Saturday 8th April 2017

Ihejirika vs THISDAY: Judge Affirms Journalists’ Right to Publish in Public Interest Dismisses N100bn libel suit against THISDAY N1.825bn: Court clears Aquila Leasing

Senator Iruegbu and Alex Enumah in Abuja A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Apo, Abuja yesterday dismissed a N100 billion libel suit instituted

by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika (Rtd) against an Australian, Stephen Davies, Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY and Chairman, Arise Television, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena and his firms, Lead-

ers and Company Ltd and Arise Televison for lacking in merit.

The judge held that public interest or convenience was paramount to private interest or convenience and since the 3rd defendant was acting in the

general interest of the public, it is immune from liability.

Trial Judge, Justice Valentine Ashi, who dismissed the suit in a judgement he delivered yesterday held that the plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie

case against the defendants.

Ihejirika had in 2014, instituted a N100 billion libel suit against the Australian Davies for accusing him (Ihejirika) of sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgent group.

He had in the suit asked the court to grant him N100 billion as damages for defamation.

The Plaintiff’s lawyers had argued that their client "has Continued on page 8

Dogara Challenges Governors to Publish Security Vote Spending ... Page 55 Saturday 8 April, 2017 Vol 22. No 8024. Price: N250

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Russia, Iran Outraged By US Cruise Missiles Attack on Syrian Airbase Terror attack in Sweden

Bennett Oghifo with agency report

The Syrian government, Russia and Iran have denounced yesterday’s early morning strike by the United States on a Syrian

were killed by truck driven into crowd in Swedish capital, according to Reuters. The truck plowed into a crowd on a shopping street and crashed into a department store in central Stockholm on Friday, killing

three people and wounding eight in what the Prime Minister said appeared to be a terrorist attack.

In a statement carried by the state-run SANA News Agency and read on television, the Syr-

government-controlled airbase which resulted in the death of at least seven people.

The US said it was in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack by Syrian army on a rebel-held town that killed

scores of civilians including women and children, a claim denied by the Syrian government describing the attack as "aggression and violation of international law.”

Also yesterday, three people

the details of recovered monies and assets in their possession also by yesterday. THISDAY checks revealed that most of the agencies except the EFCC have since complied with the deadline given by the president.

As at the time of filing in this report yesterday night, it was not certain if the EFCC Chairman, had complied with the directive which lapsed yesterday.

THISDAY gathered that the directive by the President was issued to the agencies two weeks ago.

The source said that the directive was informed by the need to “place a value on the total recoveries made by the government, whose anti-graft prosecutors have been accused of being unable to secure convictions, but have been quick to announce their seizures, even temporary ones to the public.”

It added that the President needed the inventory to ensure transparency and accountability as rumours of untoward practices continued to swell round the recoveries.

BUHARI, SARAKI AT JUMMA'AT PRAYER ...

ian military said the US strikes were done on a "pretext" of the Khan Sheikhoun attack, without the full facts being disclosed.

It also said the attack, which Continued on page 8

Buhari Demands Details of Monetary, Asset Recoveries from EFCC, Others Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele to provide a detailed submission on amount of monies recovered so far by the anti-graft agencies, in its anti-corruption war, since the inception of this administration in June, 2015.

Also directed to do same are the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta and the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Babagana Monguno.

The agencies were also directed to submit a detailed inventory of assets seized, including vehicles, jewelry's and other valuables, latest by yesterday, Friday April 7, 2017.

They were ordered to submit

Continued on page 8

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; Senator Mustapha Bukar; Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, and President of the Senate, Bukola STATE HOUSE Saraki, during the Jumma'at prayer at the State House in Abuja.... yesterday

NDDC Petitions Buhari, Senate over N1.8trn Debt by FG ... Page 16

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Expected $6.4bn Inflow Raises Optimism about Naira’s Appreciation Fitch: Tier I banks more resilient than Tier II banks Obinna Chima The anticipated $6.4 billion inflow to Nigeria from different sources in the next few weeks is expected to boost Dollar liquidity and help strengthen the Naira against the United States currency.

The $6.4 billion inflow is expected to come from three sources, THISDAY findings have shown.

A breakdown of the aforementioned amount showed that a total of $4.5 billion is expected into the country following the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Planning, as well as the Central Bank of

Nigeria (CBN) to address outstanding issues in securing the loan from the Peoples’ Republic of China.

There is also the balance of the $1 billion African Development Bank (ADB) loan. Of this amount, $600 million had been drawn, leaving a balance of $400 million, which is a potential booster to Nigeria’s forex reserves when it flows into the country.

In addition to this, another $500 million is being expected from the Global Medium Term Note Programme which was issued recently and attached to the $1 billion earlier offered and over-subscribed.

The Chinese loan, which is

meant for the procurement of strategic machinery needed to boost agricultural development in the country, has a repayment period of 20 years with five-year moratorium and an interest rate of one per cent per annum.

Analysts believe that the receipt of these loans will boost the armoury of the CBN in bolstering the value of the naira.

They also opine that even without the loan, a combination of oil receipts with price stabilising at between $49 – $55 per barrel, as well as the improved production occasioned by the relative peace in the Niger Delta, would give the CBN some fighting power and enhanced

Naira drops to N405/$ at parallel market

its ability to supply the market with liquidity.

One of the global rating agencies, Moody’s Investors Service also held similar view, saying that Nigeria would easily achieve its target of foreign borrowing in 2017 as improved oil output helps the economy to recover from last year’s contraction, the first since 1991.

“The international financial institutions are ready to support Nigeria,” a vice president and senior analytical adviser for Africa at the ratings company, Aurelien Mali, told Bloomberg.

“As long as its project-based lending, the funding will be available from lenders such as

the remaining $400 million of a $1 billion credit facility from the African Development Bank, Mali said. It can raise the rest from bilateral and multilateral partners and also from lenders through commercial loans and or even a sukuk bond, he said.

Meanwhile, another global rating agency, Fitch has stated that the regulatory stress test results on Nigerian banks conducted recently highlighted disparities in capital strength across the Nigerian banking sector, with large banks collectively much more resilient to stresses than small ones.

the African Development Bank, and the budget support from the World Bank will come on top of that.”

The federal government had proposed a record N7.3 trillion budget for this year to boost infrastructure investment and help its economy recover from a contraction of 1.5 per cent in 2016, the first such slump in 25 years.

The economy was weighed down by a drop in the price and output of oil, its biggest export, which led to a shortage of dollars.

The government has also been negotiating $1.25 billion in budget support from the World Bank and expects to get

continued on pg 16

due to the failure of the plaintiff to establish a prima facie case against the defendants", the judge held N1.825bn: Court Clears Aquila Leasing Limited In another development, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, last week ruled that the sum of N1.825 billion identified by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) in a case in which the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba (rtd) was mentioned be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

While delivering judgment on the matter, the judge commended Chuka Onwuchekwa, Managing Director, Aquila Leasing Limited and the EFCC for their roles in the speedy resolution of the matter.

The anti-graft agency had dragged Aquila Leasing Limited and its Chief Executive, Chuka Onwuchekwa, to court and had on March 16, 2017 obtained an order temporarily forfeiting the N1.825bn to the Federal Government. The agency later filed an application seeking the permanent forfeiture of the money to the government.

Aquila Leasing Limited and Chuka Onwuchekwa, through their lawyer, Mr. Paschal Madu, appeared in court on April 4, 2017 and in his counter affidavit which was not opposed by the EFCC, Chuka Onwuchekwa had stated that Aquila Leasing Limited was not involved in any manner whatsoever in the transaction whether before, during or after the negotiations.

Therefore that Aquila Leasing Limited should not be a party to the suit.

He further stated to the court

that Aquila Leasing Limited was erroneously mentioned in the matter whereas the transaction was between two different entities that has nothing to do with the company. Aquila Leasing did not oppose the final forfeiture of the funds since it was not a party to the transaction and the said funds were not found in its accounts.

Ruling on the EFCC's application on Thursday, Justice Muslim Hassan held that the EFCC had satisfied the provisions of Section 17 of the Advanced Fee fraud Act precedent upon the final forfeiture of the money could be made.

The judge held that, "having satisfied that such property is an unclaimed property, and also satisfying the provisions of the law, the court shall order the final forfeiture of the said property."In this view, there is no other proof required to enable the court make an order of final forfeiture; this application is meritorious and hereby granted’.

Paschal Madu had on April 4 said to the court that Aquila Leasing Limited and Onwuchekwa were not opposed to the permanent forfeiture of the money. He said his clients were not involved in any unlawful act.

Paschal Madu had said in court, "The action of the first respondent –Mr. Chuka Onwuchekwa is one of those actions that should be commended. And therefore did not oppose the application by the EFCC. In effect, Aquila Leasing Limited is satisfied that this matter has been finally resolved as it has been cleared of any involvement and wrongdoing in the matter.

IHEJIRIKA VS THISDAY: JUDGE AFFIRMS JOURNALISTS’ RIGHT TO PUBLISH IN PUBLIC INTEREST suffered grievous wrong and he has been exposed to scandal, odium, ridicule, humiliation while his character, credit and reputation were brought into disrepute, both in Nigeria and abroad".

He had also then obtained an order of the Court to serve the process on the defendant abroad while his lawyers on the strength of the court order, applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enable them serve Davis who was said to reside in Perth, Australia.

Ihejirika also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Davis or his agents from further making defamatory comments about him. He equally sought an order compelling the defendant to publish "a full and unqualified retraction and apology conspicuously in the front page of a newspaper to assuage the plaintiff for the said false, malicious and libelous publication."

The plaintiff however with the leave of court on March 11, 2015, joined the 2nd and 3rd defendants in the suit.

Two witnesses were called and three exhibits A to C were tendered by the prosecutor.

While there was no response and representative of the 1st defendant, the 2nd and 3rd defendants through their counsel, Frank Chude, however filed their statement of Defence on

18 May 2016 and also called on one witness in defence of the suit.

According to the defendants, the major issues for determination are: whether the second defendant was properly joined in the suit; whether Exhibit A, tendered by PW 1 was not wrongly admitted in evidence by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of section 84 of the Evidence Act; whether the 2nd and 3rd defendants have made out the defence of qualified privilege and whether in view of the pleadings and evidence led, the plaintiff is entitled to the reliefs claimed.

However delivering judgement on the matter yesterday, Justice Ashi agreed with the counsel of the 2nd and 3rd defendants that the 2nd defendant being an agent of a disclosed principal cannot be held liable for the act of the 3rd defendant.

While stating that he could not find where the 2nd defendant had been charged with liability, the judge held that he was wrongly joined in the suit and thereby struck out the name of the 2nd defendant as a party in the suit.

Similarly, Justice Ashi held that the plaintiff failed to comply with section 84 of the evidence Act as regards computer generated evidence and as such Exhibit A was wrongly

admitted in evidence.

Exhibit A was an LG/DVD player from which the said interview of Davies on Arise Television was replayed in the court.

Following the rejection of Exhibit A as evidence, the court then discharged the 1st defendant of liability.

On the issue of qualified privilege pleaded by the defendants, the judge also held that the plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants.

Justice Ashi noted that the defence though, not denying the said publication, was able to show that it acted in the interest of the general public and not out of malice against the plaintiff.

Citing various authorities Justice Ashi added that what can destroy the plea of qualified privilege is the proof of malice and not that the publication was true.

He stated that as at the time the alleged defamation was made, the issue of security was at the front burner and the 3rd defendant had a duty to inform the public.

He held that public interest or convenience was paramount to private interest or convenience and since the 3rd defendant was acting in the general interest of the public, it is immune from liability.

Justice Ashi while noting that Ihejirika was given the opportunity to state his side of the story, held that a person who abhors malice against one party would not go out of his way to obtain the views of that person.

He said, "All the forgoing facts show that there was absence of malice in their publications".

He therefore dismissed the case for lacking in merit.

Similarly, on the issue of whether the plaintiff has established a claim for damages based on libel, the judge stressed that proof of publication is only one step towards claiming damages as the plaintiff must further prove that his estimation has been lowered in the eyes of the public.

The judge held that it is the 3rd party's estimation that matters in establishing whether the reputation of the plaintiff had been damaged and not the plaintiff's own assessment.

The judge stated that while the PW2, General Ashihiru Adebayo (rtd) in his evidence in chief stated that he was petrified by the said publication, he however contradicted himself under cross examination by Chude, when he said that he did not believe the version of Davies but that of Ihejirika who denied sponsoring Boko Haram.

"The case is hereby dismissed

RUSSIA, IRAN OUTRAGED BY US CRUISE MISSILES ATTACK ON SYRIAN AIRBASE

caused extensive damage to the base, made the US a partner of "terrorist groups".

Syria's State-news Agency, SANA gave a death toll of nine civilians, including four children.

It was the first direct military action the US has taken against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the country's long-running conflict, now in its seventh year.

"There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the chemical weapons convention and ignored the urging of the UN Security Council," US President Donald Trump said in a televised statement after the strike.

Syria's opposition National Coalition hailed the US attack, saying it puts an end to an age of "impunity" and should be just the beginning of further military action against Assad's forces.

Russia, a key military ally of the Assad government, strongly condemned the strikes, saying Washington's action would

"inflict major damage on US-Russia ties", according to Russian news agencies.

Russian government yesterday, suspended communication with the US effectively freezing the memorandum of understanding agreed between the two powers to avoid accidental military clash.

The Pentagon said that Russia had been notified ahead of the operation – but US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that Washington had "sought no approval from Moscow".

At least 86 people, including 27 children, were killed after a suspected poison gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun on Tuesday, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Syrian government denied carrying out the raid.

Russia has blamed the opposition, saying a government shell hit a building where rebels were producing chemical weapons.

The rebels deny this.

"I stress, once again, that the Syrian Arab Army did not and

will not use such weapons even against the terrorists who are targeting our people," Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem told reporters in Damascus on Thursday.

At the time of the US strike, Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where he is holding two days of meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump said the strike was in the "vital national security interest" of the US. "I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria, and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types," he said.

While yesterday's strike was the first direct US military action against Assad's forces, fighter jets by a US-led coalition last year killed dozens of troops fighting for the Syrian government after being "misidentified" as ISIL fighters, according to the US army.

The U.S. military strike on a Syrian airbase was "under-

standable", German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said yesterday, given that the U.N. Security Council had failed to take decisive action after a deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria.

The US ambassador to the United Nation, Nikki Haley warned that the US would do more if necessary.

"I turned around and saw a big truck coming toward me.

It swerved from side to side.

It didn't look out of control, it was trying to hit people," Glen Foran, an Australian tourist in his 40s, told Reuters.

"It hit people, it was terrible.

It hit a pram with a kid in it, demolished it," he said.

"It took a long time for police to get here. I suppose from their view it was quick, but it felt like forever."

Part of central Stockholm was cordoned off and the area was evacuated, including the main train station. All subway traffic was halted on police orders.

Government offices were closed.

The suspect has been arrested.

BUHARI DEMANDS DETAILS OF MONETARY, ASSET RECOVERIES FROM EFCC, OTHERS There have been allegations that some of the seized valuables like land documents, cars and vehicles had been stolen by some officials of the agencies that seized them.

The source said: “In fact, in several yards across the country, vehicles seized by EFCC like Range Rovers, Jaguars, Prado jeeps, and expensive cars are decaying. The cars are allowed to rot, leading to massive waste.”

“Also remember that certificates of occupancy seized from the home of an ex-governor were found in the market, where some EFCC officials were allegedly trying to sell them.

The case is now with the police.

Also at the Senate hearing for his confirmation, Magu was unable to put a figure or an estimate to the amount of monies, local and foreign currency, he has recovered so far, or provide a value to properties, cars and jewelries that have been seized,” the source added.

When THISDAY contacted Senior Adviser to the President on Communication, Mr. Femi Adesina on details of directive, he stated that he was unaware of it but that the president had been receiving series of briefings since he returned to the country and that the said directive would be nothing out of the ordinary.

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APRIL 8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

Dissecting Olanipekun’s Epistle to Buhari on Corruption

I

have spent quality time reading Chief Wole Olanipekun’s convocation lecture delivered last week at Ekiti State University. In fact, I have had to read this bulky and compelling document all over again this week. The paper of this erudite lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria titled, “Breaking the Jinx, the Cyclical Nature of Nigeria’s Problems,” dealt extensively with President Muhammadu Buhari’s hackneyed war against corruption.

I am deeply relieved that more patriots are standing up against this jaundiced and lopsided war; a war that has turned into a charade. Most of the points made by Olanipekun align with what I have been clamouring for in the last two years. For me, any war against corruption must be total and fought within the ambits of the laws of our land. There should be no sacred cow as we have in the case of Babachir Lawal, the great grass cutter and his cohorts. It is also pertinent to put an end to media trials.

Buhari’s war against corruption has largely been media-driven, with very little result in practical terms.

Talking about the persistent perilous media trial by this administration, charges against former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe were withdrawn this week, after he had been convicted in the media that he stole billions of Naira. An Abuja High Court struck out a six-count charge filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over alleged N1.97 billion fraud with regard to the construction of the East-West Road.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi who struck out the case, also discharged and acquitted the defendants, after the charge was withdrawn by the prosecutors.

The charges were withdrawn on the day the court asked the anti-graft agency to produce witnesses to establish claims that Orubebe diverted funds meant for the

compensation of owners of properties on the Eket Urban section of the East-West Road.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami in a letter to the Chairman of the ICPC, astonishingly confirmed that the money which Orubebe was accused of diverting had not been expended, but awaiting further contract decisions and directives from the Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs.

The AGF in the letter dated 16, December 2016 and signed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. U.E.Mohammed, said: “In view of the above, the basis for the prosecution of the accused persons for misappropriation does not exist and thus, further prosecution cannot be justified.” Is this not disgusting? Orubebe should sue for compensation. He was harassed and humiliated for over one year by the EFCC. Also on Wednesday, an FCT High Court struck out the 18-count corruption charge the federal government preferred against Justice Adeniyi Ademola, Olabowale (his wife) and Joe Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

This was after they had been demonised for months.

The court held that the federal government failed to prove any of the allegations against Ademola, who hitherto served as a judge at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court. Justice Jude Okeke, the trial judge held that the federal government failed to establish that Ademola received N38.5 million gratifications, including a BMW Saloon 320i car gift. Okeke held that the prosecution could not link the N30 million Mrs. Ademola received from Agi, to any particular case being handled by her husband.

He also held that government could not tender any evidence showing that the said N30 million was, at any time, transferred to any bank account belonging to Justice Ademola. “None of the witnesses identified or tendered evidence to show that N30 million was paid into any bank account of

The Executive Must Learn to Respect Democracy at Work

For years, the Legislature has remained an appendage of the Executive at all levels of government in our dear nation. In virtually all the states, lawmakers are mere errand boys of governors. Speakers and other principal officers report to governors like their personal aides or get fired. These governors change the leadership of the Legislature at will. The Muhammadu Buhariled Federal Executive believes federal lawmakers should also bow and tremble before it; more so that the leadership is from the same ruling party. It is shocking that the average Nigerian also thinks the Legislature should continue to operate as a rubber stamp institution. This is why some people are reacting negatively to current efforts by federal legislators to assert themselves and operate as an independent arm of government. It is preposterous to think that these federal legislators must approve everything sent to them by the Executive without scrutiny. Some Nigerians think that the legislature must always accept everything thrown to them by the Executive. This is wrong. The Buhari-led Federal Executive must learn to respect democracy at work and put an end to propaganda aimed at rubbishing the Legislature.

It is anti-democracy for the Executive to treat with disdain resolutions passed by elected representatives of the people. The most recent of this contempt was the refusal of the Executive to replace the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu. Yes, the Executive has the right to nominate people for vacant positions, but the final nod belongs to the Legislature. After failing an integrity test, backed by an incriminating letter from the Department of State Security, the elected representatives of the people

For me, any war against corruption must be total and fought within the ambits of the laws of our land. There should be no sacred cow as we have in the case of Babachir Lawal, the great grass cutter and his cohorts. It is also pertinent to put an end to media trials.

Buhari’s war against corruption has largely been media-driven, with very little result in practical terms the 1st defendant either by the 2nd or the 3rd defendants.” The judge noted that the lead investigator, in his evidence-in-chief, admitted that he could not establish any link between the monetary gift and any case that was handled by Justice Ademola.

“A court of law reckons with hardcore evidence placed before it and not on speculations as to why the payments were made,” the judge said. Thus, he said the prosecution failed to discharge the burden of proof placed upon it by the law.

Also talking about not obeying the courts while fighting this war that has become notorious; the case of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki is most pathetic. This government has been holding Dasuki illegally for almost 18 months. All the courts he was arraigned before granted him bail, yet they refused to allow him go home. Even the ECOWAS court declared Dasuki’s continuing incarceration as illegal; yet, the federal government did not budge. This war against corruption must be rejigged.

This is the only way forward for our great country.

Back to Olanipekun’s Epistle. Some of my take away which we must all deeply reflect on include: “We seem to be fixated on the naming and shaming of people rather than confronting, headlong and holistically, the toxicity of corruption in the nation. We have held people without

charge, whilst others with similar allegations of corruption hanging on their necks continue to walk free and are even occupying sensitive positions in government.

“The end result of a failure to adhere to the rule of law is the enthronement of dictatorship. Dictatorship itself breeds anarchy, and when anarchy is enthroned, we enter a sphere described by sociologists as a state of anomie and a regime of anomy. No society wishes it in the first place, but gradually, it inches forward unnoticed when rule of law is discarded, and rule of man is enthroned. It happens when citizens applaud high-handedness, and when any crave for vengeance replaces due process.

A fertile zone for it to germinate is also where the citizenry either keeps quiet, advertently or inadvertently, or even ignorantly or where they are afraid of expressing their views.”

On media trials, Olanipekun said: “We have to be very careful in the way and manner we pronounce and crucify people in this country, without trial, and without affording them the right to be heard. The right to fair hearing is inalienable, given to man by God, right from the time of creation. God gave Adam and Eve the right to fair hearing before He passed judgement on them. I want to plead that every tier of Government in this country, including agencies of government, including also the EFCC and the DSS, to give Nigerians the right to fair hearing in obedience to the clear provisions of the Constitution, as well as the right bequeathed to man by God. “Annexed to the right to fair hearing, is also our duty, whether as government or people, to obey court orders under the doctrine of the Rule of Law. We cannot also hide under the pretext that we are fighting corruption or any particular vice, in refusing to obey any court order, whether in civil or criminal cases, and also including others where courts have directed that citizens should be released on bail.

The Supreme Court succinctly summarized the imperative of obedience to the rule of law.”

Olanipekun argued that the Nigerian government, to a very large extent, had been reactive and not proactive in the fight against corruption: “In my view, Nigeria arrives at the scene of corruption after the deed had been done, after the horse had bolted from the stable.

No efforts have been devoted to building strong institutions and systems which make it impossible for corruption to be perpetrated and perpetuated or which detect same and quickly nip it in the bud.

“What we pretend to be combating and over which we make so much noise and employ high propaganda is the genre of corruption relating to the depletion of our national till, without appreciating the fact that a lot of factors and combinations aid and abet this process.”

This morning, I sincerely hope that our dear President and his anti-graft soldiers will reflect on all these.

The Jamila Shu’ara Soap Opera Ali

decided that Magu was not fit for the job. I can’t see the big deal in this. The Executive should simply ask Magu to step aside and put forward a new person.

There were also issues around the Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal and the Comptroller General of Customs, Hammed Ali, which should not have degenerated if the Executive respects democracy at work.

Again, the Buhari administration often create unnecessary scenes with the annual budgets. The Executive clearly knows that the power of appropriation belongs to the Legislature, while it only submits a proposal. The Legislature can add, subtract and amend the budget in whatever way it deems fit, in conformity with the laws of our land. This is the global standard. We must all learn to appreciate democracy.

For those who have not been following the story, Dr. Jamila Shu’ara is the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, who ordinarily ought to have retired from service in February 2016, after clocking the mandatory 60 years. Her tenure was controversially extended to February 2017. Surprisingly, for the second year running, President Buhari has again extended her tenure by one year, to 2018, with no plausible explanation. This is evidently an abuse of discretion. We should all be concerned about propriety and lawfulness in our nation. Dr. Shu’ara is heading towards 62 years and still in service. This is not in line with civil service rules. This action is also a threat to the civil service which has a practice of keeping to guidelines. The Buhari administration must take politics away from the civil service. There are so many qualified personnel in the civil service capable of taking over from Dr. Shu’ara. Our dear president should allow Dr. Shu’ara to go and enjoy her retirement by reversing this illegal and embarrassing extension.

