:"AIGFadairowasalsoformerCommissioner of Police, Cross River State and served as Recruitment CP in Ebonyi StateduringthenationwidescreeningofapplicantsforPolicerecruitment.

Niger Suspends N400m Road Project

FOR BETTER HEALTH...

L-R: District Leader, HealthTech- West Africa, Phillips, Ime Umoh; Business Development Manager, Health Systems, Phillips, Nigeria, Dr. George Uduku; Business CT/MRI, Phillips West Africa, Dr. Osayomore Ossuetta; and Business Development Manager, Health System, Phillips West Africa, Dr. Daniel Korankye, at the medic West Africa exhibition in Lagos yesterday PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Police Investigate Irish for Deliberately Infecting Girls with HIV in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Lagos State Police Command has initiated an investigation on the allegation by a young lady, one Helen that her boyfriend, one James Turner, an expatriate from Ireland, deliberately infected her with HIV alongside two others.

The victim, a Benue State indigene, who spoke with journalists at the Ikeja Police Division said they met eight years ago and had a smooth relationship until January this year, when he tested positive to HIV and hid it from her.

She said, "I met James Turner eight years ago. He told me to move to his apartment. I started living with him. We were living like husband and wife.

"In January 2016, he fell ill and

we went to a hospital in Ikeja, where they ran some tests for Typhoid and Malaria.

"Unknown to us, the hospital has a policy of running HIV tests.

They did and apparently saw he had the virus. When the doctor asked him whether he can talk in my presence he said no, so I excused them.

"I noticed that he started taking a lot of drugs and when I asked him, he said it was for a Typhoid and Malaria.

"But when it became too much, I stole the drug name and Googled it and discovered that it was for HIV. I asked him and he denied it. He said the drug was for his knees.

"Again, I stole the number of his doctor and called him. The

doctor called me over and ran a test on me and I found out I was positive too.

"My world crumbled, I fell down and started crying. I regretted ever meeting the man because the doctor took my blood sample to another hospital for confirmation test and the result was positive again. I was totally down even though I have no symptom of sickness.

"Well, to kill anger and boredom, I followed some of my friends to a party. He kept calling me whether I was coming home that day and I replied in the negative.

"I later changed my mind and came back that day only to catch him pants down with my best friend. I then sourced for money and moved out.

"Meanwhile, he deliberately infected me with the virus because after he had known his status, he made sure he slept with me often.

I attributed it to love.

"After I found out my status, he kept on taunting and humiliating me on how I won't ever find a man to marry me again and that my life was over.

"He told me that I should go to hell and that he has infected many girls and that he was just beginning. He told me that I was a fool. He told me that he sent his wife home immediately he tested positive to HIV. 'He told me to hang myself. He said he is over 60 and that he has lived almost his life span, but that I was still 31 and no one would marry HIV patient.

N2.6bn Fraud: How Ex-NIMASA Boss, Acquired a Bulletproof Car Davidson Iriekpen

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Orji Chukwuma, yesterday tendered documents before a Federal High Court in Lagos showing how a former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi acquired a bulletproof car for his personal use.

Chukwuma, who is the last prosecution witness stated this in the ongoing trial of Akpobolokemi and five others for allegedly defrauding NIMASA to the tune of N2.6 billion between March and June 2014.

Akpobolokemi was arraigned alongside, Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Ltd. and Al-Kenzo Logistics Ltd. before Justice Ibrahim Buba on December 4, 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence.

When the case came for hearing yesterday, Chukwuma also tender another document from an estate surveyor showing how Akopolokemi paid for his rented apartment situated on Ondo Street, Banana Island, Lagos.

Led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness (Chukwuma) said "the first defendant (Akpobolokemi) brought

a document to us in relation to how he paid for his rented apartment on Ondo Street, Banana Island, Lagos.

He also attached a document from an estate surveyor on payments of his house rent.

He further told the court that Akpobolokemi also submitted to the commission a receipt for the purchase of a bulletproofed car.

Consequently, EFCC lawyer tendered the documents and urged the court to mark them as exhibits.

But, M Ajuwa, counsel to Akpobolokemi objected to the admissibility of the documents on the grounds that he was not served with the documents.

He argued that the documents

sought to be tendered ought to have been front-loaded in line with section 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Ruling on the objection, the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba held that "it is sacrosanct that every accused person shall be given opportunity to defend himself and must be served with necessary documents including documents he (accused) submitted to the EFCC".

Justice Buba subsequently adjourned the case till October 26 for continuation of trial.

EFCC had alleged that Akpobolokemi and others converted for private use the sum of N2.6billion belonging to NIMASA.

Gunmen Snatch Cross River Deputy Governor’s Pilot Car Bassey Inyang in Calabar As the security situation in Calabar continues to deteriorate by the day, some dare devil gunmen Thursday evening allegedly snatched the pilot vehicle of the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Prof Ivara Esu, and killed a policeman in the process.

The driver of the pilot vehicle was also shot by the gunmen whose

numerical strength could not be ascertained.

The attack by the gunmen took place at Goldie Street opposite the NNPC filling station in Calabar at about 7pm, when the pilot vehicle ran into a group of heavily armed men who were parading the street.

“After the executive council meeting at the Governor’s office in Calabar yesterday, the pilot vehicle

led other cars as they escorted the deputy governor to his house.

“After dropping him off, the vehicles proceeded to drop the security men in the convoy in their houses. While they were driving along that Goldie Street axis, they ran into a traffic jam caused by a group of cultists operating in the area. The cultists, numbering over 20, were armed with guns and machetes.

When the cultists descended on the pilot vehicle, they shot the driver and drove off with the car. The other people in the car scampered for safety,” a source who pleaded not to be mentioned narrated.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, said a policeman who was shot during the melee, died later in the hospital.

NigerstateGovernorAlhajiAbubakarSaniBellohasdirectedtheimmediate suspension of work on the rehabilitation of the Minna –Suleja road hinging hisactionontheactivitiesofheavydutytrucks.GovernorSaniBellogavethe directiveonWednesdayafterinspectingthedamagedportionsoftheroad that has made movement of goods and services between Minna the state capitalandSuleja,asatellitetownofthefederalcapitalterritoryherculean.

In the last couple of days motorists had spent several hours on the road because of the high degree of its dilapidation a development which made the governor to carry out an inspection visit to the damaged portion of the road. Governor Bello said the state could not continue to invest its hard earned resources on the project only for some vehicles to damage it even when the job had not been completed. He attributed the quick dilapidation of roads in the country to the refusal of the authorities to enforce the law thatprovidestheweightofvehiclesallowedontheseroadssayingthat“the federalMinistryofWorksshouldenforceweighbridgeslawifthelifespans of the roads were to be sustained”.

NOUN Shuts Illegal Study Centre

In furtherance of its war against illegal study centres in the country, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has shut down another illegal study centre in Ankpa, Kogi State. The illegal centre allegedly operated by one Professor Abdullahi, was domiciled in the premises of St. Charles College in the town. The university’s Committee on Illegal Study Centres, the principal of the college, Mr. Adam Umaru Roberts, said that the attitude, carriage and conduct of Abdullahi smacked of a fraudster. “This college is a Catholic school. Before anyone does anything in the premises of a mission school like ours, he must obtain authorisation from the Catholic Education Directorate.WhenAbdullahiapproachedourformerprincipalonthisissue, thedirectorinchargeofEducationintheArch-Diocesewascontacted.The later asked him to put the request in writing, but he never did. At present, he has gone underground because all the people who registered and paid money to him are looking for him.

Ahwi Endorsed as Urhobo Leader in Lagos

The controversy surrounding the selection of Chief Vincent Ahwi, as Osu R Urhbobo has been laid to rest following a meeting of Urhobo Progress Union and the Urhobo Council of Chiefs. In a communiqué issued after the jointmeeting,itwasresolvedamongstotherthingsthataccordingtoArticle 9oftheconstitutionoftheCouncilofChiefs,thefive-manappointmentcommitteewasmandatedtoselectandpresenttothegeneralhouseacandidate for the position of the Osu R Urhobo.The communiqué further stated that at the five-man appointment committee level, the Committee voted 3:2 in favourofChiefVincentAhwiandduringtheratificationexercisenineoutof fifteenmembersequallyvotedforAhwiwhilesixvotedforhisopponent.Thus UPUleadersandUrhobostakeholdersatthemeetingagreedthatfromthe ratification of nine votes of Ahwi to 6 votes of his opponent, Ahwi had the simple majority votes.

T-Pain for Lagos Heineken Music Party

American singer and rapper, T-Pain, has been announced as the host of Heineken’sLiveYourMusicpartybyNigerianBreweries,brewersofpremium beerbrand,Heineken.TheHeinekenLiveYourMusicpartyisacelebrationof music,tailored to givemusicloversapassionateexperienceand anavenue to not just listen to the music but also live their music. The Heineken Live YourMusicpartywilltakeplaceontheclosingnightofHeinekenLFDW2016, Saturday, 29 October. Sampson Oloche, Portfolio Manager, International Premium Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc. made this announcement, at the presscocktailforthe2016HeinekenLagosFashionandDesignWeekheldat theHeinekenHouseonTuesday. “We’rehappytosponsorthisyear’sHeineken LFDWthemed‘Connectingthedots’,toreaffirmourcommitmenttothegrowth andexpansionofNigeria’sfashionindustry.We’reputtingtogetherafantastic after party for Heineken LFDWto be hosted byT-Pain.

Salem Church Adult Harvest

Recently, the Church Cathedral Salem in Ebute-meta celebrated its Adult harvestinaverycolourfulway.Presentattheoccasionwiththeme;Harvest ofGreatRewardwereSenatorOluremiTinubu,representedbyMrsOmolola Essien, the executive secretary of the Lagos Mainland Local Government andDr.OreFalomo,amongotherreputablepersonalities. Secretaryofthe church,OlutayoOteniyasaid“ourthemeisalwaysdivine. Thisyearwewant abundant reward from God because he said we are going to reap the fruit of our labour and that is why we want not just reward from God but a great reward which informed the theme of this year’s harvest. Even in the face of the economic downturn, we want to operate not with the economy of the countrybutwiththeeconomyofthealmightyandthatiswhywecallitgreat reward because we are depending on God.

Government College Ughelli Reunion

GovernmentCollegeUghelliOldboys(GCUOB)of1973issetforaworldwide reuniontocelebrateits40thanniversarytodayattheCollege'ssecretariat, Yaba, at 2p.m.The media officer of the Association, Mr. Stephen Ighofose, stated this in a press release yesterday. He said the old boys from across the seven continents would meet for the first time after their graduation in 1977."Thisisourfirsteverreunionaftergraduation.Itistofacilitateamong ourselves, elect officers to organise our 40th anniversary. It will be a great platform to bring back old memories and network again."

15

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

nEws

RECESSION: Leaders Must Rise Above Personal Interests, Counsels Ambode NLC fears Nigeria may not get out recession soon

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday said that Nigeria’s present economic situation urgently required its elected leaders to rise above personal differences and interests with a common unity of purpose and deliver good governance to the people who they represent.

This is as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed fears that country may not get out recession soon, noting that "with about five months salaries being owed workers in about 27 out of the 36 states of the

Federation and with gratuity of 19 years of retired civil servants not yet paid and with the current high cost of living, especially to the common man in the country, Nigeria will need to do more to get out of this recession."

Ambode who spoke at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the Executive/Legislative Retreat at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, said the recession taking its toll on Nigerians was a wakeup call for Nigeria leaders to come together for the purpose of rescuing the nation.

On the theme of the retreat, “Good Governance in a Recession”, Ambode

said the economic downturn was no respecter of tribe or religion, neither does it discriminate along political party lines, hence, every Nigerian was feeling the impact.

He said the retreat, which had brought together members of the Executive and the Legislature from the State and Federal level from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), was a statement of fact that the people come first in Lagos.

The Governor said, “Our people demand, and request from us, good governance, leadership and hope at

a critical time like this in our nation.

We must therefore rise above our personal differences and interests, with a common unity of purpose; staying focused on our promises and manifesto at all times.

“If our economy must grow, it must also have the mindset and culture to want to grow. It is therefore left for all of us to learn to emphasise the people and de-emphasise the power to get good results. Getting good results requires that we abide by the principles of good governance; whether we are in or out of any economic recession.

Dozie Owerri Clears Douglas Road Waste Dump Tobi SoniyiinAbuja Members of Dozie Mezie Owerri, a political pressure group has cleared the mountain of refuse that took over parts of Owerri which the state government allegedly claimed to have left deliberately.

The group said it was saddened by the abandonment of the people by the government whose primary responsibility was to take care of and protect the people, adding that they carried out the evacuation of the one kilometre refuse dumped along Douglas road Owerri to avoid an apparent health crisis that was looming in Owerri.

Members of the group who stormed Owerri from their various bases in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos with over 16 Dump trucks and four Pay loaders to evacuate the refuse which was apparently left by the Imo state Government following a High Court

injunction that it from relocating the Eke Ukwu Owerri traditional Market by the indigenes of the Capital city.

The organisation made up of professionals from Owerri had met recently and pulled resources to evacuate the waste after the Chief Press Secretary of the state had in a public statement disclosed that the refuse was being dumped along Douglas road to punish the indigenes for rejecting the relocation of the traditional market to another town.

The coordinating team for the evacuation made up of Stanley Nkwazema, Tony Anyadike and Chris Anowey with other members worked round the clock to effect the evacuation.

The team who decided to work only in the night to avoid traffic chaos in Owerri which had become a nightmare driving through the once clean city, spent four days before clearing the fetid in the early hours of Friday.

Diamond Bank Rewards S’South Customers with Car, N25m

HEARTFELT SYMPATHY...

R-L: The General Manager, Travelex Nigeria, Mr. Anthony Enwereji presenting a cheque of one million naira to the parent of the baby, who was born with a severe birth defects

Delta Oil and Gas Stakeholders Warn NDDC Achieves Up-to-date Accounts, Operational Manuals of Anarchy Over DESOPADEC Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

External auditors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have submitted three sets of financial reports that have brought the accounts of the Commission up to date.

The financial accounts were presented yesterday to the NDDC management by Mr. Funsho Owoyemi, the managing partner of the firm of chartered accountants that carried out the auditing exercise. While handing over the documents at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, he said that the financial report was now ready for the Auditor-General of the Federation.

The external auditor stated that the infractions that were earlier highlighted in the Auditor-General’s report of 2015 were properly captured in the financial statements, noting that the auditing was thorough and comprehensive.

He said: “We have achieved what seemed like an impossible task. We met a very difficult situation because the accounts had accumulated for many years. In spite of the difficulties, we successfully audited the accounts to bring the financial records up to date. It is remarkable that we did this within a very short period.

This did not stop our doing a thorough job.”

Owoyemi said all matters that required more attention were highlighted for the NDDC management so that it would be properly guided to regularise its accounting processes.

He added: “We had to also go to the field to gather more information. So, the report is an amalgam of engineering, technical and accounting details. The report is quite instructive, very useful and comprehensive.”

Receiving the financial reports, the NDDC Acting Managing Director, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, commended the external auditors for bringing the Commission’s financial records up to date. She said that the finance directorate of the Commission was now expected to prepare the documents that would aid the prompt delivery of the 2016 audit report.

The NDDC boss expressed delight that the Commission was now posting its quarterly reports on its website regularly.

This practice, according to her, had ensured that the Commission was disciplined and transparent in its processes. “It has also helped us to tighten our internal controls,” she stated.

Semenitari said, “We will quickly make our inputs to the report before forwarding it to the Auditor-General of the Federation. We will also encourage our finance directorate to prepare the

Sylvester Idowu inWarri

Delta Oil and Gas Stakeholders Group yesterday warned that there would be total anarchy in Delta State should the state House of Assembly go ahead with its alleged plan to dissolve Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

It maintained that the alleged plan by state House of Assembly would throw the state into another avoidable crisis with its proposed dissolution of the board set up for development of oil producing communities.

The group gave the warning yesterday in a statement titled "Before Another Crisis Erupt in Oil Bearing Communities" and signed by its President, Dr. Tagbiretse John; External Affairs Officer, Obakpo Goodluck and Organising Secretary, Gregory Eze. It alleged that since the group raised the alarm over alleged padding of the commission's 2016 budget and inequitable distribution of projects amongst the host communities which made Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to order for a review, some elements in the state house of assembly had been making moves to dissolve the board of the commission in other to have their way.

"We are not unmindful of the antics of the House of Assembly, the committee on DESOPADEC

and other principal members of the House, some of whom have padded the budget with as much as 20 of their ‘interest projects’ to the detriment of the oil bearing communities. These smuggled projects now face a certain death in view of the planned examination.

"We are reliably informed that these sets of persons have infiltrated the oil bearing communities and groups, including the Host Communities of Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM). Some persons have been induced to carry out protests to demand for the dissolution of the DESOPADEC board in order to pave the way for the appointment of surrogates and stooges who would then facilitate the passage of their ‘alien projects’ in the budget.

"This move by these elements is not only selfish and condemnable; it is dangerous and capable of unleashing an ill wind that would blow no good in the state", it stated.

The group said as respected stakeholders and leaders of oil bearing communities in Delta state, it feels the pulse of its people and knows that this was a very wrong move that would be very costly.

"We are therefore using this medium to warn against any act that is capable of jeopardising the fragile peace in the areas. This warning is necessary because of the tension that this plan is generating in the oil bearing communities.

Diamond Bank plc has restated its commitment to the promotion of a savings culture and customers’ satisfaction and gave out a brand new SUV and N25 million in the SavingsXtra promotion draw for its south-south customers at Odual road branch of the bank, Port-Harcourt.

The event which attracted industry stakeholders, relevant regulatory bodies, customers, shareholders, journalists and management staff of the bank saw Mr. Imariagbe Austin of the Sapele Road branch, Benin City emerge as the winner of the star prize of a brand new SUV. Other 10 lucky winners went home with N1million each while another 30 won N500, 000.

The draws were conducted through an electronic process certified by the top audit firm KPMG whose representative monitored the event.

Mr. Osita Ede, Head of Mass Market Segment, Diamond Bank Plc, in his opening speech informed the customers that the Diamond SavingsXtra account was created to promote a savings culture and enhance financial inclusion among Nigerians.

He stated that the reward scheme was just one of the ways which the bank

sought to appreciate customers for their loyalty to the bank. Mr. Edeh pointed out that coming up in the no-too-distant future was Diamond Bank’s nationwide monthly draw in which 13 people would be awarded N1m each, two people the sum of N2 million each and one lucky person will win the salary-for-life which sees the winner earn a salary from Diamond Bank plc every month for a period of twenty years.

To qualify for the monthly draw, Edeh explained that all a customer needed to do was maintain a minimum monthly balance of N5,000.00 while additional deposits would count as multiple entries thereby increasing the customer’s chances of winning.

Present at the draw were past winners from draws within the region.

Mr. Duru Chukwuebuka Francis, a salary-for-life winner who emerged from the Eket branch of Diamond Bank plc, said he didn’t believe he had won until he got the first credit alert from the bank. Mr. Duru a trader in building materials, went further to state that representatives from the bank had continuously proffered invaluable advice on investment opportunities

Onaiyekan Lauds FG Over Release of 21 Chibok Girls Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has said that Federal Government was making progress in its fight against Boko Haram with the release of 21 out of the over 200 abducted Chibok girls.

The clergy described the abduction of the girls by the Islamists as a major crime against humanity, urging government to “stop playing hide and seek game”, on fight against the group.

Cardinal Onaiyekan who spoke with reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said that “the release of the girls “is worth celebrating. This is because every life is worth celebrating.

"It is almost 900 days that over 200 of our girls were taken away.

The whole world has been asking what is happening; 21 out of over 200 is not really a big deal anyway, but for the parents of the 21 can at least to rest their souls that they have found their daughters.”

According to him, “I wouldn’t want us to focus so much on the

acts of omission and commission of our government in this matter in such a way as to forget that the main culprits in this whole affair is Boko Haram.

"They were the ones who kidnapped and kept those girls for this long for no just cause. We should not allow the criticisms we have against government to becloud this major crime against humanity which this group of boys has committed.

“Anything Boko Haram is saying on social media or anywhere now, unless they come clean of everything they are just not serious. The onus lies on them to explain what has happened to the over 200 girls that they took away. I don’t think we should be demanding such explanation from our government. We should demand explanation from those who kidnapped these children unjustly.

“The whole thing itself is still a shame on our nation and it is still a greater shame that they are not explaining where others are. Have they died? Or have they thrown them somewhere?

16

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016 WITH

MARITIME BITS

JOHN IWORI

08057763164

R-L: Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza B. Usman, Lt.Col.Jacob Hopper of United States Coast Guard (USCG), Minister of Transportation, Rt. Honourable Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Director General Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director Maritime Safety and Security of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Danjuma Dauda, Head of ISPS Unit of NIMASA, Captain Elei Green Igbogi, Lt. Col. J.M Tahir (Rtd.) of the NPA, during the visit of the Nigerian delegation to USCG Head Office in Washington DC…recently.

Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) in a warm hand shake with the Customs Area Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Comptroller Usman Kankara Bello, at the stakeholders meeting with importers, exporters, bankers, NAFDAC, Customs Licence agents held at Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt ... recently

Amaechi: Nigeria’s ISPS Code Compliance Level Now 79.3 % Nigeria’s compliance level to the implementation of the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code is now 79.3 per cent, the Minister of Transportation, Right Hon.Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said.

The present compliance level in the country on the implementation of the ISPS Code is a sharp contrast to the 9 per cent it recorded in 2013.

The poor performance of the country in the implementation of the ISPS Code which remains one of the key instruments put in place by the global maritime watchdog, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) compelled the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to threaten that ocean going vessels will no longer call in Nigerian ports until she

complied with the provisions of the code.

Though Nigeria eventually escaped the hammer as then Federal Government led by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan used several channels to make the United States Government to change its mind but stringent restrictions were placed on some jetties and terminals in the country.

In a statement obtained by THISDAY reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to maritime security through the full implementation of the ISPS Code, even as he appealed to the USCG to lift the sanctions it placed on some jetties and terminals which were found deficient two years ago in complying with the Code.

Amaechi was said to have made the commitment and appeal when he led a delegation to the headquarters of USCG in Washington DC.

NCS Impounds N1.9 bn Contrabands, Records 231 Seizures in Zone C The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri has recorded a total of 231 seizures of contraband goods with an overall duty paid value (DPV) of N1,957,529,375 in the third quarter of the year.

The record of the zone within the period under review differs significantly from the one it recorded in the same period in 2015. It is on record that it made 379 seizures with a DPV of N224, 245, 797 in the same period last year.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), NCS, FOU, Zone C, Comptroller Haruna Mamudu who disclosed this in a statement said N548, 700, 997 was recovered this year which amounted to an increase in the percentage of revenue generated by the NCS in contrast to the N105,207,807 underpayment recovered in the year 2015.

Signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the unit, Ifeoma O. Onuigbo, the statement quoted Haruna saying that no fewer than 22 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures which were impounded on the Benin axis, Asaba-Agbor-Onitsha Expressway, Calabar, Enugu, Owerri and PortHarcourt axis of the South-south and South -East zones of the federation just as 16 cases are pending in court.

The CAC stressed that the feat was successfully accomplished as a result of the renewed determination of the Comptroller-General of NCS, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retired) to rid the country of all forms of illegal importation.

According to the statement, Haruna also enumerated the items impounded to include 121 vehicles; 3,082 bags of 50kg rice; 1,454 cartons /set of furniture; 5,120 pieces of used foreign tyres; 625 cartons of fake medicaments and 2,600 pieces of imported school bags.

Also seized were 63 containers of log of wood; 97 pieces of 14 -stroke engine generator; 30,181 cartons imported frozen poultry products; 1,148 bales of second hand clothing as well as 2, 331 cartons of foreign detergents and creams.

Others are 1,339 pairs of foot wears; 142 pieces of used refrigerators and compressors, 155 cartons of plastic and articles of plastics; 129 cartons of ceramics and articles of ceramics in addition to 803 bags of scrap metals.

The CAC who expressed concern at the continued indulgence of some Nigerians in the nefarious act of smuggling despite official stiff penalty for culprits arrested said that the NCS would remain resolute and undeterred in its efforts to stamp out the scourge in the country. He maintained that

He expressed government’s appreciation for the support of the USCG in implementing the ISPS code in Nigeria and assured the international shipping community that the country is committed to the full implementation of the code to safeguard the maritime domain.

He disclosed that since taking over the implementation of the ISPS code as the Designated Authority (DA) in Nigeria, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has performed creditably well.

“Nigeria appreciates the efforts and support of the United States Government in encouraging a cordial bilateral relationship with Nigeria not only in the area of maritime security but also in other areas. I want to assure the US Coast

NPA Dislodges Policemen Using Containers as Abode in Port The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has dislodged officers of the Port Police Command using containers in Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa as residence.

They were ordered to vacate LPC before the end of the month for the fact that the place is not residential.

Handing over the order, NPA Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr. Sekonte Davies said the affected officers were those that are new in Lagos and also lack accommodation.

As part of the responsibility of the NPA as a landlord of the ports , the authority provides office accommodation but not residential for all the security and para- military agencies namely , the Nigerian Customs Service , the Nigerian Police Force among others which officers serve at the ports.

Davies also stated that the NPA is considering tenancy in all spaces hitherto occupied by government and private agencies at the nation’s seaports as a source of additional revenue as the port area is a commercial entity where all tenants should be ready to pay for

rent at the rate to be determined by the NPA. He however explained that the payment for the rent, as it concerns government agencies, would only apply to those who have budgetary provision for such in the Ports.

He enjoined operators within the port to improve the sanitary conditions at their operational areas, whilst assuring that NPA would provide them with requisite enabling environment towards ensuring efficient operation at the port to make their working condition conducive.

He assured operators within Lagos Pilotage district that the NPA would strive to meet the needs of Shipping Companies and Terminal Operators within the Pilotage district but urged them to fulfil their financial obligation to the Organization assiduously.

The tour took Davies and his entourage to several places including the Control Tower, and the Fire Station.

He said the environmental sanitation of the complex should be maintained at all times.

Ship Builder Performs Naming Ceremonies for 2 Russian Vessels Today A double naming ceremony for Pomor and Normann, the two icebreaking offshore vessels built for the Russian shipping company Femco, will take place today at Havyard Ship Technology in Norway.

According to the shipbuilder, the two vessels will operate under a contract with Exxon Neftegas on the oilfields outside of Sakhalin, Russia. In order to get there, the vessels will embark on a voyage through The Northeast Passage.

Both ships, featuring a length of 86.7 meters and a width of 19.5 meters each, are constructed according to DNVs ice class notation Icebreaker Ice-10 , with classifications demanding capabilities of breaking up to one-meter-thick, one-year-old ice.

The two icebreakers are constructed with class notation Winterized Cold (-30).

As such, these vessels are constructed for work in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius without freezing up.

The icebreakers’ safety equipment and environment are protected against ice and frost at shielding, incorporation and electric heating or melting.

In addition, the ships are fitted with engine power effective enough to go full out winterization and anchor handling operations at the same time, according to Havyard Ship Technology.

Each of the two icebreakers will be able to accommodate up to 53 persons.

Aleut, the first ship in a series of three icebreaking offshore vessels, was delivered last autumn.

Guard and indeed the international shipping community of Nigeria’s commitment to the full implementation of the ISPS code to further institute a strict security regime in our maritime environment”, he said.

He enjoined the US government to revisit the Condition of Entry (COE) earlier placed on vessels that have called some port facilities in Nigeria which were not compliant with the code saying that over 80 per cent of those facilities have since complied with the code and needed to be removed from the COE list.

Receiving the delegation, the Assistant Commandant of the USCG, Rear Admiral Paul Thomas expressed his country’s determination to continue to support Nigeria in its goal of full implementation of the ISPS code.

SOAN Puts Nigerian Ship Owners Issues on Front Burner at Commonwealth Roundtable In a concerted effort to ensure that they achieve set goals and objectives, indigenous ship owners have placed critical issues plaguing the sustainable development of the maritime sector of the Nigeria economy on the front burner.

This is coming on the heels of the fact recently made public by the global maritime watchdog, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) that cargo carried by sea across the globe is set to quadruple by 2050.

To ensure that that they get help where it matters, the indigenous ship operators under the auspices of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) hosted a roundtable with the theme “The Future of the Maritime Industry in Nigeria” in conjunction with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) at Marlborough House, London, United Kingdom.

Hosted as part of CWEIC’s Commonwealth Maritime Initiative (CMI) which aims to promote the maritime industry as a key driver of economic growth and trade as well as connect maritime business interests with state-level representatives and organisations from across the Commonwealth.

Though the initial focus is on Nigeria, the initiative is expected to expand to other member countries of the Commonwealth. The CMI is focussed on maximising commercial opportunities in an industry that has often suffered from chronic underinvestment.

The event brought together investors, business leaders and government officials – representing maritime interests from across the Commonwealth – in a bid to stimulate discussion, increase co-operation and forge partnerships around the myriad opportunities of Nigeria’s maritime sector.

The focus on Nigeria at the Commonwealth roundtable in London is understandable. Besides her status as Africa’s largest economy and its huge maritime ecosystem, Nigeria’s 850 kilometres coastline and 8,600 kilometres of inland waterways remains the second longest in Africa.

CWEIC hopes to expand the maritime initiative across the Commonwealth, highlighting further maritime investment opportunities across the many developing, coastal economies within the 53 nations collective.

Plus Oyenike Michael Ibru

I Hawked ‘Tin Tomatoes’ for Michael Ibru

LOUD WHISPERS AUTO TRIBUTE FITNESS FASHION FILE ENTREPRENEUR

pg. 20 pg. 26 pg. 35 pg. 40 pg. 41 pg. 44

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 15, 2016

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I Was Rascally As a Young Lady; I Beat Up Anyone Who Insulted Me

Unfazed by age, the octogenarian sits quietly in her couch. Her dim but graceful eyes light up with memories. She is a woman who has been there, done that. Her lips curl solemnly and fondly as she let out the first few words about her life with her parents. And the nostalgia that flickered in her eyeballs when she left home at a tender age of eight to live with another family – a famous family: the Bank-Anthony’s. Calmly, she shares some personal stories about love, friendship, motherhood and doing business. Quiet but quintessential and queenly, Mrs. Oyenike Fatungase Michael Ibru is a study in simplicity, serenity and serendipity. Her story is at once dramatic, comedic, and epic. As she narrates the episodes of her sojourn on earth, she makes the most challenging moment of life appears ordinary. The matriarch, left with a child, after the cold hands of death snatched one of her children at a tender age, is a paragon of resilience and intelligence. Born on June 12, 1934, she tells Funke Olaode how she met Olorogun Michael Ibru at Kingsway Store on February 1953. She was just 19 years old. Their union was consummated on December 26, 1954, a month after the birth of her son, Onome. The doctor of divinity also discusses her journey into a spiritual rebirth

I

Mrs. Ibru as a young mother at 34 in 1968

A privileged beginning was born in Lagos on June 12, 1934. By the time I was born my father was working for UAC, while my mother was a trader – selling clothing materials at Ereko Market on Lagos Island.

My father was also the treasurer of the African Bethel Church on Broad Street, Lagos. My parents hailed from Ijebu Ayepe, Ogun State. This is about three miles after Ikenne. My father came to Lagos as a young man.

He stayed with Archbishop James Johnson before he started work at UAC. In a way, I had a privileged beginning because I had parents who were well-to-do and could take care of my needs. But when I was growing up Nigeria was going through economic crisis (recession) and there was no food. I remember we had to wake up very early in the morning to go and queue to get foodstuffs.

One day, we went around 3 am.

When I got there one man saw a spot on my head and asked me to go home. It was chicken pox.

I was restricted to the private sitting room and my father was looking after me. After I got better, my father asked me to go and live with my godmother, Lady Mobolaji Bank-Anthony. I was about eight years old when I left home. Everybody thought I was Bank-Anthony’s daughter. But I used to tell them I am Fatungase’s. Having a father who was educated gave me leverage in acquiring good education early in life.

And of course, the Bank-Anthonys, my guardians, also were influential figures in Lagos. When I left the BankAnthonys, my father was still alive.

I was I enrolled at Breadfruit School and later Christ Church Cathedral. I also attended Girls Modern Academy and Lucas Collegiate, where I took my Senior Cambridge Examinations.

