Saturday 14th January 2017

Higher Rent, Energy Prices Push Inflation Further to 18.55% Naira Falls to N497/$ Protest against CBN's forex policy flops

Obinna Chima and James Emejo in Abuja For the fifteenth straight month, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation increased to 18.55 per

cent (year-on-year) in December last year compared to 18.48 per cent in the previous month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated yesterday.

It attributed the 0.07 per cent hike in the headline index to price increases observed in all

the divisions which determine the index.

According to the CPI figures for the month under review, Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, Clothing and Footwear and Education recorded the highest increases

while Communication and Restaurants and Hotels recorded the slowest pace of growth in December, growing at 5.33 per cent and 8.91 per cent (year-onyear) respectively.

The Food Index rose by 17.39 per cent (year-on-year) in

December 2016, up by 0.20 per cent points from rate recorded in November (17.19) per cent.

According to the NBS, all major food sub-indexes increased, with Soft Drinks recording the slowest pace of increase at 7.66 per cent (year-on-year).

Price movements recorded by all items less farm produce or core sub-index rose by 18.10 per cent (year-on-year) in December, down by 0.10 per cent points from rate recorded in November Continued on page 6

British, German Envoys Meet Ambode, Recommend Lagos Model out of Recession… Page 6 Saturday 14 January, 2017 Vol 21. No 7940. Price: N250

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Buhari in Last Ditch Effort to Persuade Jammeh to Hand Over

Nigeria readies battalion for possible military action AU to withdraw recognition for him after January 19

Yemi Adebowale with agency report President Muhammadu Buhari led a regional delegation to Gambia yesterday in a last-ditch

attempt to persuade its longtime leader, Yahaya Jammeh to step down and allow his rival's inauguration next week, while fears grow that the impasse could turn violent.

As at press time, it could not

be ascertained if an agreement had been reached with the Gambian leader to step down, as Buhari departed for Bamako, Mali to brief some West African leaders, with a view to taking a final decision. Jammeh had

stated clearly that he would not step down setting the stage for a cliffhanger. His attempt to hang on to power is being resisted by the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) which had insisted that

he must hand over.

Sources said Buhari had been authorised to offer Jammeh asylum, if necessary, during Friday's visit. It could not be ascertained if Jammeh accepted this.

But sources close to the meeting said should diplomacy fail, only a military option would get Jammeh out.

The source, who attended the Continued on page 6

Southern Kaduna: Abdulsalami, Sultan, Kukah Wade in, Meet El-Rufai Retired military generals from zone also discuss with governor

John Shiklam in Kaduna Former head of state, Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami (rtd), the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar II and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Rev. Matthew Kukah yesterday visited the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai at the Government House, Kaduna, in a bid to resolve the raging crisis in the southern part of the state.

During the visit, they held a closed-door meeting with the governor, during which they were briefed about the crisis that led to the killings of many people and destruction of property worth billions of Naira in the trouble area.

Before the meeting with Abdulsalami and co, retired military generals from Southern

Kaduna, led by the former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Martins Luther Agwai had met with the governor on the way forward to ending the crisis.

Agwai was the chairman of the 16-member committee set up by El-Rufai in June 2015 to find solutions to the incessant killings in the southern part of the state.

Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after their meeting with the governor, Abdulsalami said their visit was due to recent happenings in southern Kaduna.

He disclosed that his group would also hold a meeting within the week with all stakeholders in Southern Kaduna, especially traditional rulers, religious and Continued on page 6

Boko Haram Attacks Madagali, 11 Killed … Page 10

IN SEARCH OF PEACE…

Gambian President Yahaya Jammeh (left) receiving President Muhammadu Buhari, leader of the ECOWAS team sent to resolve the political logjam in the country ...yesterday

Subsidy Fraud: Court Convicts Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Nnadi ...Page 10

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British, German Envoys Meet Ambode to Strenghten Partnership, Recommend Lagos Model out of Recession The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Barnhard Schlagheck and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright, yesterday visited Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, with a promise to further advance the relationship between their countries and Lagos State.

Schlagheck said he was at Lagos House to further advance the relationship between his country and Nigeria and to lay a solid foundation for improvement, especially with the German-Lagos relationship.

He said he had been very

impressed with the very impressive moves and policies pursued in Lagos under Ambode, saying that Lagos has shown to Nigeria how the country can overcome the economic challenges and once again become a model for prosperity and progress.

The envoy specifically commended Ambode for the innovative traffic management strategy, the LAKE Rice initiative and the remarkable efforts to bring in foreign investors to the State.

On his part, the British Commissioner said his visit was principally to advance the

partnership between his country and Lagos, saying that the state, being the heartbeat of Nigerian business, is central to his vision of promoting trade, investment, job creation and growth in Nigeria and Britain.

He also commended Ambode for his vision for the state, and expressed readiness to work with the State for mutual benefit to the Nigeria and Britain, and by extension, Lagos.

“We have had prior discussion talking about some of the priorities of the Governor and I am very impressed by his vision for State of Lagos. We

have talked about Transport, Housing, and Aviation links which are extremely important as we look to Lagos to really help to drive the economy of Nigeria and pull the country out of the current economic difficulties and I assure that the United Kingdom will be your partner in this,” Arkwright said.

Earlier, Ambode said the vision of his administration to create a more prosperous and safer Lagos and transform the state into the hub of commerce and tourism in Africa.

He said he remained committed to transforming Lagos

from being the commercial hub of Nigeria to that of Africa, just like London is the hub of commerce and tourism in Europe.

He recalled the historical ties between Nigeria and Britain and vowed not only to continue to uphold the relationship and scale it up for the benefit of the people, but also ensure the protection of British nationals and their investments in the State.

He said: “We are doing everything to make sure that we take as much as possible from the expertise of the British companies and I want to see a situation where how London is

the hub of European commerce and tourism, we can also make Lagos to be the hub of African commerce and tourism and that is where we are going.

“We want to appreciate the partnership that exists between us and the British Government and by extension the partnership existing between Britain and Nigeria. We know that as Lagos continues to be the commercial capital of Nigeria, whatever it is that we do together will obviously grow the GDP of Nigeria because 67 per cent of almost all the commercial activities in the country take place in Lagos.”

We Stand with You, Former Ministers Tell Wike Governor assents to N470bn Appropriation Law

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Former Ministers under the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) have declared their support for the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in the face of what they described as “a political siege on Rivers State as masterminded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

They asked the governor to stand firm in his defence of democracy.

In a solidarity visit to Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday night, representatives of the minister under the aegis of Forum of Former Ministers lauded the governor for being a pillar of democracy and providing the right leadership for Rivers

people.

The Representatives of the Forum of Former Ministers at the solidarity meeting include former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Jigawa State Governor, Dr Sule Lamido; former Minister of Education and former Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; former Minister of Youth Development and former Adamawa State Governor, Mr Boni Haruna; former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro; former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih; former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; and the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Ambassador Musa Kazaure.

Chairman of the Forum of Former Ministers, Dr

Sule Lamido, stated that the solidarity visit to Wike was aimed at encouraging him to remain steadfast and focused in his promotion of the tenets of democracy.

He said: "We are with you in your travails. We support you all the way. We know that you are under siege by anti-democratic forces.

"No matter the tyranny of the oppressor, the voice of the people must be heard. That was the case of Rivers State during the Rivers Rerun Elections."

Lamido regretted that every day, Nigerians were being divided by the APC-led Federal Government, which has no respect for the principles of democracy.

The Forum of Former Min-

SOUTHERN KADUNA: ABDULSALAMI, SULTAN, KUKAH WADE IN, MEET EL-RUFAI

community leaders as well as visit the areas affected by the crisis.

“We are here due to the recent happenings in Southern Kaduna. And from here within the week, we are going to meet with other stakeholders, religious leaders, the chiefs in the area and also visit the site where these problems are and discuss with the people. After which we will now sit down and see what we think should be done.

“Then we will return to the governor and also if necessary to the federal government.

Considering that these clashes and killings are not only limited to Kaduna State, it is something that is engulfing the country.

“So we want to make sure that peace reigns in Nigeria; to make sure that people know that we are together. We have to live in peace with each other and we have what it is to give and take. We are reaching a situation

in the country where human live doesn’t mean anything to people and this is wrong.

“There is no religion on earth or anywhere that preaches violence. So this is why we are here today. We thank the governor and his team for receiving us. One of the points that the governor drew our attention to is the way people take laws into their hands and they go scot free. And this impunity must be checked. These are some of

isters urged PDP Governors to provide a canopy for the revival of the PDP. “Nigerians are looking on to the PDP for salvation and emancipation from the APC. Our governors must stand together to be our rallying point,” he said.

In his response, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, declared that for the Rivers people, they have resolved to remain with the PDP He said: "We will continue to stand firm and defend democracy. For us, we have made up our mind. Our family is PDP. "We are prepared to pay the price. We are determined to work for the PDP at all times.”

The governor said the crisis in the party would soon be resolved in the interest of the country.

He explained that the state has had her rerun elections, learnt the required lessons which would guide it in the future.

“Don't have sleepless nights.

The PDP will remain strong in Rivers State. We will continue the struggle against anti-people forces and we shall continue to win,” he declared.

Meanwhile, the governor, has given his assent to the 2017 Appropriation Law passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, with a pledge to accelerate the development of the state.

The State Government budgeted N470 billion for the 2017 Fiscal year, christened “the Golden Jubilee budget for accelerated development.”

Giving his assent to the 2017 budget, Wike commended the

Rivers State House of Assembly for always placing the interest of the people above other considerations.

He said: "You passed the budget on time so that the State Government will continue to deliver dividends of democracy to the good people of the state.

"I sincerely thank the state lawmakers for supporting the executive arm to provide basic infrastructure to the people of the state".

He assured the people that his administration would ensure the diligent implementation of the 2017 budget in line with the tenets of the New Rivers Vision.

He said that funds meant for other arms of government would be released as scheduled.

the issues we discussed.

“Everybody is aggrieved in one way or the other. So, what we beg of people is to be patient; try as much as possible to forgive and to be each other's keeper. We must live together, we must find solution to the problems, and to sit down and talk to ourselves because there is no problem that cannot be solved when you are talking,” Abdulsalami said.

Also speaking after the meet-

ing, Bishop Kukah who is from the southern part of Kaduna State said the meeting was to find out what is happening in Southern Kaduna, with a view to finding solutions to the problem.

"I think the visit is more of solidarity with the people of Kaduna State. We are here to hear for ourselves what exactly is happening and what we can do with the hope that we can find a way forward based on the situation.

“We are part of the delegation.

I convened the peace committee and what we are doing now is to try to bring about peace.

We are looking at how we can achieve peace and stability.

“I think what the people of

Kaduna State, including the government should be doing now is looking into how we can achieve peace and development and I think that is the reason we have democracy.

“What is going on now is a very sad phase in our history, but I believe that we can get over it and we will get over it and come out much more stronger and committed to peace,” Kukah said.

According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), over 800 people have been killed in Southern Kaduna by rampaging herdsmen in the last few months. Scores of homes and school buildings have also been destroyed.

HIGHER RENT, ENERGY PRICES PUSH INFLATION FURTHER TO 18.55% NAIRA FALLS TO N497/$ (18.20) per cent.

However, Urban index rose by 20.12 per cent (year-on-year) in December from 20.07 per cent recorded in November, while the rural index increased by 17.20 per cent from 17.10 per cent in November.

On month-on-month basis, the urban index rose by 1.08 per cent in December from 0.78 per cent recorded in November, while the rural index rose by 1.04 per cent in December from 0.79 per cent in November.

It added: "On a month-onmonth basis, the core sub-index also eased by 0.62 percent in December, down by 0.09 percent points from 0.71 per cent recorded in November.

The highest month on month increases were recorded in clothing materials and other articles of clothing, passenger transport by sea, hairdressing salons and personal grooming establishments, passenger transport by road, passenger transport by air, motor cycles and wine."

Naira Depreciates to N497/$ on Parallel Market In a related development, the Naira fell against the United States dollar to N497/$ on the parallel market yesterday, weaker than the N495 to the dollar it closed the previous day. The nation currency has been on the decline since Tuesday on the parallel market, losing N2 per day.

The development was

attributed to weaker forex supply in the market, as demand continued to rise.

According to a currency trader who pleaded to remain anonymous, there has been intense foreign exchange demand for the payment of school fees abroad as well as from importers.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday told Bureau de Change (BDC) operators that it does not intend to devalue the Naira and will support it at current levels, especially with a recent rise in oil prices.

The President of the Association of Bureau De Change of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu Gwadabe said the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele told the group in a meeting that it was looking at ways to boost dollar liquidity on the official market to eliminate the spread to the parallel market.

The government has been pressing retail operators to narrow what it says is a damaging gulf between the Naira's official rate – currently N305 to the dollar – and the parallel rate. On Tuesday, the operators set their first ever reference exchange rate for the naira at 399 per dollar ahead of the apex bank meeting.

Protest against CBN's Forex Policy Flops Also yesterday, the attempt by a group to stage a protest against the foreign exchange policies of the CBN failed as the group led by Deji Adeyanju,

could not muster enough public support.

The group which had earlier been described by the CBN as “paid hirelings and blackmailers” had been mobilising Nigerians to join the protest.

At about 9:30 am when some people gathered at a junction close to the Women Development Centre in Central Area, Abuja, the leader of the group, told reporters that they were not coming to make trouble, but rather to obtain explanations as to why the Naira should be allowed to weaken against the dollar.

Received by the policemen on routine duty at the junction, the group which had earlier been described by CBN’s Acting Director, Corporate communications, Isaac Okorafor, as “paid agents of selfish interests and the enemies of the Nigerian economy”, left the junction on their own after about five minutes.

The CBN had in statement alerted the public to an arranged protest by a paid group working for “powerful interests who want the CBN and government to reverse the policy on conservation of forex and sabotage the ongoing efforts to wean Nigerians from senseless importation.

"They want to create markets for importers to the overall detriment of the Nigerian economy.

No amount of blackmail will make the CBN allow a prac-

tice where-by our farmers and industrialists who have invested heavily and employed our youths in the production of Nigerian-made rice, fish, industrial starch, palm produce, wheat, tooth pick, wines, etc, would be made to close their farms and factories again.

"What these charlatans and hirelings want is basically twofold. First they want the CBN to give out the nation’s scarce foreign exchange to their sponsors to import all manner of foreign goods and dump them on our markets thereby frustrating the good work our own farmers and manufacturers have begun," the CBN said in a statement.

It added: "Second, they want the CBN to fold its arms and allow currency speculators to drive the Naira down to a level at which it will be easy for their paymasters to buy up and take control of the Nigerian economy. They have even gone to the extent of making false allegations that some banks are having trouble just to trigger panic in the financial system.

"These will not happen.

Nigerians have rejected these foreign agents. 26 states have adopted the CBN Anchor Borrowers Progrmme (ABP).

Nigeria is set to be self-sufficient in rice, fish and wheat production. What happened during the past Christmas and New Year celebrations has proved this," he added.

BUHARI IN LAST DITCH EFFORT TO PERSUADE JAMMEH TO HAND OVER meeting added that the Gambian leader has a plan in place to scuttle moves to remove him and extend his tenure, while he battles President-elect, Adama Barrow in the Supreme Court.

But the West African regional bloc also has a military force on standby to intervene if Jammeh does not step down.

According to reports monitored on the The Associated Press (AP), a Nigerian army memo, dated Wednesday, January 11, and seen by AP, ordered officers to prepare a battalion of 800 troops for a possible military intervention in Gambia.

Military authorities in Nigeria had earlier denied the said plan for military intervention. They were not available for comments as at press time.

Meanwhile, the African Union has announced that it would cease to recognise Jammeh as Gambia's legitimate leader from January 19, when his mandate expires.

The decision by the AU's Peace and Security Council warns Jammeh of serious consequences if his actions lead to the "loss of innocent lives" and calls on Gambia's security forces to

exercise restraint.

In a related development, the President-elect is renewing his offer to Jammeh for direct discussions on the crisis, telling the BBC that "I'll be very willing to talk to him directly."

The ruling party's legal challenge to the election results shows complications. Gambia's Supreme Court, short of judges, has said it might not be able to consider the challenge until May, and Jammeh says Gambia should await its decision.

Jammeh took power in a coup in 1994 and is accused of gross rights violations including arbitrary detentions, torture and the killings of opponents in this tiny country of 1.9 million people that is nearly surrounded by Senegal.

Jammeh might be wary of a Nigerian promise of safe haven.

Nigeria offered asylum to Liberian warlord Charles Taylor in 2003 to help end the civil war he started in 1989, but it was forced by international pressure to hand Taylor over in 2006 for trial for war crimes committed in Sierra Leone. Taylor was convicted in 2013 and is serving a 50-year sentence in a British prison.

T H I S D AY SATURDAY JANUARY 14, 2017

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •

JANUARY 14, 2017

SUPER SATURDAY Rita Daniels

Despite Age I Remain Relevant in Nollywood For many years her face have graced many movies churned out of Nollywood. With decades of experience in the movie industry, she has continued to make a mark. Ebullient, graceful and methodical, Rita Daniel has transformed from being an actress to a politician, an entrepreneur and mentor. The mother of four has been able to nurture one of her kids into becoming a rising movie star. In this interview with Oge Ezeliora, Daniels shares her moments in moviedom, the politics and the intrigues I Started Acting as a Kid in Anglican Church

I

Aside acting ma what else do you do?

am a very busy woman. I am into so many things. First, I am the chairman of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Delta state chapter, (AGN).

I am a politician; presently, the majority leader and counsellor, Aniocha South Local Government Area. I hail from Ogwashi-Ukwu town. I am also the managing director of Last Point Resort; the CEO Reginal Daniels Children Foundation; the CEO, Chris Daniel Nigeria Limited; an officer in Director Guild of Nigeria; and a producer.

People feel you pushed your daughter into acting because of money and that you want her to take after you an actress?

Not really; nobody makes one a star.

It’s only God that has the power to lift from nobody to somebody. Yes, I am a good actress who is also talented. But my daughter started when at the age of seven. She loved watching movies and acting at home. Though I didn’t allow her to watch Nigerian movies because of her age, she followed me to locations and made friends with a lot of actresses and actors. Anytime she saw little children on locations, she would beg me to allow her be part of the cast but I would refuse. She kept on pestering me until one day, I allowed her to act in a movie. She was very happy. She started practising at home. Everything my daughter knows about acting I taught her. I encouraged her not to be nervous and she listened to me. She started as low as N5,000. She still acts for free to date if I want her to act. She is humble and very obedient.

How often does she get movie role?

She is a lucky child. She is always on set. I just thank God for everything. As soon as she is concluding a particular movie, they are calling her for another one. It got to a point that I had to plead with some of her directors and producers to allow her concentrate on her studies. If not, there is no week that she will not be on set.

Rita Daniels

Has your celebrity status deprived you of anything in life?

I believe it is a normal thing for you not to be everywhere as a star. But, I am not mindful of that. I have a business I run. So, I still go to the market to public places like every other person. I am not affected by celebrity status. If you don’t go out how will you meet people? Even when my fans are screaming, ‘Mama Regina! Mama Regina! Mama Regina!’, I will just smile and hail them back and continue what I am doing. I am a politician and I am used to crowd.

How have you been able to lead famous actors and actress in Asaba as the AGN chairman?

It is not easy. I must be sincere. But God has been faithful in every way. I thank God that Delta State is the hub of Nollywood actors and actresses. After my tenure, I don’t know who the next person will be at all. It is saddening that we don’t have an office. I mean Actors Guild of Nigeria Delta State Chapter doesn’t have an office. That is the major reason any actor can come from anywhere to produce a low-standard movie or an x-rated movie. They don’t care if it will teach morals or not. You see Nollywood short films turning to porn movies and you will wonder who licensed such movies. It is so painful. Our movies needs to monitored, licensed and properly cross-checked before going public. Everyday our girls are acting in porn movies, calling it Nollywood movies. It is a very big shame to our industry. AGN needs government intervention and regulatory bodies so that we can differentiate professional actors from quacks.

What do you think about piracy?

The problem of piracy is a tough one. And it remains a major factor filmmakers find it hard to make money.

Although many are embracing digital platforms to make some income from their creation, I believes online is not immune from the scourge of piracy.

What the country is facing is a total annihilation of an industry that has the potential of not only being a foreign exchange earner but job provider.

What do you foresee for the Nollywood industry in 2017?

The Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN will be big in 2017. But, there is a clause. The clause is that we should stop attacking one another. If we stop attacking one another through lawsuits and police harassment every minute including washing our dirty linen in the public, we will go far. AGN is one all over the world. Our own should not be an exception. Good administration has eluded us for so long now. We do not have people that can pilot the affairs of the AGN. I am pleading with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to reconsider his position on the removal of AGN representative in the Motion Pictures Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MOPPICON) bill committee. I am warning those trying to hijack the AGN in the name of peace to desist from such action.

But ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

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SATURDAY Despite Age I Remain Relevant in Nollywood When you talk about sex-for role, it has to do with an individual. There’s nowhere that it does not exist. In the entertainment industry, people do a lot of funny things to get what they want. I believe it is an individual thing. If you feel sex is what will take you up there, fine, go ahead.

But know that whatever takes you up there that is not God’s will, will certainly crash. Definitely, when you are up there with God’s help, nobody will pull you down. Anything you get from an illicit affair does not end well.

How many of your children are into acting?

For now, only two of them are in Nollywood. But one is a musician while others are still in school.

How many movies have you done so far?

I have done so many movies I have even lost count.

What I do mostly is producing most of the movies my daughter, Regina, acts in.

Did you take a break from the movie industry?

I didn’t take a break from the movie industry. You know what is going on in the industry. They tend to frustrate the older ones and that is why, if you take a look at some of the movies, a lot of people have veered off into a lot of things. I will still be in the movie world till I breathe the last breath.

Rita Daniel and her daughter Regina

allegedly gave a loan to the AGN. What happened to the money?

(Laughs) I did not see one naira oh! I do not know who processed and collected the money. If the money was released, I do not know. If they did not release it, I do not know. The people, who were supposed to give us information, talking about the leadership of AGN, did not tell us anything. Even the first $200 million, nothing was heard of it. What am I looking for is hectares of land for the Film Village and a standard office for the guild so actors and actresses can have a place to share ideas and plan for the future.

What is your perception of President Muhammad Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade?

He is doing his best. The corrupt people know themselves. While our president’s good work is going on, he can then start picking them one after the other.

Many people are talking about hunger, no money, collapsed businesses, among others. But the government must first of all lay good foundation about their administration so that people will feel them first. The

change should be seen in the peoples’ welfare and every other thing will follow. That’s my own idea.

What is your view about Nollywood?

Let’s put it this way, using the argument of old and new Nollywood, the side of the fence that I stand on is that for every industry, new players would come and while they would even be considered as new players is because they are bringing value to the new generation. Those that consider themselves as the new Nollywood give them another 20 years and they are going to become the old Nollywood and that’s the cycle of life. The new players must always add value.

Nollywood is fast going into extinction and replaced with New Nollywood of unprecedented indecency and abuses.

Are you married or a single mother?

I am a proud mother of four children and my children are everything to me. I hate to discuss my family in public. Can you ask me another question?

What is your view on sex-for-role?

When you talk about sex-for role, it has to do with an individual. There’s nowhere that it does not exist.

In the entertainment industry, people do a lot of funny things to get what they want. I believe it is an individual thing. If you feel sex is what will take you up there, fine, go ahead. But know that whatever takes you up there that is not God’s will, will certainly crash. Definitely, when you are up there with God’s help, nobody will pull you down. Anything you get from an illicit affair does not end well.

Who should be blamed for this?

Nobody is to be blamed. If producers ‘toast’ you, maybe it’s okay but sometimes the girls are the ones ‘toasting’ the producers. So, who is to be blamed then?

A man has the right to say ‘bring your body’; a woman has the right to say ‘no’. It is a two-way thing. If it is rape, it is a different thing.

The young acts are the ones making waves in Nollywood.

How do you intend to fit in?

Definitely, I cannot compete with the young ones.

As one grows one will have a role in the society; I am Rita Daniel, I will play my role, nobody will play my role. There are still roles that are meant for people like me. There are still roles that if you give to the younger ones, they cannot fit in and if same roles are given to the older ones, they will do it well.

I Have Nurtured My D aughter to Become Nollywood’s Star

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

NEWS

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

Boko Haram Attacks Madagali, 11 Killed, 14 Injured as U.S Partners Nigeria to Restore Civil Authority Daji San in Yola Triple bomb blasts, which had all the trappings of the notorious Boko Haram terrorists, rocked Madagali town in Adamawa State yesterday morning, killing 11 people and injuring 14 others, who are now receiving treatment at the general hospital in Michika.

The blasts came just as the United States government on Friday said it was partnering with Nigeria to re-establish civil authorities in part of the North East ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency.

An eyewitness said three female suicide bombers blew up themselves as they approached a check point, where local vigilantes screen those entering the town.

“They blew up themselves after they were intercepted by local vigilantes stationed at the check point and two vigilantes lost their lives in the process,” said an eyewitness, who gave his name as Abawu.

The eyewitness claimed that after the incident occurred, the Red Cross and the military evacuated 11 bodies and rushed 14 persons injured to the General Hospital in Michika for treatment.

Confirming the attack, the state coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Saad Bello said 14 people were injured in the bomb blast but that one of them died before reaching the hospital in Michika.

As at the time of sending this report, he said the number of dead was yet to be ascertained, but promised to make the figure available as soon it was known.

When contacted, the chairman of Madagali Local Government Council, Yusuf Muhammad Gulak, confirmed the incident, saying the casualty figure was yet to be established.

“Presently, I am on my way to the town, but I was reliably told that the incidence occurred at the entrance of the town where people gather for screening before getting

OPENING FRONTIERS...

L-R: British High Commissioner, Mr. Paul Arkwright and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode during a courtesy call on the Governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Friday, January 13, 2017 to the town.

“You know today is the market day, and probably the suicide bombers might be aiming at the market where people do business and other transactions. I am yet to get the casualty details,” the chairman said.

Also confirming the blast, the member representing Madagali and Michika Federal constituency, Mr. Adamu Kamale said: “We woke up again today with yet another sad

development, as at 8:30 am we got reports that bombs exploded at a check point in Madagali.

“Though, we are yet to get details of loss of lives but we heard that there were injured people. This is series of attacks that we have been witnessed in the recent time, and there is need for more efforts regarding curbing areas that are closed to Sambisa,” said the lawmaker.

The spokesman of the 28Th Task Force Battalion, Major Akintoye

Badare said he was yet to get the number of dead. "I am yet to get details now. I will get back to you in two hours,” he said.

The attacks followed a series of gun and bomb attacks in the recent time by suspected Boko Haram militants, as it could be recalled on January 4, three female suicide bombers were intercepted at Bakin Dutse on their way to Gulak, the administrative headquarters of Madagali.

Reports from the area indicated that the insurgents were making frantic efforts to recapture their enclaves in Sambisa forest.

A military top official said the insurgents were already defeated but that they were trying hard to regroup, saying the military was already aware of their mode of operations.

He called on the public to go about their normal business transaction, adding that the military was on top

of the situation.

On the side of the Adamawa State Government, the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmed Sajoh condemned the attack, saying that what happened indicated that the military was on top of the situation. He said the insurgents intended to blow off Madagali market but that they were intercepted at the check point which averted the level of damage they would have caused in Madagali.

My Election, New Dawn for Ndigbo Subsidy Fraud: Court Convicts Walter Says Nwodo as Jonathan Hails Choice Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu Barely 72-hours after his emergence as the President-General of the apex Igbo Socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, former Minister of Information, Chief John Nnia Nwodo said his election would be a new dawn for Ndigbo in Nigeria.

This is as former President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated Chief Nwodo over his emergence as the new President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, describing his election as a popular choice.

Nwodo said the Igbo speaking people of Nigeria had endured their travails and had got to "an elastic limit", noting that the support that greeted his election last Tuesday was a clear indication that the people were no longer ready to be pushed aside and had decided to take their destiny in their own hands.

Nwodo who spoke during the inauguration of the Enugu State chapter of the pan Igbo sociocultural organisation with Chief

Alex Ogbonna as the state president also declared that he would not get involved in partisan politics, despite the national attention given to his recent election.

He said the well-being of Ndigbo mattered most to him now and nothing more.

He regretted that Ndigbo who used to occupy the first position in Nigeria in virtually every sphere of life including economy, had lost the number one position and were now occupying the first position from the bottom of the ladder.

Nwodo who was Minister of Civil Aviation in the Second Republic and Information Minister under the military government of Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, said he would do everything possible to ensure the repatriation of all the capital lost by Igboland.

“Less than 48 hours after my election, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated me. I received a call from the Afenifere. The Afenifere later placed an advertorial for me in the newspaper and said they will

like to meet with me. I received a call from the Deputy President of Arewa Consultative Forum, asking me when we are going to meet.

“Former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme called me. Ebitu Ukiwe called me. Emeka Anyaoku called me. My former boss, General Abdusalam Abubakar called me.

They all congratulated me.

“I received a call from Archbishop Onayeikan. When the election was going on, the Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Professor Onah and Bishop Martin Kukah of Sokoto Diocese called and said they were praying for me. You can see the national attention given to our election.

“But, one of the decisions I took is not to speak to the press. In the handover note given to me, I was made to understand that the youth wing was proscribed for speaking to the press all the time.

“We are going to have our

national executive meeting next Thursday, where all the state chairmen and members of executive will be in attendance.

Akinwale Akintunde There was a drama in court yesterday, as Mrs. Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, the Managing Director of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, who had been on trial alongside the Chairman of the oil company, Mr. Walter Wagbatsoma fainted in the dock as the trial judge, Justice Lateefa Okunnu was about to sentence her after finding her guilty in a N1.9 billion oil subsidy fraud.

The situation forced the judge, who had taken a 30-minute break ahead of an expected sentencing to defer the sentencing of fuel subsidy convicts till Monday, January 16, 2017.

The convict was eventually carried out of the court by her lawyers and loved ones into a black jeep which sped out of the court premises.

Walter Wagbatsoma; Adaoha Ugo -Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer and Ontario Oil& Gas Nigeria Limited are alleged to have fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1, 959, 377, 542, .63 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Seven

Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Two Naira, Sixty Three Kobo) from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 39.2 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the convicts before the court on August 1, 2013 alongside Mr. Babafemi Fakuade, an official of the Petroleum Products Price and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Besides the fuel subsidy trial, Wagbatsoma was recently arrested in Germany over his involvement in alleged money laundering in a multi-million pound fraud.

His is currently being detained in the UK where he is expected to face trial.

Earlier in her judgment, before the drama, Justice Okunnu had found the 1st defendant, Wagbatsama, the 2nd defendant, Ugo-Ngadi and their company, Ontario Oil and Gas guilty of the eight-count amended charge of fraud leveled against them.

The judge however, found Fakuade, the 3rd defendant and an official of PPPRA not guilty and acquitted him

on the charges.

The judge noted that the convicts defrauded the Federal Government of N754 million in oil subsidy transactions totaling N1.9 billion.

“The defendants defrauded the Federal Government of N340million in the third quarter of 2010 and N414 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.

“According to a forensic audit

by Akintola Williams Delloitte, the defendants did not remit an excess of N754 million to the Federal Government,” she said.

According to Justice Okunnu, “the 1st defendant knowingly received the sum in excess of what the 4th defendant (Ontario Oil and Gas Limited) was entitled to. In my opinion, he contributed to the false pretence.

“The 2nd defendant is the MD of the company; she is the alter-ego of the 4th defendant and was aware of the going ons of the company.

“I find the allegations of obtaining by false pretences in relation to the first, second and fourth defendants to be true.

11

JANUARY 14, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

Yemi

Adebowale The Hypocrisy of Security Agents in Southern Kaduna 07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

J

ust on January 7, Fulani herdsmen attacked Tsonje village, which is a stone throw from Kagoro town in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing two teenagers – Ephraim Ezekiel (19) and Joshua Ladi (14). Two other villagers are still missing. This attack came notwithstanding the large number of soldiers in Southern Kaduna. Vigilante in Tsonje and some policemen resisted the rampaging terrorists for hours, forcing them to retreat. While the battle lasted, soldiers deployed in Kagoro did not come to the assistance of the natives. Danjuma Laah, the Senator representing Southern Kaduna, has corroborated this account.

This has been the trend in most of the Southern Kaduna communities that had been attacked by the rampaging herdsmen.

Security agents often ignore distress calls from the communities and only appear after the attackers must have gone.

The case of Kagoro town is most painful.

The area from which the terrorists launch their attacks on communities in the town is an open secret. Their well-known camp is located behind Pasakori village, at the foot of Kagoro Mountain. I am shocked that security agents have not taken steps to dislodge these terrorists from Pasakori, where they have forcefully taken over the lands of the natives. This only goes to support insinuations that the terrorists are enjoying some form of support from security agents in Southern Kaduna, as they go about killing law-abiding citizens of Nigeria. Another horrible trend in this troubled area is that youth vigilantes, who take turn to protect their communities against these terrorists, are daily, harassed and humiliated by security agents.

“I get reports of soldiers brutalizing Southern Kaduna natives; intimidating

At this point, I need to remind Buhari about that historic statement, “The buck stops here” made popular by late President Harry Truman of the United States. It was etched on Truman’s desk in the White House, while he reigned, because he reckons with the importance of responsible Presidency. Our own Buhari must realise that the buck stops on his table. He must rise above personal interest and tackle the Kaduna massacre with all his strength and threatening our brave young ones with arrest as they watch over their communities. I am making this public to alert the world to a possible regrouping of Boko Haram terrorists with Fulani herdsmen in Southern Kaduna. They are now conquering large swaths of lands. That was how Boko Haram started in 2009. I am appeal-

A ‘Defeated’ Boko Haram Still Attacking with Precision The attack on an Army brigade in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, last Saturday, left me distressed. It came just about two weeks after the absolutely unnecessary noise by the federal government that the terrorists had been defeated. The spokesman of 27 Task Force Brigade, Lt. George Okupe confirmed the attack, adding that it was successfully repelled by the troops. It was so painful that we lost a Captain (Victor Ulasi), who is a medical doctor with the brigade. Five other soldiers were killed in the attack. According to Lt. Okupe, “it was a surprise attack by the insurgents who attacked from the eastern side of the brigade in large number and lunched superior fire power on the military formation before they were repelled.” This statement is a confirmation that the terrorists are obviously still existing in large number

and very potent too.

A day after the attack in Buni Yadi, multiple explosions hit Maiduguri, resulting in the death of five innocent people. The terrorists had earlier attacked a military facility in Rann, in the northern part of Borno State, injuring several soldiers in the process.

Just yesterday, Madagali was attacked, with scores killed. Our gallant soldiers should be allowed to do their jobs, while all these political talk that Boko Haram had been defeated, should stop. Politicians should stop distracting them. The truth is that this war is far from over and our soldiers should be allowed to concentrate. When the war is over, it would be obvious to all. The men we lost in Buni Yadi are heroes of our nation; they died for all of us to enjoy peace. May Allah grant them Al Jannah Firduas.

Corruption Allegations against Isiaq Oloyede, Ambali The recent petition by the Academic Staff Union of Universities to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, alleging the perpetration of N2 billion fraud against the management of the University of Ilorin is weighty. The fact that it is coming from the umbrella body of all university teachers in Nigeria, makes it imperative for the EFCC to dig in.

The petition was signed by the Ibadan Zonal Chairmen of ASUU, Dr. Ade Adejumo, and that of the University of Ibadan, Dr. Deji Omole. Others who signed were Dr. Biodun Olaniran of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Dr. Dauda Adeshina of Kwara State University and Dr. Kayode Afolayan of the University of Ilorin. They alleged that the said fraud was perpetrated by the former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isiaq Oloyede, and the incumbent, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali. “University of Ilorin’s management is one of the most corrupt in the

country. The institution has been operating under the pretext of keeping stable academic calendar to silence whistle blowers while perpetrating enormous fraud,” alleged the petitioners.

The allegations listed in the petition included pension fraud, unremitted deductions, extortion from students, contract inflation and kick-backs, as well as unlawful payments to ex-principal officers of the university. I have spent quality time reading this petition dated December 29, 2016. I have also read the defence put up by Oloyede and Ambali. To be honest, the past and incumbent VCs of the University of Ilorin did not impress me one bit with their defense. They need to do more by properly addressing specific issues raised. In line with the anti-corruption stance of the Buhari administration, the EFCC should thoroughly examine the petition and ensure that anyone found wanting is brought to book.

ing to the military to step in and assist the police,” remarked Senator Laah.

The truth that must be told is that a large number of security agents operating in this killing field called Southern Kaduna have compromised. They turn a blind eye to the killings, and only rush to trouble spots after the terrorists had performed their act of killing and destruction of houses and farmlands.

This is why the casualty figures are on the high. According to the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, the unrest has claimed over 808 lives, in 53 villages in the area, with 1,422 houses, 16 Churches, 19 shops, and one primary school destroyed. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris did not calm nerves when he recently visited the area.