Shu’ara

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

SUPER SATURDAY

Nigeria’s Movie Industry is Experiencing Cultural Dislocation PAUL OBAZELE

His confidence shines brightly as his fair complexion. An evergreen Nigerian actor, dazzling in performance and unforgettable in actions, Paul Obazele is one of Nigeria’s biggest male movie stars. He belongs to the set of Zack Orji, Kanayo O Kanayo – a group of talented and untiring actors, bringing joy, tears and excitement to many homes. Their illustrious performances captured on the silver screen, perhaps, remain unrivalled – and may still be for many years to come as Obazele and his ilk still once in a while ‘steal’ the show in Nollywood. The former President of Association of Movie Producers (AMP) speaks with Oge Ezeliora on the set of a movie, Busted, on his mission, dreams and intervention in Nollywood

Y

ou seem to have been off the radar recently. What has been happening to you?

I’m still myself doing the work of God and doing what I know how to do best. I’m still a filmmaker, a producer, director, actor and I’m still a child of God and a devoted Christian. I still work in church. Nothing has changed except for the fact that you redefined the grounds because levels must change, higher grounds must come in and if you go to higher altitude with higher attitude, you just move like that.

We learnt you went to Edo State after you left the Association of Movie Producers; to do what if we may ask?

Immediately I stepped aside, the Government of Edo State called me in to become president of EFMA, Edo Film Makers Association. Most of the time, I was in and out of the country, I also had other businesses I had to do and within that period, I had done about nine movies and more are still to be released.

Of course, you would have seen, Iyore, Invasion 1897, Delilah, Upper Creek, etc. I select the movies I do. This is my 32 years in this business and people have come to know and endorse me. It is the criticism of the people that made me what I am today. So I am not scared of critics. The support of the people, the genuine effort of people motivates me.

I become very selective because I hate it when I finish a movie, I can’t sit to watch it with my kids. It doesn’t make sense. Number two, I tend to stay the way I am because unconsciously, we are drifting away from what our culture is and I describe it as a cultural dislocation and because I am a man under authority, I’m a man who is passionate about what my culture is. I stand to do what my culture implies me to do. That is why you are not seeing Paul Obazele in every movie.

Paul Obazele

What are your thoughts about the current AMP president?

Everybody has a take and a stake in everything they do. My strive is different from their strive. So he does his things according to his own strive and I remember the AMP constitution told me something when I was the president that you run the association as you deem fit and so the current president, Ralph Nwadike is running the association as he deems fit. It is not for me to challenge him; it is for me to in whatever way I can complement and defend the association. I once steered that ship, helped built the association according to what its commands and its dictates

are. Whatever he does, if it is okay by him and his judgment and he calls me into to say, ‘see this with me,’ I will do. For example, recently, he launched Nolly-Care Scheme, I was there and I applauded it. The Nolly-Care has to do with the health care of our members and colleagues. And I congratulated him for a great initiative like that. I strongly believe that our members need health care. Though, I have done similar thing before now. I introduced it to Nollywood. And I encouraged all stakeholders to key into it. If he is sustaining that, great, because they say health is wealth.

You are currently on set for ‘Busted,’ and you said you are selective, why did you decide to be part of the cast?

One of my friends who have turned to my brother came on an errand with a leaf in his mouth and got my security to open the gate for him. I came out and saw one man who rose from nothing to something, who believes in what God has given to him. Media people call him Mr. Prolific but I still call him Chico Ejiro. He told me that one of our daughters sent him on a mission for me to be on set. I demanded to see the story. I read it and it is compelling. I loved it because it’s a family story. It’s a rhetorical question; it’s a food-forthought story and I looked at the title, Busted – that attracted me too. When I read the script, I saw my heart cry; the failure of parents. We see lots of criminals every day on the streets. If you go to the prison yards, the first thing that they will give to a criminal that is convicted is the Bible meanwhile when he or she was growing up, they did not give them Bibles at home and it became a big rhetorical question and what was the story?

Simple story of not caring, listening; simple story of assuming that you know your daughter, son and for the fact that you want to please the entire society attending one function or the other amassing wealth unnecessarily at the peril of your home and today we have lots of parents who move from one place to the other. WhatsApp is controlling an entire family. They come back home, rather than find out what is happening to the kids you see everybody busy on Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp. I felt OK, this is the only time I can express myself. Chico came in as a consultant because they brought in the directors and we discussed. The story is about a father who would not want the daughter to stand with anybody, who suspects that anybody that is standing with the daughter is misleading the daughter. She was coerced and taken away from a mixed school she attended.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

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SATURDAY NIGERIA’S MOVIE INDUSTRY IS EXPERIENCING CULTURAL DISLOCATION…

Paul during the making of the movie IYORE She was harassed. Sadly, a house help introduced her to lesbianism. She grew with that and have the audacity to marry a woman against the laws of the land – the law stipulates a 14 years jail term and all of a sudden, the empire that her father built was crumbling and guess what again, he shifted the blame to the mother. As long as the child is not good, it’s the mother’s rather than face his responsibility.

Not only that, again because of the busy nature of the mother and his busy nature, the mother is tired and he comes back home to sleep with the house help.

So what is the wealth for? Most of the very rich men you see today, their kids are into drugs; their daughters are hopping from one bed to the other seeking for satisfaction of care and love. They get into different vices; that is the sum total of what the script is all about. Go to any home, earliest you see some parents come back home is 9pm or 10pm.

Do you have a personal project for 2017?

2107 is a pregnant year. Traditionally, Royal Picture as an organisation that I happen to be the CEO, has a yearly event we call, The Legends of Nollywood Awards. Traditionally, we must do that and this is the sixth year and we have done the ‘Yesterday of Nollywood’ and by that we went to the soap operas that created Nollywood. I need us to understand what Nollywood is. Nollywood is a phenomenon and a brand that was berthed some 25 years ago but cinematography-wise, Nigeria is 54-year-old as a film country. They were people who graced the silver screen for a very long time and for us to understand what the history of

filmmaking and videography is; we needed to visit the silver screen. They were people who bestrode those things as colossus then. We have been able to do that. So, the Legends of Nollywood did that. Now we are getting into the first five years of Nollywood itself from ‘Living in Bondage’ and other films that were produced in the first five years of Nollywood. We are going back to bring the young Liz Benson, Young KOK, Zack Orji and others.

We are bringing them all out. You will see them how they were and how they are. It gives nostalgia of feelings; it gives a sense of belonging; it makes the new generation of people to look forward to the day they will call them up as icons and legends to come and grace the stage. Again, Legends of Nollywood has a talk show, a ‘Legend of Nollywood Talk Show.’ If you are not 10 years old, you can’t sit on my seat.

Not 10 years old of walking away but of steadfastness. You must be in that profession. It means you have been able to weather the storm. You have seen the good, the bad and the ugly and you are still there. Because you cannot be a television man or film man if you don’t have passion. It’s like journalism, no matter how hungry you are, you must write. You cannot quit it for another one because journalism is jealous, the same thing with film making.

How can you and others come together to move the movie industry forward?

Nollywood is a family. We quarrel and settle. Siblings clash but what makes it dangerous is when outsiders get involved. The moment you get involved, there is every tendency that you

take side with one person; it aggravates such anger and that is what is happening to Nollywood. Those who do not mean well for Nollywood get involved and mess it up because of their selfish interest. As long as Nollywood remains divided, they make money from Nollywood. I tell my colleagues with all sense of responsibility and fear of God, don’t take this out. It is like a marriage between a husband and his wife. If they quarrel, they will settle. The moment a third person comes in, it escalates. For example, why will I post my marital stuff on the Internet? Why should I offend Chico and post it on a platform?

Ibinabo has issues. The people she leads has the right to caution her and it ends there in a meeting.

It is resolved. That is why we have disciplinary committee in association and organisations. But sharks and hawks see it as an opportunity to make money. But amazingly, a dawn of realisation has come: we have come back to the drawing board, we are looking at it. Yes, the founding fathers and stakeholders are sitting to say we can actually rectify this. Take for example, Association of Movie Producers is standing, DGN is standing, the other guilds are standing and the actors that we use to make money are not standing, we will make them to stand.

If you are not a registered member of AGN, you cannot perform anywhere.

That is why you see everybody on this set is registered members of AGN. That they are having crisis up there does not mean the ethics, privileges and values that hold us or bind us as one do not stand, it stands. We are not crazy, we are not bastards, we have surnames and we defend our grounds.

Now wearegettinginto thefirst fiveyearsofNollywooditselffrom ‘LivinginBondage’andotherfilms thatwereproducedinthefirstfive yearsofNollywood.Wearegoing backto bringtheyoungLizBenson, YoungKOK,ZackOrjiandothers.We arebringingthemallout.Youwillsee themhow theywereandhow they are.Itgivesnostalgia offeelings;it givesa senseofbelonging;itmakes thenew generationofpeopleto lookforwardto thedaytheywill callthemupasiconsandlegends to comeandgracethestage.Again, LegendsofNollywoodhasa talk show,a ‘LegendofNollywoodTalk Show.’Ifyouarenot10yearsold, youcan’tsitonmyseat.Not10 yearsoldofwalkingawaybutof steadfastness.Youmustbeinthat profession.Itmeansyouhavebeen ableto weatherthestorm.Youhave seenthegood,thebadandtheugly andyouarestillthere.Becauseyou cannotbea televisionmanorfilm manifyoudon’thavepassion

I Don’t Like Being in a Movie I Can’t Watch with My Kids

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APRIL 8, 2017• THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

THE MYTHS OR THE FACTS?

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Bolaji Adebiyi contends that there are no more cold wars between the president and the senate president

eporters who gathered at the foyer of the office of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa last Monday must have been surprised by the testimony of Bukola Saraki, the boyish-faced President of the Senate. He had emerged from a meeting with the president, one of several in recent times. The week before, the media had been agog with reports of an impending showdown between the executive and the legislative arms of the federal government over sundry policy issues and legislative rebuff of some presidential nominations for appointments.

Asked about the content and outcome of his parley with the president, Saraki told State House reporters that he had gone to brief Buhari on the status of the 2017 Budget, undergoing the scrutiny of the Senate, as well as explain to him the rational of the new amendment to the electoral law, which legalised electronic verification of voters and collation of votes. Trust reporters to set up politicians for the big headlines: What about the frosty relationship between the executive and the legislature?

“There is no such thing,” Saraki told them and proceeded to lecture them on the features of cordiality, contending that the rejection of a few presidential nominees or the standing down of consideration of a presidential request is not an indication of a quarrel with the executive.

Actually, the reporters’ expectation that Saraki would confirm a perceived state of war between the executive and the legislature led by him was indeed misguided.

Yet truth be told, a simmering cold war between the two arms of government had snowballed into a full scale hostility weeks before when the Senate declared Magu unfit for the seat of the chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and asked the president to terminate his acting appointment. With no word from the president on the legislative demand, senators agreed to stand down his request for the confirmation of 27 resident electoral commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Further evidence of crisis could be gleaned from the outburst of presidential appointees like Itse Sagay, a professor of law whose uncouth language has been revolting to senators. But what, however, is unknown to the public is the behind the scenes deft moves of Saraki to douse the raging fire that threatens to burn down the house. Aware that he has been held responsible and would be so held for the failure of the Buhari administration arising from the breakdown of relations with the legislature, Saraki opted to maintain a delicate balance between his colleagues’ insistence on the independence of the legislature and the president’s whimsical approach to governance.

Wise choice he made to seek peace. Since he became Senate president at the expense of the candidate of a cabal within the All Progressives Congress establishment, everything thing has been thrown at him to portray him as a disloyal party member who could not be counted on the side of the president. They told Buhari that Saraki

SAVE FOR THE OCCASIONAL OUTBURSTS OF SOME OF THE PRESIDENT’S LATER DAY CIVIL SOCIETY FRIENDS AND OVERZEALOUS SENIOR OFFICIALS OF GOVERNMENT, THERE IS HARDLY ANY INDICATION OF ANY POLICY DISAGREEMENT OR HARD FEELINGS BETWEEN SARAKI AND BUHARI

was too ambitious and too connected in the national political network to be trusted with such a sensitive national institution like the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

For a while, his traducers had the ears of the president as they hauled him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged concealment of assets. Interestingly, one of the ring leaders of the push against him had himself stood in the dock for exactly the same charge by a ruling party that wanted to clip his growing political influence in his region. As it became obvious that what they thought would be a dash would be a marathon race, they slapped Saraki with another criminal charge of forgery and planned to deny him bail. All of these painted him as a corrupt political officer who should not be seen hobnobbing with a saintly president.

Initially, Buhari would seem to have kept his distance from Saraki as their interactions were minimal. But apart from the exigencies of state dictating the need for more interactions, the man from Ilorin’s own inclination towards peace sought to diffuse the orchestrated tension between him and the president. Urged by some of his inner caucus to fight back, Saraki argued that it was better to seek peace because the cost of war might be more devastating than imagined. In any case, he reasoned, as the senate president he had more stakes and responsibilities to keep the machinery of government going on smoothly than his traducers who are essentially provincial politicians attempting to play at the national stage for the first time.

Deploying his vast political network and experience, Saraki’s strategy was to move closer to Buhari, believing that by so doing the president’s prejudices might dissolve particularly if he, Saraki, evidence good faith.

He had an advantage though, while he operates as an insider within the political mix in Abuja, his opponents operate from afar, some from the other end of the country, Lagos.

Does anyone need evidence that Saraki’s strategy has worked? The frequency of his visits to the Presidential Villa these days should clear such a doubt. Besides, save for the occasional outbursts of some of the president’s later day civil society friends and overzealous senior officials of government, there is hardly any indication of any policy disagreement or hard feelings between Saraki and Buhari. Were that not so, Saraki would probably not have been opportune to pay visits abroad to a recuperating president. And as he pointed out last Monday, in spite of the hypes about perceived disagreements between the executive and the legislature, the facts on the ground evince cordiality as more than 95 per cent of executive requests have sailed through the legislature.

Would that have been the case if Saraki was hostile to Buhari as his opponents want Nigerians to believe? The answer certainly must be negative.

Adebiyi is Deputy Editor, THISDAY Newspapers (08053069321)

MENINGITIS: ARE WE DOING ENOUGH? No Nigeria could do more to tame the killer disease, argues Simbo Olorunfemi

T

here is a bit of outrage, as there should be, about a report of yet another Meningitis outbreak in the country. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as of April 3, 2017, a total of 2,997 cases, with 336 deaths have been reported with 146 of cases being laboratory confirmed.

Some are genuinely outraged. Some are not, seeing only another opportunity to stretch their legs and kick at those they do not like, even likening the way this is being managed to how Ebola crisis was managed. They are not quite the same thing. Meningitis, sad as that is, is not that unfamiliar to us. If only we will dig deeper for information, perhaps our commentary will be better informed.

It is well documented that “the whole of northern Nigeria lies within the African meningitis belt. Northern Nigeria has experienced regular large epidemics of meningococcal meningitis, with most of these caused by meningococci belonging to serogroup A.” We are told that several mass vaccination campaigns using the Men A conjugate vaccine (MenAfrivac), which

protects against the most prevalent type of meningococcal disease (serogroup A), have been conducted over the years in the country.

But in spite of that, there has been a history of recurrent outbreaks. A study which worked with data on cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) from February 10 to June 8, 2015, reports that a total of 6394 (65 confirmed and 6329 probable) cases, including 321 deaths (case fatality rate: 5.0%) were recorded. This outbreak lasted 17 weeks, affecting 1039 villages in 21 local government areas in three states (Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger).

So, sadly, we had reported deaths of 321 in 2015 and we already have 336 deaths now. Can we not better manage this? Well, the information has it that what we are dealing with is the serogroup C which is different from the more common serogroup A. On vaccines, I learnt from the NCDC that the Vaccine for the C Strain is in such limited quantity that it is globally held in trust and only released to countries on the basis of need. That, by this account, might have resulted in the

gap between breakout and response in terms of reactive vaccination.

The NCDC says 500,000 doses of the AC-PS vaccine granted by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG) for reactive vaccination in Zamfara has arrived Nigeria, with vaccination scheduled to run till April 9, in Zamfara State. Sokoto and Katsina’s ICG requests are being considered, we are told.

Even as I see that the NCDC, UNICEF, WHO and other agencies are jointly on top of this, still I have my concern - Is there no way this can be better managed? Does the vaccination only have to be reactive? We are told this C strain is a relatively new occurrence, but the scientific study I read reported that in 2013 and 2014 in North -western Nigeria, “two sequential, localised outbreaks of meningitis were caused by a new strain of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C (NmC).”

So, if this strain has been reported in 2013 and 2014, why should it be catching us by surprise again in 2017?

The study I read had suggested that “a

vaccination campaign against NmC with a long-lasting conjugate vaccine should be considered in the region.” Was that ever considered? Was that ever done?

Could the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision have placed Nigeria and neighbouring countries in that belt under a special dispensation?

Can we not do better preventing this annual harvest of deaths? There is the matter of inadequate attention being paid to matters of healthcare, with a public health insurance system that barely scratches the surface, a primary health care that is hardly primary and a national immunisation programme that does not cover some vaccines like rotavirus and others readily available to children in other parts of the world.

There is also a lack of a thoughtful, well-planned and deliberate communications strategy built around modern communication tools. Whatever we are doing is clearly not good enough.

Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian Communications Consultancy and publishers of Africa Enterprise

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APRIL 8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Died... What lessons?

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The South-West And Anchors Borrowers’ Programme

igerians, by now, should be sufficiently convinced that the economic recession gripping their country for some months is a blessing in disguise. If anything, the recession has re-invented the worldview of the governments both at the federal and state levels on economic issues, infusing in them the creativity and vision meant to lead Nigeria out of the woods.

For years, Nigerians have been paying lip service to the idea of economy diversification as a means to avoid over dependence on oil resources. This omission has entailed some fatal consequences which ultimately advanced the coast of social vices; corruption, widespread poverty, insecurity, gangsterism, terrorism, inter-ethnic wars and others in Nigeria. Over dependence on petro dollars threatened to shut down the Nigerian system, making imminent collapse of the federation a possibility.

The present government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, however, came to the rescue by embracing diversification as a measure for catalysing the growth of the economy. Since the past two years, the government’s attention is focused on developing the non-oil sector with perceived aggression, anchoring its energy, first on agriculture. This has paid off as the emerging results continue to assume a magical impression.

The process of economic recovery began when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) spearheaded the agenda to turn agriculture into a revolution. President Buhari added the impetus after launching the programme in Kebbi State on November 17, 2015. The president told Nigerians that his government would stick to the ban on the importation of rice and other food items over which Nigeria has always had comparative advantage on production. Hitherto, Nigeria, annually, was spending over N1 trillion to import food items.

The CBN invented the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, and for a start, deployed a- N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) to mobilise only eager farmers.

Through MSMEDF, farmers have been obtaining loans from the banks to grow rice, wheat and other produce. At the end, harvested produce by every farmer is sold to an anchor (a private large-scale integrated processors) at an agreed price. Through this arrangement, brokered by the government, farmers gain all the way, losing nothing. Farmers who specialise in the planting of rice, wheat, tomatoes and others have been smiling to the banks. The Ministry of Agriculture has started documenting many of them who have truly emerged as millionaires in less than a year of active engagement. Kebbi State is said to have produced more of rural farmers who have suddenly become millionaires! This is so as neighbouring countries queue-up to buy made in Nigerian rice!

Interestingly, the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme by the CBN has literally been reversing the rural-urban migration that had for years put pressures on major Nigerian cities. Idle Nigerians in states like Kebbi, Adamawa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara are increasingly migrating to their respective villages to grow rice and wheat. This, to demographers is a means of attaining perfect population redistribution.

The widening success story in the agriculture

sector in Nigeria with seeming concentration of efforts in the north and some states in the south-east is no doubt a wake-up call for all the governments in the south-west zone of Nigeria. Southwest governors should have immediately enlisted in the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme to mobilise farmers in their zone to be part of the on-going agriculture revolution in the country.

It is important to stress to the governors in the south-west that the ambition by the government of Nigeria to attain a feat in surpassing Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan as largest exporters of rice before 2019 is an opportunity that should not elude farmers in the zone, at any rate. Also, if the federal government plans to raise 20 million jobs through agriculture alone by the end of 2018, the south-west zone should latch on to that by mobilising its youths to be part of the deal.

Unarguably, the south-west has a lot to offer Nigeria as agriculture revolution remains in the front burner on the diversification agenda. The zone is blessed with untapped workforce and most fertile land in the West-African sub-region. In the pre-independence Nigeria, the south-west was on the lead in agriculture in the sub-region. It exported cocoa, rubber, timber, cotton, tobacco, palm kernel, fruits and others. In those days, more than 75 per cent of the populace took to subsistence farming for survival. The Western region government deployed vision to make agriculture the main stay of its economy.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was the first Premier of the region created farm settlements in strategic areas, training farmers to be proud exporters of farm produce.

Idowu Samuel, Abuja

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

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

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

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BPE: The Way Forward

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have noticed that the ongoing administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, has ignored the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), making it idle. That is not the best thing to do.

However, I suspect that the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by the bureau during the previous administration and the alleged corruption in the process, followed by the failure of the new owners of PHCN to supply stable electricity, may be reason for the lackadaisical attitude of the present government to BPE. Therefore, the president should kindly know and note that BPE might have been wrong in some areas of its assignments but that does not mean it lacked skills and ability to carry out its tasks. So, BPE should not be discredited and abandoned because of its mistakes in the privatisation of PHCN, but rather it should be restructured and empowered for better management, performance and growth.

It is important to recollect that the cheap phone calls Nigerians are relatively enjoying today is as the result of the good work of BPE. The same BPE was the one that broke the monopoly

in the telecommunication industry, thereby privatising NITEL and MTEL which necessitated the arrival of MTN, GLO, ETISALAT and AIRTEL into the sector. Nigerians are now enjoying these telecommunication facilities better than when it was monopolised. The BPE should be applauded for that.

Besides, BPE has also achieved a lot in other areas of its mission.

The success or better performance of NICON Insurance is one of the handiworks of the bureau that should not be forgotten in a hurry. One mistake by BPE should not be used to discredit its reputation and the same mistake should not be allowed to darken the good works BPE has done over the years.

Let me at this point call and appeal to the president to reconsider, restructure and empower BPE to enable it perform better and continue to contribute to nationbuilding. President Buhari should also not forget that the leadership of BPE has been acting without confirmation for over two years now.

Once again, the contributions made by BPE towards the development of the nation’s economy should not be forgotten in a hurry. Therefore, the BPE should be restructured and empowered for optimum performance.

Awunah Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja

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T H I S D AY SATURDAY APRIL 8, 2017

T H I S D AY SATURDAY APRIL 8, 2017

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •APRIL 8, 2017

NEWS

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

NDDC Petitions Buhari, Senate, Seeks Settlement of N1.8trn Debt by FG Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Senate seeking intervention for the payment of N1.8 trillion unpaid statutory allocations and ecological funds for the year 2000 to 2015.

The Commission said the sum of N1,797,713,966,652.29 was for unpaid statutory allocations while N45,091,075,401.66 was for unpaid ecological funds.

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere, who signed the letter, urged that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun be prevailed upon to commence the full implementation of the funding provisions of the NDDC Act 2000 section 14(2)(a) & (c).

Ekere, appearing before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, said the recent order by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to NDDC contractors to return to site, had caused the contractors to besiege his office to demand their contract payments.

He added that the NDDC could only deliver on its mandate when it was adequately funded by the Federal Government in line with the establishing Act. He also called for the establishment of a joint committee between the Commission and the Finance Ministry to reconcile outstanding claims due to the NDDC, and develop a mutually acceptable workable repayment plan.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, noted that the funding of the commission was based on law.

Speaking before the Senator Peter Nwaoboshi led committee, Udoma said there was a full budgetary

A TIME FOR HOME TRUTHS...

L-R: Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Ataba Sani Omolori; Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai at the Closing Ceremony of Retreat for the National Assembly Management Staff in Kaduna ... Yesterday

provision for the commission like other agencies, but added that there was the challenge of releases.