After secondary school, I started work as an artiste at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) with a programme called, ‘Nike Fatungase Sings.’ I was singing native songs on radio.

Meeting Michael Ibru in February 1953 I met Michael Ibru at the defunct Kingsway Store on Broad Street in February 1953. At that time, the store used

to organise programme every February.

And that particular February of 1953 was a turning point for me. It was the day I met my husband Michael Ibru (now late). He came to the store with one of our ‘area’ brothers, Kole. I said jokingly to my ‘area’ brother, ‘What do you intend to buy for me here?’

Then, I saw Michael whispering into his ears making enquiry whether I was one of his sisters. And he said yes and even mentioned my name. That was how my path crossed with Michael Ibru. I remember before he left that store that day, he gave me one of his photographs. I was about 19 years old then.

Michael shaped my life I want to give glory to the Almighty Father for sending Michael Ibru to shape my life. I was very rascally having been raised at Olowoogbowo in Lagos. If you abused me the day before I would not say anything but I would reserve the fight till the following day.

And after Morning Prayer I would come to your house and beat you up.

When I started dating Michael, these people would go to Michael’s office to report me. Of course, he would ask them to come to my place in the evening. He would call me out and say, ‘Don’t you want to fight again.’

I would be sober and he would start counselling me that I am a lady and ladies don’t fight. When I had my first pregnancy in 1953 I went for a funeral.

It was the day the then Action Group Chieftain, Chief Bode Thomas was being buried. And because he was a member of our church we had to trek from Broad Street to Ikoyi. And when I got back home I had complications and in the process I lost the pregnancy.

The following year, 1954 to be precise, I had my first son, Onome. I had my daughter in 1956 and another son, Marcus in 1958. I lost him at about 14 months old. It was then that I came back to Lagos to stay in my father’s house because another lady was living with my husband. I never remarried or divorced. I just decided to stay on my own when he was busy marrying women.

Consummating my marriage I had Onome in November 17, 1954 and on the December 26, 1954 (the

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OCTOBER 15, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

Plus

Mrs. Oyenike Ibru with husband, Michael during her 60th birthday at The African Bethel Church, Broad Street, Lagos in 1994

I Was 19 Years Old When I Met Michael Ibru Boxing Day) he paid my dowry. My husband married only one woman legally. Her name is Mercy, an Ibo lady from the East. They later divorced but there was no child between them.

After that he didn’t get married to any woman legally he only paid their dowries. We were living in Shomolu.

He was still working with the UAC but was later transferred to Benin.

It was in Benin that we celebrated Onome’s one-year birthday. I relocated to Lagos in 1956 when my husband was going to England to resign from the UAC because the management didn’t accept his resignation letter here in Nigeria. When he came back from London in 1956 he established his own company. When the fish trawler was stationed at Ijora and he would go there in the evening and used to come back in the morning. He was the first to sell ‘tin tomatoes’ in Lagos. Prior to that time nobody in Nigeria knew about ‘tin tomatoes.’ To create awareness and support for his business, I started hawking ‘tin tomatoes’ at Ereko Market. Later, he got a space at Ofin on Thompson Warehouse where he was selling cement. There was a day it rained heavily and I had to use big towel to dry the cement warehouse.

Working as a banker After some time, I worked as a lady machinist at Banque Dela Frique Occidental which later became Afribank Plc. The office was at Creek Road in Apapa. My cousin had a shop at Tinubu where he was selling dresses and I bought a lot of office dresses. I didn’t tell my husband that I was working.

I didn’t know who told him and he trailed me to the place. I hid myself under the table. He drove in and said, ‘Omobinrin ti won lo n sise nibiyi da?’ meaning, ‘where is the lady that is working here?’ I had to come out. He just looked at me and said, ‘You too are wearing gown. You are showing your legs.’ But I didn’t leave the bank immediately. But the day I decided to leave was the day the President of Ethiopia Halle Selassie visited Nigeria.

This man did not land because his son had taken over his government. The rain on that day was so heavy that we all remained in the banking hall. Our manager ordered everybody out of the banking hall and after that I didn’t go back again. After quitting the banking job I worked at the Sales Department of the NBC at 45 Martins Street, Lagos under the supervision of Sales Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Bello Fadaka (now late). He was my husband’s very good

friend. When Mr. Fadaka was about to be transferred to Benin, he advised me to start an advertising agency.

was always attending my birthdays.

The relationship was cordial till he died.

Setting up advertising agency in 1968 Mr. Fadaka helped me to set up an advertising agency which was named NICKY FAT Agencies in 1968. It was situated at No. 46 Balogun Street. I happened to be the first female to start an advertising agency in Nigeria.

The agency prospered because God favoured me through some people. The father of former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Fashola, who was at Daily Times then, Ted Mukoro of Lintas Advertising Agency, Kehinde Adeosun and Olu Falomo, all helped me. Later, I left advertising business when given a licence by the then Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande to start pilgrimage tours under NICKY FAT TOURS. I was taking people to Jerusalem including military personnel.

My daughter, Christie later set up Elf petrol station, which is now Total petrol station at Ilupeju. When I turned 70 years old, I retired from active service. Total manages the station now with my cooperation.

Losing my first son Onome in 1973 Life is not a bed of roses and I have had my fair share. It was a dark moment in my life when I lost my first child, Onome Oyebolaji Michael Ibru, in a motor accident on his way to the University of Ife, to collect his certificate in June 1973. He was 19 years old. If he hadn’t died he would have been 62 this November. He attended secondary school abroad and came to Nigeria for his university education.

All the universities in Nigeria gave him a befitting burial (he was a student union activist). He was buried like a king. I am now left with a daughter, Christie, who is the eldest of Michael’s children.

Fond memories of Michael Ibru When I met him he wasn’t rich.

He was just an average civil servant.

But he was a very handsome, quiet, humble and nice man who God used to change my life of rascality. Since we knew each other in 1953, he never raised his hand against me. The only time we had a mis-understanding that almost resulted into physical fight was the day the Ibo boys living in our compound in Shomolu sang an Ibo song ‘N ike n ke ka anyi ji alu oluu, na alu oluu n ike nke.’ You know I used to help these boys to cook in the kitchen. He thought they were praise-singing me. He had a change of heart one night when Art Alade started ‘Saturday Night Out’ on radio. The first music he played that very night was that particular Igbo song. My husband looked at me and apologised.

He was a very caring man. When I had the fire accident at my petrol station he wanted to take me to the hospital I refused that I would cure it with water of life. Within two weeks the leg dried up. He said ‘Madam, you know everything now.’ I said it is only God that knows everything. When I was given the honorary doctorate degree, he gave me money to entertain my guests and instructed Olorogun Oscar Ibru to represent him because he was travelling out of the country. He

Answering a divine call By a divine call I founded a spiritual church in 1975 named, God’s Glory Shining Star Church Cherubim and Seraphim (Ijo Irawo Ogo Olorun Ntan).

I was licensed and became a lay reader and Preacher in the African Church in 1978 – the first female to hold such a position. I am also a trustee of the African Church Arch Cathedral Bethel.

It was because of my religious activities that I was given a doctorate degree, Doctor of Divinity, by an American university in 1998. One Prophet Adeoye who had a school in Victoria Island once told me that I am a messenger of God. When I became a lay reader, I took the form to my husband.

He encouraged me and he signed the form for me. But the spirit of God said I should establish a spiritual church.

I started it in my sitting room. There was a day I prayed for his (Michael’s) senior driver whose wife was expecting a baby. He now told my husband to thank me for praying for his wife. He was surprised and said, ‘Nike, o jamo olorun lo fe sin nisin yi. A maa ran e lowo;’meaning, ‘Nike, you don’t want to fight people again and now you want to serve God. I will help you.’

My husband built the first church for me at the back of my house in Surulere and also built a bigger one for me at Itire next door to O.K. Plastics. The churches are still there and functioning till today. So if there was to be another world I would still like to marry my husband because he was a gentle man.

Like all men he had his weaker side.

But I pray when he comes next time he would be a messenger of God and I will marry him because a minister of

When I met him he wasn’t rich. He was just an average civil servant. But he was a very handsome, quiet, humble and nice man who God used to change my life of rascality. Since we knew each other in 1953, he never raised his hand against me. The only time we had a misunderstanding that almost resulted into physical fight was the day the Ibo boys living in our compound in Shomolu sang an Ibo song ‘N ike n ke ka anyi ji alu oluu, na alu oluu n ike nke.’ You know I used to help these boys to cook in the kitchen.

He thought they were praise-singing me. He had a change of heart one night when Art Alade started ‘Saturday Night Out’ on radio. The first music he played that very night was that particular Igbo song God doesn’t marry two wives.

I am fulfilled Considering my journey through life, I can say that all my aspirations have been fulfilled. Jesus Christ gave us two commandments: serve your God with your whole heart and love thy neighbour as thy self. I have adhered to those two commandments and I know God will help me at my night.

At 82, I am in my night. I will not do evil, think no evil and speak no evil to anybody. I believe in what the Bible says at Galatians 6:7: ‘be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, thou shall he also reap.’

The last book of the bible in Revelation also says, ‘whoever that is doing good should continue and whoever that is doing bad should continue. God is coming quickly to pay everybody according to his or her doings.’ For me, I don’t pay evil with evil because vengeance belongs to him. Romans 12: 17 says, ‘Recompense to no man evil for evil and provide things honest in the sight of all men.’ I thank God Almighty for making me His daughter.

I have been doing what He called me to do and I will continue till He calls me home. And that is why if I die today, I will like to be remembered for my faithfulness because I have been consistent with God all my life.

Life of lessons What I have learnt in this life is that one shouldn’t think of oneself alone because in the midst of life we are nothing. Think of others and what you can do to help and please others. I am not doing anything to please myself.

And as a human being always do the right thing to the low and mighty. We are here today and nobody knows tomorrow. As Psalm 34: 14 says, ‘Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.’

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OctOber 15, 2016

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

LOUD WHISPERS

Asiwaju Tinubu: The Limits of Political Influence I had watched strenuously to see how far the Asiwaju would go wielding so much power over his political structure spanning the whole of the South West and creeping towards the centre with no executive powers but mere influence. As a student of politics and a graduate of Political Science I have come to realise clearly that influence remains an aberration in the vicious game that is politics.

It is what people on the street call ‘breeze’. It cannot bite, does not have any legal backing, trading on morality and ‘what is right’ and as such enforcement of decisions especially disciplinary is at best tricky. Today I am sure that Asiwaju would be rueing the day he decided to give himself the spurious title of ‘Party Leader’.

For a strategist of his calibre, this was a fatal blow to his legacy. How on earth did he think he would continue to rule over his ‘minions’ especially with the integration of other soldiers in the enlarged party structure that was built with just influence? You see, the game where he holds whoever is the Lagos State governor can never be used at the centre. You cannot control the President of Nigeria and Commander of the Armed Forces with mere influence that comes with the empty post of Party Leader. This to me is his folly and I am sure in his moments of reflection, he would be shaking his head with regrets.

The president’s statement during his inauguration perfectly captured this. He had said, “I belong to no one.” That to me perfectly encapsulates what I am talking about. Simply because you played a major role in bringing about the electoral victory is not enough currency to wield the kind of influence Asiwaju was looking at wielding in national politics. This could be gleaned in all the subsequent defeats he has faced, culminating in this latest affront by the party chairman. Femi Fani-Kayode who I usually do not agree with, put everything DSS and the judges I woke up to see a myriad of missed calls from my landlord. What could make this baba to be calling me so many times this early morning? Well, I returned his calls and he told me clearly that he wanted me to write something about the wahala between the judges and the DSS. You see this man thinks I just come Lagos. He has been trying to increase my rent by almost 300 per cent and I have been the major leader of the resistance amongst my co-tenants. So in his warped sense of thinking, this is his own strategy of getting me out of the house. Me, I should comment on something that does not concern me?

Me, Edgar Joseph, the Gorimapa of Shomoluland and the Otunba meta of Shomolu? Abeg, my mandate no reach that point o. If this man wants me out

in true perspective in one of his numerous write-ups when he illustrated how Tinubu has been embarrassed by the establishment ever since the inauguration. From the Kogi State governorship poll, through the appointments of Fashola and the former Ekiti governor; through even the appointment of Nike Animashaun and now the Ondo State debacle is beginning to show Asiwaju as a giant with a clay feet.

How can you ever plan to hold power without legal backing.

That is not legitimate power and as such cannot achieve sustainable leverage. I will say, he was lucky with Fashola and is also being lucky with Ambode but can you imagine a Fayose as governor of Lagos State or even of his house, there are less traumatic ways of achieving his aim than this.

I have decided to write him a stern warning letter to desist from such treacherous tactics and come to the negotiation table otherwise I will go to his house and strip like that Igbo man whose video went viral after stripping in front of the house of the billionaire who was owing him. In my case, shebi he knows he has fine yellow daughters and he will be risking losing them once my nakedness is displayed willingly at his gate. Abeg, I don’t even know what DSS stands for.

Hello Mrs. Makinde Mrs. Makinde is my friend and loyal reader of this page. I met her last week at her office in Ikoyi and the joy that was all over her pretty face could only

Wike. You will begin to see what I am talking about. Continuing to expect loyalty from gratitude is funny . But that is exactly what has been happening.

Chief Awolowo insisted on being the Premier and when he went for election in the centre and failed he came back to reclaim his executive powers and this led to a fracas that led to wahala in the old Western Region simply because the combatants understood the powers that came with executive positions.

If Asiwaju was party chairman today and with his clout and charisma, even the president would think twice before he moved against him. Let us look at Chief Adisa Akinloye in the Second Republic, he was so be imagined. She made me feel like Michael Jackson taking me around the office and introducing me as ‘that columnist that makes my weekend.’ She made my day and also made me feel fulfilled. You see some things are better than money: the happiness and joy you bring to peoples’ lives simply by doing what God gave you the ability to do. Madam, I am sending you free VIP tickets to my play, Isale Eko, coming up at the Muson next Valentine’s Day. If oga will not mind, you will be my VIP guest and Valentine as you watch the extravaganza that will be unfolding on stage that day. Please eat before you leave your house sha, the offer does not include food and drinks o. After the play you can go and eat so hunger will not distract you from enjoying the show.

powerful that his image loomed large even far and above that of the president. He never got to that point by wielding just influence.

So my advice to Asiwaju is for him to either seek executive powers by throwing himself up for elections either at the party level or at the national platform or simply just retire from politics before he is rudely humiliated by people who despite their gratitude to him for ‘making them what they are’ would not allow that to becloud their judgment or decision taken in the pursuit of both their personal and national goals.

Really sad that such a brilliant tactician could not see this.

Really painful.

Daura

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

SPY GLASS

Lanre Da-Silva’s Winning Streaks

If anyone had told Lanre DaSilva-Ajayi while growing up that she would someday be a force to reckon with in the world of fashion designs, she might have dismissed it with a wave of the hand.

But since she ventured into the business, it has been one laurel after another. Just recently, she shone like stars at the 170th anniversary of Vlisco in the Netherlands, where eight women from six different countries in Central and West Africa had featured as the faces of the 170 Years campaign.

It was gathered that her collection was characterised by catchy Vlisco ankara prints mixed with Swarovski embellishments, velvety, chiffon prints and metallic mirrored fabrics. All these won her a standing ovation from the audience as well as other participants.

No doubt, this is another proof that Da-Silva-Ajayi, who holds a Master’s degree in Accountancy, is cut for greatness. The business, which started like the mustard seed in her parents’ sitting room a few years back, has now grown into a reputable business empire.

Her driving force as gathered has been her belief that success, as we all know, is not something that happens overnight. It’s a learning curve that comes with patience, perseverance, hard work and endurance.

Even in the face of stiff competition LDA, as she is fondly called by friends and admirers, is still a leading outfit in the industry, thanks to her ingenuity. She is able to combine pattern, print, exquisite and even traditional fabrics to produce day wear, evening wear, gowns and cocktail dresses.

She is into formal and casual wears and enjoys designing the formal wears more, as they are tailored for more elaborate events and show more couture which the LDA brand is all about. This has been her winning streaks.

Ooni of Ife celebrates Birthday

Come Monday, October 17, the ancient city of Ife in Osun State and its environs will literally stand still, as the the new Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, will mark his royal birthday.

Already, friends, associates and loved ones are jostling to

with Bayo Adeoye ....08054680651 make the day a grand one for the respected monarch, who will celebrate his first birthday since he became the Ooni of Ife. So far, his enthronement as the Ooni has been attributed to a new dawn in the annal of the ancient city as well as the Giesi Ruling House that produced him.

It will be recalled that immediately after the coronation, he began to unfold his development plans for the town to the admiration of all.

It was gathered that many towns and hamlets that have one issue or the other have been enjoying his listening ears. It is also said that many of his decisions have been accurate, which confirms the belief in some quarters that he is a man blessed with uncommon sagacity.

Ever before he was born 41 years ago into the family of Prince John Oluropo Ogunwusi, a retired radio and television presenter in the state and the late Margaret Wuraola, his emergence as the Ooni had been foretold.

Until he became the Ooni of Ife, Ogunwusi had been a major player in real estate sector; he had constructed highbrow and eyepopping estates such as Jacobs Mews Estate, Yaba; Lake View Park 1 and 2 located along the Lekki-Epe Road and Chevron Toll Gate; The Northpointe Phase 1 and 2 Estates, Golden Leaf Estate and the Lord’s Estates.

Also, he had been the main facilitator for Dangote Group’s break into the ‘up-country supply chain consortium’ between 1996 and 1999. About same period, he traded for Dohagro Allied, Global Apex, Olam, Clemco, Stallion Group, Milan Group etc. He also facilitated the biggest Lead and Aluminium recycling plant set up in Nigeria by National Steel Company of India in Ota, Ogun State.

Dotun Ogunyemi: Portrait of a silent achiever

If the list of brilliant pilots in Nigeria were to be compiled, his name would be given a worthy mention. Captain Henry Oludotun Ogunyemi is a pride to the nation’s aviation industry.

His inspiring story began when he graduated as one of the youngest from the Flying School in Zaria, Kaduna State. He also attended the Aer Lingus Training School in DublinIreland, Varig Training School in Rio-Brazil and British Airways Training School, United Kingdom.

Having bagged BAC 1-11, Boeing 707 and Macdonald Douglas DC 10 aircraft types on his license, he joined the defunct Okada Airlines at inception.

After leaving the airline, he worked briefly with other airlines

such as EAS Cargo Airlines (UK/ Belgium-based) DAS Air Cargo (UK-based) and BIMAN Airlines.

Over the years, he has been involved in organising several charter and Hajj flights from several countries in Africa, South America and the Middle East.

After he quit his flying career, he ventured into the petroleum business in 2003 with the establishment of Onedot Petroleum and Onedot Aviation, a frontline private jet charter business.

He is the Executive President of Overseas Projects & Investment Services (OPIS), a Dublin- based group managing a number of projects involving aviation and oil and gas.

However, in spite of his towering records in the business world, the Ogun State-born pilot cum businessman prefers to remain in the background. This, according to him, is his major business philosophy.

He is not given to ostentatious lifestyle.

Bola Shagaya’s Birthday Devoid of Fanfare

It was another moment of joy, laughter and thanksgiving for Hajia Bola Shagaya, as she marked her 57th birthday.

This woman of substance, however, shocked many, as she held a low-key birthday. Interestingly, for her close family members and friends, it was another special occasion to show love to the very stylish fashionable woman who has been recognised at home and abroad as a successful entrepreneur.

A source close to the Kwara State-born businesswoman revealed that she had vowed not to throw any elaborate birthday until she clocks 60.

While she was growing up, she never allowed her pristine dream to be entombed; she pursued it with infectious gusto. She is a very strong woman who has never been hamstrung by any circumstance around her.

She started her business very early in her life and has sown in sweats, so it is not surprising that she is now reaping in bountiful harvests.

She is usually driven by an abiding quest to change the lives of her compatriots for the better. No one would tar her with the brush of a wheeler-dealer in her day-to-day business activities.

Modupe Ozolua’s New Passion

Ravishingly beautiful Princess Ozolua, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, had revolutionised the beauty sector in Nigeria, when she pioneered cosmetic surgery in West Africa. She had wrought wonders with her aesthetic laser machine in Nigeria.

But she fizzled out of the public glare and social scenes shortly

after she relocated to Abuja to expand her business.

Though the foregoing may not be news to many, the Edo Stateborn princess has found a new passion with the launch of an NGO, Empower 53.

It was gathered that the kindhearted woman that marked her 43rd birthday last Tuesday, has taken up the challenge of rehabilitating internally displaced Nigerian women and children as a result of the activities of Boko Haram. She has reportedly been giving donations of food, mattresses and other relief materials to the IDPs, while also helping them get back on their feet.

It was also gathered that the woman that was nicknamed Sarauniyar Alheri, meaning, Princess of Goodness for her disparate generosity ,has lately set up a school for 501 internally displaced children between the ages of one and 14 years at a camp. She gave them uniforms, shoes, and writing materials and has hired the teachers amongst the displaced Nigerians at the camp.

Despite her successes and fame, her true passion is to selflessly serve the underprivileged, which she has been doing for a long time without making so much noise about it.

Benjamin, Quits Bacherlorhood

When Benjamin Toba, younger brother of Abuja billionaire, Mayowa Seth James-Toba, recently wedded his heart-throb, Juliet, there was lavish display of wealth.

From the COZA Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Asokoro extension, Abuja, venue of the wedding, it was clear to anyone in attendance that the families of the newly wed carefully put the event together. Apart of the numerous posh cars that filled up the parking lot, the marque set made hearts to flutter, as many looked in wonderment. The arrival of the couple was also dramatic, thereby generating cheers from the guests.

After the church service officiated

by Abuja popular pastor, Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo and his beautiful wife, Modele, the wedding train moved to the beautifully festooned Yar-Adua Centre, Abuja for the reception. There, it was obvious to all that James- Toba had a commanding sense of hospitality, as the gaily dressed guests were treated to continental, Chinese and local delicacies and expensive wines. The lovely couple made their appearance at the Grand Ballroom that beautiful afternoon in eye-catching outfits.

The billionaire brother of the groom, (MSJT) one of the leading figures in real estates and property business in Nigeria, showed all that he is surely a good host.

The wedding, which attracted the cream of the society, will go down in the history as classy.

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Tosin Clegg

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

KAKAKI JESU

Performing at the Freedom Arena, London Remains Evergreen Saxophonists have been an integral part of the African music scene, with the timbres of their chosen instrument often at the center of layered compositions. In this interview with Tosin Clegg, Peter Adeshile, AKA Kakaki Jesu, a top-selling saxophonist and UKbased Nigerian talks about his rhythmically interesting album, love and exposure to Jazz, the Saxophone and his deep passion for music What’s behind the name ‘Kakaki Jesu’ started my music career playing the trumpet. I was the best in my community, I was therefore popularly known as Kakaki, which means Trumpet.

I

I was a member of the Boys Brigade In this club, we were expected to learn how to play as many instruments as possible. I started with the drums and then moved to the Trumpet due to the influence of my mentor, a senior officer of Boys Brigade, Mr. Debo Norma-Williams. I had seen him play exceptionally well. I approached him to teach me and he gladly did.

What attracted and influenced me to the Saxophone When I arrived in the UK, I continued playing the Trumpet, but as I began to go around playing at church engagements, I was always asked if I could play the Saxophone as well. Then, one day, we were in choir practice in church and I picked up a Saxophone that was bought by the church. One of the ladies in choir practice (Susan Odushola) said ‘Brother Peter, it would be really nice for you and the church if you can learn to play the saxophone.’ Then I came to Lagos on holidays and asked a friend of mine, Biodun Adeoye, who was the baritone and saxophone player for Femi Kuti, to teach me how to play and here we are today. Saxophonists I listen to include Fela Kuti, Kirk Whalum, Ron Brown, Rick Braun and Charlie Parker.

The life of a Musician is filled with women I am very disciplined, because I love my wife. The only woman I need to manage is my Yetunde.

I kind of leave the home front management and organisation to Yetunde She does a fantastic job managing the home, even with her busy schedule.

All I do is to tell her where and when my engagements are and she manages the rest around my schedule.

Whenever I’m not travelling I rehearse a lot and listen to productions by other musicians. That’s also family time. We tend to go to Southend beach when the weather is good or to have a meal out.

The Industry of today The industry seems to be picking up even in the recession; people always need good music.

I’m working on my second album That’s at the moment and it is titled ‘Afro according to the Gospel’. I practice my music with the Saxophone, Trumpet and Keyboard.

About my own music Yes, I like the music I do. I will not sell to people, what I do not like. I

don’t do sound engineering but I have a little knowledge of it. And sound needs a good Sound Engineer.

I do Contemporary Gospel My music is unique and original, although I’m not yet signed to any music label. My marketing company is currently CD Babies.

Choice of producers Sheun Oke is my producer because he is well advanced in contemporary music. Why gospel and not R’N’B or soul music is because I love the Lord and maybe because I grew up in the Christian environment.

Setting myself apart in the music scene My uniqueness is using afro and African high life style in my music.

The biggest I have performed was at The Redeemed Christian Church of God Festival of Life in London and Freedom Arena in London, as well.

My new album There’s going to be about 8 tracks and the first one is “Accept Christ” in full Afro format.

What inspired the songs As a Christian, I look at what is going on in the Diaspora. It seems like the end time and time to accept Christ.

If I were to be 18 again I would focus more on music than academics. It seems I have gone round in a full circle and ended up a musician.

My biggest fear The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I fear God. Artiste I would love to meet That would be Kirk Whalum. In my opinion, Amazing Grace by Kirk Whalum is the best song ever recorded.

I’m disciplined, focused and respectful And I would never travel without My Saxophone. And if one artiste were to perform at my party, I guess that would have to be Kirk Whalumm I would love to ban drugs and alcohol Majorly because, it’s what has landed a lot of musicians in trouble.

The journey has just begun The production of my second album is what I’m fully focused on now.

Lesson from my life as an artiste You need to have a vision of where you are going and remain focused. A lot of people miss it without a combination of these two things.

Final thoughts I would like to use this platform to encourage more African musicians to focus more on African style of music.

We all seem to be forgetting our rich African culture.

Kakaki Jesu

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

SHOWBIZFLAIR

MY STORY EBUBE NWAGBO’S ‘NOT ENOUGH’ SET TO PREMIERE

TOSIN ALAO

I’m a Man of Many Parts

Nigerian veteran actress, Ebube Nwagbo has grown to be a force to reckon with in the Industry, growing from an actor to a producer and then into entrepreneurship.

Her production started in 2013 and she is now up and about with a new movie titled, ‘Not Enough’. Besides her, the production team is made up of Alexx Ekubo, Nazio Ekezie, Susan Hayat, Oge Okoye, Ogonna Mbonu and a few others. The movie, produced by her company, Posh World Productions, is set to hit the cinemas on November 13.

Tosin Alao is a recording artiste with an edge in other musical genres and productions. He released a song recently to charge Nigerians up during the commemoration of Independence.

In this chat with Tosin Clegg, he talks about his music, life and mentors

MR. IBU TAKES BIRTHDAY BASH TO EBONYI Nigeria’s celebrated Nollywood comic act, John Okafor, AKA, Mr. Ibu said he would be celebrating his birthday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on the 17th of this month when he will be a year older.

The Enugu State-born actor disclosed this while speaking to reporters in Abuja last week, noting that he had concluded all arrangements towards having a successful birthday bash in Ebonyi State.

The comic actor also disclosed during the chat that there would be novelty football match between the Enugu state EXCO and ex-internationals. It would be played in honour of Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at

the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu, during the week leading to his birthday bash in Ebonyi.

The kingdom lottery brand ambassador further disclosed that he decided to take his birthday celebration to Ebonyi this year due to the interest shown in the movie industry by the Governor of the state, Dave Umahi.

Mr. Ibu also disclosed that the novelty football match to be played in Enugu would also parade top movie stars, as well as former Super Eagles Captains, Chairman Christian Chukwu and Nwankwo Kanu.

The birthday bash to be held in Abakaliki is coordinated by his international manager, Okechukwu Nwuzor (Don Singles).

ETISALAT-SPONSORED DELPHINO PICNIC LIGHTS UP ABUJA Residents of Abuja, again, had a great deal of fun and excitement last weekend as Nigeria’s most innovative and youth-friendly network, Etisalat, brought high quality entertainment and networking opportunities to their doorsteps, during the Delphino Picnic.

The picnic, which held at Harrow Park,Abuja, was well attended by hundreds of upwardly mobile young professionals and families and offered a relaxed atmosphere of good music, refreshments and games. The picnic also provided opportunity for families to bond as there were lots of fun games and exciting activities for both children and adults.

The event, hosted by King Special, featured various artistes such as Mayorkun, Dremo and Nigga Raw, among others, who excited

guests with some of their hit songs.

Speaking on why the telecom company sponsored the picnic, Manager, Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu explained that the fun and exciting atmosphere of Delphino Picnic presents a rare opportunity for the Etisalat brand to connect with customers inAbuja, especially young upwardly mobile professionals in a fun and relaxing atmosphere.

Since its launch into the Nigerian market eight years ago, Etisalat Nigeria has been at the forefront of promoting initiatives that empower the Nigerian youth through programmes such as Cliqfest, the pan-Nigeria campus activation that fuses motivational seminar, sports and entertainment, as well as Olamide Live in Concert (OLIC), among others.

T

ell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Tosin Alao, famously called Sir T, Dexterity Entertainment boss, a recording artiste, a psalmist, producer, music director, composer and one of the living legends in bass playing.

I’m a man of many parts, artistically.

When did you start out your career?

I do Gospel music. At a very tender age of 10, I grew up to see my father playing the piano and teaching songs in church as a choir master.

What’s your latest musical project?

The song ‘The Lord is my light’. We need the light of God in this country for us to go further; that’s what has given birth to this song. We cannot have the fullness of the light of God if we don’t hail Jesus as our king and the source of our strength. I wrote this song because the Lord is my light and source of my strength.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Reaching out to the ends of the world and affecting souls positively and blessing humanity.

Who are your musical influences and mentors?

Mentors and influences; Jesus is my influence. Musically, good women choir, Bola Are. We were in the same church in the late ‘70s, where I was born.

What makes you and your music very exceptional?

The Grace of God and His anointing upon my life. His favour that I don’t deserve.

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

VINTAGE

UAC Foods Unveils New Brand Sausage Roll – Gala Mega

U

AC Foods Limited – a leading manufacturer and marketer of tasty and nourishing convenience foods in Nigeria, has unveiled to the public Gala Mega – a brand new addition to their rich basketful of Snacks offerings in a colourful ceremony held at their office in Ojota, Lagos.

Gala Mega, as the name implies, is a larger sized Sausage Roll with the same trusted and satisfying Gala taste, but in a bigger, meatier and more filing size to meet the yearnings of Consumers, who want to be easily filled up on a friendly budget.

General Manager -Marketing of UAC Foods Limited, Mrs. Joan Ihekwaba who unveiled the Gala Mega at the ceremony alongside other invited high dignitaries, said Gala Mega is a product of direct response to the yearnings and desires of Gala Consumers for a more filling Snack to keep them going as they achieve their daily goals.

She said having pioneered the Sausage Roll market way back in 1962, Gala Sausage Roll has kept faith with Nigerians by holding the N50 price point for 10 years and with the new offering, which will in no way hamper the availability of the regular Gala Sausage Roll at 50 naira retail price, UAC Foods is once again setting the pace in the Sausage Roll Industry with a new pack size.

“For over 5 decades, the Gala brand has believed in/ identified with the Nigerian story, a story of perseverance, strong will, and a passion that

L – R: Femi Adeyemi, Sales Operations Manager; Joan Ihekwaba, General Manager Marketing; Uche Nwana, Distributor; Agnes Okwakwa, Distributor and Folasade Abiola, Senior Brand Manager Snacks; all of UAC Foods Limited at the official unveiling of Gala Mega, the newest offering from Nigeria’s foremost food manufacturers... In Lagos

never gives up. Today the launch of Gala Mega is reassurance UFL’s commitment to Keep You Going.

A stronger devotion to walk you through your success story.

“The new brand is an addition to existing variants of the Gala Brand, which include regular Gala Sausage Roll, Mini Gala, Gala Chicken and Gala Cocktail. The regular Gala Sausage Roll is still available at N50,” she said.