Instead of marshaling how to tame the terrorists, the IGP spent quality time upbraiding Southern Kaduna leaders and questioning the casualty figures pushed out.

Clearly, there is an urgent need to overhaul the security arrangement here, with the natives playing a key role. For me, it is pertinent to bring in soldiers from other parts of the country to secure Southern Kaduna. Unfortunately, governments, both at the state and federal levels can no longer be trusted to provide a dispassionate security arrangement here. This is why they are unable to perform their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property in Southern Kaduna. Governor Nasir el-Rufai has been acting like a key member of this army of occupation disturbing this troubled area. This governor has consistently shown bias in the handling of this crisis. That was why the affected communities have persistently protested against him. Just as the General Secretary of CAN, Reverend Musa said, “El-rufai lacks the will power to arrest the situation and bring it under effective control.” The Vicar-General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan,

Ibrahim Yakubu was apt when he remarked: “Governments, both at the centre and state levels have failed woefully. If anything, government has shown outright partisanship in favour of the herdsmen to the disappointment of the majority Southern Kaduna indigenes and Christians.”

The response from the government at the federal level has been feeble. It took President Muhammadu Buhari over a year to even acknowledge the massacre going on in Southern Kaduna. This systematic genocide and persecution in this part of our dear nation must not be allowed to continue. Buhari must take personal interest in the security arrangement in this area. He must prove that he is a President to all, by putting an end to the impunity in Southern Kaduna. These killing have continued because no single perpetrator has been brought to book by the government.

It is disheartening that not even one perpetrator has been arrested and arraigned in court.

This is the height of impunity in a democracy.

At this point, I need to remind Buhari about that historic statement, “The buck stops here” made popular by late President Harry Truman of the United States. It was etched on Truman’s desk in the White House, while he reigned, because he reckons with the importance of responsible Presidency. Our own Buhari must realise that the buck stops on his table. He must rise above personal interest and tackle the Kaduna massacre with all his strength.

It is heartwarming to learn that the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Dr. Agnes Callamard is set to probe Kaduna killings.

Callamard is hoping to identify the perpetrators, bring them to justice and provide reparations to victims. This morning, I urge Buhari to reflect on the recent submission of the former Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, who remarked: “Killing of innocent Nigerians has nothing to do with the triumph of democracy. We are not free if our lives are in danger while government that ought to protect us appears to be helpless.”

Governor Tambuwal Should Get Serious about Water Supply Water scarcity has become a recurring problem in Sokoto metropolis in the last 19 months. The last four weeks have been horrendous for the residents of this city, following persistent epileptic public water supply. Frustrated residents have been patronizing hawkers of largely unhygienic water and paying fortunes. This problem only eased a bit this week. The truth is that the public water plants in this city are in a mess and Governor Aminu Tambuwal must get serious about fixing them permanently.

When I served in this city about 25 years ago, uninterrupted water supply was a thing of joy. I often send messages home about the reliable water supply in Sokoto. Suddenly, this is now history. Tambuwal must return this city to the beautiful days of uninterTambuwal rupted water supply.

Ashimolowo’s Sweet $5m Ponzi Story On December 14 last year, the Charity Commission for England and Wales published its findings on an inquiry into a Ponzi scheme in which Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in the United Kingdom lost £3.9 million. The trustees of the 12,000-member mega church in Britain headed by Mathew Ashimolowo were indicted by the Commission. It ruled that the church’s trustees who handed over the funds were guilty of “mismanagement.”

They invested over £5 million in four installments between June 2009 and June 2010, resulting in the huge loss. The scam was the brainchild of Richard Rufus, who was a former trustee of the church. He had guaranteed that the investments would

earn a massive return of about 55 per cent in a year. I wonder how KICC Trustees thought this would happen in the UK. What I find infuriating are attempts by the KICC to exonerate Ashimolowo from this misadventure. According to a statement from the Church, Ashimolowo “did not make the decision to invest; and not a trustee and has never been a trustee of KICC.” Haba! How can the founder and Senior Pastor be unaware of the movement of a huge £5 million from the Church’s account? This is food for thought for all of us this morning. The church should simply keep quiet since the UK Charity Commission is not interested in Ashimolowo’s role in this epic.

12

january 14, 2017• THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

AS THE WORLD WAITS FOR TRUMP Folu Olamiti argues Trump will be carrying a lot of baggage into office

F

ew days from now Donald Trump will step into the White House as the 45th American President. The Americans are in fever pitch anticipation waiting for a man whose conduct, so far, has been contrary to the norm. Trump is a novelty in American politics, nay the world. His victory shocked the pundits and soothsayers whose predictions never gave Trump a chance. Why? They could not imagine a man with such crude dispositions and unorthodox style would garner votes to victory. Talk about his mannerisms, they are far away from being normal.

Many dismiss his penchant of speaking what they dub the language of the street and directed at the proverbial common man right from the time he started campaigning for his party’s Republican ticket through to the presidential elections.

For the first time, a presidential candidate openly took the media up and spat on their faces for their rabid opposition to his candidacy.

To him, given the obvious bias of the mainstream media in favour of his opponent, Hillary Clinton, the Fourth Estate of the Realm had betrayed the cardinal principle of the profession that truth is sacred. He sees majority of the journalists and broadcasters as liars and jokers. He also threw a punch at illegal immigrants, vowing that he would fish them out and get them expelled as soon as he was sworn in. He had a scathing message for the religious bigots - especially the Muslims threatening once sworn in, he would make the United States too hot for them to stay. To him “they are blood suckers”.

Trump is now US President-elect, rhetorics of electioneering campaigns are gone. The question begging for an answer is: Will he be true to his campaigns promises? A BBC commentary column of November 10, 2016, raised some poignant posers for Trump on tackling some of the major issues he raised during his electioneering trips across America. I wish to recall few of them in this piece. Already some of his cabinet nominees are talking of the rules of law to implement some of Trump weird policies rather than carrying them out by fiat.

First on his card is the removal of two million illegal immigrants.

How he is going to achieve this still remains cloudy. There are only an estimated 178,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records. Even if they are two million, to begin mass deportation on that scale would be hard.

However, Americans are waiting for his joker.

Second: The building of Trump Wall. He has slightly changed one of his campaign promises that would make Mexicans finance the building of the wall to now saying the wall will be built through appropriations process as soon as April. In one of his tweets, Trump said: “The congressional appropriations to build the wall was because of speed”. New York Republican Representative, Chris Collins, echoing that said American tax payers would fund the cost for the wall but that he was confident Trump would negotiate getting the money back from Mexico. “When you understand that Mexico’s economy is dependent upon US consumers, Donald Trump has all the cards he needs to play”.

The wall is estimated to cost as much as $10 billion (N480 billion).

Third: To deny visa- free travel to countries which refuse to take back their citizens. In theory he can, under section212 ( F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 152 making reference to President Barack Obama who had used the act to block visas of certain groups. But for Trump to apply the rule to the entire countries of the world may be difficult to achieve.

THE TRUMP CABINET IS ALMOST IN PLACE. THESE ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL SET THE TONE OF IMPLEMENTING TRUMP”WEIRDEST” IDEAS. IT IS, HOWEVER, A MIXED GRILL. SOME OF HIS NOMINEES DO NOT SHARE THE RATHER EXTREME POSITIONS OF TRUMP ON SOME ISSUES

Fourth: appointment of a new Supreme Court Judge. It is yet to be seen. Though there is a vacancy in the higher echelon of the US court after the death of conservative Antoin Scalia.

President Obama has nominated a replacement but the Republican controlled house has refused to consider it. Mr Trump has an opportunity to nominate a candidate to the Supreme Court. Through this, he could influence decisions on everything from abortion to freedom of the Press and probably same-sex marriage.

Fifth: Repealing Obama Care. Already the Republican legislators who now dominated the two houses of Congress have tactically endorsed Trump pledge to have Obamacare repealed as soon as he assumes office. Though this threat will be a tall order to achieve, Trump will need to find a way to overcome a strong Democratic opposition in the Senate. To repeal health legislation without an immediate replacement will deny millions of Americans now receiving affordable health care.

Sixth: Cancellation of all payments to the UN climate change programmes. Though he can get the scrapping of payment through the Republican dominated Congress, he will have to contend with Paris Agreement which ratified it as an international law. Withdrawal may take four years or more.

Seventh: Trump who described China as a currency manipulator may be inclined to rattle China with an executive order to remedy what he considered an unacceptable situation. But given the vibrancy of the Chinese economy, whatever measure President Trump might take against China is likely to be of limited effect.

The Trump cabinet is almost in place. These are the men and women who will set the tone of implementing Trump”weirdest” ideas. It is, however, a mixed grill. Some of his nominees do not share the rather extreme positions of Trump on some issues, like the National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, who has a history of tactically supporting anti- Muslim activists; Jefferson Beauregard who believes in equal rights for all and Steve Bannon - Trump’s Chief Strategist - whose selection was most welcome by white supremacists. In a most dramatic twist on Tuesday, January 9, 2016, Trump nominee for US Attorney General stunned the Senate Confirmation Panel when he said: “I abhor the KK Klan and what it represents and its hateful ideology”. Even those placard carrying protesters against his nomination: “Stop the racist pig from getting into power” were disappointed when he further said, he did not support outright Muslim ban from the U.S. “We have great Muslim citizens”.

Trump will be carrying a lot of baggage into his office next Friday judging from his last news conference last January 11, 2016. As a businessman, he maintained he would ever be, though he pledged to transfer the running of his multi- billion dollars businesses to his two sons. His link to Russia is an albatross that is making many Americans to believe that their indomitable world influence will be compromised.

And the last which to me will be very hard for him to fight is his disdain for the Press.

The world is waiting for Trump and how he wants to actualise his campaign mantra: “WE WANT TO TAKE OUR AMERICA BACK” against these odds.

Olamiti, Media Consultant, wrote from Las Vegas

A RED LETTER DAY IN OGUN

W

The Amosun administration puts smiles on the faces of its workforce despite the current recession, writes Soyombo Opeyemi

ednesday, December 21, 2016, was another red letter day in Ogun State.

In one iconic gesture, the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration devoted a whopping sum of N12.5 billion to clear the arrears of gratuities and cooperative deductions of the workforce.

A mere fragment of the amount goes to offset the severance package of the political office holders under the Otunba Gbenga Daniel-led administration and last dispensation. This is aside the payment of December, 2016 salaries and bonus to the workers.

This is big news for many reasons. Nigeria is in economic recession, exacerbated by the unprecedented plunge in the price of crude oil in the international market. We all know the crisis going on across the states of Nigeria in terms of salaries.

While Ogun is not immune to the realities of the recession, the state government has never defaulted in the payment of monthly salaries to its workforce.

Not many compatriots actually know that the Amosun government began payment of gratuities to retired workers from 2008. That is three clear years before he was elected in 2011. Some 24 billion was expended on this, including inherited deductions.

I recall the argument then. “Mr Governor, please concentrate on your own tenure. You were not the one that owed those workers. That amount is enough to settle all gratuities during your own term!” But Amosun demurred, “These people are Ogun indigenes. They have served the state meritoriously. Yes, I did not owe them. But they have to be paid. They deserve to be paid!”

No one, in its wildest imagination, had dreamt of the current recession. But the Amosun government was proactive. It introduced immediately Single Treasury Account and e-payment. This shot up the

revenue of the state geometrically. In the Ministry of Commerce alone, the income generated suddenly rose from the average of N45 million per annum under the previous government to N550 million per annum (representing 1,122% increase) within a space of one year - all simply by blocking the loopholes in the old system and introducing a cashless policy! That percentage increase in one ministry alone is staggering! The new government considerably reduced the salaries of political office holders in addition to being among the few states having the lowest number of such office holders.

Thus the internally generated revenue of Ogun State rose from N750 million monthly under the former administration to N5 billion within a short space of time.

The World Bank Doing Business Report of 2014, which rated Ogun among the five states that made the biggest strides in terms of ease of doing business in Nigeria, is enough testimony to the economic transformation brought about by the current administration. Today, Ogun has become the industrial hub of Nigeria due to the enabling environment provided for business by the Amosun government. Over 110 multi-billion naira companies have berthed in Ogun in the last five years. The latest is the Palms Shopping Malls, whose first plaza in Ogun State (Shoprite) is the biggest in the country.

Therefore, if Ogun has been able to stay afloat during the current financial difficulties in Nigeria, and has enjoyed industrial harmony, let the reader understand the road it had marched economically in the last five years. Ogun is also affected by the current storms but never overwhelmed!

All the 36 states of the federation must appreciate the government of President Muhammadu Buhari

for its magnanimity, transparency and commitment to due process. Unlike the previous practice, where money was paid to only PDP states, all the 36 states of the federation are benefiting from funds released by the federal government to cushion the effects of the current recession. And one must immediately add that things began to fall apart economically in Nigeria since 2013. Everything was blamed on oil theft by the then government. Nigerians now know the truth - how billions of naira meant for development were squandered. Had they been well invested, such investments would have stood the country in good stead during the current drastic fall in global oil prices. As I once observed, we sowed the wind under the previous governments and we are now reaping the whirlwind.

As the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said the Amosun government will continue to abide by the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the labour unions.

It has even now surpassed the expectations of the MoU. Another point that may not be known to the public is that the current government, in 2011, increased the salaries of workers. The rise almost doubled the wage bill of the state. And not just the state workers but local council’s as well. The argument of the governor has remained the same: “The Ogun workers are the best in the country, and there must be a commensurate reward for that.” Hence, Ogun, despite being number 25 out of 36 states in terms of the size of income from the Federation Account, pays the highest salaries to workers! This did not start today. It did not start yesterday, but since 2011. One is, therefore, shocked to the marrow that the present gesture to workers could be denigrated by some opposition elements in order to score a

political point. But they are adept at hitting below the belt and scoring an offside goal. And we know the result of an offside goal - it comes to nought!

While these detractors join the “Internet millipedes” to corrupt the public space with their half-truths and outright lies, Amosun is busy at his desk thinking and deploying strategies to further develop the state. As Ambassador Chris Cooter, Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, observed in April, 2013, “The Governor has been emphasising that his administration is very particular about hard work.

Here we are on a Sunday, I look at the construction going on, definitely, I am impressed. It is going to transform the state, no doubt. Whether it is canal, the road network, health or education, clearly, I can see a demonstration of the ‘can do’ attitude...”

And while these “cold and timid souls” are asleep, snoring, Amosun is awake reading the feedback from the masses, who constantly send him messages about their views - and he reads them all and acts accordingly. Little wonder the bond that exists between him and the people.

In the immortal words of Theodore Roosevelt in April, 1910, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly... who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Soyombo wrote from Abeokuta

13

january 14, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

What fate?

The War Against G.O.

F

rom the outset, it is essential to make certain clarifications.

One, though this writer is of the RCCG, this rejoinder does not in any way represent a response by the RCCG or Pastor E.A.Adeboye in respect of some of the issues raised by Abimbola Adelakun in her column recently. My interest in this issue is purely based on innate desire to further enhance public understanding and proper education on the subject. This piece will concentrate on two aspects of Adelakun’s piece which are considered misleading and speculative. The first concerns what Adelakun terms Pastor Adeboye’s reluctance at relinquishing power; a contention she took to a rather alarming height by comparing Adeboye with African leaders such as Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who ‘refuses to live out the rest of his days in dignity of senescence’ and the late President Umaru Yar’Adua who ‘had to be propped up on his sick bed while hired ventriloquists voiced his thoughts’.

It is important to stress that comparing Adeboye with such African leaders is unfair and a reflection of lack of proper grasp of the concept of spiritual authority. For one, the leaders in question were voted into office and were to serve constitutionally permissible terms in office. But this is not the case with Adeboye who was never voted into office as the General Overseer of RCCG. His choice was divinely ordained and same goes for his tenure in office. RCCG as an entity is a divine creation of God who called the founder of the mission, late Rev. Josiah Akindayomi into the ministry. Indeed, according to existing literatures on RCCG, it was God that gave the late founder, an illiterate, the name the church bears through a trance. The founder remained leader of the mission until God directed him to anoint Adeboye as his successor before he was eventually called to glory.

At this point, let me stress that this pattern of divinely designed leadership pact abound in the Holy Bible. For instance, God called Moses and gave him a specific assignment.

Through this, Moses became the spiritual head of the people and he led them from Egypt to the wilderness. But his tenure in office and profundity of assignment were clearly determined by God. At a stage, when certain elements from the fold tried to rebel against his leadership, the Lord dealt brutally with them by commanding the ground to open and swallow them. The severity of the retribution validates the reality that God detest rebellions against his chosen leader. When Moses’ time was up, according to divine calendar, God was the one that chose Joshua to take over from him. This has been the pattern all through the ages: God chooses and determines the tenure of his chosen servants.

Let me digress a little by highlighting how the revered clergy came into the ministry. He was already a doctorate degree holder in Ap-

Will our Gambian intervention have a Placebo?

T

here are times that some countries decide to remain in a ‘splendid isolation’, and the philosophy behind this policy at that time was because of in-house issues. Britain was famous for that policy. It refrained from alliances and entanglements with the domestic affairs of neighbouring countries until such a time that it became expedient to do so. It was a temporary measure, and it would have completely messed up the British sphere of influence if they continued with it longer than necessary. The British embarked on it, because conditions at home were taking a battering, even though issues of a balance of power among the colonial powers seemed a given.

While some nations successfully adopt the doctrine of splendid isolation as a measure to look inward and address internal problems, others don’t. The purpose of this discussion therefore is to consider if Nigeria should adopt the hibernation mode first before getting entangled with issues in neighbouring states. As things stand now, Nigeria is taking a lead with the resolution of the political T H E S AT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R impasse generEDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE ated by the MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO refusal of DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE the Gambian CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI strongman, EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN Yahya Jammeh, to respect the result of that country’s presidential T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D election in EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, which he alISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU legedly lost to GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA his opponent, DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, Mr. Adama MBAYILAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE Barrow. On DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI the face of it as SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO the undisputed CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI giant of Africa GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI and leading GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE political and ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II economic DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO power bloc, it TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com will behove on Nigeria to take

plied Mathematics and a top ranking lecturer at the University of Lagos when he was called by God into full time ministry. By then, RCCG was the poorest among the poor churches of the day. So, when Adeboye quit his plum job as a lecturer for the uncertain option of being a full time pastor, it was a sacrificial choice. I made this allusion to emphasise the fact that Adeboye foray into the ministry was not motivated by affluence and influence. It was strictly in obedience to the voice of the One who redeemed his soul. His continuous stay in office as the G.O. is no, doubt, still in perfect obedience to the voice of God. Those who know Adeboye recognise that he abhors ostentatious living and arrogance of power. So comparing him to Mugabe and others is rather strange.

The second issue concerns her claim on Adeboye’s successor.

While it is true, as Adelakun claimed, that Adeboye once said that his successor was still in a “beer parlour,” she however missed the point by trying to affirm Pastor Joseph Obayemi as Adeboye’s successor. For the education of Adelakun and others that hold similar flawed position on the recent happenings in the RCCG, it is imperative to state that Pastor Obayemi is not by any means, the successor of Pastor Adeboye. He was appointed as the National Overseer of RCCG, Nigeria and not RCCG Worldwide.

Tayo Ogunbiyi, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

this lead. Nigeria in 2014 was the largest market in Africa, and fluctuates here and there as the largest exporter of crude oil, a position which earns Nigeria a tidy income.

But there are issues at home here needing Mr. President’s urgent attention.

The Nigerian economy is currently experiencing a glut. Oil prices are at an all-time low. Most state governments are unable to pay salaries of workers.

There has been a gale of sacks and there is massive hunger in the land, the likes that have not been seen in decades. Boko Haram has ravaged the North East, and monies which were supposed to be used to revamp some parts of that unfortunate region have been allegedly pocketed by officials close to government. I recall that in the prosecution of the case of the missing or mismanaged $2.1billion put aside to fight Boko Haram, the supposed spender in chief took the federal government to the ECOWAS court and got judgment that the federal government should release him. But Nigeria refused to obey that judgment, in its wisdom.

So at a time like this, Nigeria would be wise to look in-ward first and put its house in order even as she embarks on this act of chivalrous bravado. In Kaduna recently, what looked like a pogrom took place, and what was the response of our government? Short of being accused of looking the other way, it took our president a long time before he sent what looks like help to Southern Kaduna. If we are unable to take care of events of this scale at home, what gives us the impression that when we get to The Gambia we would be able to bully our way through?

Many people believe that Nigeria has already showed leadership in Africa with its example of accepting defeat after a presidential election. The incident in The Gambia is an aberrant one. The chap initially accepted defeat but thereafter rescinded unfortunately.

Therefore, what Nigeria should do is this: while pursuing peace and reconciliation in Banjul, we should as well take care of issues at home.

Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, manager communications, ANEEJ

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JANUARY 14, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLSCOPE

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com 08053069356

Jammeh, Ndume: Two Contra Politicians

Canticles...

ahyah Jammeh, the outgoing president of The Gambia, has managed, by his recent conduct to reinforce the notion among the civilised world, that Africa is truly a backward and dark continent.

Until last Wednesday, he had seemed poised to set the tiny West African country on edge when he reversed his earlier acceptance of defeat by Adama Barrow after the December 1 presidential election.

On December 2, Jammeh had called Barrow on phone (the telephone conversation went viral) to concede defeat, when he declared that, “The Gambian people have spoken, and I have no reason to contest the will of the almighty Allah”. Jammeh who had ruled The Gambia for 22 years describes himself as a selfavowed “proud” dictator, and had further told Barrow, “The country will be in your hands in January [2017] and you are assured of my guidance on your transition and in selecting your new government.” Then few days later, he reversed himself, claiming that the results of the election are filled with “serious and unacceptable abnormalities”, manipulated to favour Barrow, and so was no longer willing to accept the outcome of the election. This was said to have been triggered by alleged (untimely) threat by Barrow to probe Jammeh when he gets into office. That means Jammeh’s reversal was a bid to protect himself from undue harassment or persecution by the incoming government.

But worried that this new position could threaten the peace of the country, other West African leaders led by our President Muhammadu Buhari had intervened by visiting Jammeh and pleading with him to respect the wish of the people and provisions of the constitution of The Gambian nation. But Jammeh would not listen. He threatened to stay on in office, got his party to challenge the outcome of the polls at the country’s Supreme Court.

That is after he had clamped down on the media by shutting down many media houses, frightening opposition leaders, etc. He maintained that any intervention by outsiders amounts to an affront to the sovereignty of The Gambia and that it would be resisted. Tension was building, people were fleeing the country, fearing that doomsday was near…

The ECOWAS leaders met again in Abuja and had planned to visit Jammeh again last Wednesday, but the latter said they should come last Friday. Jammeh still thought he could use the Supreme Court to hang on to power. Unfortunately, the apex court headed by Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle (a Nigerian), late Tuesday, ruled that there are not enough judges to hear the case and so adjourned for months until there is a full bench.

Left with no choice, Jammeh had finally settled for the much sought-after peace option by appointing a liaison between him and Barrow. Until that redeeming wisdom, the ECOWAS leaders had considered all options, including using military force to remove Jammeh from office.

What was a man who had ruled for 22 years still looking for in office, if he is not stung by the Mugabe bee? This is the same man who had said by losing the election Allah was telling him that his time was up. Well, all is well that ends well. The drum beats of war have been staved off, thankfully, hopefully.

But if Jammeh was a bad specimen of an African politician, Senator Ali Ndume has shown that he is a redeeming specimen of the political class. His ready acceptance of his removal as the Majority Leader in the Senate is instructive. Here was a man who was removed from office in a coup d’état manner, while he went to pray. There was no hint that he had done anything wrong, even though we know his refutal of the rejection of Ibrahim Magu as the EFCC chair, by the Senate, is a major precursor to his ouster. He had denied that the Senate did not reject Magu, whereas indeed, the Senate did.

In a warm and kind spirit, Ndume accepted his ouster without fuss, noting that the sanctity of the institution of the Senate needs to be respected and preserved. More importantly, he recognised and affirmed the fact that his ascension to the position was by the grace of the APC caucus in the Senate and so if the same APC caucus suddenly thinks he has lost their confidence, he surrenders without any kick. This is coming less than two years after occupying the office. This contrasts sharply with Jammeh who had spent 22 years and was yet willing to “scatter ground”. In my opinion, it is not only noble and democratic, it also shows that Senator Ndume is not desperate for power.

But more insightful in the chess game playing out in the Senate is the fact that the “sacrifice” of Ndume is to further appease aggrieved forces that have plagued the eight Senate.

With the new rapprochement birthing in the Senate by way of the enchanting amity between the Senate president, Bukola Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari; and the near death of the Saraki trial, the coming on board of Senator Ahmed Lawan (as the new Majority Leader), who was initially tipped for the Senate presidency by the powers that be, there will be less friction in the red chamber to make for a more noticeable legislative progress.

D

Y

Wetin Concern Government with Church Matter? id you hear of the bad breeze that blew across the country last week?

Not at all. The meteorological service did not warn Nigerians ahead.

Meteorological service? Nooooo, I am not talking about that kind of breeze. I am talking of the breeze that blew across the churches.The one that forced Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), to step down as the “Daddy G.O” of the Nigerian arm of the church Oh yes! I have been following. And I heard the fellow who was heading the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Jim Obaze, has been sacrificed.

What do you mean by ‘sacrificed’? What a choice of word!

I am sure the poor man was trying to do his job by enforcing the provisions of an Act of law. And see where it landed him, all in the service of fa… (cuts in) What stupid Act of law are you talking about? Does the Obaze not have sense? Is he going to be more Catholic than the Pope? Why was he going to meddle in the affairs of the Church?

Does he not know the meaning of expediency? Look, that young man went to hang his cloth at a place he cannot get it back. And what happened to him lastTuesday is the beginning of a chain of unpleasantries lined up for him. How dare he force down Daddy G.O? He dabbled into the sacrilegious and he got his fingers very badly burnt. I can assure you that… (cuts in) You are being sentimental. The question to ask is whether or not the law, i.e. the Governance Code, Obaze was trying to enforce exists or not? Was the FRCN being arbitrary in trying to force heads of Not-forprofit-organisations to hand over leadership after 20 years of occupying the said position?

Don’t join Obaze to ask stupid question, or else you will partake of his bread of sorrow.

God forbid!

Now let me ask you: Is the Church owned or formed or run by government? Or is the Church an extension of government agencies and parastatals? Why is government suddenly interested in regulating the activities and operations of the Church? And for crying out loud, how many Emirs or Imams did the FRC also force to step down? Wetin concern government for church or mosque matter? Don’t mope at me, answer me!

I insist that you are being sentimental sir. You have not answered my earlier question: whether the law by which Adeboye was forced to step down exists or not?

And before you rain curses again, is it not true that many of the churches hide under the guise of not-for-profit organisations to run very big and flourishing business outfits? Don’t you know many of the said churches run and operate schools, hospitals, water factories, banks, bakeries etc etc? Are these endeavours not profit-making outfits? Or do the churches give out the bread from their bakeries free to people? Or don’t you know that many of the schools (including universities) run by these churches charge the most expensive fees in the country?

Obaze

Another round of useless questions!That obnoxious law does not or should not apply to churches.

Are you also not aware that even mosques run Islamic teaching centres? Why were the Imams of such mosques not forced to step down? And In any case, if the government is interested in the business aspect of the religious organisations, let government ask them to pay tax. It is as simple as that! But to decree by law that a spiritual leader of a church should be tenure–based as if he/she is a political appointee or elected by politicians is clearly a handshake beyond the elbow! After all, was it not the same government that approved and registered the said schools run by the churches? Do you know the number of people the church provides jobs for in those same business outfits? Pray, do Obaze and his FRCN think that the anointing and unction that governs such spiritual leadership of mass of faithful is a matter of wishful or flippant legislation? Is it a gift that can be picked from the shelf? Was Obaze there when they were called into their various ministries? Was Obaze so drunk with the little powers he had that he completely forgot the ethos of ecclesiastical discretion?

Did he not betray arrogance and mischief when he dared the Church leaders to either comply with the regulations or take their churches to heaven? Did he think he was talking to Board members of government parastatals? He surely crossed the line!

Is this not the same Obaze that was accused of sexual harassment of his PA, Mrs Abimbola Yakubu in 2013, although he denied? Is this not the same Obaze that also recommended the sack of then Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the CBN governor in 2014? Is this not the same Obaze that suspended the FRC number of Atedo Peterside, chairman of Stanbic IBTC, in October 2015?

Can’t you see that this Obaze has been biting more than he can chew?

But is that why the government which he is trying to serve and protect summarily sack him, just like that?

You do not understand! Do you realise the amount of damage that singular reckless act of Obaze did to the government and image of President Buhari? Do you know that people were already interpreting it that it was Buhari who ordered Adeboye to step down because he (Adeboye) had recently gone to pray for Gov Ayo Fayose, the philistinic critic of the Buhari administration? Do you know that the impression was being created that Buhari was planning to wage war against Christendom, especially as the law did not force down any Muslim cleric? It was a great demarketing streak, my dear. Only the sack of the FRCN boss would have helped to redeem the image damage. Or did you not hear that an angry Pastor Adeboye had ordered all his church members to go and register in any political party of their choice?You don’t know the implication of that? Or are you ignorant of the huge voting power/influence of the church, especially RCCG members?

All you have done is to intimidate me with some unseen metaphysical might. And you have succeeded in declaring that in the application of government laws and regulations, there are some No-Go areas; that there are sacred cows and that …

Jammeh

Ndume

(cuts in) Look, I am not going to continue this fruitless argument with you. If all that you have seen manifesting within one week is not enough sign to tell you that what Obaze did was a path to perdition, then you are, of all men, most miserable!

T H I S D AY SATURDAY JANUARY 14, 2017

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

THE ALTERNATIVE with Reno Omokri On President Buhari, G.O Adeboye and Governor Fayose

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hree weeks ago, Pastor Enoch Adeboye was in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State and while there, he praised Governor Ayo Fayose for defending his people from ‘foreign’ Fulani herdsmen.

The next day, the All Progressives Congress insulted Pastor Adeboye in the media and accused him of commending Fayose for pecuniary reasons, claiming he might have been bribed (you see, the only weapon the APC has is anticorruption, and when the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail).

Shortly thereafter, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria forced Pastor Adeboye to retire as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Connect the dots. Let us not be disunited. If Professor Yemi Osinbajo is afraid to say it, I Reno Omokri, am not afraid to say it. I love and respect the Muslim Ummah, having read and understood Qur’an (unlike many other Christians) so do not misunderstand me. I stand by Pastor Adeboye. Now, more than ever, Nigerian Christians and minorities need unity and leaders like Adeboye and Fayose!

Many Nigerians and the media as a whole regale us with stories, insulting Ayo Fayose, yet he was able to stop Fulani herdsmen killings in Ekiti. Of what good are our own sophisticated governors if they cannot protect your life?

An average Ekiti man knows that Fayose will fight for him.

Can we say the same about our own individual governors?

Fayose will never go to Abuja to cry to President Muhammadu Buhari if Fulani herdsmen kill Ekiti people unlike a so-called governor who went, crying like a baby to Buhari when ‘foreign’ Fulani herdsmen raped, maimed, butchered then, savagely and barbarically ended the lives of his people.

If the first responsibility of a government is the protection of life and property, I challenge any Nigerian to name a governor who does this better than Fayose!

And then after the outcry and the big to-do raised by the public, President Muhammadu Buhari dialed back on the move against Pastor Adeboye and then sacked the Secretary of the FRCN, Mr. Jim Obazee and ‘suspended’ (not revoked) the controversial policy of tenure used by the FRCN to target Pastor Adeboye.

I was once in government and I do not believe that Mr. Obazee could have acted as he did without being ordered to do so. This is my opinion and it is not a fact. I have no proof to back this up; however, I believe that Mr. Obazee was just a fall guy, a patsy, a small fry that was expendable as collateral damage after the deed had been done.

And for the army of e-agents this administration has on social media who keep falsely blaming former President Goodluck Jonathan for the policy used in removing Pastor Adeboye as G.O of RCCG, please be aware that though the FRCN was established under Jonathan, this new policy was introduced on the 17th of October 2016 by the Muhammadu Buhari administration. If you care to check on my Twitter or

ManyNigeriansandthemediaasawhole regaleuswithstories,insultingAyoFayose, yethewasabletostopFulaniherdsmen killingsinEkiti.Ofwhatgoodareourown sophisticatedgovernorsiftheycannot protectyourlife?AnaverageEkitiman knowsthatFayosewillfightforhim.Can wesaythesameaboutourownindividual governors?FayosewillnevergotoAbuja tocrytoPresidentMuhammaduBuhari ifFulaniherdsmenkillEkitipeopleunlike aso-calledgovernorwhowent,crying likeababytoBuhariwhen‘foreign’Fulani herdsmenraped,maimed,butcheredthen, savagelyandbarbaricallyendedthelives ofhispeople.Ifthefirstresponsibilityof agovernmentistheprotectionoflifeand property,IchallengeanyNigeriantonamea governorwhodoesthisbetterthanFayose!

Fayose

Adeboye

Facebook profiles, you would see photographic proof of this there.

Never before in the history of Nigeria as a united and independent nation has the Church of Jesus Christ, the Son of God been under such a coordinated attack as it is today.

For weeks, I and other like minds have been screaming to all who cared to listen that the President must do something to stop the carnage and harvest of deaths visited on the Christian minorities of Southern Kaduna. We have all been in deep pain and agony as the pictures of women with intestines and wombs wrenched out of their bodies, children in horrific death poses and men with machete cuts all over their bodies circulated in the new and traditional media.

It was our expectation that all men of good will would stand up and be counted in the condemnation of such barbaric acts, but none of us were prepared for the call by the Council of Imams in Kaduna State on President Muhammadu Buhari to arrest the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Samson Ayokunle, over the Southern Kaduna killings!

My mouth is too heavy for words! Have we all seen what we have used our own hands to do to ourselves? The other day, it was the 77-year-old Head of Afenifere, Olu Falae that was kidnapped, flogged and made to kneel down and beg by ‘foreign’ Fulani herdsmen. Then only last year the king of Ubulu-Ukwu in Delta state, HRM Akaeze Edward Ofulue III, was kidnapped then killed and his body left to decompose in the bush without burial by ‘foreign’ Fulani herdsmen. Then we had the Agatu killings, the Enugu killings and a multiplicity of killings by ‘foreign’ Fulani herdsmen leading up to the Southern Kaduna killings, but rather than sympathise with the people of Southern Kaduna and other people killed, these Imams want President Buhari to arrest their sympathisers. Welcome to the new and improved Nigeria under President Buhari!

Do these Imams think they are the only ones who have read the Quran or the Hadiths of the prophet? I have read them too.

In one of the Hadiths, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself’. Are these imams living by this adage? Or do they not know that Christians are ‘people of the Book’ in Islam.

What does this council of Imams want to achieve by this highly provocative and insensitive call?

Cry my beloved country! It seems the beautiful ones are not yet born!

But going back to President Buhari and his actions and inactions, my question is this: How come President Buhari can investigate and fire Mr. Jim Obaze of the FRC very quickly yet he is still awaiting ‘further investigation’ before acting on Babachir Lawal? The way the President drags his foot when those around him are accused of corruption puts a question mark on his anti-corruption crusade. What about the investigations of the Supreme Court Justice-visiting Rotimi Amaechi, the grass cutting-Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the budget-padding civil servants?

And President Buhari is beginning to export his double standard beyond Nigeria’s borders. With all due regards, President Buhari is acting hypocritically in The Gambia!

He refuses to confirm Justice Walter Onoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria yet asks Jammeh to confirm Barrow as

President! Since 1987, the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court automatically became the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

After 30 years of Northern Chief Justices of Nigeria, it became the turn of a minority Southerner and all of a sudden, President Buhari refuses to nominate him as substantive CJN. Is that any different from what Jammeh is up to in The Gambia?

What moral right does a President who refuses to obey the judgment of an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court, ordering him to release Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) have to tell Jammeh to obey ECOWAS? Both President Buhari and the new Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo plagiarised speeches by American Presidents but the similarities between them end there.

The same day it was revealed that the Ghanaian president, Akufo-Addo’s speech was plagiarised was the same day he fired the man behind the speech. ‘Fired’ mind you, not ‘redeployed’. In President Buhari’s own case of stealing President Obama’s speech, it took two weeks before he ‘redeployed’ (not sack) the director involved. And this is a man who claims to have zero tolerance for corruption. I think the President mistakes zero tolerance for opposition for zero tolerance for corruption.

To show the value Nigeria places on human life, we sacked Obazee for embarrassing the government over the Adeboye resignation but sacked no one because of the Southern Kaduna killings. We acquitted the suspected murderers of the beheaded Christian evangelist, Bridget Agbahime, but are diligently prosecuting Joe Chinakwe, who named his dog after his hero, President Buhari. We wait for public outcry before belatedly sending troops to help victims of ‘foreign’ Fulani herdsmen but send out troops to catch and display alleged cattle rustlers on TV. What has happened to our humanity over the past 18 months? What have we used our hands to do to ourselves?