He however added that since the claims were based on the establishing Act, whatever was owed the commission should be given to it.

Nwaoboshi urged the Federal Government to urgently commence repayment of the money in the interest of the people of the Niger Delta.

Meanwhile the letter by the NDDC boss reads in part:

"Since taking over management of the organisation on the 4th November 2016, we have carried out a careful diagnostic review of the operations and the results show the Commission has 8,558 projects in its portfolio with about N123 trillion of contingent liabilities on the balance sheet.

"The Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan has not been properly implemented, as such there has been no systemic or sustainable development of the region

FG Yet to File Appeal against, Justice Ademola, Wife, Others Tobi Soniyi

Investigations yesterday revealed that the Federal Government has yet to file an appeal against the ruling of an Abuja High Court which freed Justice Adeniyi Ademola and two others from alleged corruption contrary to media reports attributed to the Presidency that an appeal against the ruling had been filed.

Check at the Code of Conduct Tribunal also revealed that no fresh charge was filed against the judge.

An18-count charge filed against the judge, his wife, Olabowale and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi was struck out after the trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke found that the prosecution did not support the charge with evidence.

The prosecution concluded its case after calling 18 witnesses. But the defendants filed a no-case submission meaning that the prosecution had not led enough evidence to warrant the defendants to enter a defence.

Delivering ruling in the no-case submission, Justice Okeke on Wednesday dismissed all the counts, discharged and acquitted the defendants.

However a day after, the media was awash with reports that the Federal Government had appealed the ruling and also filed a charge against Justice Ademola and his wife before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Meanwhile, a visit by our correspondent to the Abuja High Court Registry where the notice of appeal should have been filed for onward transfer to the Court of Appeal revealed that no such appeal had been filed.

A source at the Court of Appeal, who did not want to speak on record because he was not authorised to speak on the matter also said that there was no such appeal before the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Oladimeji Ekengba, the lawyer to Joe Agi who was arraigned alongside Justice Ademola, told our correspondent that the defence had not been served with any notice of appeal.

Ekengba also said that when he read the news report that an appeal had been filed, he sent his junior to check at both the Abuja High Court and the Court of Appeal and found that no such appeal had been filed.

While pledging the readiness of the defence to defend any appeal, he wondered why the Presidency chose to mislead the world by claiming that an appeal had been filed when no such appeal was filed.

He said: "We were shocked to read from the newspapers this morning that an appeal has been filed by the prosecution and that another suit instituted at the CCT against Justice Ademola and his wife. Up till now, we have not been served with the appeal. We have been to the high court this morning to check the records but there is no notice of appeal.

"We have also cross checked at the CCT, nothing has been filed. Although, we know that they have a right of appeal, but they should do it and stop lying about it. If they have filed, then they should serve us. If they are telling media that they have filed, they should include the appeal number and other information.

They have done enough damage to our clients using the media.

I think all these should stop. If they want to appeal, they should go ahead and there is no need shouting about it."

and this is reflected in the low quality of infrastructure deliverables that decay rapidly, poor socio-economic development of the people, and pipeline vandalism which further exacerbates our funding challenges.

"Our findings suggest that at the root of these issues is the poor governance of the institution due to weak administrative controls and poor corporate culture.

"To address these challenges we have come up with a four point

agenda; the 4R strategy which will Restructure the bloated balance sheet, Reform our governance systems, Restore the Master Plan from which we deviated, and re-orient our human resource to Reaffirm our commitment to doing what’s right.

"The implementation of this plan will result in the irreversible reform of the NDDC and ensure that we execute in collaboration with stakeholders, a Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan that can

be delivered for the benefit of the people.

"Whilst dealing with these internal organisational issues that will improve our performance, we shall also keep focused on the needs of the people of the region through the integrated regional development of infrastructure and the socio-economic improvement of the people. These initiatives will ultimately improve security especially in host communities where the Oil & Gas firms operate."

Expected $6.4bn Inflow Raises Optimism about Naira’s Appreciation Cont’d from Pg.8 It made reference to the CBN Financial Stability Report for December 2016, published recently, that showed that medium and large banks collectively could withstand a 100 per cent increase in nonperforming loans (NPLs) but small banks (assets less than N500 billion) would struggle to withstand even modest NPL deterioration.

“In our own assessment of the banks we rate, which are mostly large (assets more than N1 trillion), capacity to absorb losses through capital varies considerably. Zenith Bank Plc is stronger than the rest, while capital weaknesses at First Bank and Diamond Bank have a significant influence on their ratings.

“All Nigerian bank ratings are in the highly speculative 'B' range, but even so, capitalisation is an important differentiator.

The scores we assign, based on capitalisation and leverage metrics across the sector, are low, but vary considerably,” Fitch added.

The CBN stress tests assessed the ability of banks'

capital adequacy ratios to withstand a number of credit shocks. These include a general rise in NPLs, specific deterioration among banks' five largest obligors and defaults in the oil and gas loan portfolios.

“As a group, small banks were particularly badly hit in the stress tests. They already had very weak starting capital positions, with an average capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of just 3.14 per cent at end2016, following sharp falls in 2016 due to rises in NPLs. “Medium and large banks had stronger starting positions, with CARs of 12.75 per cent and 15.47 per cent, respectively, at end-2016,” it added.

CBN figures showed that NPLs represented 14 per cent of total sector loans at end2016, a very sharp increase on 5.3 per cent at end-2015.”

It noted that unreserved NPLs represented a high 38.4 per cent of total end-2016 regulatory capital (end-2015: 5.9%), signalling considerable weakening in the overall capital position of Nigeria's banking sector. “Reported NPL

ratios do not tell the whole asset quality story.

Restructuring, particularly of loans extended to the troubled upstream oil sector, is fairly common practice in Nigeria, and restructured loans at some rated banks account for as much as 20 per cent of total loans.

“Not all restructured loans will go bad, but in our opinion the portfolios are higher risk, suggesting that capital buffers at banks may be weaker than reported ratios suggest.

“The oil and gas sector accounts for 30 per cent of total banking sector credit in Nigeria. Not all news relating to capital at Nigerian banks is negative.

The banks remain profitable, with results boosted by wide margins and currency revaluation gains, large in In a related development, the Naira fell to N405 to the dollar yesterday, weaker than the N397 to the dollar it closed yesterday. This was largely attributed to the supply gap in the market, just as the central bank continues to battle forex speculators.

Plus

LOUD WHISPERS pg. 20 POLSCOPE pg. 22 TRAVEL pg. 24 AUTO pg. 26 GLOBAL SOCCER pg. 29 FASHION FILE pg. 41

Beverly Naya

We Are Not Yet Ready For Nudity

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 8, 2017

PLUS

Why I Am Different From Other Actresses Nigeria’s film industry is home to some of the most talented and beautiful actors in Africa. Amongst them, a new set of male and female actors are springing up and gradually taking over the scene.

This set of mainly female actors, regarded as the new ladies on the block, with their talents and endowment, like beauty, are today the new toast of movie lovers as much as they bring on their A-game to the screen, Ferdinand Ekechukwu writes

U

ndoubtedly, one actress that stands out from the pack is Beverly Ifunanya.

Thanks to the scriptwriters who are thinking outside of the box and building new characters rather than the typical characters on the screen.

Better known as Beverly Naya, the actress on and off the big screen, is a diva with an attitude so easily given by her appearance. She has stolen media spotlights a couple of times at social entertainment events. Little wonder she’s been adjudged five times in the history of the AMVCAs as one of the best dressed female celebrities to the prestigious awards, which she once got nominated in the category for Best Supporting Actress in Movie/TV series.

Besides her personality – Beverly – since her arrival in Nollywood few years ago, has been cast in lead roles; some cheeky, others sassy.

She, however, said she could not be caught pants down, all in the name of playing a nude role. According to her, this is due to the lasting impression such a role leaves in public mind and its societal connotations.

“I don’t think most Africans are ready to see nudity in our films yet,” she pointed out.

Talking about taking on a challenging role and her yet-to-be released movie, Naya said, “My most challenging role hasn’t come out yet.

It’s directed by (name withheld). The character was emotionally draining, physically draining because it required a lot of exercise, and physical workouts that took a toll on me. But it was worth it. Every single second of that film was worth it and I think a lot of people will love it when it’s released by end of the year.”

Seldom so a case in Nollywood, Beverly began acting while studying Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology at Brunel University in Uxbridge, England, at the age of 17. Having discovered her talent, she went on to study Scriptwriting and Filmmaking at Roehampton University. Her scriptwriting skill appears to have been taken over for now by her non-writing tasks.

“I was using my scriptwriting degree at one point, but then I just got really busy. And you know when you are a writer you can’t get too busy not to write. You should be busy writing because once you take a break from it, to write again can be a problem.”

Flashback 2010, a grand design had heralded her entry into the entertainment industry via a massive press conference in Lagos. She immediately afterwards went back to the UK. For the damsel, it’s her mum first after God and family. This explains why she would relocate to Nigeria following two instances: decision was swayed by her parents; her mum had moved back just before her. Being young and shares a strong bond with her, hardly is there any decision in her career without her mother’s influence.

“So, the next move would be to move closer to where my parents are; more so, with the advantage of homecoming, explore the huge opportunities that abound in the movie world in Nigeria which is a far cry in the UK,” she noted.

Now about six years after in the game, Beverly stands out. She has been able to maintain her career being herself and nobody else.

She acknowledged, “Definitely just being myself, I don’t think there’s anyone like me. God created us all differently. I think just being myself and just understanding who I am has paid off. I never believed in complacency. Knowing that I am getting better as a young person and constantly evolving is very important. And I acknowledge my flaws.

I am open to criticisms as well. I use these things to build my growth and get better.”

Unlike other celebrities who find image pressure very challenging, being very important to many celebrities, what pressure does image puts on her? She said she tries not to put herself under pressure because she doesn’t take on anything she can’t handle and that she doesn’t live to impress other people. She loves doing what makes her happy.

Beverly may be relatively new in Nollywood, but she does understand the dynamics and the happenings

in the industry that have resulted in the changes being witnessed. Like the collaboration of four production houses in the recent case of Mo Abudu’s best-selling movie, The Wedding Party, in which she was well featured.

Her views about Hollywood and Bollywood as bigger and stronger industries, and Nollywood, in terms of the emerging storylines and how it has pushed it beyond the frontiers of the local audience to the international market is quiet relatable. She would admit that acting alone doesn’t truly pay the bills for most of the thespians, despite the pay difference compared to the past which is better now.

But for the young Naya brand, a combination of other items which acting alone attracts makes life easy for her.

“So I think in that regard, it’s lucrative for me right now.

I know that inasmuch as I’m happy with what I am making right now, I don’t think one should ever be content. This is because I think there’s a lot more out there and I intend to diversify so I can make even more money than what I am right now.”

Incidentally, she’s the video vixen in Phyno/PSquare’s new song, Financial Woman. She has also got an endorsement deal with one of the malt drink brands; she models and a brand ambassador for a popular hair treatment line synonymous with her skin colour.

The ebony complexioned beauty doesn’t come across as a talker. And truly, she’s not. She’s got an accent so pronounced and penetrating eyes profoundly appealing that portrays her as one of Nollywood’s biggest sexpots.

She would somewhat admit it’s just an aura, befitting of a 21st Century woman, adding that she is sexy but classy.

At home, she’s

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APRIL 8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS

Besides her personality – Beverly – since her arrival in Nollywood few years ago, has been cast in lead roles; some cheeky, others sassy.

She, however, said she could not be caught pants down, all in the name of playing a nude role. According to her, this is due to the lasting impression such a role leaves in public mind and its societal connotations. “I don’t think most Africans are ready to see nudity in our films yet“ I Am Not Contented with My Successes streaming stuffs online, watching TV or reading a book. Away from home, she’s either hanging out at the cinema or out for dinner with friends. Beverly is ambitious; a distinctly reserved person, compassionate and an extrovert when in the company of friends.

Raised in Britain, Beverly debuted in Nigeria a few years ago in the film, Home in Exile, which earned her Best of Nollywood Awards’s (BON) ‘Most Promising Actor’ 2010 and City People’s ‘Fastest Rising Actress’ in 2011. In the same year, young Naya starred alongside top names in the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nominated hit film, Alan Poza, produced by Charles Novia. Her performance earned her another nomination for Best Actress in a lead role. In the years to follow, Naya starred in Make A Move, Lotanna, Forgetting June, When Love Happens and Weekend Getaway, by Emem Isong.

Beverly Naya also acted in the thought-provoking film, Stripped, opposite veteran actor, Ramsey Noah and acclaimed actor, Joseph Benjamin. She also starred alongside iconic actress, Omotola Ekeinde-Jalade, in the big budget film, Up Creek. She

has starred alongside some of the biggest names in the African film industry including, Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Hlomla Dandala, Majid Michel and Xolile Shabalala.

In 2013, Beverly Naya made her television series debut in Passport, a BET TV series shot entirely in Atlanta, Georgia. Not long after wrapping up the series, Naya got herself a supporting role as the feisty and seductive Yaya Gardia, on M-Net’s number one soap, Tinsel.

She’s one of four lead females in the exciting Sex and The City inspired television series, B4-30 as well as the lead in ‘Surulere’ – a film directed by Mildred Okwo and produced by Rita Dominic. The same team behind the award -winning film, The Meeting. The actress is also an activist. An advocate of gender empowerment, she is constantly looking for ways to positively effect change and growth in the society.

Amongst other campaigns, Beverly is the founder of her very own campaign, called #FiftyShadesOfBlack, which she started in 2014 to inspire young black girls to love themselves, whatever the colour or shade; whether dark skin, or brown skin, irrespective of their complexions.

Naya and Majid Michel on set

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017 with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

LOUD WHISPERS

Bamaiyi

General Bamaiyi: Please Go Back to Sleep This dragon has suddenly woken up.

While he was asleep, the country had moved so much and achieved a lot. We had built the third largest movie industry in the world, the country’s internet and phone penetrations were in the millions.

We had become the largest economy in Africa. We had succeeded to a great extent in stabilising our democracy. Civilian presidents have handed over to civilian presidents. We have succeeded in transferring power democratically from one ruling party to the other. So you can imagine my irritation at his pathetic book which is trying to take us back into the dark days.

Yes, history must be recorded for posterity.

Then again in so doing, adequate care must be taken in nursing objectivity and a robust work that would withstand intellectual scrutiny and not a work laced with jaundiced and personal innuendoes aimed at achieving some sinister unannounced motives. Seriously, who at this time in the country is interested in Obasanjo’s role in a phantom coup especially at a time when a lot of Nigerians were accused and punished as coup plotters for just waking up from their beds? Can someone give me General Bamaiyi’s number let me tell him these things I am saying and more face to face? Nigeria has moved on, in case he has not noticed. Sir, kindly go back to sleep.

Ali Ndume : On the Ropes My dear Senator Ndume is on the ropes.

He has been bloodied by better strategists and pugilists. Do I really care? I think not.

Honestly, for fear of being summoned to come and explain my utterances, I would have said one or two things about this present Senate. But as I will not be able to afford cost of the ticket to fly to Abuja and as you all know, I have a play to produce, I will just keep quiet and lay it on Ndume since he is already on the floor. My Lord, you will find no pity with me, simply because like most Nigerians we are wary of what is going on in that hallowed chamber. So being thrown out by your colleagues although temporarily should give you an opportunity to go back home and reflect on your activities, and in fact, the activities of the Senate in its entirety with a view to answering this very seminal question: Is the Senate really representing the true interest of the people who voted them in?. As you must have noticed by now, I am choosing my words as I take on the veil of cowardice but that said, I remain worried at the level of disrespect the Senate is receiving from all sorts of people.

Why, if I may ask, is this happening to this particular Senate? Why this unprecedented lack of respect for the Senate and by extension the Nigerian people especially at this time. My dear Senator Ndume, kindly ask your supporters to stand down. This suspension is needed so that you can come back stronger and more invigorated as a true leader in the Senate. For this reason, I support your suspension. Thank you.

Akinwunmi Ambode: Let Me Say Something Now every morning as I go to work, I am inundated with radio jingles exhorting all Lagos people to go ahead to Alausa very quickly to secure facilities for their business. What is really striking for me is the emphasis being placed in that advert that you do not have to be a Lagosian to access this life-saving initiative. One is

Ndume

Ambode

The Senate VS the Presidency: My Candid Opinion These people do not know how to fight abeg. They are just gesticulating and prancing around. This fight reminds me of those fights we used to witness at Oshodi or any of the motor parks in Lagos. So people will be getting ready to fight, one will shout - emiiiiiiiii and run from one end of the park to the other, stripping and tearing his clothes, all the while screaming about his prowess. His supporters are also jumping up and down touting his powers and his victims.

They will be reminding you that this guy killed seven policemen with his bare hands, he had defanged an angry tiger just last week here o and that he would just make mince meat of this opponent. Meanwhile, the opponent is not left behind in all these theatrics.

He too is jumping up and down, shouting his own praises. ‘Emi, boxer, Emi Omo Ekun, Omo Iya akpata, ma pae. Meanwhile the fight is at Oshodi o, he will run to Ikeja and come back . Run towards Mushin and come back, beg his supporters to break two bottles for him. He would prefer one brown bottle called odeku and one green bottle so that the slashes will

come out sharp. His supporters will scream in delight helping him break the bottles. By this time, both pugilists are now stark naked, excitement is the air, people have started throwing in their bets and eyes are becoming blood shot. My people in all this, no punch had been thrown just yet o.

Na drama we dey all look. The crowd swells, abuses fill the air and a circle is drawn around both combatants.

They start dancing around like professional boxers, covering their faces with their arms looking for an opportunity to throw a punch; all the time hurling insults at each other. ‘Ko ni da fun eh’, (please pardon my Yoruba) while dancing the dance Mohammed Ali made famous. After hours of these theatrics, the crowd gets bored and starts beating the two of them for wasting their time without even throwing a punch. This is how we are beginning to feel about this perceived face-off.

Boredom is seeping o, no more excitement abeg, nobody has thrown the first punch and we are getting tired of the prancing and dancing. If punches will not be thrown, save us from all the theatrics abeg. Thank you.

entitled as long as he lives in Lagos and his or her business is based in Lagos and the promoters are registered with the LASRA. The very strategic import of this message is not lost on me and should not be lost on all true Nigerians. Ambode is sending a very strong message of national cohesion, recognising that true economic and socio-political development can only be achieved if we harness our collective strengths instead of limiting ourselves to very shallow ethnic biases when it comes to dishing out the dividends of democracy.

At the risk of sounding like a sycophant, let me even use this opportunity to say one or two things about this Ambode administration.

In my whole life, I have never done

anything with government. I hear stories of red tape, lazy civil servants and corruption amongst others in dealings with these people. In pursuit of support for my play, Isale Eko, which is an attempt at celebrating Lagos at 50, I invaded Alausa. I found it o. I was surprised at the fact that an Ibibio man in the Shomolu Diaspora could be given attention. My vision was listened to at the highest levels of the Lagos State Government very objectively. I faced a panel of well-tested professionals who asked me some very technical questions in a bid to perfectly sell the idea to the ‘number one’ as they call him. Everything was so professional.

Nobody asked me for anything; nobody offered any unethical advice or sugges-

Obey

tion. I was guided through the maze and gently nudged towards getting executive approval. When the approval came, I was so sure that it would take forever to get the support. I had already started seeking ways to borrow money for the play. But to my surprise, all officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Arts and Culture from the sweet acting Commissioner to the hard-working Permanent Secretary put everything down to make sure we were supported on time. I was taken aback.

This was a private sector-type engagement I was experiencing at Alausa and every office I entered, you could sense a high level of professionalism and seriousness in their approach to their work.

Lagos is indeed working. I must say this as I have witnessed it personally. I can now proudly state that I am a true Lagosian especially with the employment trust fund. They say they can give as little as N500,000 to a small business with the kind of interest rates that you can only get in your dreams. Please where is the office o and how can I get my own?

Ebenezer Obey at 75 Let me also join in pouring encomiums on this legend. A lot of people do not know that during a particularly dark period in my growing-up years, his philosophical songs gave me strength. My dad had suddenly lost his job and was finding it very difficult to get a new one. My mum, who was an army officer working with the medical corps, was suddenly thrown into a leadership role she was least prepared for, which she however assumed with the gusto of a mad elephant. She did everything to maintain the standard of living of the family, ensuring that we continued at the same schools and all that. To earn additional income, she took to selling bread and as the firstborn, it fell on me to run that part of the family business empire. So I came back from school every day, headed to the nearest bakery in Shomolu to queue with market women to pitch bread from very hot oven. I never used to enjoy that part of my life, but there was nothing I could do since we had to eat at home. As we struggled to get the bread out with a lot of pushing and shoving, there would be tears in my eyes, for I never really expected our family to be in that kind of quagmire.

We were not rich but we were a very comfortable middle-class family who had two cars, did the usual annual vacation and attended good private schools. We used to be the envy of the other families in Shomolu, who labelled us ‘butter’ which was the moniker for rich people.

All of a sudden, I was here struggling for bread with market people. I used to feel so ashamed and on the verge of a psychological breakdown. However, as I loaded my bread to count, I will be hearing Obey’s sonorous voice belting out from the speakers. He would be singing and from the little Yoruba I could understand, he was asking me to calm down and struggle, and that this was not permanent. He gave me the strength and with time, I would be looking forward to the bakery because of the opportunity to listen to him. I am who I am today because of Ebenezer Obey; he stopped me from losing the fight and gave me the impetus with his songs and wise words to grow from the tiny bread seller to becoming the Duke of Shomolu. Happy birthday sir and many happy returns.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

SPY GLASS

Tongues Wag About Dabota Lawson

Over the years, Dabota Lawson, a former model, has reportedly been involved in one controversy or another.

Not a few have forgotten the controversy surrounding her marriage to her erstwhile husband, Prince Sunny Aku. Initially, she denied any crash in her marriage but later went full throttle to paint her marriage to Aku as the greatest mistake of her life. Thereafter, she disappeared from the social scene.

Having recoiled into her world, there are insinuations that the ex-beauty queen is either broke or still busy licking her wounds.

Strangely, her husband, the boss of luxury brand, Novena Majesty Furniture, maintained his cool and remained focused on his business, even in the face of provocations.

It will be recalled that the ex-model was reportedly kicked out of her home for alleged unfaithfulness to her husband in August, 2015.

At the height of the alleged infidelity, she reacted, saying her haters were at work. She went further to put up a video of herself and her hubby, cuddling at a public function.

However, shortly after this, she reportedly deleted all photos of her home, leaving only photos of her cosmetic line on her Instagram handle, a situation that has further confirmed the crashed marriage.

Dabota and Aku got married in December 2014 in a celebrated wedding that was attended by top personalities in the country.

Rahama Indimi’s Happy Moment

It is no longer news that Rahama Indimi, daughter of Borno State-born oil mogul, Mohammed Indimi, has finally left her husband, Mohammed Babangida, son of a former military President, Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida.

The separation had been rather messy, as the public was fed with some unpleasant news about their marital life.

However, it seems the mother of four has finally put this ugly drama behind her as she has since moved on.

Spy glass gathered that she did not betray any modicum of frustration or emotional disturbance when she celebrated her 40th birthday with close friends and family members recently.

She was said to have been flashing a winsome smile from one seat to the

with Bayo Adeoye ....08054680651 other and exchanging banters with some of the guests at the occasion.

At the outset of the crisis in the 12-year-old marriage between Rahama and Mohammed, a development that made her move out of the Babangidas’ palatial Hill Top mansion in Minna, Niger State then, only the couple’s families and close friends knew about it.

Sadly, it was later made public by Rahama herself when she took to the social media and announced the crash of her marriage last year.

There were accusations and counteraccusations leading to a legal battle.

Eventually, a court granted Mohammed Babangida the custody of the children. But efforts by court officials, accompanied by the policemen to execute the court order, were allegedly met with resistance from Rahama and her sister.

She also allegedly used the social media to wage war against her exhusband, accusing him of wanting to use his influence as a son of a former military president to unjustly maltreat her.

Folly Coker Soars Higher

For obvious reasons, the recent appointment of Folorunsho Folarin Coker as the Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, came as a surprise of sorts to many.

Until the news of his new position broke, Folly Coker, as he is fondly called, had maintained a low profile, after he was removed as Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture

by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.