Mrs. Ihekwaba revealed that Gala Mega is the first Sausage Roll in Nigeria to include micronutrients for the health and nutrition of its Consumers and that the product is greatly enriched with vitamins and minerals such as Zinc, Iron, Folic acid and Iodine, as well as Vitamin B1 and B2, which is prepared from pure beef filling and rich pastry.

She said there couldn’t have been a better time for UAC Foods Limited to

introduce Gala Mega into the market than now given the prevailing economic situation in the country, where Nigerians want a truly filling sized Sausage Roll at a pocket friendly price to fit their upwardly mobile lifestyle.

The new brand is available all over the country at a retail price of N100 and the pack is differentiated with a touch of green and the word ‘Mega’ inscribed on the primary packaging.

ExpertChargesFGonValueforMoney Godwin Ifijeh

A

Transparency, Business and Value for Money Consultant and Strategist has charged the Federal Government to embrace the concept and practice of Value for Money (VfM) to drive its current crusade against corruption, arguing that the problem of the country has more to do with the neglect for Value for Money than poor revenue generation.

Mr. Sam S.O Afemikhe, Founder and Managing Director, SS Afemikhe Consulting Limited, who made the submission in a paper entitled: “Performance Measurement & Benchmarking as a Pillar of Value for Money in Public Finance” at the recently concluded National Council of Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) Summit in Collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, said the ‘Nigerian disease’ is wrongly diagnosed as “Revenue Shortage” instead of poor Value for Money.

“Historically, revenue has never been the problem of this country but how to get value …best value for expenditure”, he said, commending the Minister of

Finance for setting up the Efficiency Unit in the ministry and bringing value for money to the national discourse and consciousness, which, according to him, isa first step towards the pursuit of Value for Money. He explained that the Efficiency Unit will not fully deliver Value for Money for the Nation without the Economy and Effectiveness elements of the 3Es (Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness ) of Value for Money and the Measurement and Assurance Perspectiveoffered by Value Analysis and Performance Measurement & Benchmarking (PM&B).

The fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) tasked the Finance Ministry to organize a forum to brainstorm on the importance and desirability of setting up the framework to pursue Value for Money as a cure for the Nigerian current disease of spending money without a matching output or outcome benefit, stressing that a comprehensive application of Value for Money in the nation’s public finances has become urgently necessary because of limited resources, the clear evidence of waste, bloated cost of completed projects viewed against those of her comparator countries, lack of clear connection between public expenditure and public benefits and the need for

increased transparency and accountability, given especially the level of public expenditure.

Citing Peter Drucker’s claim that what get measured gets done, Afemikhe drew a correlation between performance measurement, benchmarking, value analysis and the success of value for money, pointing out that performance measurement is an important tool for evaluating value for money in the public sector. He suggested that government immediately sets up a Performance Measurement & Benchmarking Unit in every ministry, department and agency to be coordinated centrally by the Finance Ministry and deplore data from the units to create a government Performance Forum. Planned projects , he said, should be forecast benchmarked to establish baseline and to ensure that planned values are always delivered and actual value is regularly compared with baseline to ensure that overrun in cost, schedule business case and technical are minimized or completely eliminated.

“Completed projects,” he continued, “should be benchmarked against plans in response and answers to the question, how did we do, did we obtain value for money and what lessons can we learn while actual lessons learnt are

not only implemented to ensure that poor performance is not continuously repeated, but government as a necessity should adopt value for money audits”.

The Value for Money Consultant and Strategist further stressed that “the pursuit of value for money must be applied with vigour, value for money is doing the right things and doing things right, we must deploy modern systems, tools and technology that our peers applied so potently to make progress or we continue to languish in poverty.

We must totally embrace transparency (light), it is the best weapon against corruption and fraud; court prosecution, moral suasion etc do not work and in fact, may be medicine after death.

Imagine where the country would have been today if we spent the $717 billion (N89.9 trillion) that we earned between 1981 and 2015 with value for money in our minds.

“Implementation of Value for Money in our public finances will liberate the Nigerian economy, considerably reduce corruption and fraud (if not eliminate it completely), save the funds spent in running corrupt people around the courts, transform our infrastructure and enhance our Human Development Index (HDI), that is when we will start to match our realities with our potentials.”

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

First Bank’s Lexical Recession

T

HISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, of October 8 welcomes us this week: “Diamond Bank Plc (PLC) is a customer driven (customer-driven) bank….” “…enhanced customer friendly (customer-friendly) services.”

“Again, Edo PDP protest (protests) declaration of Obaseki as governor elect (governor-elect)” “NigerAssembly introduce (introduces) palliatives to cushion economic recession” The Guardian Front Page of October 4 takes over from THISDAY with the following infractions: “Cross River highway project threatens (threatened) over N3000b donor funds to Nigeria” “Police seeks (seek) international co-operation to fight cyber crime” “UNIBEN ex-VC,Alele-Williams, others bags (why?) chieftaincy title (titles)” “The agitation is a natural reaction to the neglect and share (sheer) marginalization of the Igbo geopolitical enclave.” (THE GUARDIAN Opinion Page, October 4) “Nasarawa govt (govt.) proffers solution against (to) recession” “Nigeria’s recession a blessing in disguises (disguise), says Utomi “CIPM inducts new executive members” This is a disappointment: would it have been old executive members? You can readmit or rededicate old executive members—not induct or inaugurate!

Government of Rivers State of Nigeria, Ministry of Lands & Survey, circulated the following juvenile blunders via a full-page wasteful/patronizing congratulatory message to Governor Wike on Nigeria’s 56th IndependenceAnniversary signed by SirAnugbum Onuoha JP, SpecialAdviser to the Governor on Lands: “...it is a reality that your administration that commenced on a very good footing has witnessed monumental successes resulting to (in) Landmark (unnecessary capitalization) achievements.”

“This year’s celebration of Nigeria’s 56th IndependenceAnniversary, (needless comma) bring (brings) to….” “…the evidence we are seeing today through commissioning (inauguration) of tremendous projects.” “…we join all well meaning (well-meaning) Nigerians to salute and congratulate you….”

“Return Nigeria’s loots, Buhari tells US, UK” (DAILY Sun Front Page Bold Headline, September 21) Misquoting Buhari: ‘loot’ is uncountable.

“The award further confirms the popular view of the entire Rivers people that Gov. Wike is God-sent (Godsend) and a remarkable achiever.” (Full-page

advertorial by Ogbaku Ikwerre Cultural Organization World-wide, THISDAY, October 1) “Apinch of unparralled (unparalleled) UNITY” (Full-page recipe for celebrating at 56 by FirstBank, THISDAY, October 1) You First: always spell-check “Rejoinder on (to) Thisday publication on DELSUTH” “Rest in the bossom (bosom) of your Creator” (Full-page memorial, THISDAY, October 1) “Army kills 7 militants, repel (why?) attack by Bakasi (sic) armed group” (Source: as above) “The feelers (feeler) one is getting is that there is a deliberate plan to keep us permanently angry with our past….” (DAILY Sun Back Page, July 27) “…the kind of a country that majority (a majority) of Nigerians would be proud of.” (DAILY SUN HARD FACTS, September 7) “It is time the government did (does) something and quickly to reverse the trend.” Alternatively: It is high time government did….

“The potentials of Ogun cotton production” Either potentialities or just potential (no inflection) (DAILY SUN Headline, September 14) “Gang up (Gang-up) against Tinubu’s candidate” (SUNDAY Sun Front Page Banner, September 4) “Infidelity, abortion scares man away from wife” Error of attraction: scare.

The next three blunders are from DAILY SUN of September 13: “…the PDP in the state congratulated the former governor of the state for (on/upon) the victory.”

“Elumelu sets precedence (precedent) in impact investing (investment) inAfrica” “GOC’s shoot-at-sight order undue interference with electoral process” Fixed expression: shoot-onsight order. “40 persons charged for election violence in Osun” Stock phrase: charge with (not for) “To serve is a priviledge…” Spell-check: privilege.

“The INEC office was said to have been packed full, before a big bang was heard.” ‘Bang’ does not need any qualification—small or big because of its inherent loudness and suddenness. “…As underaged voters storm polling booths’’ This way: underage voters.

“My grouse with INEC’’ My grouse about (not with or against)….

“INEC’s shodiness and senators’ apprehension” Shoddiness leads to sloppiness.

“Banks get 48 hours ultimatum” Why not 48 hours’ ultimatum?

“For the many others who kept their heads low and still did their duties the best way they could, we say congratulations for (on/upon) surviving the season of anomie.”

“The occasion was to mark the anniversary of

his release from prison in (on) the infamous Robben Island.”

“All manners (manner) of evil (evils) have been blamed on the Nigerian police.”

“They too would ask why the candidate put himself forward two times for the Senatorial post, knowing fully (full) well that….”

“The government justified its decision to privatize all but a few of its public enterprises on the ground (grounds) that they have been….” (THE NATION, September 6) “The next set ofAssemblies should comprise of people of sound knowledge of the law.”

Obliterate the ‘of’ preceding ‘people’.. ”If Nigerians are to continue taking government’s moral propagations serious (seriously)….” “…the fate of other spheres of human activity are (is) inextricably tied to it.”

“If the police was (were) slow in apprehending the murderers….”

“President Buhari urged to embark on poverty alleviation schemes” News: poverty-alleviation scheme. Take note of the hyphen.

“The chances of any fifteen to twenty-four-yearold being murdered is (are)….” “…top office holders who are currently (sic/ unnecessary) facing various charges ranging from murder, embezzlement of public money and (to) blatant violation of fundamental human rights of many Nigerians.” “…suspected criminals caught by various vigilante (vigilance) groups who now do the job of the police.”

“When Obasanjo made known his intention to contest the presidential election under (on) the platform of the PDP….” “…he was going to do his possible best.…” Issues in 2017 Budget: ‘Best’ does not require any intensification because of its superlative status.

“But the governor has stuck to his gun (guns), insisting that his action is perfectly constitutional.”

Next in the saddle is THE PUNCH of September 13 which goofed this way: “LG plans to employ qualified health officials” Would it have employed unqualified officials? Your readers are not moronic patrons!

“The minister had alerted the nation about (to) the activities of saboteurs within the system.”

“The NLC has however gone beyond mere condemnation of the policy to threaten government with a strike action.” Deregulation of English: industrial action.

“I have also come to the conclusion that the best way to remain sane in this country is not to take our rulers serious (seriously).”

“INEC was at a crossroad before the postpone-

BY

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

ment.…” Sustainable democracy: at a/the crossroads. This is lexical recession!

“The other problem of inter- and intra-communal feuds continue (continues) unabated….” Not proximity yet. “…especially as it has defiled (defied) all solutions by experts in the area of waste management….”

“Sadly, these have culminated into (in) communal clashes….” “…in line with ourAfrican view of being our brothers’ keepers.” Fixed expression: brother’s keeper (irrespective of plurality) “As a youth corp (corps) member in Kano in 1974/75, I do understand….”

“Buhari to re-open talks with Niger Delta leaders” ‘Reopen’ does not admit hyphenation.

“Sheath Your Sword” Spell-check: sheathe.

“If the recent discovery of the bodies of policemen and soldiers in the bush are (is) a measure of….”

“Stocks shake-off recession challenges, remain active” Phrasal verbs abhor hyphenation.

“What happens to genetically-modified seeds that make agricultural produces grow….” An unfinished agendum: ‘produce’ is non-count.

“Journalists attached toAbuja may eventually return home to their families with their properties (property)....”

“Military personnel are said to outdo themselves (one another).…”

“Excuse me if I am trivializing, via humour, an otherwise griefing matter.” This is scandalous!

Noun: grief and verb: grieve. So, grievous (adjective, which is the right application here) matter.

“Thank God I didn’t doff my hat for (to) someone who does not even merit a clap.”Another variant: take off one’s hat to….

“He killed an Egyptian and an Hebrew” Lectern thoughts: a Hebrew (which is New English).

FEEDBACK

DEAR Ebere, do not let the incorrigible nature of colleagues of yours discourage you. It is disheartening that a number of errors you painstakingly correct on a weekly basis are still made by them repeatedly. They have defiantly remained incorrigible. THISDAY of Saturday, September 17 (page 43) made the following gaffe: ‘The beverage industry which is gradually warming (worming) its way back into the hearts of consumers....’The phrasal verb ‘worm your way into something’, though disapproving, means ‘to make somebody like you or trust you in order to gain some advantage for yourself. In this context, the verb ‘worm’is needed, not ‘warm’.

(Dr Stanley Nduagu/08062925996).

Unpadding the Budget

T

he budget padding drama which played out in the House of Representatives for several weeks reached a denouement with the suspension slammed on recalcitrant former chairman of its Appropriation committee, Abdulmumuni Jibrin.

The latter-day whistleblower, who would rather be referred to as accidental activist, was barred from the Parliament for 180 days, a development which has raised constitutional issues. Femi Gbajabiamila, Leader of the House leads the school of thought the decision to shut Jibrin out is a breach of the rights of his Kiri-Bebeji federal constituency of Kano State to be represented in the National Assembly. But while the suspended lawmaker is out in the cold from where he continues his graft-cleansing campaign, the House seems to be less concerned about the grave budget padding allegations raised against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers.

During the week, Mr. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges which investigated and recommended the suspension of Jibrin, told journalists that the allegations raised against the Speaker; Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun; Chief Whip, Alhassan Doguwa; and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor would not be investigated until after the sanction is served out and the punished lawmaker probably allowed back to Parliament. For now, the House has moved on having chipped off the offending finger even though ripples of the suspension cannot be totally subdued. Importantly, it is apt to let the courts make a pronouncement on the matter of Jibrin’s suspension while the anti-corruption agencies take action on the allegations of budget padding. Just as it is equally apt and urgently so, to reform the budgetary process in order to avert a repeat of the large-scale malfeasance that has characterized the preparation and implementation of the annual budget over the years. And a major step in this direction was taken on September 26, 2016 in Abuja when stakeholders from the Executive, Legislature, Media, Civil Society, Development Partners, Private Sector and even the Diplomatic Community gathered together to brainstorm on how to make the budget work in Nigeria and for Nigerians. The event was the Gallery Colloquium organized by OrderPaper.ng, Nigeria’s premier independent parliamentary reporting multi-media news organization.

The array of stakeholders who attended and participated through prepared submissions, panel contributions and comments included Speaker Dogara, the man in the eye of the storm which engulfed the House of Representatives in previous weeks; his immediate predecessor and current Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Minister of Budget and National Planning,

PEOPLE2PEOPLE WITH

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

Twitter: @resourceme

Udoma Udo Udoma who was represented by Kayode Obasa, Director of Economic Growth in the Ministry; and Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu. Others were Sen. Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate); Emeka Ihedioha, immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CENSOJ); Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times; Victor Muruako, Acting Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission; and Sen. Chris Anyanwu, a member of the 6th and 7th Senate. The panel also had Sen. John Enoh, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance; Kingsley Chinda, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts; Garba Lawal, Chairman, House of representatives Committee on Constituency Outreach; Imoni Amarere, Managing Director of Daar News Services (owners of AIT and Raypower FM); and Sen. Shehu Sani, Chairman, Senate Committee on Domestic and Foreign Debts.

Comments and questions were put forward by the audience which had critical stakeholders like Mustapha Dawaki, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation and other members

of the Parliament including Sen. Dino Melaye, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Abdussamad Dasuki, Chairman of the House Committee on Navy. Top CEOs and Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) also put up participation at the event.

The media was also strongly represented and went the extra mile of giving proceedings and outcomes of the Colloquium very lavish coverage and analysis weeks after. While Tambuwal chaired the day’s proceedings which took up to four hours and had all guests and participants staying through to the end, the panel session was moderated by Anthony Ubani, a development and leadership expert who is CEO of African Leadership Advantage.

One of the beauties of the event was that a communique was prepared, vetted and adopted by a unanimous voice vote of participants before the meeting adjourned till the next edition of the Gallery reconvenes sometime in September 2017. The communique preparation was expertly coordinated by Chido Onumah of the Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy.

But besides the glitz and glamour which had all the trappings of an A-class event, the Colloquium produced very salient roadmap on how to make the budget work in the interest of the majority of Nigerians and not just a few privileged members of the political class. Some of the very important recommendations (by the way the full communique and details of papers presented at the event can be viewed and downloaded at www.OrderPaper.ng) reached touch on inclusiveness of the budgetary process; capacity-building for actors and players involved in the process; reform of the National Assembly committees on Appropriation; strict adherence with the and amendment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act; budget tracking and extensive oversight; as well as emphasis on the roles of the media and civil society in the entire process, among others.

The rich outcomes of the Gallery Colloquium if followed through with necessary steps by concerned actors and stakeholders present a veritable avenue to reform the budget and make it deliver the dividends of democracy which Nigerians have craved for since return to democratic rule in 1999. The good part is that some of these next steps need not be initiated by government even though the onus of implementation lies largely with it. And for an administration that is riding on the crest of change, there is no better time than now to pick up the gauntlet offered by OrderPaper.ng in proffering workable and measurable solutions to the challenges of budgeting in the country.

––Epia is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of OrderPaper.ng.

Kindly follow writer onTwitter @resourceme

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

auTO

Nissan Donates Almera Sedan to Lagos Security Trust Fund Stories by Bennett Oghifo

N

issan in collaboration with Stallion Group has donated a new Nissan Almera car to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund in recognition of the organisation’s efforts in mitigating violent crimes in the State.

At the brief ceremony, the Managing Director, Stallion NMN Parvir Singh said the donation, which was Nissan’s first to the organisation, was an expression of the automaker’s corporate responsibility values of appropriating support to relevant agencies and organisations in the country.

Singh said, “Having followed the organisation’s achievements in recent years, Stallion NMN in collaboration with our principals, Nissan South Africa are pleased to extend our hands of fellowship to the society that has made our business operations more secure and attractive. And, this is largely due to the activities of the Security Trust Fund in curbing the menace of crime in Lagos State.”

He added that “the occasion is without doubt another milestone in the annals of our young and dynamic Nissan sales and manufacturing company…andweareexcitedtobeassociatedwith Lagos State Security Trust Fund – an organisation that has excelled in devising potent strategies to mitigate security challenges in Lagos State.”

Singh described Nissan as an internationally acclaimed brand with key representation worldwide and the automaker is currently the No. 2 in Japan and the sixth largest automaker with over 5.4 million units sold worldwide in 2015.

West African Conglomerate Stallion Group in April 2013 partnered with Nissan South Africa to form Stallion NMN, the sole manufacturer, importer and distributor of Nissan products in Nigeria.

Stallion NMN later became the first indigenous

L-R: Stallion NMN Managing Director, Parvir Singh; Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun; Director, Nissan Sub-Sahara Africa, Jimmy Dando; Head, Sales & Marketing Stallion NMN Amitkumar Sharma; and Commander Rapid Response Squad, ASP Olatunji Disu, at the presentation of Nissan Almera sedan to the Trust Fund in Lagos… recently

motor assembly plant to roll-out locally assembled Nissan vehicles, consequent upon the inauguration of the NationalAutomotive Policy, assembling four Nissan models including Patrol, NP300, NV350

and Almera at the plant in Lagos.

Also speaking at the occasion, Director, Sales and Operations Nissan sub-Saharan Africa Jimmy Dando said: “Nigeria is Nissan’s most outstanding

market in Africa Growth strategy and “we will exploit the country’s strategic regional partners in the West Coast to make Nigeria the automobile hub for evolving West African markets.”

Toyota new C-HR Engine Offers More for Less

T

oyota’s new C-HR premium SUV will be the first vehicle in the company’s Australian range to be equipped with a powerful yet efficient 1.2-litre turbo engine.

Direct injection, a water-cooled turbo and an expanded intelligent variable valve-timing system offer performance levels equivalent to a significantly larger engine, but with lower fuel consumption and emissions.

The compact and lightweight turbo petrol engine generates maximum power of 85kW and an impressive 185Nm of torque from just 1,500rpm all the way to 4,000rpm.

It adopts a multi-pronged approach to deliver engaging responsiveness and acceleration while incorporating fuel-saving technology previously reserved for hybrid engines, including the ability to switch to the fuel-saving Atkinson cycle.

Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the new engine is a direct benefit of the global company’s new product-development strategy TNGA, Toyota New Global Architecture.

“The C-HR has a unique character that demonstrates the flexibility that TNGAgives to Toyota’s developers in the three key areas - design, powertrain and dynamics,” Mr Cramb said.

“C-HR’s extroverted styling projects a confident

and sporty image that is matched by a remarkable turbo engine with great response across the rev range that is not compromised by impressive economy,” he said.

“Combined with the outstanding handling and agility from the highly rigid new platform with its low centre of gravity, the C-HR adds up to an impressively engaging drive experience.”

The C-HR’s turbo petrol engine alternates between the conventional Otto cycle in normal driving and the highly efficient Atkinson cycle under low engine loads.

It achieves this with a range of advanced technologies, including a new limited-volume intake system that ensures more rapid combustion for immediate response and a high compression ratio to improve power and efficiency.

Other cutting-edge features include an innovative cylinder-head design with an integrated exhaust manifold, lightweight valve-train, variable control oil-jet system and resin intake manifold and Toyota new C-HR intake pipes.

It can be driven through Toyota’s Multidrive S continuously variable transmission with two of next year, will be offered in two premium modes - fully automatic, seamless shifting or a grades, C-HR and C-HR Koba - the latter besequential, stepped seven-speed Sport mode. A ing a tribute to the car’s global chief engineer, six-speed manual transmission is also available Hiroyuki Koba.

Local models will be highly equipped, including on the C-HR front-drive variant.

C-HR, due in dealer showrooms in the first quarter advanced safety features such as a pre-collision

system with autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering control, automatic high beam and a reversing camera.

Additional features for the Koba variants include heated seats, a smart entry and start system, privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Hyundai Motor Global Brand Value Continues to Grow

H

yundai Motor is the world’s 35th biggest brand according to the latest rankings published by global brand specialists Interbrand, overtaking four other renowned brands in the past year.

Despite yet another challenging year for the automotive industry, Hyundai Motor’s global brand value increased 11.1% to reach $12.55bn, securing its place among the biggest brands on the planet. The Korean company also moved up one place to 6th in the global automotive industry top 10 brands and is the 4th most valuable high-volume automotive brand.

Hyundai Motor maintained global sales at five million units, helped by successful launches of its Creta, Sonata and Tucson models, while reinforcing its Modern Premium brand philosophy through increased differentiation between the Hyundai and Genesis brand identities. The Hyundai Motor brand is set to achieve even greater heights with electrified IONIQ models, high-performance Hyundai N cars and futuremobilityfocusedProjectIONIQmovingthebrand into new automotive spaces.

WonhongCho,ExecutiveVicePresidentofHyundai Motor Company, said: “The car-ownership model may become obsolete within a matter of

years, therefore we simply can’t limit our vision to eco-friendly vehicles. To maintain our rate of growth as a global brand we must rethink the traditional business model and not just see ourselves as a transportation company, but also a mobility service provider. With Project IONIQ we will address this new paradigm and further Hyundai Motor’s standing as one of the world’s most valuable brands.”

Acknowledging the achievement, Mike Rocha, Global Director of Brand Valuation at Interbrand said: “Over the past year, Hyundai has once again redefined its limits by introducing IONIQ to gain leadership in future mobility, by spinning off the

Genesis brand to enhance clarity for each brand’s identity and by providing innovative experiences such as Hyundai Motorstudio Digital. We look forward to another year of growth for Hyundai as one of the forerunners of future mobility.”

Expanding the brand’s reach further, Hyundai Motor’s high performance sub-brand ‘N’ was launched in September 2015, with an aim to bring intuitive, high-performance, fun to drive vehicles to a broad range of customers. The RM16, Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo, and RN30 concepts revealed in 2016 are inspired by the brand’s passion for performance and will evolve into the first Hyundai N model.

27

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 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

Speed Limiter Enforcement; Six Days Post Motem

Land Rover new Discovery

Land Rover Reveals New Discovery Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he New Discovery embodies Land Rover’s drive to go Above and Beyond, combining British desirability with an unstoppable spirit of adventure, the automaker has said.

“It’s an authentic, three-row, seven-seat SUV with unbeatable capability and versatility.

Everyday ingenuity has been

at the heart of the Discovery for the last 27 years. New Discovery signals the transformation from cogs to code with more than 1.2 million customers with us on every step of the journey.

“The fifth-generation model benefits from Land Rover’s strong, safe and light full-size SUV architecture, delivering comfort and adaptability like no other.”

The New Discovery is for the digital age. Ingenious technol-

ogy keeps your family safe, connected and confident on all surfaces, all terrains and in all weathers to ensure your destination is reached.

“New Discovery redefines the large SUV. Land Rover’s design and engineering teams have revolutionised the Discovery DNA to create a highly desirable, extremely versatile and hugely capable premium SUV,” said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s Chief Design Officer. “We truly believe the

result is a radical departure in design that will introduce the Discovery family to a new, wider customer base.”

Revolutionary design…

New Discovery was previewed by the Discovery Vision Concept, which showcased the future direction of the entire Discovery family when it debuted at the New York Auto Show in 2014, and represents a radical departure for Land Rover’s most versatile SUV.

Ford Performance Packs EcoBoost Mustang with Near-V8 Power

T

he folks at Ford Performance are offering 2015 and newer Mustang owners added power, and best of all, it’s covered under warranty.

For the 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, the new performance calibration kit brings along a peak total of 70 pound-feetoftorque,boostingthe total output to 390 lb-ft, which is not too far off from the V8’s 400 lb-ft. In the horsepower department, the small turbo engine gets kicked up to 335 horsepower. If you look at specific rpms, the gains are even more significant.

For instance, at 6,000 rpm, an extra 100 hp is available compared to the standard engine.

Owners of the already potent 5.0-liter V8 can also get a performance calibration kits that adds 37 hp, bringing the car’s total to 472 hp, thanks in part to a boosted

2016 Ford Mustang Ecoboost

redline. Besides added power, 5.0 owners also get a higher engine redline and a new no-lift-shift system that allows the driver to keep the throttle depressed while

shiftinggearsinmanual-equipped Mustangs.Therearealsotwoother power packs available for the V8 Mustang, the first of which boosts powerby13hpand16lb-ft,thanks

to a high-flow air filter. The second packaddsacoldairintake,alarger throttle body and a new open air filter, boosting power by 21 hp and 24 lb-ft.

18th Abuja International Motor Fair Holds October 25-November 1

T

he annual Abuja International Motor Fair will hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja from October 25-November1,2016.

According to the Chairman of the organizing committee for the event Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, the event which is having its 18th edition is targeted towards boosting investments in the sector, which despite the economic downturn is set to seriously assume its rightful place in the Nigerian economy.

He assured that the platform of this edition has been packaged to increasing the attention of the government to the importance of urgently addressing the current challenges in the sector so as to use it to drive the nation’s economic diversification policy.

Disclosing this recently in a chat with journalists, Agwu, who is also the Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Limited, organizers of the event said that every effort have been deployed to ensure that through the event, the sector receives the needed

support from the government and the private sector to enhance its’ rapid development. “We are packaging a show that will showcase all the existing and potential investment opportunities that abound in the Nigerian automotive industry, which we believe are very attractive to existing and prospective investors,” he announced.

According to him; this edition of the annual event is set to provide the litmus test to the shape of things in the industry with the current paradigm shift in the

economy, government and the automotive sector. “The quality and quantity of showcased automobiles is undoubtedly the primary yardstick of measuring the success of any auto exhibition. This means that auto enterprises showcasing at any exhibition must ensure visibility, wholeness and completeness, not leaving anything to chance”.

These will be highly on display at the Eagle Square Abuja from October 25-November 1, 2016 under the auspices of the Abuja International Motor fair.”

L

ast week I did a piece on how to verify if a vehicle is installed with a speed limiter.

This week marks the second week of enforcement which began on October 1st 2016 nationwide and the question on most people lips is whether we are succeeding or not especially in the face of the economic recession. I have therefore decided to do a review of progress made so far within the first six days across the country after which I will also shed light on the frequently asked questions as strategy to open up a new chapter of education on the ongoing speed limiting device enforcement. So how smooth is the exercise going?

My boss,Dr Boboye Oyeyemi is best suited to answer this as I have my restrictions since I only know of happenings within my zone which is made of of Rivers ,Cross River, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States. So what is the take of the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps? I will rely on his recent media chat wherehereviewedsixdays,stating that the record nationwide indicatesthat22,908vehicleshad been checked nationwide; 1164 had the device installed while 21,744 were yet to comply. His review indicates that Rivers had the highest number of 170, while Enugu had 165 and Kogi had 100.Within these period, he said citations were issued out to 21,744 offenders with a warnimg.This, he said was done to allow tolerance by givingthemtwoweekswarning.

Hecommendedtheenthusiasm shown thus far and expressed delight that two companies are already bringing equipment to commence local production with plans to have them commissioned by next month. This developmentwillnodoubtsolve the problem of cost which has remained a sore point for some commercial drivers and owners So, as we await the commissioning of the plant and a possible crash in cost of the device, it is imperative to step up awareness strategy to bridge the gap by focusing on the frequently asked questions by motorists some of who still question the rationale behind the ongoing enforcement despite the fact that almost every Nigerian has lost a friend,familymember,colleague of neighbor through avoidable road traffic crashes. Prior to the enforcement, questions such as what a speed limiter is, how it works, types, who approves the standard among others have and are still being asked, I will attempt these as space allows and continue some other time.

A speed limiting device sometimes referred to as governor’ is used for controlling the speed of a vehicle or a device used to

measure or regulate the speed of a vehicle. Unlike the era prior to Oct 1 when discretion was on the driver accounting for avoidable crashes and deaths, the device does not allow the driver to accelerate beyond the stipulated speed limit by law as has been programmed in the vehicle. So no matter how the driver tends to accelerate, the pre-set speed limit will not be exceeded.Meanwhie there are two types;. the mechanical speed limiting device and the electrical/Electronicspeedlimiting device. Of the 38 vendors so far certified, certified by the major technical committee members which includes Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and FRSC. The approved marketers are responsible for installation of the speed limiting device through their agents (Technicians) who are trained and certified for that purpose. Therefore you must avoid the lure of being sweet talked by mechanics who will tell you they have the capacity and experience to install.

Like I said at the beginning of this piece, the enforcement commenced on Oct 1st and the price for the device is not fixed but is determined by the market force. As a word of caution, to check functionality and workability of the devices users are not allowed to tamper with the device but inform installers of any malfunction where they occur. Where issue of repairs arises, please note that the approved marketers through their certified agents carry out periodic service/calibration of the device based on Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) specification. Issues of security were pronounced during our series of engagement and advocacies but you must know that once installed and calibrated the device will not allow you go beyond the pre-set speed limit cannot increase speed beyond the approved limit. Rather in the case of emergency, the driver is expected to apply defensive driving technique. Remember that commercial vehicles must comply and Regulation 231 defines commercial vehicles as follows:“Commercial vehicle” includes motorcycle for hire, a hackney carriage, stage carriage, a prime mover, recovery vehicle, draw-bar-trailer or articulated vehicle, buses, pick up vans, tricycles and any motor vehicle primarily designed for the carriage of goods and fare-paying passengersaswellasvehiclesfor carrying people by companies and religious bodies. Regulation 109, - (1) states that: All school buses shall be registered as commercial vehicles. Therefore schoolproprietorsmustnotethat compliance is key for them as they are not exempted.

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OctOber 15, 2016

FAMILY HEALTH

The Importance Of Hormones in Your Body

T

he human body is made up of complex network of vessels, capillaries and other necessary component structures that interact and communicate with the brain, to ensure normal functioning of the body.

One of the important components of the body are hormones, which are produced in glands situated in various areas of your body. There are multiple glands throughout the body, and each gland produces specific hormones designed to carry out certain functions.

Hormones are special chemical messengers in the body that are created in the endocrine glands. These messengers control most major bodily functions, from simple basic needs like hunger to complex systems like reproduction, and even emotions and mood. Having a clear understanding of the major hormones and what they do will help patients take control of their health.