This past week we saw four Israelis killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was at the ground zero of the attacks within an hour. An untold number of Nigerians were killed in Southern Kaduna and neither President Buhari nor his vice has thought it wise to visit the area for an on the spot analysis or even to personally commiserate with the victims.

President Buhari has forgotten that on October 13, 2000 after some Fulani people were killed during clashes with local farmers in Shaki, Oyo State that he physically went to the Ibadan office of the then governor of Oyo state, Lam Adesina, and passionately protested against the killings and insisted that Governor Lam Adesina put an end to them.

Why is it that 16 years after he did that, he has not been able to find the time to do for the people of Southern Kaduna what he did for the Fulani people in 2000?

But it is not all bad news though. There is hope for Nigeria.

A young patriotic Nigerian, Mubarak Maishanu, recognised me at the Istanbul airport. He is a Fulani from Bauchi State and a fan of former President Goodluck Jonathan. He has a picture of the former President as his screen saver. I made sure he spoke to the former President on phone and made his day. We need people like this to complete the handshake across the Niger! My prayer is that someday we will have more Mubaraks who want to shake hands over the Niger than those whose intentions across the Niger have more to do with hegemony than with harmony

Plus

LOUD WHISPERS MEMOIRS AUTO WRITERS’ WOLRD FASHION FILE SHOWBIZFLAIR

pg. 20 pg. 24 pg. 26 pg. 35 pg. 41 pg. 44

Kema Chikwe

I Am an Unrepentant Owerri Woman

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 14, 2017

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PLUS

I Love Cooking with Firewood Her pedigree is unmistakable; so is her political acumen. Strong, suave and stately, Kemafo Chikwe remains one of the most prominent female politicians the Peoples Democratic Party has ever produced. A one-time minister of aviation and ambassador to Republic of Ireland, she was at the heart of women development and involvement in Nigeria’s political landscape. But as her life clocks 70, she feels much of the steam she had in younger years has left her. Her dream of a great Nigeria remains unshaken though. Chikwe reflects in this interview with Stanley Nkwazema, about what could have been and what could still be done

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My Regimented Family rowing up was very structural because I come from a very structured home.

My father, the late Nathan Okeoma Ejiogu from Umuayalu Egbu, Owerri in Imo State, was a teacher and educationist. Everything at home was more or less regimented.

There was time for everything; time to play, time to eat, to go to school, study and there was a lot of discipline in the home. I attended ATTC Owerri for my Advanced Teachers Certificate, in French and English. Later, I travelled to the United States of America where I studied for my BA and Masters at the Queens College, University of New York. I returned to Nigeria and obtained a PhD from the University of Nigeria. I worked with Anambra Broadcasting Corporation as principal producer and head of talks.

My Parents’ Pursuits My father was the first African Chief Inspector of Education, Eastern Nigeria.

When he retired he became consultant to Ford Foundation of America and UNESCO till when the Civil War broke out.

After the war, he was appointed chairman of Public Service Commission East Central State till he died on August 4, 1972.

My mother was educated at Ovim Girls School. She attended Government School Aba before she went to boarding school and thereafter trained in Home Economics. She had

lived with Sierra Leonean families of Mr. and Mrs. Clark.

She was a baker, and at a time she was a seamstress, businesswoman who traded in wrappers (Georges) and what was then called (Intorica). She was a big trader and a major distributor to Golden Guinea Breweries, Umuahia. She was a sub-distributor of other beer brands. My mother was an entrepreneur par excellence. She is also a farmer who did all kinds of things after the death of my father – marketing palm oil all the way to the North.

My Life as Politician and Mother If I tell you it has been easy, then I am lying; because when you do this, certain things have to suffer. But in my politics, I have been very lucky because my husband, Nze Herbert Chikwe, gave me maximum support. Secondly, I went into mainstream politics when my children have grown; when they were in the boarding schools. It was

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JANUARY 14, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS

Chikwe

At 70, I Have a Major Regret in Life easier for me to travel to attend meetings. I always found time for everything. Growing up in a structured environment helped me to structure everything I do. I try not to let things suffer. I compartmentalise my responsibilities.

Women and Politics In politics, you have to play with integrity because if you have integrity, people will trust you. The most important thing is to build the trust, both at home and in the public domain. I feel good when people talk about trust, they think about you. I also tell young girls, your children are very young, for our environment, it is not easy to do politics, when you have small babies. Honestly, elsewhere where you have crèches, proper social welfare system, regulations, security, it will be easy. Since we have challenges with security and welfare system, it is not easy to abandon little children and go into politics.

That is not to say that they should not take to politics.

When I was National Woman Leader of PDP, I initiated a programme, the E-Women Network, because I know that a lot of young women want to be in politics. But there are competing factors – the home, politics and their career. I also know that most young women these days practically live with their phones, laptops, and other mobile gadgets. I created the E-Women Network which was an online mobilisation organisation. I gave young women the opportunity.

From wherever you are, you can make meaningful contributions through the online platform.

Leadership by Example What I can tell Nigerian leaders is that when you preach a policy you implement it. Leadership by example is very important. I am worried that there is a lot of tension in the country. This tension arises because of the huge gap between the rich and the poor. Between the old and the young, between men and women; gender inequality. We have a lot of gaps in the country. I pray that our leaders make conscious efforts to bridge the gaps. I also think that the issue of corruption is deadly in the country. However, I think building very strong institutions is the key. When I was in the system I believed in automating the system as in Western world.

If we have good roads, transport facilities and electricity and other things are working the way they should work, Nigeria will be great.

Our electoral system also has a lot to do with our progress. The integrity of the judiciary is very important because it is the last bus stop for the common man. If you can’t get justice anywhere, then we are doomed.

We cannot see God. He operates through the people he gives responsibilities. Leadership is very divine and anybody that finds himself in a leadership position should see it as an act of God. My Regrets You cannot finish a job without some regrets. The major regret I had during my time as Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland with concurrence to Iceland. I came back to contest for a senatorial seat in Imo state. I was not fairly treated. Those responsible know that I was not fairly treated because I believe and

they know that I won the election.

At the end of the day you are handicapped because you no longer have a platform. The person you defeated now takes up a platform to turn the story around. That was a major regret for me. I could not even be heard in court. I was frustrated, the case was not heard. I did not lose confidence in the system. I just took it that I was one of the unfortunate people in Nigeria.

Affirmatives Action and Nigerian Women Nigeria has done fairly well comparatively. We have not really achieved the 35 per cent. With the last government, we came up to about 30 per cent. I think, generally, we are progressing and I am confident we will get there.

Owerri Soup I like rice and stew. You know women are conscious of their weight. I love Nigerian food. I love ofe owerre. I think it is my favourite soup. I love cooking. Even when I was a minister, each time I came back from work I cooked. I find it difficult to appreciate food cooked by someone else. I have to be a cook for a long time before and the orientation changes before I can accept food cooked another person.

So I do the cooking even in the village. I love cooking with firewood because it gives that special taste especially when it is native food.

It tastes better. I love the barbeque taste, so I love to see people eating.

My mother and stepmothers were very generous with foods.

Time with Grandchildren and Love for Dancing

I rarely have had spare time for a long time due to active political life.

I think it is because the system is very congested for me. But what I enjoy doing most when I am free is to be with my grandchildren. I enjoy their company. I love music and I love dancing. The only time that I have leisure is when I go to Owerri because there are always occasions of listening to Bongo music and dancing. I really love dancing to Bongo music. The music actually unites Owerri people. That is when you see Owerri people come together and I am an unrepentant Owerri Woman.

Life at 70 You know one thing that is happening; coinciding with my 70th birthday is the political confusion in Nigeria. The dynamics of politics in Nigeria seem to be changing and what you read on a daily basis is that there are problems in the parties. Even in my party. Just a little mistake that was made, the party was blown up. It is painful to me because I am a founding member of PDP. I saw PDP as my baby; I served the party with all honesty, passion, compassion, and commitment. I just pray that we will overcome the problem. When you are 70, you have gone through all the rigours of politics; the elections, families are being torn apart, and enmity everywhere.

It is very painful to me. I will continue to play advisory role and it is not going to be like before. I will support whatever will be good for Nigeria. My party comes first but if something is good and comes from another party, I will be objective in my assessment. We need to overhaul the system in the country.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017 with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

LOUD WHISPERS

Adeboye

Pastor Adeboye: Demystified?

I am writing this in hiding. You see, the moment I saw that picture of Pastor Adeboye and the ‘great’ Ayo Fayose, I just knew that there was trouble for him on the horizon. First, Ekiti APC sent out a press release calling him all sorts of names I cannot repeat here and then last week he was ‘forced’ to retire from his lucrative position and promoted to a higher ( I suspect superfluous) position. Just as the Ekiti APC people were jubilating, the law on which his retirement was predicated upon was suspended and the henchman that ensured his enforcement was sacked.

This drama remains quite exciting as a lot of commentaries have been going back and forth both for and against the issue of General Overseers remaining as powerful as they have been and much more important, holding the position for life. For me, the greatest loser in all of this is the highly respected GO himself, my father in the Lord Pastor Adeboye.

My wife has warned me not to write anything negative about Daddy GO and that the consequence would be dire if I tried it and that my fate would be worse than the man that was fired, hence my decision to treat this matter with kid gloves. But that said, the whole brouhaha has brought to the very fore the issue of structure, corporate governance, transparency in our huge churches.

The issue becomes all the more volatile especially if you take into consideration the real fact that these churches control one of the largest concentrations of wealth and power outside the Federal Government, then you will begin to understand the real fear in allowing their concentration in the hands of just a few family members and cronies. The question that needs to be answered here is that, should one person be the spiritual head and also the business head?

Should one person be the leader for life?

What are the decision-making processes especially on the business side of the empire? I can understand why there should be no tenor limit on the spiritual side, but on the business side, should the case be the same? How are these businesses run? Who are the signatories?

What are the succession plan initiatives put in place? Are they open and transparent and fair to all? Who gets the dividends from these enterprises? Those who pay tithes and make donations at the church level nko, shouldn’t they be shareholders of these businesses? After all, they must have contributed to their coming into existence. You know we like playing politics with everything in this country but the honest truth is that whether we like it or not, these questions sooner than later will be answered no matter how long we suspend the law or sack the people trying to enforce it.

For me, I hold on to my tithe until such a time when tithers are given shares in the universities, private jet holding companies, banks and the numerous businesses these churches hold and control.

For the lovable bowtie-wearing GO I say nobody can force the spirit-filled, Holy Ghost anointed man of God to retire, it is a position for life, but on the other side, the charities and all, I think just maybe

Gabriel Ogbechie

Obasanjo

Obasanjo vs The Awujale : I Stand by OBJ Well, you may ask what concerns me as a full-blooded Akwa Ibom man in this matter. After all it is a battle between two well-fed people who do not really have any problem in life apart from writing books and calling each other rumour-monger and lair.

Before I state my reason for supporting OBJ in this matter, let me give you guys a summary of the matter.

You see, the Awujale had written a book and in that book he had said some things about OBJ regarding his relationship with his cousin Dr. Mike Adenuga. That one, person no dey ever see am. He wrote that book long time ago o and I guess OBj was on one of his numerous trips and as such never got around to reading it or maybe he was busy playing his favourite game of AYO so he missed it. But years later some busy body now decided to bring up that particular chapter where the Awujale had mentioned my lord in not very flattering manner and all hell broke loose. Names have been flying around and letters have been exchanging hands and everybody including Buhari has gone to hide all fearing stray bullet. But me, I will come out boldly and take a stance.

That is the problem with Nigerians; we do not take sides, we don’t stand by the truth and that is why injustice

pervades our society. For me, I always stand by the truth no matter whose ox is gored. In this case, it is so easy for me to be impartial after all I am not an Egba or Ijebu. So let me give my reasons for supporting OBJ in this fight and asking the highly respected Awujale to immediately withdraw that book in circulation and send an unreserved apology to my Baba, copying the Secretary General of the United Nations so that I can go and see if I can beg Daddy to calm down for I hear he is really really upset.

You see, between the two respected elders, it is only OBj who has fed me. I am sorry I do not know how to repay kindness with wickedness.

Yes, I have eaten rice and chicken in OBJ’s house before in Abeokuta, it was not only me o, ask Wale Oluwo the Hon. Commissioner for Energy in Lagos, we were together as part of a team. He even ate two plates.

So how do you eat in a man’s house and come out to stand against him in public. That is not how I was brought up o. So simply for that plate of rice,

by OBJ I stand. My dear Awujale, I sincerely believe you were wrong on this matter and I will try my best to pacify my Oga after all have I eaten in your house before? Till then my dear Awujale just say sorry abeg.

Teheeeeee

at 75 it is time. Let’s just let it go Daddy.

See you in the Bahamas.

the honesty touched me. I asked myself, so where is that saying lazy people use to keep justifying their laziness, when they say behind every wealth there is a bad story. This one, no bad story o. Well, to confirm what I read, you know with the way people transfer stories on social media, one has to be careful with what you read and believe. I carried myself to Gabu office for Oniru to ask him if what I read was true. He confirmed it and narrated the story of how he used to buy small small shares as a young man earning about N30,000 a month and when he could not get any investor to

Gabriel Ogbechie : A Missed Opportunity It is with tears that I read the speech delivered by this my Oga at a gathering recently. He had been invited by one Magazine to deliver a lecture on how to start a business and he frankly took the audience down memory lane on how he sourced for his initial capital to build what is today one of the biggest and if not, best run oil and gas concerns in the country – Rainoil. When I finished reading the lecture, the lucidness of it all and

Adesegun Oniru

believe in his dream, he sold the shares to get his first N300,000 to start Rainoil.

I immediately started crying and he was shocked, walked up to me to ask what the matter was. I could not be consoled o. I cried that he had to call his beautiful wife, Godrey, to come and see what the matter was. I held on to Godrey, you know she is my sister and kept crying until I became hysterical with Gabriel offering me a drink. Nothing but shares in Rainoil would stop me from crying o.

You see my people, the day Gabriel was going to sell those shares I saw him o. I greeted him at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja and he mentioned it to me. I had the money on me, I swear the money was in my pocket but I dodged.

I was on the way to go buy a Tokunbo car. Today I for be oil billionaire looking at the Forbes list but na lie, the car sef don spoil under the Oshodi bridge. The lesson here my people, is never dodge a Delta man on his way to go sell his shares for you never can tell. Well, to my brother Gabriel, can’t you even pity your brother and issue some shares after all, the good book says we should all be our brother’s keeper? I remain hopeful.

Prince Adesegun Oniru : Nigerians Help Thank Am O Ever since I started looking for sponsorship for my new play, Isale Eko, my friends have all deserted me. My phone call is now viewed worse than the dreaded Ebola virus. All of a sudden, nobody takes my calls again; the thing will just be ringing and ringing.

Well, my young daughter now got me an appointment with this gentle prince who until recently was a commissioner in Lagos, and who has been amongst others, promoting privately everything Nigerian. He recently hosted a massive made-in-Nigeria fair. As I walked into his well-apportioned office I could feel his power and the scent of aristocracy all over him. His carriage weakened me and I started to stammer. He just looked at me with pitying eyes and said, ‘I will get back to you.’ I left his Oniru office downcast and my partner Nsebong Ekong realising the forlorn look started cheering me up and said I should not worry that we would raise the money even if it meant turning ourselves into slaves. Surprisingly, I got a call from the very beautiful Amara who happens to be Mrs. Nwadike’s lovely daughter, this girl – you should watch out for her, for she is planning something quite explosive in the real estate sector- that my cheque was ready. The prince had performed. Baba mi oshe gan ni. Ahhh, you will be mightily blessed by the Almighty. May the ocean not wash away your wealth; may you be the grandfather to the world. Ahhh, the Almighty will continue to sharpen your sword and give you untold blessings.

This small fruit you have given me will germinate and bear you a forest of juicy fruits and may your enemies never see you again. Kai, I am so happy o. For the rest of you who are not taking my calls, I am compiling the names to submit to DSS for investigation. My prince may you live long.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

SPY GLASS

with Bayo Adeoye ....08054680651 pursues her far-flung businesses with uncommon transparency.

Though she is a renowned architect, her business empire goes beyond architecture, as she has invested heavily in other sectors of economy.

The ever-smiling businesswoman established Starcrest Group in 1995, comprising a number of companies dealing in real estate, oil and gas and building construction.

About Dapo Abiodun’s New Dream For Razak Akanni Okoya, No More Loud noise

By providence, Chief Razaq Akanni Okoya, Chairman, Eleganza Industries Limited, has been able to leave an indelible mark in both the corporate and social worlds.

Even those who have not met him in flesh and blood would claim to know the name like the back of their hands.

Such is the grace of God upon the life of this astute businessman who has ruled his world in the past five decades.

Though the Aare of Lagos, like most businessmen, had gone through some down sides in his business life, he is still respected by competitors for his achievements in life.

While the aforementioned may not be news, Spyglass gathered that the top socialite seems to be tired of throwing elaborate parties to mark any family event.

Indeed, this new found lifestyle is said to have begun two years ago when he marked his birthday. Again, just when you were thinking that he would mark his 77th birthday this year differently, he shocked the world, as he only threw a low-key party.

He was said to have celebrated it quietly with his close family members. As gathered, the day began with a prayer for long life and good health. Thereafter, he threw the expansive gates of his Oluwanishola Estates open for over 500 less privileged ones. On that day, the billionaire, it was also gathered, feted them and offered them both cash and clothing materials.

Meanwhile, the society should be on the look-out, as his last and youngest wife, Mrs. Shade Okay, turns 40 in April. So, the question many are asking is: will corporate Titans shut down Lagos for the mother of four who means so much to him? Time will tell!

Fifi Ejindu’s Still Networking

In the thinking of some, the last Christmas holiday was nothing more than an opportunity to go on a wining and dining spree. But this was not so for high-flying businesswoman, Princess Fifi Ejindu. For her, the period, among other things, offered her a golden opportunity to attend to her numerous businesses all over the world.

Spyglass gathered that the cultured princess left the shores of this country in company with her family a few days to the Christmas for some Board meetings with her partners in many countries across the world.

The Cross River State- born woman evokes a lot of images in the minds of her fans: success, wealth, ambition, power, philanthropy and fellow-feeling, among others.

She is usually driven by an abiding quest to change the lives of her compatriots for the better. She

Though he has contested twice in his constituency, Ijebu-East Senatorial District election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dapo Abiodun, has failed to achieve his dream of becoming a senator, a dream he has nursed for two decades.

As 2019 draws near, the top socialite and chairman of First Power Limited, is now planning to take a shot at the governorship position in Ogun State, Spyglass gathered.

Already, his gubernatorial ambition is no more a secret to many in the state. Unlike before, many believe that the influential businessman and close friend of the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosu, has a better chance , especially given his political experience, which he had built over the years.

It was also gathered that the support he enjoys from the incumbent governor coupled with his financial muscle are some of the things that will work for him.

First, he had won a senatorial seat under the defunct UNCP in 1996, but his victory was truncated when the then Head of State, Gen. Sanni Abacha, died and all political parties were abolished

by Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami.

His plan was again truncated in 2015 as Kashamu Buruji of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was declared the winner.

Following that electoral loss, the businessman seemed to have found solace in his business. But as fate would have it, all this may be history now, as the top socialite, who is also chairman, OMS-Heyden Exploration and Production Limited, has got back his groove set to shame his detractors.

Lance Elakamah’s Inspiring Journey

Lance Musa Elakamah’s story is such that would interest anyone aspiring to go into business.

If you have an encounter with him and prod him to expose the secret of his success story, he will likely inundate you with his humble beginning, including when he worked as deputy director general, Nigeria Stock Exchange.

Another chapter which he would probably talk about in his long walk to fame was the unnerving experience he suffered, following the exit of his former boss. The reason, he often mentions, is that many had seen him as the likely successor to former NSE DG. Dr. Ndidi Okereke-Onyuike; hence the drumbeats of war from some quarters until he was forced into compulsory retirement.

Following the ugly development, Elakamah, also a lawyer, quickly went into business. At the outset, he faced a lot of challenges. In fact, he failed at three different times to actualise his

dreams. But he was undaunted.

The Edo State- born businessman was resolute; and today, he is reaping bountifully.

Spyglass gathered that his plastic manufacturing company ,Oak Plastics, has been the highest producer of plastic products in the market.

Ayo Fayose’s Romantic Side

If, for instance, you ask a group of people in and outside Ekiti State to describe the person of the state Governor, Ayo Fayose, there is the possibility that the pendulum will swing more to the side of those who will describe him as ‘Mr. Controversy’.

However, whether this impression about him is absolutely correct or not is left for posterity to judge. But what is not in doubt is that his adventure in the Nigerian politics has been dogged by melodrama.

Yet, those who are close to him are always quick to say that behind this veneer of seemingly exaggerated toughness and attentionseeking posturing is a soft-man.

Besides, his supporters and allies claim that he is also a great romantic.

As if to lend credence to this claim, Fayose, once again, celebrated his wife, last Sunday, when she turned 53. With a deep sense of appreciation and love, Fayose was quoted to have described his wife as the solid rock behind his success story, adding that‘‘ she has distinguished herself as a role model and person who believes in modesty and is totally reserved. Her prayer life has made a difference and has impacted positively on me. Any woman who marries a man like me, who is generally seen to be fearless and courageous and who is vulnerable to attacks by political opponents, cannot afford not to have a woman with her sterling qualities as wife. Only a virtuous, Godly and resolute woman like her has what it takes to stand firm in the face of attacks. ‘‘I appreciate her as she adds another year and also appreciate her care for our children. God has brought her to this kingdom at this auspicious time when many supposed men of honour have disappeared into the thin air. I want to assure her that her labour of love will not be in vain. She is a woman to emulate for her modesty as well as her inspiring and fervent prayer life. Only her can be an ideal wife for a man like me.”

Indimi Sisters Tackle Aisha Buhari

If the report available to Spyglass is anything to go by, the end may not have been heard about the smouldering war between Hajia Aisha Buhari, the wife of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and some members of the Indimi family.

It will be recalled that there was some reported and, perhaps, under- reported hiccups during the recent wedding of Zahra, the beautiful daughter of the President, to Ahmed Indimi, the son of Mohammed Indimi, the billionaire owner of Oriental Energy Resources, in December.

However, while one was thinking that the ‘warring parties’ had sheathed their swords, Spyglass gathered that the twin sisters to Ahmed are allegedly on the war path with the wife of the President, as they are said to be hurling abuses at her.

Sources disclosed to Spyglass how the Indimi Twins, Zahra, aka Ya Gumsu , and Ameena, aka Ya Kaka, recently poured invectives on the President’s wife and her daughter on their Istagram pages In a veiled attack, there were said to have described the First Lady as Tokyo Toni, mother of Angela Renée White, aka Blac Chyna, a popular American model and entrepreneur. Toni, who is Robert Kardashian, is also a “video vixen” due to her frequent appearances in Hip-hop music videos.

The twins were said to have made the comparison because, according to them, the wife of the President, like Toni, had allegedly hijacked the preparations for her daughter’s wedding to their brother.

According to the source, they wondered why she personally handled all the arrangements for the wedding.

However, sources close to the wife of the President said that she had to personally supervise all the activities for the wedding because of her integrity and her knack for perfection and excellence.

A family source to the Indimi, who craved anonymity, said: “the twins are bad representatives of the family.

I wonder how Ahmed Indimi’s sisters could be that rude to his mother in law and a First Lady of a country for that matter?

The source revealed further that the development did not go down well with some friends of the Indimis, who came across the material and pointedly told their parents to call them to order.

According to the source, Aisha did the best by banning them from her daughter’s wedding “so that they would not pollute a ceremony that was ordained by God to herald a new beginning for the couple.”

Also speaking, another, who craved anonymity, debunked the claim that Aisha and Zahra were gold diggers, adding that the boxes the twins claimed that the Indimi family bought for Zahra were mere propaganda and a bunch of lies.

The source said: “All together, I can confirm to you they are 11 boxes and two vanity round box. Whereas they lied in the social media saying it was 60 boxes and stuff worth billions of naira. But, what I saw is not up to N100 million. “ Ironically, One of the twins, Ya Gumsu, is married to a Malian fruit seller in Abuja. The Malian abandoned a pregnant wife to marry Ya Gumsu and that was her second marriage.”

She is said to have had too much trouble in the first marriage before the man reportedly left her.

“Her twin sister, Ya Kaka, lost her husband in a road accident a few years back. In fact, members of the man’s family are still battling with her over his wealth, “ the source added.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

MILESTONE

Rae-Omoh Takes Charge at NTDC

T

Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

he newly appointed Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Mariel Rae-Omoh has swiftly settled down to the business of running the agency. Speaking at her maiden interaction with the staff of the agency, the NTDC boss promised to unite the stakeholders as well as develop a template for the organization.

She also promised to professionalise the corporation, placing staff in positions where their professional strength and abilities would be maximally utilised to achieve the corporation’s mandate.

She said: “I am very familiar with the terrain. I know where the shoe pinches the Nigerian tourism industry and the Corporation.

By the grace of God and with the cooperation of the staff, and stakeholders in the industry, I will explore my expertise in the industry to propel the expected development in the industry, and move the Corporation from where it is to where it ought to be. ”I appreciate the importance of periodic meetings with the stakeholders in the industry in developing the industry; hence I will ensure synergy between my administration and the stakeholders, through constant dialogue.”

She also disclosed that her administration will build projects for the Corporation.

The NTDC boss commended the immediate past administration of Boniface Eboka, for the remarkable achievements in the short period he served. She called for unity among the staff, explaining that “we can only record greater achievements and move the corporation forward, if we are united in the pursuit of our goals.”

The chapter chairman of the Almagamated Union of Public

Rae-Omoh

Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Martins Ohiemi in his brief remarks, commended the Ag DG, describing her as “a very versatile lady, a professional, and a seasoned administrator” who will to bring her wealth of experience to bear. He further pledged the support of the union for the new administration.

Mrs Rae-Omoh was born in the mid-sixties and of Edo state origin. She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism. She studied Tourism and Hospitality Administration in Italy.

Rae-Omoh is a team player and has a vast knowledge of the Tourism Industry. She is a seasoned bureaucrat, driven by a strong desire to break areas hitherto considered to be impossible, a risk taker, decisive and able to make difficult decisions when necessary.

The new NTDC boss speaks and writes three international languages and two Nigerian languages and has unalloyed loyalty and unflinching support in moving the Tourism industry to its peak. She has done this successfully by including Tourism in school curriculum in collaboration with National Educational Research Development Council

(NERDC).

Rae-Omoh has successfully organised lectures in secondary schools and NYSC orientation camps in the country as youth tourism projects.

She is a Member of the lnstitute of Hotel and Catering Management (IHCM) from 1990 till date; member of the National Executive Council of IHCM -1990 to 1992; member Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) 1990 till date; member, Local Organising Committee, Africa Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO, President Forum); member, Organising Committee on World Travel Market London, UK (2014).

Ugwuanyi Seeks US Envoy’s Assistance on Investment

G

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has indicated the state’s willingness to share ideas and collaborate with the United States on matters of development.

The governor made the declaration during a courtesy visit to Government House, Enugu, by the American ambassador, Mr. Stuart Symington, noting that the latter’s visit offers an ample opportunity to build a stronger and mutually beneficial working relationship with the United States.

Governor Ugwuanyi added that the desire of his administration to diversify the state’s economy and attract foreign direct investment in the face of the current economic challenges have made a closer collaboration even more imperative.

“We have in this respect, continued to invest heavily in all areas including security, infrastructural development, environmental improvement, expansion and regularisation of social services etc, that we believe, would help sustain a conducive environment for business investments to flourish in the state,” he said.

Ugwuanyi, receiving a souvenir from the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington

Soliciting the assistance of the US Embassy in Nigeria with regard to sensitizing business organisations in the United States on the potential within Enugu, as well as facilitating their entry into the state as investors, the governor explained that his administration had

listed for commercialisation or privatization, over 17 potentially lucrative state-owned companies and industries dealing in diverse areas of business and production.

“Beside this, we solicit the direct assistance of the United States govern-

ment in the development of some critical sectors of the state’s economy such as education, healthcare, agriculture and security especially through the provision of modern communication equipment and other gadgets,” Governor Ugwuanyi said, adding that the presence of an international passenger and cargo airport and the establishment of a Free Trade Zone in Enugu as well as the urbanisation initiatives of the government, are additional incentives that boost the state’s economic profile.

The governor further assured the US envoy that whatever commitment or investment made by the United States government or organisations from the country in Enugu State is guaranteed to yield desired dividends and satisfy the interests of all parties involved.

Noting that he was in Enugu to acquaint himself with the people’s culture, Ambassador Symington said he was keen to strengthen the ties between his country and Nigeria and also work towards ensuring that United States businessmen explore rewarding opportunities in Enugu State. The ambassador further described Governor Ugwuanyi’s work on provision of infrastructure as exemplary.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES BY

EBERE WABARA

Cerebral Infantilism

F

ROM THISDAY Front Page of January 7 comes the first headline blunder this week: “Airforce (Air Force) Chief: We’ll never allow Boko Haram regroup again” ‘Regroup’ encompasses ‘again’—so avoid redundant expressions that expose ‘padding’!

“This is against the backdrop of the downturn in the economy which has compelled the President Mohammadu (Muhammadu) Buhari’s administration to....” Either the President Muhammadu Buhari administration or President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration “...one should put away that money for a rainy day” Get it right: the rainy day Let us continue this edition with a headline solecism from DAILY SUN of November 11: “2019: Can the opposition seize the opportunity?” From the other side: you take (not seize) the opportunity. Americanism allows the extract.

DAILY SUN Headline of November 23 also goofed: “N23bn monthly allocation crash inter-bank rates” Business English: allocation crashes.

“Excitements greet Adeboye Lagos Thanksgiving ministration” ‘Excitement’ is uncountable.

“2019: Anglican bishop wants vigilante groups to help policemen protect ballot boxes” (DAILY SUN Headline, November 24) In the interest of eschatology: vigilance group.

The next three puerile extracts are from DAILY CHAMPION Opinion of November 25: “Today, it is becoming increasing (increasingly) clearer that a free and fair election is possible in Nigeria….” “…this he applied in fighting the cause of oppressed (the oppressed). He was Igbo (an Igbo) leader.”

“Itse Sagay accuses Supreme Court justices of setting bad precedence in the country’s judicial history.” There is a morphological distinction between ‘precedence’ and ‘precedent’, which applies to the extract.

“Economics, as if the poor matters!”

(Source: as above) Voice of the nation: the poor matter!

The next lexical lawlessness is from Vanguard of November 11: “Before independence, you don’t lobby to (sic) made a judge.” Get it right: you didn’t lobby to be made a judge.

From this medium a fortnight ago comes the next farcical entry: “Are the leaders calling for prayers so that we learn not to kill ourselves….” Get it right: we learn not to kill one another. “…it was common (a common) sight to see a classroom crowded with between 150-200 children….” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, November 11) Either: between 150 and 200 or from 150 to 200 (depending on context).

No mix-up.

“The grassroot man of Oyo politics” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Headline, November 11) Basic knowledge: grassroots man.

“INEC assures on credible poll in 2019” The way to go: INEC assures Nigerians (or everyone) on credible polls in 2019 “We invested heavily on their training and welfare and so should be told what led to their death….” (THE NATION EDITORIAL, November 12) Ejigbo crash: we invested heavily in their training….

From THE NATION OPINION of November 12 comes the next impropriety: “Festo, as I use (used) to call him….”

“The church…was filled to capacity last weekend as….” (THE NATION SOCIETY, November 12) We cannot mention ‘capacity’ when a hall is filled as that fact is implied.

According to my copious dictionaries and reference books on the English language, fill means “to occupy the whole space of….”

This also applies to “filled to the brim”, et al.

“What the church has joined together…”

(Source: as above) Ancient English: joined together. Modern version: joined.

Still on THE NATION of November 12: “In the area of health, Aliyu has moved in to reduce maternal mortality through the introduction of anti-natal (what!) care for pregnant women….” ‘…ante-natal for pregnant women? Should it have been for which other women or, worse still, men?

“Petrol tanker crushes 1 to death” (DAILY SUN Headline, November 12) Even a learner’s dictionary will educate you on the fatalistic nature of “crushing”. So, the tanker crushes one. Some reference books approve the excerpt, but I disagree with such authors because of its inherence. And in headline casting, numbers one to nine are written in words, while 10 and above are written in figures.

“The statistics are here, I can give it to you.” Back to school: I can give them to you, No discord, please.

“Ndigbo is for Buhari” Singular: Onyigbo; plural: Ndigbo. Why the disagreement?

“I decided to participate in politics this time around….” (THE GUARDIAN POLITICS, November 13) No debate: this time round (British Standard English). The faulty extract is a piece of Americanism.

The next two improprieties are from THISDAY Comment of November 13: “… multiple allocations which has (sic) lingered for over 10 years is (sic) finally put to rest.”

No further comment.

“Of all the first generation (a hyphen, please) universities, OAU is arguably the one that was able to preserve its known ideology for the longest.” I do not agree with the usage of “arguably” by a majority of Nigerian writers. The explanation I got from one of the country’s frontline editors recently was not convincing: when you have points to justify your claims, it becomes arguable and when

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

there are no justifications, you employ “unarguably.” If you are sure of your statement, make it declarative by jettisoning “arguably.”

And if you are unsure, do not make claims. If you do, be ready to argue it elsewhere when confronted (not in your contribution). For the avoidance of doubt, “arguable” (adjective) and its adverb (arguably) mean: ”…for which good, if not necessarily convincing, reasons may be found/open to doubt/ not certainly, but reasonably held to be.”

(Source: THE NEW LEXICON WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, 2011) My grouse about this excerpt is the intrinsic element of doubt. “…Guinea finally elects a president in an election that witnessed series of crises and postponements.” (Daily Trust, November 22) The long road to democracy: a series of crises and postponements.

THISDAY of November 19 contained a gaffe: “In one breathe, there are those who are still….” Take a fresh breath before we continue. “…it was a soothing balm.” (THE GUARDIAN, November 19) What else do balms do apart from soothing?

FEEDBACK

A national TV station reported in its newscast tonight (Dec. 24) that “passengers travelling today were stranded...”

Let’s get it right. Passengers are “persons travelling in a car, bus, train, plane, ship etc.” So, those people who were stranded at the airports or bus stations (motor parks as we call them) were definitely “travellers” or “commuters” as the case may be and not passengers because they had not boarded any land, sea or air vehicles.

(KOLA DANISA/07068074257)

PERSPECTIVE

Fashola’s Bag of Excuses

Jack Odubena

T

he Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, is no stranger to Nigerians. He came into the political limelight when he succeeded Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Lagos State governor.

He had earlier served as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, succeeding Alhaji Lai Mohammed, now Minister of Information and Culture.

Few would disagree that Fashola made some mark as governor. And, thanks to the confidence reposed in him at the federal level by President Muhammadu Buhari, he now oversees three key ministries merged into one.

Fashola was expected to reverse the trend that translates to not less than 80 per cent of the nation’s highways in a bad shape. Power is another kettle of fish altogether, because much of the country is practically in darkness. And given the housing deficit in the country, one cannot downplay the seriousness of the task at hand.

Some sounded a note of caution when three ministries were handed over to Fashola seemingly on a platter of gold.

His tepid performance has given credence to the concerns, because, since taking charge of the so-called super ministry, Fashola has only become adept at giving excuses. Not long ago, he granted Channels Television an interview which turned out to be just another litany of excuses. He traced the challenges in the power sector to 1950 when the first electricity ordinance was passed. He also said he needed to visit all the power plants in the country in order to understand what he was expected to manage. Frankly, the honourable minister is beginning to sound like a broken record. Nigerians need stable electricity, not excuses. Fashola should proffer and implement solutions. We all know the problems. It’s not so long ago he was busy lambasting the former administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Now he is in charge, he should act.

This is the same Fashola who in 2014 said it would take just six months to fix Nigeria’s electricity problem. He has been in the position more than a year now, and instead of improvement, what we have is a worsening situation. There is no light at the end of this tunnel. I subscribe to the view of Senator Shehu Sani that Buhari should consider appointing a minister who is an electrical engineer with the requisite knowledge of the industry.

During the last presidential campaign, Fashola urged Nigerians not to accept the excuse of vandalism for inability of the then government to provide regular electricity. Yet now, Fashola is singing the same song. He has been quoted as saying as long as miscreants continue to vandalise oil

installations, Nigerians cannot enjoy steady power supply.

To add insult to injury, Fashola wants Nigerians to pay more for light they do not have. He seems unaware that about 70 per cent of Nigerians are poor and cannot afford expensive utilities. Each time he is reminded about this fact, he seems to give the impression that electricity is not for the poor. There is no gainsaying the fact that the task Fashola has been given is too cumbersome for him. His endless stream of excuses betrays the fact that he needs help. He has bitten off more than he can chew.