His removal had come as a rude shock to many owing to the fact that he is said to be one of the most loyal aides of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu.

While he took the development with absolute resignation to the will of the Almighty God, the story trended for a long time in the media.

However, in the midst of it all, he moved on and re-strategised his numerous businesses.

The handsome and amiable man later travelled abroad, where he spent time with his family. When he finally returned home, he chose Abuja over Lagos to launch himself back to the society.

Now, mother luck has smiled on him, as he is among those who were recently appointed into federal government agencies.

The Lagos big boy has done so well for himself in all ramifications. Little wonder he commands enormous respect among politicians, government officials as well as captains of industry.

Though many claim that he rode to prominence on the crest of the popularity of his father, Chief Folarin Coker, fondly called Baba Eto of Lagos, it is believed that he shot to greater fame when he worked as Deputy Chief of

Staff to Tinubu.

In the twilight of the Babatunde Raji Fashola-led administration, he was appointed Special Adviser on Central Business District, taking over from Derin Disu, a Lagos society woman and daughter of Chief Braithwaite.

Before then, he had been Managing Director of Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority.

Akeredolu’s Lesson in Steadfastness

By Providence, respected lawyer and politician, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is the incumbent Governor of Ondo State.

No doubt, it was a keenly contested election between Akeredolu, a candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and candidates of the other political parties. In the build-up to the election, he did not see any reason to entomb his living dream. Indeed, some reportedly tagged him an incorrigible dreamer who refused to be bothered about the enormity of the odds against him.

Everywhere he went to during the campaign, he was armed with his pragmatic manifesto, pleading with his people to give him a chance to serve them.

Even when it was obvious that some powerful elements in the state , including the then incumbent governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, and even within his political party, allegedly posed a threat to his political ambition, he held on to his dream with uncommon steadfastness. Luckily, he eventually had the last laugh.

He had lost the bid to clinch the number one job in the state in 2013. But the experience only toughened him when he offered himself to serve his people again.

While he was neck-deep in the campaign, he still maintained his cool, even in the face of needless lies and abuses hurled at him. He refused to join issues with his other political opponents.

Today, Akeredolu is already showing evidence of a brilliant mind who knows what to do when fate offers him a rare opportunity in life.

Honour for Babatope Agbeyo

Chairman of Cornfield Group, Dr. Babatope Agbeyo, must be over the moon now.

It all started in January when the Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State conferred on him an honorary doctorate alongside the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja11.

While his family and fans were still revelling in that joy, a high-powered team from the State of Georgia arrived Lagos last Monday to deliver a resolution by both the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives to recognise and commend him for his dedication to public service and support for

people around the world and Georgia, in particular.

Spyglass gathered that the team was led by 86-year-old Mrs. Naomi Ruth Barber King, widow of American rights activist, A.D King. She was accompanied by Representative Sharon Beasley-Teague of District 65, Georgia House of Representatives, and Dr Babs Onabanjo, President of A.D King Foundation.

They were hosted at the Nigerian Corporate headquarters of Agbeyo’s Cornfield Group.

King, who was visiting Africa for the first time, was full of praises for Agbeyo, whom she described as a beacon of light for other entrepreneurs on the continent.

In his response, the Usi-Ekiti, Ekiti State-born businessman, who holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Birmingham City University, United Kingdom, thanked the visiting team, the A.D. King Foundation and the Georgia for the recognition and honour.

He assured the delegation that Cornfield Group would remain proud ambassadors of the A.D King Foundation.

Agbeyo’s company is a holding company for Media Concepts International Limited, Botosoft Technologies Limited and FOAM Studio Nigeria Limited).

Folasade Folivi Shames Critics

When Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, appointed Folasade Folivi, as the Managing Director, Lagos State Building Investment Company, LBIC, in December 2015, not a few kicked against the development.

However, she has since proven that she is actually prepared, mentally and physically, for the job.

Upon her appointment, she hit the ground running with a series of policies that have since positioned the company well.

Strangely, in spite of her widely acknowledged professionalism, she has, at various times, been in the news for the wrong reasons.

But she is unruffled, even in the face of the alleged sponsored negative reports about her.

Today, the highly respected chartered accountant has many achievements to show for her efforts in the past two years, a development that has put her in the good books of stakeholders.

22

APRIL 8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLSCOPE

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com 08053069356

Meningitis: St. Yari Versus Canticles...

Why is Babachir Lawal the Sodomic Natives Still in Office?

T

here is obviously no limit to the stretch of religious dogma among some Nigerians, irrespective of their social or political status.

That alone perhaps explains the judgemental theory of the Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, who concluded that the outbreak of meningitis in parts of the north, including his own Zamfara State is all because of the tons of sins of the people. He explained that the “nefarious” and immoral acts of the people are responsible for the outbreak of the disease, which as at last Wednesday, had claimed over 336 lives in the affected states. According to Gov. Yari, the epidemic is therefore God’s own way of not only punishing the people for their sins, but also a warning meant to pull them out of their evil ways. That is a state governor! A man on whom the well-being of millions of people is entrusted. Worse still, that is the same man who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Gov. Yari is so obsessed with the disgusting sin of his people so much that he does not or refuses to understand that meningitis is largely caused by viral or bacterial infection, which thrives in hot and overcrowded settlements, and that the states in the northern belt which experience the hottest measure of temperature, and are shielded by no vegetational cover, are most susceptible to dry hot breeze which blows from the Sahara Desert. And that the states nearest the desert are therefore more vulnerable to hot weather and the concomitant effects. Yari is too religiously paranoid not to reckon with all the hue and cry about climate change which accounts for the amount of heat hitting the earth. For the likes of Yari, all the talk about destruction of the ozone layer and the direct effect of sunray on planet earth is scientific balderdash.

It is certainly the sins of his people which have invoked the scourge of meningitis!

He is too holy to spare a condolence thought, even if it is pretentious, for families who have been affected by the outbreak of the disease. The first public statement to flow from the mouth of this governor whose people have suffered most from the epidemic is to rebuke them for their sins. It is like adding salt to injury.

He explains that while his government had taken precautionary measures to prevent the disease by immunising the people against Virus A of the disease, their continued sins pushed God to send type C of the virus, knowing that type C virus does not have a vaccine.

Hear him: “However, because people refused to stop their nefarious activities, God now decided to send Type C virus, which has no vaccination.

“There is no way fornication will be so rampant and God will not send a disease that cannot be cured.”

He threatens with ecclesiastical authority that “People have turned away from God and he has promised that ‘if you do anyhow, you see anyhow’, declaring that “that is just the cause of this outbreak as far as I am concerned.”

Like Biblical prophets of old, Governor, no, Saint Yari noted that the amount of fornication among the people is what has irked God to visit the affliction of meningitis on the people. It was a heartless and inauspicious sermon from the governor.

Mr Governor, how much of fornication and general immorality did those infants commit to incur the wrath of God? Or is God so unjust as to punish the innocent infants for the lasciviousness of their parents? Is the governor saying that those spared from the scourge are the holy ones in the affected states?

And Saint Yari, are there no fornicators down south who are neck deep in “nefarious acts” to provoke and incur the wrath of God? How come the middle belt and southern states many of whom have worrisome figures on HIV /AIDS infection were spared the punishment for fornication and unholy living? Or is it turn-by-turn?

And Mr Governor, how come this same vengeful ‘God’ has not visited a deadlier variety of meningitis on the clan of thieving governors and other public officials across the land? Or do the governors also enjoy immunity from God’s anger and punishment?

Without trying to justify or classify or grade

I

had so believed that this fight against our enemy is blind. And that whoever dresses like our enemy is considered an enemy automatically without having to do a forensic audit of the texture of the dress.

Who is this enemy you are talking about and what exactly are you referring to?

What a question!You mean you don’t know our collective enemy? Isn’t it corruption? What other enemy is troubling us fiercely as a people?

So what makes you think that the war against it is not being fought blindly?

Have you not heard of the many accusations that the war is only being fought within the territory of those that are against the presidency?

But you know it is not true. Don’t mind those mouthing such infamy. It is just a way of corruption fighting back. Have you forgotten that Jafaru Isa and Mohammed Umar who are Mr President’s associates and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were arrested at one time or the other over allegations of corruption? Did you forget also that one of them, Isa, actually refunded N100 million looted fund to the EFCC? So how else can a fight be blind?

But people are asking why Mr David Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is still in office after the damning evidence against him on the grass-cutting saga where he awarded grass-cutting contract to a company he has substantial interest in to the tune of N270 million and N200 million of the sum found its way into his company’s bank account.The Senate committee which investigated the case Gov Abdullaziz Yari indicted the SGF with proofs of compromise, yet the man remains in office as if his case does not qualify to be described as corruption. sin, which one is a worse sin: immorality or Or is it a case of all animals are equal but some are more equal? treasury looting? In the former, the lives of only Hmmmm, you speak with so much oracular certitude. Do I need to tell you that this is politics? two persons are directly involved, but in the latter, And that in politics, things do not always seem as they the lives of hundreds of thousands of people are involved. How come the governors who steal the appear?

Do you realise that the so-called indictment from money meant for the welfare and development of the Senate committee that investigated the matter was the people are spared the wrath of God, whereas God is so mindful of the infatuational inclination of tagged an interim report? What is the final report? two youths or two adults as to strike them with a Are you aware that a group called Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) has actually carried killer affliction? out independent investigation into the allegation and Gov. Yari is simply tied to pristine and primordial dogma and is so blinded by it, and so suffers cleared the SGF of any blame? a closed mind to science-related realities.

I am not moved by those arrangee reports by I recall how this same mindset triggered great unknown groups. Do you realise it is that same violence in Borno State about eleven years ago.

CATBAN that organised a public hearing on the Weeks before the day, meteorologists had been matter and invited the Managing Director of announcing that there will be an eclipse of the Josmon Technologies, Hussaini Abdullahi who, sun for a given number of hours and that it is a while speaking at the public hearing, claimed that normal celestial phenomenon.

On the said date and time, the eclipse occurred the money paid into the account of Rholavision Engineering (owned by Babachir Lawal) was a and there was momentary darkness across the payment of loan advanced Josmon Technologies land. to enable it complete the project within the Pronto, Islamic youths in Maiduguri, the state capital, sprang up and started attacking Christians stipulated time? Have you asked yourself who is funding CATBAN? Apart from the grassand churches, hotels and bars claiming that the cutting issue, have you ever heard of CATBAN eclipse of the sun which brought momentary commenting on any other matter in the country? darkness, was as a result of the sins of the Does that not tell you something? Look, all these,Babachir Lawal “infidels”. Some churches, bars and hotels were are afterthoughts. Just a way of wriggling out razed down. But for the quick intervention of police and even soldiers who patrolled the streets, of the noose which everybody knows was tight on the SGF’s neck. Were it not so, why did Lawal refuse to appear before the Senate committee after several invitations? Do there would have been casualties. not forget also that the Senate said Mr. Lawal remained a director of the company till Responses from the public explaining that the September 2016, more than one year after his appointment, in breach of Nigeria’s code of eclipse was a natural and scientifically-foretold conduct for public officials as enshrined in the 1999 constitution. occurrence was considered as mere dress-ups to Look, we can reasonably conclude that only the guilty are afraid and that the SGF explain away the wrath of God which came in was afraid to appear before the Senate committee, because his hands are not clean; so form of the eclipse. he cannot even plead a case of no fair hearing, because he was given the opportunity to But if we blame the illiterate and uninformed defend himself.

Almajiris who took those actions at the time, how Do not forget also that the presidency had written to exonerate him of any blame, pointing out shall we explain the heartless and misleading that the so-called report recommending his sack was merely interim, noting also that only three vituperation of Gov Yari who was obviously out of the nine members of the ad hoc committee signed the report, thus making it a minority blabbing silly narratives? report.

It is the likes of Yari who will explain away every accident as “an act of God”, even when it It is that kind of defence coming from the presidency that fuels the belief that all is clearly a fault of human error. It is a mark of animals are equal, but some are more equal. gullible acquiescence and undue attribution of It is all looking like magic.The more we look, the less we see. Government is using the man’s foibles on God. structures and instruments of state to bungle this case, to unduly protect one of its own.

Why was God not provoked when one A man awards contract to a company where his company is a consultant, and individual used N270 million to clear grass for eventually the contractor returns N200 million of the contract sum to the company of the Internally Displaced Persons? Why did God not release the rain of leprosy on those who dug new man who awarded the contract, and you say it is not corruption.They cook up a story that the sum refunded was a loan and you think we are all so gullible to believe such cock soak-away pits to hide fresh bales of $1 million? and bull story? Why did the contractor not obtain the loan from a bank? Let me tell you, if Where was Yari’s quick-to-judge God when one Babachir Lawal is not dealt with decisively, nobody will take the fight against corruption fellow hid $9.8 million and some other currencies by this government seriously anymore. in a slum in Kaduna?

Well, you are only being emotional unduly. We have to deal with hard facts. No responsible All our commonwealth being stolen, leading to government can act merely on flying and unestablished allegations. untold and avoidable hardship to Nigerians are not enough to cause God to release the plagues Ok, what about the latest allegation that the contracts awarded under the Presidential of Egypt on the offenders? Pray, what is a greater Initiative for the North East (PINE) were awarded to 20 ghost companies? That too is sin than what Boko Haram is doing? Using the not a hard fact? Are the names of those companies found in the register of the Corporate veil of religion to slaughter and kill thousands Affairs Commission (CAC)? of innocent and hapless people? Where is Yari’s Did you not read the response of the SGF? That his office does not award contracts? And that God? Somebody should tell him to urge this his G(g)od to come fight for us all and leave the poor the contractors in question were certified by the BPE before they were awarded the contracts?

One thing you must always remember is that no matter how sharp a knife is, it cannot cut its own lascivious sinners alone. The criminals in high places are ensconced in their air-conditioned toilets, handle. I will not say more than that. homes, cars and offices and thus shielded from the (thinking deeply) Oh, now I understand what you mean….. awww…. We should call on fatal blight of meningitis. But Yari interprets it all Alan Paton to write part two of Cry, the Beloved Country. differently. God have mercy!

T H I S D AY SATURDAY APRIL 8, 2017

23

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •April 8, 2017

TRAVEL&LEISURE

by OMOLOLA ITAYEMI omolola.itayemi@thisdaylive.com 08054699602

Folarin-Coker Returns as NTDC Boss

One minute, Folorunsho Folarin-Coker was steering the ship of lagos State tourism, wowing us with the ‘One lagos’ brand with so much dynamism and savoir faire, the next he was out in a cabinet reshuffle. He returns as the new DG, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) 24 hours after being named Director-General of the National Film and Video Censors Board. is Coker the messiah NTDC needs now or just a cat with nine lives. Omolola Itayemi reports

I

t’s been one hell of a battle as tourism gladiators battled for the most prestigious job in the sector - Director General of NTDC but only one winner emerged at the end of the day, Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State and hospitality top shot who some say wasn’t even one of those seriously contending for the position.

For outsiders, it looked like not much was happening, well except for the controversial three acting director generals in the last 5 months since Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo left. Don’t be deceived, a lot of lobbying was on-going and the CV’s of candidates dropped at the presidency was more than 50, THISDAY Travel and Lesiure learnt.

Now that the dust has settled and we can move on, we need to remind Coker of how much trust has been placed on him. In the absence of a tourism ministry, he has become the de facto minister with a lot of influence and power in the industry. But, unlike previous years, stakeholders comprising private sector and media are very concerned about happenings in the industry and every action taken will be closely scrutinised.

Now that the ministry is gone, the federal government must build the capacity of NTDC, increase funding, and early release of allocation, and most importantly, it must be allowed/enabled it to generate revenue because mere marketing and promotion responsibilities as it stands, cannot grow local or international patronage.

The NTDC is an agency under the Ministry of Information and Culture and the apex tourism agency in Nigeria. Established in 1992 with the promulgation of Decree 81, which is now an act of the National Assembly, the corporation is charged with marketing and promoting Nigeria’s tourism assets with a view to making Nigeria the foremost tourist destination in Africa. Part of its mandate is to make tourism a major pillar of the economy and help reduce dependence on oil as a source of foreign exchange earnings.

An advocate of domestic tourism, going by his antecedents in Lagos State, he will definitely enjoy good support from the president and members of the Presidential Committee On Tourism (PCT) who share the passion of boosting domestic tourism.

Secondly, his predecessor, Uwechue-Mbanefo who is also a strong advocate of domestic tourism has done a lot of groundwork in that area to enable him a good start.

But certain things must be put in place to help make Nigeria a destination such as fostering a smooth relationship between the private sector and the government. We need to let go of the subtle warfare between both which hasn’t achieved much in the past and won’t do now. With the recent agitations from stakeholders comprising private sector and the media, and admission by the government to make tourism one of the pillars of the economy, running NTDC will not be a walk in the park but I know it’s something he can do well.

Coker

To grow the sector in Nigeria, our arrivals has to improve and Coker did well in this regard in Lagos State. This is one expertise he will have to deploy now because without figures you cannot plan. In 2014, over 4 million people came into the country via our airports, regrettably, most of these visitors are Nigerians returning home that does not fit the description and definition of tourists.

The National Bureau of Statistics with other related bodies will have to step up their game. Some of the practitioners have in the past accused NBS of undermining the contribution of the sector to the Gross Domestic Product which is one of the reasons that ultimately led to the scrapping of the ministry. The Nigerian Immigration Service is also indicted here; we should be able to get figures from them. NBS inability to use modern and internationally prescribed standards for measuring Nigeria’s travel and tourism contribution to GDP which has failed the sector over the years for limiting its tracking to mere accommodation and Food Services/ Arts, Entertainment and Recreation. The Bureau’s approach fails to capture International Conventions and Agreements of the United Nations Statistical Commission approved in

2000 neither has it used the Tourism Satellite Account conceptual framework as a new international standard for measuring the sector’s contribution to the GDP. The TSA takes the form of a basic system of concepts, classifications, definitions, tables and aggregates linked to the standard tables of 1993 System of National Accounts from a functional perspective. Without a doubt, the estimation of the expenditure associated with the different forms of tourism (inbound, domestic and outbound) is the main priority. Finally, estimation of total visitor consumption takes into account the number of trips (estimated by the arrivals/ departures of visitors) and the average daily expenditure by visitors.

With an annual departure of almost 4 million passengers, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) generated (N197, 599,911,988.00) about 80% of all international airlines ticket sales in Nigeria between January 2013 and January 2014. This was not captured as tourism earnings. Same goes for land and water transportation.

We don’t even know how many hotels we have. If we don’t have figures, how can we allocate resources to help the sector?

Though there are no accurate figures on hotels and accommodation providers in Nigeria, practitioners are of the opinion that there are close to 15,000 or more hotels of various categories.

No one is more important in tourism than your front desk officers, the first point of contact on arrival in any country. From immigration to Nigeria Customs to Port Health, their comportment towards visitors and tourists can be better. Nigerian Citizens have constantly complained of not being treated right. If we are serious about tourism, these officers need to be trained to be more tourism-savvy. Also, we need to think about introducing tourism police like in other climes.

Never has it been most pertinent for the various associations in the industry play a strong role in growing the industry. NATOP and NANTA have witnessed a surge in agitation for a better industry with their respective heads of recent. Asides these agitations, the roles of these associations in growing the industry are huge especially in a country where the government pays lip service to tourism. NURTW with its huge impact on tourism, being one of the main means of movement especially with domestic tourism is non-existent in tourism industry circles. Very sad because it’s role here is also as important as NANTA. Never has it been more pertinent than now for NTDC to have a DG who understands tourism in these times, one who has a full grasp of tourism in the age of the new media and one who understands what it takes to define, curate and maintain a destination like Nigeria. It is time to get the ball rolling, bring out the tourism potentials of every state and let’s roll it into one big pie that brings in the dough. As Bankole Bernard, NANTA president said, tourism is the low hanging fruit that can get us out of this recession.

First Cabin Crew Fair Launches in Nigeria

N

igeria’s aviation industry got a boost last week with the first ever Cabin Crew Fair in Lagos, Nigeria. The forum provided the right platform for aspiring cabin assistants.

Every seat at the Royal Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos was occupied, a testimony to the importance of the fair. Aspiring cabin assistants were mentored in a relaxing ambience by professionals in the industry.

Of note was the keynote address of the chairman of the fair, former Managing Director of IRS Airlines, Mr Yemi Dada, highlighting the fact that Cabin Crew occupies special place in the aviation industries, which should not be ignored.

This is just as he said that Cabin Crew profession is one that must be taken seriously by those already working as Cabin Crew and those who intend to be airline Cabin Crew.

According to him, “Being a Cabin Crew turns you into a nurse, Commercial Officer and gives you other duties such as managing all kinds of people on board the aircraft.”

He commended the organiser of the programme for a job well done, adding the forum would not have come at a better time than now, urging potential Cabin Crew to be focused if they really want to be one.

Delivering her welcome address, the organiser of the fair, Joy Ogbebo explained that the need to highlight the strategic role of cabin crew at the workplace, illuminate the oversight role of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA) in the development of the Cabin Crew Career, recognise Cabin Crew Veterans, who have contributed immensely to the growth of the profession, introduce aspiring Cabin Crew to their career choice and help them identify the key skills required, has culminated to the hosting of this fair.

Kingsley Chima of AWA, Yemi Dada, former MD of IRS airlines and Isaac Nagu at the high table

According to her, “Cabin Crew members are highly trained professionals. Their primary duty is to ensure the safety of passengers during flight. Their job is unique. They put the comfort and safety of passengers first and evacuate the passengers within 90 seconds in an event of an emergency. They are the last to leave

the aircraft. The level of training they receive makes them well rounded and grounded. They are the sky heroes.”

She asserted that flying is an adventurous and glamorous job that opens one to the world with boundless opportunities, comes with a lot of perks and also several challenges.

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES BY

Govs, Senators Blunder Tinubu

“F

or the first time since the scandal broke, Senate, yesterday, admitted paying only N62.5 million to purchase a bulletproof Range rover Sports Utility (SportUtility) Vehicle (SUV) for the office of its president.” (DAILY SUN, March 29) “Police arraign alleged fake lawyer in court” Where else would they have arraigned the buffoon? Yank off ‘in court’!

“2 jailed 4 years over (for) rape” The next two blunders are from fullpage advertorials in DAILY SUN and THE NATION of March 29 by Senator (Mrs.) Oluremi Tinubu, CON, for her husband on his 65th Birthday: “Your humility and compassion is (are) legendary” “The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your (our) children.”

“We rejoice with you on your 65 (65th) birthday….”

“Not only do we rejoice with the celebrant (celebrator) for partaking in abundant grace….” (Full-page advertorial by Ondo State Government, DAILY SUN, March 29) “He will grant you strenght (strength), good health and wisdom.” “…as you strive to contribute your quota in (to) building a more vibrant democracy for the benefit of our dear country.” (Full-page felicitation signed by Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, Mutawallen Sokoto, Governor, Sokoto State, DAILY SUN, March 29) “With people (a person) like you working with our dear president and other patriotic Nigerians….” (Full-page advertorial signed by Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, CFR, Governor, Katsina State) “This is indeed a (the) right time to express how positively you have impacted good moral, attitude and values to (on)

the people that have come across you.”

“The commitment and dedicated leadership you shown (show or have shown) has (have)….”

From a full-page advertorial in DAILY SUN of March 29 by Liberal Minds Grassroot (Grassroots) Forum come the following improprieties: “Words are too much (Words are not enough) to appraise your worth. Over the years (a comma) you have broken tribal (ethnic) barriers to stamp your imprints on….”

“Your giant strides have been highly impactful in (on) the lives of many….”

“We doff our hats for (to) a dynamic strategist who turns 65 today.”

It is now the turn of APC (Lagos State): “The entire executive, leaders and members of our great party in the state of aquatic splendour felicitate with our referred (revered) leader on this occasion of….” (Full-page advertorial, THE NATION, March 29) “The Board of Trustee (Trustees) (BoT) and the entire members of….”

“You are an advocate of true federalism and peace (peaceful) co-existence….”

“And your landmark achievements in (on) our nation’s political landscape these past years.”