They are actually seen as tiny chemical messengers located inside of your body. They are unable to be seen with the human eye and travel throughout the internal superhighway , the bloodstream – into all of your body’s organs and tissues. Different hormones perform specific roles inside of your body. Some of these hormones work quickly to start or stop a process, and some will continually work over the course of a long period of time to perform their necessary jobs.

Some of these jobs include the body’s growth and development, metabolism (or production of energy), sexual function and reproduction.

Hormones in your body determine your growth, weight, physique, mood, behavior, digestion, fertility, overall health, almost everything.

The endocrine system The endocrine glands are a highly specialized group of cells responsible for making hormones.

These glands are located throughout your entire body. Each gland plays a specific role in the production of a particular hormone or group of hormones needed to carry out the necessary duties required by your body to help the body remain in a state of homeostasis. or continual balance. The body requires a continual state of balance in order to function at its maximum level of efficiency. If, for any reason, your body is ever found to be outside of homeostatic balance, there could be significant negative results if the body is not repaired within a certain period of time.

When a person is exposed to cold weather for an extended period of time, the body’s internal temperature begins to fall. The body’s temperature must remain within a certain range in order for the continual balance of homeostasis to occur and ensure all organs and systems are functioning properly. In order to remain in homeostatic balance, certain hormones are sent to specific cells and tissues to trigger a sensation which generates heat within the body and causes you to experience things such as shivering and the chattering of your teeth. These indications remind you that it is time to find a warmer location so your body may begin working to restore its internal temperature back to the range needed for proper body functions to occur. If the body temperature continues to fall, and you are unable to find a way to generate the heat required to reverse this problem, organs and systems will slowly begin to fail.

When they are in proper balance, hormones help the body thrive, but small problems with hormones can cause serious and life-altering symptoms. If you have concerns about any of your hormones, talk to a qualified endocrinologist.

Hormones are created by glands, which are part of the endocrine system. The main hormoneproducing glands are: • Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus is responsible for body temperature, hunger, moods and the release of hormones from other glands; and also controls thirst, sleep and sex drive.

• Parathyroid: This gland controls the amount of calcium in the body.

They are actually seen as tiny chemical messengers located inside of your body. They are unable to be seen with the human eye and travel throughout the internal superhighway , the bloodstream – into all of your body’s organs and tissues. Different hormones perform specific roles inside of your body.

Some of these hormones work quickly to start or stop a process, and some will continually work over the course of a long period of time to perform their necessary jobs. Some of these jobs include the body’s growth and development, metabolism (or production of energy), sexual function and reproduction

with

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

• Thymus: This gland plays a role in the func- physical and physiological changes that occur tion of the adaptive immune system and the in a woman’s body during pregnancy. These maturity of the thymus, and produces T-cells. changes are brought about by female hormones, • Pancreas: This gland produces the insulin each of which plays a specific role. The levels that helps control blood sugar levels. of hormones change during pregnancy, and • Thyroid: The thyroid produces hormones each hormone has a specific function. Certain associated with calorie burning and heart rate. hormones after pregnancy eventually decrease in • Adrenal: Adrenal glands produce the hor- secretion till they are brought down to a normal mones that control sex drive and cortisol, the level or eliminated. stress hormone.

Progesterone is similar to estrogen but is not • Pituitary: Considered the “master control considered the main sex hormone. Like estrogen, gland,” the pituitary gland controls other glands it assists with the menstrual cycle and plays a and makes the hormones that trigger growth. role in pregnancy.

• Pineal: Also called the thalamus, this gland Cortisol has been called the “stress hormone” produces serotonin derivatives of melatonin, because of the way it assists the body in respondwhich affects sleep. ing to stress. This is just one of several functions • Ovaries: Only in women, the ovaries secrete of this important hormone. estrogen, testosterone and progesterone, the Melatonin levels change throughout the day, female sex hormones. increasing after dark to trigger the responses • Testes: Only in men, the testes produce the that cause sleep. male sex hormone, testosterone, and produce Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men. sperm.

It causes puberty, increases bone density, trigThese glands work together to create and gers facial hair growth, and causes muscle mass manage the body’s major hormones. growth and strength.

The sex hormones are estrogen and testosMajor Types of Hormones terone. Like all hormones, they are chemical What do hormones do, exactly? The body has messengers, substances produced in one part many different hormones, but certain types have of the body that go on to tell other parts what to a bigger role to play in the body’s health and well- do. Both women and men produce both estrogen being. Understanding these roles is important and testosterone, though in different quantities, for those looking to protect and manage their and both sexes produce less as they age. These health. Instead the blood flows through these hormones seems to affect libido , by altering the glands and carry away. So they are termed as threshold for erotic stimulation. endocrine glands.

In most animal species the brain controls Most of the hormones are named after the and regulates sexual behavior primarily by gland from which they are secreted. means of hormones. Man and other primates • These are then carried by blood into target are exceptions to this role because he depends tissues where they show their effect. on personal experience and cultural aspects • They regulate most of the body physiology than its does on hormones. However, hormones and functions. seems to affect your being able to be aroused, • They bring such changes by acting at the by altering the threshold for erotic stimulation, level of genetic material or protein formation regardless of weather the threshold in question machinery of the cell. is one of peripheral tissue sensitivity.

• These hormones if deficient or if excess can lead to hormonal disorders.

Imbalance • These can have deleterious effect on the Today, ‘Hormonal imbalance’ is a concern health and physiology. worldwide. Women are more likely to face effects of hormone imbalance as they undergo several Hormones in your sexuality stages of hormonal changes during puberty, For women, estrogen (or estradiol) is the main menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeedsex hormone. It causes puberty, prepares the ing and menopause. Hormone imbalance can body and uterus for pregnancy, and regulates the destroy your health and looks; and when availmenstrual cycle. During menopause, estrogen able in proper proportions, hormones can keep level changes cause many of the uncomfortable you young, healthy and cheerful. Hormones symptoms women experience. determine the ‘flight or fight’ response of your Every woman reaches a stage in her life when body. They help manage excessive stress and she wants to have babies and experience the they keep depression and the related diseases joys of motherhood. However, there are various away.

GLOBAL SOCCER

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JUNE 16, 2011

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

Ademola Adesina

15.10.2016

The Man Who Saw Red In Morocco

Returning to Winning Ways PAGE. 29

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

The Man Who Saw Red In Morocco Nigeria has participated in many Africa Cup of Nations but that of 1988 in Morocco was unique for many reasons. Apart from being one of the most competitive in the history of the biennial competition, it left lingering memories in the heart of many Nigerians. In the semi- final against Algeria, Green Eagles (as Nigerian national team was then called), Ademola Adesina was controversially sent off. Subsequently, Eagles defender, Bright Omokaro injured an Algerian player, thereby reducing the Desert Foxes to 10, which earned Omokaro the nickname 10-10. More controversy was to follow in the final against Cameroon after Henry Nwosu's goal was wrongly disallowed for an offside. Kunle Adewale writes about the exciting episode

A

demola Adesina was a tough player whose presence in the midfield often gave opponents jitters. Now, there are those telltale signs of age. He still eagerly rekindled memories of his heydays as he made out several precise passes to teammates and deflected shots aimed at his goal in several of the warm-up matches he partakes in.

Adesina started football an early age against the wish of his parents. Driven by the passion he had for the game, he persisted and went on to play for his secondary school after which he got invitation to play for Igbalaye FC of Oshogbo and later NEPA FC, also of Oshogbo.

“In those days, my parents never wanted me to have anything to do with football; all they were interested in was for me to face my studies. I even had a brother then, Olatunji Adesina, who did everything to discourage me from football, but all was to no avail. Sometimes I will return home with injuries for which I’ll get flogged before being treated.

“Yet, all that did little to kill my passion for the round leather game, as I carried on up to secondary school where I went on to play for the school team. Before I knew it, invitation started coming from clubs within Oshogbo which made my parents and brother to give up and allowed me take to my passion, which is football,” he said.

The former international, however, admonished youths to give attention to formal education.“It is now that I appreciate why my parents were hammering it on me to concentrate on my studies then. And I have been telling the generation after me to concentrate on their studies even while in sport,” the technical adviser of Prime FC of Oshogbo said.

Adesina got his national team call-up when he was discovered by one of the coaches of the then Green Eagles, Eto Amaechina, during the 1981 National Sports Festival in the old Bendel State.

“I was in the contingent as a sprinter but Coach Adegboye Onigbinde said since I played football for Osogbo NEPA, I would be useful to the football team. I was on the reserve bench in a match involving Oyo State and Niger State and we were trailing Niger by 3-1 and I was called upon and I scored three goals and we eventually won the match 4-3. After the festival, I was invited to the national camp and after the screening I made the grade and was selected to play in the 1982 Nations Cup. I was playing as a striker then but the late technical adviser, Otto Gloria, said because I was so strong I would be more useful in the midfield than upfront. That was how I became a midfielder,” he said.

On whether any of his children had taken after him, the ex-Nigerian player said: “My first boy is currently playing for an amateur club in London while the second one that is very tall is playing basketball. I did a lot in encouraging them to take to sports because I know sport is one of the quickest ways to make it in life just as I equally insist that education must be a priority.”

The former international deplored the state of the local league especially the near absence of fans at stadia.

“Fans play a big role in making football grow and where there are no fans to cheer the players what will they be playing for? It is the crowd that makes the players do some exceptional things on the field.

So in their absence, whom do you want to impress? But you don’t get to blame the people for not coming

Adesina tries to re-enact his football skills at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos

to the stadium because there are no players that will attract them to the stadium. There are no players in our league that can attract people to the stadium unlike in our days when you will want to see Christian Chukwu, Emmanuel Okala, Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal and the rest. I feel saddened each time I watch matches and the stadium is empty. I don’t think such situation gives anyone pleasure.

“But kudos must go to the League Management Company (LMC) for its effort at improving the league.

The fact that the winner of the league in the just ended season only emerged on the last day is a pointer that the league is improving and the large fans that trooped out to watch Enugu Rangers win the league for the first time in 32 years was encouraging,” he noted.

“One of the banes of the league is that players are in too much a hurry to play in Europe and they end up

being sold below their worth. They should rather be patient and make their name in the local scene before traveling abroad to play professional football. There are still plenty of talents in the Nigerian league waiting to be harnessed and that is why some of us are still very hopeful about the future of Nigerian football," Adesina said.

The former Shooting Stars of Ibadan midfielder admonished the Nigeria Football Federation and national team coaches to concentrate on home-grown footballers rather than seeking for Nigerian born footballers outside the country.

“I support the total use of homebased players in the national team.

There is nothing strange about it and if we continue judging the boys by the standard of our own league, we are making a great mistake. The players in Europe started from here but it is just unfortunate that once a player travels to play abroad, our coaches start running after them,” he said.

31

OCTOBER 15, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER I was in the contingent as a sprinter but Coach Adegboye Onigbinde said since I played football for Osogbo NEPA, I would be useful to the football team. I was on the reserve bench in a match involving Oyo State and Niger State and we were trailing Niger by 3-1 and I was called upon and I scored three goals and we eventually won the match 4-3. After the festival, I was invited to the national camp and after the screening I made the grade and was selected to play in the 1982 Nations Cup

Adesina said the national team coach should work regularly with the players at home, adding that frequent training would bring the best out of them. While condemning the attitude of players based in Europe, he also questioned their claim to automatic place in the Eagles team.

“None of us played abroad before becoming stars in the Eagles and I am surprised that Nigeria suddenly began to rely on players who are either not playing regularly in their clubs or play in very small clubs and non-competitive leagues, just because they play outside Nigeria.

The home-based players can take our football to where it rightly belongs. I’m not saying we don’t need the foreign-based players but they should not be the bedrock of the national team. In our days, we only had Richard Owubokiri, Sylvanus Okpala and Okey Isima coming in from Portugal to beef up the team.

But the core of the national team were

the home-based players,” Adesina noted.

One moment in his career that will always be etched in Adesina’s memory was the semi-final match of the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations which paired Nigeria against Algeria.

“I was wrongly given a red card by the centre referee because I was not the person that erred. As soon as I was shown the red, I knew I will be missing the final but considering the vacuum my absence was going to cause the team, I began to doubt if we could beat Algeria with a man down not knowing that Bright Omokaro had other ideas. He reduced the Algerians to 10 by injuring one of their players after they had completed their two changes (a team could only make two changes as at 1988) making both teams to play with 10 men.

“Losing the final of Maroc ’88 was very painful, more especially losing through dubious officiating.

Henry Nwosu’s legitimate goal was

overruled. In the semifinal, I got an undeserved red card against Algeria in a case of mistaken identity. It would have been difficult holding them with a man down in as-much-as I don’t think what Omokaro did was right, which eventually gave birth to his nickname, ‘10-10’. I however still feel if I had played the final against Cameroun, we could have won. As they say, the rest is history.”

During his playing days Adesina played under different coaches, but one coach whose influence remains indelible is Christopher Udemezue.

“Chief Adegboye Onigbinde did a lot in my life as a footballer and I really appreciate him. ‘Wonder Boy’, Paul Hamilton also affected me as a footballer; so too was late Father Tico and late Brazilian tactician, Otto Gloria. But none of them can compare to what late coach Udemezue did to my career. He was a disciplined man and he did a lot in shaping my football career.

"Otto Gloria thinks and behaved like a Nigerian. He was aware there was division in the national team but he did well to integrate the old players with the new ones. He told the late Muda Lawal that I had not come to take his place but rather that I have come to take over from him after he leaves and charged him to take care of me.

“Onigbinde was a teacher and I owe my confidence from the penalty spot to him. During the 1984 Nations Cup qualifier against Morocco in Casablanca and the game was to be resolved on penalty shootout after goalless 90 minutes. Nobody wanted to take the first kick but the Modakeke high chief called me and asked me to open the way.

“The late Udemezue was a disciplinarian. A particular Nigeria Football Association, NFA (as NFF was refered to then) chief had issues with me and asked Udemezue not to field me in a Mexico ’86 World Cup qualifier against Liberia. But he fielded me against all odds and I even scored in that match. Such was the trust Udemezue had in me,” he recalled.

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

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, shoots past Sylvain Distin and Tim Howard

City Hope to Return to Winning Ways Manchester City will resume their EPL schedule today as they host Everton at the Etihad Stadium after two weeks off due to World Cup qualifiers. The Citizens will look to get back on the winning trail after defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in October, which ended their undefeated start to the season.

P

ep Guardiola‘s squad will welcome Everton to the Etihad today, who have been a nice surprise under new manager Ronald Koeman. Everton currently sit in fifth place with 14 points and a 4-2-1 record so far this season. In their last match before the international break, Everton drew 1-1 against Crystal Palace.

Manchester City should be refreshed and ready to go after time off from league and European play. Several members however could be jet-lagged after World Cup Qualifiers with their respective nations this past week.

Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, and most recently Bacary Sagna will not be available due to injuries. Sagna,

suffered a torn hamstring in France’s 4-1 World Cup qualifier victory against Bulgaria and is expected to be out a month.

Pep Guardiola needs to put out a strong squad today to get the chemistry of the team back together following the layoff. Everton will look to upset the Citizens at home, while Manchester City will look to stay in the top spot in the league with all three points Sergio Aguero has a been a scoring machine for City so far this season, and there is no reason why he doesn’t start-up top. Kelechi Iheanacho provides depth on the bench, but seems to be better used as a sub rather than starting next to the Argentine.

Everton will provide a tough test for Manchester City, especially with the

attacking weapons they have of their own. However, to be the best you have to beat the best and Manchester City need to get back to winning ways after the Tottenham slip-up.

Meanwhile, ahead of today’s clash, Everton manager Ronald Koeman has revealed how he helped teach a young Pep Guardiola during their time together at Barcelona.

"Then-Barcelona boss, Johan Cruyff had seen this young player in the academy, seen him develop into a decent player in the reserves and he thought the time was there to draft him into the first-team squad," Koeman was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

"According to Cruyff this boy was very bright, he had a quick brain and

he needed a more experienced player to look after him. I told him it was fine to have him as my new roommate.

"If the player was a talent and a good kid, I would help him. So he told me that from now on I was going to look after a boy called Pep. He told me I was going to be his tutor, help him develop and make sure he learns the Dutch style of playing. I then spent several years with Pep in hotel rooms before every game, every trip -in preseason, in Europe, you name it.

"Pep was a fantastic guy. He was eager to learn, he wanted to know everything. Pep wanted to know about the Dutch school of football. More than any other player he wanted to know about one-touch football, about positional play, one touch in small

33

OCTOBER 15, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER La Liga Atletico Madrid Sevilla Barcelona Villarreal Bilbao Las Palmas Eibar Sociedad Celta Vigo Leganés Alavés Deportivo Malaga Real Betis Sporting Espanyol Valencia Osasuna Granada

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

12 9 3 12 5 2 3 2 0 -2 -3 1 -1 -2 -4 -10 -5 -5 -8 -9

15 15 14 13 13 12 11 11 10 10 10 9 8 8 8 7 6 6 3 2

Premiership TODAY Chelsea Arsenal Bournemouth Man City Stoke West Brom Crystal Palace

Premier League Man City Tottenham Arsenal Liverpool Everton Man Utd Chelsea Crystal Palace West Brom Southampton Watford Leicester Bournemouth Burnley Hull Middlesbrough Swansea West Ham Stoke Sunderland

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

11 9 9 8 6 5 3 3 1 1 -1 -3 -5 -4 -7 -3 -6 -9 -11 -7

18 17 16 16 14 13 13 11 9 9 8 8 8 7 7 6 4 4 3 2

Spanish La Liga Fixtures

v v v v v v v

SUNDAY Middlesbrough v Southampton v

Leicester Swansea Hull Everton Sunderland Tottenham West Ham

12:30 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 17:30

Watford Burnley

13:30 16:00

Man Utd

20:00

TODAY Leganés Barcelona Atletico Betis SUNDAY Alavés Bilbao Sporting Villarreal MONDAY Eibar

v v v v

Sevilla Deportivo Granada Madrid

12:00 15:15 17:30 19:45

v v v v

Malaga Sociedad Valencia Celta Vigo

11:00 15:15 17:30 19:45

v

Osasuna

19:45

MONDAY Liverpool

v

Seria A

spaces. He loved the way Cruyff wanted to play with Barcelona.

"But what struck me with Pep was that he was a very ordinary, downto-earth guy. He never had arrogant streaks. He did not behave like a star because he was playing for Barcelona -- he was driving a second-hand Golf when he came in the squad and after three years in the first team, he was still driving the same car."

Meanwhile, Chelsea FC will look forward to picking up yet another win against the reigning champions, Leicester City today at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have had a topsyturvy start to their season under new manager Antonio Conte. After winning the first couple of matches, Conte's men went winless in three consecutive matches conceding defeat in two.

Leicester's title defending season has been horrible so far as they have managed to win just two matches.

They lost three and drew two and are currently placed in the 12th position.

It will slowly become difficult for the foxes if they fail to get at least a point against Antonio Conte's side on Saturday afternoon.

Chelsea are all set to welcome their captain John Terry back, as the veteran English defender makes a comeback into the side after an

injury. Though, Terry will be back it is unlikely Conte would change his winning combination.

Victor Moses, who had a brilliant match against Hull City last week, picked up an injury during the international break is expected to make a comeback.

Claudio Ranieri is likely to keep his starting XI unchanged from the game against Southampton.

What they said

Manchester City– Pep Guardiola

admitted that his team were second best in their league encounter with Tottenham.

“They were better, we were not in the right positions so congratulations to them.

We played much better in the last 15 or 20 minutes. We knew they would press us high, we wanted that but they did it better.”

Everton– Despite Everton’s draw with

Crystal Palace on Friday Ronald Koeman seems to be happy with how his side have begun the campaign and has suggested his team are exceeding expectation.

“Should we be higher than we are now?

Please, please think about it. .Did you expect Everton, before the season started to be this high? We didn’t steal one single point this season. All the victories – and the defeat last weekend – have all been deserved,” said Koeman.

Juventus Napoli Roma Lazio Chievo Milan Genoa Torino Inter Cagliari Bologna Atalanta Sassuolo Fiorentina Sampdoria Udinese Pescara Palermo Empoli Crotone

7 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 7 7

11 8 7 6 3 2 3 5 1 -2 -3 -2 -3 0 -3 -6 -3 -4 -9 -11

18 14 13 13 13 13 11 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 7 7 6 6 4 1

Bayern Hertha Dortmund Köln Leipzig Levkusen Hoffenheim Frankfurt B M'gladbach Freiburg Mainz Augsburg Wolfsburg Darmstadt Bremen Schalke Ingolstadt Hamburger

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

14 4 10 7 6 3 2 2 0 -2 1 -3 -3 -8 -10 -4 -9 -10

16 13 12 12 12 10 10 10 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 1 1

Bundesliga Fixtures

Head to Head 14/01/2016 EPL

Bundesliga

TODAY

Man City 0-0

Köln

Ingolstadt 04

14:30

Man City

B M'gladbach v

v

Hamburger

14:30

Frankfurt

v

Bayern

14:30

Augsburg

v

Schalke

14:30

Hoffenheim

v

Freiburg

14:30

Bremen

v

Leverkusen

17:30

10/01/2015 EPL

Everton

07/12/2014 EPL

Man City 1-0

Everton

04/05/2014 EPL

Everton

Man City

05/10/2013 EPL

Man City 3-1

Everton

01/12/2012 EPL

Man City 1-1

Everton

24/09/2011 EPL

Man City 2-0

Everton

SUNDAY

21/12/2010 EPL

Man City 1-2

Everton

Mainz

v

Darmstadt

14:30

Man City

Wolfsburg

v

Leipzig

16:30

17/01/2010 EPL

Everton

1-1

Everton

2-3

2-0

Hot Shots Diego Costa Romelu Lukaku Sergio Agüero Michail Antonio Son Heung-min Alexis Sánchez Raheem Sterling James Milner Etienne Capoue Leroy Fer Jermain Defoe Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Chelsea Everton Man City West Ham Tottenham Arsenal Man City Liverpool Watford Swansea Sunderland Man Utd

6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Serie A Fixtures TODAY Napoli Pescara Juventus SUNDAY Fiorentina Genoa Inter Lazio Sassuolo Chievo SUNDAY Palermo

v v v

Roma Sampdoria Udinese

14:00 17:00 19:45

v v v v v v

Atalanta Empoli Cagliari Bologna Crotone Milan

11:30 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 19:45

v

Torino

19:45

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

34

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

L-R: Principal Consultant, Spronks Creation, Aderonke Sobodu; Western Zone Committee Member, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, Remi Jonson; Vice President, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, West, Maureen Reece; and Zonal Segment Head, Lagos and Southwest, Ecobank, Chinwe Ekejuba, at a press conference on Ladies Golf Championship, in Lagos...recently PHOTO: Sunday Adigun

Tyson Fury lands deadly punch on Klitschko

BBBoC Suspends Fury’s Licence Tyson Fury's boxing licence has been suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control pending further investigation into doping and medical issues.

Fury had earlier voluntarily vacated his WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles with immediate effect to fully focus on his medical treatment and recovery.

The BBBoC announced its decision on Thursday morning after officials discussed Fury's case on Wednesday following a reported failed drugs test in the United States and his

admission in Rolling Stone magazine that he has "done lots of cocaine" in a bid to battle depression.

A statement read: "The British Boxing Board of Control confirms that Mr. Fury's boxer's licence is suspended pending further investigation into anti-doping and medical issues."

Fury was crowned world champion after he beat Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf last November, but he pulled out of a scheduled rematch against the Ukrainian later

this month with his team insisting he was medically unfit to fight due to mental health concerns.

The 28-year-old would have been stripped of his belts after losing his licence but he beat the BBBoC to the punch by vacating them voluntarily late on Wednesday evening.

"I feel that it is only fair and right and for the good of boxing to keep the titles active and allow the other contenders to fight for the vacant belts that I proudly won and held as the undefeated heavyweight

champion of the world when I defeated the long-standing champion Wladimir Klitschko," he said.

"I won the titles in the ring and I believe that they should be lost in the ring, but I'm unable to defend at this time and I have taken the hard and emotional decision to now officially vacate my treasured world titles and wish the next in-line contenders all the very best as I now enter another big challenge in my life which I know, like against Klitschko, I will conquer."

International Pairs

Esosa, Erhabor Win, to Represent Nigeria in Spain This year’s edition of the annual International Pairs competition came to a thrilling end at the golf section of Ikoyi club 1938 on Sunday with the pair of Austin Esosa Ojomo and Jacob Erhabor, emerging winners of the competition.

The team defeated over 20 other pairs to emerge winner. With their effort, Esosa and Erhabor would be representing Nigeria at the world final of International Pairs competition in Spain, in an all-expense paid trip in November.

The event which was played over two-days saw the duo of Esosa and Erhabor scoring a combined score of 122-stableford points, winning by a point over the pair of I. Amakiri and Iwinosa Edo-Osagie, who returned 121-stableford points. EdoOsagie and Amakiri defeated the third placed Abubakar Lawal and Evelyn Oyome, who also carded 121-points over two-days on countback.

The team of Dapo Akande and Kike Familoni came in the fourth position while

Frank Momoh and Sola Omilabu completed the top winning five teams. Akande, a former captain of the golf section and Familoni grossed 120-stableford points while Momoh and Omilabu scored 119-stableford points.

Reacting, the Nigeria representatives in this year’s world finals promise a good representation.

Satisfied with the outcome of the competition, Royal Air Maroc’s Jamal Harichi, one of the tournament sponsors promised his outfit's continu-

ous support for the game of golf in Nigeria while thanking the organisers for a job well done.

Also speaking, Otunba Yemi Lawal of Seagle Property Development Company promised to continue to back Falcon Golf Development Company interest in golf especially youth development.

The Chief Executive Officer of the organising outfit, Remi Olukoya, thanked everyone who helped make the tournament a success, especially sponsors.

Fans Crave FG's Attention for Rugby As Samuria Club wins independence rugby 7s tournament

Lovers of rugby sport have called on the Federal Government to popularise the game nationally and internationally.

They made the plea in Lagos recently, even as they said such was necessary so as to satisfy sports lovers with varieties.

According to the Chairman of Friends of Rugby, Kelechukwu Mbagwu, Football was known to be average Nigerians enthusiasm and that beyond football, there were lots of games that were more interesting such

as rugby, basketball, cricket, tennis, hockey, swimming and volleyball.

Mbagwu who is also the Managing Director, CMB Building, Maintenance and Investment Company Ltd, opined that there was need for federal government to support the sport because of its intriguing characteristic.

"The Lagos State Government has been supporting the game in the recent time but federal government involvement is needed to popularise

it beyond its present level.

If government shows more commitment and interest in the game, the national team will stand the chance to perform better internationally" he said.

Mbagwu also applauded Lagos State Government for successful hosting of the 2016 Independence Rugby 7s Tournament. He thanked the Team Groups that participated in the 2016 event and congratulated the 2016 winner -Samurai Bulldogs.

The tournament was an an-

nual sporting event organised

by CMB Building, Maintenance and Investment Company Ltd, Friends of Rugby and Lagos State Government to commemorate Nigeria`s Independence.

Samuria International Rugby Club has justified its ranking in international Rugby 7s circult, as the prestigious, recognised rugby team emerged winner of the Independence Rugby 7s Competition which was held at the Onikan Stadium, Onikan.

Oyekan Committed to Grassroots Sports Development As part of his commitment towards helping young talented footballers to achieve success, a member of the Lagos State Football Association, LSFA, Prince Ifalada Oyekan, has donated football kits to football players.

Oyekan, who made the donation last Saturday to young football players, who played at Jankara playground, Lagos- Island, gave football

boots, shin guards, hose and jerseys to players whose desire was to earn a living through football but did not have kits to build a solid career in football.

The chairman, Lagos Divisional Football Association, LDFA, who thanked the chairman of Lagos State Football Association, Seyi Akinwunmi, for appointing him as the chairman of LSFA's

Chairman Grassroots Committee, said his appointment paved the way for him to have adequate knowledge of grassroots football.

Oyekan, who had earlier donated set of jerseys to the winners of Eko Football Fiesta Under- 13 and 16 and a trophy to the LSFA, said he would not relent in his efforts to help indigent players, adding that the gesture would comple-

ment the effort of the LSFA to further develop the game at the grassroots level.

According to him, Jankara playground, Lagos- Island, which is being managed by Bombata Football Association, BOFA, had produced great football players like, Gbolahan Salami, Edem Etebor, Omoyegun Nirudeen, Festus Odini, and Adekunle Dawodu, among others.

Hill Reflects on Career, Senna, Fight with Schumacher The 1996 World Champion reflects on proving his skeptics wrong, the impact Ayrton Senna's death had on his career, Michael Schumacher the "magician" and his new book It's been 20 years since Damon Hill became Britain's eighth Formula 1 world champion, clinching the 1996 title with victory in the Japanese GP. In a moving and insightful in-depth interview with Sky F1's Natalie Pinkham marking both the anniversary and the release of his acclaimed autobiography, Watching The Wheels, Damon discusses the defining moments that have shaped his life on and off the track.

Formula 1 2016 Season,22nd October, 20:15pm 2016 Drivers' Championship £10 Free Bet, No Deposit Needed Hill explains how, at first, he resisted expectations he would follow in the footsteps of his father, a double world champion, and pursue a career in Formula 1, preferring a future that involved two wheels instead of four: "I never had the dream of being a racing driver. When I was growing up, people kept on asking me 'are you going to be a racing driver like your dad?'" Damon explains.

"My reaction was I'm not going to do that if that's what you expect me to do. I was against just conforming. The thing that lighted my fire was getting on a motorbike.

"If I had a dream it would have been to be racing like Barry Sheene in Grand Prix bike racing."

But as Damon acknowledges, his life was inextricably linked to Formula 1 to the extent it was almost inevitable he would get drawn into the sport eventually. Even his christening was attended by the likes of Sir Stirling Moss and Bruce McLaren.

But it wasn't until Hill was in his early thirties that he became an F1 driver and four years later he was the world champion.

"I had met a lot of skepticism in my career and I had to prove people wrong," the Sky F1 pundit says of his title win.

"So by winning the championship, I felt - there you go, you said it couldn't be done, now what are you going to do?"

Hill's father passed away when he was 15, but he touchingly describes how he is sure he was watching him win the championship in 1996 and would have been "tickled pink."

But his father's death wasn't the only tragedy that Hill experienced. He was also the team-mate of Ayrton Senna when the Williams driver died as a result of the injuries sustained at the 1994 San Marino GP. "It changed my life," Damon candidly acknowledges. "I don't think I would have won a world championship. I would have been number two to Ayrton, I might have been battling for second place with Michael (Schumacher).

"I was thrown into the front line after losing Ayrton, promoted to the guy carrying the championship hopes which I never would have expected to have done."

Hill experienced at close hand some of the most iconic drivers in the sport, not just Senna and Prost, but also Schumacher - and it is clear he still has mixed feelings when it comes to the German: "Michael was clearly a very talented and determined driver but he was with a crew who were more inclined to do whatever they had to do to win.

"He had this relationship with the regulations which a lot of people questioned."

By contrast, he acknowledges that Schumacher was also one of the most talented drivers he came up against: "I found him awe-inspiring.

"I raced against him in Suzuka, I was following him right on his gearbox in torrential rain and I was watching his car control and he was like a magician. He seemed to be going off all the time and yet he didn't.

"So I am in total awe of his ability and competitive spirit but I think his philosophy about sport was slightly different from mine."

T H I S D AY SATURDAY OCTOBER 15, 2016

35

236

JUNE 2011 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER THISDAY, THE16, SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

FAIRGROUND

Premiere of 93 Days at The Rock Cathedral

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

T

he highly anticipated movie, ’93 Days’ officially premiered in Nigeria at The Rock Cathedral, Lagos. The starstudded event began with a press conference, followed by the screening of the movie.

Present at the premiere were celebrities, dignitaries, government officials, filmmakers and media personalities. During the ceremony, a beautiful rendition of the Nigerian anthem was done by Nwando Omosebi and the American anthem by Chee Okebalama.

Speaking on 93 Days’, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, the Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Churches said, “We salute the entire cast of 93 days - Bimbo Akintola, Danny Glover, Tim Reid, Gideon Okeke, Tina Mba, Bimbo Manuel, Charles Okafor, Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey, Somekele Idhalama, Adebola Williams, Alastair Mackenzie and others for delivering a stellar performance and reliving, for our viewing pleasure, the gut-wrenching 93-day race against time.”