Allowing him to continue to oversee the power sector will only subject Nigerians to more hardship. We are suffering enough as it is, and everything possible should be done to soothe our pains.

What of housing? We have a deficit of about 17 million in the housing sector, which can only be tackled if we build one million new homes every year. I don’t see Fashola achieving this with his bag of excuses. It is on record that throughout his tenure as Lagos governor, he did not build houses for the low income bracket or the middle class. He only made provision for the rich with Eko Atlantic and the like. His excuse was that there were no low-cost building materials, so he could not build low-cost houses. Let’s face it, how many Nigerians can afford to pay between N40 million and N100 million for 2/3 bedroom flats under Fashola’s LagosHoms scheme?

Even if the flats were mortgaged, how many Nigerians earn N40 million in 10 years? Take for example someone who earns N200,000 monthly. If he saved his full salary for one year (which is unrealistic), he would only have N2,400,000.

In 10 years, he would have saved N24,000,000. How then would he be able to afford the houses built by ex-Governor Fashola in Lagos? How many Nigerians even earn N200,000 per month in the first place?

Back to federal roads. The Lagos-Sagamu Road, the Enugu-Onitsha Highway, and Aba-Ikot Ekpene Highway linking Abia and Akwa Ibom states – are all death-traps.

The Uyo-Calabar Road, Ogbulafor-Makurdi Road and the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway - send wrong signals about us as a nation. The Benin-Auchi Road has become a haven for kidnappers.

Most of the federal roads and flyovers in Lagos, where Fashola reigned supreme for eight years, are in a terrible state. The Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Ijora Bridge tell better the stories of these roads, as well as that of an administrator who is either confused or overwhelmed.

Nigeria makes billions in revenue from the ports in Apapa, yet the roads are bad.

Speaking at a pension conference last year, Fashola said: “It was difficult to get private capital into critical sectors of our economy like infrastructure. Private capital and fund managers were not going to invest funds entrusted to them

Fashola

in infrastructure if we wanted to use them for free.

“As a people, we were willing to pay for these services outside our country but demanded that they be provided for free in our country.”

Fashola forgot to add that in those societies where Nigerians willingly pay for public infrastructure, people are confident that no one is taking them for a ride. Boreholes are not drilled at ridiculous prices and websites do not come with the same price tag as a newly-constructed road.

The minister further stated that: “If we compare the quality of service on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, where toll is paid, to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where toll has been removed, the choice is ours to make. Is it cheaper to drive on a road free of toll and spend five hours for a one hour journey? If you calculate the fuel burnt in five hours of standstill traffic and the stress, you will see that the toll free is not free.”

Fashola is just playing on our intelligence. The resistance is not because people do not appreciate good service. It is that our leaders are often insincere. In most deals dressed up ‘for the public good’, the citizens are being milked dry.

My advice to Fashola: he needs to speak less. Acting and delivering results will endear him more to the people. He should stop giving excuses because he comes across as incapable of doing the job at hand.

All we need are results and not some bogus excuses that Fashola finds rather easy to give. He has been made the ‘prime minister’ of this administration and he should deliver, simple.

–Jack Odubena is a Lagos-based public affairs analyst.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •

JANUARY 14, 2017

MEMOIRS Rotimi Edu

After 25 Years of Marriage, I was Blessed with Twins Edu

He believes difficult times prepare one for a happy future. Barrister Rotimi Edu, the promoter of Quicklink Insurance Brokers Limited and President, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos Island, in this interview with Femi Ogbonnikan, talks about his background, his marriage, among others Tell us about your background.

M

y name is Edu Oluwarotimi. Precisely, I will be 60 next year. I am an indigene of Lagos state. I attended Surulere Baptist Primary School. And from there, I went to a training college called Lagos Clerical Training College at Karimu, Surulere. The school is no longer in existence. Then from there, I went to Premier College, Yaba, where I had my secondary school leaving certificate.

I finished my secondary school education in 1974 and then, I started work with a private company for one year; just a private contractor to the Federal Ministry of Works. I later went to National Bank to work from 1976 to 1978, after which I gained admission into the Lagos State Polytechnic to read Insurance. After leaving Lagos State Polytechnic, I worked for some years, before I went back to school to read Law. I went to the University of Lagos.

And when I finished my first degree in Law at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, I got chartered as an Insurer and also have my masters degree in Law. In all, I had my LLB and LLM degrees at UNILAG. Now, I started work as an Insurance professional in 1982 precisely. I did my national youth service with a company called, ‘Mulumba Assurance’, owned by the Catholic Mission, but later the name was changed to Security Assurance. And then, from there, I worked for about nine years and left. I was on my own briefly, from 1990 that I left there till 1996 when I joined Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Company. I rose to the level of an Assistant Manager and to that of the Deputy Director, Marketing, all within the nine years that I spent there. Later, I started my own company, after I resigned in 2005. I started Quicklink Insurance Brokers Limited,

and I thank God, the company is 11 years old now and we are doing pretty well. On the legal side, I am also in partnership with a class colleague of mine to form ‘Fountain Court Partners’, a firm of legal practitioners and we have done quite a lot of suits, both in corporate law and litigations. Currently, I am on the board of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), and I have served on the board for about eight years now. The eight-year is going on. And that has been how far I have gone professionally in my chosen industry.

What was your upbringing like?

Growing up was not easy for me, at all, because it was a bit rough, going to school in those days. And I give gratitude to my mother; she is late now. She was responsible for my educational foundation, along with her elder brother who happened to be my uncle. The two of them struggled to make sure that I had a good and sound education.

Athough the schools that I went really had no names, but I don’t think it is the school that makes the success of a student, but it is what the student himself or herself wants. Even if I didn’t go to the likes of St. Gregory College or Igbobi College, but I still made sure that I was going to come out in flying colours. I was able to gain admission and to also do my tertiary education, and still got Chartered, wearing two professional caps- that of an Insurer and of a Lawyer.

Who mentored you to go into insurance and law?

Well, mentoring didn’t start until I got to the Polytechnic. Just like I said, it was a very rough period for me so much so that what I had even as my dress code was two pairs of jeans and then three or four white singlets that I washed and changed. Anytime they were getting dirty I would wash one and use another one for two weeks. During those

periods, I can recollect that in my Close, Atan, in Surulere, behind Barracks, where I lived with my uncle, I would wake up very early and wash all the cars on the street, without even being asked to do so by the car owners.

They would call me and say, “you have done justice to them (cars) again”. And then, they would give me money. From that money, sometimes, in order to get to school, you know, your guardian or parents would pay the school fees and everything, but sometimes, as students, you wanted to live a bit above your income. So, to do that, I would play table tennis and bet. And in doing that, at times, I would first lose and I would make sure I would lose to my opponent and then, take him up again and bet. I had a close friend that we played those pranks together. He would bet on my behalf and a lot of people would bet. His name is Uzor. He is now in the United States. I had Uzor and Patrick Famati, a Togolese. So, I would bet and win. And it was that money that we would use to go to eat Amala and buy some bottles of alcohol.

And that was school, and it was very interesting to me, then and very exciting, because I think all those rough times were actually training periods for me. They were learning curves, to let me know that the future was poised to be rosy, but you must work hard. And then, I had a god-brother in a house where I was living, by name, Mr. Lateef Bakare. We called him, “LAB”. He is a Chartered Accountant. He was so young then, and I think, he spent few years at the Yaba College of Technology, before he got qualified as an Accountant. He worked at Deloitte and he later became a partner of one of the Deloitte Groups. During that period, I always marveled. I always looked at him and wondered “what kind of human is this”? He was very young at this high position. When he was living in a rented apartment, he was already using a Volvo 744 Saloon Car, brand new. Then, it occurred to me that to be a

professional you would have to make sure that you work hard. So, that really gingered me during my Polytechnic days. Even my pranks then were unprecedented; when I was growing up; of course, yes. When I had some little kind of freedom; when my uncle died, I had to move to the campus in Ikorodu. My own campus was in Isolo. So, I went into politics within the students union government body as Welfare Secretary. And then, I was driving the coastal bus, which was in my care and we were doing a lot of Aluta. When the HND/Bsc dichotomy came, I was very prominent in leading the Aluta. I remember, Fela of blessed memory, we went to him and he really assisted us. He told us what should be happening in the educational sector. And his advice, if you look at it today, are already coming to fruition. And it wasn’t only that, each time we had our Aluta, once it was on the right level, we also got a lot of support.

Nothing then, because there was no e-mail and it was this ‘telegram’. I could remember we got a telegram from Chief Obafemi Awolowo, sometime and from other leaders, trying to encourage us, as students not to be violent, that we should see our primary reason for going to school as success, as students. But at the same time, making us realise that we could have peaceful demands of whatever we needed. And during my school days, then I was very, very curious. Let me say, I was an extrovert. Every party, I would attend, every political rally I would be there. Everything happening around, you would see me there.

And then, I thank God, I didn’t lose, because it was a kind of freedom for me, but if I hadn’t managed it well, probably I wouldn’t have finished my school. But again, I had a brother called Marcus. I lived with him during my HND programme. He was lecturing at the Lagos State Polytechnic. So, he had an accommodation very close to the school in Isolo. He is my cousin and he also hails from Ibowon. And I used to stay with him then.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

MEMOIRS Rotimi Edu: After 25 Years of Marriage, I was Blessed with Twins...

Rotimi and his children

remember as my mentor in the Insurance industry. I also had one person that really prepared me towards what it takes and that person is Mr. Idowu Sylva, who was the first Managing Director of Mulumba Assurance. And he was a very strict disciplinarian and also a good professional. It was from the two of them I learnt the trade of Insurance. As I am speaking today, I have spent about 34 years in the industry.

Cont’d from Pg. 24

I will not stop, saying that, so as to show the glory of God and His mercies over us and it is only from God, that children can come. We thank God that eventually we got there. If there was no love, I don’t see how a couple would be together for 24 years, without having an issue outside of wedlock.

Some people don’t even get up to ten years and they end up divorcing or having issues outside their matrimonial homes. But for us we came together and it eventually came to pass.

How did you meet your wife?

Rotimi and his wife

He was a Bachelor then, and it was like another freedom, but this time curtailed, because brother Marcus was a complete Christian. It is not that I am not a practising Christian, I am also a Christian, but not like an SU. And sometimes, I had some rules, I could not bring bottles of beer into the house and I could not do anything. But in my own room, I had a lot of bottles. Sometimes, when he came back home, if I was drunk, I would ‘re-arrange’ the whole apartment with perfume. You know, for him even as a Christian, I don’t think, he could perceive the odour of alcohol. That was it; growing up in my school days and I thank God, when I graduated, I went to serve in Ibadan. The transit started again. My primary call was for Enugu.

And I could remember, I was invited to lecture and I wanted to come back to Lagos, so, I turned that down and decided to come back to my profession. From there, I changed my destiny and I was given Oyo State. Even getting to Oyo State, I discovered that I didn’t fit in too much, because most of the Insurance companies had their head offices in Lagos.

They just had small branches in the other state capitals. This is where you might say, well, if you had a vision and you would have a mission and your accomplishment. One way or another, I got myself back to Lagos and I finished my NYSC in Lagos, at that time. And I started work with the company I served with. Having done that, I started work as a manager and I rose to the level of a senior manager, before I left the organisation to go and start on my own. I had a brief stint when a bank called Eagle Bank was started and I was made the head of the Insurance department, but unfortunately we got an approval in principle but eventually the bank was not licensed.

So, I had to go and form a company and started trading and then, did an agency job in Insurance business. Now, trading was not also easy, because I had no contacts really and I now had to go back into the industry to join IGI. And that was where I really had a mentor in Insurance, in person of Mr. Remi Olowude of blessed memory. I went to his school and I renewed my intuition and my knowledge. Remi Olowude was an epitome of knowledge in the Insurance industry. He was everything in Insurance in this country, and he taught us everything needed to be successful as a practitioner. He had good ethics and he was somebody that I would forever

Well, I wouldn’t say I met my wife accidentally, but it was divine. At that time, at the Polytechnic, I was doing truancy, and not lady truancy. I was not involved in girlfriend or boyfriend issue and I didn’t even have time for her, because there was no way I could invite her to the house, because I was staying with my uncle. I will wait until everybody slept before I will pack the couch in the sitting room to sleep. So, where did you want to bring your date? And even when I had, one street brother like that would say, bring your girlfriend to my apartment. When we take them down, he would entertain them, and unknown to us this man would start dating them behind our backs, because we were not as buoyant. All we would realised was that, sometimes, when we wanted to go and see him, he would not open the door for us; only for us to catch him one day, that he was already dating one girlfriend of ours. So, those were very interesting periods, because I had time for politics. I had time for my study and that was it, then.

So, at that period, we rallied and even formed a club.

We called the club, “jaje” (meaning, eat from the meal), because all we did was that when we were leaving home, we the poor ones would put our spoons and forks in our pockets.

Then, if any of us should go to the cafeteria to buy food, we would be hiding; we would allow him to finish buying the food, then we would bring out our spoons and join him.

And the rule was that, you could not say no, no matter how hungry you were and no matter the quantity of food that you had, we would eat it together. What we found out was that, after eating, one of us would say bring more rice and before we knew it, we were all well fed. So, that was how the “jaje club” started. Part of my truancy too was fight I had with the ‘kegites’. I could remember the ‘Chief of the Kegites Club’ at the Lagos State Polytechnic. He was telling me to keep filling his calabash with palmwine and when I was doing that, I just took my own turn, which was an abomination; using the calabash of the Chief. So, when he turned the table at that time, I had to pour the palm wine on him and I was ‘de-kegged’.

When they ‘de-kegged’ me, other friends just said no, “this is our friend, we have been together”. After the ‘jaje club’, we now formed another club called ‘the bottlers’. As ‘the bottlers’, we were drinking beer. So, we would get drunk before them, and before they finished drinking their palmwine, we would have already gotten drunk. We were problems to them, all the time. And it was interesting and we always had fights with them. So, when I met my wife was when I lost my uncle and I had to move to Ikorodu campus. She was also studying Biochemistry, but her own campus was in Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos.

She was staying with her friend in the campus in Ikorodu. So, it was when I went to Ikorodu that I met her; I thank God, she is the love of my life. We courted for about six years and, then we got married. And we thank God today, that we are blessed with two kids, twins after 25 years of marriage.

I will not stop, saying that, so as to show the glory of God and His mercies over us and it is only from God, that children can come. We thank God that eventually we got there. If there was no love, I don’t see how a couple would be together for 24 years, without having an issue outside of wedlock. Some people don’t even get up to ten years and they end up divorcing or having issues outside their matrimonial homes. But for us we came together and it eventually came to pass.

Nigeria is in recession, how is the insurance business coping?

Well, insurance business has come to stay. It has improved far, far beyond what it was before. It has also gone more international, in terms of standard. The best practice is now available in the insurance industry. Customers and consumers’ claims are settled promptly. We have a lot of improvements,

but the only problem is that during the period of recession, insurance is always the last choice on the scale of preference.

But people forget that it is at that time that they should take up insurance because whatever they have that is left for them is well protected by insurance, such that if there is any claims, they would not feel the recession badly, as it would have been without insurance. So, my advice is that, people should take up insurance now, protect themselves, protect their lives and property, because in a period like this, if you lose anything, you are not likely to gain it back without insurance.

How did you become the president of Lagos Lawn Club?

That is one of the marvelous things that happened to me.

Because, number one, in the history of the club, I think, I would be the first President to be elected unopposed. I had the unanimous support of virtually all the members and that was a very great challenge to me. It gave me a challenge of performance, that if these people or members love me this much, then I don’t have to disappoint them. So, I have tried as much as possible, to improve the standard of the club. I have tried my best possible to be a good Ambassador of the club, outside and within the country. I have also tried my best possible to ensure that members enjoy the time spent at the club. I have made the ambience of the club very conducive, by also making their time very safe, because now we have a sick bay. If there is any accident, there is immediate emergency response. Apart from that, there are so many things that I have achieved. The club’s entry door now is biometric.

Aside from that, you can also see that we are constructing a new events hall. And I have added one or two things to the club. We have added a swimming pool that would soon be open officially. I have also added pavilions on the side courts which would make people comfortable when they are watching matches. I can say that in the last one and half years that I have been President, I have done nothing less than 36 projects that have made the club a place that is number one choice. It is the oldest club in Nigeria; we celebrated our 120 years last year and it is the biggest tennis arena that we also have in this sub- Sahara region. The club is going international and one thing I must point out is the support that has been given to us by his Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State Governor, who sponsored the Governor’s cup that is ITF-rated.

That has taken the club into the international market.

And what we are praying and focusing on now is that the club would one day become international where we would have people like the Williams sisters and all other tennis players, coming to play for the prize money; maybe the money would be 500,000 dollars and you will see all these stars. So, we are also preparing ourselves as a club, with all these improvements. Apart from that, Gov Ambode has also made his intention to make tennis a tourism sport and also an income generating sport for this country. And we are looking seriously into that and we are on the verge of setting up the ‘youths tennis foundation’, which would be an academy to make sure that we teach the young ones in Nigeria to be excellent professional tennis players that would win laurels and bring in a lot of foreign exchange earnings into the country.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

AUto

What to Expect at 2017 Detroit Auto Show 2018 Ford F-150

2018 Ford F-150 Debuts with New Diesel Engine, More Tech Stories by Bennett Oghifo

J

ust ahead of its hometown auto show in Detroit, the refreshed 2018 Ford F-150 was revealed with more technology, a new diesel engine, and a segment-first 10-speed transmission.

The biggest news with the 2018 Ford F-150 is the availability of an all-new 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbo diesel engine, which marks the first time the popular pickup is offered with a diesel. Although output for this new engine has not been fully revealed, expect it to be both fuel-efficient and wellsuited for towing.

The refreshed truck also replaces the base 3.5-liter V6 with a more efficient 3.3L unit that is expected to offer the same 282 horse-

power and 253 pound-feet of torque as the engine it replaces. The second-generation 2.7L EcoBoost also gets tweaked for better efficiency, more output, and better durability and will be paired with the new 10-speed transmission. Not to be left out, the 5.0L V8 also gets upgraded for higher output and will also be hooked up to the new 10-speed. Ford has not yet announced specific output for the upgraded engines but has confirmed that stop/start will be standard on all F-150s.

A hybrid F-150 has also been confirmed to arrive in 2020.

In the looks department, the F-150 gets some tweaks to the front and rear styling with a new grille, new headlights, tail lights, and revised bumpers that combine to give the truck a wider, more planted stance. The

tailgate also gets a new look and the truck gets six new wheel designs.

Bringing the truck up to speed on the safety front, the 2018 Ford F-150 finally gets available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring optimized for trailering, a 360-degree camera (sure to help with parking and hooking up a trailer), and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

A 4G LTE wifi hotspot that can connect up to 10 devices is also available, and SYNC and SYNC3 also enable Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

The 2018 Ford F-150 goes on sale this fall, which is when pricing will also be announced.

Audi Q8 Concept: The Four-Ringed Coupe-UV

E

ager to cash in on the luxury SUV/ coupe segment currently dominated by rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Audi has revealed the Q8 concept.

Portending a future production Q8 that will come to market in 2018, the Bombay Blue crossover show car portrays the greatest evolution of Audi’s current design language in years, with a gaping maw that makes it look like no other vehicle currently produced by the German brand, as well as frameless windows to give it more of a proper four-door-coupe feel.

Dimensionally, the Q8 concept is very much a chopped Audi Q7. Sitting on a wheelbase just 0.3 inch shorter than that of the Q7, the fourpassenger Q8 concept’s 198.0-inch overall length and 67.2-inch height fall short of its three-row counterpart by 1.6 and 1.3 inches, respectively; however, the concept’s broad hips result in an additional 2.9 inches of width compared with the Q7. Audi chose to emphasize the Q8 concept’s breadth by implementing a full-length taillight design and 1980s-Quattro-inspired design cues such as flared fenders at all four wheels. A wide, raked C-pillar and additional intakes atop the concept’s eight-point grille further tie the crossover’s design to that of the classic Audi rally car.

The Q8 concept does more than just preview a new Audi model, though. Inside, passengers are greeted to a barrage of touchscreens, which

Audi Q8 Concept interior

Audi says portend a system coming to the new A8. Nevertheless, we hope the brand’s flagship sedan refrains from the Q8 concept’s screen overload.

While Audi didn’t provide much in the way of interior dimensions, the company claims the crossover maintains “ample” headroom for rear passengers despite its sleeker roofline.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for cargo volume, which, at 22 cubic feet, is 16 cubic feet less than the Q7 affords behind its second row, not to mention 5 cubic feet less than the similarly sized and styled BMW X6.

Underhood sits a 333-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and a 134-hp motor integrated within the crossover’s eight-speed automatic transmission.

T

he on-going 2017 Detroit Auto Show is sure to bring some interesting debuts to kick off the New Year.

Automakers have been teasing what they plan on unveiling at this year’s North American International Auto Show, but expect a few surprises to debut as well. At last year’s show, Lexus impressed with the new LC 500, while the Acura Precision Concept got us excited for the brand’s future. Detroit also gave Americans the first look at the hot BMW M2, while Chrysler ushered in a new era of minivans with the new Pacifica.

We expect the 2017 Detroit Auto Show to feature plenty of crossovers and SUVs as the segment continues to boom. Here’s a preview of what to expect at this year’s show. Stay glued to AutoGuide.com as we will be reporting live from the show floor with full coverage of all the surprises automakers have in store.

Audi has already teased the Q8 Concept that it’s bringing to Detroit, which will eventually be made into a production model. It will feature coupe-like styling with the spaciousness you would expect from a full-size SUV, with the model sitting at the top of Audi’s SUV range. It’s also branded as an e-Tron concept, meaning it will be electrified in some way.

“With the Audi Q8 concept, we have created a new spearhead within our Q model line. Its design strongly evokes sportiness and prestige,” said Audi Head of Design Marc Lichte. “What’s more, we believe an important aspect of this showcar is that it offers a spacious interior with four equally comfortable seats, even with the flat roof line.”

BMW has already introduced its new 5 Series sedan online, but the 2017 Detroit Auto Show will be the first time the public gets to enjoy it. The more luxurious and lighter sedan also introduced the quickest 5 Series model yet and it doesn’t even sport the M5 nameplate. Instead, it’s the M550i xDrive with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 456 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to accelerate to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.4 seconds.

Unfortunately, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 hasn’t been confirmed to make its debut at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, but we can’t imagine the American automaker would pick another venue to unveil it.

Spy photographers have caught it testing numerous times in recent months, sporting aggressive styling and a large rear wing hinting that it’s going to be one serious performance machine.

Rumor has it the ZR1 is expected to offer more than 700 hp, although its powerplant of choice remains a mystery. Here’s to hoping the American automaker rolls it out in Detroit.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

27

AUto More Models Added to Refreshed 2018 Jaguar F-Type Lineup Stories by Bennett Oghifo

2018 Jaguar F-Type 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Coupe

2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Coupe Debuts Stories by Bennett Oghifo

M

ercedes-AMG unveils a GT C coupe alongside the facelifted GT and GT S. The fruitful partnership between Mercedes-Benz and AMG started 50 years ago this year, and to celebrate the occasion, they have developed a new model: the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C coupe, which made its debut at the 2017 Detroit auto show alongside the revised 2018 GT and GT S coupes. The new addition to the AMG GT lineup sits above the base GT and the GT S

and just below the wild, winged AMG GT R. Not surprisingly, it mirrors powertrain specs, styling, and equipment levels of the AMG GT C roadster that debuted two months ago at the 2016 L.A. auto show. With 550 horsepower and 502 lb-ft of torque, its turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 is more powerful than the revised unit in the standard AMG GT (469 horsepower and 465 lb-ft, up by 13 hp and 22 lb-ft from 2016) as well as the AMG GT S (515 horsepower and 494 lbft, increases of 12 hp and 15 lb-ft). The mighty AMG GT R remains comfortably at the top of

the heap with 577 horsepower and 516 lb-ft.

The GT C also features AMG’s performance exhaust system and dynamic engine mounts, as well as increased front-wheel negative camber. Compared with its lesser brethren, the GT C has wider wheels, and its rear fenders are widened by 2.2 inches. There’s also a “sport” suspension, four-wheel steering, adaptive dampers, and larger front brakes. As with the roadster, the coupe wears staggered-width rubber: 265/35R-19 front and 305/30R-20 in back. An additional, more aggressive Race

O

ne of the loveliest sports cars on the market has just been refreshed to offer more performance, more models, and more technology.

The Jaguar F-Type gets slight styling tweaks that bring new lightweight seats, adaptive LED headlights, and new front bumpers and rear designs that help differentiate all variants in the expanded model range. One of those new models is the 400 Sport launch edition, which sits below the F-Type R and will be on sale worldwide for one year only.

It gets an uptuned 395-horsepower version of the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and an upgraded chassis that includes a higher-performance braking system, unique 20-inch wheels, and yellow accents both inside and out. An R-Dynamic model that sits under the 400 Sport has also been added to the range. This specification is available with the 335-hp and 373-hp versions of the V6 and adds some unique trim including 19 or 20-inch wheels and gloss black exterior finishes.

Toyota Reveals new Model Camry

T

oyota’s eighth-generation Camry sedan has been unveiled by the company’s global president Akio Toyoda at the on-going North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The latest Camry - featuring new styling with greater showroom appeal, a dynamic new platform and a more engaging drive - made its debut almost 34 years after the first model went on sale.

Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the all-new Camry will arrive in Australian dealerships late this year, after the end of local manufacturing.

“The next-generation Camry - a premium,

high-quality sedan focused on performance and technology - will be built in Japan for the Australian market,” Cramb said.

“We will offer Australian motorists three Camry powertrains - four-cylinder petrol, petrol-electric hybrid and V6 petrol - and include a sports model with a stylish body kit,” he said. Cramb said Toyota remained committed to local manufacturing until the fourth quarter of this year.

“We will make further announcements about our plans, including the timing of production closure, during the first quarter of this year.”

New Camry is the first Toyota sedan to be based on a Toyota New Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform.

2018Toyota Camry at 2017 Detroit Auto Show

The New Lagos Traffic Law

I

once wrote on this same page describing myself as a Lagos boy.

My friend and colleague Tunde Rahman re-echoed this few years back when I was bidding Lagos farewell after almost four years as Sector Commander. Nothing has really changed as I remain a Lagosian who is always proud of being called one. If you mistake us for being proud and brash, please I beg you to kindly bear with us as we are just who we are, always striving for excellence as the State is noted despite our acknowledged inadequacies which we daily strive to tame.

As Lagosians, excellence is our watchword.

It was for former Lagos State Governor and now Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Raji Fashola who as Governor delivered and became the toast of almost all. The current Governor,Akinwunmi Ambode is presently on the tracks, striving to deliver with his new traffic laws which has just jolted me, pondering on why other states are yet to copy not just the Lagos model but the zeal and passion geared towards making Lagos better in keeping with the Federal Road Safety Corps commitment towards the establishment of State Traffic Agencies.

The new traffic law excites me for several

SAFE DRIVING with

JONAS AGWU

amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491

reasons; first it tallies with my belief that stiffer penalty will deter motorists from turning our roads into deathtraps; it captures the clamor by handfuls who believe in the promotion of responsible driving and global best practices. It encompasses basically all elements of the traffic madness that we delight in exhibiting on the road irrespective of status, sex or age. It demonstrates not just the commitment of the State to change Lagos for good but a sense of continuity in strengthening the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency-LASTMA, which has become the model to emulate in addition to bequeathing a safer environment. The jail terms and fines attached to infraction is also crucial as deterrents I told you the law captures everything. Let me start with driving against the flow of traffic with emphasis on notable deviants such as bullion

vans,motor cycle operators among others. Driving in a direction prohibited by the Road Traffic Law; (that is driving against traffic, popularly known as “One Way” driving) as contained in the law now attracts a 3-year jail term, while a first offender gets one year term and the vehicle forfeited to the state government. Driving against traffic, popularly called one-way driving which we in FRSC call route violation, refers to the contravention of the provision of any traffic law or regulation relating to directions and routes to be followed by vehicles e.g. facing on-coming vehicles or plying route prohibited for certain categories of vehicles. It is a global menace but not as pronounced as in our clime, where it has become a common practice especially among commercial bus drivers. Daily people have been killed or maimed by vehicles moving against the traffic. This infraction is more common during traffic gridlock when there is heavy traffic on one lane thereby prompting the impatient and irresponsible drivers to illegally divert to the lane of oncoming vehicles. . It is common to see these deviant drive furiously and recklessly mainly because they are conscious of their irresponsible and disgraceful driving .These irresponsible drivers are often guilty of hit and run . Ironically, VIPs, and some security operatives who should lead by examples are also guilty of this terrible offence.

To curb these madness, the National Road Traffic Regulations provides a penalty of N5000 which

in my personal view is grossly inadequate even though some might argue that increased penalty merely provides grounds for law enforcement operatives to enrich themselves.

But I still maintain that increased penalty like the Lagos example with the jail term will deter this ugly trend and that is why I salute the state for this strict law. I know of the provision of the Federal Road Safety Establishment Act, 2007 which in section 20 which says that a person who causes the death of another person by the driving of a motor vehicle on the highway dangerously or recklessly shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7years.In section 21(1)it further says that a person who drives a motor vehicle on a highway dangerously or recklessly shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction of a fine of N50000 or to imprisonment or a term not exceeding two years or to both fines and imprisonment.

The second is the one on bullion vans. It states that bullion vans are not exempted from the law as any bullion van driven in a direction prohibited by the Road Traffic Law will be forfeited, while abandoned vehicle on the highway will be fined N50,000.00 or three years imprisonment, or both fine and imprisonment. I recall a write-up titled ‘’the madness called bullion vans’’ where I x-rayed the havoc they cause and how they arrogate to themselves privileges that do not exist and immunity that does not exist in our traffic laws. I believe it is time to tame these operatives and cut them to size.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • January 15, 2017

FAMILY HEALTH

Good Old Natural Remedies for Common Ailments

I

with

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

thought it very timely to visit this issue at this time. Have you noticed that everywhere you go, someone is sneezing, coughing, catarrh, wheezing, croaking with a very bad sore throat, running a mild fever etc. A visit to the pharmacy gave me the extent of the prevalence and our dependence of drugs for issues we can at least treat quite well using natural remedies. Most of the pharmacies had run out of drugs for flu, cough and cold !

So in such situation, we can allow nature to give a little helping hand. The truth is that, if you have been eating well and healthy, a little drop in your immunity would allow these symptoms to come up. But at the same time, unless you have seen your doctor and it is clear that you need help, your body , well assisted, would soon build up your immunity, and you soon overcome.

Please note that this does not say that you should not see your doctor. That should be your first line of thought, if you k now that it seems a bit over the edge for you.

It may be ‘just a cold,’ but it’s nothing to sneeze at.

And the flu can make you feel downright drained.

Fortunately, fast action on your part including these simple home remedies for colds and flu can mitigate the misery. Is it a common cold or the flu?

If your symptoms are above the neck congestion, sore throat, sneezing, coughing you probably have a cold. If you have all those symptoms plus a fever of 38.8ûC (102ûF) or more, headache, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, you are more likely to have the flu.

What you can do for colds and flu: • For a sore throat remedy, fill a 250 mL glass with warm water, mix in one teaspoon of salt and gargle away. The salt really does soothe the pain.

Add a squeeze of lemon juice to a glass of warm water for the more traditional sore throat gargle.

This creates an acidic environment that’s hostile to bacteria and viruses.

• Chicken soup is a time-honoured remedy that is tried, tested and true. Chicken soup stops certain white blood cells (neutrophils) from congregating and causing inflammation, preventing large amounts of mucus from being produced. The hot soup also thins the mucus. Adding freshly chopped garlic to your soup gives the system a powerful boost. While garlic kills germs outright, it also appears to stimulate the release of natural killer cells, which are part of the immune system’s arsenal of germ-fighters. Spike your soup with red (chili) pepper flakes to increase the broth’s decongestant power.

• Drink as much water as you can eight or more 250 mL glasses to keep mucous membranes moist and to help relieve dry eyes and other common flu symptoms. Fluids also help thin mucus so that it’s easier to expel.

To help keep mucus loose, stay in a moist, warm, well-ventilated room. To keep the air in your bedroom moist, place bowls of water near the air ducts or run a humidifier.

Cut short your cold with a warm blowing air. . As outlandish as it sounds, inhaling heated air may help kill a virus working its way up your nose.

Try soaking your feet in a mustard footbath. In a basin, mix 1 tablespoon of mustard powder in 1 L of hot water. The mustard draws blood to your feet, which helps to relieve congestion.

Another oldie: try a mustard plaster for chest congestion. Grind up three tablespoons of mustard seeds, add water to make a paste, and then slather it on your chest. The pungent aroma helps to unclog stuffy sinuses, while the heat improves blood circulation and eases congestion. Don’t leave the plaster on for more than 15 minutes, however, or your skin may burn. You may want to smear on a bit of petroleum jelly before you apply the plaster to protect the skin.

Breathe easy with steam. Please take care while using hot water during this process. Pour just-boiled water into a large bowl. Drape a towel over the top of your head to trap the steam, and breathe in through your nose for five to 10 minutes. Don’t lower your face too close to the water or you risk scalding your skin or inhaling vapours that are too hot. To make steam inhalations more effective, add five to 10 drops thyme oil or eucalyptus oil to the water.

Keep your eyes closed as you breathe in the steam, since both essential oils and steam may irritate your eyes. On the go. Dab a few tissues with eucalyptus oil and hold them under your nose whenever you feel congested.

As soon as you notice cold or flu symptoms, start

A wonderful home remedy for adults or kids suffering from a cough uses brown cane sugar, raw honey or stevia and red onions to make a soothing and tasty cough syrup. Wash, peel and slice the entire onion horizontally.

Starting with the base of the onion, layer the slices in a bowl alternating with layers of raw honey or brown sugar. Stevia powder works well for this home remedy too; however, it is extremely sweet

taking 500 mg of vitamin C four to six times a day. If you develop diarrhea, cut down on the dose.

Goldenseal stimulates the immune system and has germ-fighting compounds that can kill viruses.

As soon as you begin to feel sick, take 125 mg five times a day for five days.

At the first sign of the flu, take 20 to 30 drops of elderberry tincture three or four times daily for three days. Elderberry is widely used to fight viruses.

A dose of garlic’a natural antiseptic‘will do a job on those viruses. If you’re feeling very brave, hold a small clove or a half-clove of garlic in your mouth and breathe the fumes into your throat and lungs. If it gets too strong as the clove softens, just chew if up quickly into smaller pieces and swallow with water.

For a serious congestion-busting blast, buy fresh horseradish or gingerroot, grate it and eat a small amount. To guard against upset stomach, wait until after a meal to try this.

Drink a cup of ginger tea. Ginger helps block the production of substances that cause bronchial congestion and stuffiness, and it contains compounds call gingerols, which are natural cough suppressants. ‘ During cold and flu season, take 20 to 30 drops of Echinacea tincture in half-cup of water three times daily.

Colds develop for a number of reasons including a) Your body’s way of telling you to slow down b) Your immune system is compromised c) A cleansing or spring cleaning of the body Most of the time, if your immune system is strong and if you get enough rest or fluids, colds will go away on their own.

Many people actually feel better after their cold has been resolved than they did before they got sick, as the pathogen stimulates the immune system and toxins are eliminated.

When to get help!

Your cold: • is associated with a high fever accompanied by • excessive mucus that can cause choking, • lasts more than a couple of weeks, • moves down into the chest develops into • bronchitis, • if you start to experience flu like symptoms • if you are concerned that is may be more serious Home care 1.

Increase your water intake.

2.

Boil water with freshly cut ginger 3. and add lemon and honey (ginger: to breakdown and expel mucus; lemon: rich in Vitamin C;

honey: antibacterial & an antiviral and soothes a sore throat) 4.

Drink hot water with apple cider vinegar 5. and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.(Cayenne pepper is very warming and rich in Vitamin C. courtesy: Gabrielle Thraub.

There are a few remedies, that are as good as ever , and works wonderfully in alleviating your condition.

Garlic tea immune enhancer A well-known immune system strengthener, garlic shines as an antibacterial and antiviral herb for fighting colds, coughs and the flu. One of the best ways to take advantage of garlic’s healing properties is by drinking fresh garlic tea. Sweetened with a little raw honey, it’s delicious and helps to heal what ails you.

Peel 2 to 3 cloves of fresh garlic and lightly crush them with the side of a wide knife blade. Add them to 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for another 15 minutes. Strain the garlic and allow the tea to cool to mouth temperature. Add raw honey, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Drink as much as desired.