“Your continuous efforts for a better Lagos is (are) appreciated.” (Half-page advertorial by Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, THE NATION, March 29, signed

by Babatunde Ishola Quazeem RajhLabel, Sole Administrator) “As a man of vision and a dogged fighter of (for) democracy….” (Full-page advertorial signed by Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representatives, THE NATION, March 29) Governor (Senator) Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and wife Olufunso come next with this infraction: “We celebrate the peace of God in (on) your life and your family….” (Full-page advertorial, THE NATION, March 29)

“We were (are) delighted to mark this special day with you.” (Half-page advertorial signed by Hon. Adekunle A. Julius, sole Administrator, Odi-Olowo/ Ojuwoye LCDA, THE NATION, March 29) Wrong: occassion; right: occasion “65 candle light (lights) for Jagaban” “You have proven (proved) to be a true hero of democracy….”

The next solecisms are by the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups: “Your sterling efforts…remains (remain) evergreen in the memory (memories) of Nigerians.” (Full-page advertorial, THE NATION, March 29) “Today, we join other well meaning (well-meaning) people to rejoice with our amiable leader….” (Full-page advertorial

by LASG EXCO, Class 2011-2015, THE NATION, March 29) “Also, the ruling party needs a strong crisis resolution (crisis-resolution) mechanism.”

“These long list (this long list or these long lists, depending on intent) From THE NATION Back Page of March 29 comes this misapprehension: “Asiwaju Tinubu is a workaholic.” The last entry in this excerpt is negative. Not many people know this!

“This truth no doubt was expressed in recognition of the role of the press in any society, especially one striving towards (for/after) the attainment of democracy.”

“And as the UN was packing its bags and baggage out of Somalia….” Standard expression: bag and baggage. “…the whole nation hailed and applauded both parties in the protracted ASUU crisis for reaching an agreeable truce.” Gentlemen of the Press, what is the meaning of ‘agreeable truce’? Students used to make newspapers reference materials for English language studies.

I doubt if that happens these days, with oddities like ‘agreeable truce’.

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“Cake is fattening thereby loosing its attraction to….” Correct spelling can’t lose attraction.

“I and the other Nigerians who had come to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia…”)

Grammatical discipline demands that you put self last: The other Nigerians and I….

“Kogi workers asked to sign attendant register” ‘Attendance register’, please. “…and the partitioning of the country by the clan chiefs and warlords continue.” The partitioning (not the chiefs and warlords) continues.’

“Another recipient of the award was one of the directors of RayPower, a private electronic media….” If a nonjournalist does not know the differences between ‘media’ and ‘medium’, I could excuse the fellow, but a (supposed) colleague of mine writing ‘a media’ amounts to crass illiteracy.

“They have in most cases remained willing collaborators in the de-politicization of the political system by acquiescing to virtually all the issues….” I cannot acquiesce in the ruination of modern English by some traditionalists.

“It was a most unhurried journey accomplished well over six hours, from 9 a.m. in the morning till about 2.00 p.m. in the afternoon.” One of these days, somebody will scribble ‘I saw the picture with my naked eyes’! Dear reader, you do not need ‘in the morning or afternoon’ after the abbreviation ‘a.m.’ or ‘p.m.’ ‘A.m.’ means ante meridiem (before noon).

Similarly, p.m. refers to post meridiem (afternoon).

“The effectiveness of these provisions are hampered by ignorance and poverty.” This smacks of language poverty.

Ignorance should not be extended to grammatical concord: “The effectiveness…. Is’.

TRIBUTE

Enendu: Celebrating an Uncommon Philanthropist at 50 Francis Mune Nwaogwugwu

F

ifty years ago, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Frajend Groups Chief Frank Enendu, one of the good people I have met in life was born.

A as a young and growing entrepreneur like me, I assessed the activities of this great philanthropist and came to a conclusion to pay tribute to Igwe Frajend, who has distinguished himself in various aspects of life, becomes a necessity.

The name Chief Frank Enendu may not be ringing bell but he is one of the most successful Igbomen who has gone out of his way to put smiles on people’s faces.

One of the amazing things that attract people to him is that despite his riches, he does not allow his wealth to get into his head. He associates with everyone. Enendu who is fondly called Igwe Frajend by close associates, clocked 50 years last Sunday.

Enendu has contributed immensely to the reduction of unemployment in Nigeria and beyond. He has been honoured as a trailblazer, mentor and a great achiever.

Through Enendu’s property and Frajend Motorcycle companies, he has empowered over 2000 people with direct and indirect jobs.

Another thing he loves doing is poverty alleviation. Over the years, Igwe Frajend empowered several widows, widowers and orphans.

Enendu, apart from his poverty alleviation and employment programmes also played a major role in reducing the problem of accommodation in Lagos through shelter for low, middle and high income citizens. Igwe Frajend’s contribution to nation building has earned him several awards and tittles.

He believes in the philosophy that “Give a man fish and feed him for a day, but when you teach a man how fish, you will feed him for a lifetime”. Instead of giving people money, he prefers teaching them how to make it in order to feed them forever.

For me, friendship is the source of happiness and strength because of role he played in my life. It is hard to believe that so many years have already passed; and I am glad that we have been friends for so long.

With a mentor like you by my side, I feel I can take on whatever challenges life throws at me.

I see you more like a father because you have always been there for me.

By your examples you have shown us goodness, light and truth. I know you will continue to be a shining example as you face another year.

The value of friendship isn’t measured by time, but rather by the moments and memories shared. Your birthday gives all the people whose lives you have improved, a designated to tell you how happy they about.

The day our paths crossed for the first time is a day I will never forget, may you receive more blessing than you ask for and may all good things continue to come your way.

Life is what you make yours, wishing you a glorious and a very bright life ahead, may your life be full of massive success and may joys brighten the ways of your life with love and care.

You will always entertain my ideas of idiocy, yet you know exactly what to say in every situation. I love that I have someone that I can always call, depend on and trust.

You have always been an inspiration to me.

You are a constant reminder that it is possible to be kind, sassy, genuine, talented, confident, humble and downright hilarious all at the same time.

I wish to emphasise that you are a great leader, who has touched the lives of people without boundary. Igwe Frangend, I must confess, you have a large heart and human sense. You encourage everyone including those working with you and beyond.

Some of the qualities I mentioned above and many more distinguish you among others.

Happy birthday to the real Leader of leaders –– Nwaogwugwu, CEO Vintage Deluxe Interiors writes from Lagos.

Enendu

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •April 8, 2017

Auto

The new Mini Countryman

New MINI Countryman: Grit on Gravel, Elegant on Paved Roads Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he new MINI Countryman gracefully matches elegance with strength.

Since the production of the first generation in 2010, it has undergone remarkable transformation and is now strictly in premium class.

The new MINI Countryman is the biggest and most versatile model in the brand’s 57year history. Having been completely newly developed, it now reflects considerable advancements in the areas of space, functionality, athletic flair and premium characteristics.

At the pre-test drive briefing in Durban, Mr Edward Makwana, Group Communications Division (AK-1-AO-ZA), Manager: Group Product Communications, BMW Group, South Africa, presented the past, present and future of the new MINI Countryman.

The new generation MINI Countryman is configured with modern technology that puts it ahead of its peers in the compact car segment. It is quick off the block, steady on road and has good ground clearance. The car is excitingly roomy with good leg-room for the driver and passengers and large booth that can be extended to the rear seats.

Nigerians, who love statesmanship, are in for a sweet time because the new MINI Countryman is a collector’s item. At the media launch of this great machinery in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, recently, many argue that it could fit in neatly with a Rolls Royce in the garage, and command the respect it deserves.

The new MINI Countryman is definitely suitable for first time owners also, and it is for all occasions and all terrains.

The all-new MINI Countryman is packed full of power that gives an exciting feeling on and off road. It is the second generation of the renowned MINI Countryman and comes in two models; the Countryman CooperS, the top brass and the Countryman Cooper, which is the standard. They come in auto and manual transmissions. The MINI Countryman is also fuel efficient.

The new MINI Countryman (combined fuel consumption: 7.0 – 2.1 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 159 – 49 g/km) achieves its unique standing among direct competitors due to its powerfully expressive design, efficiently shaped bodywork and in particular its unmatched driving agility.

The innovations…

The new MINI Countryman has powerful proportions, 20 centimetres longer than its predecessor; five fully-fledged seats, clear increase in space and versatility; electrical tailgate control as well as touchless opening and closing of the tailgate; MINI Picnic Bench: fold-out load loading sill cushion as a comfortable seat on the luggage compartment lid and for general outdoor use; new generation of engines and gearboxes, an efficiency-optimised all-wheel drive system ALL4 will be available with the MINI Countryman John Cooper Works.

It also has central instrument with touchscreen function for the first time; MINI Country Timer measures driving fun over demanding terrain; MINI Connected App as a personal assistant on a day-to-day basis and when travelling; MINI Find Mate: everything you need on board at all times – or in view.

20 centimetres longer…

The new MINI Countryman is some 20 centimetres longer than its predecessor and approximately 3 centimetres wider. Its wheelbase has been extended by 7.5 centimetres. This growth results in significantly increased space on five fully-fledged seats as

well as a definite increase in storage volume and luggage transport versatility. The raised seating position ensures an excellent view and hallmark driving fun.

The rear seats can be shifted longitudinally by up to 13 centimetres. The folding rear backrest offers a 40 : 20 : 40 split. It also provides a variable tilt angle so as to be able to either increase seating comfort or gain additional storage space at the rear. The luggage compartment volume is 450 litres and can be extended as required to a total of 1,309 litres This constitutes a maximum increase of 220 litres as compared to the predecessor model.

Five seats in the interior, two on Picnic Bench…

An electric tailgate control is available as an option. This makes touchless opening and closing of the tailgate possible in conjunction with Comfort Access.

The optional storage package comprises not only a variable load floor, lashing eyes and tension straps but also a stainless steel insert on the loading sill. One unique option is the Picnic Bench – a flexible surface that folds out of the luggage compartment and provides seating for two people.

“The new generation of the MINI model family continues to grow with the introduction the new MINI Countryman. Even with its model designation, the new edition of the MINI Countryman remains firmly rooted in the tradition of the British brand,” says the automaker.

A particularly versatile variant of the classic Mini once bore the same name back in the 1960s.

Just like the identically constructed Morris Mini Traveller, the Austin Seven Countryman had a highly versatile interior, and the version with wood frame panelling – popularly known as “Woody” – attained cult status that it continues to enjoy to this day. The MINI Countryman likewise offered additional ways of enjoying the brand’s hallmark driving fun when it was launched in 2010.

It was the first MINI with four doors, a large tailgate, five seats and optional all-wheel drive and a total of more than 540,000 were sold worldwide.

Out of this sales figure As the new generation of the MINI Countryman sees its premiere, the tradition-steeped British brand continues its advance into the premium compact segment.

Essential Skills of Driving Introduction Stephen K. Dieseruvwe

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riving is one of the most useful practical qualifications you can acquire. Driving bringswithit,independence,andsocial and career opportunities. Driving gives you the freedom to go where you want and when you want. But before you begin to drive, you should remember that driving is a privilege, not a right, and that you should learn how to be a responsible driver before you set out on the road. Although the rules and regulations of driving can feel overwhelming, but if you take them one step at a time, you will master the rules of the road in no time.

It is no gainsaying that, every year; thousands of Nigerians are killed or seriously injured on our ever busy roads. Available statistics reveal that, majority of the road traffic crashes that result in most of the deaths and injuries are as a result of human or driver error. With this in mind, it is important that every driver understands the responsibility driving a

vehicle brings with it and to make safety a top priority.

Adopting safe driving skills is all about developing the right attitude and approach, coupled with a good knowledge of defensive driving techniques, which means driving courteously, having consideration for other road users, and being prepared to make allowances for the mistake of other drivers.

Whether you are a leaner, an experienced driver, a professionaldriveroradrivinginstructor,thiscolumn, THE ESSENTIALSKILS OF DRIVING, will give the necessary advice that will help you stay safe on our roads, which in turn will prevent and reduce many of the deaths and injuries that occur on Nigerian roads on a daily basis, by improving your driving standards and techniques. The series of articles will cover basic driving skills; road procedure; application of driving skills; defensive driving and lots more.

STARTING TO DRIVE Before you start to drive, there are important things youneedtobeawareof.Firstly,youneedtomakesure that you are licenced and insure to drive. Secondly,

you need to think about your fitness to drive, you therefore need your eyesight checked, and be certain that you are mentally and physically ready for the challenge of being on the road.

FITNESS TO DRIVE Driving a car demands a high degree of alertness, concentration, quick reaction and a safety conscious state of mind. Various forms of illnesses, alcohol or drug use, or tiredness can affect your ability of safe on the road. It doesn’t matter the importance of keeping an appointment or to attend a party or a function, if you are not fit to drive stay off the road.

Next week’s article will be the Cockpit Drill, a routine that you will carry out each time you get into the driving seat…. which shall herald the detailed professional explanation of the various stages of driving and being safe on the road.

Stephen K. Dieseruvwe DG, DESTMA/DriverTrainer and Road Safety Consultant sdieseruvwe@gmail.com.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •April 8, 2017

27

Auto More Firms Confirm Participation at Motor Fair

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L-R: Head, Dealer Development and Special Duties, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Henry Ojuoko; Chairman, Toyota Nigeria, Chief Michael Adeojo; Assistant Regional Manager/PRO, Peace Mass Transist Limited, Mr. Asadus Victor and the Managing Director/CEO, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Adeojo, during the presentation of 2016 best customer of the year award on Peace Mass Transits, at Toyota Customers Night Award, in Lagos... recently

First Bank Bags N2.5m Toyota Nigeria’s Evergreen Award Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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oyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) has presented its Evergreen Award to First Bank of Nigeria with a cash prize of N2.5 million.

Presenting the award, recently, at TNL’s 2017 awards in Victoria

Island, Lagos, Chairman of the group, Chief Michael Ade Ojo said First Bank deserved to win because of their sustained dedication and loyalty over the years.

He explained that First Bank has over the years remained loyal to the Toyota brand.

Also honoured were: Peace Mass Transit that got customer of the year 2016, with

the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as first runner up and Master Global Concept as second runner up.

Ade Ojo advised Toyota Vehicle owners to take advantage of the quality after sales support offered by TNL across the country, stating that it was more economical to patronise Toyota recognised maintenance outlets.

his year’s Lagos Motor Fair and Autoparts Expo will take off onApril 24, 2017 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos with a good number of the leading brands of automobiles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, additives, financials and security gadgets poised to showcase different classes of modern and innovative models, brands and services from their stables.

The Chairman organising committee and the MD, BKG Exhibitions, Mr. IfeanyiAgwu brought this to the fore while briefing journalist in Lagos on the forth coming 12th Lagos Motor Fair and 6th Autoparts Expo Africa. In what has become an Auto mundial and show of strength among the indigenous and foreign firms in the automotive business, more firms are confirming their participation in the events. More indigenous firms have confirmed to join over 70 foreign firms that have confirmed their participation in the event scheduled to hold at the Federal Palace Hotel,Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos from April 24-29, 2017. They are going to display different types of world-class products and services from their stables.

He revealed that “virtually all the major brands of automobiles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, banking, insurance, regulatory and policy making agencies and bodies are being expected and the response so far has not been bad.” According to him, some of the latest confirmed participants are: Toyota Nigeria Limited, PAN Nigeria, Mobil, A-Z Oil, Ammasco Oil, Add Oil, and C & I Leasing, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Michelin Tyres and National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).

All-New Ford Ranger Goes to North America

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ord is bringing back the Ranger midsize pickuptrucktoitsNorthAmericanvehicle lineup in 2019. The Ford Ranger is currently the 2016 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Pick-up of the Year provingthemodelhasmanagedtoachieve popularity across the globe due to its impressive range of technologies, bold design and outstanding capabilities.

Onthemodel’sreturntoNorthAmerica,JoeHinrichs, Ford’s president of TheAmericas said: “We’ve heard our customers loud and clear. They want a new generation of vehicles that are incredibly capable yet fun to drive. Ranger is for truck buyers who want an affordable, functional, rugged and maneuverable

pickup that’s Built Ford Tough.”

For Nigerian consumers the Ford Ranger is currently assembled in Lagos State ensuring it’s designed from thegroundupwithNigerianconditionsandconsumers in mind. It’s one of the toughest, smartest and most capable pick-ups in the market and is packed with features aimed at providing customers with improved utility, comfort and convenience. A full line-up of Ford Rangers is sold in Nigeria at Coscharis Motors,includingtheSingleCabcommercialmodels, the versatile Super Cab (or RAP Cab) versions with the additional rear-hinged doors, and the extensive range of practical Double Cab derivatives which includes the XL, XLT, Limited and range-topping Wildtrak derivatives.

All-New Ford Ranger

Mobile Phones And Brain Cancer

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rBiodunOgungboisabrainandSpine Surgeon.Asanexpert,musttrustthe informationcontainedinthepiece which he graciously forwarded to meandpermittedmetopublishfor whichIameternallygrateful.Read it.Internalizeitandtakeasecondthoughonhowyou use your mobile phones - Mobile phones can cause braincancer.Okay,thisisnotajoke. Thisisnotatopicto professignoranceaboutorsay,‘Ididnotknow’.Justgo withtheflowandsay,‘Mobilephonescancausebrain cancer’.Simplybecauseyoudon’twanttofindoutthe hardway! Expertsbelievethereisastrongassociation withprolongedusageofmobilephonesespeciallypeople whohavebeenusingthephonesforover10years.The risk is also significant in children with their growing and immature brains. It had been predicted that the numbersofpatientswithnewlydiagnosedbraincancer andothertumourswillalmostdoublebytheyear2025.

Many countries are seeing an increasing incidence of thesehorribletumoursnowandit’saworryingtrend.

Okay,thisisnotajoke. GlioblastomaMultiforme-We have and are seeing a rise in the numbers of people sufferingfromhighgradebraincancers.Thesearethe typesofcancersthatdefycure.Thesecancersespecially thehorribleonecalledGlioblastomaMultiformeorGBM for short is incurable and kills 100%. This cancer kills theyoungortheoldthoughitappearsmorecommon inpatientsintheirearly60’s.Thenumbersofsufferers increasewithageanditismorecommoninmen. The

SAFE DRIVING with

JONAS AGWU

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

riskisrealandpreventionisthemaintreatmentforcancer.

Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the risk of getting cancer. This can include maintaining a healthy lifestyleandtakingmedicinesorvaccinesthatcanprevent cancerfromdeveloping.Avoidingexposuretoknown cancer-causingsubstancessuchassugars,cigaretteand now mobile phones is vital.

Studies upon studies Okay! studies are conflicting and contradictory. Some will find a link and others will not. The risk may be tenuous at best but so what.

The American Cancer Society Exit Disclaimer (ACS) states that there could be some cancer risk associated with radiofrequency energy, but the evidence is not strong enough to be considered causal and needs to beinvestigatedfurther. Braintumoursareparticularly difficulttostudy,forexample,becauseoftheirhighdeath rateandtheshortsurvivalofpeoplewhodevelopthese tumors.Similarly,patientswhosurviveinitialtreatment are often impaired, which may affect their responses

to questions. Furthermore, for people who have died, next-of-kinareoftenunabletoaccuratelydescribetheir patterns of phone use to an interviewer.

Prevent cancer- Individuals who are concerned about radiofrequency energy exposure can limit their exposure,byusinganearpieceandlimitingcellphone use,particularlyamongchildren.TheFoodandDrugs Administration (FDA) has suggested some steps that concerned cell phone users can take to reduce their exposure to radiofrequency energy: Reserve the use of cell phones for shorter conversations or for times when a landline phone is not available. · Use a device with hands-free technology, such as wired headsets, whichplacemoredistancebetweenthephoneandthe head of the user. Hands-free kits reduce the amount of radiofrequency energy exposure to the head because theantenna,whichisthesourceofenergy,isnotplaced againstthehead.Exposuresdeclinedramaticallywhen cell phones are used hands-free.

Okay, this is the score -The decision to limit the use of phonesandespeciallytouseahandsfreedeviceisentirely yours. You must take the decision to prevent mobile phonecausingyouabraincancer. Otherissues-Thereis nowstrongevidencethattherateoffertilityisreducing inmanycommunitiesaroundtheworld.Thevolume and quality of sperms produced by men is reducing andsomefeelthatitmaybenotunconnectedtomobile phonesandcomputersclosetothegenitalareasinmen.

Certainly,fertilitycentressuchasNordicaFertilitycentre inAbujahavefoundanincreaseintheabnormalsperms

seeninspecimensandadecreaseinthemotility. Mobile phones are a great resource and a necessary evil but youhavegottotakecare. Okay,nowyouknow.Here ends the piece by Dr Ogungbo which I find too rich and interesting.

I must thank Dr. Ogungbo for his quick approval to usehislovelyandtimelypiecewhichisaneyeopener formeeventhoughIfeelveryguiltyforprocrastinating ontheuseofthisinformationsincelastyearwhenmy friend and brother PatrickAdenusi of Safety Beyond Border, a Non Governmental Organization on road safetyalertedwithmeonanewsitemonCNNonthe same subject. I told myself I must share the stuff but missedoutuntilDrOgungbosentmethematerial.The decisiontolimittheuseofphonesandespeciallytouse ahandsfreedeviceisentirelyyours.ImustconfessthatI gotfascinatedyetscaredwhenIreadthroughthesection onGliobladtomamultiformewhichhesaidisincurable andkills100percent.Morescaryistheinformationthat it appears more common in patients in their early 60’s and that it is common in men.

I do hope that men, those in their 60’s and drivers generally will take special interest in their God sent information. For me I have taken lessons that will no doubleguideinmyusualuseofearpieceorbluetooth which in our clime is seen is show off. Now I have a better understanding of why nine out of ten mobile phone users in some climes outside our shore have become addict in the use of hands free.

Ihopeyouwillnotmistakemeforrecommendingthat you go about driving and using hands free since the National Road Traffic Regulations does not allow the useofhandsfreewhiledrivingbecauseoftheinherent risk involved.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

FAMILY HEALTH

What Causes Excessive Sweating

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here are times when for no apparent reason, you can feel your heart thumping fast, as if it is about to jump out of your cavity or chest. . This could be a frightening experience and a sign that there is something wrong.

Palpitations make you feel like your heart is beating too hard or too fast, skipping a beat, or fluttering. You may notice heart palpitations in your chest, throat, or neck. They can be bothersome or frightening. They usually aren’t serious or harmful, though, and often go away on their own.

Heart palpitation is the sensation of feeling your own heart beating.

When someone has a palpitation, they may feel that their heart is pounding or fluttering, and some people can feel their palpitation in their ears when they are lying down. Palpitation can be a sign that there’s something wrong with your heart, so you should go to your doctor.

Most of us experience this occasionally and, although it can feel unpleasant, it’s often harmless. Many factors, including stress and anxiety, can trigger a palpitation.

Not smoking, and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine, can help to reduce them.

If you have a palpitation it can be a sign that there’s something wrong with your heart, so you should go to your doctor to get checked out, just in case. Your doctor will assess you and may send you for an electrocardiogram (ECG) test, which is an electrical tracing of your heart rate and rhythm.

Causes Often the cause of your heart palpitations can’t be found. Common causes of heart palpitations include: • Strong emotional responses, such as stress or anxiety • Strenuous exercise • Caffeine • Nicotine • Fever • Hormone changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy or menopause • Taking cold and cough medications that contain pseudoephedrine, a stimulant • Taking some asthma inhaler medications that contain stimulants Occasionally heart palpitations can be a sign of a serious problem, such as an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Arrhythmias may include very fast heart rates (tachycardia), unusually slow heart rates (bradycardia) or an irregular heart rhythm.

Non-hear t-related causes include: 1. Strong emotions like anxiety, fear, or stress. ...

2. Vigorous physical activity.

3. Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or illegal drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines.

4. Medical conditions, including thyroid disease, a low blood sugar level, anemia, low blood pressure, fever, and dehydration.

Common symptoms Heart palpitations can feel like your heart is: • Skipping beats • Fluttering • Beating too fast • Pumping harder than usual You may feel heart palpitations in your throat or neck, as well as your chest. Heart palpitations can occur whether you’re active or at rest, and whether you’re standing, seated or lying down.

SIGNS THAT YOU SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR : Palpitations that are infrequent and last only a few seconds usually don’t require evaluation. If you have a history of heart disease and have frequent palpitations or have palpitations that worsen, talk to your doctor.

He or she may suggest heart-monitoring tests to see if your palpitations are caused by a more serious heart problem. Seek emergency medical attention if heart palpitations are accompanied by: 1. Chest discomfort or pain 2. Fainting 3. Severe shortness of breath 4. Severe dizziness 5.