Producers of the movie, Bolanle AustenPeters, Dotun Olakunri and Steve Gukas, were elated about creating the movie. “I am attracted to things that show the best of Nigeria. Nigeria is never shown in a good light and I believe we should tell our story anytime we have the opportunity,” said Steve Gukas, Producer/Director, 93 Days.

The event ended with the presentation of awards to those whose collaborative effort saved Nigeria from a national catastrophe.

They included, the Lagos State Government; Dr Ada Igonoh; Dr Morris Ibeawuchi; The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris; Yaba Mainland Hospital; First Consultant Hospital; the late Nurse Justina Ejelonu; and the late Dr Stella Adadevoh. 93 Days is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.

Adeola Bali

Kenny Saint Brown and Joke Silva Bolanle Austen-Peters

Femi Gbajabiamila, Rotimi Amaechi, John Bray US Consul General , US Ambassador Martin Brennan and Bishop Mike Okonkwo

Dotun Olakunri

Ifeayin Adefarasin

Bimbo Akintola

Charles Okafor

Cobhams Asuquo and his wife

Pastor Paul Adefarasin

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹ʹ

37

FAIRGROUND

Home Inspiration Sets Pace Again

H

ome Inspiration, an exquisite showroom strategically located at 15 Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, is designed to take the corporate world to the next level in furniture and interior decor.

The opening of the flagship showroom years ago, is in line with the company’s recognition of its strength and reliable service delivery to its numerous customers, both individual corporate organisations.

As a well-established brand, Home Inspirations is reputed as the manufacturer and stockist of the highest grade of quality furniture and furnishing products. Over the years, Home

Inspirations has improved on its reputation and style of service, hence its constant pursuit of quality as a timeless pedigree. As a further proof of this, the company is poised to stamp an indelible mark on the furniture sector, solely for the convenience of its teeming clientele, delivery quality, style, class, elegance and comfort.

With over 15 years of its corporate existence in the industry, Home Inspirations has consistently promoted several laudable initiatives in the furniture and interior decor business.

Also, in its drive to give its clients the best among competing brands, Home Inspirations, for the first time in Nigeria, has introduced the world renowned Fendi Furniture, one of the world’s most renowned contemporary

and luxury furniture manufacturers, known for their exclusive home design.

Giving an assurance to make furniture of international standard, Damilola Akinsete, the arrow head of Home Inspirations, said that the company always seeks to make distinctive statements through its quality service and delivery. She explained that the location of Home Inspirations in the heart of Lagos was to ensure that clients have a feel of the luxurious and magnificent furniture-making experience in Nigeria.

Some of the qualities that stand this redoubtable brand out are experience, precision, attention to detail, quality and simplicity and an unspoken guarantee that Fendi can cater to the style preference of high networth individuals.

Damilola Akinsete

Harvest Lunch, Dance for Catholic Church of Assumption

I

t was almost a year ago that we wrote about the Catholic Church of Assumption, Falomo, Lagos’ Annual Harvest Lunch and Dance event, which held at the Civic Center in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Those of you that read our article and attended will fondly recall that the event was a great success, in addition to being a lot of fun. This year’s edition of Harvest Lunch and Dance comes up tomorrow, Sunday October 16, and it will also be hosted at the Civic Center.

Although we understand it promises to be even more entertaining than the previous year’s, but the main purpose of this event is to raise funds for Phase 2 of the Church’s school project, Mater Ecclesiae College, Epe. The Church is headed by the Parish Priest, Reverend Father Paul Kehinde Ijasan. The school was founded as the Church’s contribution to bridging the gap and raising the standard of education in our country by providing high quality education of international standard. In order to ensure that international standards are instituted and maintained, foreign religious affiliation is being sought with the assistance of His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lagos.

Although founded and promoted by the Church, admission to the School is open to bright students of all religious persuasions and even the irreligious. The school is situated on 15 acres of land in Epe, which, while a fast growing area, is still serene enough to provide the sort of environment that students need to thrive and excel. The School opened last year and the pioneer students resumed in September 2015. Monies raised from this year’s fund raising activities will be channeled towards providing additional classroom blocks, science laboratories, library, recreational facilities, etc.

The objective of the Church is to establish qualitative, co-educational, boarding second-

Rev. Fr. Paul Kehinde Ijasan

Bernard Longe

Lanre Dasilva Ajayi

Lara Alagbada

ary school for the Nigerian child. The school is being run by the De La Salle Brothers who are known for their discipline, academic standard

and morals. Admission will be on merit by competitive entrance examinations. There is an ongoing plan for a Scholarship Fund, which

- when it has been set up - will accommodate children who succeed at the entrance examinations, but cannot afford the fees.

The Chairman of the 2016 Harvest Planning Committee is Mr. Bernard O. Longe, the retired transformational Group Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc (as it then was) and presently the Managing Director of TY Holdings Limited. He also serves on various boards. The Vice-Chairperson is Mrs. Lanre DaSilva-Ajayi, a renowned fashion designer.

Her designs have been shown both locally and by the biggest fashion houses in Europe and in the United States. The Chairperson for this year’s Lunch & Dance Committee is Ms. Lara Alagbada - a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. She is an Executive Director at Hariri & Klinton Nigeria Limited, a company that specialises in providing financial services such as audits, financial advisory and tax services. Prior to that, she was the Pioneer Managing Director of Zenith Pensions Custodian Limited – a subsidiary of the Zenith Bank Group. She also served as the Deputy Coordinator of the Manufacturing Sector of the Vision 20-2020 Committee.

This year’s Lunch & Dance promises to meet and even exceed last year’s in terms of the exciting line up of events and celebrities.

The celebrated Demola Olota will be the main band. There will be musical performances by other famous artistes like the dynamic Cobhams Asuquo, Timaya and Waje. The duo of Michele Dede and Toke Makinwa will be co-MCs along with our very own Bafor Amatesero. There will be comedy, variety shows to further entertain you along with raffle draws, which can have you smiling home with very exciting prizes. In addition to all these, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your contribution/donations towards this event will help to shape the lives of some Nigerian children.

Philips Announces Global Partnership with World Heart Federation

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eading health technology company, Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), has announced a new partnership with the World Heart Federation (WHF) to help people better manage their heart health. Philips’ objective is to encourage the public to take personal responsibility for leading heart-healthy lives and raise awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD).

“Philips is dedicated to providing personalised, integrated cardiology solutions with a focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Our new partnership with the World Heart Federation is an important element of our commitment to drive prevention of CVD by making clear the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and to help people, including Nigerians, make better choices and develop healthier habits for life,” said Carla Kriwet, Business Leader of Patient Care and

Monitoring Solutions at Philips.

CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide, resulting in more than 17.5 million deaths in 20151 and accounts for more costs than any other chronic illness. In fact, the picture is the same in Nigeria with seven per cent of deaths attributed to CVD among a population of over 160 million2. However, awareness levels about the disease are low; over 50% of Nigerians are unaware of CVD and 77% are not concerned about personally being at risk of the disease3. Yet, most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by changing behaviours and eliminating risk factors. The recent Future Health Index commissioned by Philips shows only 39% of cardiology healthcare professionals believe their patients have the tools required to better manage their own heart health effectively.

As a leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, Philips believes that providing people information to

make healthier choices and establish healthier habits is key to ongoing healthy hearts.

As a result, Philips has launched myheartisunique.com, an online educational hub designed to drive awareness of preventing CVD through healthy living. With over 86 million internet users in Nigeria4, Philips hopes to use this medium to provide CVD prevention education to Nigerians. The hub will feature expert interviews; questions for patients to ask their cardiologist; information on living with CVD, including early warning signs; and lifestyle-related content such as exercise tips and heart-healthy recipes. The online platform also allows visitors to create a picture of their unique heart using the Facebook app.

Philips also has innovations that can help clinicians treat cardiovascular disease by speeding detection, diagnosis and treatment, driving more effective recovery and home care, and encouraging prevention and healthy living. Digital technologies are empowering

people to take more control of their health and lead healthier lives. Data and connected solutions help deliver the relevant information at the right time – enabling healthcare professionals to make first-time right decisions, achieve better outcomes at lower costs, and facilitate care models that put patients at the centre of care.

Thanks to advances in imaging and monitoring technologies, combined with rapid development in digital health data and cloud computing, Philips is leading the transformation of the healthcare industry and creating highly integrated, personalised care with better outcomes at lower costs.

“Heart health is at the heart of all health.

When you look after your heart it means eating and drinking well, exercising, stopping smoking... all the things that make you not only healthier, but also feel good and able to enjoy your life to the fullest,” said Johanna Ralston, CEO, World Heart Federation.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •OctOber 15, 2016

OctOber 15, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • SEPTEMBER 10, 2016

WRITERS’ WORLD

What Does Tony Elumelu Want?

BISI DANIELS bisi.daniels@thisdaylive.com Blog: www.bisidaniels.com, 08050220700

Once in a while we focus on major contributors to the Nigerian dream. This week we look at Mr Tony Elumelu.

In a Philanthropy Psychology class, it is not unlikely to ask what people like Tony Elumelu want with their devotion to philanthropy. Some universities run courses or degree programmes in Philanthropic Studies or Philanthropic Psychology. With my background in economics, psychology, business reporting, corporate communications and as backroom player to decision makers, the subject easily piqued my interest

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here are many reasons highly successful people are motivated to be philanthropists, instead of enjoying their success, often denominated in wealth. So what could be the motivation of Tony Elumelu, who has been making headline news in philanthropy?

One of the most recent was at the National Theatre in Lagos, where The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) signed an MOU with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture for the development of Nigeria’s creative industries.

The partnership is to provide a framework to bring creative industry stakeholders together with investors, financiers and business leaders to transform the creativity of industry entrepreneurs into a profitable sector capable of attracting international collaboration and contributing consistently to the national economy.

In April, the minister approached TEF with a challenge: “How can we work together to help transform the currently underdeveloped and unstructured creative industry ecosystem into an organized and profitable pool of creative industries that provide meaningful employment to thousands of Nigerians?”

The Foundation’s response is the framework which undergirds the MOU. Before then, in July 2016, the Presidency, through the office of the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo partnered with African businessman, Tony Elumelu, on an initiative to boost potential of Nigerian women in export.

Themed ‘Achieving Zero Oil Growth Through Women Inclusiveness in Global Export Trade’, the stakeholders forum and exhibition organised by the National Export Promotion Council and the International Trade Center (ITC) in Geneva, explored measures to increase economic empowerment of women through trade via the ITC’s SheTrades Initiative.

The goal of this initiative is to connect one million women to the international market by 2020.First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari stated that, “Nigerian women are extremely hardworking. We only need a little push, and this is the time”.

Profile

Tony Elumelu is so famous his profile is all over the internet: “Tony O. Elumelu is an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. The chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa Plc and Transcorp Nigeria Plc. “In his early career, he made a name for himself by turning the nearly bankrupt Standard Trust Bank into a top-five player in Nigeria. In 2005 he led the largest merger in the banking sector in sub-Saharan Africa, acquiring United Bank for Africa (UBA). In five years, he transformed it from a singlecountry bank to a pan-“African institution with over 7 million customers in 19 African countries.

In 2010, he commenced full-time operations at Heirs Holdings and founded The Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africabased and African-funded philanthropic organization focused on supporting entrepreneurs in Africa by enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector.

“He serves as a member of the USAID’s

mentor and fund 10,000 entrepreneurs.

Others

• Tony Elumelu was a member of the World Economic Forum’s Regional Agenda Council on Africa.

• His presence on the Bretton Woods Committee, which brings together senior leaders in the global banking industry, is recognition of his work on African development.

• He is a Fellow of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI).

• He is involved, through his foundation, with the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) in a partnership to strengthen the private sector’s role in the economic transformation of select African countries.

This partnership is called the Blair-Elumelu Fellowship Programme.

• He is co-chair of the Africa Energy Leaders’ Group (AELG) • Elumelu is a Trustee of the Infant Jesus Academy in Delta State Nigeria.

• Although under-reported, he is known to rush to the needs of people, and organizations caring for people in distress.

He is said to be silent about those.

Visibility at Business Fora Elumelu Private Capital Group for Africa Partners Forum. He sits on the Nigerian President’s Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council and serves as Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute Dialogue Series on Global Food Security. He played a leading role in the formation of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria and serves as its vice chairman. He is also a member of the Global Advisory Board of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.

“He is the author and leading proponent of the philosophy he calls “Africapitalism,” which is the private sector’s commitment to Africa’s development through longterm investment in strategic sectors of the economy that drive economic prosperity and social wealth.

“In 2003 the FG of Nigeria conferred the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic on Mr Elumelu. In 2012 he was also awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger for his service in promoting private enterprise. He was recognized as one of “Africa’s 20 Most Powerful People in 2012”

by Forbes Magazine and the New African Magazine featured him in its list of the “100 Most Influential Africans in Business.”

Tony Elumelu’s Philanthropy

Following his retirement from United Bank for Africa in July 2010, Elumelu founded The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

The Foundation is the leading philanthropic organisation in Africa with the aim of promoting entrepreneurship as the catalyst for the socio-economic development of the continent. The Foundation has set itself apart from grant-making bodies, by operationalising integrated programmes to support entrepreneurship in Africa and by enhancing the competitiveness of the African private sector. TEF has achieved this namely through its flagship initiative, the TF Entrepreneurship Programme, a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train

When a business forum matters here in the country or overseas, you are most likely to find Elumelu there promoting Africa business and entrepreneurship. At the US – Africa Business Forum (USABF) which was organized by Bloomberg and the United States department of Commerce held alongside the 2016 United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Secretary of Commerce commended Elumelu for his pivotal role in US-Africa business relations.

Elumelu was host to over 200 global leaders with Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker as the guest of honour at the event.

Indeed, he had spoken at the USABF earlier that day after President Obama’s address, re –emphasising that America needs to expand and scale up their policies in Africa and not necessarily make changes to what they are doing on the continent.

Ms. Pritzker commended Tony Elumelu saying “Tony is an incredible entrepreneur and pivotal to U.S-Africa business relations.

He is a great friend of the U.S.” Also in attendance at the event were, former president of Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo; Senior Political Analyst, Professor David Gergen; Chairman US EX-IM bank, Fred Hochberg; President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Elizabeth Littlefield; U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank, Mathew Mcguire; CEO UBA, Kennedy Uzoka; former CNN anchor, Zain Verjee; Vice Chairman, corporate council on Africa, Robert Perry; Founding President Devex, Raj Kumar; CEO of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo; CEO, President of the Business Council for International Understanding, Peter Tichansky amongst others.

So what does Tony Elumelu want?

Fame: Some people give for no altruistic reasons, but for fame, to show off that they are rich. For an already wealthy and famous man, a multiple chairman of companies with strong entrepreneurship pedigree, Elumelu couldn’t be driven by the quest for fame.

Otherwise, in the popular Nigerian style, he would have been dripping with chieftaincy titles, and with visible presence at social

functions.

Politics: Many people are involved in philanthropy with their eyes on politics.

But the demography of Tony Elumelu’s philanthropy does not hint about that motive, except in the most unlikely scenario of becoming President of the United States of Africa.

Silent Motives: There are silent motives and benefits of benevolence, but they are common to all givers and philanthropists.

They include spiritual benefits, happiness and good health.

A 2008 study by Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton and colleagues found that giving money to someone else lifted participants’ happiness more that spending it on themselves (despite participants’ prediction that spending on themselves would make them happier).

Happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, saw similar results when she asked people to perform five acts of kindness each week for six weeks.

Scientists also believe that altruistic behavior releases endorphins in the brain, producing the positive feeling known as the “helper’s high.”

Also a wide range of research has linked different forms of generosity to better health, even among the sick and elderly. In his book Why Good Things Happen to Good People, Stephen Post, a professor of preventative medicine at Stony Brook University, reports that giving to others has been shown to increase health benefits in people.

Shades of Altruism

Researchers have been investigating the motives for philanthropy over the years.

They found that it falls into three broad categories, from the purely altruistic – I donate because I value the social good done by the charity. The “impurely” altruistic – I donate because I extract value from. And the not-at-all altruistic – I donate because I want to show off how rich I am.

From the texture, focus and demography of Tony Elumelu’s philanthropy, it would seem, without being told, that it is an altruistic personal motivation to support a cause close to his heart, part of which is sharing an overflowing gift of entrepreneurship with people across countries. Turning the nearly bankrupt Standard Trust Bank into a top-five player in Nigeria and leading the largest merger in the banking sector in sub-Saharan Africa, suggest a rare gift.

He admits the altruism motive when he says: “Africa’s development has become somewhat of a personal mission. It is my belief that Africans should take primary responsibility for our own development – because, to be blunt, no one is going to develop Africa but us. I also believe “charity” as conventionally defined is not the best solution for our continent. Instead, we need a “new philanthropy” that focuses on building the capacity of the private sector to create jobs and wealth – and that this leads to sustainable development.

“I firmly believe that we should be strategic and catalytic in our philanthropy.

It is not, and should not be, about simply providing funding, as this is only one of many possible tools for impact. I would encourage entrepreneurs to give their time and experience, and use their influence, to create impact.”

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OCTOBER 15, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FASHION FILE

House of Kaya Debuts

“Arewa Diamond” RTW2016

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FASHION FILE House of Kaya Debuts Inspiration behind Arewa Diamond Collection. he collection “Arewa Diamond” mirrors a continuous metamorphosis of the “Kaya woman,” a part of her totality having passed through the seemingly clichéd cycle of existence. From her minimal inclined heritage, to the heart rending moments when she has to battle with many sides of herself. These pieces are a crystal reflection of phases that have built her, torn her and redirected her. This collection features a perfect mix of ease and complication, coming to a resolve that individuals’ pathway through life is fluid and unending.

“Our goal at House of Kaya is to dress women with desirable but still necessary clothes suitable to the way of life in this region.

Fluid, wrapped, draped, long-layered silhouettes that provide women with choices, either to unveil ingeniously or to cover gracefully,” the fashion outfit said.

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About House of Kaya Elegance and simplicity with a focus on intricate embellishments and striking prints, House of Kaya refined aesthetic fuses understated luxury with a playful femininity.

Inspiration is drawn from both Eastern and Western influences with an emphasis on sharp tailoring, clean silhouettes and attention to detail.

“There comes a time when a designer and their brand grow to become bigger than one person, but still represent the creative’s original vision. Ibrahim and his team is doing that and more. They are leaving their mark on the fashion world.

From celebrities to regular customers, House of Kaya Clients believe in us to make them look and feel beautiful,”” they said.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

WITH

MARKET PLACE

OMOLABAKE FASHOGBON 08033621009

Cross section of participants at the 2016 BannerGas Franchise Dealer Conference and the launch of its Liquified Petroleum Gas Door-to-Door Delivery, held in Lagos ...recently

L-R: Treasurer, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Gabriel Idahosa; Vice President / Chairman, LCCI, Trade Promotion Board, Mr. Sola Oyetayo; and , Member, LCCI, Trade Promotion Board, mr.

Leye Kupoluyi, during a Press Briefing to herald the 2016 Lagos International Trade Fair held at the LCCI Conference and Exhibitoin Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos recently

Firm Introduces Alternative Fuel for Car, Generator Banner Gas, a brand of Banner energy has introduced to the Nigerian market a Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), to serve as a substitute and cheaper fuel for powering cars and generators.

This initiative followed the costly impact of the high cost of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) on cars and generators, especially for manufacturing industries and businesses.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Banner Gas, Mr. Nuhu Yakubu, the new product, which can be installed on generator and car at a pocket friendly bill, represents a model for

Dufil Announces 2016 Independence Heroes After a thorough search and selection process, with over 200 contestants, three winners have finally emerged in the 2016 Indomie Independence Day Award.

The winners who exhibited exceptional bravery in physical, intellectual and social acts were awarded scholarship worth of N1million each, in addition to huge donations from kindhearted individuals and some corporate organisations.

For 14-year-old visually impaired Salisu Ibrahim, the winner in the social category, not discouraged by his plight, was able to earn a living and sponsored himself through school from shoe making, Babatimileyin Daomi, 15, was recognised for his intellectual bravery with his unthinkable inventions which included: a vacuum cleaner, a phone bank, a portable fan, self watered flour vase and a functional radio while 15-year old Favour Unwene emerged winner in the physical bravery category for saving a life.

The Group Managing Director of Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Deepak Singhal at the award ceremony noted that the initiative was meant to identify, recognise and reward children who had done well in distinguishing themselves by carrying out exemplary heroic acts that had touched the lives of others positively.

He added that Dufil Prima Foods would always celebrate children who serve as change agents in its respective communities and beyond.

Managing Director of The Education Partnership Centre (TEP Centre), Dr. Modupe Adefeso-Olateju, called for commitment in the empowerment of Nigerian children.

In her keynote speech titled “The Nigerian Child: Our Biggest But Yet Untapped Resource’, she also emphasised the need for an enabling environment where a Nigerian child could develop his or her talent.

Dufil Prima Foods Group Public Relations & Event Manager, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju congratulated the winners with a promise that coming editions would be more memorable than previous ones.

The ninth edition of Indomie Independence Day Award, IIDA, was supported by Daar Communications plc., Stanbic IBTC Bank and was well attended by politicians, captains of industry and many others.

solving the problem of shortage of cleaner and efficient energy, especially with the high cost of PMS, its health implication and the regular scarcity experienced in the country.

While hosting dealers at a franchise conference in Lagos, Yakubu added that the policy direction of the present administration which encouraged alternative fuel use, had made it imperative for Nigerians to take advantage of the innovation, which he said was locally produced, hence did not put pressure on the dollars, as against the conventional PMS.

Shedding more light on the benefits of the product, the CEO noted that “by switching to the latest, there will be no need to service your car more than once in a year, as against the routine monthly servicing that comes with the conventional fuel.

“The scheme, with attendant benefits for employment generation, technical skills acquisition and wealth creation, is one of the gains of the present administration’s policy on partial deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector.

Considering the abundance of LPG supply in

Rotary Reaches Out to Lagos Kidney Dialysis Centre Rotary club of Victoria Island, under Rotary International District 9110, has donated medical equipment worth millions of naira to Kidney Dialysis Centre at Lagos Island General Hospital.

The equipment which was to further improve the quality of health service delivery in the hospital, was also arranged as part of the birthday celebration of the founder of the kidney center, Mrs. Folashade Thomas-Fahm.

According to Fahm, the center was built under her tenure as the president of the club in 2009,which explained why she was visiting the center on her birthday to give it a facelift.

She said, ”the equipment we are presenting today is worth millions of naira and this is made possible with the support of the present administration of the club. We believe that what we

are doing now, will to a great extent improve the quality of medical service rendered in the centre and ultimately, save lives”.

Fahm added that the center which was constructed with the assistance of the highest donor, Aliko Dangote Foundation, having donated 90 per cent to the project, had in its first two years of operations, offered free health service to visiting patients on the order of Alhaji, Aliko Dangote, before it was later transferred to Lagos State Government.

Meanwhile, the President of the Club, Mr. Adediji Adeyinka noted that the gesture was to extend the social responsibility of the club to the needy adding that the corporate responsibility, mission and vision of the club were to help humanity in all ramifications.

Access Bank, Airtel Partner Yudala to Launch YUBOSS Scheme The much-awaited YUBOSS Scheme, an entrepreneurship and wealth creation initiative of Yudala is set to kick off.

The scheme, which has as partners, Access bank and Airtel, would be launched by Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige as part of the activities at the Yudala Zero Gravity concert which holds next Friday in Abuja.

The YUBOSS concept was borne out of the need to generate creative employment for millions of Nigerians and to build a league of emerging entrepreneurs. Members of this scheme are also entitled to attractive commissions and a wide range of benefits including business mentorship sessions and capacity-building workshops.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Yudala Nigeria, Mr. Dave Ibelegbu, through this scheme, the company sought to generate creative employment for thousands of Nigerians by offering them a chance to earn mouth-watering commissions through sales of Yudala’s wide range of products. The scheme is structured to see members rise through the

ranks and ultimately become the part-owner of a Yudala franchise store when they achieve platinum status.

“I enjoin Nigerians to visit the Yudala website to sign up to YUBOSS. This is a scheme that will definitely change the lives of millions of Nigerians. There is no investment on the part of members. Exceptional performers will enjoy commissions and swift movement through the scheme to become our business partners “ Executive Director, Personal Banking at Access Bank Plc, Mr. Victor Etiokwu expressed optimism on the new deal with the composite retail outlet, noting that the initiative would be a huge success, considering Yudala’s nationwide network of stores, the calibre of renowned entrepreneurs driving the company and the drive and expertise exhibited by its team.

To the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, Airtel’s involvement in the YUBOSS scheme would raise its profile by offering members a sound telecoms network and high speed data access on 3G network.

Nigeria, with its benefit as being clean and affordable replacement fuel for petrol (PMS), kerosene, diesel, LPFO, HPFO, fire wood, coal, sawdust and other unclean and environmentally unfriendly fuels, the launch sounds a welcome relief in response to the positive direction for energy policy of the federal government.”

The company which also announced the Franchise Retailership Scheme of the product, said its had arranged up to 100 delivery vans for door-to-door LPG delivery operations across the country.

Euro Global Introduces New Variant Fast-growing indigenous beverage company, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited, has introduced its latest, ‘Golden Choco Drink’, to the market, just as its kicked off the 2016 Back to School campaign.

The Back to School campaign is an initiative of the Savana soft drink makers, targeted at pupils to make them have a direct feel of its wide range of products and as well as to entertain them. According to the company, the campaign which kicked off at Beehive School in Ikeja, would be visiting schools across the south west part of the country over the next few weeks.

Marketing Manager of the firm, Mr. Subir Mazumdar, said “the annual Back to School campaign is a unique opportunity for a fun brand like Savana to reach out and share good times with the kids who love our products. After a very long holiday, a lot of these kids will be wishing the fun continues right in their school and we are here to make it happen for them.”

Mazumdar noted that this year’s outing would feature music, dance and games to be led by the company’s sports and dance coaches. There will also be short etiquette, career and motivational talk as well as branded Savana gift items and writing materials to be given Out. Speaking at the firm’s visit to Beehive School, Sport Cordinator of the school, Prince Wale Atiba said “It is always good to have something different from our usual day to day activities and Euro Global has been able to help us spice up our week. I will want to implore corporate bodies to take a cue from this gesture so as to enhance sporting activities in our institutions of learning”.

Mazumdar further described the new Golden Choco drink as a premium chocolate goodness packed with minerals and vitamins for active people.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OctOBer 15, 2016

ENTREPRENEUR Joseph Ogundu

I Have the Capacity to Turn Nigeria’s Automobile Industry Around Versatile, vivacious and vision-driven, Joseph Ogundu, is an extraordinary man in terms of goals and missions.

Success-driven and development-oriented, he is a Nigerian who is passionate about moving his country forward.

A leader of men and motivator for many years, Ogundu smacks of readiness and desire to support a crumbling economy and society he left in 1982 for the United States of America. Leading and making things happen for him is a natural inclination. Rising above the odds of racism, at the age of 24, he became United States’ Ford Motor production supervisor. From there he moved on to General Motors Corporation, and later to Chrysler Corporation where he developed and launched a $1.3bn new vehicle-manufacturing facility in Toledo, Ohio – which led to his being promoted to senior operations specialist responsible for new process and product integration and was eventually appointed a senior manager. Always passionate and seeking new grounds to break, Ogundu left Chrysler for Country Coach Inc., to become a director. He was later made the company’s vice president of manufacturing. After 34 years in the US, Ogundu is back home to help his fatherland to develop and in this interview with Adedayo Adejobi talks about how Nigeria’s government spurned an opportunity to buy a part of General Motors. He also talks about how he’s working to improve the efficiency of the Nigeria Air Force

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or how long have you lived in the United States of America?

I have lived in the United States for 34 years.

I left Nigeria in April of 1982, approximately one year and 10 months after graduating from Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Port-Harcourt in Rivers State.

Having lived in the US for many years, how will you describe the experience and what lessons have shaped your sojourn there?

United States as a nation has its bad and good, but for me, the good outweighs the bad. For the most part, my experiences in the US have been positive. Some of the key lessons that shaped my experiences that I learned living in the US are that: if you work hard and keep your nose clean, your chances of success will be high. The society may not treat everybody equally, but people are treated more fairly than in any nation. United States is a society where the playing field between the rich and the poor are more balanced than in any nation I have experienced. It is a society where leaders actually care about their subjects for the most part. To succeed in anything in the society, you must be assertive and direct with both leaders and peers. The educational system is open and opportunities to succeed are easier if you are educated and work hard in your chosen field of endeavour. It is a society that epitomises patriotism. The leaders are patriotic to the nation which engenders patriotism on the part of the citizens.

There is racial discrimination, but racism is no longer a limiting factor to personal and professional growth.

It may delay you, but it will not stop you. I was able to work in engineering, middle management and executive ranks in corporations. I had the opportunity to lead major projects at Chrysler Corporation, Daimler Chrysler and Country Coach. Like most foreigners, I experienced racism both at work, school and in general society, but as long as you are a hard worker with integrity and honesty, the people will always welcome you in their fold. For me, I felt welcomed by both the African-

Dr. Ogundu

American community and the White community. I had no boundaries and have been helped by individuals from both communities. In 1983, as a young student at Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors Corporation, I was elected as one of the two Presidents of Pontiac Tech Club, a student organisation created by the company. At the time, less than 2 per cent of the students were black and I was the only African in that group of students.

At the University of Tennessee where I obtained my first degree in Chemical and Industrial Engineering, I was a member of the Student Senate. After school, I was elected in 1995 as the Vice President of Institute of Industrial Engineers South Eastern Michigan/Toledo Chapter.

Also, I was the publicity secretary, Society of Black Engineers, UT student Chapter. I was board member of Chrysler African American Network; vice chairman of board of

directors – River State Foundation Inc; secretary, River State Heritage Foundation Michigan; and I served on the board of companies like: Finer Cabinetry and Woodwork Inc., Bend Oregon, Axis Manufacturing Inc., Imlay City Michigan, and Citation Plastics LLC You have worked with GM, Ford and Daimler Chrysler in senior positions. Tell us about your experiences?

I worked at Ford Motor as production supervisor at the age of 24 with 65 employees in my organisation; senior process/facilities engineer and plant project manager in the 1995 Ford Mustang Programme; at General Motors Corporation as a coop student engineer, and senior product engineer. I left General Motors to join Chrysler Corporation as a senior process engineer; I was promoted to process manager and managed 16 engineers with a budget

United States as a nation has its bad and good, but for me, the good outweighs the bad. For the most part, my experiences in the US have been positive. Some of the key lessons that shaped my experiences that I learned living in the US are that: if you work hard and keep your nose clean, your chances of success will be high.

The society may not treat everybody equally, but people are treated more fairly than in any nation. United States is a society where the playing field between the rich and the poor are more balanced than in any nation I have experienced of over $10 million. I was given the opportunity to become one of the leaders to develop and launch a $1.3 billion new vehicle manufacturing facility in Toledo, Ohio. At the end of the project, I was promoted to senior operations specialist responsible for new process and product integration. When my boss retired, I was appointed acting senior manager.

I was recruited as a country coach as director of lean/manufacturing engineering to Country Coach Inc.,

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OCTOBER 15, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

ENTREPRENEUR After 34 Years in US, I Am In Nigeria to Make Things Work Better in Eugene, Oregon, after 15-month nationwide search for an experienced leader to help to start a new manufacturing engineering, lean manufacturing and quality management. I was promoted to vice president of manufacturing. I left the company to start Engineering Services and Technical group Inc. (now Emerald Global Consulting Inc.).

Why do you think that Nigerians are finding it difficult developing a viable automotive industry?

Nigeria as a nation is finding it difficult in the areas of automotive manufacturing because most of the people developing the country’s automotive policies have none or limited experience in the area of leading automotive organisations.

Some of them have never worked in the automotive industry. Due to their limited knowledge of the industry, they propose policies that actually help established foreign companies as opposed to policies that encourage home-grown automotive companies to spring up. The country needs to invest in the industry through helping experienced individuals to acquire established foreign companies that are interested in selling some of their divisions to raise cash. The current Nigerian auto policy that concentrated on completely knocked down (CKD) operations as the key to developing a viable auto industry in the country is wrong-headed and it is the wrong direction.