Red onion and raw honey cough syrup A wonderful home remedy for adults or kids suffering from a cough uses brown cane sugar, raw honey or stevia and red onions to make a soothing and tasty cough syrup. Wash, peel and slice the entire onion horizontally. Starting with the base of the onion, layer the slices in a bowl alternating with layers of raw honey or brown sugar. Stevia powder works well for this home remedy too; however, it is extremely sweet. Continue adding layers of onion and sweetener until the entire onion is reconstructed in the bowl. Cover and allow the sweetened onion to remain in the bowl on your counter for about 12-15 hours or overnight. The next day, there will be about a cup or more of sweet syrup in the bowl. The cough syrup contains a range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals from the onion and the honey to help fight infection and soothe sore throats and quiet a cough.

Take a spoonful as needed. Has no onion-y taste.

Raw honey and lemon for sore throats A mixture of fresh lemon juice and raw honey provides soothing relief for sore throats and helps stop the tickle that stimulates coughing. Raw honey -- with all its components including royal jelly, propolis and bee pollen -- is high in nutrients and enzymes which kill bacteria and viruses. The vitamin C and antioxidants found in fresh lemons boost the immune system, speeding healing. Together these two home remedies are a powerhouse for getting over a cold and sore throat. Mix the juice of 1/2 the lemon with 2 to 3 tablespoons of honey and sip throughout the day as needed.

GLOBAL SOCCER

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JUNE 16, 2011

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

14.01.2017

LET THE GAME BEGIN PAGE. 29

Asisat Oshoala

Africa at Her Feet

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

GLOBAL SOCCER

The New Queen of African Football The Super Falcons of Nigeria won the Africa Women Championship for an unprecedented eighth time last year in Cameroon. One of the team’s driving forces was Asisat Oshoala. Her effort did not go unnoticed as she was recently voted the African Women Player of the Year. With stardom achieved on the continent, Oshoala seems set to conquer the world, Kunle Adewale writes

A

sisat Oshoala has never compromised her passion for the round leather game as she abandoned her education for football against the wishes of her parents.

“My passion for football made me drop out of school. This is one sport I won’t compromise. Growing up, people see me as a tomboy as I always play alongside male footballers and still do at Arsenal and anytime I’m in Nigeria. Those that that chose to go to school do so because they want to make it life likewise those of us that opted to play football. Though, my opting to play football was against my parents’ wish because they were not happy with my decision then but now I have brought them joy. I’m still not ruling out returning to school,”

Oshoala said.

Oshoala capped an exciting year by winning the 2016 Women’s Player of the Year Award, beating Elizabeth Addo of Black Queens of Ghana, and Gabrielle Onguene of Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, to the award.

She had earlier won the top scorer award at the Women’s AFCON in Cameroon, where she scored six goals in helping Nigeria win the African title for unprecedented eighth times.

Oshoala is, however, no stranger to the big stage. In 2015, at just 20, she was named the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year, making her the first player to win the new award from the BBC World Service, voted for by football fans around the world, beating Spain's Veronica Boquete, German Nadine Kessler, Scot Kim Little and Brazilian Marta to the honour.

Oshoala, who was the youngest

Oshoala outspaces an opponent

31

JANUARY 14, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Oshoala lifting high the FA Cup won by Arsenal Ladies

player to be shortlisted, was the leading scorer at the Under-20s World Cup in Canada in 2014 and was voted the tournament's best player.

Her performances led Nigeria to the final, where they were narrowly beaten by Germany, and she was also a major influence in the senior Nigeria team who won the African Women's Championship the same year.

The effort also earned her a national award, Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) from President Goodluck Jonathan.

“It’s my second time having a handshake with the president and I am really happy about it because there are many Nigerians out there wishing to just see him, not to talk of shaking hands with him. Having this second opportunity to shake hands with him, I am really happy about it and I know it is the grace of God at work in my life. For me, it’s a dream come true,” she said.

Oshoala signed for Liverpool Ladies in January 2015, becoming the first African to feature in the Women's Super League, with manager Matt Beard calling her "one of the world's top young footballers".

Mary Hockaday, controller of BBC World Service English in her tribute to Oshoala, said, "At still only 20, she's proved herself a formidable talent on the pitch. I'm proud BBC World Service is supporting the women's game and thrilled with the interest in

the award," she said.

To date, no individual has been so honoured in a competition than Oshoala, who was not only voted the Best Player in the 2014 Women's U20 World Cup in Canada, but also carted away the Golden Boot for her goal-scoring prowess. Her seven goals helped Nigeria get to the final of the biennial competition for the second time; only to lose to the same opponent it lost to in the finals of the 2012 edition.

Oshoala made the headlines when she signed for Liverpool in July 2015, becoming the first African player to play for any English women’s side.

“When I got the deal from them, I was very excited. I supported Liverpool when I was younger, especially when Luis Suarez was still here. He’s a player I have really admired,” Oshoala said.

In addition to Suarez, the Falcons star also idolises former Real and AC Milan midfielder, Clarence Seedorf.

“I like him so much. I like players who work hard and give everything on the pitch. When you see a player like that, he is an inspiration. I love the way Seedorf played; I love everything about him. For the same reason, I admire Luis Suarez. He is ready to give everything and do everything for his club. I love players like that,” she said.

However, less than a year later, Oshoala shifted her loyalty to Arsenal Ladies after a season with Liverpool, scoring three goals in 12 league appearances for the Reds.

Arsenal Ladies Manager, Pedro Losa said: “Asisat is a fantastic talent and will be a great addition to our squad.

She is quick, with excellent feet and

has proven she can score goals so it’s very positive she has decided to join us.”

The former Rivers Angels player is indeed not comfortable with her comparison with Mercy Akide. “I have heard people compare me with Mercy but the truth is I really do not like comparisons. I love Mercy, I really do. She’s a legend and has achieved a lot in the game and to be compared to her at this age is a privilege. It’s a challenge but with hard work, I will get better.”

Looking back, she would always be grateful to FC Robo, where she cut her professional teeth. “I will always say a big thank to my first coach at FC Robo, Emmanuel Osahon. He discovered me and gave me my first break, before I joined Port Harcourt club, Rivers Angels sports club,” she recalled.

In a chat with THISDAY, former Falcons goalkeeper, Ann Chiejina is optimistic that the way Oshoala is going, she would one day climb the podium for the FIFA Award.

“I just hope and pray she keeps working hard. With the way she’s going she is not too far from being selected for the FIFA Women’s Footballer Award,” Chiejina said.

Meanwhile, Oshoala has called for the continent to make conditions better for women, saying: “We deserve more. The federations in every country have to do more for female football."

Nicknamed Superzee by her appreciative teammates, the Nigerian striker owes her accolade to her speed and nose for goal.

Meanwhile, there are strong indication that Oshoala may be going to China following John Obi Mikel’s

move to the Chinese Super League with Tianjin Teda and Odion Ighalo looking likely to also move to the Asian country, it has emerged that she might be the latest Nigerian footballer set for a big-money move to China.

Recent reports have suggested several unnamed Chinese clubs have contacted Arsenal Ladies about doing a deal for the Super Falcons striker.

Oshoala, whose contract with the Arsenal Ladies runs out at the end of the 2017 season, is believed to be considering a move, while the English club is also reported to be willing to cash in on the reigning African women’s player of the year.

The 22-year old joined the Arsenal Ladies nine months ago from the Liverpool Ladies, but is yet to have a wholly impressive season.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE 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

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

GLOBAL SOCCER

2017 Africa Cup of Nations… 2017 Africa Cup of Nations…2017 Africa Cup of Nations… 2017 Africa Cup of Nations…

Kolo Toure and teammates celebrating Ivoirian victory at the last edition of the Nations Cup

Cote D’Ivoire Start Title Defence The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off today with host country, Gabon, taking on Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso slugging it out with Cameroun much later. However, defending Champions, Elephant of Cote D’Ívoire will be tested to the maximum when they begin the defence of their title, paired in a group of two other strong contenders

T

he Ivorians‚ who have to do without retired Yaya Toure and injured Gervinho but have been boosted by the defection of Wilfried Zaha‚ played through an indifferent 2016 but seem to come good towards the end of the year and will be rightly considered a good bet to retain their title.

The Elephants had been buoyed by the release of six million euros by the Ivorian government to prosecute African Cup of Nations campaign, official. The amount is meant for the preparation and participation of the Elephants in the competition scheduled to kickoff from January 14 to February 5 in Gabon.

The current figure represents an increase of more than 600,000 euros (400 million CFA francs) compared to 2015.

The Elephants won the last edition of the competition beating Ghana in the finals in Equatorial Guinea.

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly and other teammates had begun preparatory work in Abu Dhabi and the Michel Dussuyer’s side had played two friendly matchesagainst Sweden and Uganda.

Ivory Coast are locked in Group C along with Togo, the Democratic republic

of Congo and Morocco. Despite missing the services of the Toure brothers – Kolo and Yaya announced retirement from international football after 2015. They will also be without captain Yao Gervinho who recently underwent surgery.

If they come through the first round their hopes will be strengthen because Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo are among the dangerous outsiders at the tournament.

And Togo‚ who have the Godfather of the African Nations Cup in charge‚ can be expected to seek to play a spoilers’ role. Claude Le Roy continue to set a record for longevity at the event and is coaching at a ninth finals.

In his previous eight tournaments‚ only once did he not get a side through to the last eight - that was when he was with DR Congo in South Africa in 2013 and they were inched out of second place in their group by the minnows from the Cape Verde Island.

Togo can play that role in Group C‚ which is based at a new stadium in Oyem‚ with Emmanuel Adebayor leading their attack. He might be on the wrong side of 30 and short of match fitness‚ but is still one of the continent’s top players and will be eager to prove a point.

DR Congo were nominated by the Confedera-

tion of African Football as one of the candidates for the National Team of the Year award for 2016 on the back of not only qualifying in top place in their Nations Cup qualifying group but also putting together a 100 percent start to the group phase of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Florent Ibenge has assembled a strong group and after bronze at the last Nations Cup finals they will have high hopes of reaching the knockout phase again. But they will need to also get past the Moroccans‚ who again have a highly talented squad on paper even if they surprisingly left out Hakim Ziyech of Ajax Amsterdam from their 23-man squad.

He is rated one of the best talents in Europe but Morocco Coach Herve Renard said he could not guarantee him a starting line-up berth and it would not work well to have him mopping around on the bench.

Since then‚ there have been several injuries to key players with Younes Belhanda and Sofiane Boufal likely to be sorely missed and Ziyech might yet be drafted into the squad as a late injury replacement.

Morocco have invested heavily in enticing Renard to take over as their coach‚ hoping his Nations Cup magic can rub off on them. The

suave Frenchman took Zambia to the 2012 title in Libreville and the Ivory Coast to success in the last edition in Equatorial Guinea.

Meanwhile, Gabon are putting their finishing touches in their preparations, and The Panthers are confident they will not disappoint the home crowd.

The players hope that playing in front of a partisan home crowd will give them extra edge over their opponents.

“Those that have their eyes fixed on the national team can count on us to deliver, and as I say, we will give the best, we will do everything to make the party beautiful, “assures midfielder Levy Madinda.

Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will carry the hopes of the central African nation on his shoulders, alongside veteran goalkeeper Didier Ovono and Sunderland’s holding midfielder Didier Ndong.

Gabon’s most significant AFCON achievement is the second-round finish they achieved as co-hosts in 2012.

They play the opening game against Guinea Bissau in Libreville, under the charges of former Spain manager Jose Antonio Camacho who replaced ex-Portugal international Jorge Costa in November 2016.

Aubameyang Carries Gabon's Burden

P

rolific striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will carry a heavy burden in the African Nations Cup finals with the hopes of the host nation resting squarely on his shoulders.

The Borussia Dortmund marksman enjoys megastar status in Gabon, who host the finals for the second time in five years, and the 27-year-old is expected to deliver the goals that will give the country a realistic chance of a first African title.

He has already brought an unexpected profile to a country short of any soccer success by winning the 2015 African Footballer of the Year award, celebrated in Libreville as if Gabon had won a major tournament.

Aubameyang flew from the ceremony in Nigeria to show off the trophy and was given a heroic, near hysterical reception, with live television coverage of his arrival and reception.

"I did well to choose Africa (over France) and I can't dare to imagine what it will be like if we win the Nations Cup at home," he said in an interview with French sports daily L'Equipe on Friday.

The 27-year-old was born in Laval and played one match for the France under-21 team but then chose to play for Gabon, where his father captained the side at their first Nations Cup appearance in 1994.

Since his debut at the age of 20 in 2009, Aubameyang has been the key element of the team but his exploits in the Bundesliga have elevated him to an almost god-like status in the central

African country.

"It's all about Aubameyang and what he can deliver for us," said student Michel Ondoma on Friday as the team began their final preparations for the opening match against Guinea Bissau the today.

Making A Difference The rest of Gabon's team is a motley collection of players drawn from clubs in Belgium's third division, the second tier of Chinese football, lower league French sides and Malta.

Only Mario Lemina of Juventus, a recent addition to the side, comes close to Aubameyang in terms of regular football at the highest level of the club scene in Europe.

"Aubameyang is one of the players who

can make a big difference to his team at this tournament. He knows what he can do," added Gernot Rohr, who coached Gabon in 2012 when they co-hosted the finals with Equatorial Guinea. At that tournament, Gabon went out at the quarterfinal stage, eliminated in a penalty shootout where Aubameyang suffered the heartbreak of missing the vital kick.

The images of a tearful and disconsolate Aubameyang being led from the pitch at the end of the contest by his father were among the more abiding from the finals.

"That setback propelled me into another dimension. The people expected an exploit on my part," he said. But he now has a chance to make good on the disappointment and further entrench himself as Gabon's favourite son.

33

JANUARY 14, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

… 2017 Africa Cup of Nations… 2017 Africa Cup of Nations…

Stars to Watch Out for As top African soccer nations are gearing up for today’s kickoff of the Africa Cup of Nations, below are some of the players expected to light up the tournament.

Riyad Mahrez, Algeria

A

frica’s best player and BBC African Football of the Year 2016 is one player to watch out for in Gabon. The Algerian enjoyed spectacular success last season as he inspired Leicester to their first league title. Mahrez, 25, scored 17 league goals and was voted Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year – the first African to win the award. He was also influential to Algeria qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mahrez is ranked the seventh best player in the world.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabon

Ranked the eleventh best player in the world, host Gabon will be banking on the services of their talisman Pierre Aubameyang at this year African Cup of Nations. His 25 goals in the Bundesliga saw him end last season as the league's second-top scorer behind Robert Lewandowski. He was named the 2015 CAF player of the year and finished as runner up the following year. Aubameyang is a must watch player in the tournament.

Saido Mane, Senegal

Mane became the most expensive African player in history when he joined Liverpool for £34m in the summer.

He has made an immediate impact at Anfield with nine goals for the Reds already this season. Mane is currently the third best player in Africa, as such, the Teranga Lions of Senegal will be banking on his services at this year

Andre Ayew, Ghana

West Ham's Andre Ayew believes Ghana are among the favourites for next month's Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. However, he is one man whose experience may just carry them all the way. Although the midfielder has missed several weeks of the English Premier League season through injury, he scored his first goal for West Ham against his former team Swansea last month. He also finished as the highest goal scorer in AFCON 2015.

Ghana will be banking on him to find the back of the net as many times as possible

Khama Billiat, Zimbabwe

In Billiat, Zimbabwe has the most important player at AFCON 2017. The Mamelodi Sundowns striker was voted the PSL Player of the Year in 2015. He was also recently voted as the second best African based player.

Group B:

Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Zimbabwe Jan 15: Algeria vs Zimbabwe, Tunisia vs Senegal Jan 19: Algeria vs Tunisia, Senegal vs Zimbabwe Jan 23: Senegal vs Algeria, Zimbabwe vs Tunisia

Group C:

Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Morocco, Togo Jan 16: Ivory Coast vs Togo, DR Congo vs Morocco Jan 20: Ivory Coast vs DR Congo, Morocco vs Togo Jan 24: Morocco vs Ivory Coast, Togo vs DR Congo

Group D:

Ghana, Mali, Egypt, Uganda Jan 17: Ghana vs Uganda, Mali vs Egypt Jan 21: Ghana vs Mali, Egypt vs Uganda Jan 25: Egypt vs Ghana, Uganda vs Mali

Quarter-finals: January 28, 29.

Semi-finals: February 1, 2.

Third place: February 4 Final: February 5.

The first meeting between Manchester United and Liverpoll this season ended 0-0

No Red Carpet for Liverpool at Old Trafford The two most successful clubs in English football-Manchester United and Liverpool will this weekend renew hostilities in an encounter that headlines the Premier League

W

hile Liverpool had been struggling of late, their Sunday host, Manchester United had been on a winning streak in all competitions.

Little wonder, former Anfield midfielder, Didi Hamann is of the opinion that Liverpool will struggle to handle a resurgent United on Sunday.

The Red Devils look to be back in the title chace after a run of six league wins on the bounce moved them 10 points behind leaders, Chelsea.

The Red Devils currently trail secondplace Liverpool by four points but could cut the gap on their fierce rivals to just one point with a win at Old Trafford this weekend. Hamann is confident Mourinho can continue United's impressive form until the end of the season.

Liverpool are five points behind Chelsea but failed to beat relegation battlers, Sunderland and League Two outfit, Plymouth in the FA Cup. The former Liverpool star said: "Once Jose Mourinho’s team start rolling, they’re like a juggernaut - they can be incredibly hard to stop. United are unbeaten in 11 league games now – when he was at Chelsea Jose went on an unbeaten league run of 40 games and it wasn’t a one-off.

"Chelsea had six unbeaten stretches that went over 12 games in the league under Mourinho’s watch. Manchester United haven’t been too successful in recent years but there is huge belief in the camp.

"They are a serious force, and there’s no reason why this momentum would stop between now and May. United still have a massive role to play in the title race.

"Ten points is a lot of ground to make up on Chelsea, but in the third week of December they were nine points off fourth place. Now they’re only three points away from Man City in fourth, and can close the gap to Liverpool to two if they win on Sunday. It isn’t impossible."

Meanwhile, Mourinho has said he, his players and even the club's supporters would need to raise their game when arch rivals Liverpool visit Old Trafford this weekend.

United beat Hull City 2-0 in Tuesday's League Cup semifinal first leg to make it nine games in succession, while Liverpool suffered a one nil loss to Southampton on Wednesday. However, with the Reds five points above the Devils in second place in the table, Mourinho wants everyone to be at their very best on Sunday.

"I think now about Sunday. I need to do better on Sunday, the players need to do better and the stadium they need to do better," Mourinho said.

Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion skipper, Darren Fletcher is hoping his side can extend their unbeaten run against Tottenham Hotspur when they travel to White Hart Lane in the Premier League today.

West Brom, who are eighth in the league, have managed to avoid defeat in their last three encounters with the North London

club, including a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns in October.

Spurs have not lost at home this season but 31-year-old Scotland international Fletcher is eyeing another positive result that could push West Brom up to seventh.

"We managed to get a point against them earlier on in the season," Fletcher told West Brom's official website.

Head to Head 17/10/16

Liverpool

0-0

Man Utd

17/01/16

Liverpool

0-1

Man Utd

12/09/15

Man Utd

3-1

Liverpool

22/03/15

Liverpool

1-2

Man Utd

14/12/14

Man Utd

3-0

Liverpool

16/03/14

Man Utd

0-3

Liverpool

01/09/13

Liverpool

1-0

Man Utd Liverpool

13/01/13

Man Utd

2-1

23/09/12

Liverpool

1-2

Man Utd

11/02/12

Man U

2- 0

Liverpool

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

20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

27 25 25 19 22 12 5 4 -5 -6 -8 -9 -12 -13 -7 -5 -7 -18 -22 -27

49 44 42 42 41 39 30 29 25 24 24 23 22 22 21 19 16 15 15 13

Fixture TODAY Tottenham Burnley Hull City Sunderland Swansea Watford West Ham Leicester

v v v v v v v v

SUNDAY Everton Man Utd

v v

West Brom Southampton Bournemouth Stoke City Arsenal Middlesbrough Crystal Palace Chelsea

Man City Liverpool 1

12:30 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 17:30

13:30 6:00

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

34

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

L-R: GM Rivers Utd, Okey Kpalukwu, CFO, Eunisell Ltd, Charles Etuk, GMD, Eunisell Ltd, Chika Ikenga and Ali Chinwendu during the unveiling of Rivers Utd Players Jersey

Murray

NPFL

Murray Seeded No 1 in a Grand Slam for the First Time Andy Murray has been named as the top seed for the Australian Open which starts next week, the first time the Scot has been ranked No 1 in a Grand Slam.

Murray, a five-time finalist, will be chasing his first Melbourne title while his main rival will be six-time winner Novak Djokovic who has been handed the second seed position.

The pair have met in four previous finals,

including last year, with Djokovic winning on all four occasions and having beaten Murray in Doha last week, the Serb will be confident of becoming the first man to win the Australian Open on seven occasions.

Federer return to Grand Slam action having missed the US Open and the second half of last season with back and knee injuries and having dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since 2002, he

is seeded 17th meaning a possible third round tie with Murray or Djokovic could be on the cards.

The four-time Aussie Open champion is chasing an 18th Grand Slam title but has not won a major since Wimbledon in 2012 and Melbourne next week will be his first competitive tournament since Wimbledon last year.

Nadal is seeded ninth and a potential quarterfinal opponent for the top four. The 14-time

Grand Slam champion is without a major in almost three years and suffered a five-set first round defeat to Fernando Verdasco in Melbourne last year.

In the women's singles, defending champion and world No 1 Angelique Kerber leads the way followed by 22-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams.

Britain's Johanna Konta, a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park 12 months ago, is the No 9 seed.

Djokovic Feels Phenomenal ahead of Melbourne Novak Djokovic says he feels in "phenomenal" shape ahead of the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Monday.

The former world No 1 believes he is back to his very best after defeating Andy Murray to defend his Qatar Open title in Doha last weekend.

Last season, the 12-time major winner imploded after a thirdround loss at Wimbledon.

A shock defeat to Sam Querrey ended his hopes of a calendar-year Grand Slam and was followed by a first-round exit to Juan Martin del Potro at the Rio Olympics and defeat to Stan Wawrinka

in the US Open final.

Djokovic has won the Australian Open six times, including the last two years, and should he successfully defend his title again he will become the first player in history to win the event seven times, moving one clear of Australia's Roy Emerson.

"I'm feeling phenomenal," said Djokovic. "I'm excited as everyone else to be at probably the best Grand Slam in our sport. Considering the memories that I had here and the results in the past, I'm glad to be back again.

"This is the year in 2017 for seven, seven

- I don't know, I'm not a numerologist, but it sounds good."

Djokovic is also excited about renewing his long-standing rivalry with new world No 1 Murray, adding: "Andy has absolutely deserved to be No 1 in the world.

He has had a tremendous last six months of 2016 and this year we've already played a thrilling match.

"In terms of my feelings coming to Melbourne, the last five or six years it's pretty much the same.

I'm pumped to do well but I'm sure I'm not the only one who's excited, but it gives me a lot of

goosebumps coming back."

Meanwhile, French No 1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hopes to be more consistent this year after a troubled 2016 which was disrupted by a string of knee and leg injuries.

"The main goal for me in 2017 is of course to stay healthy and then try to be back in the Top 10 and be able to play the best players in the world consistently," Tsonga said.

"I know it's a good surface [at the Australian Open] to perform so I hope it's going to be a good tournament for me and give me confidence for the rest of the season."

Melbourne Continues to Hunt Robson Former British No 1 Laura Robson has failed to qualify for the Australian Open, which gets underway in Melbourne next week.

The Melbourne-born 22-year-old, a former world top-30 player, lost in straight sets to Amandine Hesse of France in the first round of qualifying on Thursday.

Robson, now ranked a lowly 222, was defeated 6-2 6-4 in just 75 minutes after losing eight of the opening 10 games.

Although she battled back to draw level at 4-4 in the second set - after securing her only break she was promptly broken again in game nine.

Robson then held two break points herself in the 10th game, only for Hesse to clinch victory on her second match point.

Robson said: "I didn't really feel nervous. I just felt flat. I just never got going, it felt like my feet were stuck in mud.

"I was trying to pump myself up, moving around a lot between

points, trying to get something going, it never happened.

"When it got a little bit closer in the second I was waiting for some momentum switch. It was annoying not to play the way I wanted to, especially frustrating because I got here a good few days ago and was playing really well in practice. "I played a lot of practice sets and felt really confident, then I set foot on court and it felt the opposite."

Robson, a former junior

champion at Wimbledon, has not won a match on the main WTA Tour since April of last year, as she continues to struggle following a serious wrist injury.

Robson will now return to Europe to contest two ITF tournaments in France before February's Fed Cup tie against Estonia.

Also leaving Melbourne is fellow Brit Tara Moore who lost nine of the last 10 games in her 6-7 6-3 6-1 defeat by Hungary's Dalma Galfi.

Rivers Utd Get N10m Boost as Eunisell Unveils Players’ Jersey Ahead of this weekend’s kickoff of the Nigeria Professional Football League home game against El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, last seasons’ runners up, Rivers United have been boosted with a sum of ten million naira by the club’s sponsor-Eunisell.

Speaking at the unveiling of Rivers United players jersey at the Renaissance Lagos Ikeja Hotel on Thursday, the GMD of Eunisell Limited, Mr. Chika Ikenga, said the club was pleased to be associating with Rivers United and that the club’s performances so far has really encouraged the company.

“They play good football and we hope they would win the league this season.

Eunisell wants to be part of their history and that is one of the reasons for our partnering with them. We are pleased the development in the Nigerian league.

The League Management Company, LMC, has done significantly well for the growth of the league,” Ikenga said.

In appreciation of Rivers United stellar performance in the Super Four, Eunisell is rewarding the Port Harcourt based club with 10 million naira.

Meanwhile, the General Manager of Rivers United, Okey Kpalukwu has promised not to let the their sponsors down, saying that the club would not only win the league this season but also do well in the continent.

In a chat with THISDAY, Rivers United left full back; Ali Chiwendu said the players have been well motivated ahead of the clash against EI Kanemi.

“We are aware that El Kanemi is a very strong team, but we’ve been well motivated by the management of the club and our fitness level is very high and the resolve to start the league well will see us through the game,” Chiwendu said.

He however lamented last season’s narrow league loss to Enugu Rangers, but took solace in the fact that they are a younger team when compare to the Flying Antelopes.

“We deserved to win the title last season, but all the same we did well considering that the team was barely seven months old then,” he said.

Emordi Relishes RangersTest Abia Warriors head coach, Okey Emordi is looking forward to his side’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) opener against champions, Enugu Rangers.

The two sides go toe to toe at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, with Rangers already tagged as overwhelming favourites to amass maximum points at the expense of the Warriors on Sunday.

Emordi is not fazed by the challenge of pitting his wits against Imama Amapakabo’s Flying Antelopes at the ‘Cathedral of football’ and believes his charges are in fine fettle to positively assert themselves in the contest. “We are trying our best to bring the boys up to speed and that is why we have been playing tune-up matches. It is also aimed at getting the boys tuned to the competition because we have relatively new players. “The new boys have to be blended with the old players to get a formidable new team. I took the time to study the players during the tune-up games we played to enable me to make a decision,” he told supersport.com.

Abia Warriors escaped relegation by whiskers last season as they finished in 13th place with 48 points from 36 matches.

Meanwhile, Nasarawa United head coach, Kabir Dogo, has said his side will not disappoint against Wikki Tourists. The Solid Miners are guests of the Bauchi outfit in Sunday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.

Dogo said Wikki Tourists have always been hard nuts for the side to crack irrespective of the match grounds.

“I call the clash a northern derby with a difference as the rivalry between both sides has always been tough whether the match takes place in Bauchi or Lafia.

“Last season Wikki Tourists beat us in Bauchi while we were winners in the reverse fixture at adopted home in Makurdi.

“We are looking forward to another entertaining, explosive and wonderful match in Bauchi on Sunday.

“Wikki Tourists are a continental side so we will give them their due respect but not to the point of being scared of them. We have reached the busi- Fixtures ness end of the league where results Week 1 vs Ifeanyi Uba count. We are believing positively to Kano Pillars vs Lobi Stars come out of the battle smiling at the Shooting MFM vs Niger Tornadoes end of the day." vs Akwa United “Everybody is ready and prepared ABS to execute the match plan to the Rivers Utd vs El Kanemi latter to achieve the desired result.

Rangers vs Abia Warriors The management has done pretty Katsina Utd vs Gombe Utd well for us to prepare for the season Remo Stars vs Plateau Utd we can only assure them that we Enyimba vs Sunshine Stars will not disappoint,” said the former Wikki Tourist vs Nasarawa Utd Abubakar Bukola Saraki coach.

35

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

WRITERS’ WORLD

OAU: A Test for Yemi Ogunbiyi’s Humility, Respect-for-all Model

BISI DANIELS bisi.daniels@thisdaylive.com Blog: www.bisidaniels.com, 08050220700

Whoever chose Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi to head the Governing Council of troubled Obafemi Awolowo University knows him quiet well. The cap fits perfectly, only that for now it appears to be a thorny one for which he has to draw heavily on his sweet personality built on humility and respect for all, and his vast experience and skills

“O

bafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, is in deep crisis.

Right now the University has no Governing Council…….” Wumi Raji, an Associate Professor in the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, had shouted in June, 2016 in an article to a newspaper.

The Ogunbiyi model is not a learned habit; it is not a public relations gimmick; it is his nature. So it flows like a reflex action. A story is told of how years ago, as Managing Director of Daily Times, he noticed that one of the staff members in his office did not accord as much respect to relatively poor visitors as she did affluent visitors.

He called the individual and advised her on the need to treat all people with warmth and respect – without discrimination.

It is said that months later when life became tough for the individual after she left Daily Times, she run into one of the people she had once received shabbily. The man was so helpful to her that she became ashamed of herself. She immediately adopted the Ogunbiyi model and never stopped preaching it.

With the gift of making people feel easily at home and comfortable, Ogunbiyi is warm and friendly even to strangers.

Along with his disarming humility, go very strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.

And widely-travelled, seen-all-done-all man, including advisory support for some past governments, he is a deep reservoir of solutions for a large variety of problems of governments, firms and individuals.

And he is so popular that, like Coca Cola, when you mention his name in many circles, there is no need to add any qualifiers. The name is a stand-alone brand.

All that have deposited a huge account balance of goodwill, which many people, including the big and the mighty draw on to solve problems or to build bridges.

On a visit to him one evening, I wondered how he coped with his many beneficiaries, who kept his two mobile phones busy for several minutes, indeed over an hour.

Insinuations that he lives in the shadows of Professor Wole Soyinka are rubbished by the popularity of the Yemi Ogunbiyi brand; and the high and mighty who quietly rush to him to have image threats and problems solved.

The fact that Soyinka’s massive global brand has not eclipsed the Ogunbiyi brand, built on humility, knowledge and service, is in itself a testimony of its strength, and the character of the man.

A former university teacher who taught at the Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, in the United States, and the former University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Yemi Ogunbiyi holds a Ph.D in Dramatic Literature from the New York University in the United States.

He received his secondary education from the Ibadan Boys High School and later went to University of Ibadan where he studied English Literature. He proceeded to the New York University for his Masters.

A foundation member of The Guardian Newspapers, Ogunbiyi went on to head the Daily Times Group of newspapers as Managing Director. As a journalist, he

Chief Ogunbiyi executed high-profile interviews with Shimon Perez, Thomas Sankara, Kenneth Kaunda, Kamuzu Banda and Rajiv Ghandi, among others.

Today, he is Chairman of Tanus Books (Nigeria) Limited, a publishing company that specialises in the publication of school textbooks. His Sixty Years of Winning with Nigeria: The History of Nigerian Breweries Plc (1946-2006), was published in 2007. His other works include Drama and Theatre in Nigeria: A Critical Source Book, which was published in 1981 and due to be reissued in 2011; and two volumes of Perspectives on Nigerian Literature: 1700 to the Present, which are edited critical selections from the Guardian Literary Series.

Tanus Books is one of the leading publishing companies in the country. The company has published over 450 titles, spread across core and entrepreneurial subjects in the Nigerian school curriculum: including history, computer studies, civic education, catering craft, woodwork, store-keeping, garment-making, plumbing and pipe-fitting, painting and decoration, French and Nigerian indigenous languages.

He told THISDAY recently how he got into publishing, after life in Daily Times. “I decided to start an advertising agency,” he recalled. “But in between that, I was able to start a corporate publishing outfit meant for corporate books. Then gradually, I found myself getting more interested.

Some years ago, Donald Duke became the Governor of Cross River State and asked me to print some school textbooks for the state. I had never done school books before then. I was only printing corporate books.

I said no. But he persuaded me. And there would surely be a payback time, he said jokingly.

“I took up the challenge. It was a huge contract and I couldn’t find a press that could do that for me. I then found a press in India and they did the printing for me.

When the books came back and I saw them, I thought they looked very nice

so I suggested that Duke should sell the books to other state government since the books were all based in the federal government curriculum. He said he didn’t think anyone would buy those books from him. I persuaded him by telling him that I would market the books for him for other states and that we would share the profit.

He said, ‘Well, good luck to you. I don’t think you are going to make any headway’.

That year, we sold about half a million text books to other states by merely selling those books that belonged to Cross River State.”

“State governments will ask for these books and if we don’t have them that will be too bad so we make them. I think today we have between 45 and 50 entrepreneurial subjects in our stable. I have decided to keep producing textbooks only although there is a lot of pressure on us to do more than just that. For now we are stuck with school textbooks.”

Chairman of the Governing Council

Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of Dr. Ogunbiyi as the Chairman of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University. The council of the university was sacked recently following some crisis.

Education minister, Malam Adamu Adamu announced the appointment in a statement. He said the new governing council would serve for a term of four years, in the first instance, with effect from December 28, 2016. Other members of the OAU council are Prof Felix U. Madubuike, Mr. Inowei Akono, Mr. Adekunle Sanni and Muhammad Bello Kaoje.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned and operated Nigerian university. Founded in 1961, (classes commencing in October 1962) it is one of the leading universities in the country. The university, with a beautiful campus and high academic standards, has produced many great names over the years. But it has always had ‘strong’ unions

of lecturers and even students.

Obviously Ogunbiyi will need his Midas touch and all his expertise in OAU, where he was once a teacher.

In June, Raji wrote, “Right now the University has no Governing Council, no Vice Chancellor – substantive or acting – and, at least, no active Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Only the registrar still retains his position but he, too, dare not come near his office. This is because members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) have laid siege on the University administrative building. “They have been doing so since June 7, the day after the Governing Council, following a meeting held at a secret location in Abuja, announced Professor Ayobami Salami as Vice-Chancellor elect for the University.

“On Thursday June 23, and in an apparent attempt at averting tragic confrontations, the registrar announced the closure of the University, asking students to immediately vacate their halls of residence. He never indicated any date when they could return to resume their studies.

“The crisis has its roots in the process of appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor for the University…… “ ….(Then) the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu came on air to announce the dissolution of the Governing Council of the University, along with that of the University of Port Harcourt. The Minister also ordered the suspension of the process of appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the University until after the case in court must have been decided.

“The announcement was greeted with wild jubilation on campus. SSANU and NASU members who had spent several days at the barricade felt vindicated and they went round the campus dancing in jubilation. ASUU members who, just a few hours before the announcement, had forced their chairman to retract a statement which he claimed to have issued on their behalf also rejoiced.

“The next thing was to wait for the next announcement from government, which was expected to provide direction on how the leadership of the University would be reconstituted.”

The university didn’t wait for long.

In July President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Senate of the university to immediately recommend a qualified person for appointment, as an acting Vice Chancellor for the university.

In a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, the President directed the Senate not to consider any of the candidates who had earlier contested for the position.

The letter further stated that the Senate of the university should take immediate steps to implement the directive of the President and report back to the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to staff and students, the federal government’s decision was a step towards the redemption and integrity of the institution, which for weeks had been hit by crisis after the exit of the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole.

OAU is a great university, so naturally all eyes are on Ogunbiyi’s Council. His Midas touch too is on trial.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

FAIRGROUND

Cecil Hammond’s Rhythm Unplugged 2016

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

R

hythm Unplugged with Pepsi, as its headline sponsor, has become one of the biggest and consistent entertainment events in the country in the past 12 years. The show keeps waxing stronger by the day, as the stars performed to the pleasure of their eager fans and guests who waited patiently, even when the show started a bit late.

No doubt, the crowd was so excited, as the stars came out, one after another, to perform to their delight. It is billed as the biggest annual concert every year, and year, ardent music lovers look forward to the show and as always, trust Cecil Hammond not to disappoint his guests.

The 2016 edition of Pepsi Rhythm Unplugged delivered a night of extreme excitement that proved that it was possible to have an array of stars and fuse them in a way that didn’t cloy the audience. Rather, they kept asking for more until the sun came up.

Every year, with the massive success of Rhythm Unplugged, Cecil Hammond keeps turning up as one of Nigeria’s big music promoters, because the big stars in Nigeria always perform at his show and nobody goes home disappointed.