Risk factors You may be at risk of developing palpitations if you: • Are highly stressed • Have an anxiety disorder or regularly experience panic attacks Are pregnant • Take medicines that contain stimulants, such • as some cold or asthma medications • Have an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) • Have other heart problems, such as an arrhythmia, heart defect or previous heart attack.

Complications As with all ailments. There are possible complications : Unless a heart condition is causing your heart palpitations, there’s little risk of complications. For palpitations caused by a heart condition, possible complications include:

with

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

cold medicines.

Tests to be carried out If your doctor thinks you have heart palpitations, he or she will listen to your heart using a stethoscope. Your doctor may also look for signs of medical conditions that can cause heart palpitations, such as a swollen thyroid gland.

If you have heart palpitations with severe shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting, you should seek emergency medical attention.

If your palpitations are brief and there are no other worrisome signs or symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor. Your doctor can help you find out if your palpitations are harmless or a symptom of a more serious heart condition

1. Fainting. If your heart beats rapidly, your blood pressure may drop, causing you to faint. This may be more likely if you have a heart problem, such as congenital heart disease or certain valve problems.

2. Cardiac arrest. Rarely, palpitations can be caused by life-threatening arrhythmias and can cause your heart to stop beating effectively.

3. Stroke. If palpitations are due to atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating properly, blood can pool and cause clots to form. If a clot breaks loose, it can block a brain artery, causing a stroke.

4. Heart failure. This can result if your heart is pumping ineffectively for a prolonged period due to an arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation. Sometimes, controlling the rate of an arrhythmia that’s causing heart failure can improve your heart’s function.

Meeting with your doctor If you have heart palpitations with severe shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting, you should seek emergency medical attention. If your palpitations are brief and there are no other worrisome signs or symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor. Your doctor can help you find out if your palpitations are harmless or a symptom of a more serious heart condition.

If you make an appointment with your doctor, it’s good to prepare. Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment: What you can do Be aware of pre-appointment restrictions. When you make the appointment, ask if there’s anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet or fast.

• Write down any symptoms you’re experiencing, including any that seem unrelated to heart palpitations.

• Write down key personal information, including family history of heart disease, arrhythmias, stroke, high blood pressure or diabetes. Also include major stresses or recent changes in your life.

• Make a list of medications, vitamins and supplements you’re taking.

• Take a family member or friend along, if possible.

Someone who accompanies you may remember something you miss or forget.

• Be prepared to discuss your diet and exercise habits, including challenges you might face in improving your diet or moving more.

• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

• To make the most of your time with your doctor, write down questions to ask. For heart palpitations, some basic questions include: • What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?

• What are other possible causes?

• What should I do if my symptoms return?

• What tests will I need?

• Do I need treatment and, if so, what?

• What are the alternatives to the primary approach you’re suggesting?

• What’s an appropriate level of physical activity?

• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?

• Are there restrictions I need to follow?

Should I see a specialist?

Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you’re prescribing?

Take these precautions to stay healthy Before your appointment, you can try to improve your symptoms by avoiding activities or stresses that might cause your palpitations. Some common triggers include anxiety or panic attacks, drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, or taking some medications or supplements that contain stimulants, such as energy drinks or some

Other tests your doctor may perform include • Electrocardiogram (ECG). In this noninvasive test, a technician will place probes on your chest that record the electrical impulses that make your heart beat.

• An ECG can help your doctor detect irregularities in your heart’s rhythm and structure that could cause palpitations. The test may be performed while you rest or exercise (stress electrocardiogram).

• Holter monitoring. A Holter monitor is a portable device that you wear to record a continuous ECG, usually for 24 to 72 hours. Holter monitoring is used to detect heart palpitations that aren’t found during a regular ECG exam.

• Event recording. If you don’t have irregular heart rhythms while you wear a Holter monitor, your doctor may recommend an event recorder.

• You wear an event recorder as much as possible throughout the day, and push a button on a recording device you wear on your belt to record your heartbeat when you have symptoms. You may need to wear an event monitor for several weeks.

• Echocardiogram. This noninvasive exam, which includes an ultrasound of your chest, shows detailed images of your heart’s structure and function.

• Ultrasound waves are transmitted, and their echoes are recorded with a device called a transducer that’s held outside your body. A computer uses the information from the transducer to create moving images on a video monitor, Treatments and other remedies Unless your doctor finds that you have a heart condition, heart palpitations seldom require treatment.

Instead, your doctor may recommend ways for you to avoid the triggers that cause your palpitations.

If your palpitations are caused by a condition, such as an arrhythmia, your treatment will focus on correcting the condition, The most appropriate way to treat palpitations at home is to avoid the triggers that may cause your symptoms.

Some ways to avoid triggers include: 1. Reduce stress or anxiety. Try relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing or aromatherapy.

2. Avoid stimulants. Stimulants, including caffeine, nicotine, some cold medicines and energy drinks, can make your heart beat quickly or irregularly.

3. Avoid illegal drugs. Certain drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, can bring on heart palpitations.

4. Treating heart palpitations: self-help techniques If you have unexplained palpitations, start with the simple things first: Try cutting back on caffeine — or giving it up altogether — to see if it is contributing to the problem.

Don’t smoke.

Cut back on alcohol, or stop drinking it altogether.

Make sure you eat regularly (low blood sugar can cause heart palpitations).

Drink plenty of fluids.

Get enough sleep.

Have your doctor or pharmacist check all of your medications and supplements to make sure none cause palpitations. Over-the-counter products often responsible for palpitations are decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine.

Stress and anxiety are two other key triggers of heart palpitations. A two-step approach can help here. To keep palpitations away, try meditation, the relaxation response, exercise, yoga, tai chi, or another stress-busting activity. If palpitations do appear, breathing exercises or tensing and relaxing individual muscle groups in your body can help.

When you feel like your heart skips a beat, there are several things you can do to try to nip them in the bud.

Valsalva maneuver. Pinch your nose closed with the fingers of one hand. Close your mouth. Try to breathe out forcibly through your nose.

Bear down. Clench your stomach muscles and your anal sphincter. Then bear down as if you are having a bowel movement. (This is another way to do the Valsalva maneuver.) The Valsalva maneuver, bearing down, cold water, and exercise all stimulate the vagus nerve, which helps control the heart rate. Deep breathing helps relax you and ease the stress and anxiety that can come with palpitations.

Cold water. Splash cold water on your face, or immerse your face in a sink or large bowl filled with cold water.

Exercise. Vigorous exercise for a good heart rate that gets the heart working harder can sometimes stop palpitations.

Deep breathing. Sit quietly and close your eyes.

Place one hand on your abdomen. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose. Feel your abdomen move outward. Exhale through your nose or mouth, whichever feels more comfortable. Repeat.

GLOBAL SOCCER

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JUNE 16, 2011

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

08.04.2017

ATLETICO TEST REAL'S MIGHT PAGE. 29

Osaze Odemwingie Seeks Refuge in Indonesia

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

GLOBAL SOCCER

Runs to Indonesia for Refuge Former Super Eagles ace, Osaze Odemwingie, made an unceremonious exit from Rotherham United via a text message to his manager after a short spell at the English club. On Monday, he was unveiled by an Indonesian club, Madura United.

Many are worried about Odemwingie’s new port of call. Does this mean he may never play top flight football again, Kunle Adewale writes

O

saze Odemwingie on Monday joined Indonesia’s top-flight club, Madura United, to help them navigate League 1. The former Nigerian international who had featured for La Louvière, Lille, Lokomotiv Moscow, West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, Stoke City, Bristol City and Rotherham United now joins the likes of Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel, Odion Ighalo, Obafemi Martins that are plying their trade in Asia.

Call him the journeyman of Nigerian football and one would not be far from the obvious. Since his breakthrough from the then Nigerian Premier League side, Bendel Insurance to Belgian club, La Louviere, Odemwingie had gone on to play for seven other European clubs.

It was therefore no surprise to many when Osaze turned his attention to Indonesia.

The 35-year-old Nigerian winger will be tested first in a few exhibition matches in Cilacap, Central Java and Yogyakarta.

“The agreement with the player is 99 per cent complete as we’ve agreed on the pre-contract conditions,” Madura United team manager, Haruna Soemitro, said via the club’s social media accounts.

“Odemwingie’s quality conforms to the team’s current needs, yet we need to see his performance during the pre-season matches in Cilacap and Yogyakarta next week,” Soemitro added.

When Odemwingie signed a shortterm contract with Rotherham United after an uneventful stint with Stoke City, many saw the move as new lease of life for the Beijing Olympics silver medalist to rediscover his form but it was not to be as loss of form and indiscipline characterised his stay with the Millers.

With offers not coming from main stream European clubs, speculation about his next port of call had been a subject of discussion, with many of the opinion that it might be another “missionary journey” this time to the Far East or United States, which are generally considered as the retirement haven for players.

Paul Okuku, in a telephone chat with THISDAY from his base in the United States noted that it was not totally over for the former Bendel Insurance player as far European football was concerned, but he admitted that age was no more on his side to contend with the physical and tactical nature of European football.

“Though I have to admit that age is not really on his side and injury had not really helped matters, with determination and right frame of mind he can still play in top flight European football. He however has to be in the right shape

to contend with the physicality of European football.

“After all, we’ve seen players play at the highest level at age 35 and above. Luigi Buffon is still playing in the World Cup qualifiers for Italy even at the age of 39, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is above 35 and still doing well for Manchester United. So, Odemwingie could still play at the top level in Europe if he conditions himself well.

“However, if he feels it’s time to have a stint in the Far East; it’s still not a bad idea. After all, there are players in the league in these countries that are still representing their countries very well,” Okoku said.

Odemwingie was born in Tashkent, Uzbek, to a Nigerian father (Peter Odemwingie Snr.) and a Russian mother (Raisa), both of whom were medical students. He moved with his family to Nigeria when he was two years old before returning to Russia to complete his secondary education. Whilst living in Russia, he played in the youth teams at KAMAZ and CSKA Moscow. At the age of 17, he moved back to Nigeria and after spending a short time with amateurs AS Racines Lagos, he became a professional with Nigeria Premier League side, Bendel Insurance.

After an unsuccessful trial with Anderlecht, he signed for La Louviere in 2003 and made his mark by helping the club to win the Belgian Cup in his first season, which also earned the club qualification into the UEFA Cup. Scoring nine goals in 44 appearances attracted the attention of the French Ligue 1 side, Lille and before long, he was a starter in the first team playing for the French side.

Famous for his technique and pace, the Nigerian player was monitored by a number of prestigious European clubs.

In 2007, he signed for Lokomotiv Moscow for a reported fee of US$14 million on a four-year contract.

In three seasons for Lokomotiv, Odemwingie became the driving force of the attack and one of their most important players. During his time there he managed 21 goals in the Russian Premier League from 75 games.

In 2010, Odemwingie signed for English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract, with the option of a third year in the club's favour. Later in August, it was announced that Odemwingie had signed a new three-year agreement with West Bromwich Albion,

Odemwingie

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APRIL 8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Odemwingie

after a £4,000,000 bid from Wigan Athletic was turned down by the club.

In 2013, Odemwingie signed a two-year contract with Cardiff City for £2.25 million. Speaking after the move Odemwingie stated that he was eager for a fresh start in his career.

He developed a good relationship with manager Malky Mackay who stated that Odemwingie "is a joy to work with." However Mackay was replaced with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in January 2014 and Odemwingie fell out of favour.

In January 2014, Odemwingie joined Stoke City on an 18-month contract in a player-exchange with Kenwyne Jones, a move he described as a "step forward".

A knee ligament injury however ruled him out for most of the season, managing eight appearances. After struggling for playing time with Stoke in 2015-16, Odemwingie joined Championship side Bristol City on loan in March 2016. He played seven times for the Robins scoring twice. He was released by Stoke at the end of the 2015–16 season.

Odemwingie represented Nigeria at the 2004, 2006 and 2008 Nations Cup. In 2008, he was selected as an over-age player for Nigeria at the Beijing Olympic, scoring in the quarter-final against Côte d'Ivoire as the team earned the silver medal after losing the final to defending champions, Argentina, Odemwingie was also part of the Nigeria team to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but dispute with Stephen Keshi cost him a place to the 2013 AFCON, which Nigeria won. He was however named in the team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which may as well be his last appearance in the colours of Nigeria.

Though I have to admit that age is not really on his side and injury had not really helped matters, with determination and right frame of mind he can still play in top flight European football. He however has to be in the right shape to contend with the physicality of European football

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

Odemwingie during his time at Stoke City

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

GLOBAL SOCCER

Real Madrid Players celebrating a goal against Atletico

Madrid Derby: Real Test for Los Blancos Title Ambition

Madrid’s hope of winning the La Liga for the first time in five years will be put to test today as neighbours, Atletico, storm the Santiago Bernabeu for the Madrid derby. A win for the White Angels will be a big boost to their title ambition while a draw or even a loss will increase fierce rival -Barcelona’s optimism of snatching the title from leaders, who top the table with two points and a game at hand

R

eal Madrid can show how serious their bid to land a first La Liga title in five years really is when they host local rivals Atletico Madrid today in the midst of the best run of results in the campaign by Diego Simeone's side.

Real ended a three-season drought against their neighbours earlier on in the campaign with a 3-0 win at the Vicente Calderon in November, thanks to a hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo, a display Zinedine Zidane's side have struggled to top.

The European champions' destiny is in their hands as they lead holders Barcelona by two points while also having a game in hand, though doubts linger about their true quality.

Real's play has been littered with lapses of concentration in defence and they have often had to rely on late escape acts to see them through difficult games.

Atletico have won all three of their previous visits to the Santiago Bernabeu in the league and head there after beating Real Sociedad 1-0 on Tuesday to record five consecutive domestic wins for the first time this season.

Zidane made wholesale changes to his team in Wednesday's 4-2 win at Leganes in preparation for the derby, resting Ronaldo, Gareth

Bale, Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos.

Marco Asensio and Alvaro Morata shone in the absence of the team's big hitters to help put Real up 3-0 after 25 minutes but familiar frailties were visible at the back as they conceded twice in two minutes before adding a fourth after the break.

Real will find it tougher to compensate for any similar errors against Atletico, who have conceded just one goal in their last six games in all competitions.

Atletico defender Juanfran believes his side are far better prepared to face their neighbours than when they last met.

"It's clear they were better than us in that game but now it's another story, a different moment. I hope we can stay on this great run and get something positive, although we know it'll be difficult because they are top and are having an incredible season," Juanfran told reporters.

"We had a bad run around November and December and that has made us stronger and we've shown once again that Atletico always rises against adversity," added Juanfran, who missed the crucial penalty in the shoot-out when Atletico lost to Real in the 2016 Champions League final.

Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann believes Atletico can inflict the worst possible start to a season defining twoweeks for Real. Griezmann scored the winner last season as Atletico became the first side to ever win away to Real in the league for three consecutive

seasons.

"I see us as favourites. I believe in my teammates and the coach. We have to win more for the fans than for the points. Madrid played great and caused us a lot of damage. Now it is a different story. We know it is going to be difficult, but I believe in my teammates. We are more complete now," said a bullish Griezmann on Thursday.

Inflicting a damaging blow on Real's bid for the first league title in five years would be some measure of sweet revenge for Atletico. However, Real have yet to taste defeat at home in La Liga this season.

That record will be put fully to the test over the next fortnight as Barcelona visit on March 23.

In between times Madrid also face old foes Bayern Munich for a place in the Champions League semifinals.

Real captain Sergio Ramos has been Atletico's bete noire in recent times, scoring in both the Champions League finals between the sides.

But he has called on Real to not rest on their laurels and go for more history by becoming the first side to retain the Champions League in 27 years and end Barca's stranglehold on La Liga.

"You can't constantly live with what you have won in the past. You have to have ambition and belief to win titles. As of today we can win both the Champions League and La Liga," he told Madrid's website.

Both sides are in great form hav-

ing each won their last five La Liga outings.

However, Zidane and Simeone's plans could be affected by their upcoming Champions League ties with Bayern and Leicester City respectively.

Zidane is expected to welcome back a host of first team regulars rested for Wednesday's 4-2 win over Leganes, including Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

By contrast, Simeone is expected to name an unchanged side from the one that beat Real Sociedad 1-0 on Tuesday with Fernando Torres partnering Griezmann up front due to Kevin Gameiro's continued absence through injury.

Barcelona will be waiting to take advantage of any favours Atletico could do for them when they visit Malaga hours after the derby on the back of a 3-0 win over Sevilla.

Coach Luis Enrique said Barcelona's first half performance was "the display we had dreamt about".

The Catalans will be without Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique for the visit to Malaga, who picked up only their second win of 2017 by winning 1-0 at Sporting Gijon on Wednesday to move eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Any slip up from Real would allow Barcelona to move top when they travel to Malaga later today. Enrique is expected to rest some of his star names ahead of their Champions League quarterfinal.

33

APRIL 8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Battle for Top Four Hots Up With Chelsea’s defeat of Manchester City mid-week, the coast is almost clear for the Blues as far as the Premier League title is concerned; the question now is which other three teams would join Chelsea in booking a place for next season’s UEFA Champions League in England. Tottenham Hotspurs, Liverpool and City are in hot contention, while Arsenal and Manchester United stand slimmer chances

C

helsea are on their way to becoming Premier League champions once again, but they face a tricky visit to Bournemouth today.

The Blues are seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, but the Cherries are a difficult prospect when playing on the south coast.

Coach Eddie Howe has his team close to safety, residing seven points above the relegation zone, but they need to grab a few more positive results to make absolutely sure of their status next term.

Chelsea could make changes for their trip away from the capital after defeating Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. reported Victor Moses could return to manager Antonio Conte's selection, as the Italian declared that six wins will wrap up the title for his side.

Chelsea's star players have responded to the Italian's methodology and tactics, and the Premier League might see the rare occurrence of the champions of England playing a regular 3-4-3 system.

Bournemouth continue to operate above their expected station, and they have once again proved they are a credible match for any side under their youthful management at the Vitality Stadium.

Stoke City play host to Liverpool at the Bet365 Stadium this afternoon looking to reclaim a place in the top half of the Premier League table after four matches without success.

As for Liverpool, they will see this fixture as an opportunity to return to winning ways after they could only draw with Bournemouth in midweek.

When Stoke battled their way to a goalless draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, there was every expectancy - both inside and outside of the club - that they would kick on and solidify their place in the top 10 of the standings.

However, while they could count themselves unfortunate to slip to a 2-1 defeat at home to leaders Chelsea, they have not shown enough in away fixtures at both Leicester City and Burnley and Mark Hughes has a job on his hands to rally his players ahead of the visit of the Merseyside giants.

Much has been made of Liverpool not having to play any of the league's top seven sides for the rest of the season, but it is in games against the so-called lesser

sides where problems have been encountered and Klopp needs his players to demonstrate that they can raise their performance against opposition in the bottom half of the table.

Meanwhile, Tottenham striker Harry Kane could start against Watford today after recovering faster than expected from an ankle injury, said manager Mauricio Pochettino, who may though have to deploy his third-choice goalkeeper.

The return of Kane, who has missed Spurs' last three matches, will buoy their distant hopes of making up the seven-point gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea in the title run-in.

"Harry's had a few sessions before and today he was involved with the team. And we'll see tomorrow whether he will start the game or be on the bench. But it's good news that he's ready. He feels good for his recovery. It's very good news for him and for us. He's an important player for us and for him to be available for us is great," Pochettino said Friday, the eve of the clash at White Hart Lane.

Kane has hit 19 league goals this season as Spurs emerged as the main challengers to Chelsea.

Earlier this week Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said while there was an "expectation" at his club they would be title-contenders, it would "not be a disaster" for Tottenham if they yet again missed out on lifting the Premier League trophy.

"I can understand, it's true that when you are seven points above the second team in the table, it is normal for them to win the league," Pochettino said. "Now it's up to them to win the league.

"We are in a position that we need to do our job, winning games and put pressure on. But it's true that after eight games (left) if they don't win the Premier League, it will be tough for them to accept."

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

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

Seria A Juventus Roma Napoli Lazio Atalanta Inter Milan Fiorentina Sampdoria Torino Chievo Udinese Cagliari Bologna Sassuolo Genoa Empoli Crotone Palermo Pescara

Hot Shots

Romelu Lukaku Harry Kane Alexis Sánchez Diego Costa Zlatan Ibrahimovic Dele Alli Sergio Agüero Jermain Defoe Sadio Mane Eden Hazard Joshua King Fernando Llorente Christian Benteke

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Spanish La Liga Fixtures TODAY Espanyol Madrid Sevilla Malaga SUNDAY Granada Celta Vigo Osasuna Las Palmas MONDAY Sociedad

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MONDAY Crystal Palace

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THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU

La Liga

TODAY Köln

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Serie A Fixtures

DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

Klopp and Wenger

TODAY Empoli Atalanta Juventus

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Pescara Sassuolo Chievo

14:00 17:00 19:45

SUNDAY Sampdoria Bologna Cagliari Crotone Milan Udinese Lazio

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34

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

GLOBAL SOCCERR\\OTHER SPORTS

L-R: Marketing Director Nigeria Breweries, Franco Maria Maggi, Nigerian Football legend, Austin JayJay Okocha, Music artiste, Innocent Ujah Idibia, and Portfolio Manager National Premium Nigerian Breweries, Tokunbo Adodo at the unveil of the new Star Lager beer platform- Star Music the Fusion at Eko hotels in Lagos...recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

Joshua Ready to 'Step up' against Klitschko Anthony Joshua admits it is time for him to "step up" in his career as he prepares to face Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.

Joshua is preparing to defend his IBF world heavyweight title against Klitschko (64-4 KO53) in front of 90,000 fans on April 29, with the vacant WBA strap also on the line.

The unbeaten Brit has blown away every opponent put before him and has never been taken beyond the seventh round so far in his career, but faces arguably his toughest test against the two-time world champion.

"When we've been training, we've always been training for fights like this. Even when I was fighting people who were not as talented or experienced as Klitschko, we were always training as if I was fighting better opponents," Joshua told Sky Sports News HQ. "Now, I'm here, let's get it

on. Everyone has to step up in their career and I am just doing mine now, whether it was against Klitschko or any of the other champions.

"It doesn't matter if there are 90,000 people, 9,000 people or 900 people, as long as I win that's the main thing and it is history making. Three and a bit years as a pro and I am making history, so I am happy about that side of things."

Meanwhile, Klitschko believes Anthony Joshua needs "big muscles" to make himself confident and does not want any excuses when he topples the IBF champion at Wembley.

Joshua's physical power has brought him 18 knockouts in his perfect professional career, but Klitschko compared him to a 'CrossFit champion' during a stinging analysis of the 27-year-old British fighter.

Klitschko said: "AJ has a lot of energy, he's young, he wants

to be explosive, he has these big muscles that bring him confidence and he just wants to demolish people right in front of him. That's what it is, it gives him a lot of confidence, but did you hear about boxing being a sweet science?

"Every person would have got these big muscles. It gives you confidence and you really can smash if you hit the heavy bag, or the person in front of you. Boxing is sweet science.

The vicious boxers were conquered.

"I have a lot of respect for Anthony and what he is doing, his commitment, his physical ability. He can box, he can lift weights, he can be strong, he can train.

"He can be a CrossFit champion actually, a CrossFit world champion. I think he has great capability of it. CrossFit became really popular and there are a lot of boxers doing it.

Nairagames Launches Football Bets Nairagames.com, operated

by Microgames Networks, has announce that its mobile gaming platform is back online, featuring MLM, gold mining contests, slot and instant wins on the "wheel of wealth" games.

The casino apps are browser based games accessible via mobile phones and PC browsers which is today’s global de facto standard for real time gaming.

The slot game integrates up to a 50x bet multiplier and the roulette game eliminates table rules learning difficulties, as gamers only need to trigger six consecutive spins which are summed and matched against numbers representing cash prizes ranging from N2,500 to N5 million payout

odds for just a N100 bet.

Its roulette is currently the simplest roulette version worldwide, as it eliminates the learning complexities associated with traditional roulette gaming, leaving gamers with a game that is simple to play, yet thrilling with super lucrative payouts.

Rewards for Nairagames players begin once they register at the portal. All new players are pampered with stunning N5000 bonus on registration for instant play.