The CKD operations that are established by both Asian and European auto companies are mainly for them to sell their vehicles and it will not lead to actual growth of the country’s auto industry. These companies use the policy as ploy to import vehicles into the country because of a few CKD vehicles they assemble in the country. There are many Nigerians in the US, especially in the Detroit area that can lead the effort to develop the proper automotive industry development and growth policy. Though others outside the industry will participate but the core team members must be those that have leadership experience in the industry. As it stands today, the only company in Nigeria that is a vehicle-manufacturing company is Innoson Motors. The rest are CKD operations. If Nigerian leaders want this industry to grow, investment should be made to support Innoson Motors as well as help others with investment capital to start the design and development of vehicle components and vehicle manufacturing in the country. All governments from the local to federal should purchase vehicles with at least 80 per cent Nigerian content.

This will spur other suppliers to partner with Nigerians to design and manufacture vehicle components in the country. Also, Nigerian leaders should be ready to invest in the auto industry. There are many small models of ‘Keke’styled vehicles that Nigerian kids developed, but due to lack of good policy for the industry, no one will invest in producing those vehicles as the nation continues to import the same vehicles from India. Leadership from both state and federal government is what is needed to achieve development and growth. If the nation’s leaders are interested in developing this industry, they could have copied the Chinese model which is leveraging the population and going into joint ventures with

Ogundu

vehicle manufacturers that are willing to design, process and manufacture components and vehicles in the country.

Have you personally tried to engage Nigerian government on this?

In 2007 and 2008, I and other Nigerians could not get the audience from Nigerian leaders to buy any of the following vehicle companies that General Motors was selling: Pontiac Motors, Hummer and Saturn. The country could have picked up these companies for less than $4 billion.

GM would have continued to build these vehicles for five to 10 years while the country gradually moves the manufacturing plants to Nigerian cities. Moving these plants from Mexico, the US and other countries could have started the push for the nation to become a major player worldwide in the industry. In my opinion, developing the auto industry will help spur the development of other related industries like Shipbuilding, boats, aircraft, military hardware, military vehicles etc.

As an individual that participated in developing prototype military vehicles, I am surprised that Nigeria is still importing military vehicles and other hardware and gears required for the nation’s security.

These things are doable but they need investments and focus to make it happen.

When you say you are leading change through application of lean business principles, can you throw more light on this?

Change is inevitable in life.

Change equally requires a paradigm shift. Applying change in any organisation is simply about eliminating waste from business process using lean management tools. The key is to look at lean as a philosophy of constantly optimizing business processes through standardisation that leads to doing things right the first time. To change an organisation means that everybody has to change their old ways of doing things and adopt the new paradigm of continuous improvement, efficiency improvement and productivity improvement. Both the leaders and the employees or citizens must sacrifice for change to take place. In industries where change takes place, both the leaders and the employees go through training anchored in lean principles with specific tools used to optimize the business. The goal is to do more with less – less

Nigeria as a nation is finding it difficult in the areas of automotive manufacturing because most of the people developing the country’s automotive policies have none or limited experience in the area of leading automotive organisations.

Some of them have never worked in the automotive industry.

Due to their limited knowledge of the industry, they propose policies that actually help established foreign companies as opposed to policies that encourage home-grown automotive companies to spring up resources, less material, less waste and less time. If you want change, you must change your old habits and philosophies and adopt new ones. Lean principles are a structured methodology of improving organisational performance for the purpose of satisfying the customer.

For nations that are wasteful in everything they do, implementation of lean principles will include all agencies of government as well as the presidency, legislature, state governments, local governments, judiciary, etc. My organisation, Emerald Global Consulting Inc., has done work in development, training, coaching and implementation of lean in some of the following areas in automotive industry; service industry; oil and gas; government agencies (lean government); hospital organisations (lean healthcare) among others.

What brings you home?

I am in Nigeria on the invitation of a friend who is thinking about restructuring some areas of an organisation that he is heading in the government. He wants to inculcate the concept of lean in the organisation for the purpose of continuous improvement and eliminating waste. As I indicated to him this will help free up some of the money he needs to create more opportunities for the organisation and those that benefits from it. We are at the formative stage of assessing the organisation and then we will come up with a plan of action he needs to follow to kick off the journey.

What is the nature of training you offer to companies and more specifically what exactly are you offering the Nigeria Air Force?

At this time, we are in the initial

stage of reviewing what the specific organisation within the Air force needs. But since we are still in the assessment stage, they do not want it to be made public until we complete the assessment and agree on the training that they need.

How many of this kind of training are you involved in with Nigerian companies and security services?

I have not worked with any Nigerian company or government agencies.

When you say you are helping your client to achieve operations excellence, what exactly ddi you mean?

This means that we help them to anchor what they do in their processes because an organisation’s competitive advantage lies in its processes. Without an excellent process, you cannot have an excellent product. We work with them to develop standardised and optimized processes based on their unit culture for delivering excellent customer satisfaction and improved profitability and viability.

Is there a specific experience that triggered your interest in this area?

Yes. When I was working at Ford as a process engineer, I noticed that different manufacturing facilities that I supported utilised different processes for building the same products. Each facility has different time or customer demand rate and even in the same plant, if you put different operators on the same job, they use different processes.

This leads to different cycle times and waste in the system. When the company started a new group for delivering products on time bases, they asked for volunteers, and I volunteered to go into that group because I saw opportunities for using the group to standardise and improve the processes that I was responsible for. This was in 1991. Since then my interest in lean started. My doctoral dissertation was in this area and my first book – ‘The relationship between waste and operating performance measures – which was published by Lambert in 2012 was in this area of study.

Quality manpower development is a major challenge here.

How do you think corporate bodies and security firms can improve this aspect to optimise value?

The key to obtaining quality manpower is for leaders to decide that providing training to employees is the key to improving productivity and efficiency. Once you hire employees, find a way to provide the resources and hire consultants to give them the needed training. The money you spent on an employee training is not a waste even if the employee resigns shortly after the training. In my consulting activities in the US, my advice to clients is that they should provide constant training and development for their staff regardless of their level in the organisation. In fact, I sincerely believe that every employee in an organisation should receive leadership and communication training.

An organisation where everyone can communicate effectively and can lead a projects, that organisation is in a position to do better in the market than an organisation where employees have a hard time communicating and leading projects.

46

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

YouthRestivenessintheNigerDelta:TheWayForward Jasper Jumbo

T

he Niger Delta crisis is a hydra headed monster. From the outset of the discovery of this Oil in Oloibiri in 1956 now, the region has suffered from environmental degradation and untold neglect by the government and the oil multinational companies.

Logically, the Niger Delta is supposed to be a model region in Nigeria in terms of socio-economic development, industry, youth empowerment, and employment.

Unfortunately, the reverse is the case.

Ironically, the region is one of the most neglected areas in Nigeria. Oil and gas pollution and years of abandonment of the people, have resulted in untold economic hardship and health hazards.

The cries of the people as well as several non-governmental organization for attention to the area were not only spurned, but were rebuffed with crackdown and repression from successive administrations in the country with the strong backing of the oil multinationals.

It is no longer news that Niger Delta youths generally experience poverty in the midst of plenty, thereby facing many social, political and economic challenges in their immediate environment. “Where do we belong in our common regional wealth?” they seem to be asking. Unfortunately, in their quest to bite a slice of the national cake, they seem to overreact, and took to self-help by bombing, kidnapping and abducting the expatriate and other categories of personnel of the oil majors in exchange for monetary ransom, since successive Nigerian governments failed to give ear to the complaints of the youths with regard to improving on their living conditions and their environment.

The emerged militant and pressure groups such as the Egbesu Boys, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), the Biafran Zionist Movement (BZM), the Okoloma Ikpangi, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and recently, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) have become a thorn in the flesh of the Federal Government.

These groups generally appear to have a philosophy that seems to suggest that Nigeria as a country is unworkable.

Often times, they confront the Nigerian security agents, such as the army, the

Jumbo navy, the police, and the States Security Service (SSS), resulting in colossal loss of lives and property. Acts of violence, armed robbery and kidnapping for ramsom, have become ways of seeking redress and alternative empowerment.

If well implemented, the Amnesty programme in Nigeria could serve to negate the ‘resource curse’ theory that resource-rich economies such as Nigerian, Congo, Angola, etc. are more prone to mismanagement, underdevelopment, and violence. Examples of UK and Norway, both major oil exporting countries, reveals that resource curse is avoidable with functioning institutions and good governance in place.

Nevertheless, Amnesty would not provide a wholesome empowerment and reorientation of the youths. In the first place, it benefited only some youths who advanced themselves as having participated in the ‘fight’ for the survival of the Niger Delta people and who surrendered their guns to the security agents. The numerous other Niger Delta youths were neglected. The question here is, how has the funds released from the on-set of the Amnesty programme been managed? If such amount was judiciously utilised for the youths in a proper system, the issue of youth restiveness would have been a forgotten

history in Niger Delta.

From findings as at June 22nd 2016, the Bill seeking to give legal backing to the Federal Government Amnesty Programme for former militants in the Niger Delta region passed through second reading in the House of Representatives.

I am of the opinion that the current Bill as contemplated is not holistic enough since some essentials like orchestrating the guidance of the youth into agriculture, dove-tailing the youth training into the Nigerian Local Contents Policy and artisanal mainstreaming into peripheral infrastructural development close to the former militants home base and camps are not integrated in the Proposed Act. The Amnesty Programme’s skills acquisition packages promise a better future for both the local population and the companies if well managed.

Upon the completion of their training in oil-related skills, the companies should ensure that they are recruited and engaged in the industry through the reservation of some employment quota for the local inhabitants, thus making the local people identify with the companies operating in the region. The proposed Amnesty Bill should amongst other things, authorise the Amnesty Bill should amongst other things, authorise the Amnesty Office to compulsorily interface with the Local Contents office and the Human Resources Departments of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Companies, receive the annual employment projections of the said Companies, with a view to advancing trained and competent hands either for hands-on experience or full employment.

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) could be a veritable means in curbing the over bearing youth restiveness in the Niger Delta Region.

The problems is that the once-fashionable and much-touted Niger Delta Regional masterplan, is fast becoming a catalogue of mere statements of intent and in some areas seen as purely academic and anachronistic concepts or wishful instrument, when considered against the backdrop of the disjointed, disparate and unco-ordinated projects imposed on the Niger Delta by past several political players and intervening Federal Agencies or the “paper projects” awarded and paid to youth leaders for doing no actual work, by past and immediate managers and directors of NDDC. There are about 85 LGAs within

the Niger Delta. The NDDC Regional Masterplan for the Niger Delta has no specific Needs Assessment projects per LGA / communities or delineations based on locational peculiarities and community yearnings. Neither does the package effectively outline appropriate Indices of Mineral Production (IMP) and corresponding financial expectations / accruals per State / LGA over a given period of time. This is a big problem, as most of the demands for funds for the development of the Region are neither emperically justifiable nor visibly- phased and defensible.

Beyond Amnesty, the social, political, economic and environmental problems triggered by militancy in the Niger Delta need to be addressed. Without this, it is doubtful if Amnesty alone could bring durable peace to the volatile region. For emphasis, Niger Delta apart from being part of Nigeria, is perhaps, one of the most economically important regions of our Great Nation that must not be sidelined in the areas of funds / development allocation by the present or future Governments of Nigeria. The current practice of prejudicially whittling down the budgets of all the federal Agencies whose schedule responsibilities span the development of the region is a gross national disservice and ought to be revisited, even if means through a Supplementary Budget, the economic recession, notwithstanding.

Some other Nigerians cannot be having jamborees, mutiple jet planes and living in super comfort zones with money extracted from the Niger Delta, whereas hunger is left to wear trousers and walk the streets and creeks of the region and their fellow country man are wallowing in endemic poverty and dancing highlife with oil pollution and environmental degradation.

The introduction of Amnesty must therefore, be backed up by enhanced funding as well as other socio-economic and socio-political developments in the entire region. Amnesty alone will only bring temporary peace to the region.

Sooner or later, new and more dangerous groups may emerge in the region, if nothing is done to adequately address the root causes of the Niger Delta crisis that birthed the Amnesty programmes.

This piece is an excerpt from a speech presented by Professor Jasper F Jumbo at a Public Forum at the National Assembly Complex on October 06, 2016.

Jumbo is a pioneer Niger Delta Development campaigner and the enhancer.

MyThoughts on Made in Nigeria Oluwatosin Fabiyi “No army on earth can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come.”

-Victor Hugo

B

ack in February 2016, before Nigeria’s economic recession was announced, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, advocated for Nigeria to pursue an economic self-sufficiency strategy by patronising more ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods, services and businesses. Since then, given the potency of the ‘Made in Nigeria’ idea, throngs of individuals and organisations have keyed into this initiative by hosting a variety of events that are aimed at promoting Nigerian

businesses.

This week, against the backdrop of Nigeria’s economic recession, NESG, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, has adopted the Senate President’s ‘Made in Nigeria’ theme as a viable alternative to improve Nigeria’s dwindling economy.

The CEO of the NESG, Mr. Jaiyeola Laoye, has also characterised the ‘Made in Nigeria’ initiative as an integral part of Nigeria’s short, medium and long-term economic growth and development — emphasising that Nigeria’s perception as an import-dependent economy has led to dwindling foreign reserves, pressure on the Naira and negative economic growth.

This is why earlier this year, at the height of the commencement of the Senate’s ‘Made in Nigeria’ campaign, Saraki harped on the need for the

National Assembly to embark on the amendment of the Public Procurement Act. This amendment, which was passed by the Senate on Thursday, June 16th, 2016, compelled agencies, departments and ministries of the federal government to only buy locally made goods.

Commentators have likened the Senate’s plan to promote ‘Made in Nigeria’ to the ‘Buy American Act’ of 1933, which compelled the U.S. government and its agencies to first patronise US-made products, before foreign alternatives.

Additionally, the People’s Republic of China has similar provisions that stipulate that domestic goods, services and projects have to be used in the government’s procurement process, with the exception of when the required goods are not available in China, and the procurement items are to be used

outside China.

Moving forward, it is clear that Nigeria’s fastest route to economic growth and job creation, is by pursuing an export-led strategy that will see ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods being utilised both at home and abroad.

What this means is that to remain competitive and relevant, Nigerian businesses will need to improve on the quality of their goods and services, to increase both local and international demands of their products.

At this point, given that the Public Procurement Act has been passed and transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence, it is important that this bill is prioritised, fast-tracked, and sent to President Buhari for his immediate assent.

–Fabiyi writes from Lagos

47

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Okorocha and the Imo Debacle Clifford Nwanju

O

n the 7th of October, 2016, the Vanguard Newspaper carried a front page banner headline, captioned, “Why We left Douglas Road Refuse – Imo Government”. It was a news report credited to Samuel Onwuemeodo, the Press Secretary to the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha. Onwuemeodo was quoted as saying that, “Government deliberately abandoned the refuse along Douglas Road, Owerri to get back at Owerri people who have been battling the State Government over the relocation of the market.” Then the CPS went further to say that: “Owerri people cannot eat their cake and have it.”

These reckless outbursts of Okorocha’s spokesman and the pouring of invectives on Owerri indigenes over a matter as serious as refuse disposal in a strategic area in the highly populated city of Owerri, is a manifestation of how the Okorocha administration has decided to abandon its basic responsibilities to the citizenry. The CPS was speaking at an early morning phone-in programme on the day in question.

The radio programme was anchored

by Hot 99.5 FM Station, Owerri. Most of the respondents were outraged at the callousness of the Okorocha administration in subjecting the masses to health hazards by refusing to embark on the disposal of the huge refuse dumps in Owerri municipality, just to get at those the Government has demonized as opponents of his administration. Even at that, Owerri is a metropolis where people from diverse areas globally reside. It is also the Imo State capital, inhabited by Imo citizens from across the state.

Even the claim by the Imo State Government that they decided to abandon the refuse heaps because of a court order restraining them from tampering with the Owerri main

tive recklessness.

The controversy over the relocation of the market is only a minor aspect of Okorocha’s excesses and atrocity in Imo State since he was elected into office in 2011. Okorocha has imposed a siege on the once peaceful and vibrant Imo State. Nearly all the major roads in the state are in a terrible state of dilapidation and disrepair. Okorocha has no policy thrust on road maintenance and the few roads he constructed a few years ago have collapsed because of poor job delivery. The dilapidated roads in question including Douglas road, Orlu road, Okigwe road, World Bank road, Umuguma road, Amaraku road, Mbaise road and several other uncountable urban and rural roads in the state. The Governor’s non-challant attitude to the comfort and well- being of the people has acquired a sadistic dimension, because just as the masses were lamenting over the sorry state of Governor Okorocha the road net-work, he commenced the bulldozing and demolition of houses along major and strategic parts of the market is not a logical argument.

Rather it is a vexacious and vindictive old city of Owerri. He deliberately left out the new Owerri capital layout act of wickedness aimed at punishand started the expansion of roads in ing Owerri residents for something the old city areas, just to punish the they know nothing about. The court people at these hard times. All appeals order in question was obtained from made to him forget about the demoliaggrieved owners of market stalls in tion exercises were brushed aside. the Owerri market whose countless Meanwhile, landlords and tenants, inappeals to the Imo State Government cluding businessmen who were using to carry out a proper documentation their properties for business in Orji/ of the owners/occupants of stalls at Okigwe road, Orlu road, Egbu road, the market, fell on deaf ears. OkoroMbaise road and Egbeada road were cha’s foot-soldiers had completed thrown into weeping and wailing arrangements to allocate the stalls with the arrival of bull-dozers which at the new Egbeada market to his crushed their buildings and messed cronies, so as to render the original up their lives. The worst aspect of the traders of the Douglas road market entire episode is that the Governor useless and throw them out of busiOkorocha does not pay compensation ness. The traders have obtained a temporary reprieve through the court for damaging people’s property. The order, hoping that the government can last time he carried out the exercise re-engage them in proper negotiation, in Orlu, the situation was the same.

And these are city layouts which were taking into consideration the need to properly planned and landlord had sustain their livelihood. Instead of doing the proper thing, the Okorocha their Certificates of Occupancy. Why did the government not go over to administration is waging a war of attrition against the indigenes of Owerri the new Owerri capital territory to Nchi Ise- the owners of the old market build new roads with multiple lanes, as a cover up for his their administra- where they have empty lands, if they

were sincere and committed? The excavations going simultaneously with the demolition exercise is having a terrible side-effect on the ecology of the state capital. And to show how wicked and vicious the government agents can become, they excavated and dug up the graves of people buried in their ancestral homes, in the name of bulldozing people’s homes and compounds. A case in point is that of the Late Traditional Ruler of Ihitte-Oha, Eze Onuegwu Nwoke, a former Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, whose mother’s grave was dug up. This was a shameless case of cultural abomination committed by Okorocha’s hooligans.

The villagers have since placed curses on them.

The socio- political debacle created in Imo State by Okorocha is gathering more and more momentum, to the extent that there are countless court cases against his government. His administration has been disparaged, criticized and accused by stakeholders for its financial recklessness, corruption and ecological crimes against the state. Okorocha’s government has a reputation for awarding contracts without due process. There is no single career administrator in his entire government.

There are no ministerial Tenders Boards or procurement committees for due process and transparency. That is actually the reason why over 100 contractors whose services could not be settled, nor their agreements traced have taken the Governor and his Government to court on several and diverse cases.

Okorocha and his handlers should reconsider their atomization tactics.

They should stop isolating the people of Owerri Nchi Ise in their deliberate sectarian politics of deceit. The truth of the matter is that the entire state is disappointed by his failed governance and his legacies have been debased by the debacle he brought upon himself and the state.

– Clifford Nwanju writes from

Haba! Sahara Reporters Chike Okeke

J

ournalism, like any other noble profession is practice by diligent, educated and proud people. A journalist undergoes tutelage and is well appraised of the norms, do’s and don’ts of the profession.

A journalist, variously known as reporter or editor remains with that tag for life even if he ventures into any other profession. One of the main tenets of journalism is credibility. A journalist or media house must be credible, reliable and trustworthy. The news from a credible media house is regarded as the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

When the reading public starts doubting the authenticity of news published by a media house, such a medium is slowly inching its way into oblivion or extinction.

Since the start of electioneering campaigns in 2014 a particular media house Sahara Reporters, though an online medium has been dishing out numerous false report about individuals and organizations that make the discerning people like this writer think twice before believing stories from the house. A few months ago it announced to the whole world that the Chief of Army

Staff Lt. Gen. Buratai acquired some properties in Dubai which he did not declare in the appropriate Code of Conduct Bureau Document. The news later turned out to be false as even the Code of Conduct Bureau has given the Army General a Certificate of Clearance.

There are many other instances where report of Sahara Reporter where seen as malicious, fabricated or altar false. Take for instance a news item in the online medium on Tuesday October 11, 2016 with the headline Chief Judge of Nigeria’s Federal High Court implicated in $13m bribery Arrest.

It reported that Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja, in whose home over $550,000.00 was allegedly found during the raid on his resident by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) last weekend had confessed to a deal between him and Justice Auta by which $300,000 of the physical cash found in his bedroom was to have been shared between the two men. As a news hound, I have search other online media and many print media publications to read the news of this “confession” by Justice Ademola to the DSS but I did not find it. May be this information about this confession was exclusively given to Sahara Reporters. Such a big story, a front page news by any standard. The credibility

is definitely suspect. There were many other allegations against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in the said confessional statement by Justice Ademola. The report also stated that “Sahara Reporters learnt that C. J Auta was quizzed and quietly released the previous day by the DSS.” Diligent investigation carried out by this writer which are easily verifiable indicate that Justice Auta was never invited by the DSS not to talk of his being quietly or loudly released. Reliable information further reveal that in his written statement to the DSS, Justice Ademola never confessed to any crime nor did he implicate anybody include Judges. The alleged confession is therefore a mere figment of the imagination of Sahara Reporter. How far can a news medium go to damage the reputation of a judicial officer or impugn his integrity.

It is common knowledge that the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man. Officers in the temple of justice are seen as being used

by Almighty God to dispense Truth and Justice to all manner of persons. They are highly regarded as infallible, fear and equitable in their arduous task. However, being human-beings and not God they can make mistakes. Some of them may even fall to the temptation of bribery as the National Judicial Council has discovered and punished in recent time. But it beats ones imagination

why lies and false hood will be fabricated to malign an innocent Judicial Officer just to bring him to disrepute, odium or contempt.

What does Sahara Reporters gain by this resort to gutter journalism? I do not know if Judicial Officers are allowed to take legal action in matters like this, while still on their desks. If so I humbly advise or rather request Hon. Justice Auta to take appropriate steps and seek redress on the damage done to his reputation by Sahara Reporters. When the media house pays reasonable amount in damages and compensation, it will learn the bitter lessons and practice journalism the way it should be practiced.

Instead of attributing false hood to a confessional statement allegedly made by Justice Ademola to the DSS, why not wait for the DSS to use the confessional statement in the charge it will prefer against the Judge and perhaps Justice Auta. The Sahara Reporters story is in fact disgusting, disappointing and out rightly tendentious. Sahara Reporters should retrace it steps now before it becomes history as an agent of blackmail, character assassination and sensational publications, full of sound and fury, but unfortunately signifying nothing, apologies to William Shakespeare.

–Chike Okeke is a Public Affairs Analyst

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 9, 2016

48

mEdia & maRkETing

Glo Drives Value as It Partners PenCom on World Pension

with

KASIE ABONE 08057511558 (sms only)

T

he wholly Nigerian telecom giant, Globacom has upped its ante in its effort to deliver value to its teeming subscribers. In addition to driving change in the delivery of data bundle to subscribers across all platforms, the network has unveiled innovative architecture to provide its customers best experience in pension administration.

Glo which was a diamond partner in the 2016 World Pension Summit ‘Africa Special’ held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja explained that the products and services would help propel Nigeria’s fledgling pension industry to monumental growth.

Globacom’s Head of Operations, North Central, Mr. Akeem Yusuf, said at the event that the company developed architecture comprising three main components namely Customer-on-Board, Payment Collection Process and Automation provides best customer experience in pension administration.

Yusuf described Customer–on-Boarding component as a simplified registration process which makes it easy for pension administrators to register, administer and manage their customers. In addition to this, he explained, “a mobile money agent will be created, and all payments will be updated using Glo Mobile-to-Pension Administrator’s database on Real Time basis, Real Time update of payment along with Customer Alert”. On the third component, Automation, he stated that the present touch points between consumers and banks are either time consuming, tedious for consumer or a costly affair, but that the pension administrator’s application provided by Globacom will be on Cloud Telephony platform. “The Cloud Telephony platform will automate various processes of Pension consumers so that there will be no need for Manual Interventions, especially in terms of personal premiums collection”, he said.

Being the country’s integrated telecoms operator offering Glo Mobile, Glo Broadaccess, Glo Business Solutions, Glo 1 and Glo

L-R: Globacom’s Head of Operations, North Central, Akeem Yusuf; Director General, National Pension Commission, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu; and Founder and Advisory Board Member, World Pension Summit, Harry Smorenberg, at the opening ceremony of the 2016 World Pension Summit ‘Africa Special’ supported by Globacom in Abuja

Gateway services, Yusuf said Glo empowers its customers with tools and automation to make business and life easy.

Earlier, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who delivered the keynote address at the summit urged the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to cautiously embrace innovation to avoid endangering the security of funds being managed by it.

“Innovation and sustainability must be with security. We cannot be too adventurous so that people who have worked and saved all their lives should have their money when they need it after retirement,” Obasanjo

advised.

PenCom Director General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, in her remarks commended Globacom for partnering with her commission to ensure a successful summit. She added that with the support of companies like Globacom, the commission is promoting a sustainable pension industry that positively impacts on the economic development of Nigeria.

The World Pension Summit ‘Africa Special’ is an annual specialized summit for Africa which is held in conjunction with PenCom. The first edition was held in Nigeria in 2014

to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Nigerian Pension Reform Act of 2004.

The event with the theme “Pension Innovations: The African Perspective” was attended by finance experts, African social security and pension professionals as well as major stakeholder around the globe including Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, the CEO, World Pension Summit, Chris Battaglia, and the founder and Advisory Board Member, World Pension Summit, Harry Smorenberg.

First Set of Finalists Emerge in Cowbellpedia Maths Quiz

A

s the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics Television Quiz Show entered its critical stage, emotions are rising and adrenalin of the contestants is pumping really hard. Who will wear the ultimate crown? What would count? For Miss Hasanah Adeyanju, a Senior Secondary student of Ota Total Academy, Ota, Ogun State who emerged tops in the last edition of the show with her pair, Blessing Udoh of The Ambassador College, also in Ota, inspiration to solve Mathematics equations is drawn from the serenity of the environment she consciously chooses to be in. The duo who contestants from other

states to emerge winners in the semi-final of the weekly show could not contain their joy.

With eyes set on the ultimate prize Adeyanju said: “I will definitely work on my accuracy and speed. That is what my teacher has been telling me. I will not let him down. I want to make my parents happy too. That has been my prayer and I believe God for success.” In the junior category, it was a fierce mental warfare that saw Oluwafunmbi Fakorede of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State and Dennis Balogun of Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State secure the final tickets for their respective schools.

Maje Shuaibu of NTIC Kano Boys, Kano State; Oluwafunke Alabi of Scholars Uni-

versal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State; Micah Gabriel of Evangel College, Gombe, Gombe State and Toyosi Olorunfemi of Model Secondary School, Ilesanmi Village, Oba-Ile, Akure, Ondo State however, did not crash out without a fight, as the contest stretched into a tie breaker twice.

After a hard fought intellectual battle, Balogun and Fakorede carried the day.

They expressed confidence in their abilities to do well in the final contest. “I feel great to get to this point, but the battle is not over. I will go and prepare well for the final battle, most especially, I will heed my teacher’s advice to improve on my speed,” an elated Balogun told journalists outside the studio in Lagos.

The airing of the programme continues this weekend; AIT Network on Saturday, 7. 00p.m; TVC Lagos, Saturday, 8.00p.m.; NTA Ibadan, Saturday, 9. 30a.m; NTA Kano, Saturday, 2.00 p.m.; CRBC Calabar, Saturday 7.00p.m; NTA Onitsha, Sunday, 5. 00p.m; STV Jos, Sunday, 5.00 p.m. Also, you can watch it on DSTV Channel 154 on Saturday, 9.00 p.m.

The ultimate prize for this year’s edition is N1m and an all-expense paid educational excursion abroad for the student and N400,000 each for the teachers of the winning students are the key drivers of the keenness in the students to outdo each other and keep Nigerians glued in anticipation.

Promasidor to Expand Brand Portfolio with N8bn

W

hile businesses are shrinking in sizes and laying off staff in most cases due to the economic recession that is taking a huge haul on Nigeria economy, one company Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of the popular Cowbell milk brand has concluded plans in partnership with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to inject a $25 million loan (over N8billion) into its production with a view to increasing efficiency and expand its brand portfolio.

The Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited- PNL, Mr. Olivier Thiry, explained that the capital injection would be used to

support purchases of new machinery that will enable PNL to increase efficiency, expand production and develop new products, leading to greater availability of nutritious food products in Nigeria at competitive prices.

According to him “This is a very competitive market for food products. We expect that this investment will help us optimize production costs, enabling us to reach and nourish more consumers with our affordable range of quality products. We will also target our portfolio extension by gradual integration of more locally sourced raw materials from producers in Nigeria and widening our network of distributors” He noted that the investment became

necessary in view of the numerous business opportunities in the Nigerian market.

He disclosed that Promasidor Nigeria is currently faced with production limitations as it could not produce enough quantity of its nutritious products to service the demand for them from different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Mary-Jean Moyo, IFC Head of Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services for sub-Saharan Africa said, “Agribusiness is Nigeria’s largest employer. Increasing investment in food-processing companies like PNL will help diversify Nigeria’s economy and improve nutrition by expanding the supply of affordable food.”

IFC said it invests in Agribusiness to enhance productivity with the goals of greater food

security, higher rural incomes, and improving environmental and social sustainability.

Today, it added, the average African farm performs at just 40 per cent of potentials.

The organization said by 2030, Africa’s agriculture and agribusiness market is expected to triple in value to reach $1 trillion.

Africa needs more than $10 billion in new investment annually to achieve this aspired expansion of output.

In the fiscal year which ended in June 2016, IFC’s overall, long-term investments in subSaharan Africa totalled nearly $3.7 billion, including more than $1.8 billion mobilized from other investors. IFC clients provided 240,000 jobs, supported nearly 1.2 million farmers, and treated nearly 960,000 patients.

49

OCTOBER 15, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

BUSINESS INTERVIEW Williams

How We Changed Nigeria’s Soft Drinks Market with Big Cola Country Manager of AJE Group, manufacturers and distributors of Big Cola and other brands, Mr. Theo Williams, tells Crusoe Osagie about the model company deployed to snatch the number three position in Nigeria’s competitive soft drinks market, in about one year

I

Tell us about how u came to Nigeria and your working experience? have lived in Nigeria for 16 years.

But, not been all those years with the AJE Group. I have work with different companies in the Fast Moving Consumer Good (FMCG) world.

AJE Group was formed some 26 years ago in the northern part of Peru, South America. It is a family-owned business. Due to the war situation in that country, the bigger ‘soft’ drink suppliers could not travel to those areas, so the Ananos family decided that people needed to have some soft drinks, so they started a very small factory there, family-run and the business model caught on very quickly, so when the war actually stopped, they spread throughout South America at an unbelievable speed and 26 years later, they now have owned operations in 28 countries and franchise operations in three countries. The one thing that they always do when selecting where to enter is there must be a large population and there must be a strong middle class.

They are not interested in the age or income bracket because their philosophy is that they will always give you more for less and secondly, is that we democratise soft drinks meaning that to take a soft drink, it is not only when you have a party or a christening or a wedding. It is a daily drink; you drink it whenever you are tasty. We came to Nigeria in 2013. We started selecting land for factories and also started the first factory in Agbara and during the year 2014, we built the plant and later stages of 2015 in September, we launched the company and in one year, I am of the opinion we changed the face of the ‘soft’ drinks industry in Nigeria.

How do you produce this drink?