Wizkid is one of the biggest acts on the African continent presently, and he is Nigeria’s finest. Wizkid has been on the international scene this year. A song with Drake, MTV awards wins, various collaborations and a Grammy nomination is the summary of his year, before medical advice from his doctors made him cancel all of his holiday concerts.

But he defied his doctors’ orders, as he took to the stage, paid respect to Cecil Hammond, the organiser of the concert, before delving into a set that contained a selected number of his hit songs. He was backed

by DJ Xclusive, who cued in ‘Jeje’, ‘The Matter ’, ‘Jaiye Jaiye’, ‘Caro’, ‘In my bed’, and many more.

Other superstars were on ground too, from Olamide, Davido, Runtown, Koker, Lola Rae, DJ Cuppy, Obi and XClusive, P-Square, Tekno, Reekado Banks, Asekunle Gold, Seyi Shay, Waje, Omawunmi, among others.

Basketmouth during his acceptance speech

Wizkid

Tiwa Savage

Davido

Olamide during his performance

Tekno

Waje during her performance

P Square

Harrysong

Falz the bad guy during his performance

Dj Cuppy during her performance

Bovi during his performance

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

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FAIRGROUND

NIMASA Appoints Hajia Tumaka Director

T

he Governing Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) at its 34th meeting in December 2016, approved the promotion of some management staff of the agency from deputy directors to Directors, including the spokesperson, Hajia Lami Tumaka.

Hajia Tumaka was, until her elevation, the Deputy Director, Corporate communications in the agency.

She was promoted along with seven others; Mr. Sani Mohammed, Head of Procurement, Mr. Olayemi Abbas Head of Financial Services and his counterpart in Cabotage department, Mr. Hassan el-Yakub.

Also promoted were the Coordinator of Western Zonal Operations, Hajia Aisha Jummai Musa, Head of Marine Environment Management, Mrs. Susan Asagwara, Head of Shipping Development, Mr. Akin Akinyosoye and his counterpart in Legal Services, Mr. Suleman Abdulsalam.

In a bid to reposition NIMASA the Director General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, deployed Tumaka as director, special duties in the Office of the Director General with responsibilities for external relations and technical cooperation.

In this role, the fellow of the

Nigerian Institute of Public Relations is expected to deploy her vast knowledge in creating a harmonious atmosphere among the agency’s stakeholders. She will also have direct responsibility over all areas of technical cooperation between the NIMASA and other stakeholders both foreign and local.

A performance-driven individual who enjoys working in a fastpaced and challenging environment, Haji Tumaka was born on January 14, 1960 in Kaduna and had her early education at the St. Georges Primary School Falomo, Ikoyi Lagos State, the Fatima Girls Secondary School and the Government Girls College both in Minna, Niger State.

She is a 1979 graduate of English with a bias in Literature at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where she also earned an MBA in Business Administration in 2000.

Her quest for further education and professionalism took her to the TV College Jos in 1986 where she earned a Certificate in Film Production with Distinction and the prestigious Holborn College London in 1993 earning a Diploma in Public Relations.

Hajia Tumaka has had a successful career spanning nearly three decades in both the private and public sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

Hajia Lami Tumaka

‘She Leads’ Set to Hold SLAY Festival

S

he Leads Africa is a community that helps young African women achieve their professional dreams. With engaging online content and panAfrican events, they have become the premier destination for smart and ambitious young women.

Through their community website, ‘She Leads Africa’ shares stories that inspire and motivate women to live their best life; hosts events across Africa and diaspora where members can build their network; curates specially created tools and courses designed just for their community; and provides direct access to career and business experts for real advice.

The community was co-founded by Afua Osei and Yasmin Belo-Osagie in 2014, and in the past year ‘She Leads Africa’ has seen a 600 per cent increase in their community, having more than 200,000 women across more than 30 countries and five continents. They have been able to supply business and career advice through in-person workshops and digital training on their worldwide city tours called SheHive.

SheHive has gone through Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and England, and continues to run all year round, with new cities added and old cities revisited. This year, on Saturday, January 21st, She Leads Africa presents their first ever full day SLAY Festival in Lagos.

She Leads Africa is taking on Africa’s first ever green festival. The SLAY Festival will be powered using solar energy provided via solar panel installations by the solar shop, and will produce minimal waste via a

Yasmin Belo-Osagie

partnership with Recycle Points to encourage eco-friendly waste disposal.

The festival is a one-day celebration of innovation, culture, technology, music, arts, food and all things entrepreneurial, which makes the slogan is “a celebration of you” very adept.

SLAY Festival is a fun way to celebrate everything that makes the African woman great by equipping attendees with tools, resources and connections that will enhance their careers and achieve their goals.

Afua Osei

Speakers and panelists at the festival include; renowned entrepreneurs Tara and Fela Durotoye, award-winning director Kemi Adetiba, personal finance expert Arese Ugwu, popular film maker Mary Remmy Njoku, media personality Bolanle Olukanni and the former CEO of Chocolate City Audu Maikori amongst others.

Open to all entrepreneurs and business-oriented women, the SLAY Festival hopes to change the way the world views African women and ex-

pose them to latest developments and technologies to spur deeper thinking and ambition while creating an interactive and unforgettable experience.

She Leads Africa continues to equip young African women to rise to the top of their various career paths and attain their professional ambitions, and also provides opportunities for their community by connecting them with business leaders and accomplished personnel in the various industries available.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 15, 2017

JANUARY 15, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • January 15, 2017

FITNESS FILE

The Edenlifestyle corner with

Because Happy Saves Lives

M

MAJE AYIDA

majeayida@edenlifenigeria.com www.edenlifenigeria.com, 07062614551

artin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, theorizes that while 60 percent of happiness is determined by our genetics and environment, the remaining 40 percent is

up to us.

In a Ted Talk, which I follow religiously, Seligman describes three different kinds of happy lives: The pleasant life, in which you fill your life with as many pleasures as you can, the life of engagement, where you find a life in your work, parenting, love and leisure and the meaningful life, which “consists of knowing what your highest strengths are, and using them to belong to and in the service of something larger than you are.”

The pursuit of pleasure, research determined, has hardly any contribution to a lasting fulfillment. Instead, pleasure is “the whipped cream and the cherry” that adds a certain sweetness to satisfactory lives founded by the simultaneous pursuit of meaning and engagement.

And while it might sound like a big feat to tackle great concepts like meaning and engagement (pleasure sounded much more doable), happy people have habits you can introduce into your everyday life that may add to the bigger picture of bliss. Joyful folk have certain inclinations that add to their pursuit of meaning, and motivate them along the way.

They surround themselves with other happy people Joy is contagious. Researchers of the Framingham Heart Study who investigated the spread of happiness over 20 years found that those who are surrounded by happy people “are more likely to become happy in the future.” This is reason enough to dump the Debbie Downers and spend more time with uplifting people.

They smile when they mean it Even if you’re not feeling so chipper, cultivating a happy thought, and then smiling about it, could up your happiness levels and make you more productive, according to a study published in the Academy of Management Journal. It’s important to be genuine with your grin: The study revealed that faking a smile while experiencing negative emotions could actually worsen your mood.

They cultivate resilience Resilience, not happiness, is the opposite of depression: Happy people know how to bounce back from failure. Resilience is like a padding for the inevitable hardship human beings are bound to face. As the Japanese proverb goes, “Fall seven times and stand up eight.”

They try to be happy Yep, it’s as simple as it sounds: just trying to be happy can boost your emotional well-being. Those who actively try to feel happier usually have the highest level of positive moods, making a case for thinking yourself happy.

easy-to-come-by pleasures. Finding meaning in the little things, and practicing gratitude for all that you do have is associated with a sense of overall gladness.

They devote some of their time to giving Even though there are only 24 hours in a day, positive people fill some of that time doing good for others, which in return, does some good for the dogooders themselves. Givers also experience what researchers call “the helper’s high,” a euphoric state experienced by those engaged in charitable acts. “This is probably a literal “high,” similar to a drug-induced high,” writes Christine L. Carter, Ph.D. “The act of making a financial donation triggers the reward center in our brains that is responsible for dopamine-mediated euphoria.”

They are mindful of the good It’s important to celebrate great, hard-earned accomplishments, but happy people give attention to their smaller victories, too. “When we take time to notice the things that go right, it means we’re getting a lot of little rewards throughout the day,” Susan Weinschenk, Ph.D. “That can help with our moods.” And, as Frank Ghinassi, Ph.D. explains, being mindful of the things that do go your way (even something as simple as the waiter getting your coffee order right) can make you feel a greater sense of accomplishment throughout the day.

They let themselves lose track of time (And sometimes they can’t help it.)

When you’re immersed in an activity that is simultaneously challenging, invigorating and meaningful, you experience a joyful state called “flow.”

Happy people seek this sensation of getting “caught up” or “carried away,” which diminishes self-consciousness and promotes the feelings associated with success. In order for a Flow state to occur, you must see the activity as voluntary, enjoyable (intrinsically motivating), and it must require skill and be challenging (but not too challenging) with clear goals towards success.

They appreciate simple pleasures A meticulously swirled ice cream cone.

A boundlessly energetic dog. Happy people take the time to appreciate these

They nix the small talk for deeper conversation Nothing wrong with shootin’ the

you-know-what every now and then, but sitting down to talk about what makes you tick is a prime practice for feeling good about life. A study published in Psychological Science found that those who take part in more substantive conversation and less trivial chitchat experienced more feelings of satisfaction.

“I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings,” is one of the top five regrets of the dying, a sentiment that hints at the fact that people wish they’d spent less time talking about the weather and more time delving into what it is that makes their heart swell.

They spend money on other people.

Maybe money does buy happiness. A study published in Science found that spending money on other people has a more direct impact on happiness than spending money on oneself.

They make a point to listen “When you listen you open up your ability to take in more knowledge versus blocking the world with your words or your distracting thoughts,” writes David Mezzapelle, author of Contagious Optimism. “You are also demonstrating confidence and respect for others. Knowledge and confidence is proof that you are secure and positive with yourself thus radiating positive energy.” Good listening is a skill that strengthens relationships and leads to more satisfying experiences.

A good listener may walk away from a conversation feeling as if their presence served a purpose, an experience that is closely connected with increased wellbeing.

They uphold in-person connections It’s quick and convenient to text, FaceTime and tweet at your buddies.

But spending the money on a flight to see your favorite person across the country has weight when it comes to your well-being. “There’s a deep need to have a sense of belonging that comes with having personal interactions with friends,” says John Cacioppo, Ph.D. Social media, while it keeps us in touch, doesn’t allow us to physically touch, which harvests the warm-and-fuzzies and even decreases feelings of anxiety.

They look on the bright side Optimism has plenty of health benefits, including less stress, a better tolerance for pain and longevity among those with heart disease. When you choose to see the silver lining, you’re also choosing health and happiness. Seligman summed up perhaps the greatest characteristic of the optimist in one of his most acclaimed books, Learned Optimism: The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events will last a long time, will undermine everything they do, and are their own fault. The optimists, who are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world, think about misfortune in the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case. The optimists believe defeat is not their fault: Circumstances, bad luck, or other people brought it about. Such people are unfazed by defeat. Confronted by a bad situation, they perceive it as a challenge and try harder.

Look out for part 2 next week. I wish for you a happy heart.

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JANUARY 14, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FASHION FILE

Papa Omisore’s P.O.C Presents A/W ’17 Collection

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

FASHION FILE

Papa Omisore’s P.O.C Presents

F

ollowing his Lagos Fashion and Design Week show, P.O.C releases its A/W ’17 collection.

Since inception, the brand has defied gender stereotypes and blurred masculine lines with the use of his cuts and colours, urging men to try something new – and this collection does not disappoint.

Inspired by movement and fluidity, the brand strays from the P.O.C. norm, Kaftans, with a stylish yet comfortable feel to it. Although inspired by colour, this brand plays mainly with prints and style.

This collection urges men to step out of their comfort zone and go against the grain. With jumpsuits, open back shirts, embroidery and khaki, there’s something for everyone.

Orders can be placed on the website or via e-mail and will be dispatched immediately.

Lookbook Credits Photographer – @Createdbygvds Models - @adam.hulscher & @trentonparrott

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2016

WITH

MARKET PLACE

OMOLABAKE FASHOGBON 08033621009

L-R: Head, Sales &Markets,KPMG Professional Services Nigeria,Nike Oyewolu; Partner/ Head, Audit Services, Tola Adeyemi; Partner, Board Advisory Services, Tomi Adepoju; and Director, Audit Services, Robert Araeb, at the press conference / Presentation of the ‘Building a great board composition’ Global Pulse Survey Report in Lagos recently

L-R. Head, Consumer Protection Council, Lagos Zone, Joshua Ngada; N1million Naira cash prize winners, Olawunmi Olaosebikan; Chinwe Okpanumee and Regional Operations Director, Lagos Region, Airtel Nigeria, Oladokun Oye at the Airtel Red Hot promo prize presentation that held in Lagos recently

Why Tomato Paste May Still Cost More Hike in prices of all classes of goods, even Tomato paste despite abundance of raw tomatoes has continued to be a cause for concern to Nigerians.

Before now, a sachet of tomato paste sold for between N25 and N30 depending on the make, but today, the prices range between N 70 to N100.The steady rise in the price of the products have impacted on both manufacturers and consumers alike.

The inclusion of Triple Concentrate Tomato, a major component in the production of Tomato Paste among the 41 items restricted from foreign exchange access by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has not helped matters.

However, the idea was to encourage local production of the said products that would see Nigeria as a major global exporter of the item.

Experts however described the move as a right action implemented at the wrong time.

According to reports, Nigeria produces an estimated 1.5 million tons of fresh tomatoes every year, making it the 13th biggest producer in the world, most of which go to service the fresh tomato market in the country.

The total value of imported tomato paste was put at $170 million, while that of imported triple concentrate of Tomato paste was around $50 million.

As Nigerian farmers are working hard to meet the consumption and raw material demands of tomatoes, the country’s yields which presently stands at 5.7 MT/Hectare, compared to China’s 51 MT/Hectare and USA’s 80 MT/Hectare is considered too low to cater for Nigeria’s population.

Experts therefore posited that restrictions of tomato paste in Nigeria will interfere with market prices for fresh tomatoes, and further create gap and upward pressure on out growers selling price, with consumers feeling it more, added to a rise in inflation.

Beyond the scientifically proven health benefits of tomato paste and its culinary function, it serves as a fertile substitute for raw tomatoes as the variants are used to shore up supply in the event of scarcity just like it saved many homes recently when the raw products were at a premium.

Given the blessings of this output, analyst said that denying local manufacturer’s gateway to these vital raw materials may eventually kill the industry, hence, denying consumers its pleasure and the country, the revenue accruable.

Industry Observers noted that although there had been attempts to get these raw materials locally by some companies like Dangote for more than four years, much are yet to be done in organising the industry in the areas of suitable seed varieties, farming technology and inputs, so as to get the right quality and quantity for processing. Besides, the importation of finished tomato paste products over the years has been sabotaging the effort to build a vibrant local processing industry.

They added that it was almost impossible to meet the local demand for the raw material until the local processing industry evolves over time to acquire and execute the required backward integration, making a reference to the situation in the US, European and Chinese industries which took many years to establish and develop to standard.

Reacting to the apex bank’s reach, the Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce,

Mudashiru Yusuf pointed out that the 41 items banned from sourcing forex in the interbank market are like 728 items to local manufacturers.

“The defining essence of this statement is that raw materials are regarded as an item by government and the public while in reality is more than being just any other item. This is because one single imported item as raw material for local manufacturing triggers increase in production and consumption of local products and services”, he added.

It should be noted that the demand for the

non-available raw materials is not for itself as a concentrate, but used to add form and utility in the production of finished products such as tomato paste, ketchups and sauces.

Experts further pointed out that the nonavailability of the raw materials could also be detrimental to the economy in the sense that government action had led to ripple effects like industries packing up, sack of workers, increase in prices of the commodity, disrupting other sectors which use the products as materials, depriving government of revenue and creating

Samsung Enters 2016 Worst Products List Two of Samsung Electronics’ products have made the list of worst products for year just ended . These included Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and its Top Load washing machine which were both recalled from the market after reported faults.

The Korean giant had issued a recall of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in early September in 10 markets, including the US and South Korea over battery defect, while it is yet to get a respite from the Note 7 fiasco which had impacted negatively on its image and financial books, the company is yet grappling with incidents of “exploding” washing machines, which had forced it to recall up to 2.8 million products from the market due to risk of impact injury.

These events saw the brand enter into reviewed.com five worst products of 2016.

According to the research and reviews site, Samsung Note 7 would have been one of the best innovations of 2016, however, its accompanying fault dragged its global

ranking to zero level.

This rating had yet deepened the woes of the market leader which had not stopped counting its losses both in value and monetarily.

Although the company had posted a 50% profit surge in its guidance for the fourth quarter of 2016, a development which came as a shocker to analysts who had predicted a sharp drop in profits, following the Note 7 issues.

It said it had expected to post 9.2tn won ($7.8bn, £6.2bn) in operating profit for the months of September to December.

The technology consultant to IDC, Bryan Ma stated further “When you look at the headlines over the last couple of months it’s always been about exploding batteries and doom for Samsung, but we’ve got to keep in mind that that’s not their only business .What’s really driving these earnings is strong demand for memory and displays. And they are really, really profitable businesses.

Mamador Thinks ‘Good Heart’ as Nigerians Make Resolutions Before Nigerians exhaust their list of new year resolutions, they have been advised to make healthy heart a priority.

Premium cooking oil brand, Mamador, gave this advice as its activated ‘Pledge for Your Heart’ campaign which kicked off at Ikeja City Mall, Lagos.

The campaign, according to the company, was in furtherance of its ‘Million Hearts Mission’ initiative which started in 2016 with a mission to actively encourage Nigerians to choose and cultivate a healthy lifestyle.

Category Marketing Manager of the firm, Chioma Mbanugo explained that the brand intended to strongly continue its advocacy for a nation with a healthy heart which was one of its objectives.

“It is an age-long tradition for people to make resolutions at the start of every year but more often than not, people do not remember their heart while making such

resolutions.

We believe that the secret to a healthy living is closely linked to how healthy the heart is, that is why we are keen at encouraging consumers to make adjustments that will favour their heart health even as they make resolutions about their general lifestyle and living”, she said.

In the space of one week, the organisation held 10 activations in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Ibadan, echoing its key message which was ‘make a pledge to take better care of your heart this year ‘in all the locations visited.

At the various activation touch points across different cities, consumers were thrilled with exciting fun activities and loads of New Year gift.

The event had as its high point an opportunity offered consumers to make pledges that was displayed instantly to everyone present and on the social media.

vested interests among domestic producers of prohibited products and among smugglers.

Director General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, who also condemned the decision noted that more companies were set for redundancy.

Corroborating NECA’s statement, President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Franks Jacob pointed out that more of its member companies were presently operating below capacity and only few may be able to survive.

Innovations to Watch Out for in 2017 According to Business Insider, a global online business news site, the underlisted technology products are expected to hit the market place later in the new year.

Foldable Samsung Phone Reports say the Korean tech giant had been working on this for years, industry watchers believe that the innovation might finally surfaced this year as the company already filed a patent for the device.

Samsung Galaxy S8 The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to be unveiled in the spring of 2017.

Although not much had been communicated on the device, the phone maker had announced that the much expected would feature a new digital assistant powered

by Viv. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 This may hit the market in the new year that is if Samsung has not decided to quit the production of the Note series as a result of its failure with Note 7.

New IPads Apple is expected to refresh its iPads lineup in the New Year. Watchers said that the coming Ipad models will focus on the Pro line, with improvements to the Apple Pencil stylus and new screen sizes New iMac Also expected to come on board is the updated Apple iMac to feature new USB-C port. The release date has not been communicated yet. iPhone 8 With iPhone clocking 10 this year, industry observers foresaw Apple’s best. iPhone 8 is expected to be a major refresh of the product, featuring an all-glass design, an organic LED display for better images, with no home button and a new screen size among others.

Google-made Smart Watch The American multinational technology company, Google, is expected to launch its own watch as reported by Android Police. The circular smart watches will be Google’s opportunity to inject new interest into its wearable computers, a category that’s been dominated by the Apple Watch so far.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

44

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Tosin Clegg

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

VICTOR ADEMOFE

Music will Take My Life to Final Destination Victor Ademofe, a musicologist, whose first recording was done 18 years ago, recently had a recording collaboration with velvet-voice Tope Alabi. In this interview with Tosin Clegg, Ademofe talks about his philosophy of music

I

What inspires my music would say that music found me when I was about four years old. I had started to play, and sought after by many music promoters back in the days. It is obvious to me that it is the gift of God deposited in me.

Choosing the trumpet The trumpet is just one of the instruments I play. It expresses my thoughts better than I would have spoken.

The first song I ever played I actually can’t remember the first song I ever played, but I remember the first song I ever recorded for a man named Mr. Sogunro over 18 years ago.

Sharing the experience of being a musician My experience as a musician has been awesome being that I have had opportunity of meeting great people who have impacted on me in various ways. It has given me a platform to inspire the generation-next through my music, lifestyle and teachings.

The high and low points Honestly speaking, there hasn’t been a low point. There are times things that don’t work the way I had anticipated but I don’t allow what is not working to dictate my mood and happiness.

Being fulfilled as a musician Yes, I do to a large extent. Reason is, there is more to me than just music. Music is the fuel that will eventually take the vehicle of my life to its final destination.

There is more to music than just performance.

Branching to mainstream singing and performance I believe so strongly that every diligent disciple will someday become an apostle. I have worked with so many people over the years, from Lagbaja, Asa, Cobhams, Sunny Neji, Tee-mac, Mike Aremu, Wole Oni, Bez, Iyanya, Omawunmi, Timi Dakolo, Waje and many others. I have come to realise that who sent you is more important. The timing for my message is now.

My mentors I have many mentors in different areas- spiritual, economic, family, musical and academic mentors.

My principle is to love God and fellow man; hard work and devotion to my purpose. I will say categorically that Nathaniel Bassey has been a great influence on me since year 2000. I have

My inspiration is first and foremost from God. As a musicologist, I am equipped and trained to pick out sounds around me. By this, anything I hear can inspire me

been with him since then and the impact on me has been amazing.

About my new single My new single is actually a remix of the original which was released on May 20th 2012. It is one song in the album that I get a lot of comment, remark and appreciation for.

Why the collaboration with Tope Alabi I never met Tope Alabi before the idea of collaborating with her. I was inspired by the Spirit of God to feature her on this single and I went all out with a friend, Abiodun Akilo, who works with her on legal matters. That was how it all started.

Project/collaboration in the pipeline I am at the moment working on my second album project which is likely to feature some living legends of our time. The music industry is a fast growing one with its peculiarity, though too crowded because many people who don’t have business being there are now patrons. Regardless of the number, God is still spotting his own and giving them a message and a voice.

What inspires my music My inspiration is first and foremost from God. As a musicologist, I am equipped and trained to pick out sounds around me. By this, anything I hear can inspire me.

How I cope with the ladies as a young, skillful musician Coping with the opposite sex hasn’t been an issue all the way.

People are as close to you as you want them to be.

Ademofe

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

SHOWBIZFLAIR

MY STORY NAOMI PELLER GOES INTO MUSIC Night Club Patron, Shina Peller has announced on Instagram, his daughter’s interest in music, stating his excitement at this development.

Naomi, who is just 11, has since been enjoying huge media ovation as her career kicked-off with the support of some industry heavy-weights.Shehasbeen working tirelessly day and night in the recording studio in pursuit of her dream of becoming a singer. From an early age of four, Naomi would always sing around the house. Shina Peller is indeed a proud father and he is bent on giving his very best to pushing the daughter’s career.

SEPTIN911 ENTERTAINMENT TO HOLD AWARDS Respected entertainment firm, SEPTIN911 has made known that the first edition of her awards event will be staged this year. SEPTIN911 Entertainment Awards, SEA, is organised with the aim of appreciating and commending the hard works of deserving entertainers in the Nigeria entertainment industry. The founder and CEO of the entertainment firm, Adeyinka Oluwamayowa said: “Nigeria’s Entertainment Industry is blessed with talents who are not only making themselves proud, but making the nation proud and serving as good ambassadors of Nigeria, hence it is important we give them deserving accolades.

“SEA is associated with excellence and credibility, with utmost integrity that SEPTIN911 Entertainment is known for. SEA will bring to reality what other entertainment awards have not been able to achieve. The debut edition of SEA, themed ‘Be Extraordinary’ is for Nigerian entertainers, be they musicians, actors/actresses, models, entertainment media houses, entertainment writers, entertainment promoters, and more, who have in several ways inked their names in the Nigeria entertainment history book.

“To be part of the SEA, you have to be extraordinary. SEA is for the best and nothing less.”

I Grew Up Amidst Musical Instruments Jinmi Abduls is one of a growing army of singers in Nigeria. In this chat with Tosin Clegg, he talks about his music, career

W

ho is Jinmi Abduls?

I am Folarin Oluwafeyijinmi Abdulsalami, a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I’m currently studying International law at Babcock University.

When did music start for you?

KATE HENSHAW, SHAFY BELLOTURN UP FOR “KING INVINCIBLE” PREMIERE IMAX Cinema, Lekki, Lagos was hosted an army of stars last week at the premiere of Femi Adisa’s ‘King Invincible’ starring Tope Tedela, Gabriel Afolayan, Omowunmi Dada and many more.

The diverse selection of attendees at the screening which included Kate Henshaw, Shafy Bello, Segun Dada, Adunni Ade, Ifeanyi Ifan Michaels and a host of others gathered to enjoy the shockingly thick plot of the film, which is Adisa’s first outing as a movie maker. Managing the roles of director and producer, Adisa narrated to the audience and members of the press, the story of shooting the seemingly impossible project, threatened by bad weather and deadly reptiles.

Check out King Invincible at the cinema near you and enjoy the epic tale of love, betrayal and revenge.

JINMI ABDULS

I started music in 2008. From childhood, I grew up in the midst of many musical instruments and I always enjoyed learning and playing with them. I was about 10, at the time my elder brother had just started making beats and recording on his computer, so he helped. That was how my journey started.

Tell us about the kind of music you do?

I make modernised highlife. I specialise in love songs and though every now and then, I experiment with other genres. That’s what I prefer and love to make; it’s getting great attention and building me a large fan base. It’s unique music. I love to tell stories with my music.

Who inspires your music and who would you love to work with?

My music is self-inspired and my style is one that I created and have developed for a few years; it’s still developing in fact. I’d love to work with Cobhams, Olamide, Davido, Wizkid and many others.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself huge, somewhere at the top of the industry by God’s special grace. I’m putting in the work and I’m sure He’ll bless it.

Telemundo, Fox Life Premiere New Series on GOtv

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elemundo, Fox Life and E! Entertainment channels have lined-up new fascinating shows on GOtv this month. Fox Life kick-starts Season 1 of Star, the story of a tough-as-nails young woman, who came up in the foster care system and decides to take control of her destiny. Star tracks down her sister, Simone, and her Instagram bestie, Alexandra. Together, the trio journeys to Atlanta to become music superstars.

Star airs on Mondays from 9 January at 8pm.

Telemundo will begin airing The Son I Never Knew from Friday 23 January at 4:10pm. The Son I

Never Knew tells the story of a murder case that led to the unraveling of unexpected secrets. Clara’s last words uttered to her son Ignacio before they parted were “don’t be late”. The next time she would hear about him would be with the news of his death in a car accident during a live broadcast, which she narrated herself on the morning news.

Her perfect life was falling apart right in front of her eyes. What Clara never imagined was that her search would lead her to learn the true identities of those who surround her. Unexpected secrets will emerge, and the possible suspects will multiply in this tragic murder case in which anybody could

be guilty.

On E! Entertainment, Revenge Body with Khloe will debut on Monday January 23 at 7pm. Revenge Body is a series on the best way to get revenge when life lets one down. In this brand new series, Khloe Kardashian will be helping to motivate people who have been dumped, lost their job or are just facing some of life’s toughest challenges. Each week, Khloe will help two individuals to recreate themselves with her team of elite trainers, stylists and glam squad, resulting in a major transformation. GOtv subscribers will watch Khloe as she mentors these heartbroken individuals helping to put the past

behind them and get the ultimate revenge.

E! Entertainment will also beam live coverage of the stars walking the red carpet at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Described as one of the biggest fun events of awards season, the SAGs always attract major names from both TV and film.

E! will be reporting live from the red carpet with all the latest gossip and fashion updates as the stars arrive in their finery. As interest and anticipation builds to a fever pitch, E! will capture every fascinating moment, including exclusive interviews and expert predictions for the night ahead. It will air on Sunday 29 January at 3am.

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PERSPECTIVE Nigeria’s Deadly Monsters Femi Fani-Kayode

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hen you take everything away from a man or a people, including their humanity, their loved ones, their land, their possessions, their faith, their God, their selfrespect, their identity and their dignity and you put them and theirs under the fire and sword morning, day and night you cannot expect them not to voice their pain and not to scream and a shout.

And when the screaming and shouting goes unheeded, you cannot expect them not to hit back and attempt to break the yoke of torment, subjugation, tyranny and slavery.

No matter how powerful you are and how long you have been killing them and all that are theirs, one day they will rise up, pull you down from your giddy heights and cut open your throats.

If history teaches us nothing else, it teaches us this. The morale of the tale is as follows: mind how you insult and mock your victims and those that you treat with contempt, kill at will and hold in bondage because one day their time will come.

It is in this context that I view the shameful call by the Council of Imams for the arrest of the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Christian leaders in Southern Kaduna for asking the people to defend themselves from genocide.

The call is not only reckless and provocative but it is also self-seeking and dangerous.

They must stop this nonsense.

The facts are as follows. 808 Christians were butchered on Christmas Eve and Christmas day by Fulani militia in Southern Kaduna. Not one of the butchers and bloodthirsty murderers have been identified, apprehended, killed or arrested since then by our security forces.

The Christians of Nigeria are still in

mourning and the people of Southern Kaduna are still in trauma.

Yet, there have been no soothing words or expressions of regret, consolation or solidarity from any Sunni Muslim group in the country since the pogrom took place.

Only threats and insults from the Council of Imams. The only exceptions are the Shiite Muslims who have consistently expressed outrage about what is going on in Southern Kaduna and who have themselves also been subjected to mass murder and genocide in Kaduna state simply because they are not Sunnis.

You first butcher the flock and then you say that the shepherd dare not complain or attempt to protect those that are still left behind and alive. What type of monsters are these?

The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs made matters worse by saying that those that killed 808 Christians in Southern Kaduna on Christmas eve and Christmas day were “unknown elements”.

Really? This, perhaps, is the biggest insult of all. It is rather like saying that those that perpetuated the holocaust against the Jews which resulted on the cold-blooded murder of 6 million Jews were “unknown elements”.

It is insensitive and it is callous.

It represents the greatest perversion of truth and most bestial denial of decency and justice that Nigeria has witnessed in many years.

It is falsehood and perfidy, cooked up and served by a group of uncontrollable dark and evil men who believe that they can get away with anything and that they are a law into themselves.

Meanwhile, Miyetti Allah, an umbrella organisation that speaks for the Fulani herdsmen has said that the mass murder of Christians that took place in Southern Kaduna on Christmas eve and Christmas day were “reprisal” and “revenge” killings for the murder of their kith and kin by the

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

Christians of Southern Kaduna in 201. Need we look any further for who the culprits are?

In his own contribution, the Minister of Internal Affairs, General Dambazzau, who is himself a Fulani Muslim, has roundly condemned CAN’s call on the Federal Government to do its job and protect the people of Southern Kaduna and their counsel to the Christians to defend themselves where and when the government fails to do so. I ask again, what type of monsters are these?

And why has our President refused to call them to order? Is it because he shares the same faith and comes from the same region as them? Is it because the President himself is not only a Muslim and a Fulani man but also the Life Patron of Miyetti Allah?

Professor Wole Soyinka provides profound insight into the matter. He said, “Religion in the history of this continent has been a disastrous venture, a disaster in many zones and continues to be even so today. In this very nation in Southern Kaduna, over 800 souls were brutally extinguished suddenly. While the issue of grazing lands versus farming is unquestionably part of the conflict, it is equally undeniable that religious differences have played crucial role in the conflict. And yet some weeks before the latest outrage, the governor of that state was quoted to have claimed that peace was nigh since he had sent funds to the earlier wave of killers and they had agreed to end their killing spree.

“What astonished me was not the admission by the governor but the astonishment of others at such governmental response to atrocity. There was nothing new about it. Has appeasement to religious forces not become a Nigerian face of justice and equity? First, lethargy and then appeasement. Wasn’t Boko Haram’s Muhammed Yusuf not a beneficiary of appeasement in a similar fashion? Southern Kaduna has reminded us once again that the monster always lying waiting to pounce under the guise of religion. If you ask why General Buhari did not act fast enough when

these events take place, which degrade us as human beings, well it is perhaps he has been waiting for the governor of that state to send money to the killers first for them to stop the killing.”

Whatever the reasons are for the indifference of our President and the callousness and insensitivity of the Council of Imams, the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Miyetti Allah, Governor Nasir El Rufai, General Dambazzau and all those that support them, it would be wise for them to appreciate the fact that the patience of the rest of the country is fast running out and that they are set to provoke a chain of ugly events the end of which will not augur well for them or their cause.

Nothing reflects this better than the words of Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel, who is one of the most influential and powerful clerics in the country, when he said, “Since when has it become a crime for Christians to say they can defend themselves ? They said why should Christians say they could defend themselves, hold it! What stupid statement, why should Christians say they could defend themselves? So, they should watch for you to put a knife to their necks? You think we are dummies?

Again Darius Ishaku, the Governor of Taraba state, said, “‘The people of Southern Kaduna must wake up from their slumber and defend themselves. You can’t just lie down and allow yourselves to be annihilated by other groups. You have a constitutional right to self-defense and now is the time to use it. The government alone cannot do it.”

Clearly the drums of war and conflict are already beating in our nation and no-one takes a greater share of the blame for this than those identifiable forces that are encouraging, sponsoring, protecting and covertly supporting these barbaric and murderous Fulani militias and herdsmen. They are all, to the last man, nothing but monsters and beasts.

Economic Recovery: Harmonising Legislation and Executive Policy Olu Onemola

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n September, just two weeks after the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed that the Nigerian economy was in a recession, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, initiated an economic debate on the floor of the Senate to highlight the steps that the legislature and the executive needed to take to get Nigeria out of the recession.

This economic debate culminated in the formation of a 20-point economic plan, that highlighted both legislative interventions and executive policy actions that would help to stimulate the economy, boost investor confidence, and promote job creation across all sectors.

On Wednesday, December 14th, 2016, while presenting the 2017 Appropriations Bill to a Joint Session of the National Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari, keyed into several of the Senate and the National Assembly’s economic recommendations, calling the suggestions “useful” — while also emphasizing that many of the legislature’s economic proposals have been included in the Federal Government’s economic plan.

President Buhari, also embraced the ‘Made in Nigeria’ agenda — that started in the Senate, by stating that “The underlying philosophy of [Nigeria’s] Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is optimising the use of local content and empowering local businesses.” In this regard, the President committed to facilitating, enabling and supporting the economic activities of businesses owned by Nigerians.

What this means is that the Senate’s amendment of the 2007 Public Procurement Act to favour local manufacturers and ensure speedy completion of projects. The amendment is aimed at increasing the patronage of local content by empowering local companies to produce locally made goods and it will thereafter serve as a key component of the economic recovery plan.

Additionally, as the Senate economic plan

Adeosun highlighted the need for the harmonization of fiscal and monetary policies for SMES and investors in the real sector, President Buhari underscored the importance of the Senate’s recommendations — assuring the National Assembly that the “Fiscal, monetary and trade policies will be fully aligned and underpinned by the use of policy instruments to promote import substitution.”

The activities of the Niger-Delta Avengers have pushed Nigeria’s oil production far below our average 2.2 million barrel output capacity. As a result of this, the legislature’s economic plan stressed the need for dialogue and high-level engagement with the Niger Delta militants, as opposed to the overmilitarization of the zone. Buhari, in his budget address, acquiesced to the legislature’s recommendations, revealing that his government would continue the on-going engagement with

communities in the Niger Delta — in order to ensure that disruptions in Nigeria’s oil production are reduced. Nigeria’s oil sector remains its primary revenue generator. Since the 8th Senate was inaugurated, the Senate President has prioritized the passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIB). This Bill, which is currently at Committee Stage, is at its farthest stage in 17 years. President Buhari, in the budget address, stressed that the executive would also continue its ongoing reforms to enhance the efficiency of the management of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources. With both branches of government being in-sync on the need to reform the oil sector, Nigerians can be optimistic that the PIB governance framework legislation — which seeks to create an efficient and effective governing institution with clear and separate roles for the petroleum industry — can be signed, sealed and delivered in 2017.

Regarding infrastructure, over the past year, the Senate has passed a repeal and re-amendment of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act. This bill, once passed and signed into law will modernize Nigeria’s rail sector by opening it up to the private sector for participation.