The Goldminer gaming contest app is free to download and offers an ‘immersive’ online gaming experience for android smartphones. Its high score sheet allows players to match their performance against

other gamers in real-time, and top 10 scorers are paid the cash value of amount mined weekly.

Nairagames has also integrated MLM via social media into its business, an amazing business model that caters for people.

Barry Nyong, CEO, said: “This is a momentous launch for us because while our Multi Level Marketing offering provides our loyal customers avenue to earn extra cash using their social medial channels, our casino offerings exposes live casino to players who don’t visit casino or understand table games. We understand how vital it is that our players are 100 per cent confident in our casino game fairness”.

GOtv to Air FIFA Confederations Cup GOtv subscribers will have access to live broadcast of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia as well as other FIFA tournaments on SuperSport.

SuperSport confirmed itself as Africa’s home of world football after completing a broadcast deal with FIFA for its major international rights for the 2017/18 season. GOtv customers’ football experience will now include the FIFA

World Cup, which takes place in Russia in June 2018.

These acquisitions now sit alongside SuperSport’s already substantial offering that includes the major leagues, Champions League and the SA Premier Soccer League.

“Soccer is among the jewels in the SuperSport crown,” said Felix Awogu, General Manager, SuperSport West Africa. “We have long enjoyed

the thrills of the World Cup and FIFA’s other properties and this new arrangement prolongs what has become a great partnership.”

Other FIFA events on the broadcast calendar are the FIFA Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and, in 2018, the FIFA Under-20 and Under-17 Women’s World Cup tournaments.

Federer

Federer: The Renaissance Man

"I need a rest. My body needs healing - you'll probably see me at the French again."

An outstandingly versatile, well-rounded person. Roger Federer continues to take the game to new levels with heavenly tennis after hard court title sweep.

Not only has the resurgent Federer won the Australian Open, then completed the unique Indian Wells and Miami Open title sweep in the space of three months, the superstar of mesmerising, superhuman proportions is most definitely getting better with age.

Federer's Achilles heel used to be his backhand, but it is now enabling him to dominate the tennis landscape.

The most decorated male player in Open-era tennis is finding his rhythm on the court and playing with the utmost confidence after claiming his 26th Masters crown and 91st career title at the weekend.

"When I came to Miami, I thought eventually it's going to catch up with me," said Federer.

"The court is slower here and I already won Indian Wells, so semis would be an unbelievable run."

After coming through a couple of epic deciding-set tie-breaks against Tomas Berdych and Nick Kyrgios, you just felt Federer's name was on the trophy for the third time in his career.

His great rival Rafa Nadal must still be scratching his head, wondering how he can change his game-plan in order to beat the great man, although he'll be relieved to discover the home comforts of the clay court season just around the corner while Federer "probably" won't play any clay-court events except the French Open.

Nadal still leads the head-to-head meetings 23-14 but Federer has won the past four meetings for the first time in their storied rivalry.

He is riding along on a crest of a wave, enjoying an 11-match winning streak and 19-1 record on a quite unique season, his best start since 2006 when he went 33-1.

And the 'Big Five' have been reunited at the top of the ATP rankings, with Federer and Nadal slotting in behind Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka.

Tennis is as popular as ever with Federer strutting his stuff at the tender age of 35 and there appears to be no stopping the Swiss juggernaut.

The dream of becoming year-end world No 1 is now very much a realistic target.

"The world is his oyster," claims Sky Sports' Annabel Croft. "He's moving better than we've ever seen him move. He's almost 36 years of age, and has the shot selection. The choice and options that he brings to the court is exemplary with his serve as good as we've ever seen it. And now he has this rejuvenated backhand that is absolutely supreme in every department - everything that we're looking at is absolutely phenomenal. There is so much to learn from watching him.

"He's an extremely graceful tennis player. He moves so fluidly around the court having been blessed with a really special talent. But he's a great tennis player in terms of how he plays the scorelines, when to introduce certain aspects of the game, when to introduce the serve-volleys. He is a tactically astute player."

Greg Rusedski added: "It's perfection at the moment - it doesn't get any better. We thought Federer was in decline but this year it's sensational. The movement, how early he's taking those second serves on the backhands, your timing has to be picture perfect as well as your footwork.

"He's defying logic and it's great to see it. If there's a discussion of the greatest of all time, I think Federer is answering it this year. The way he's playing, it doesn't look like he's going to stop."

With the season moving to the red dirt, Federer has answered many questions surrounding his commitment to the clay by saying, "I need a rest. My body needs healing - you'll probably see me at the French again."

With Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros all on the agenda, Nadal and co will be licking their lips at Federer's absence.

"At the start of the year he had such low expectations and said it was around April when he would know where the comeback was going to be at. But he's so far ahead of schedule to where he thought he was going to be so that's got to be on his mind," said former British No 1 Croft.

"He's targeting another Grand Slam and his eye will surely be on Wimbledon because that's where he's had his greatest success. He has talked a lot about the scheduling and not overplaying." For Nadal, the Spaniard will be ready to flex his muscles and dig deep into that well of self-belief to get back on track. He will be buoyed by the fact that's he's still won as many matches as anybody, along with Federer this year, although the challenge is getting bigger every time he goes on the court.

We've also witnessed the continued rise of the young guns in Miami as Kyrgios and 19-year-old Alexander Zverev showed their growing dominance in the sport against each other during a highlights reel of a match, showcasing tennis of the future.

And Kyrgios' three-hour toe-to-toe rumble with Federer in the semi-finals will go down as arguably the match of the year to date.

"It's a lovely mix right now," said Rusedski. "Federer can play until he's 50, please keep going, but Kyrgios has said, 'I can really battle with you guys. I can beat the very best' and so has Zverev.

"Imagine in about two years' time, they will be ready to maybe dig into those guys who are top four or five in the world. One of them will break into that pack - they're nearly there.

Kyrgios looks the most likely of the lot, but Zverev is 19 and has the head, but he still doesn't have that firepower and the danger that Kyrgios has.

"Nobody is serving at 129 mph like Kyrgios and getting them in on big points, consistently. That adds a lot of intrigue. For me, it's more interesting week in, week out. And with the clay court season, I can't wait for Monte Carlo to start to see what's going to happen."

With the return of Murray and Djokovic imminent, we're in for a thrilling next couple of months on the red stuff.

•Culled from Sky Sports

35

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

VINTAGE

New Rivers: Expanding Water Supply Simeon Nwakaudu

R

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was given the mandate by the good people of the state because they believe in his capacity to deliver democracy dividends in all sectors.

One key area that Governor Wike pledged that he would improve the fortune of the people of the state is the provision of potable water.

During the campaigns, Governor Wike in his development blueprint: New Rivers Development Blueprint declared on page 12 that: “The New Vision seeks to ensure regular access to potable water for all residents of Rivers State. For this purpose, our government will address the issue of water security and ensure that public water flows to private homes and public places” Since assuming office as Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has taken profound steps to resuscitate and rehabilitate several existing and abandoned water schemes in different communities of the state.

The governor has also developed new water schemes to ensure that residents in different localities of the state have access to potable water.

In his first year in office, the governor revived several water schemes in different communities of the state. Two major water schemes were completed in Eleme Local Government Area.

Heading to his second year in office, Governor Wike has completed the Okrika Island Water Scheme. This water scheme has the capacity to supply water to communities of the Okrika Island.

This recently completed project by the Wike administration which is currently being test run has replaced the obsolete water infrastructure in Okrika Island.

The Okrika Island Water Scheme has witnessed the setting up of a functional water distribution network on the Island

with the replacement of the hitherto obsolete water reticulation infrastructure.

Commenting on the Okrika Island Water Scheme, Rivers State Commissioner of Water Resources, Chief Walter Ibibia said: “The contract for the upgrade of the Okrika Island Municipal Water Scheme Phase 1 was originally awarded by the Rivers State Special Committee for Development of Coastal Communities on April 11, 2007 to Messrs Witcom Services Limited.

“The project scope as originally awarded was limited to the construction and erection of a 100,000 imperial gallons overhead water tank complete with accessories and a few ancillary works in the pumping station.

“However, the project was abandoned mid-way at the inception of the last administration due to non-payment of executed and certified works, several months after project inspection and certification by the Rivers State Special Committee for Development of Coastal Communities.”

The water project in Okrika was a fallout of the pledge that Governor Wike made to the people of the area that he is committed to developing a modern source of drinking water.

The project has been modernised, with an enhanced design and 10 kilometre reticulation to reach more communities. The funding of this significant project was done religiously by Governor Wike.

The Okrika people are happy with Governor Wike for his execution of the key water project in the area. This project has improved the living condition of the people and helped to check the menace of Water borne diseases.

Working with the UNICEF and the European Union (EU) Niger Delta Support Programme, the Wike administration is providing 22 water and sanitation facilities for 11 communities in Akuku-Toru and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area.

The benefitting Communities in AkukuToru LGA are: 1. Idama 2. Obonoma 3.

Oluapoku 4. Agudama 5. Sangama 6. Elem Sangama Those in Opobo/Nkoro LGA include : 1.

Ayaminima 2. Kyoko 3. Iwoama Nkoro 4.

Olom Nkoro 5. Ottoni. Each community listed has a water and a sanitation project.

For the 22 projects in Akuku-Toru and Opobo/ NkoroLocal Government Areas, Governor Wike has already released

N200million as counterpart fund for their speedy execution.

Of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, the Wike administration is rehabilitating moribund water projects in 18 local government areas.

These water projects are targeted at improving access to potable water in the respective communities, while the state government is working with UNICEF to check open defecation.

The Wike administration has concluded the preliminary process for the Port Harcourt Water Supply and Sanitation Project.

The Port Harcourt Water Supply and Sanitation Project is a joint venture between the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the Rivers State Government. This project will take care of water supply and sanitation in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

Under the project, water schemes will be constructed across Port Harcourt and Obio/ Akpor Local Government Areas, backed with massive reticulation infrastructure in the city.

Rambol Environ of Denmark who are the project management consultants have been in Port Harcourt since 2016 reviewing the project design, engaging stakeholders , embarking on approved study tours and training critical technical personnel to drive the project.

The International Agencies working in partnership with the Rivers State Government to enhance water supply in the state have expressed their commitment to the success of selected projects.

The UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) specialist in Rivers State, Martha Hokanya said that the agency was partnering with the Rivers State Government to reach over 10,000 people with improved access to safe water in Akuku-Toru and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, through the support of the European Union under the Niger Delta support programme Hokonya said that efforts would be made to reach an additional 75,000 people by the end of the year under the partnership.

OPELOYERU:

Why Nigerians Should Understand Mental Health Issues Samuel Ajayi

H

ow much of mental health issues does an average Nigerian know? So little.

That is what Oluwatoyin Opeloyeru, Executive Director of Shaping Lives Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting metal health and well-being, Opeloyeru said her organisation has been going from offices to offices educating people about the need to have adequate awareness about mental health issues. According to her, when mental health is mentioned, what comes to mind is mental illness which is not so.

The woman, trained as an accountant but now a consummate mental health consultant, said derives fulfillment letting people know the difference between mental health and mental illness. She has been doing this since 2011 but the NGO was officially registered in 2015.

“We have been doing this since 2011; creating awareness and letting people know what mental health is all about. But the NGO was officially launched in 2015 but we have been doing awareness since 2011 when we started the Shaping Lives Foundation,” Opeloyeru explains.

One issue with mental health issues and even illness is the stigmatisation of the individual involved and, in some cases, their families. Opeloyeru says she is aware of this and that is why her organisation is trying to educate people in this regard.

“I know the stigmatisation is still very strong but we have been doing so much in this area like going to schools to talk about the mental health awareness and need to be interested in what is all about. Since 201,

From left, Dr. Adebayo, Ms. Oluwatoyin Opeloyeru, executive director of Shaping Lives Foundation, and Dr. Owoeye during the presentation of mattresses to the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital the Foundation recently. we have been going to different schools in Lagos because we know that by educating the young, we end the stigmatisation and shifting thinking patterns. By shifting thinking patterns, we mean that a lot of people, when they hear about mental health, they think it is about being crazy and being mad.

Nigerians have come to see mental health as being mentally sick. They don’t know there is difference between mental health and being mentally ill. There is a vast difference.”

She avers that the World Health Organisation, WHO, defines health as complete physical and mental well-being; not just the absence of sickness and infirmities. The world body also states that state of well-being is when everyone can work diligently and effectively and contribute to the society and

cope with the normal stresses of life.

“Mental disorder is just an illness of the mind.” Opeloyeru explains. “But in Nigeria we see this as being crazy as in people roaming about the streets in rags. But depression is a form of mental disorder. A woman, who just delivered, could have post-natal depression. It is a mental disorder. We are trying to let people know that mental health is quite different and we started educating people. We have been working with schools and last year was a very productive year for us as we collaborated with the United Nations Information Centre as well as the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital. Every year, on 10th of October, which is the World Mental Health Day, we trained people and we even did about 80 teachers across different parts of

Lagos and what they learnt, they take it back to their different schools. It is a way to make that little difference. Though, there is still much to be done as I said and that is why we are collaborating with other organisations so we could come together to achieve this.”

She says the body has quite a number of programmes that have been slated for the first and second parts of the year. She throws light on them.

“What we have been doing is focusing on creating awareness around the World Mental Health Day which comes in October of every year as I said. We have realised that we cannot carry this alone and hence, the plan now is to do events on quarterly basis and what we are planning is to have school awareness programme and a mental health conference in the first half of the year. In the second half, we have the World Mental Health Day, in October, and in December, we celebrate Christmas with mental health patients.”

A couple of weeks back, Opeloyeru and her team went to the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital where they donated mattresses to the centre.

She says they could not do this alone and that was why they have been discussing with corporate organisations.

She explains that they actually bought five mattresses from Mouka Foam which now gave them two extra as part of their own contribution to the society.

“We have been discussing with many corporate organisations. For instance, we bought five mattresses from Mouka Foam and they gave us two more as part of the corporate social responsibility.

These seven mattresses were donated to the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital recently. A bank has given us some money, which is a token though, but it is something. We will be having a school awareness programme very soon in collaboration with this bank.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •April 8, 2017

FAIRGROUND

The Opening Night of Heineken LFDW Presentation of “Identity”

A

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

AKS, Gozel Green, Kelechi Odu, Lisa Folawiyo, Orange Culture, Post Imperial, Ré and Shem Paronelli unveiled their autumn/winter collections, at “Identity,” at the Red Door Gallery.

Each designer had a designated space at the gallery that was curated specifically to their individual aesthetics.

Select guests were able to explore and forge their viewing experience as they moved from room to room, intrigued by the blend of art and fashion. The event was in collaboration with Red Door gallery.

Omoyemi Akerele the organiser of the Heineken LFDW was delighted and was thrilled to attend to of guests. These are faces of some the people who attended the opening.

Outfits at the Identity Exhibition

Lisa Folawiyo

L-R: Bola Balogun, Omoyemi Akerele,a guest and Simi Esiri

Olaogun Introduces the RTW by Olaide Clothing Line

A

Omoyemi Akerele and Elohor Aisen

ctress Olaide Olaogun, who recently introduced her Clothing line, “RTWbyOlaide,” is obviously going places with her fashion label.

The CEO is currently the official designer for many celebrities.

The label which emphasises on simplicity, class and Fun wears has been the talk of of the town among fashion lovers home and abroad especially those are active on social media platforms since she opened the outlet in Ikeja,Lagos

According to her,RTWO simply means ready-to-wear by Olaide.

The designer has always had passion for fashion and wants to make a contribution to fashion industry.

Establishing a fashion house has been her long time dream which has come to reality. According to her,”her purpose on earth might not be fulfilled without doing that. Her vision for RTWO is to make it a known label in Nigeria and beyond.

Dakore Akande, Funke Akindele and Bolanle Olukanni stun at Olaide Olaogun Official Press.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •April 8, 2017

FAIRGROUND

Destiny Amaka, Mannie Essien,Tatiana Moussalli, Maje Ayida At Dare2dream Press Programme

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heDare2DreamTeamtogether with the main partners Imperial Leather, FCMB, Canoe, Wazobia TV and Wazobia MAX, met at Chocolat Royal on Wednesday for a press brunch to announce publicly the airing of the 16 new episodes of Dare2Dream Season3. that aims to inspire the youths of Nigeria.

Tatiana Moussalli (DGMD Wazobia TV, Wazobia Max, Wazobia FM & Cool FM] talked about youth talents and the importance of setting goals and working hard.

She added that even when the contestants don’t win, they should keep working hard and never let go of the humility and determination to transform themselves from a young talent to an established personality.

Representing the bank partner, Kemi Akintowu mentioned that through the Flexx zone, FCMB created a series of online services and career programs to support the youths.

Mannie Essien, OAP of Cool FM, a Bootcamp mentor and the presenter of the Grand Finale, pointed out that “the show is not just a reality show but a community project

that links the untrained to the professional.

It reaches a countless number of women in Nigeria who by ordinary effort might not be able to explore their God given talent.”

A presentation of what the Dare2Dream initiative stands for was led by Caterina showing the figures and success recorded over the years and what the contestants always stood to gain through a testimonial video from the contestants of Dare2Dream.

Mildred Baghaw of Imperial Leather explained that the masterclasses were designed to provide the girls with business insights and life skills that could be explored for their future personal and career development”.

Josephine Eno, the Season1 finalist and Dare2Dream production team member for Season2 and Season3, shared how the project has evolved from a modelling contest in Season1 to a platform that truly empowers young people precisely transferring soft and creative skills that can be used to become a MSME (micro-small medium entreprise).

The project is growing towards the international marketing since the past season’s finalists were surprised with trip to Milan for agency interviews and Vogue Caterina Bortolussi (Dare2Dream_Kinabuti), Kemi Akinwotu (FCMB), Tatiana Moussalli (Wazobia TV-Wazobia Max, Cool FM, Italia feature on Dare2Dream this week: Wazobia FM), Mann

Conference of #IsokenThe Movie

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he press conference for the movie, Isoken, held at the protea Hotel Victoria Island, unveiling for the first time, the film’s official trailer to members of the press. Present were Nollywood heavyweights and stars of the film; Dakore Akande, Funke Akindele, Patrick Doyle and new entrant, Bolanle Olukanni as well as the film’s financier, Bank of Industry and distributor, Silverbird Film Distribution.

Speaking at the press conference, Bank Of Industry’s Head of Creative Banking Group, Mrs. Cynthia Uche Nwuka, said “At BOI we are very passionate about working with young film makers and Jade Osiberu was the first of such, with BOI buying into her passion and

commitment to story telling through film, we are happy with what we’ve seen today and equally proud to be affiliated with this project.”

Addressing the media, the executive producer for the movie and former MD, Daily Times Nigeria, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi added, “The Nigerian film industry is growing and the growth is even more evident in the works put out by young film makers like Jade, who is passionate and has remained focused. So it was important to give her all the necessary support.”

“Jade was fully committed to this project from inception, ensuring she put her all into making this a reality.”

The media got the first peek of the newly released movie trailer, setting the tone for what to expect from the movie.

L-R: Female Casts of Isoken Bolanle Olukanni, Dakore Akande and Funke Akindele

Breezi Signs Deal with Three Singles

N

ewest entrant into Nigeria’s music scene, Oluwatosin ‘Breezi’ Adesanya has already set the ball rolling by signing a management deal with WePushContent and releasing three monster hit singles.

The multi-talented performer who reportedly signed a mega recording deal with a Nigeria-UK based recording company – Savage Music Inc recently, also revealed via Snapchat that he will drop follow-up singles in a matter of weeks. Interestingly, Breezi has already click on the reset button of Nigeria pop music with the release of three new singles namely, AmugboNation, Share and For My Girlfriend.

The new singles has been described by the EFG boss as appetisers, adding that he intends to do better with subsequent releases.

Breezi further disclosed his sound is influenced by Ghanaian Hi-life, Afro Beat and Juju music, also expressed his desire to be a sought after artiste in the music industry.

On the kind of music he performs, the entertainer posited thus: “Well, let’s just say I do relevant and sensible music. My sound is influenced by Afrobeat, Juju, Pop. Yes, I started out as a rapper, but right now, I’m more comfortable doing evergreen music.”

Breezi has been in the music scene for over a decade before he decided to fully venture in the

Onakoya

Taittinger Media Launch Breezi

music business.

On his management deal with WePushContent, the gap-toothed singer revealed, “It is something that has been in the pipeline for quite a while really. We were just waiting on

God and the right time so yeah, God has said yes.”

We Push Content Ltd. is a brand management organisation dedicated to building and promoting the Breezi brand.

T

The Taittinger Champagne was recently introduced to the media and the Nigerian market.

It is one of the few family-owned champagne houses available and is considered one of the top five in the world. Taittinger champagne is solely imported by Chief Tunde Onakoya of TEO Limited. He has been in the champagne business for over a decade.

Taittinger champagne is the official champagne for FIFA, BAFTA and the SAG Awards.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 8, 2017

April 8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 8, 2017

FITNESS FILE

Time To Start Work On That Beach Body

S

omething interesting happened over the weekend, or should I say I witnessed something interesting. While coaching a large group of people I noticed most had given in to the workout demands I made of them, they were on the floor with jaded looks on their faces. This prompted me to stop the music and launch into 10 minute rant about leaving your comfort zone.

What made it interesting was the response. They dragged themselves up, all of them, and slowly started to push, I started hearing grunts and cheers of motivation that sounded like battle cries. It was quite an experience. It wasn’t due to anything fantastic I said, just a seemingly collective agreement that this lifestyle, this wellbeing, affects every area of your life.

For real progress and change, you need to take things to the next level.

With less than a month to go till the world gets ‘summer fever’, now is the perfect time to kick your workout routines into high gear and actually make some significant progress toward reaching your ultimate get-lean goals.

We know you that you want to get rid of that last layer of blubber in order to finally uncover that cut body you’ve got hidden underneath. If you could get to transform your body overnight, would you pump up your shoulders, get a huge chest or a go for a serious six-pack? The answer?

None of the above: Over half of the clients I encounter just want an “overall fat-free physique” rather than a single bigger or better body part . Here’s the reality, you will have to work extremely hard for every calorie, every pound, you have to learn to push yourself, but I promise you the results will be worth it.

It is not enough to know what lifestyle

The Edenlifestyle corner with

MAJE AYIDA

majeayida@edenlifenigeria.com www.edenlifenigeria.com, 07062614551 changes to make, there must be application. I have some suggestions: High Intensity Interval Training Ah, good old interval and high-intensity training. You’ve heard about the benefits for ages and for good reason: it work.

If you’re looking for a surefire way to burn fat faster and lose some pounds in the process, HIIT is a solid go-to. High Intensity Interval Training is more time efficient in caloric expenditure than a traditional cardio workout. Not only will your body burn more calories during HIIT workouts but you will also continue to burn more calories and fat in the 24 hours after. By the way, that’s the fitness protocol that I coach, of course I have to talk about it!

Burn More If you think that hitting the weights is the only thing you have to do to lose fat faster, you’re wrong. You need a solid balance of weight training, cardio and diet. You need cardiovascular work to burn excess body fat. The body will burn primarily carbohydrates during the first twenty minutes of cardiovascular exercise.

Right about minute twenty, the body shifts over and starts to burn stored body fat as the primary source of energy.

You need a combination of both weight training and cardio to get fat off your body. Cardio alone will only train one type of muscle fiber and you’ll only be building

one part of your fat-burning furnace.

Many people do tons of cardio every day and don’t lifting weights. They never change the way they look. I know a lot of people that lift weights that realize their limitations once challenged in different ways.

Hit The Weights If you’re not already hitting the gym and racking up the weights, now’s the time if fat loss is your goal. Even if you start small and work your way up to heavier weights, gaining muscle is going to put you on the fast track to hitting that goal.

When it comes to exercise, you have to train with weights to increase lean mass.

Fat is burned inside of your muscle cells.

The bigger and more plentiful your muscle cells, the bigger your fat-burning furnace. Adding muscle basically increases the size of the fat-burning furnace. Dieting incorrectly or exercising incorrectly decreases your fat-burning furnace. This is often why, when a male-female couple embarks on a good exercise and nutrition plan, the male drops more weight more quickly than the female. He has more muscle tissue and a much bigger furnace.

He can burn food at a much faster rate than the female who has less muscle and a much smaller furnace.