It is a quality drink of international flavours and the only way we can summarise it is that our business model is one that allows us to produce a quality product at a price less expensive than what the competitions offer.

What is the composition of the drink?

Just like every other company’s drinks, there is sugar, citrus, flavours and preservatives. It is a normal drink.

Our cola is cola and our orange is orange, lime is lime. Nobody can get rid of the basic components of the product.

What is responsible for the success of the business?

We entered the market with a 65cl bottle and we were also selling at a lesser price than anybody else is selling a 50cl bottle. The taste was good, the price was good and also the volume and the Nigerian markets were ready for a viable alternative. They tasted it and accepted it. The team that we employed flew with the drink and we expect that to have employees, we need to have the partners out in the market and we selected people that were new, the type we call the beginners who are not scared to put some money down and see if this thing works. We did not select people who are followers, but selected leaders, champions of something new and in a quick space of time, our business partners and the staff knew that we had a winning combination and many people have said that it is unbelievable, that we should not have done what we did. But that shows you the power of people and distribution.

What is your share of the market?

Williams

I would answer it this way, rather than telling you what market share we have got, I would say that officially we are now number three in the market.

Why did you come to Nigeria at a time the economy was faced with uncertainties?

We are an owned company and we started this business in the middle of a war in South America, therefore, we cannot be afraid of coming into uncertainty. We entered because we saw a viable result.

How are you coping with the current economic situation in the country?

We cannot say Nigeria, since its independence has had a calm existence.

It has had its ups and downs and it has proven that it is a nation that can recover and grow. We know right now we are facing a challenge. The dollar-naira exchange rate is hurting everybody, but during this period, it is the time when the men are separated from the boys. Produce a model that will keep you afloat without affecting quality, efficiency and at the end of that we will be in the right position to ride the next wave with the rest of Nigerians.

How many states are you in?

We are pan-Nigeria.

Where are you from as an individual and how have you been coping in Nigeria since you arrived?

I came into Nigeria when the telecommunication companies came into the country. I was one of the founding members of the telecommunications industry and then I was to join the ‘soft’ drink industry. A superb company called classic beverages recruited me as its General Manger, Sales and Marketing and while there, in a short space of time, the company grew about seven folds and I enjoyed what I saw here and decided that this is where I am going to make it happen and I then joined a public liability company (PLC) and I was made the Managing Director of UAC Dairies. I was recruited from there to start up another bottling company which I suggested it to be established in Kano and today it is mainly a water company doing quite well in the North and the reason it has not expanded further South is because of the cost of

Our business model basically creates direct and indirect jobs. We currently employ over 200 people of which only eight are expatriates. We have indirect employment to a range of about 400 to 600 and with our expansion in short term, that number should double. We also have a social responsible programmes and because we are a ‘soft’ drink company, we will therefore, like to start building boreholes in areas where we operate to help the people. Similarly, we are attempting to clean the streets, meaning adopt a road in Victoria Island, Ikeja or Ikoyi or anywhere to put up dustbins. We will also come up with a plan to remove the millions of plastic bottles on the streets transportation and for water, it is not profitable. Whilst I was there, the AJE Group told me they wanted to start something here and asked if I mind joining them and after an eight-month interviewing process, I was offered the position and the rest is history.

Can you advise the Nigerian government on how to boost manufacturing and the economy?

For me to advise the leaders of Nigeria will be most naive. I have only been here for 16 years and not 60.

However, my advice would be creating environment for investment, create an environment where people who invest in the country, get the right tax breaks. If they are putting some kind of equity in, they should be assured that they will get long-term loans at low rates, allow them to move with speed and overcome some of the bureaucracy that hinders people from coming to Nigeria. It is not easy if you do not know the ropes, things get difficult and so many different issues come into play. If you are not an African and you do not understand Nigeria, you will run. One of the funny issues that happened to me when we started this operation, was that suddenly, we were refused permission to build a security wall and we realised that there was a problem concerning the original land owners and we had legitimately purchased the land. I called the board to say that we cannot continue with the business because we are fighting against “juju” over the land and I think a lot of Nigerians have forgotten that this is the gateway to Africa. This land has got

what you need. It has got agriculture, minerals, crude oil, gas and it has literally, more areas where you can grow more types of vegetables, fruits than in South Africa. I am a Zimbabwean and Zimbabwe was known as the maize basket of Africa, but I will say that the man who quoted that phrase did not see what lies here. The opportunity here is immense. Start making things like commercial farming instead of subsistent farming. Make things work for government to own taxes, introduce a trickle down economy and not a trickle up economy that to me is progress and the taxes that you are generating should be used in building infrastructure, you should fix the gas stations and instead of flaring, power with gas and we know in the past the economy was depended on oil, move that dependence to gas because gas prices have been very constant and we know that oil would eventually recover but cannot go back to the old prices and I think as long as big oil producers are fighting each other, not one of them is willing to reduce output, everybody else is going to suffer, but when that difference stops and they start thinking economically to survive, we will find oil prices will start coming up again.

What other things do you like in Nigeria?

I think the Nigerian people generally are a great bunch of people. They are friendly and supportive. In all the time I have been here, I have never ever heard a racist comment. I have been in night clubs, bars, hotels and all around the country and I have never experienced any thing to be scared of. I have tasted a number of dishes of Nigerian cuisine and some of them I quite enjoy while some of them I do not enjoy, but like everybody, if you take a Nigerian outside a Nigerian environment and you give him some food from that country he does not enjoy all of them either, he spends the next two days finding a Nigerian restaurant so we are all the same.

Any projections for your business in the next five years?

My company is already reinvesting so as to triple our current capacity.

Our dream is to establish another two factories one in the North and the other in the East and with that, we can reduce our cost of distribution and also give us the flexibility one requires as a manufacturing company What has your company brought with it?

We have invested about $60 million so far and in a short time, we will invest between 60 and 80 million euros How does your business model boost employment generation?

Our business model basically creates direct and indirect jobs. We currently employ over 200 people of which only eight are expatriates. We have indirect employment to a range of about 400 to 600 and with our expansion in short term, that number should double.

We also have a social responsible programmes and because we are a ‘soft’ drink company, we will therefore, like to start building boreholes in areas where we operate to help the people.

Similarly, we are attempting to clean the streets, meaning adopt a road in Victoria Island, Ikeja or Ikoyi or anywhere to put up dustbins. We will also come up with a plan to remove the millions of plastic bottles on the streets.

50

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

TRIBUTE Tribute to Captain Thomas Sankara Bolaji Akinyemi All creatures drink of joy At nature’s breast.

Just and unjust Alike taste of her gift; She gave us kisses and the fruit of the vine, A tried friend to the end.

[Even] the worm has been granted sensuality, And the cherub stands before God! Gladly, as His heavenly bodies fly On their courses through the heavens, Thus, brothers, you should run your race, As a hero going to conquest.

-Friedrich Schiller, Ode to Joy, 3rd verse and chorus This is odd. Quite oxymoronic. Ode to Joy as tribute to a fallen young hero? Should this not be appropriately titled Lamentations?: “How the mighty have fallen in battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me.

Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.

27 “How the mighty have fallen!

The weapons of war have perished!” (2 Samuel 1: 25-27)

T

he ancient Greeks resolved this conundrum when Perseus answered boldly: “Better to die in the flower of youth, on the chance of winning a noble name, than to live at ease like the sheep, and die unloved and unrenowned.” (Charles Kingsley:

HEROES).

My own people, the Yoruba, have a similar attitude when they say: “O san k’a ku ni kekere, ju k’a d’agba, k’a d’a rugbo k’a ma ri adiye irana,” (Better to die young and be celebrated than to die at a grand old age and lack recognition). Remember Lt. Colonel Francis Fajuyi.

Yes, Captain Sankara died at the age of 38 on October 15, 1987. And yet in a book called NATIONALISTE published in October 2012 by Livres Groupe, Thomas Sankara is included, along with Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba while the names of presidents for life and other pretenders are missing.

President Thomas Sankara still occupies a special place in my heart for three reasons.

Firstly, he was the eureka spark for the Technical Aid Corps scheme. Secondly, he was indirectly responsible for my first and only meeting with the irrepressible and unforgettable Fela. Yes, the same Fela. Thirdly, he occupies the high table in my own pantheon of African Heroes alongside such figures as Kings of Ancient Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Patrice Lumumba, Amicar Cabral, Kwame Nkrumah, Samora Machel, etc.

But, first, the beginning. I had planned to spend my first Christmas as a Minister with my family. Around 2am on December 24, my phone rang and it was from our Ambassador in a neighbouring country alerting me that there were rumours that a boundary war had broken out between Mali and Burkina-Faso.

There was nothing I could do at that hour as we did not have, at that time, a situation room in Dodan Barracks to call. I thought I would brief President Babangida in the morning. At 7am the following morning, the security phone rang and President Babangida was at the end of the line wanting to know what I was still doing in Nigeria when my Libyan counterpart was already shuttling between Mali and Burkina Faso. I replied that I had not secured permission to travel (a playful cheeky reply). By the end of the day, we were airborne for a five day shuttle between Mali and Burkina-Faso. That would be the first time that I would meet Sankara. This is not the place for the full story of that mediation effort. But three takeaways from that trip. The first was the professionalism of our Air Force pilots. One day, we had done four or five roundtrips between both capitals and had planned to spend the night in Burkina Faso. But President Sankara made

Sankara

Sankara with Fela Kuti

an offer, which I had to convey to General Moussa Traore that very night and bring back a reply to Captain Sankara. By this time, it was past midnight. I turned to the Air Force officers and asked if we had exceeded their daily flying hours. They replied, “Sir, just tell us where you want to go and we’ll fly you in there and put you on the ground.” We flew into Mali, the airport lights were switched on, we drove to the Presidential Palace where the President was waiting in full General’s combat dress. I delivered the message. He stared at me for some time and asked me for my views on the proposal. This was tricky because he could react to my interpretation rather than the message itself. But in discussion during the flight, my officers and I had thought of the possibility. So after a decent diplomatic hesitation to give the impression that I was thinking about it, I said I thought it was a win-win offer. He agreed but wanted an innocuous rephrasing of two sentences.

He wanted a reply by 10am. I told him his airport was shut down for the night. He replied, “no, it is waiting for you to fly out.” I asked for an extension to 12noon for a reply.

He agreed. He walked our delegation to the door and as he shook my hand, he bent over and whispered in English, with a heavily French accent, “No Victor, No vanquished”.

Both of us burst out in peals of laughter to the consternation of our officers (his and mine) who did not know what he had whispered in my ears.

When we got to the airport, it was a perfect takeoff and a perfect landing at the other end.

Close to 15 hours of going to and fro. What brilliant Air Force guys. The best and the brightest.

The second takeaway was hilarious. On one occasion, we got to the Burkina Faso airport for urgent takeoff only for us to be told that the airport was closed down and the runway lights switched off. On further prodding, we were told that they were expecting an august visitor whose identity they would not reveal. But we were told that we could take off after the arrival of the anonymous august visitor. And so we waited in the V.I.P. lounge, which is used for both arrival and departure of V.I.Ps. After a while, there was a flurry of activities and in marched Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings, President of Ghana, in his customary flight suit. I knew him and, of course, he recognised me but there was no exchange of formalities. Then we were allowed to take off. The irony in all of that episode was that if I had been allowed to take off when I was ready, I would not have been any wiser about the visit of Jerry Rawlings.

The third takeaway was my meeting with the Libyan Foreign Minister when I landed in Burkina Faso. He told me that he was under instruction to cooperate with me and that he wanted us to jointly sponsor the Nigerian proposal, which was what we did.

I bonded with President Sankara and I found him very simple, very direct and very appreciative of Nigerian leadership. Incidentally, President Houphouet-Boigny of Cote D’Ivoire shared the same view but wanted Nigeria to be more patient in its dealings with the Francophone African countries. He was so certain that France would withdraw

from Africa as she faced increasing financial burden at home. More about this but not here and not now.

Sankara had a strategic vision of African unity that was devoid of egoism or parochialism. When IBB came in, in 1985, Nigeria was occupying the Chairmanship of ECOWAS. But the Francophone West African countries had practically lost interest in attending the ECOWAS summit. Therefore, one of the objectives of the 1986 planned summit was to reenergise their interest. On the advice of President Eyadema of Togo, we headed for Cote D’ivoire to consult President Houphouet-Boigny. He promised to attend in the company of all the Francophone West African leaders. But he laid down one condition. By rotation, President Thomas Sankara was due to be elected Chairman of ECOWAS at the 1986 summit. Houphouet-Boigny insisted that this would not be acceptable.

Instead, he suggested that Nigeria should be prepared to accept a second term, and he would be prepared to sponsor such candidature. Under all circumstances, this was a diplomatic blow against Sankara.

How would Sankara react? Would he decide to boycott the conference? Would his ally, President Rawlings, join in the boycott?

I was dispatched to smoothen things out with Sankara. He not only accepted with grace, he personally led a 27-man delegation to the Summit. Grace under pressure: the definition of a great man.

On another official visit to Burkina Faso, President Sankara pulled me aside and made a simple request. Would Nigeria please build a primary school and staff it with English teachers, because he believed that the future in Africa belonged to the English language and he wanted the Burkinabes to become bilingual. The cost of building the school was only N60,000.00. On returning home, I received approval for the aid. More importantly, it gave me the opportunity to get President Babangida to approve in principle the concept of technical assistance instead of financial aid. Even though we gave financial assistance on this occasion, President Sankara would have had no objection to sending a Nigerian contractor to execute the project with cement and other materials sourced from Nigeria. There was no Nigerian contractor interested in the contract at that sum. But the seed of the Technical Aid Corps scheme has been planted in my mind and more importantly, in President Babangida’s mind. And we have Thomas Sankara to thank for that.

The second debt I owe Thomas Sankara was my meeting with Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

When Fela was released in 1986, I sent my Personal Assistant to him at the shrine, that I would come that night to congratulate him on his release. My P. A. came back and told me that Fela said I should not come because I would not like it (diplomatic language for “you won’t fit in”). Fela said that he knew my role in securing his release and he would call on me later. I thought he had forgotten about this.

Then one day, the unthinkable happened.

Normally, the Ministry of External/Foreign Affairs is the royalty of the service. The Min-

istry is very quiet; officers carry themselves with regal postures and deliberate steps; and voices are never raised. Then one day, there was a positive commotion like the type one encounters in a sports stadium. There were cheers like rolling thunder. There was an uproar. Over the intercom, and with no attempt to hide the alarm in my voice, I asked my Secretary what was going on. She replied that Fela was coming to see me. I rushed to the corridor and there was Fela acknowledging the cheers like a gladiator with his two hands in the air. He was accompanied by the ever protective Beko Ransome-Kuti. Not even my presence dampened the acclamation.

Having welcomed him to my office, my Secretary came in to ask him what he would like to have. He looked round at the opulence of the office and waved her away. He said he was coming from IBB with a message that I should facilitate his trip to Burkina Faso as he had accepted an invitation from Thomas Sankara to participate in a cultural festival. That was news to me and I had no idea what IBB wanted me to do. But you did not argue with Fela. I told him to give me a few days and he replied that the festival was starting in three days time. With anybody else, I would have replied that it was not possible. With Fela, I did not dare. He got up to leave and signaled to Beko who pulled something from his bag.

Fela turned to me and said, “I understand you like Cuban cigars. Here is something for you.” It was the biggest cigar, wrapped, of course, that I had ever seen. It was about the size of a small bottle of bottled water. I thanked him and promised that I would do justice to it. I was going to walk him to the lift but he excused me. It would have cramped his style. Another roar greeted him and saw him on his way. Thanks to IBB, within 24 hours, we had met Fela’s requirements.

The following week, I related the whole episode to Professor Olikoye RansomeKuti, Fela’s eldest brother, who was the then Minister of Health. He said in a very raised alarm, “Bolaji, I hope you have not smoked that thing.” I said, “Actually no. But I smoke cigars.” Prof. said “Bolaji, that is not a cigar.

It is marijuana.” I almost fainted at the irony that here we were in the Council of Ministers chambers where also the Armed Forces Ruling Council met and we were talking about marijuana. On top of it, the offending item was still on my table in the office. My God, heresy in the House of the prophet!

The final debt I owe him was reawakening my faith that Africa will continue to always have a hero, no matter how many traitors abound. I will do injustice by attempting a deconstruction of what Thomas Sankara stood for. Let his own words do justice to him: “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness. In this case, it comes from nonconformity, the courage to turn your back on the old formulas, the courage to invent the future. It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen. We must dare to invent the future.”

Read full article online: www.thisdaylive.com

51

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

TRIBUTE

Olusegun Mimiko: Celebrating the Iroko at 62 Jude Ndukwe

I

have known Ondo State for quite some time. As a man whose immediate elder brother found a beautiful wife there 13 years ago, I have cause to know the state well.

I knew the condition Ondo was in those years and I know the kind of monumental advancement and transformation it has undergone under the enigmatic leadership of Olusegun Mimiko, a man whose birth resonates today among his people, thanking God for his birth to their ancestry, and what he has achieved not for himself but for his people; a man with the divine burden and mandate to go and set his people free from every form of socio-political and economic encumbrance and create for them a land flowing with milk and honey.

I was captivated by this man on one of my visits to Ondo and somewhere in one of the markets in Akure, I saw a mammoth crowd of market men and women who left their wares and were walking beside a vehicle that just drove into the market.

While I was wondering why these people and for whom they could so leave their wares and troop out, the shout of Iroko, Iroko, Iroko, rent the air and the people went into wild jubilation and broke into different songs of joy as someone alighted from the vehicle and was almost mobbed by the people. My curiosity made me ask someone who was that that the people were rushing to, and I was told it was the governor. Another elderly woman quickly quipped and said “Iroko niyen, gomina rere wa” (that is Iroko, our good governor) and quickly resumed her own shout of Iroko. In excitement, and without asking her, another woman told me that that is how the governor usually visits them to ask after their welfare and to know if there was anything specific they wanted him to do to improve upon what is on ground.

At that point, I noticed another elderly woman approach the governor while other women gave way for her and like a people already used to the situation, without any one motioning to them, silence fell on the market to enable the governor hear what the woman had to say. It happened that this woman was the market leader.

She had passed the message of the people to the governor directly, and all the while she was speaking, the governor bore the inconvenience of bending towards her so he could hear her better as age was already telling on the woman’s voice. I noticed the governor kept nodding in deference and in acquiescence to whatever she was saying. Immediately she finished, the shouts of Iroko exploded into the air like a volcano, and the governor who drove himself with two other occupants in the car, drove quietly out of the market without the usual gra gra and retinue of aides, security personnel and needless blaring of siren as it is with most political leaders and security chiefs in our clime.

That got me really captivated.

This development led me into making my independent findings on what could

Olusegun Mimiko have endeared a governor so much to his people that he feels safe enough to regularly walk in their midst without security personnel and without fearing for his safety, and my findings were quite revealing.

I used to know how unkempt the city was before Mimiko became governor, how the streets, markets, parks and such other places were littered with heaps of

Itisthesameinthehealth sector.UndertheCaringHeart initiative,thegovernorprovides freehealthservicesforchildren undertheageoffive,andfree childdeliveryservicesevenifby caesareansection,topregnant indigenesandresidentswith thestate’skaadiigbeayowhich isanall-encompassingsocial welfarecard.Forthosewho arenon-cardholders,delivery bycaesareansectioncancost aslittleasN10,000.00(ten thousandnairaonly)

rubbish and smelly waste. How the people ran their day to day businesses in squalid environments and so on. But Mimiko decided to change all that, progressively and for the people’s benefit, in one fell swoop.

Like what is obtainable in a majority of other states, urban renewal usually comes at a cost to the masses. We know of situations and places where government displace people with naked force using koboko, baton, gun-wielding and fierce looking security personnel including soldiers in the name of urban renewal only to render millions homeless without providing alternatives for them. Almost all the times, markets are pulled down for expansion or remodeling or for whatever reason, and when they are rebuilt, the original occupants, old market men and women are priced out of the new markets thereby making the poor get poorer and roam the streets hopelessly.

But it is not so in Ondo where Mimiko’s Caring Heart Initiative has ensured that the needed renewal of Akure and other cities in the state do not impoverish the people but empower them. For example, when markets are demolished and rebuilt to modern edifices, the first set of beneficiaries are always those who had been trading in the markets for ages no matter their status. Mimiko recognizes that government interventions must not exclude the poor.

It is the same in the health sector. Under the Caring Heart initiative, the governor provides free health services for children under the age of five, and free child delivery services even if by caesarean section, to pregnant indigenes and residents with the state’s kaadi igbeayo which is an all-encompassing social welfare card. For those who are non-card holders, delivery by caesarean section can cost as little as N10,000.00 (ten thousand naira only). It is therefore not a surprise that the state has the lowest infant and mortality rates in Nigeria, and non-indigenes flock the state for medical attention because of this.

This Initiaitive has also seen the governor dramatically turn around the state’s previously ramshackle schools to mega schools where even primary schools boast of modern classrooms with exotic ambience for learning, well-equipped ICT centres, functional giant generators, administrative blocks that can be mistaken for university senate buildings, wellstocked libraries and highly motivated teachers.

In addition to this, the governor has provided free shuttle buses that convey students to and fro school without discriminating between students of public and private schools. This has gone on in the state for four good years uninterrupted. This, apart from saving what would have been additional expenses on transport fare for the parents/guardians, eliminate the stress associated with trekking to and fro school by these students.

Ondo State being a major corridor for travelers from across the country usually experience accidents associated with such corridors. A majority of people usually involved in such accidents are not even

indigenes of the state but travelers from other places, yet, this has not stopped the governor from providing well trained rescue personnel including paramedics operating with state-of-the-art facilities under the auspices of the Ondo State Emergency Medical Services. With this agency, accident victims can receive help within 12 to 15 minutes any where an accident happens in the state. This has helped tremendously to increase the chances of survival of accident victims.

The Caring Heart Initiative of Mimiko did not just happen. It is something that has always been a part of the governor’s life even while he was growing up. His mother once said that whenever he was returning from school, he would come home along with no less than 12 of his fellow students for the purpose of sharing his food and other provisions with them.

With this development, his mother was left with no option but to always prepare food for Mimiko’s “crowd of witnesses” as he would always bring them home.

This is the spirit that “drove” him into politics. Ever since he was young, Mimiko has always sought for platforms through which he could care for a larger number of the people. It was this same spirit that he used in running his privately-owned hospital then where he practiced his profession as a medical doctor before going into politics. As a result, his hospital in Akure was a Mecca of sorts for the sick as Mimiko was ready to treat patients who could not afford their bills free of charge.

It is this desire to do more for the people that made him contest for the governorship of Ondo State in 2007. Although the electoral result was skewed against him, he challenged the results in court and after a 2-year energy-sapping legal battle, he got justice and was installed as governor of the state on February 23, 2009.

A compassionate go-getter and dogged fighter, Mimiko has remained the only governor to have done two terms in the history of Ondo State till date despite being in an opposition and relatively less fancied party, fighting against the might and tide of the then ruling party.

He is not called Iroko for nothing! Given the option, Ondo people would have even wanted him to do a third term. That is how good he has been to the people as a governor!

Today, it is the people of Ondo that are the greatest beneficiaries of this icon who is the cynosure of all eyes and who the outspoken Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Hassan Kukah, recently used as a standard of governance while urging other governors to learn from him.

It is this enigma, the one who has been so blessed that whatever he touches turns to gold that the world is celebrating as he clocks 62. We pray that God would continue to strengthen him and give him larger platforms to continue to touch the lives of a greater number of people even as we say happy birthday to His Excellency, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

–jrdnukwe@yahoo.co.uk; Twitter: Stjudendukwe

USA Doles Out $92.73m to Reduce Poverty in Nigeria John Iwori

T

he United States of America (USA) has announced $92.73 million in additional developmental assistance to support the five-year $2.3 billion agreement signed with the Nigeria Government in 2015.

The amount announced by USA Government brings the total of development assistance provided to $474.74 million. The money was provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The USAID, Mission Director, Michael Harvey in a statement in Lagos stated that this funding will continue to help Nigeria reduce extreme poverty in a more stable and democratic society.

Continuing, Harvey said: “Activities will stimulate inclusive economic growth, promote a healthier, moreeducated population, and strengthen good governance. Today we are pleased to contribute additional funding in support of the agreement signed with the Nigerian Government in 2015.

With their leadership we know this funding will have a significant impact on the wellbeing of Nigerians”.

In an effort to align Nigeria’s development plans with sector-specific strategies, USAID collaborated with the Nigerian Ministry of Budget and National Planning; Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education; and state-level government counterparts to structure the agreement, which is in place until 2020.

In addition to the developmental funding, the USA provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by the on-going conflict and severe food insecurity in Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin.Since fiscal year 2015, the USA has provided more than

$366 million in humanitarian assistance and continues to be the single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to the region.

According to its official website, the USAID partners to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity. In its partnership with Nigeria, the USA strengthens social stability through social services, supports transparent and accountable governance, promotes a more market led economy, and enhances Nigeria’s capacity as a responsible regional and trade partner.

52

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

POLITY

Hope Rekindled for Launch November 24 Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

T

he Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, will play host to the public presentation of Hope Rekindled, a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s nationhood challenges and possible solutions, on Thursday, November 24, 2016.

Written by a chartered Accountant and Managing Director, S.S. Afemikhe Consulting Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Sam S. Afemikhe, the over 800-page book, which is a product

of over two-year painstaking research and analysis, arose from the author’s fears over the unrelenting socio- economic and political crisis of the nation since indepence.

The book benchmarks Nigeria against nine countries, most of them former British colonies that gained independence almost at the same time with it and were then its closest peers of comparative history and levels of development. While as the book revealed, Nigeria has completely regressed after 56 years of independence, most of the comparator countries have progressed tremendously, some of them leap-frogging

from third to first world nations. The progress made by these countries compared to the retardation suffered by Nigeria is catalogued by the book, using the annual metrics and indicators generated by international organisations to rank the socio, economic and political performance of countries worldwide.

The book prescribes some solutions for the county’s persisting political and economic ailments, including total restructuring of the nation’s political systems, a re-adoption of the parliamentary system to check the high cost of governance the

current presidential system has foisted on the nation, adoption of physical federalism, a total war on corruption in all its ramifications, a socio, economic and political rebirth to jettison our life of contradictions and a total overhaul of our justice system to strengthen the rule of law and our property rights and the urgent need to embrace the doctrine of economic freedom and ease of doing business.

Hope Rekindled isorganized into four broad sections of independent modular chapters that time-pressed readers could flip through as their interest dictates.

Tinubu Hails Buhari over Release of 21 Chibok Girls

T

he National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the recuse of 21 Chibok girls, from the over 200 abducted by Boko harah terrorists over two years ago.

Tinubu in a statement from his media office said: “The news of the release of the 21 Chibok girls came to me as a delightful relief. I congratulate the families of these young ladies who have endured so much anxiety and pain on account of this horrendous experience. I am also grateful that these budding young stars now have the opportunity to again pursue their dreams and aspirations.

“I know there is road to recovery and readjustment ahead, but I am confident that the support of their families, our communities and the assistance of our many collaborators at home, and internationally provide the tools

required for this. I also congratulate and thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his steadfastness and dogged effort in ensuring the release of these girls. I salute our gallant men and women in uniform who continue to make sacrifices on our behalf and have remained focused in the hot pursuit of the terrorists.

“I commend all Federal Government agencies- the DSS, the NIA- and indeed our lawmakers and our other partners who remained dogged and worked assiduously to secure this release.

“It is a great day for our nation and humanity when as shown there, we demonstrate that every life is vital and must be fought for, no matter what it takes. I know that the joy of this outcome will inspire and encourage the government and all concerned to do everything within human possibility to secure the release of our other daughters who are still in captivity.

“This President, I am assured, will

PHOTO NEWS

not rest on his oars until all the girls in captivity are freed and returned to their families. Security and ending the the Boko Haram insurgency remains atop

the agenda of the APC-led government and I am happy that the evidence is there to see that progress is being made on this front.”

R-L: An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) blindfolded by the Zonal Coordinator, NCS Zone A, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG) Charles Edike as he couples a dismantled rifle in less than a minute at the Seme Border Command when Edike paid a working visit to the command headquarters in Seme…recently

L-R: Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Barnabas Bantex; Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Waheed Olagunju both jointly presenting an entrepreneurship grant to the recipient Danjuma Malan, during the graduation of programme by BoI in Kaduna …recently

L-R: Senior Policy Adviser, ONE Campaign, Francis Ohanyido; Tolu Oniru-Demuren; Ali Nuhu; both ambassadors of ONE Campaign; Deputy Director, Africa, ONE Campaign, Nachilala Nkombo; Ambassador of ONE Campaign, Aina Vivian Iruobe (Waje), and member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, at the launch of make PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Naija stronger campaign in Lagos, ...recently

L-R: Director, Brand and Experience, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Ogiemwanye; TV Personality, Gideon Okeke; Vice President, Marketing, Etisalat Nigeria, Adebisi Idowu and Nigerian TV personality/Content Creator, Ill Oluwo, during the demonstration of Etisalat (4G LTE), in Lagos…..recently

Air France Commercial Director, KLM, Mr. Arthur Dieffenthaler ((right), with winners of the grand finale of Dare2Dream Season 3, a KLM sponsored youth empowerment competition, held in conjunction with Kinabiti Fashion Italy in Lagos.... recently

53

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

POLITY

Celebrating Ogah’s ‘Arrest’, a New Low in Abia’s Dirty Politics

U

che Ogah, the President of Master’s Energy Limited, is a man in the news. Apart from the fact that he has been having a running battle of over the candidacy of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the April 2015 governorship election for his native Imo State, he has also been having issues with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Earlier in the week, news went viral that the businessman turned politician had been arrested by the EFCC. Both online and mainstream media feasted on the story. He was said to have been detained over an oil and gas deal between his company and one Mrs. Bridget Adeosun. It was an issue that has been going on for some time between Ogah’s company and Adeosun. However, the most bizarre was the report that there were jubilations at the Abia State Government House with supporters of the governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, rejoicing that at last, their political nemesis has been put away probably for a long time.

In a long and acrimonious legal battle that lasted for over a year, Ogah had been declared winner of the last governorship election in Abia State by Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja on June 27. In the ruling by Abang, Ogah was the rightful winner of the PDP primaries that took place before the election proper and not Ikpeazu.

Allegedly arrested with Ogah was one Deji Somoye, an ex-employee of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Deji Somoye. They were alleged to have forged the signature of one Bridget Adeosun of Mutt-Hass Petroleum Limited.

But as it turned out, Ogah was never arrested as he was merely invited by the EFCC and he left their offices almost immediately.

“I was neither arrested, detained nor under any investigation for any criminal charge whatsoever. The EFCC has a process of inviting anyone under investigation, either in writing or by inviting you through other means. That has not been done as you can see me physically here,” Ogah told newsmen in his office.

Speaking further, Ogah said “the transaction was properly executed. I spent N1.8billion and made a loss of N10billion. This transaction took place in 2011. She never argued or refuted anything from that day until when they paid us interest on foreign exchange differentials. She rushed to the DMO and claim N51million. We stopped her at the DMO with an injunction.”

Ogah

But in a separate statement released by Emmanuel Iheanacho, the spokesman of Master’s Energy, said it was misleading to say the politician was arrested.

“The truth of the matter is that Ogah as a law abiding citizen, went to the court last Monday in connection with the case between Mut-Hass Limited and Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited. The court in its wisdom struck out the case on the ground that the charges against him was preferred hastily without evidence. The reports in the media of his purported arrest are totally misleading, mischievous and designed to smear his image and to distract and scuttle

the political goals of Ogah. He will remain unflinching in the pursuit of those goals. For the avoidance of any doubt, Ogah was not arrested,” Iheanacho declared.

However, the bizarre twist to the whole saga was the jubilation in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, over the purported arrest of Ogah. It was not only strange but showed the extent of hatred between the state’s leading political gladiators. The state commissioner for information, Bonnie Iwuoha, was said to have released a statement aired on the state-owned radio where he was said to have ‘congratulated’ the EFCC for arresting Ogah.

He was said to have called on EFCC to ensure that the businessman was made to account for his ‘misdeeds’.