Additionally, the Senate has also prioritized the passage of the Nigerian Ports and Habours Authority Act Amendment Bill; the National Road Fund Establishment Bill; the Amendment of the National Transport Commission Act of 2001; and the National Road Authority Bill.

The Senate’s economic plan also accentuated the need for targeted funding in areas like the construction and maintenance of Nigeria’s national highway networks and rail system; and the upgrade of Nigeria’s power generation, transmission and distribution capabilities.

President Buhari, acknowledging the legislature’s commitment to providing a legal framework for Nigeria’s transportation, infrastructure, and power generation and distribution sectors, played up the importance of this sector, saying that “In 2017, [Nigeria] will focus on the rapid development of infrastructure, especially rail, roads and power.” The President specifically stressed that the legislature and the executive’s efforts to fast-track the modernization of Nigeria’s railway system would remain a priority in the 2017 Budget.

With the aforementioned policies and legislative interventions at various stages of completion, Nigerians now wait for the National Assembly consideration and passage of the 2017 budget. However, with President Buhari, making a point to state that the cooperation between the executive and legislature is crucial to ending the economic crisis, it is encouraging to note that the cooperation in question transcends lip-service as both branches of government are now in-line and in-sync on key economic issues. Working together for the greater good and success remains their only option.

- Onemola is a Senior Legislative Aide to the President of the Senate.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

PERSPECTIVE

Digital Switch Over and the Challenges Ahead Set Top Box manufacturers plead for release of fund

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Stanley Nkwazema

ndeed, it has not been an easy journey for Nigeria leading to the Digital Switch on for terrestrial television which started in 2008 when Nigeria signed the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) protocol, literally meaning that we are bound to transit from Analogue broadcasting to digital, in line with the current global trend.

Interestingly, before the Jos and Abuja switch on which happened on the 22nd December 2016, several efforts were made to realise the migration without success.

Nigeria had to move the date from 2015 to June 2017, but with the trend and lack of commitment on the part of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), it will be a miracle if the date is realised.

The federal government in addition to Signal Distribution also identified Set Top Boxes (STB) as some of the most critical components of the transition even as 30 million STBs were estimated to be needed for the Nigerian market.

In its bid to encourage indigenous companies create jobs, the NBC licensed 13 indigenous firms to locally manufacture STB in the country after each paid N50 million totaling N650 million. In the government white paper, 10 million of the boxes were to be subsidized for identified household. As at today, only 1.2 million are already subsidized under the first phase which leaves a huge gap of 8.8 million and 28.8 million STBS for the success of DSO. The Jos launch took place in April 2016 while the Vice President Yemi Osibanjo anchored the Abuja launch in December.

It would be recalled that though the Abuja launch was a huge success despite initial hiccups associated with such projects due largely to the limited coverage area by the Signal Distributor Pinnacle and the lack of public education on the activation of the box. It was confirmed that the numbers on the boxes were clearly ignored and households are now finding it difficult getting to the signal distributor.

Again, it is worthy to note that while the activation and lack of signal are being bandied as an untenable excuse, the STBs have come out to explain that their job is to produce and hand over to the NBCs while CCNL and FreeTv handle the activation.

It is indeed very clear that the federal government through the Abuja launch had shown commitment through the support and attention by the Minister of Information and Culture to the digitization, with a

Lai Mohammed firm resolve and determination to meet the June 2017 deadline.

The hard work of the Set Top Box manufacturers and all stakeholders on the whole project may be an exercise in futility if the companies continue working on credit. The NBC has failed to release the N10 billion STB Guarantee Fund hitherto held by the EFCC. The EFCC released the fund after it was convinced that it was clearly meant to fast track the payment of the subsidy to the manufacturers working without any money being paid so far.

Before the Jos launch last April and owing to the urgency and need to meet the launch date, the NBC had authorised manufacturers to import STBs for that purpose. Again, to encourage the STB manufacturers overcome the common fears of lack of patronage, a situation that hampered previous attempts, the NBC decided to provide trade comfort to the manufacturers by way of Bank Guarantees to enable them manufacture and import.

Interestingly, 850,000 have so far been

produced and 450,000 delivered to Jos and Abuja while 400,000 are warehoused by the manufacturers for delivery.

Ironically, it is no longer news that while the NBC is sitting on over $150 million realised from the sale of the spectrum in 2015 and also the N10 billion released by the EFCC for the bank guarantee, no STB manufacturer has received any payments for the production and delivery nor has the NBC honoured its bank guarantee to the manufacturers despite the fact that the federal government has released the funds against the guarantee issued to manufacturers by the banks.

The DSO is a laudable project to enable Nigeria be at par with other members of the ITU, however, the dateline may be a mirage if the NBC fails to fulfil its payment obligations for the STBs ordered while the NBC and the Digiteam should adopt a national roll-out timetable for proper planning process.

The proper roll out timetable will no doubt enable state governments and

stakeholders, including signal distributors broadcast stations, content aggregators and the STBs to key in and plan accordingly.

The NBC needs to mandate the setting up of at least 2 in-country Digital TV testing centres which will be approved by Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

The local government areas that had earlier indicated interest should also key in for the remaining 8.8 million STBs proposed for subsidy since the boxes will be an added IGR for the states.

More worrisome is the fact that the NBC is yet to set a cut-off date for the subsidy so that any subsequent purchase will be based on market price even as the manufacturers would want necessary waivers on imported components and also granted special foreign exchange window for the components.

While showing its willingness to make the transition seamless, the STB manufacturers requires several components and parts that are made by different vendors and OEMs. Some of the parts, especially the Chipset which is the core of the STB, need a lead timeline of between 12 to 16 weeks from the order to delivery. The Manufacturer would need to still integrate and test before shipping out One thing that is lacking is an aggressive enlightenment by the NBC. At the initial stage, government stands to create over 6500 jobs through the manufacturers while Nigeria will also be the first country in West and Central Africa to create Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Chipset industry. There will also be benefit in terms of technology transfer for chipset, design and PCB implementations which opens up ancillary manufacturing opportunities for other electronic devices and possible creation of AAA batteries manufacturing opportunities due to the massive quantities of batteries needed by the STB remote control. On funding for the projects, the federal government had last year approved the sale of spectrum to kick-start the process which was about 25 per cent of the sales. Therefore, it may not be out of place if government raises more funds from the sale of the remaining or part of the 75 per cent of the spectrum.

Pursuing the option of local and the state governments financing the purchase of the STBs should also be pursued with more interest. If the federal government delays further, the 2017 switch off date will certainly be impossible. Plans by neighbouring countries to roll out will further put Nigeria in a very tight corner.

Individuals as Visionary Leaders and Agents of Positive Change

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ladly, we have come to the end of another year. A time for stocktaking, and especially to say, Thank You to our Creator for the opportunity of seeing the end of another year. Many of us have good reasons to cheer about, others barely survived the vagaries of a tortuous year, yet others are thankful, but very eager to see the end of a difficult/horrible year. In all circumstances, we all have cause to thank God, for it could have been worse.

Among countries touched by the evil hands of terrorism/conflict/violence in the outgoing year, were Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan, Mali, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Somalia, France, Germany, and Turkey to name but a few. But the same year also produced a new Secretary General for the United Nations, the African Union failed to elect its new chair, while elections in the United States, Ghana and The Gambia produced surprising results. The jury is still out on the election result in The Gambia, but the growing trend of opposition parties wresting power from powerful incumbent

governments across the globe should be a welcome development for believers in democracy, with all the flaws of that system.

Similarly, there is Brexit and its unravelling aftermaths. Also, that the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize went to Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos who may not be surprised, given his tireless efforts to bring the more than 50-year-long civil war in that country to an end. But for art enthusiasts, at least, the Nobel Literature Prize going to American musician Paul Dylan is certainly a redefinition of the boundaries of literature. Add that to the unpredictable consequences of migration, global economic hardships, political unpredictability and humanitarian crises, events of 2016 will surely reverberate into the coming 2017 and beyond. These have left the world at a cross-road or on a difficult patch and in dire need of visionary leadership which can only be provided by visionary agents of positive change across the continents.

By leaders here, we mean, everyone, the people, the citizens. We are all leaders in our own rights.

It is no longer sufficient to sit and complain, or to point accusing fingers at

others. We must all from our small corners, rise up to our responsibilities. If we want a positive change, we must act and work for it to happen.

In this regard, I want us to borrow a leaf from Rwanda’s experience through the perspectives of my new friend, Juvenal Turatsinze. Juvenal, a Rwandan himself, titles one of his books, “The Formula for Accelerated Change,” which draws inspiration from the works of the great Bahamian award-winning author, evangelist and public speaker, Myles Monroe, who died in a plane crash with his wife in September 2014. In a nutshell, Juvenal’s formula for accelerated (positive) change (C=VxP2xAxP), is about “Visionary People Together in Action to achieve (positive) Change over Time”.

Rwanda has used, and is still using this formula, not only to exit poverty to prosperity, But also to transform from a near failed State that experienced one of the world’s greatest tragedies (the 1994 ethnic genocide that killed more than 800,000 people) to become one of the emerging countries with the highest economic growth rates and best socio-economic indicators in the world

today.

That rapid or dramatic national change is a product of a combination of four key ingredients (Vision, People, Action and Time), all working together for positive results. If Rwanda can do it, so can any other nation, which is ready to translate hope to reality. Curiously and more importantly, the same formula can also work for an individual, family, group, community or a corporate entity.

We all desire positive changes in our lives and in this Special Season, I wish to remind us that it is the accumulation of positive changes we make in our lives as individuals that will add up to the positive changes in our homes, society/community, corporate world, nation and the world at large. We must all play our parts as individuals in order to enjoy the spin off from our collective efforts.

Let us bring Vision to our individual leadership role, working together to take Action/s over Time as Change Agents, to achieve the Positive Changes we all desire and deserve.

Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year (2017) to you all in advance!

48

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

PERSPECTIVE

Another Initiative against Economic Recession Bamikole Omisore

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ast Monday, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki announced the “Made-in-Nigeria Challenge” - an offshoot of his campaign to stimulate public appeal for Nigerian made goods.

Basically, the aim of the “Challenge” is to encourage local manufacturers by giving them the necessary incentive and support to grow and compete with their foreign counterparts.

The campaign encourages Nigerians to send in a 45-second to three-minute video promo of a product the country is currently importing but which they can produce with 100 percent local content. For instance, a local manufacturer of toothpick, can tomato paste, fruit juice, textile, local technological implement or products which add value to agricultural products, just to mention a few, may enter for the Challenge.

After receipt of the entries, a group of experts and industry operators put together by the Senate President will review the videos and verify the claims therein. The shortlisted manufacturers will be invited to Abuja to showcase their products at a Made-In-Nigeria fair that will be co-hosted by civil society groups and some other development partners. This fair will also have in attendance guests from different government agencies and investors who will be able to address the participants on how to overcome the challenges they might be facing in successfully running Small and medium Scale Enterprises. The diplomatic community and the local and the foreign media like - African Voices on CNN, CNBC will also be invited to the event.

Earlier in 2016, Senator Saraki pledged to support legislations that would make it mandatory for the government to patronise local products. This promise made during his attendance at the Made in Aba Trade Fair resulted in the passage of the amendments to the Public Procurement Act with a provision which compels Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to give preference to local manufacturers and suppliers in all their procurements.The New Bill also increased mobilisation fee to contractors as well as shorten the number of days for a procurement process.

Also, while speaking with representatives of Manufacturers of local products based in Aba led by Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe in his office last February, Saraki remarked

Osinbajo that some local products were more sophisticated than imported ones; hence every effort must be made to ensure such goods are patronised and that their manufacturers break even. ”This is the only way we can create jobs, solve the problem of unemployment and stop the growing army of aggrieved youths who pose danger to society. We can do it.

We have the population which translates to a huge ready market. This is how we can genuinely help our people,The chairmen of our relevant committees are being put on notice to ensure that they focus their oversight on these areas. We must make sure that government agencies patronise Nigerian manufacturers. For example, the armed forces should be purchasing and using foot wears produced in the various industries in Aba and other places.”, he said.

After Saraki’s appeal to government agencies to patronise local products, the army placed an order for 50 thousand pairs of Made-in-Aba boots. Also, the army ordered for armoured security vehicles from Innoson Manufacturing Vehicles (IMV) based in Nnewi. In the same vein, the Nigerian Air Force now has an agreement with the IMV for the refurbishing of its aircraft.

Saraki is not relenting in his determination to promote local industries. He in fact desires that Nigerians take over the ownership of the advocacy campaign. The present Challenge is aimed at engaging and encouraging Nigerians who have an eye for local

production - goods that are ready substitute for imported ones and that can add value to the economy - in all spheres.

In this charge, in December 2016, Saraki met with Mr Sam Hart, leader of the delegation of Made-in-Aba Manufacturers and also with Mr Velcroz, a local shoemaker.

And for his steadfastness in promoting Nigerian goods, the Senate President was named #MadeInAba/#MadeInNigeria Ambassador.

The senate president is interested in connecting more local manufacturers from Osogbo, Kabba, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Mbaise and many other cities across the country with potential investors and government agencies.

It remains a strange phenomenon that Nigerians are crazy about foreign goods when the country is blessed with an array of raw materials that can be converted to finished products The local Adire and Kampala can replace the school uniforms of pupils in primary and. Secondary schools. There are different species of trees which makes it alarming that the country is importing furniture, matches and toothpick. Again, we import starch when we have cassava in loads; we import tomato paste when our lands are good for growing tomato. And we import wooden doors when we have Iroko, Mahogany, Ogbeche trees all over the country that can be used for the production of quality wooden doors. And these examples are endless.

Now, with the official launch of the “Made-in-Nigeria Challenge”, which is a part of the Senate’s strategy to bring Nigerians into the business of law making, more efforts will be channelled into ensuring that government agencies comply with the newly amended Public Procurement Act, 2016. The Made-in-Nigeria campaign will also make government agencies understand the Senate’s resolve to ensure compliance with the Public Procurement Act. In this direction, the Senate will soon create a desk dedicated to making sure that the procurement law is respected by all and that Nigerians can always contact this desk if they feel they have been unfairly treated by any government agency in its procurement process.

Also, the newly inaugurated Legislative Compliance Committee, which is the first of its kind in the history of the legislature in Nigeria, was created to ensure all government agencies comply with the law and other resolutions of the Senate in an attempt

to jumpstart the economy.

Taking the campaign beyond the shores of Nigeria, the senate is poised to engage with representatives of the European Union and other development agencies and partness to find ways of giving Nigerian farm produce access to European and UK markets.

In a time when nations are moving towards self-reliance and total economic dependence – as evident in Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan - Saraki’s “Made-in-Nigeria” campaign is the antidote to Nigeria’s economic nightmare. It is also pertinent to mention that six months after the Senate passed the law to compel patronage for indigenous manufacturers, outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama last month signed a policy which compels American armed forces to purchase foot wears for her men and officers from only American companies located within American shores.

Great,minds think alike.

There is no gainsaying the fact that when Nigerians buy local goods, there will be a multiplier effect on the economy. The local industries will grow, increase their capacities and employ more people; thereby cutting down Nigeria’s high unemployment figure. This will increase our Gross Domestic Product, imbue international confidence in the economy, re-energise the local currency, encourage foreign investment in the economy and generally improve the standard of living of citizens.

To add to this, the upper legislative chamber is aware that infrastructure is a key part to promoting local industries; hence it has amended the Railway Act to make room for private investors to invest in the sector. Railways are essential not only for the movement of people, but also for the conveyance of goods to and from different parts of the country. The senate under Saraki is also looking at making viable legislations for other key infrastructure such as power to give local industries the elixir of growth and competitiveness.

Already, Nigerians regardless of political divide or soical class have embraced the initiative and it is expected to help change the orientation of Nigerians. In fact, this is a campaign that may strengthen the level of patriotism and citizens’ loyalty to the country.

– Omisore is Special Assistant to the Senate President on New Media.

Obi Ezegwuna Il of Issele Uku Receives Staff of Office

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elta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has commended the people of Issele Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state for ensuring peace since the demise of their last king in 2014 till date.

He said peace was necessary to enable his administration bring in adequate development to the area.

Okowa stated this recently, while presenting the Staff of Office to the newly crowned Obi of Issele uku, His Royal Majesty, Obi Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna.

He emphasised that there was no way a community without peace can attract meaningful development to the area.

The governor called on those having disputes in the community to use the opportunity of the coronation, to settle them in the interest of the people and for meaningful development.

Okowa, while congratulating Obi Ezeagwuna II, on his ascension to the throne of his forefather, urged him to rule his people with the fear of God, noting that Issele Uku people had been blessed to have kings who listen to them.

He reminded the young monarch that there will always be challenges but at such times, he must listen to his people, consult widely and the people will always be proud of him.

The governor thanked the people of Issele Uku for their support to his government and promised to work harder to fulfill his campaign promises

Obi Ezegwuna Il of Issele Uku

and bring the much needed dividend of democracy to the peace loving people of Issele Oligbo Kingdom and to all Deltans in general.

At the occasion, Prof Isikwe Adigwe presented a paper on ‘’Odin nma Oligbo Di Anyi na Ka’’ in which he reminded all sons and daughters of Issele Uku that the peace and progress of the town lies with them, while he reiterated that all hands must be on deck to take the town to a higher level In response, Obi Nduka Ezeagwuna,

Obi Ezegwuna Il of Issele Uku

thanked the governor for being part of the ceremony and also thanked the people and the representatives of the Oba of Benin Oba Ewuare II who during his one week stay in Benin gave him an eye opening orientation towards assuming office.

He thanked the Obi of Onitsha for finding time to attend. He also thanked the good people of Issele uku including those in diaspora for joining hands to make his coronation a huge success.

The following day, the young monarch performed his first official outing by

giving Awards to deserving sons and daughters of Issele Uku who contributed immensely both in the past and present to the development of his kingdom.

A statement signed by Chas Nwam, said at the end of his first official assignment and thanks giving service, the monarch was presented with a 2016 Infinity SUV jeep as his official vehicle by one of the awardees, Chief Ike Odoe and the twenty eight days traditional rites leading to the coronation was brought to a close.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

49 WITH

MARITIME BITS

JOHN IWORI 08057763164

Special Report

2017: Individuals and Organisations to Watch in the Maritime Industry (2)

With the advent of a New Year, John Iwori writes that there are some individuals and organisations that those interested in the maritime sector of the economy need to watch closely in 2017.This is against the backdrop of the downturn in the economy which has compelled the President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration to aggressively explore alternative sources of revenue beyond the oil and gas industry.

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Starzs Group here are many firms in the Starzs Group owned by a Port Harcourt based marine engineer and President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Mr. Greg Ogbeifun.

However, Starzs Marine and Engineering Limited stands out as a sore thumb in the mouth. In spite of a recent sledge hammer applied by Nigeria’s designated authority (DA), the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which resulted in the closure of its operational base in Onne, Rivers State recently, the company has over the years made notable strides in the shipping sector of the economy as well as the oil and gas industry.

Its goal of procuring more vessels and expand its dry dock facility which remains the only one owned by a private investor in Nigeria is on course. Apart from providing direct and indirect employment to hundreds of Nigerians who depend on the various operations of the firms in the group for their livelihood, Ogbeifun has continued to become a shining example that the Nigerian ship owner can stand shoulder-to-shoulder to its foreign counterpart and make it if he or she gets the enabling environment to operate in the highly risky but very profitable shipping business.

Ogbeifun has won awards and accolades within and outside Nigeria for his numerous achievements. The most recent was the Manager of the Year award given to him at the just concluded Summit of Leaders, Oxford 2016 under the auspices of the Europe Business Assembly, The Academy Union, Oxford, ICL in London. For these and many more, the Starzs Group is one of the organisations to watch in the maritime industry in 2017. In the same vein, for his roles as the helmsman of SOAN and his successful foray into the oil and gas industry, Ogbeifun also remains one of the individuals to watch in the maritime industry this year.

Colonel Hameed Ali

The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Colonel Hameed Ali (retired) is one of the individuals to watch in 2017.

The retired military officer who was the former military administrator of Kaduna State took over the reins of administration from the money spinning government agency shortly after the former CGC, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi resigned from office in August 2015 after spending over four years in the saddle. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has three statutory functions, namely, revenue collection, trade facilitation, as well as the prevention and suppression of smuggling.

Following the directive of President Buhari that all revenue generating government agencies should be probe, the searchlight shall be on Ali and NCS in the months ahead. Ali was quoted saying in his first public outing shortly after resuming office that corrupt Customs officer “will not go scot-free”. Continuing, he said: “The minimum jail term for corrupt officers is five years, but I will make sure that any officer found to be corrupt gets the maximum jail term of 10 years.”

It must be noted that in spite of Ali’s promise to jail any NCS personnel caught taking bribe, that has not yielded the desired results as reports of officers collecting bribe before carrying out their roles and

Yerima

Bello

responsibilities are still rife.

The promise to jail erring officers aside, Ali should eliminate human contact which in most cases gives room for the collection of bribe. He must ensure that the scanners in the seaports, airports and international land borders which cost the federal government billions of naira to procure through three scanner service providers (SSPs) work properly. He should put in place the single window system which some less endowed countries in Africa are already using to clear goods in their seaports. How he carries out the reforms and revenue generation mandate given to him by Buhari makes Ali one of the individuals to watch in 2017.

The Senate and the House of Representatives Committees on Marine Transport are some of the institutions to watch in the maritime industry this year. They stand out as the ones which actions or inactions have the greatest impact on the maritime sector of the Nigerian economy. All eyes will be on Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport has Senator Ahmed Sani. This is also applicable to his counterpart in the House of Representatives. There is unanimity among stakeholders in the maritime industry that these two committees remain one of the institutions to watch this year.

These committees cannot be ignored in the scheme of things in the maritime sector of the economy as their oversight functions can go a long way to affect positively or negatively the parasatals under their jurisdictions. The helmsmen of the parasatals are not only summoned to the National Assembly but also questioned on several issues, particularly on the discharge of their statutory roles and responsibilities. When and how they submit their annual budgets and expenditures had often become a subject of legislative scrutiny. They are often grilled for not submitting their budgets on time. Again, they were also grilled many times for their revenues and expenditures.

Those who choose to ignore these committees and the chairmen do so at their own peril as they can mess up any helmsman who did not know his or her onions. This explained why some industry players told THISDAY that those interested in the maritime industry in 2017 must watch the activities of these committees closely. Will these committees ensure the passage of the Port and Habour Bill and other vital bills that will help Nigeria harness her huge potentials in the maritime industry or will it continue with the old way of doing things?

This is a pertinent question on the lips of critical players. Though some stakeholders have queried the way and manner the committees carry out their oversight functions, especially in the late approval of parasatals budgets, they agreed that heads of government agencies now know that they must prepare themselves thoroughly before appearing before the committees, thereby keeping them on their toes.

MAN, Oron

There are many maritime training institutions in Nigeria. However, MAN, Oron remains the only one recognized by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The agent of death has visited the academy taking the lives of the rector in quick succession. First, it was Dr. Joshua Okpo who died in mysterious circumstances in 2015 in Abuja. Dr. Anthony Isiodu was appointed in acting capacity to replace Okpo. But in another circumstance that is still the subject of talks in certain quarters, Isiodu also lost his life in Abuja after a brief illness.

Though the Registrar of the academy, Mr. Mkpandiok Mkpandiok has since taken over as the acting rector, the sudden death of Okpo and Isiodu in Abuja has continued to raise eyebrows. Many want to know what will become the fate of Mkpandiok in the months ahead. Will he be confirm as the substantive rector or will someone else be appointed to take over from him and if so, who? Allegations and counter allegations of how much he has he has been given by NIMASA to run the academy and how the money was spent were rife. Already, Amaechi has directed that an audit of the premier training school should be carried out. What will be the outcome of the report? What will be the reaction of the host community? Will it whole heartedly accept anyone who is not an indigene of Oron as the new rector of the premier maritime training institution? Will MAN, Oron get a degree awarding status this year? These and many more will make MAN, Oron to remain one of the organisations to watch in 2017.

Senate and House Committees on Marine Transport

Economic Regulator

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) which has a lawyer, Mr. Hassan Bello as the Executive Secretary/CEO is one of the individuals to watch this year. The council has

not hidden its intention to transform into the National Transport Commission (NTC) whenever the NTC Bill presently before the National Assembly is passed into law. The NPA has denied it is interested in becoming the substantive economic regulator in the nation’s seaports. It is also interested in becoming the NTC. These and many more will play out this year. How will the council handle the arbitrary increase in the prices of services rendered by the terminal operators? Will it muster the political will to apply the hammer whenever any of the concessionaires fail in their duties? How will the NSC go in the threat to withdraw the license of any inland container depot (ICD) promoter who did not develop their facilities according to the stipulated time?

In spite of his achievements, how far will the subtle campaign to relieve Bello of his appointment go this year? Will those who did not want Bello as the helmsman in NSC sheath their swords or intensify their lobby in the corridors of power? Will the council continue to protect interest of shippers?

Among other things, these issues will make the NSC to remain one of the organisations to watch in the maritime industry this year.

Slok Shipping Limited There are many shipping firms in the country. While some are owned by Nigerians, some others are owned by foreigners.

However, it is rare to find a brand new ship wholly owned by Nigerians in the Nigerian territorial waters and beyond. This is understandable. It does not only take a lot of resources to own a vessel and but much more to maintain it and make it ready to undertake any job anywhere on the globe.

The ship owner must not only ensure bunkering but also render his obligations to the crew on board wherever they are.

Indeed, the enormous resources involved besides the technicality and complexity of running a shipping firm is not for the lily livered. These are the reasons why most of the vessels owned by Nigerians are either old or used ones popularly called tokunbo in the local parlance.

The management of Slok Shipping Limited owned by the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has however changed the story. The firm was top on the list of the firms that have been acquiring brand new vessels in recent times. THISDAY checks revealed that the firm has continued to procure new vessels from Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere.

From the way it has been it is executing its acquisition drive, it is like procuring a refurbished vessel is a taboo.

The former governor has succeeded in telling whoever that cares to listen that some Nigerians has what it takes to compete with their foreign counterparts in the shipping world. Some of the vessels procured by Slok Shipping include a platform supply vessel (PSV). The ships were built

by NGS Tech Shipyard, Malaysia. Apart from making a loud statement that its entry into the maritime industry about a decade ago was not a fluke, THISDAY checks revealed that Kalu’s decision to place order for 8 new vessels at a time was meant to intimidate his competitors and announce his foray into the highly risky but very lucrative shipping sector of the economy with a bang. For its bold initiatives and aggressive drive in the maritime industry, among other things, Slok Shipping Limited remains one of the companies to watch in 2017.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •January 14, 2017

PEOPLE Modupe Sasore

As Its President, I Breathe Rotary Club Day Her club, Lagos Rotary Club, was established in 1961 by the likes of late Justice Ademola and late Mobolaji Bank-Anthony. This means Gladys Modupe Sasore, lawyer, arbitrator, former presidential adviser and current Rotary president, carries with her a burden of history. Sasore lives, breathes and sleeps ‘Rotariainsm’. Six months to the end of her tenure, Sasore tells Samuel Ajayi how the journey has been, the projects her Club is undertaking, why Rotary is all about service and how, despite her busy schedule as a lawyer and Rotarian, she still finds time to be with her eight grandchildren

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Rotary is Her Life

Mrs. Gladys Modupe Sasore, the president of the Lagos Rotary Club, the nation’s number one rotary club is a grandmother. Is that news?

Probably not. She also loves her grandchildren. Which grandmother won’t love her grandchildren.

But Sasore has a passion: serving humanity.

She likes giving to those who do not have; providing for the needy and helping those who are less privileged. She says one cannot be a Rotarian if he or she is not ready to serve humanity and also be ready to give his her time.

“Rotary International surely understands what this entails,” Sasore declares as this reporter engages her at the Lagos Motor Boat Club, Ikoyi, Lagos, venue of her club’s weekly meeting. It is a serene environment as the Lagos lagoon looms just few meters where she is sitting. The holing sound of the water as well as the oscillating boats dancing to the water waves add to the beauty of nature as provided by the venue. And the cooling breeze compliments an obviously exhilarating afternoon. To cap it all, Mrs. Sasore herself is in her best elements as she responds to salutations from her club members as they arrive for the meeting.

Rotary is about Giving She does admit that what has kept her going is the fact that she has very committed Rotarians around her who are ready to sacrifice so much for the success of the club.

And this manifested in a recent trip the club embarked upon to a village called Ita Marun which is almost a two and half hour drive from Victoria Island. The journey to that village, Sasore admits, was a sacrifice on its own since it took the whole day. The question is this: how did the Lagos Rotary Club locate that village in the first place?

“Ita Marun is a community which someone talked to us about among our fellow Rotarians. We were made to understand that it is a community requires support for the people and when we got there, and since we serve humanity and we have what is called economic and community development, we decided to go there,” Sasore explains.

Giving an insight into what her Club has been able to achieve in the community, Sasore says the village falls on the axis of the Lagos Free Trade Zone and the village actually overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. However, the village lacks the basic things of life: no water, no electricity and the personal hygiene of the people of the village is nothing to write home about.

“We first went there in year 2014. We first went there to change their orientation by teaching them basic hygiene and we even joined them in sweeping their environment and even built an incinerator for them to burn their refuse.”

Sasore says the club also noticed that women of the village were using their bare hands to extract palm fruits from their kernel. The Club then decided to install a palm kernel extracting machine for them.

It was after this, according to Sasore that the Club started the water project which is almost ready for commissioning.

Sasore

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JANUARY 14, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PEOPLE My Law Practice May Suffer, I Derive Joy from Rotary Activities Six Months to Go, Much to be Done…

Sasore has been office for six months. And she will be there for another six months as the Rotary Year usually starts in July. While she admits that it has been an exciting six months, the beat just has to go on for the next six months. According to her, she is neither relenting nor counting the days to when she will leave office.

“We are not even through with Ita Marun,” she enthuses. “We want to give the women there micro-credit which will be interest-free. We have talked to the women and this is what we have done for other women in other areas. What we only told them is that they should endeavour to pay when due but it will be interest free. We are also looking into solar-powered light for them. The village has been without light for eight years. So we are talking to those who are into solar energy to partner with us and work has started on this. Before the end of my tenure, we will put light in that village.”

Funding these projects could be a challenge. But Sasore does not see that way. To her, Rotary is a service organisation and she explains that these projects are funded by what members are able to put together and what those she calls ‘friends of Rotary’ are able to put together for them to fund their projects so they could be able to touch lives.

Rotary Not the Rich Alone One thing Lagos Rotary Club under Sasore has been able to achieve this Rotary Year was bringing students from diverse economic backgrounds together during the annual Basic Education and Literacy Month last September. Students whose parents were not economically endowed were taken down to Dowen College, Lekki, where they interacted with students with privileged parental backgrounds. Sasore says that remains one event that gave her a lot of internal joy and satisfaction.

“In observing that month in our rotary calendar, we just felt we should bring pupils from less privileged schools to privileged one, which was Dowen College. We also got a First Class graduate to come and talk to them. I was personally happy because the students were able to mingle freely.”

A Lawyer’s Job and her Passion…

Sasore remains a lawyer. In fact, she is into arbitration and resolutions. But she feels what Rotary demands-time, talent and treasure-must be given if one really wants to be a Rotarian in body and spirit. Sasore says the Club has a number of seasoned professionals who are always supportive of anyone who is president at any time. Hence, while she runs the Club as president, her profession is always there.

“Yes, I am a lawyer by profession,” Sasore says. “I am also an arbitrator and so my concentration is arbitration and mediation.

I have so far been able to cope and manage but Rotary works no doubt affects my law practice. You need to create time, work late, sleep late and wake up early. For the one year that you are president, you have to breathe Rotary day and night. I believe that that is what Rotary International considered before limiting the term to just one year.

Even the international presidency of Rotary is also one year and another person comes in.”

‘For Public Service, Let’s Adopt Rotary’s Four-way Test’ Sasore is not new to public service. She was at a time presidential adviser during the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. A chat like this cannot be said to be complete without asking this woman her impression about the quality of public service as someone who has been there before.

“We are supposed to serve alone and serve it well. But this depends on individuals to serve your nation and truthfully serve it. The kind of things we read about are mind-bugling. I think we should adopt the four-way test of Rotary which should guide us when serving our nation. In whatever we do, we should ask: is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it serve the nation right? In Rotary, this is vocational service month when we talk about skills and ethical standards which the basis of Rotary.”

To Sasore, there is a meeting point

Sasore between the core philosophy of Rotary and what should be the guiding principles of public service anywhere in the world. She says Rotary belongs to all races, religions and tribes. That is why it does not discriminate.

The Swimming Granny…

Sasore, despite being so committed to Rotary, has her private life. While she still looks agile, especially in her trousers and sneakers, (just the way she decked when going to Ita Marun late last year), many might not know that she is not just a mother, but grandmother to eight beautiful youngsters.

And she does not joke with them. No matter how much time Rotary takes from her, she still creates time for them.

“I spare some time to be with them. Some are in Nigeria, while some are outside the

country,” the Rotary leader explains.

And one thing she likes doing is that she must always swim at least once in a week. It is her own way of keeping fit and strong.

“I make sure I swim every week. It is my own way of keeping fit and healthy. Nothing can prevent me from doing that.”

Rotary is Service…My Kids Should Join!

She says she will always encourage her children and even grandchildren to join Rotary because it is about giving service to humanity. To her, it gives the opportunity to help the less privileged members of the society to have sense of belonging.

“See, we empower people and they are happy. We give them loans that are interest-free and they use them to build their economic lives. Last week, we did screening

for diabetes and hypertension and we were able to detect those who needed urgent medical attention. In fact, we delayed two of them and we sent them to hospital because we felt they needed to be attended to quickly; even unknown to they themselves.

We also have a programme called READ. We are doing that in collaboration with Kuramo Publishing.”

“If you are able to read, you are not an illiterate and that is what we want to plant in everybody’s mind.”

To Sasore, it is part of Rotary’s service and even if her love for her grandkids remains strong as anything, that of Rotary remains evergreen. Even after her tenure in office would have lapsed by the end of June this year.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 14, 2017

POLITY

Ita Giwa’s Seagull Band Shines at Carnival Calabar Bayo Adeoye

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or the first time in the history of the Carnival Calabar, Senator Florence Ita Giwa’s Seagull Band won all the categories as a result of intensive advance preparation, rehearsals and research which will forever be a reference point.

However, Still basking in the euphoria of the triumph, victorious Seagull Band is set to storm Lagos in March to re-enact the

spectacular performance and the perfect interpretation of the Climate Change theme that earned it accolades and made it the ultimate winner of the keenly contested carnival.

The planned Lagos show is exclusively meant to promote the green revolution, a major component of the Climate Change which has been the thrust of the United Nations campaign for a safe global environment.

Over the years, the former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters has been in the forefront of sensistising the people

and organisations on the need to encourage afforestation and to demonstrate that the continent can provide solution to Climate Change.

Senator Ita Giwa is reputable for bringing in locals, internationals and institutions to her events and the Seagull Carnival show in Lagos won’t be an exception hence it will interest companies, captains of industries, government parastatals to tap into the show and be a part of it.

It is worthy to emphasize again that Ita Giwa’s Seagull band in the history of the

carnival won all the categories ranging from Afforestation, deforestation, Ozone Layers and others with its unique dance performance, flamboyant costumes, choreography and a dynamic interpretation of the theme.

Development Bank: A Cliché or Reality T. Obrimah

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he Federal Ministry of Finance through a news release dated January 12, 2016, confirmed the completion of the recruitment exercise for the Executive Management team of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), and has applied for its operational license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The DBN is expected to have access to US$1.3bn (N396.5 billion) jointly provided by the World Bank (WB), KfW (German Development Bank), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Agence Française de Development (French Development Agency). The Bank is also finalizing agreements with the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The DBN, will be providing loans to all sectors of the economy including, manufacturing, services and other industries not currently served by existing development banks thereby filling an important gap in the provision of finance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).The DBN per the press release, will lend wholesale to Microfinance Banks which will on-lend medium to long-term loans to MSMEs. The MSMEs contribute about 48.47 percent to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of Nigeria but have access to only about 5 percent of

lending from Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).

So, what is a developmental bank?

According to Pooja Solanki: A Development bank is essentially a multi-purpose financial institution with a broad development outlook. A development bank may, thus, be defined as a financial institution concerned with providing all types of financial assistance (medium as well as long term) to business units, in the form of loans, underwriting, investment and guarantee operations, and promotional activities — economic development in general, and industrial development. It is therefore a development- oriented bank. The main functions of Development banks would include: A specialised financial institution, Providing medium and long term finance to business units, Unlike commercial banks, it does not accept deposits from the public, It is not just a term-lending institution. It is a multi-purpose financial institution, A developmentoriented bank. Its primary objective is to promote economic development by promoting investment and entrepreneurial activity in a developing economy. It encourages new and small entrepreneurs and seeks balanced regional growth, It provides financial assistance not only to the private sector but also to public sector undertakings, It aims at promoting the saving and investment habit in the community.

The DBN is a good development and will

PHOTO NEWS

no doubt create new employment in the financial sector (just that I was left out) as well as create expansion of financial services to some previously unbanked areas.

I do hope that implementation is well planned and that it does not become politicised like every other institution in the country, that only competent hands are hired to manage the Bank. Excellent implementation will improve the economic environment at the micro-business level and impact standard of living.

Ita Giwa

L-R: Ike Okoro; Christy Ray Okoye; Paul and Stephanie; Ray Okoye; and Ngozi Ike Okoro, after the wedding ceremony of Paul and Stephanie... recently

L-R; Executive Director, Corporate Commercial Service, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr. Jonathan Tobin; Acting Managing Director (BOI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju; Acting Director General (NAFDAC), Mrs. Yetunde Oni; and Director of Special Duties (NAFDAC), Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, at the signing of MOU between BOI and NAFDAC in Lagos...yesterday PHOTO SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: CEO, Alchymia, Davide Doro; Admiral Joe Aikhomu (Rtd), Executive Director, IL Bagno, Adetola Owolabi; CEO, IL Bagno, Michael Owolabi; and CEO, Alter Ego Project Group, Julia D. Lantieri, at the launch of Africa’s first ever Alter Ego Private Atelier in Abuja recently

L-R: Wife of Pastor, The Apostolic Church, Ijesha, Mrs. Mary Akwala; Rullion Capacity Building participant, Happiness John; and Coordinator, Rullion Capacity Builders, Ms Oluwatoyin Egedi, at the Rullion Capacity Builders Skills Acquisition Training in Lagos recently

L-R; CEO, TV4 AFRICA, Bayo Adebiyi; winner of ST Yoruba Watch and Win Promo, Mrs. Raji Ayobami; Babatunde Adewale; and StarTimes Head of Public Relations, Israel Bolaji, during the prize presentation ceremony for the fresh winners of ST Yoruba Watch & Win Promo in Lagos ...recently

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

NEWS

In Brief

FMC Owerri Resident Doctors Begin Strike

TheAssociationofResidentDoctors(ARD),FederalMedicalCentre(FMC), Owerrichapter,anaffiliateoftheNationalAssociationofResidentDoctors (NARD)haveembarkedonstrikeforwhattheydescribedas“unjusttreatment” byboththeFederalMinistryofHealthandthemanagementofFMC,Owerri.

Addressing a press briefing yesterday after their general meeting at FMC, Owerri, the President of ARD, FMC Owerri chapter, Dr. Ogoke Nwakamma expresseddismayovertherefusaloftheFederalMinistryofHealthtosettle theirDecember2015salary,evenwheneverypossibleeffortshadbeenmade to state the obvious. He accused the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole and the management of the FMC Owerri for sitting on the fence inrespectoftheirunpaidsalaries,whichalsoincludethemonthsofOctober, NovemberandDecember2016forjustnocause.“Itisnonewstothepeople of Imo State and Nigerians in general that in the past few years the health sectorhasexperiencedalotofproblemsthatsometimesleadtoindustrial disharmony. A good number of times FMC Owerri is at the centre of such crisis and the height of it was in 2015 when the management had problems with the non-doctors in the hospital.

Wife, Kids Abandon Renal Failure NAO Staff

PRAYING FOR FALLEN SOLDIERS...

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Senate President (second left) representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the Jummat prayers commemorating the 2017 Armed Forces Rememberance Day. With him (from left) are Senator Sulieman Hunkuyi, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, Sen. Kabiru Marafa, Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello, at the National Mosque, Abuja yesterday

NNPC to Partner Schlumberger on Chad Basin, Benue Trough Oil Exploration Chineme Okafor inAbuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it would collaborate with globally recognised oil service company, Schlumberger, in its ongoing search for commercial quantities of hydrocarbon deposits in the Chad basin and other parts of Nigeria's inland sedimentary basins.

The corporation in a statement from its Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndu Ughamadu on Friday in Abuja, explained that the partnership would include the deployment of state-of-the-art technology by Schlumberger in the frontier basins oil exploration.

The statement said its Chief Operating Officer, Ventures, Dr. Babatunde Adeniran, said this in the latest edition

of its monthly bulletin.

According to Adeniran, NNPC was on the verge of executing an agreement with Schlumberger on this.

The agreement, he noted would be centered on vital areas like exploration and reservoir management among others.

"We are concluding partnership arrangement with Schlumberger in four research areas commencing 2017. The first is exploration and risks assessment studies of the Nigerian frontier basins, which include the upper Benue where NNPC is currently carrying out exploration works.

We believe this will help the ongoing campaign in the Chad Basin and the upper Benue Trough," Adeniran said in the statement.

He listed other areas the collabora-

tion with Schlumberger would include to be wwellbore instabilities studies to assist in reducing drilling costs through prevention of stuck pipes especially for directional drillings, as well as improving safety and drilling performance.

The collaboration, according to Adeniran would also cover formation damage prevention to improve oil and gas recovery and economic viability of the reservoir, risk reduction, complex depositional systems and drilling challenges.

He noted that NNPC's Research and Development Division would also take advantage of a $1 billion global endowment fund for research which Schlumberger instituted.

"These projects were showcased at the last conference of the National

Association of Petroleum Explorationist (NAPE). As if we knew, Schlumberger at the session announced $1 billion to be spent on research from next year worldwide. This is a coincidence and a plus to R&D as this will provide opportunity to explore improvement on exploration activities in Nigeria," he noted.

Adeniran equally explained that the corporation was working to reach another accord with Schlumberger on Pressure Volume and Temperature (PVT) sampling and analysis.

He said: "Schlumberger initially planned to set up its own PVT laboratory in Nigeria, but discovered that NNPC R&D already has a wellequipped lab. They concluded then that instead of setting up theirs, they can partner with R&D.

Luxury Bus, Lorry Collision FCT Shuts 66 Medical Centres Leave 5 Dead, 23 Injured Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Director Medical and Diagnostics, Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba An early morning accident involving an Abuja-bound luxury bus and a Mercedes Benz 911 lorry on Friday left five persons dead while 23 others sustained injuries.

The head-on collision occurred on the dilapidated Anwai-Illah Road, near Asaba, the Delta State capital at about 4 o'clock in the morning.

According to the Director of Operations, Delta State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mrs. Uche Chukwurah, a total of 35 persons were involved in the crash but seven of them escaped unhurt.

Chukwurah said that the luxury

bus belonging to a renowned private transport company, 'Young Shall Grow', was coming from Port Harcourt enroute Abuja when the accident occurred.

She attributed the accident to "speed violation", adding that both motorists were traveling at very odd hours and urged other motorists to always adhere to traffic rules and avoid night journey.

The remains of the five deceased victims of the accident have been deposited at the mortuary at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba while the injured were rushed to two hospitals, St. Joseph Catholic Hospital and St. Rebecca Hospital.

The FCT Health Management Board said it shut down 66 medical facilities that fell short of professional standards in addition to not having operating licences last year.

This disclosure was made by the Acting Secretary of FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Mrs. Achu Odey at a media briefing on the activities of the HHSS for last year.

Mrs. Odey said the facilities were sanctioned by Private Health Practice Committee, which after an assessment sealed them up for not complying with best medical practice standards.

While offering more explanation on the development, the FCT

Dr. Uche Egheyi, said 39 of the affected facilities were medical laboratories discovered to be operating without approved licences.

According to Egheyi, the Private Health Practice Committee, following a routine and intensive inspection of some laboratories in the council areas of the federal capital territory, placed locks on the facilities for illegal operation.

She said the committee would adopt a strategy where all certificates of the various medical laboratory practitioners would be referred to the various regulators of health professionals and medical laboratories of Nigeria to verify if the practitioners were genuine.

Navy Discovers Illegal Training School in Rivers Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Nigerian Navy has said it has uncovered an illegal naval training school based at Wiiyaakara Community, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State used by suspected criminals to defraud members of the public.

The Commander of the Nigerian

Navy Ship Jubilee, Calabar, Commodore Saidu Garba, made the declaration yesterday while parading six illegal operators of the school and four trainees to journalists at the base of the illegal school in Wiiyaakara community, Khana local government area of Rivers.

He gave the name of the illegal training school as the Nigerian

Merchant Navy Coastal Defence Force.

According to him, the school paraded itself as an affiliate naval training centre which specialised in recruitment and training of trainees for direct entry into the Nigerian Navy.

He said, “On January 9 during a routine patrol, troops of NNS Jubilee

came across a sign post bearing the name: Nigerian Merchant Navy Coastal Defence Force situated in Wiiyaakara Community in Khana LGA. “On further search, our patrol team found out that the illegal organisation used a Model Primary school in Wiiyaakara community as its training centre.

AstaffoftheEkitiStateOfficeoftheNationalOrientationAgency,Mr.Tunde Falope,isnowdownwithachronickidneydiseaseandneededN7.142mfor immediatekidneytransplantationasanalternativewaytostayalive.Tomake his situation worse, Falope’s wife had allegedly since left the matrimonial homewithhisthreechildrenuponseeingherhusband’shopelesssituation, leavingthemanaloneinthehaplesssituation.Falope’spatheticexperience started seven years ago when he started manifesting sign of protruding belly and several tests he underwent confirmed that he was not HIV/AIDS asbeingsuspectedbeforefurtherdiagnosticstepsconfirmedthathewas sufferingfromStageThreeRenalDisorder.Heiscurrentlyonweeklydialysis, whichcostasumofN56,000andasucroseinjectiondaily,whichcostN1,500 at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital Ado Ekiti in the last one year , among other financial burdens he could no longer bear.

Candle Sets House Ablaze in Idimu

AhouseofeightoccupantswasonThursdayguttedbyfireatIdimu,Alimosho area of Lagos, with properties and valuables worth millions of naira burnt, butnolifewaslostandnoinjurysustained.Theincidentsaidtohaveoccurred around 2:30 am, was caused by a candle, lit by one of the tenants, Gbenga, a bus driver, who slept off and forgot to put off the light. According to eye witness, the fire went ignited when the curtain close to the position of the candlewascaughtbyfireanditmovedtootherrooms,causinginmatestorush outofthehousetoseekforsolution.Buteffortmadebythetenantspresent at the time to quench the fire proved abortive. WhenTHISDAY demanded to see Gbenga, he was said to have disappeared for fear of the unknown.

Oneofthetenants,Mr.EtoSunday,toldTHISDAYthathewasatthechurch when someone came to inform him of the incidence and he rushed home and discovered that all his belongings had been burnt including his Senior Secondary Certificate. Sunday who said he has lived in the house for about three years said he had lost not less than N900 to fire.

IGP Decorates Newly Promoted Officers

TheInspectorGeneralofPolice(IGP),Mr.IbrahimIdris,onFridaydecorated nineseniorofficerswhowererecentlypromotedtotheirnextrank.Among themarefourDeputyCommissionersofPolice(DCPs)whowerepromotedto therankofactingCommissionersofPolice(CP). AlsoanerstwhileAssistant CommissionerofPolice(ACP),waspromotedtoDeputyCommissionerofPolice (DCP),whilethreewerepromotedtotherankofAssistantCommissionerof Police(ACP)andonetotherankof SuperintendentofPolice(SP). Speaking attheceremony,Idris,immediatelydirectedthevariousdepartmentaland zonal heads to reactive the reward system within the Force. The affected officers are: acting CP Bello Ahmed, acting CP Don Awunah, who before nowwastheForcePublicRelationsOfficer,wasDCP,actingCPAfeezInuwa, actingCPGaruba Umar,actingDCPAbuSanni,ACPIbrahimAdamuBakers, ACP Kolo Yusuf, ACP Abba Kyari and SP Abdulkareem Abdullahi.

Herdsmen Kill Inspector, NSDC Operative

ArenewedclashbetweenFulaniherdsmenandGbagy'sintheSabon-Saga communitynearMinnatheNigerStatecapitalonFridayhasclaimedthelives ofapoliceInspectorandoneNSDCoperative.Aciviliancorpsewithseveral matchet cuts on the head was seen Friday at the Minna General hospital.

Police Public Relations Officer DSP Bala Elkana who confirmed the latest incident to THISDAY said there was "heavy casualties" on the part of the villagers.DSPBalaElkanasaidthelatestuprisingwhichheagaindescribed as reprisal by the herdsmen saw the burning down of some buildings and food items. The two. Communities have been at daggers drawn in the last fourdaysovertherefusaloftheGbagy'stoallowtheherdsmentograzeon their land. According to the police spokesman, security operatives posted to maintain law and order noticed thick smoke in one of the communities andsuspectedthatitwasadeliberatearsonandthereforewenttodislodge the hoodlums. "It was in the process that the Police Inspector who led the team and the NSDC official lost their lives".

ChurchCelebratesAnniversary,InstallsPatrons

The United African Methodist Evangelical Church, Abule Ijesha, Lagos will celebrateits 10thYear Anniversary, with a week alongConference, tagged: “uncommonGrace”fromJanuary15-22at10a.mwiththeinvestitureofsome eminentdistinguishedElderStatesmenandfaithful,atitsnewchurchCathedral.

TheConferencewhichisexpectedtoexamineactivitiesofthechurchfrom the past to present, while proffering solution towards the expansion and evangelicalgrowthoftheChurch,andtheNation.Accordingtoastatement signedbytheChurchHeadofPublicity,AramideTolaNoibi,said:“Thesermon willbedeliveredbytheretiredArchbishopofIlesha,MethodistChurchNigeria, MostRevdAyoLadigboluwhiletheauspiciousoccasionwillbepresidedover bytheBabaIjo,theRetiredChiefofGeneralStaff,LtGenOladipoDiya(Rtd) dulyassistedbytheIyaIjo,Mrs.MabelKehindeKomolafe,Mrs.AdesolaCole, theChairman,AnniversaryPlanningCommittee,theSecretary,Evangelist OlumuyiwaAkinsanyaandthePresidingBishop,Rt.RevdZaccheusSanyaolu, making sure that all the distinguished guests invited, are treated to a very great reception of a lifetime.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

News

We Stand with You, Former Delta Communities Threaten War over Alleged Marginalisation Ministers Tell Wike Chiemelie Ezeobi The recent move by Shell Petroleum Development Company's (SPDC) to repair the export pipeline at Forcados Terminal has pitted it against its three host communities, who have threatened war in the area.

SPDC had awarded the repairs of the 48-inches export pipeline to a local contractor, HydroDive Nigeria Limited, a move the three communities said was against the Local Content Act. Some officials and members of the three communities: Odimodi, Beniboye and Isiayegbene, all in Burutu Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, therefore stormed HydroDive's head office at

Wharf Road, Apapa, Lagos to first stage a peaceful protest as a warning signal.

The protesters, who blocked part of Hydrodive office at 17, Wharf Road, Apapa, threatened to disrupt the ongoing repairs if the contractor failed to evacuate its equipment, which have been in the Odimodi, Beniboye and Isiayegbene since last December.

Accusing SPDC and Hydrodive of using impostors from different areas as Community Liaison Officers (CLO) and neglecting their people, they vowed that they would take action if the Federal Government ignored their protest.

While flaying the "militarisation" of their communities, notwithstanding,

they said it would not deter them from demanding justice.

Bearing placards with inscriptions such as "SPDC stop creating crises in our community; SPDC/Hydrodive we are not fools; give us our rights; federal government come to our aid; Our youths are jobless, our river is polluted; SPDC/Hydrodive follow the Local Content Act", they appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the companies to do the right thing.

Reading a resolution signed by the chairmen and other executives of the three communities, the Chairman and Public Relations Officer of Odimodi Community, Chief Sapark Obaila and Hon. Bibaikefie Ebi respectively, said SPDC sidelined the people.

They said they were sidelined especially during SPDC's Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) and neglected their request that a competent firm owned by a member of the community be awarded the contract.

They said: "Odimodi and its federated communities are the owners of 100 per cent of the land where the 48 inches export pipeline is located.

"But instead of having dealings with the communities, SPDC and Hydrodive decided to use impostors as CLOs. Our youths are jobless.

“Our people are poor and hungry because the exploration activities of the SPDC Nigeria Limited have polluted our lands and waters, deprived us of our means of livelihood, as we can no longer go to farm or fish.

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Former Ministers have declared their support for the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in the face of what they described as a political siege on Rivers State as masterminded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They asked the governor to stand firm in his defence of democracy.

In a solidarity visit to Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday night, representatives of the minister under the aegis of Forum of Former Ministers lauded the governor for being a pillar of democracy and providing the right leadership for Rivers people.

The Representatives of the Forum of Former Ministers at the Solidarity Meeting include: former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Jigawa State Governor, Dr. Slue Lamed; former Minister of Education and former Kano State Governor, Mall

am Ibrahim Shakira; former Minister of Youth Development and former Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Boni Haruna; former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro; former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih; former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; and the former Minister, Ambassador Musa Kazaure.

Chairman of the Forum of Former Minister, Dr. Lamido, stated that the solidarity visit to Wike was aimed at encouraging him to remain steadfast and focused in his promotion of the tenets of democracy.

He said: "We are with you in your travails. We support you all the way.

We know that you are under siege by anti-democratic forces.

"No matter the tyranny of the oppressor, the voice of the people must be heard. That was the case of Rivers State during the Rivers Rerun Elections."

Umahi Sacks Ebonyi Council Boss, Deputy, Others Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

FECUNDITY IN THE AIR...

L-R: Media Guru and Public Relations Consultant, Aramide Tola Noibi, with a Community Leader and Politician, Hon Yomi Olubamido, the Ataiyese of Odolewu, Chief Adesanya Adenuga and the Elder statesman, Senator Anthony Adefuye, the Baba Laje of Odolewu at the Community Annual Celebrations

NCS Intercepts Foreign Rice Disguised as Local One JohnIwori A lorry load of foreign rice disguised as local one has been intercepted by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Compliance Team.

The team comprising a crack team of officers and men of NCS was said to have discovered that it was the latest tactics of unrepentant smugglers of the commodity which remains a staple food in the country.

In order to evade the prying eyes of the security operatives, they disguised it as a local brand and neatly packed in sacks bearing the name of a local brand of rice called ‘Stallion Super Champion’.

The unscrupulous importers were said to have devised the means due to the ban placed on rice importation

through land borders.

It was gathered that these smugglers often re-bag smuggled rice at the various nation’s entry points.

It was also learnt that most of the products have already found their way into the local markets in the country.

In the same vein, it was learnt that no fewer than three persons have been arrested in connection with the interception of the disguised rice.

Impeccable sources at NCS Headquarters, Abuja told THISDAY that the three suspects were presently telling the authorities what they knew about the seizure.

The source stated that other tactics being used by the smugglers were also being unraveled by the CGC Team.

Already, in the last two weeks no fewer than 5000 bags of rice were

intercepted while frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, used tyres have been seized by the service.

This was attributed to the high sales associated with the Yuletide celebrations which many smugglers often take advantage of at the period.

The CGC Team headed by Assistant Comptroller Jalo said it had impounded bullet proof cars in the last four months.

It warned smugglers to steer clear of under-hand businesses, as operatives of the team would not spare any importer or smuggler, who ran foul of the existing law governing importation.

Several containers conveying furniture were also impounded in the Lagos axis headed by Chief Superintendent Bello.

It was gathered that no fewer than

four containers of unprocessed timber and a 40-footer container of vegetable oil were also in its custody.

According to Bello, smuggling of these products was outright plot to evade duties. My zone is water-tight to contain such antics of economic saboteurs.

THISDAY had reported that Jalo assured that trade facilitation and increase in revenue would form the fulcrum of the team, just as he noted that importation must be guided by international best practices.

His words: “Importers who play according to the rules should have no fear as the team is on ground to stamp out products that are either prohibited or injurious to the health of the citizens as well as Nigeria’s economy”.

Abuja Digital Switch Over on Track to Meet ITU Transition Programme Stanley Nkwazema It has not been an easy journey for Nigeria leading to the Digital Switch On for Terrestrial television which started in 2008 when Nigeria signed up to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) protocol, literally meaning that we are bound to transit from Analogue broadcasting to digital in line with the current global trend.

Interestingly, before the Jos and Abuja switch over which happened on the 22nd December 2016, several efforts were made to realise the migration without success. Nigeria

had to move the date from 2015 to June 2017, but with the trend and lack of commitment on the part of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) it will be a miracle if the date is realised.

The Federal Government in addition to Signal Distribution also identified Set Top Boxes (STB) as some of the most critical components of the transition even as 30 million STBs were estimated to be needed for the Nigerian market. In its bid to encourage indigenous companies, create local jobs the NBC licensed 13 indigenous firms to locally manufacture STB in the country

after each paid N50 million totalling N650 million.

In the Government white paper 10 million of the boxes were to be subsidised for identified household which for now only 1.2 million are already subsidised under the first phase which leaves a huge gap of 8.8 million and 28,8 million STBS estimated early for the success of DSO. The Jos launch took place in April 2016 while the Vice President Prof, Yemi Osibanjo anchored the Abuja launch in December.

It would be recalled that though the Abuja launch was a huge success despite initial hiccups associated

with such projects due largely to the limited coverage area by the signal distributor Pinnacle and the lack of public education on the activation of the box. It was confirmed that the numbers on the boxes were clearly ignored and households are now finding it difficult to get through to the signal distributor.

Again it is worthy to note that while the activation and lack of signal is being bandied as an untenable excuse, the STBs have come out to explain that their job was to produce and hand over to the NBCs while CCNL and FreeTv handle the activation

Ebonyi state Governor, Chief David Umahi has approved the immediate and indefinite suspension of the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ohaozara local government council, Mr. Sunday Ogbonnaya and all political appointees of the council area.

Consequently, the governor has approved the immediate appointment of Hon. Mark Onu as the Acting Chairman of the local government and Mrs. Chukwu Ajah as the Vice Chairman Caretaker Committee of Ohaozara local government area.

The embattled council heads were sacked over alleged lack of commitment to the Environmental and Sanitary programme of Ebonyi State government as evident in the very poor environmental and sanitary conditions of Ohaozara local government headquarters, Obiozara .

In a release endorsed by Principal Secretary to the Governor, Chief Clement Nweke, the governor also sacked the Heads of Personnel Management and Treasurer of the local government council s and

therefore directed that no staff of Ohaozara would be paid his or her salaries until the local government headquarters is certified clean and look habitable..

The council area was said to have been overgrown by grasses, defaced by deep refuse and offices including that of the Chairman covered by cobwebs and the local government headquarters deserted by the staff.

When the Principal Secretary to the governor, Chief Clement Nweke led a team of journalists to the council headquarters for inspection yesterday at 9:48am only 17 out of the 128 staff were in attendance while the entire local government headquarter was in terrible condition.

The works, education, health and agriculture departments were overgrown by weeds with equipment broken down and covered by dusts and cobwebs.

A building housing 500KV generating set was blocked with cassava farm overgrown by weeds which made it impossible for the Principal Secretary and the media team to ascertain the condition of the generating set.

Amaechi: Jos Airport, Railway to Receive Govt.’s Attention Soon Seriki Adinoyi inJos

Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi has reassured the people of Plateau State that the Federal government would soon turn its attention to rehabilitating the Yakubu Gowon Airport and the rail line passing Jos to Bauchi and Maiduguri, noting that it would further ease transportation to the North Eastern region of the country.

The minister, who was on a working visit to the Hiepang Inland Dry Port in Jos, assured that arrangement was on to execute the rehabilitation of the airport, but added that “What I can't say for certain is whether funds have been released for the Jos airport or not, but I will confirm that by Monday.

“I think we were making arrangement for it, but I don't know if that has happened; if it has not happened, it will happen this year. Now that I have been reminded, I will put my eyes there and will call the honourable Minister of state and the Permanent

Secretary to ensure that that happens, because they have started work on the Port Harcourt Airport.”

On the railways, the Minister said conversations and negotiations have been concluded with General Electric (GE), an American company that the Federal Government is negotiating with to bankroll cost on rail rehabilitation; “we will rehabilitate the old narrow gauge, and the old narrow gauge starts from Port Harcourt to Anambra, Umuahia, to Enugu to Jos to Bauchi and then to Maiduguri.

“That will cover here temporarily while we look for money for standard gauge. The difference between standard gauge and narrow gauge is the speed. One is 80 km/hr., while the other is 220 to 350km/hr. Depending on what you can afford to build.”

Amaechi was responding to the request by the Governor of the state, Mr. Simon Lalong for the federal government to hasten to conclude ongoing rehabilitation work on the Airport.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •JANUARY 14, 2017

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NewsXTRA

'Why Police Took Over Ekiti Federal Varsity' Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof.

Kayode Soremekun, has said he was not responsible for the heavy deployment of policemen on the campus since Tuesday .

Soremekun said the unruly behaviour of some protesting workers , who destabilised the campus for two days commencing from Monday, where they inflicted bodily injuries on some academic staff for not joining the strike in solidarity forced the Police Commissioner, Mr Wilson Inalegwu to order security beef up to ensure protection of lives and property.

Staff under the auspices of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Nonacademic Staff Union(NASU), had on Monday mobilised their members for a protest to demand immediate payment of their November and December salaries, among other unresolved issues.

CALL TO SERVICE...

L-R: Nigerian actress, Kate Henshaw and President of Rotary Club of Falomo, Orji Ajah; during her induction as member of Rotary Club of Falomo, District 9110, Nigeria... recently

Abuja Airport Runway, Threat to Air Safety, Says Arik DMD Chinedu Eze

Former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) who is the Deputy Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi, has said that the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja is a threat to air safety, stressing that Nigeria should count itself lucky that in the past two years major accident had not taken place at the airport.

Sanusi who is also a seasoned pilot, who has landed at the airport for several years, said the runway had been in deplorable situation and if it was not closed for major repairs Nigerians should wait for air crash to happen, which would put an end to the present debate.

He noted, however, that instead

of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to declare the airport unsafe and therefore close it for repairs, the Ministry of Transport was deciding the closure, which unfortunately had made the decision a political debate.

Sanusi said all the airport closures due to safety concerns in the past were decided by NCAA, which has the prerogative to do that, noting that although the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika is an aviator, but he is seen by members of the National Assembly as a politician and that is why there is on-going argument over the airport closure.

“There is a fundamental flaw over who decided that the airport should be closed. That is the responsibility of NCAA as the regulator of the aviation industry,

which decides the safety standard of an airport, the airworthiness of an aircraft, the qualification of a pilot or cabin crew and it is NCAA that should decide whether the airport should be closed or not and from our experience, the continued use of that runway is a tragedy waiting to happen,” Sanusi said.

The former Managing Director of NAMA gave example with the banking sector and said that if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) closed a bank. there was no other authority that had the right to direct the bank to reopen, except CBN. He recalled many years ago when Air France flight landed on cattle at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa and noted that NCAA closed the airport for safety reasons against the wishes of both the

state government, airlines and even the then Ministry of Aviation.

“No one should question the decision of NCAA because it has been given the right by law to take such decision and if NCAA has taken the decision to close the Abuja airport there is no way it would have attracted the on-going debate. We shall be going to a dangerous area if we politicise what borders on safety in the aviation industry.

“If NCAA announces the closure of the airport no airline can fly to that place because no insurance can cover such flight. Once it is closed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria or NAMA will issue a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which will be circulated all over the world so no flight can land at the airport,” Sanusi also said.

Ayade Assents to 2017 Budget, Controversy Trails 13th Adopts 3-year MTEF Model Gani Fawehinmi Lecture Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, yesterday signed the 2017 appropriation bill of N301 billion into law.

Christened “Budget of Infinite Transposition”, the 2017 Appropriation Bill, also incorporate an additional N406 billion for medium term expenditure framework to carter for capital projects covering 2017, 2018 and 2019 fiscal years.

This brings the sum total of the budget to N707 billion.

Speaking while signing the budget into law, at the state executive council chamber, Calabar, Ayade stated: “It is a budget that has an infinity clause which stretches beyond 2017 and saves us the agony of continuous planning and re-strategising.”

The governor noted that “this year is a year of action because our spirit is desperately determined to make a difference.”

According to him, “The energy that is expected to characterise 2017

budget is to drive the very core of the needs of our people which therefore defines the ambition and the level of weight that has got the state into an epoch budget of 707 billion.”

He maintained that the budget is one of infinite transposition which “believes in the infinity of dreams, capacity and intellect. It is a budget that believes also that budgeting and expectations of your pocket limit your aspirations and dreams and therefore, the new budgeting concept believes in deficit budgeting because it has tremendous advantages.”

Ayade who noted that “When you budget beyond your carrying capacities and physical realities, it allows your soul to leap into quantum height to be able to drive with the energy that must free the state from pains and agony, further stressed: “Normally, this deficit budget mechanism is applicable in times of war.

Akinwale Akintunde

Lecture purportedly coming up is being organised by an impostor to The 13th Gani Fawehinmi the office of the Chairman NBA Annual Lecture scheduled for Ikeja Branch who does not have tomorrow, January 15, 2017 might the authority of the Branch to not hold as the two factions of represent it in any way.

“Our attention has however the organising body, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch been called to an advertorial are currently disagreeing over the making the rounds that the said Lecture/Symposium would hold lecture date.

A faction of the NBA Ikeja on 15th January, 2017.

“This is to inform you that branch led by Mr. Adesina Ogunlana had since last week sent out the NBA Ikeja Branch is not invitation to the effect that the involved as a branch in the annual lecture/symposium usually said Gani Fawehinmi Annual organised by the branch every Lecture purportedly coming January 15 in hounour the late up on the 15th day of January Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief 2017and organised by one Mr. Gani Fawehinmi would hold at AdesinaOgunlana and his dissident group. The Branch disclaim the Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

But a statement from the Dele any arrangement to that effect as Oloke-led faction dated January the said Mr. AdesinaOgunlana is 11, has denied involvement in the an impostor to the office of the organisation of the lecture and Chairman NBA Ikeja Branch and he does not have the authority called for postponement.

According to the statement, of the Branch to represent it in the said Gani Fawehinmi Annual any way.

The unions accused Soremekun of stalling attempt to effect promotion of workers, engaging in arbitrary contracts’ award, non-payment of hazard allowance, among other issues bordering on workers' welfare.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Friday on the crisis rocking the university, Soremekun, said all the outstanding salaries had been paid, describing the inability of the workers to resume work as gross abuse of unionism.

“The police took over the gate and other strategic portion of the school because of the behaviour of some protesting workers. Why should I deploy police to gag union leaders or arrest them?

“I have my background in human rights activism. I believe in legitimate protest but not the one that would cause a breach of others’ rights. The police learnt the Chairman of ASUU was beaten by the protesting workers and the man escaped the scene and lodged a complaint with the police, which prompted security beef up to prevent loss of lives”, he said.

Talkstuff to Reshape Youth Engagement, Says Adebayo Following the successful introduction of Talkstuff a web platform to Nigerians and the successful launch, the Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu has explained that the event represents a new vista in our collective resolve and drive to evolve a workable synergy and positioning of the ICT for inclusiveness.

Shittu who spoke recently when he formally unveiled Talkstuff , said that the platform would reshape youth engagements and interactions while expressing joy to be part of the project.

“My presence should serve as an impetus and inspiration to the youths’ and attestation to the Government’s commitment to empower ICT startups in Nigeria, given our geography and demography” The Minister who was impressed by the strides of the CEO of Talkstuff confirmed that he would recommend the platform to the Government and particularly his colleagues at the Federal Executive Council so as to support the initiative and encourage other Nigerians The CEO of Talkstuff Rachel Ogbonna explained that talkstuff had succeeded in developing and creating a robust single platform. "This is building a community where all social, political and economic development campaign could be initiated, unlike other platforms, making the platform user centric with better experience" Ogbonna said recent advances in ICTs had been seen as important vehicles for accelerating the development of information exchange and knowledge as valuable commodities.

“Exactly a decade ago the World Bank and the World Economic Forum attested to the fact that economic development of any nation depends

on the overall progress of its ICT sector.

According to Ogbonna, “talkstuff is the platform where you can experience a time for yourself to relax within the market place, opportunities to list your business and of course, forums to access variety of ideas’’ The Communications Minister who corroborated the Talkstuff CEOs assertion disclosed that the ICT sector was a fast growing one with unlimited possibilities tasked governments and non-governmental organisations to do more in promoting ICTS” These days ICT effectively shows new dimensions to old institutional arrangements. It is in view of the boundless opportunities ICT offers that the Ministry has made concerted efforts to collaborate with the organised private sector to further have the opportunity of exploring the unbelievable potential of ICT.”

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as AMINA YUSUF PETERS, now wish to be known and addressed as AMINA ANIEKAN ASUQUO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OREKOYA OLUYEMISI OMOLARA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKUNEYE OLUYEMISI OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS BRISIBE PAULINE EYEKEGINREN LAURENTIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. APREZI PAULINE EYEKEGINREN LAURENTIA All former documents remain valid. LASG and the general public should please take note.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

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Price: N250

MISSILE CNPP on Governors

“It is immoral for state governors owing civil servants’ salaries not to pay now, having received huge amounts as reimbursements from the Federal Government. We are amazed that these same state governments owing their pensioners and workers received Presidential bailout funds for the purpose of settling the salary arrears, which they eventually pocketed.”

– The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, reacting to the failure of many state governors to clear the backlog of civil servants’ salaries.

The Letter the Bush Sisters Wrote the Obama Girls

Jenna Bush Hager

Barbara Bush

Malia Obama

Shasa Obama

M

making friends. We have watched you grow from girls to impressive young women with grace and ease.

And through it all you had each other.

Just like we did.

In eight years, you have done so much.

Seen so much. You stood at the gates of the Robben Island cell where South Africa’s Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades, your arms around your father.

You traveled to Liberia and Morocco with your mom to talk with girls about the importance of education—girls who saw themselves in you, saw themselves in your parents, saw who they could become if they continued to study and learn. You attended state dinners, hiked in national parks, met international leaders and managed to laugh at your dad’s jokes during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon, all while being kids, attending school and

You have lived through the unbelievable pressure of the White House.You have listened to harsh criticism of your parents by people who had never even met them.You stood by as your precious parents were reduced to headlines.Your parents, who put you first and who not only showed you but gave you the world. As always, they will be rooting for you as you begin your next chapter. And so will we

Now you are about to join another rarified club, one of former First Children—a position you didn’t seek and one with no guidelines. But you have so much to look forward to. You will be writing the story of your lives, beyond the shadow of your famous parents, yet you will always carry with you the experiences of the past eight years.

Never forget the wonderful people who work at the White House. Our greeter as 7-year-olds at our grandfather’s Inauguration was Nancy, the White House florist, who ushered us in from the cold.

She helped us make colorful bouquets of winter flowers for our grandparents’ bedside. Twenty years later, Nancy did the flowers for Jenna’s wedding. Cherish your own Nancy. We stay in touch with our Secret Service. They were part of growing up for us: there for first dates, first days and even an engagement and a honeymoon.

We know it wasn’t always easy—the two of you and the two of us were teenagers trailed by men in backpacks—but they put their lives on hold for us.

Enjoy college. As most of the world knows, we did. And you won’t have the weight of the world on your young shoulders anymore. Explore your passions.

Learn who you are. Make mistakes—you are allowed to. Continue to surround yourself with loyal friends who know you, adore you and will fiercely protect you. Those who judge you don’t love you, and their voices shouldn’t hold weight.

Rather, it’s your own hearts that matter.

Take all that you have seen, the people you have met, the lessons you have learned, and let that help guide you in making positive change. We have no doubt you will. Traveling with our parents taught us more than any class could. It opened our eyes to new people as well as new cultures and ideas. We met factory workers in Michigan, teachers in California, doctors healing people on the Burmese border, kids who lined the dusty streets of Kampala to see the American President, and kids with HIV waiting to get the antiretroviral drugs that would save their lives. One tiny girl wearing her finest lavender dress looked young, which she was not. She was little because she was sick. Her mom admitted that she might not live to see these drugs work, but her brothers and sisters would. After meeting this girl, Barbara went back to school and changed her major, and her life’s path.

You have lived through the unbelievable pressure of the White House. You have listened to harsh criticism of your parents by people who had never even met them.

You stood by as your precious parents were reduced to headlines. Your parents, who put you first and who not only showed you but gave you the world. As always, they will be rooting for you as you begin your next chapter. And so will we.

•Barbara Bush is a co-founder and the CEO of Global Health Corps. Jenna Bush Hager is a correspondent for the Today show

alia and Sasha, eight years ago on a cold November day, we greeted you on the steps of the White House. We saw both the light and wariness in your eyes as you gazed at your new home. We left our jobs in Baltimore and New York early and traveled to Washington to show you around. To show you the Lincoln Bedroom, and the bedrooms that were once ours, to introduce you to all the people—the florists, the grounds-keepers and the butlers—who dedicate themselves to making this historic house a home. The four of us wandered the majestic halls of the house you had no choice but to move in to. When you slid down the banister of the solarium, just as we had done as 8-year-olds and again as 20-year-olds chasing our youth, your joy and laughter were contagious.

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