Joshua Ogbonna, the Chairman of the Ogah Campaign Organisation, lambasted the commissioner for descending so low as ‘congratulating’ the EFCC for arresting a prominent Abia citizen. He said the statement was “frivolous, premature and totally misplaced.”

He lamented that celebration of the state government was at odds with the long held Igbo tradition of watching each other’s back. “Instead of being our brother’s keeper, those who are temporarily holding power are busy hounding and hunting down Abians.”

Ogbonna said it was unfortunate that instead of asking the likes of Ogah to come and invest in the state “they are busy mocking themselves” and celebrating an imaginary misfortune of a prominent Abia son. He said the government of Abia State was in no way connected with the matter for which Ogah was arrested by the EFCC hence it would do them no good to celebrate, adding that it was not yet time for them to celebrate.

“Abia government has nothing to do with the case but they connived with the woman to petition the EFCC against Ogah and when the truth came to light the EFCC had no reason to keep him in detention and promptly let him go,” Ogbonna said.

And where the curiosity lies is the fact that the case between Adeosun and Ogah has nothing to do with the government of Abia State but the state government has shown more than a passing interest in the matter to the extent that at times, its agents are present in court to witness proceedings. And that is why many are of the opinion that perhaps, the state government is taking its political ‘war’ with Ogah too far.

And with Ogah not detained by EFCC, may be Ikpeazu’s lieutenants had jubilated a bit too early.

PERSPECTIVE

John Paden’s Book on Buhari and His Dirty Little Lies Femi Fani-Kayode

P

rofessor John Paden, President Muhammadu Buhari’s official biographer, is a man that is very comfortable with distorting the truth and telling lies. He is also a man that has been doing so for virtually all his adult life.

Anyone that doubts that should read his biography on the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, which was written in 1986 and titled “Ahmadu Bello, Saudana of Sokoto: Values and Leadership In Nigeria”, and which is essentially a self-serving book.

Paden’s book on Buhari falls into the same category. It is nothing but an illusion: an extraordinary and fantastic fairy-tale built on a shady foundation of pseudo-intellectual clap-trap and garbage.

To him, Buhari is infallible. He is, at best, an angel of light and, at worst, a perfect mortal with no warts.

Paden’s latest contribution is the greatest exercise in dishonesty and historical revisionism that has ever been undertaken by any foreign or Nigerian historian since independence.

The only one that comes close to it in this respect is the book that he wrote on the Saudana and a number of other books that he authored over the years which were primarily about core northern Nigeria. Writing rubbish seems to be Paden’s stock in trade.

In his latest book, amongst many other glaring and shameless mendacities, he indulged in two particular lies that are an eloquent testimony to his perfidy.

The first was that three names were sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for the position of Vice President, namely Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Yemi Osibanjo and Babatunde Raji Fashola in 2014 for the 2015 presidential election.

This is false and it is simply an attempt to demean and belittle Tinubu and the role that he played in the whole exercise.

The truth is that it was Tinubu and Tinubu alone that

forwarded the only name that was given serious consideration for the Vice Presidential slot by President Buhari. That name was Professor Yemi Osibanjo.

Senator Olorunimbe Mamora was also considered by Buhari but he did not have the backing of Tinubu and neither did Tinubu forward his name.

The idea that Tinubu’s name was forwarded to be Vice President alongside that of his two protégées in the persons of Osinbajo and Fashola is nothing but fantasy and it was a beautiful and tasteful dish and tale that was spiced, cooked up and prepared in the kitchens of Aso Rock.

Again Tinubu never pressured Buhari to make him his Vice President as Paden has asserted because he had decided to drop that ambition long before then simply because the idea of a Muslim/Muslim ticket, which was originally on the cards, had eventually been jettisoned and rejected by the party due to public presssure and the division and outrage it attracted.

If the Muslim/Muslim ticket had not been rejected Tinubu would have been the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC and no-one else, including his erstwhile protegee Babatunde Fashola, would have had a hope in hell of getting it.

This is especially so given the fact that Buhari had originally promised him that position at the time that their parties merged and the APC was established but he later reneged.

That is the bitter truth. Paden was either misinformed by those who commissioned him to write the book or he was being propelled by an ulterior and malevolent motive for writing the rubbish that he did on the Vice Presidential issue.

The second lie that he told, which was infinately more dangerous and repugnant than the first was that Buhari has documents which were signed by former President Jonathan which prove that the latter sought for what he described as “extra-budgetary funds”.

The whole thing is simply an attempt to further tarnish and demonise Jonathan and all those that served under him before the world and I believe that that is a crying shame.

I can understand such lies coming from a Presidency or a Federal Government that is scared of its own shadows and that feeds off its own propaganda but I cannot accept them

coming from a supposedly reputable historian, albeit a foreigner, who has become the official writer and cheerleader of all things caliphate over the last 30 years.

Amongst many other things he also suggested that other senior figures in the political and military configuration in our country committed serious crimes and indulged in damning acts of corruption without being specific or even providing details of those acts. Instead of doing so he suggested that the individuals concerned, which included former President Olusegun Obasanjo, would have been prosecuted, brought to justice and called to account for their allegedly dastardly acts whilst in government if not for the fact that this could have had implications for the stability of the nation and national security.

Obasanjo, who is always quick off the mark and who was actually present at the launching of the book in Abuja as was Tinubu, responded in a measured manner by saying that there were “some insinuations” in it which he disagreed with.

Frankly that was a cop out. Obasanjo was being far too polite and this was probably due to the fact that he had not read the whole book as at that time and he did not want to dampen the enthusiasm of the biographer, upset the President or ruin the occasion. The adage is that you do not go to someone’s dinner party and spoil it by confronting his lies, challenging his allegations and speaking the bitter truth.

Yet, I believe that though Obasanjo touched on the matter he did not go far enough. I believe that it is incumbent upon all those that were maligned and alleged to have indulged in acts of corruption by Paden to set the record straight and state their case.

It would be very dangerous for all those that have been misrepresented in this so-called book, including Jonathan, Obasanjo and Tinubu, to keep quiet and not clarify the issues about what was written or insinuated about them because many years from now that book will be used as a major source and reference point for our history.

Read full article online: www.thisdaylive.com

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

nEwsXTRA

FG to Launch New Devt Bank, Says Buhari Tobi Soniyi inAbuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that a new bank, Development Bank of Nigeria would soon begin operations to strengthen the government's economic diversification programme.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, said Buhari made the declaration while addressing the German-Nigeria Business Forum in Berlin.

Buhari said the bank, when fully operational, would support small and medium enterprises in the country, by improving their access to financing.

“Our ambitions of creating a diversified and inclusive economy

in Nigeria can only be achieved by having a mix of small, medium and large businesses.

“This is why we worked with the German development agency, KFW, in designing the Development Bank of Nigeria which will support the small and medium size enterprises both financially and technically to ensure they take their rightful place in the industrialisation value chain.

“I am pleased to announce that Development Bank of Nigeria will be taking off soon and should be a game changer in our economic diversification plans,’’ he said.

The president, who described Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria from Germany as modest, urged prospective investors at the gathering to go beyond the expressions of interest and make

binding commitments for trade, investments and industry in the key priority sectors of agriculture, infrastructure, solid minerals and digital economy.

He said Nigeria which recorded a trade volume of $2.96 billion with Germany in 2015, still had a great deal of unexploited potential to diversify its exports to Germany and increase overall trade volumes.

According him, trade relations between both countries primarily take the form of oil and gas exports from Nigeria, machinery, vehicles and vehicle parts, telecommunications technology and chemical products in the other direction.

He said: “Nigeria has remained a country of potential. Now we are in a hurry to develop and realise that potential.

“Nigeria is not yet where we would like it to be, but I am confident that the Government and people of Nigeria are determined to change and be where we would like Nigeria to be: a major economy, that is subject to good governance on the basis of the rule of law and constitutional order and a responsible member of the international community."

Buhari, who had earlier met with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck, told the business gathering that with the successes recorded in the fight against terrorism and the administrations resolute commitment to the war against corruption, Nigeria was open for business and broader relationship with Germany.

Edo Guber: We’ll not File Petition at the Tribunal, Says Labour Party The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party has said that it will not file any petition at the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.

It said the September 28 governorship election was free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared a winner.

Governorship candidate of the party at the polls, Pastor Amos Areloegbe, who stated the position of the party at a press briefing yesterday said filing petition at the tribunal would drag the state backward.

Areloegbe urged other candidates to accept the outcome of the elections and support Godwin Obaseki who was declared winner of the polls.

Lagos,Osun Partner on Cultural Renaissance Initiative Omolabake Fasogbon

BRAINSTORMING FOR GOOD...

L-R: Former Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Tokunbo Afikuyomi; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode); Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade during the Opening session of the Executive/Legislative Retreat, with the theme ‘Good Governance in a Recession’, at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, October 14, 2016

Sheriff, Makarfi Seek Support for New PDP Peace Initiatives Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja The national chairman of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has expressed his support for a new peace effort aimed at resolving the lingering crisis in the party.

A sign that all is not yet entirely well for the PDP came when Sheriff insisted that his faction's governorship candidate in Ondo State, Jimoh Ibrahim remained the candidate of the party.

Speaking to journalists at his temporary office in Abuja, Sheriff said that the ongoing peace plan had his backing and that both him and Senator Ahmed Makarfi had discussed and agreed to form a 28-man reconciliation committee to fasttrack efforts at final resolution of the crisis.

"Myself and Makarfi met some time ago to discuss the ways forward after founders and leaders of the party have spoken to us asking us to find lasting solution to the crisis

in the party. That is why when we issued the statement stating that without prejudices to the ongoing court cases.

Sheriff who said that he had been away for more than two weeks told journalists on Friday in Abuja, that the peace plan is on course and that both he and Senator Makarfi would be inaugurating a 24-member peace and reconciliation committee on Tuesday.

He also said that none of the contending parties in the dispute

was making any special demands, but that the national secretary of his faction, Prof. Wale Oladipo will be interfacing with the Secretary of the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ben Obi to draw-up the framework for engagement before the Tuesday's inauguration.

While giving an assurance that the peace initiatives would pull through this time around, Sheriff said that almost every stakeholder of the party was interested to see an end to the crisis.

Abang Declares Jimoh Ibrahim PDP Candidate for Ondo Guber Poll Tobi Soniyi and Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

In a statement, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that it's choice of candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state still remained Hon. Eyitayo Jegede despite the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja.

Justice Okon Abang gave the

order while ruling on an application filed by the Chairman and Secretary of the PDP in Ondo State - Prince Biyi Poroye and Ademola A. Genty and their counterparts in Osun and Oyo states.

The application was for the enforcement of a June 29, 2016 judgment of the court affirming Poroye, Genty and others, who emerged from the May 10, 2016 congresses of the party in the South west, as the authentic leaders of the party in the Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Lagos states.

In the June 29 judgment, the court had ordered INEC to accept only the name of the candidate sent by the Pororye and Genty Executive Committee as the actual candidate

of the party for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

Poroye and Genty, who applied to the court for themselves and on behalf of the Ondo State Executive Committee of the PDP, said the postjudgment application was informed

by INEC's refusal to accept their candidate, as directed by the court in its June 29 judgment.

The plaintiffs said INEC was aware that the judgment of the court extended to five other states where the general elections would hold in 2019 and should have taken cognizance of the implications of the judgment for Ondo State where elections would hold in 2016, but chose to ignore the obvious implication.

The applicants also stated that INEC knew that the judgment was predicated upon the May 19, 2016 letter of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, which was addressed to it (INEC), confirming to it that Pororye and Genty are leaders of the authentic state Executive Committee of the party in Ondo State.

In his ruling, Justice Abang held that INEC had no reason not to accept the candidate submitted to INEC by the plaintiffs.

The judge held that not only did INEC participate in the proceedings leading to the June 29 judgment, it had also not appealed the judgement.

The judge wondered why the commission chose not to obey it.

He enjoined Obaseki to extend hand of fellowship to other political parties with a view to building a better Edo State.

His words, "Going to the tribunal will drag us back. We should forge ahead and embrace peace. INEC is the umpire and they have declared a winner.

"Election has come and gone and I will urge other candidates to join me to congratulate the governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. Election in the state was free in the sense that nobody died. I want all the candidates to come together for the interest of the state. Let us keep our differences aside. Let us come together to build Edo State.

The Lagos State government and its Osun State counterpart have partnered on the Atlantic Bond Initiative on the forthcoming 'Lagos-Oyotunji Cultural Heritage Fiesta' to be held in the United States of America, USA. The founder of the initiative and Anti-child trafficking activist, Mr. Rotimi Vaughan noted that the essence of the festival were among others to advance the socio-cultural relationship between Africa, Nigeria in particular and USA and to reconnect the blacks in the diaspora to their root.

The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, restated its commitment to the initiative when the team planning the event in Nigeria paid him a visit in the state.

Aregbesola who expressed optimism on the overall impact of the idea, noted that he was ready to roll with any project that sought to advocate and develop Africa and Nigeria`s culture, adding that this in particular, would call the blacks abroad to their origin.

“This initiative reminds us of dehumanising and maltreatment that Nigerians faced during slavery in the years back. It is noting to remember because of the ways and manners that Nigerians were ill-treated but we give glory to God that today, Nigeria has gained freedom from slavery.

“The initiative will bring about

increase in foreign exchange earnings, as so many blacks in the diaspora will be visiting Nigeria and this will in turn improve the economy of the state and also create a strong cultural bond between Nigerians and the Americans”, he said.

Vaughan noted further that the whole idea was to steer a progressive and impactful socio-cultural connects, business and friendship relations between Osun, Lagos-Nigeria and South Carolina, City of CamdenOyotunji African Village, Sheldon, USA, adding that the festival was riding on the fact that modern slavery was an evil reminder of the terribly dehumanising past of the African continent.

Being a direct descendant of South Carolinian, Scipio Vaughan, a former slave who became a prominent and respected family man in Camden, South Carolina, he was determined to draw attention to striking data available in the area of child trafficking in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.

“I have always looked forward to the day I would be in a position to transform my intriguing family historical account of slavery, freedom, dignity and the elevation of the black race, into a platform for promoting impactful, socio-cultural relations and understanding between Africa and Americas. This is that target I seek to execute through the Atlantic Bond Initiative.

DSS Invites Justice Dimgba over Petition Davidson Iriekpen The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja to appear before it on Monday.

Though it is not clear why the service is inviting the judge, sources close to it said the invitation was to possibly drill him based on the petition it received against him.

Justice Dimgba was among the judges whose houses were invaded by the DSS penultimate Friday.

Though the DSS said it mistakenly landed in the judge’s apartment, he was not arrested as the operatives went to his house with neither of the two warrants had his name.

His brother who was in the house was reportedly assaulted.

Many have attributed the travail of the Justice Dimgba to his recent decision declaring as unlawful, the arrest and continued

detention of Air Commodore Umar Mohammed (rtd), a member of the Presidential team investigating the arms deal in the country.

He had chided the DSS in court for flouting an order to remand a defendant to prison.

Mohammed was ordered to be remanded to Kuje prison on Thursday and on Friday, the DSS failed to produce him at a hearing for his bail application.

“I take a strong exception to this type of behaviour; when the court orders that someone be kept in prison custody, the person ought to be kept in prison and not in the office.

“If the people at the DSS want to become judge and do their job as well, I am ready to vacate my office for them. But as long as I am still here, I take an exception to them flouting the orders of the court. Once processes have been filed in court, it is no longer in their hands and the order of the court must be obeyed,” Dimgba.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • OCTOBER 15, 2016

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nEwsXTRA

AGF: We Don’t Have Exact Figures of Looted Funds Abroad Alex Enumah in Abuja

MAKING A POINT...

L-R: Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Chairman, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, United Kingdom and District Society, Mr. Funso Ajayi and General Secretary of the Institute, Mr. Doyin Adebayo, during a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja…Friday

Claims, Counter Claims Trail Alleged Bombing of NPDC Pipeline in Delta Sylvester Idowu inWarri

The military and militants yesterday made claims and counter claims on alleged attack on product pipeline with the Joint Task Force insisting that the militants who wanted to bomb a facility took to their heels on sighting their men. The militants said they bombed the pipeline.

Urhobo/Isoko militant group, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) yesterday claimed it breached Iwhremaro trunk line in Ughelli South Local Government area of Delta State.

However, THISDAY checks revealed that there was no such attack on any oil facility in and around Ughelli North and South Local government areas of the state. Security sources disclosed that the militant group was playing on the intelligence of the media so it could be reported as

"still biting when there is nothing to blast again upland".

The group claimed its Akuma Strike team brought down the facility at about 9 pm on Thursday. The delivery line leads to the Quality Control Centre (QCC) of a yet to be identified oil company.

The group, in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Aldo Agbalaja, said "At about 2100hour of Thursday October 13, 2016, the AKUMA STRIKE TEAM of the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate brought down the IWHREMARO to the QUALITY CONTROL CENTRE (QCC) DELIVERY LINE to signal the commencement of the OPERATION HAMMURABI CODE".

It assured that more of such attack would come in days noting that it had been patient and reasonable all along hence

its choice to restrict the group's activities to mild operations that were not aimed at causing critical damages.

Acting Spokesman of Joint Task Force (JTF) code-named Operation Delta Safe, Lieutenant Commander Thomas Otuji said there was no bombing of any NPDC Facility.

"It was not bombed as claimed, rather vandals were trying to sabotage the pipeline. They fled on sighting troops on patrols. The criminals are being trailed for apprehension", he told THISDAY. NDGJM maintained "But it has now become crystal clear that we are dealing with devious and incorrigible people. Therefore, we serve this as a notice to the Nigerian government and its conniving multinationals that the Operation Hammurabi Code has been initiated, henceforth, it shall be an eye for an eye and

a tooth for a tooth.

"Now you shall know what uprooting of your cherished assets means. It starts from now on, there is no longer going to be warnings or special consideration for anybody.

"We have observed that the leopard of the oil company is incapable of changing its skin; ever deceiving, ever conniving.

Your 'divide-and-rule' gimmick will fail here as we will not stay idle in the face of your lies. For every lie you introduce, you will lose a major asset and if need be, you will lose personnel.

"We have said it once and we shall repeat it here now; the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate will not call this campaign off in secret, when we see reason to do so and we decide to do so, we shall reach the world publicly through this same channel, from where we took off", it added.

As Nigeria continues to liaise with other countries abroad on the repatriation of looted funds stashed abroad it has emerged that the exact figures of looted funds outside the country may be difficult to ascertain.

This is due to the complexity and dynamics of legislations, culture and policies of various countries regarding the repatriation of the funds.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), gave this indication yesterday at a Media Roundtable on Open Government Partnership (OGP), in Abuja.

The Minister in response to questions from journalist on the exact amount of looted funds outside the country stated that “It is impossible to give a clear figure against the background of complexity, differences of rules, approach and processes, at international communities. Also, investigations which are ongoing and keep changing, and there are also cases in court with different jurisdiction and dynamics, so it is

Glo-African Voices Profiles Sports Personalities This weekend’s edition of African Voices, CNN International’s 30-minute magazine programme sponsored by Globacom, will feature the inspiring story of outstanding sports personalities.

According to a statement

by Globacom, Nigeria’s Rafy Abrahamyan, a scuba diver, and South African horse rider, Shepherd Zira, would be profiled in the programme.

CNN described the duo as some of “Africa’s sport seekers who are unafraid to take on challenges many of us would never dream of tackling. These individuals dare

Police Arrest Benue State Civil Servants for N12m Fraud George Okoh In Makurdi

Three staff of Benue State Ministry of Agriculture Makudi, Benue State have been arrested by the Police over a N12 million fraud.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, Moses Yamu has since confirmed the arrest of the trio A source in the ministry disclosed that the trio with some government

top officials engaged in a fertilizer scam were currently being held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police in the state.

Sources at the CID disclosed the names of those involved in the scam as, the Director of Finance, Christiana Mhambe; Accountant, Samson Abeh and the Cashier in the Ministry, Susan Chieriyol.

The suspects the source said used

the State Government Account to defraud unsuspecting customers under the pretext of providing fertilizers to them.

However after reaching an agreement with the customers, the fertilizers are usually not provided Further findings shows that the trio hid under the present policy of the state government where money was paid before delivery of fertilizer to defraud the unsuspecting victim.

When contacted the State Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr. James Anbua disclosed that the matter was before the police for further investigation According to him, there was nothing to comment over the issue as the police were still investigating the matter, even as he stated that the transaction engaged by the suspects was outside the operations of the Ministry.

Local Content: Court Dismisses ARCO's Suit against AGIP Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010 got its first major test in court yesterday as the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt dismissed a suit filed by an indigenous company, Arco Group Plc, against the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and its joint venture partners over the implementation of the Local Content Act. Arco had, in suit number FH/PH/ CS/02/2015, dragged Agip, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Conoco Philips Petroleum Nigeria Limited and the Nigeria Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) before the court to determine whether in view of the

provision of section 3 subsections (2) and (3) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, having demonstrated ownership of equipment, Nigerian personnel and capacity to execute the task of performing the contract for the maintenance service of rotating equipment at the Nigerian Agip Oil Company gas plants at OB/OB, Ebocha and Kwale, it is entitled, being a Nigerian company, to the exclusive right to be considered and granted such contract including any extension of its duration.

Arco also sought a declaration that the persistent and deliberate failure of NAOC to award the contract for the maintenance of the said plants, as well as grant an extension of the award by way of interim or stop gap

contract, violated Section 3 (2, 3) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010.

The court was to deliver judgment on six contentious issues including jurisdiction, motion on notice and contempt charges over maintenance of status quo as ordered by the court.

Delivering judgment in the suit yesterday, the presiding judge, Justice Abdullah Liman, dismissed the suit on the grounds that Agip did not violate the Act by not awarding the contract to Arco since other companies involved in the bid were also indigenous companies.

In the judgement which lasted for about two hours, Liman said his court had jurisdiction to hear the matter.

He however said Arco could not

prove that it was the only Nigerian indigenous servicing company that bidded for the OB/OB, Ebocha and Okwale gas plant contract in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act. He said, "Question number one: The plaintiff, in virtue of Section 32 (3) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, lengthy although, has demonstrated ownership of equipment, Nigeria personnel and capacity to execute the task of performing the contract for the maintenance service of gas turbines/ rotating equipment and machines at the Nigerian Agip Oil Company plant at OB/OB, Ebocha and Okwale, being a Nigerian company.

impossible to arrive at an exact amount”.

However, Malami hinted that the government was not resting on its oars as it continues to synergise with foreign governments and their anti-corruption agencies to ensure not only that the funds are returned but they support the nation’s crusade against corruption by ensuring looted funds don’t find their ways into their countries.

He added that the Open Government Partnership to which Nigeria became a signatory last July would enhance the nation’s drive in this regard. “We will work with the network of OGP implementing countries for technical support especially in repatriating our stolen funds that are currently stashed away abroad.

“It is a process of continuous learning, collaboration and improvement for all of us and I invite the media to join hands with the government to communicate all of these innovative ongoing reform efforts to Nigerians in a very simple language not just at the federal and states levels but also in the local communities”, he said.

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to push the limits and pursue their passions - regardless of the payoff.”

In a vignette it released on the edition, CNN said it was celebrating Shepard Zira because he was “one man who is overcoming hurdles in the equestrian world and winning awards along the way”, while the Nigerian Abrahamyan “has a love for adventure and a desire to discover the uncharted waters of Lagos.”

CHANGE OF NAME

I,formerly known and addressed as GIFT EZIAFA OFODU, now wish to be known and addressed as GIFT EZIAFA AYODELE. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as BLESSING EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as BLESSING SERAPHIN. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as UBIOKU DONALD, now wish to be known and addressed as JOHNSON DONALD. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I Formally known and addressed as JUMOKE BAKO wish to be known as JUMOKE NWACHOKOR. All former documents remain valid. Spanish Embassy and the general public should take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS SUSAN TOLUWASE ADEDOKUN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SUSAN TOLUWASE ABE. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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TR

Saturday, October 15, 2016

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MISSILE Ben Obi to APC

“What the government of the day should do is to find solutions to the enormous problems facing the country. Every government has a duty of providing solutions to the problems on ground. So, it is the duty of the APC government to find solutions to the problems facing the country today.”

– Senator Ben Obi chastising the ruling All Progressives Congress for persistently blaming the Jonathan administration for the woes of the country.

PENDULUM Dele Momodu

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

A Good Lady in The Presidential Villa “He who finds a wife finds a good thing…”

– PROVERBS 18: 22

F

ellow Nigerians, please forget the shakara of all men who try to act macho, most men are ultimately controlled by their wives, and sometimes girlfriends. Right from the Biblical Genesis, women had always known their enormous power and they’ve mastered how to use it. It does not matter if you are a king or a President, your wife is always your boss.

You may be as big as an elephant outside but you are only a small rat at home. I always say this to my wife “how come a man can never be a superstar at home?” I am yet to find an answer to that conundrum.

Your wife is the one who knows you inside out. She has seen you in good times, when you were soaring like an eagle, and in bad times, when you were down and flat out.

She’s witnessed when the ruthless hands of fate has dealt you some fatal blows and you are feeling less than a man. No matter who or what you become in life never matters again because she holds the copyright to your authentic story. She is the author of life who has seen you in your totality.

Women are generally intuitive and sometimes possess the gift of clairvoyance.

As men we tend to ignore or dismiss the advice of our wives sometimes but they turn out to be right most times much to our chagrin and often, regret. That has been my personal experience with mine. I have learnt to accept her as my mum on earth since the departure of my biological mum in 2007. Whenever she tells me she doesn’t like a particular friend of mine, I may argue and struggle to defend my friend but something always happens to show she was right and I was wrong in my assessment.

I believe this is the situation our President, Muhammadu Buhari, and his beautiful wife, Aisha, have found themselves now. A lot of water must have passed under the bridge before the wife of a President would burst out openly and publicly on a global platform like the BBC, even if it is the Hausa version.

It is a fact that Mrs Aisha Buhari brought elegance and panache to the campaign of her husband. She worked tirelessly and I believe she must have endured a lot during those days of her husband’s horrendous tribulations.

I particularly love the way she has brought up their children as very responsible young people. We must always give credit to our wives because they are always the ones taking care of our kids when we have gone our different ways trying to make a living and bring bread to the table. The little I have seen of President Buhari’s children suggests a close-knit family and a well-educated one at that. This should make our President very proud and happy and grateful to Allah and his wife of nearly three agonizing decades.

If such a lady has chosen to speak out loud and clear about her frustration with the direction her husband’s government is going, President Buhari should please listen to her message and ignore the messenger. God has a way of reaching out and ministering unto people. Aisha is the guardian angel sent to our President in order to avert a

Aisha cataclysmic fall a second time. History has an uncanny way of repeating itself and I’m sure Lady Aisha can see a lot of striking similarities between now and the past. In law this would be called similar facts. They do not bear repeating in full but it does not seem such a huge coincidence of history that President Buhari came to power in on the last day of 1983 in a military putsch, on the back of what was a seemingly corrupt and inept government on an anti-corruption and war on indiscipline platform. Eerily in 2015, the same conditions appear to have thrust the President back into power in what was a democratic coup that swept an inept and corrupt government away on the mantra of anti-corruption and change. Less than 18 months after the President came to power as a military dictator there was great disenchantment with his administration such that people were jubilant after his fall. Now the position appears to be the same less than 18 months after assuming power. The President is now being seeing as a maximum ruler who has lost the tremendous goodwill that greeted his ascension to power for a second stint at governing this unruly country.

Indeed, it was with trepidation and shock that I first read about the brave outburst of the Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari as to the dangerous state of things in so far as the President’s inner circle and his party, APC, are concerned.

I could not believe my eyes when I read that she had said the following in no particular order on a BBC Hausa Service interview: “Whether he knows or he doesn’t know, those who voted for him know. There is nothing I will tell him.” ( With reference to those in his Government causing difficulties for the President).

“He can see. Among all the people he selected, if he is asked among 50 people, he

doesn’t know 45. I don’t know them despite staying with him for 27 years.”

“This worries us a lot now. Because they believe they are the ones who suffered, but are nowhere today. Those who didn’t do anything who don’t even have voter’s card are the ones in position, ding everything.”

I’m almost certain she would have tried to communicate with her husband and the following could have happened. (a) She never got the audience required; (b) She got the audience she sought but was told to mind her own business or (c) she got her few minutes and was heard but was even insulted for daring to put her mouth in matters of state. She probably reached out to some members of the new mafia who she believes have virtually hypnotized and hijacked her husband and she met a brick-wall there too.

If truth must be told, there is nothing new or strange about what she has said in this apparently explosive interview. The only difference this time is that this is coming from the wife of the President. Even outsiders like us had raised these observations in the last few months; that it seems some people are misleading Buhari; that his team needs to be energized; that the ruling party has set fire on its own roof by engaging in a war of attrition and alienating their core members who fought tooth and nail to make a Buhari Presidency possible after so many attempts; that a cabal has ostensibly manifested itself in the Buhari administration; and so on.

Although Mrs Buhari categorically stated that her husband had not told her whether he he would contest the 2019 elections or not she may have unwittingly let the cat out of the bag and inadvertently exposed the plot of this cabal by saying she is not likely to campaign for her husband in 2019 thus suggesting that the idea of a bid for the Presidency in 2019 is already being contemplated. Tellingly she stated: “He is yet to tell me but I have decided as his wife, that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to vote lije I did before. I will never do it again.”

Of all the imagined sins of Mrs Buhari in relation to this interview this may be the most injurious to the Cabal’s camp than the issue of poor or sluggish governance. It is a grave indictment when your wife who was such an avid and strong campaigner for you a few years earlier says earnestly that she is fed up and regrets her decision.

This is obviously a view that Mrs Buhari believes resonates with a lot of people as she went further to say that “what I am afraid of is the rebellion of 15 million people” in apparent reference to those who elected the President into power this time around.

It is clear that the President must have been taken totally aback by the acidic and acerbic criticism of his administration by the person who should be his number one supporter. His attempt at a jocular sidestep of a tsunamic eruption from his wife has only served to ignite the debate and has somehow managed to portray the President as a person ruling past his time. Women continue to make great strides as world

leaders, cue Angela Merkel of Germany, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, Cristina De Kirchner of Argentina, Sheikh Hasina Wajed of Bangladesh, Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania, Park Geun-hye of South Korea, Erna Solberg of Norway, Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Marie-Louise Preca of Malta, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic of Croatia, Theresa May of Great Britain and hopefully Hillary Clinton of the US, in the not too distant future.

Closer to home, there have recently been appointed as Prime Minister and President respectively, Aminata Toure of Senegal and Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic although their terms have ended.

It is therefore unfortunate that the President dismissed his wife as perfunctorily as he did. The President said “I don’t know what party she belongs to, but she belongs to my Kitchen and my living room and the other room.” In my view, the President lost a good opportunity to shore up his feminist credentials and deal with those of his critics who would say he was talking like a typical Islamic fundamentalist, which I believe the President is most assuredly not.

The President appears to be suggesting that there is even greater discord in his home by saying that he does not know what party his wife belongs to. It demonstrates a degree of paranoia reminiscent of the internet trolls and acolytes who support the President and who consider every critic, whether constructive or otherwise, as being anti-corruption or a member of the opposition.

But we must thank God for giving Nigeria such a good lady in our Presidential palace.

It is sad that rather than being appreciated for her candour and uncommon courage, critics have unleashed a social media war on her. This is most unfortunate. One, she is a Nigerian. Two, she is the wife of our President. Three, rather she has done Nigeria a great service by screaming before it is too late. No matter what happens, I personally wish there are more of such visionary leaders around who do not see power as an end in itself. Now that her husband has come out to diss her before the whole world by saying she belongs in the kitchen and his “other” room, she deserves our prayers and support.

The President did not stop at the one attack on his wife. He effectively lumbered her with the tag of being part of the opposition when he said “So I claim superior knowledge over her and the rest of the opposition, because in the end, I have succeeded. It is not easy to satisfy the whole Nigerian opposition parties or to participate in the government”. The import of that statement is that President Buhari believes in the course he is pursuing and he thinks everything is on point. History will be his judge in this respect but I hasten to add that right now a lot of Nigerians would share his wife’s views about the state of the nation and not those of the President.

I pray Baba would hearken to the voice of reason that his wife represents and act in the best interest of Nigeria and by implication himself.

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