Pick Up A Sport Picking up a sport is a great way to

burn extra calories, trim away the fat and still have a hell of a lot of fun doing it.

Playing a sport involves cardio and lots of non-linear movement (jumping, back pedalling, side stepping) making it healthier than straight jogging. Plus it keeps you having fun without getting bored.

You don’t have to be the next Michael Jordan to go down to your fitness facility, hop on the basketball court, and look for a game. Just do it! Most people are happy to have another player. Just make sure you at least know the rules (and know how to dribble). I only mention basketball because that’s my sport of choice. Maybe squash is your thing, maybe it’s soccer. .

Reduce Stress With Yoga Breathe Deep. Relax. Breathe Deeper.

Feel better? Feel healthier? Well, keep doing it, because it just might be helping you stay fit and lose fat. Stress has been known to contribute to abdominal fat and a whole host of other issues. Grabbing your Yoga mat and heading out for a little relaxation may go a long way toward helping you reach your fitness goals as well. And, besides, who among us couldn’t use a little less stress and a little more relaxation, right?

More Home Cooked Meals… Less Eating Out Unless you’ve been plugging away at a healthy lifestyle for a long time, going out to eat at restaurants can be a daunting task. Most menus don’t provide very good details and calorie counts on all their meals, so knowing what to order can often be an exercise in futility. The more home-cooked meals you eat, the more likely you’re able to maintain that healthy lifestyle. It’s much easier to control portion, ingredients, and quality of the food when you’re cooking it yourself.

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APRIL8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FASHION FILE

Celebrating the Essence of the

Makioba Woman

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

FASHION FILE

Celebrating the Essence of the Makioba Woman

T

he March Lookbook is especially poignant seeing as it coincides with International Women’s Month.

With bold colors and intricate detailing, these clothes are designed to highlight all the fabulous aspects of a woman’s body. The prints, embellishments, and appliqués are evocative of traditional femininity in the sense that they frame different silhouettes in innovative forms all the while maintaining Makioba’s brand ethos of bringing couture sensibilities and contemporary style to plus sized women.

The lookbook features an array of signature Makioba dresses as well as separates that could very well be staples in women’s wardrobes. From the easy bell-sleeved blouses to the body flattering midi dresses rooted in the Creative Director’s love for 1940’s styles. The future is female and how best to sojourn into it than to be decked in these chic pieces

Credits Models Makioba Olugbile (@Makioba_) Morayo ‘MoPosh’ Joseph (@MotiIrayo) Aisha Kazeem (@AyeeshaAtee) Photography Smiles Fotografi (@SmilesFotografi) Kene Nnamoko (@KeneNnamoko)

Make-up Studio Exx (@StudioExx) Damola Adeniji (@House_of_Aphrodity) Kemi (@j0rdana) Facinator Asa Kraft (@AsaKraft) Head Glam by Mase (@MaseBobManuel) Director Chije Carter (@MyNameLong)

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

WITH

MARKET PLACE

OMOLABAKE FASHOGBON 08033621009

L-R: Commissioner for Information/Strategy, Akwa Ibom State, Charles Udoh; Chief Executive Officer, KarvalliEnergy Consultant , Nkoyo Amana; Executive Vice President, Hudson Group, Mr. Tom Iseghohi; Managing Partner, Design Variations Nigeria Ltd, HajaNene ShukiratLanval; and Director, Enterprise Development, Small andMedium Enterprise Development Agency(SMEDAN), Mr. Wale Fasanya, at the national enterprise development strategy session organised by Hudson Group andco-sponsored by Akwa Ibom State Government in Lagos recently

From Left: Public Relations Manager, Power Oil,Ms.Omotayo Azeez; Mrs Veronica Onogura; Mrs Elizabeth Paul; Mrs Rejoice Harrison and Brand Communication Officer, Power Oil, Ms. Ijeoma Opara during the firm’s Mummy Dearest Party to Celebrate Mother’s day in Lagos

Uber, Old Mutual Train Drivers in Money Management Transportation Network Company, Uber, has partnered with Old Mutual to empower drivers through training on money management.

According to the sponsors of the programme, while the money management course was launched for driver - partners in South Africa, they also decided to extend the gestures to drivers in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana where they believe it would have positive effect on their economies.

In line with the theme of this year’s week, ‘Learn, Save and Earn’, the organisers said that participants would learn new skills on how to manage their finances in order to grow their income and save for the future.

Tecno Launches PhonePad 3 Smartphone Tecno has launched another smartphone into the Nigerian mobile market, known as the PhonePad 3 in one.

Speaking about the device, Tecno Tablet Business Unit Manager, Eric Liu said, “the modern business man can worry-less about having to carry laptops wherever he goes and stick to the PhonePad 3 which is a user-friendly high-end device designed for improved business communications and productivity.”

As the years rolled by, Tecno has tremendously excelled and the latest device in the phablet series – the PhonePad 3 is not an exception.

The latest addition tagged ‘Do business, stay mobile’ was made with the intention of allowing users have an improved and efficient business life. Spotting several upgrades from its predecessor, the device parades a wellcrafted metallic unibody.

The phone+ tab, flaunts a 7-inch HD screen which allows users a larger and clearer view of everything. The HD display undeniably offers a brilliant and vibrant effect. The PhonePad 3 comes with an enormous 4100mAh battery, which can last up to two business days if fully, charged.

Speaking further at the launch, the General Manager of Tecno Tablet, Steven Huang said, “With the release of the PhonePad 3, we want to continue to show that Tecno is not taking its foot off the pedal in bringing very competitive smartphones to users across the African mobile market. The new device, dramatically improves every aspect of a modern businessman, thereby facilitating proper business communications and efficiency.

According to him, the PhonePad 3 does not only cater for the business elites but also for all gadget loving individuals.

Managing Director, Tecno Nigeria, Mr. Chidi Okonwo, while speaking on the features, said the Tecno PhonePad 3 paraded a 5MP front camera and a 13MP rear camera with dual true tone flash which amplifies the camera’s ability to take high quality pictures even under extreme low light.

General Manager for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa, Alon Lits, said, that the company was not only passionate to champion innovation in the transport sector but was keen about the development of entrepreneurs.

He acknowledged the contribution of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to African economy, though not without its challenges.

“The findings of a study conducted by Invest In Africa (IIA) and Strathmore Business School illustrate that 70% of Kenyan SME’s fail within the first three years of operation owing to a failure to scale up. Nigeria’s national MSMEs survey conducted by the

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), note that only 69% of SMEs have business plans and 95% have no form of insurance. This lack of planning and financial savvy can cause the business to fail in their early stages.

“Through targeted education and skills development, entrepreneurs have a much stronger chance of ongoing success and with this partnership, we can foster the skills of emerging entrepreneurs, empower driver-partners using our app to grow their small business, support their families and begin saving”, he said.

DataPro Releases Mobile Apps for BVN Nigeria’s leading compliance solutions company, DataPro, has launched a new mobile applications to enhance banking services in the country.

The latest application which is relevant in capturing Global Positioning System (GPS), featured the latitude and longitude of an address would be useful for financial institutions in tracking the authenticity of information produced by customers especially in the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures.

According to the firm’s Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Oladele Adeoye, with the latest application, the company was able to completely eliminate fictitious address verification by capturing the GPS, photograph and all other physical characteristics of any address in Nigeria on-line and real time.

He said that since the company

pioneered the outsourcing of address verification by banks in 2010, its major challenge had been on how to have a fool-proof method of documenting the process, but the new idea was reliable enough to solve the hitch. ‘’The mobile application would eliminate all paper work, guaranty proof-of-work and achieve robust turnaround time.

“By virtue of Section 3 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act (MPLA) 2011 ( As Amended) all financial institutions are mandated to conduct the KYC procedure which involves the identification and verification of the customers demographics of name and address before establishing any business relationship with the customer. This is to ascertain that the customer is who he says he is, and also confirm if he is the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO)”

PharmAccess Launches Health Insurance Wallet PharmAccess Foundation Nigeria has wooed Nigerians withmHealth Insurance Wallet; a healthcare payments platform that connects payers, patients and healthcare providers.

The scheme delivers funds from public and private healthcare funders directly to patients and providers through a “health wallet” located on their mobile phone.

At a demonstration in Lagos recently, Country Director PharmAccess Nigeria, Mrs. Njide Ndili, said that the use of the funds would be restricted to conditional spending at the selected healthcare providers within defined geographic areas in the country.

Leveraging on the experiences implementing mhealth initiatives in Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria,

PharmAccess Foundation and its partners realised the need for a solid, back-end infrastructure to facilitate health payments and support a network of clinics where patients can utilise their health wallets for treatment.

The platform can integrate with any prevalent digital payment system in a country, including banks, online payment systems and mobile money operators.

It also boost demand by connecting patients to health savings schemes, benefits, and risk pooling opportunities at a low costs. It as well stimulate supply by strengthening the costefficiency of health providers’ service delivery through mechanisms like joint procurement systems, access to finance or capacity building.

The Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual, John Manyike added that “Global Money Week highlights the importance of money management skills and we are excited to be able to play a role in helping entrepreneurs make the most of their hardearned money.

Small businesses are key to driving inclusive economic growth in Africa – and their success will ultimately benefit us all. By extending this partnership with Uber across Africa, we are able to further promote financial fitness across the continent.”

Registration for the programme according to the organisers was through online.

PayPorte Dumps Payment on Delivery Option Apparently for security reasons, online store, Payporte, has adjusted its business model as it announced suspension of payment on delivery, POD, option.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Eyo Bassey, who made this announcement said that the organisation would henceforth identify with online secure payments and bank transfers.

Bassey noted that the change in operation was to further serve customers better and to reposition the business for profitability in addition to conforming with the Central Bank’s Cashless policy.

He however said that for old customers who had patronised the firm for up to five times or more, the old payment style would be open to them from Monday, April 10th.

“We have suspended the Payment On Delivery option on our website with effect from today, April 3, 2017. Our decision was necessitated by the increasing risk and security challenges posed by this payment option. Also, to reduce the amount of cash carried from one location to another by our delivery staff.

“We encourage our customers to make use of our other secured electronic payment options such as online payment or bank transfer for payments.

We believe this will also play an active role in the growth of e-commerce business in Nigeria, as well as give a new dimension to the business”, Bassey explained.

Head of Operations, PayPorte, Boma Igah added that “In line with the suspension, refunds for unsatisfied customers would be processed within a maximum of 48 hours while only customers who have shopped on PayPorte for five times or more will be able access the POD option from the 10th Aprilpending its total discontinuation.

“Customers that had already placed orders using the POD orders before March 3,, 2017, would be allowed to pay using that option but for future orders, customers would be required to make payments using our various secured payment options”.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 8, 2017

INTERVIEW

My Secondary Education at Ilaro was Exciting She hasn’t overcome the traumatic experience she had in the hands of kidnappers who held her hostage for seven days. Iyabo Anisulowo was an erstwhile secretary to the defunct Egbado South Local Government Area of Ogun state; a twotime Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, a Minister of State for Education, and a Senator, who represented Ogun West district (Yewa/Awori). In this interview with Femi Ogbonnikan, she speaks about her harrowing experience in the hands of the kidnappers, how she joined forces with Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)

T

ell us about your background.

They call me Anike. I hail from Arulogun and Are-Ogun families in Ilaro, paternally. I was born in Lagos, precisely at 179, Igbosere Road, Lagos Island on the 21st of March 1951. I grew up in that area of Igbosere Road.

When I was about six years preparaold, I went to a prepara tory school, St. Mary Nursery and Primary School, for about a year. Then, I went to Primary School at the age of seven at St Mary Covent School, which was on Broad Street, Lagos Island.

So, I finished my primary education, which was Standard Six as it was then.

We spent eight years in primary school.

I finished Standard Six in 1964 and proceeded to Egbado College, Ilaro, and I was there for five years. I left there for the University of Lagos, College of Education and did NCE in Physics and Mathematics. Then, I got married. I later went to Universi Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where I read Mathematics and Mathematics Education. My father of blessed memory, when I was born, was working in UAC. He was

sub accountant. He was previously in the military, and in the police.

But when I was born, he was in the UAC, precisely with the Niger Motors on Marina Street, not too far away from our house.

It was a walking distance from Igbosere Road to Marina Street at that time. My father, David Olatunji Adekunjo Ajibogun, of the Ajibogun dynasty in Are Ogun compound in Ilaro, was a teacher after he finished at Christ Church School here in Ilaro. He taught in many villages around here.

Then, the practice was after Standard Six, they became teachers in primary schools. He lived in Lagos all his life. He left all the beautiful farmlands, the natural resources that are (Ilaro) here and we were in Lagos for the good life. But the good thing was that he encouraged me to come to Ilaro, despite the myth about Ilaro or any other local area. They said witches and wizards killed people there; that they were so many traditionalists who believed in charms, and all these were rife at that time.

When I came to Egbado College, Ilaro, in 1965, I found love and in fact, many times, I look at myself and would ask myself, “why am I here? Why am I living here? Why do I like to be in Ilaro to develop this area? Why am I craving for sustainable development of the entire areas here? Why am I so instrumental to the development of so many things here? I found out that, because at a very tender age, I found love here, not love in terms of having a manfriend or a boyfriend. My husband is an Ekiti man and I never had a boyfriend in Egbado College, because Ilaro is one place where we are all related.

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APRIL 8, 2017 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERVIEW

L-R: Senator Gbemisola Saraki-Fowora, Senator Iyabode Anisulowo, Senator Daisy Danjuma and a friend

My Secondary Education at Ilaro was Exciting Throughout Ilaro, we are all related because we have three main Igas (quarters). We have the Ona Otun; we have Ona Ola and the third is the Ilu Ata. These are the major quarters. If you are from any of these quarters, we are all related in one way or another. The farthest relationship you will find is by marriage. But by blood, almost all of us, the core Ilaro people, are related by blood. They will trace it and they will ask you whom you want to marry. So, I found love.

The first kind of love was when I got to Egbado College, my late aunt, Chief (Mrs) Bede Olipede, was the owner of the Iberu Oluwa Hostel in front of Egbado College in Ilaro. She was a seamstress. She was the one that sew all the female school uniforms. So, she came to take measurement and I stood in front of her and because she was educated, she would first of all ask your name. And when I said I was Iyabo Ajibogun. She screamed and threw down the tape and her pen and hugged me; “Eh, omo buroda mi (my brother’s daughter). She was just talking for almost ten minutes that “eh, we thank God. Egbon mi ni ki o wa si Egbado College. Ah, iyen ma da o” (So, my brother asked you to come to Egbado College and school; that is good). I got two pairs of school uniform instead of a pair. Anytime we had open day, we would trek to Ilaro town through this Ibeshe/Ilaro road, which was not constructed at the time.

I was born into Aladura Church.

At about five years old, I knew how to pray. At about six, I was in the choir. I could fast. I could pray and those had helped me a lot to deter forces of darkness from unleashing their terror on me.

As of that time, money was really, really scarce. I remembered I paid 19 pounds and 10 shillings for a term. Another thing happened that made me to feel committed to this area. My father paid my school fees and it was even with a cheque at that time. But suddenly some bad things happened and my father had to get out of work

from the UAC at that time, and things became very, very difficult.

The first year at Egbado College, Ilaro, was paid but the second year was a bit tough and I was sent home for school fees twice. But, I got lucky as the principal sent for me one day. I went to meet him.

There was a phone in Ilaro area here and it was like a crude rural telephone thing. ‘Get across to your father and tell him, that you have been given a scholarship.’ I was happy.

I didn’t do interview for the scholarship and I didn’t apply for the scholarship. Yes, I had difficulties in my second year but I never knew help could come just like that, without applying for it, without asking for it. Throughout the last part, from Form Three I paid nothing. They said, it was given to the best boy and the best girl in the school, at that time. I got it. I feel grateful to the system here that I have been doing things; that I would not withdraw. Look at this mansion I built here and if this were to be in Lekki, Lagos, it would be worth billions of naira.

But because of the setting here and even if I want to sell it, how much would you get out of it? And it is open to everybody to use. So, that is my story.

At what age did you start your political career?

Actually, I started in school at the University of Lagos, College of Education. You should know that I am an activist. I always want things to be done well. And I don’t procrastinate. I am not the kind of person that just sits down.

I just take my shirt and skirt, put on a cap and solicit help for a start. So, I started politicking in 1971, not the politics that we know now. It is politics of ideas, good conscience, a lot social activities, debating issues. I was a disciple of Late Prof. Ayodele Awojobi at the University of Lagos at that time.

They would find me, standing on a rostrum, talking about the issues why women should not be abased. So, I ended up being the

Vice President of the Education Students Association, University of Lagos College of Education and I was also the Financial Secretary of the National Union of Education Students Association (NUESA), which took me to several places.

At that time, I went to Zaria for the NANS convention.

So, I started my political career then. Well, when we talk about the national politics, I could not join them early, because of my challenges, because I didn’t have a child on time. And that was what made me to go about with my husband in the North. I was in Maiduguri. I was in Jos. I had lived in Kano. I had lived in Kaduna. So, it was during those Balarabe Musa period when he wanted to be governor of Kaduna State and I took interest in politics.

Baba Obafemi Awolowo gave an instruction, that we should all vote for Balarabe Musa’s party, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). We voted for PRP. For us to be able to move to get Balarabe Musa into government House at that time was a feat. And I think, that was in 1979.

By 1982, when I came back to the South-west and I got much more interested in the national politics.

So, I started going to meetings in Ikenne where I met several other people even when I came to Ilaro.

Even during the time of Ibrahim Babangida two-party system (SDP and NRC) and I had a brief stint in the People’s Front of Musa Yar’Adua movement which was not registered.

It was in the SDP, that I contested to be able to go to the National Convention. And even going to any convention then, you would have to contest at home. It was only popular candidates that went to the convention, then. So, I contested and I won the election into the national convention where Kingibe emerged as the national chairman of the SDP. From there, I was appointed Secretary to the defunct Egbado South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Even before then, I had led women groups in Nigeria. And you

should know that I had worked in Radio Nigeria. I started “Olobe lo loko”, because I was following my husband in all his postings. In Kaduna, I did education broadcasting and so on.

Almost a year ago, you had a raw deal in the hands of kidnappers for a week. What was your experience?

It is something that one wants to recall. It is not a good experience.

It is not good at all. Like you have said, it was harrowing. It was harrowing when you were faced with people, watching you with guns and cutlasses in a very bad environment, in an environment that is not conducive for sleeping at all. So, it was a bad experience.

It was not good at all. You don’t even pray for such to happen to your enemies.

Even on the day of release, I was just uncertain. I knew that they were not there, but alone, walking along the path in the bush, not knowing who else I would meet, whether I would get up, or help would not be coming quickly and it was raining seriously. It was very bad.

I don’t want to dwell much until about a year, after one year anniversary of it. Maybe, I will get out of the trauma completely. Because many times when I wake up in the night and I am going from my bedroom to bathroom, I have no other thing than to say, ‘thank you, God. Because I wake up in the middle of a forest, thick forest, a jungle, where I could not walk a distance of three metres, without meeting an obstacle, either a tree or a stump that would hurt my legs, let alone the burnt I had from the hot silencer of a motorcycle, at that time.

So, I just thank God. It was very traumatic. And in fact, death was better at that time than living in that place.

I thank God that people prayed and the government put pressure on the kidnappers and God himself heard the prayers of the saints.

And I was released.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • April 8, 2017

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INTERVIEW Steve Ayorinde

Why Lagos State is Celebrating 50th Anniversary in a Grand Way The golden jubilee could not have come at a better time than when Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, presides over the state performing wonders. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, in this interview talks about Lagos at 50

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here is preparation ongoing for Lagos at 50. Can we have an insight into the activities lined up?

The preparation you referred to is actually for the last 50 days of the year-long celebration.

Don’t forget that the celebration started on May 27, 2016, three months after the 10-man Planning Committee to drive it was inaugurated by the Governor. Since that time, we have had a measured, consistent and effective anniversary Programme.

Several colloquiums have been held under the direction of the Planning Committee Chairman, Prof. Wole Soyinka, as an intellectual voyage into different areas of life, culture, history, governance and business that make Lagos an exceptional state. The committee has also celebrated each of the old administrative divisions of the state, namely Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe. Each of those divisions had a whole month dedicated to celebrating them in the course of the last 10 months. Equally more important is the fact that we have succeeded in tying the year-long anniversary to a monthly show that symbolically revolved round the 27th of every month since May last year. We launched the One Lagos brand as the state’s tourism initiative on the 27th of July last year; we had a ‘Love Lagos Weekend’ town hall meeting in London on the 27th of August last year and had a Lagos Corner at the world-famous Nottinghill Carnival which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Remarkably, Lagos was celebrated at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival with eight films in September last year, the first African city to be so recognized; and we had the maiden edition of The Lagos Street Party and the second edition of the One Lagos Fiesta in December to further highlight the Lagos@50 joyous mood. This year, we opened the Lagos Art Expo on January 27th in memory of Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, who served Lagos till his death in November last year as the co-Chairman of the Lagos@50 Planning Committee. Also, it was on March 27 that we rolled out, through a World Press conference at the Governor’s Office, the activities lined up for the last 50 Days of the anniversary from Saturday April 8 to Saturday May 27.

That day happened to be the World Theatre Day and the state’s Council for Arts and Culture was on hand to add colour to that momentous day.

The highlight of that press conference was to announce a rich long list of the activities that will crown the year-long celebration in 50 days. There is something for everybody.

From spectacular theatre shows like WAKAA

by Bolanle Austen-Peters which opens the 50 Day glee on Saturday April 8 to KAKADU which comes up at Harbour Point on May 21 and FELA: The Broadway Musical that runs throughout the Easter weekend at Eko Hotel, the celebration has an unmistakable artistic and cultural profile. Lagosians will have a taste of a number of the worldrenowned events they have always enjoyed, like Boat Regatta which will take place in Epe, Badagry and Lagos Island simultane-

ously; The Lagos Carnival and a Parade of Colours across the island and mainland parts of the state as well as the Eyo (Adamu Orisha) festival itself, which is slated for Saturday May 20 at the TBS. There will be jazz music concert mixed with a fashion show to celebrate the International Jazz Day on April 30th; there is comedy show tagged LAGOS LAUGHS on May 7th where 50 of the most outstanding stand-up comedians will mount the stage on the World Laughter Day to reinforce the fact that Lagos is the capital of Stand-up Comedy in Africa and there will be a competitive dance exhibition.

Film is not left out, with red carpet screenings in each of the five divisions of the state because Lagos loves the cinema. In between all these, the Lagos brand will be felt at the World’s biggest film festival – CANNES, in France, which is celebrating its 7oth edition between May 17 and 28th. Lagos will have a pavilion there. All the social clubs in the state will also be recognized and celebrated on May 12 while a two-day international conference will hold to discuss the progress of the state as a mega city that is eager to be a smart city. All these and many more will lead to a glorious climax on the 27th of May to first celebrate the children because Lagos shares her birthday with the Children’s Day and then a photo exhibition as well as the Governor’s ball cum gala night which are slated to hold at the Presidential Lodge in Marina, which President Muhammadu Buhari has graciously handed over to our state to serve as the Lagos Historical Centre.

Furthermore, this is a milestone anniversary that will afford us to document and capture for posterity, in print and on audio-visual, different aspects of the history and progress of the state as well as the contributions of its icons and builders.

It looks like a big event.

Indeed, it is big. It has to be big because Lagos does not do things in half measures.

Three key reasons should explain why Lagos deserves a ball. One, it’s a landmark anniversary. The golden jubilee anniversary, of a person or an institution, should not go unnoticed ordinarily. For Lagos, the need for celebration is even more pertinent. Of all the 12 states created in 1967 by General Yakubu Gowon, only Lagos State has remained indivisible. Nothing has touched it; no state has been carved out of Lagos. It has never been severed. Its map has remained the same as it was 50 years ago. Secondly, Lagos State deserves to count its blessings. This is a blessed state. Politically and economically it has proven to be the powerhouse and nerve centre of the country. Other states come here to learn the art of modern and accountable governance and many are humble enough to admit and acknowledge it. Continuity is a word that finds home in Lagos. And each time the Federal wishes to get it right, it usually relies on the ideas, support and manpower from Lagos. On the business and economy front, Lagos also holds the ace.

This is a state that does not rely on oil to prosper yet the Creator finds her worthy to be counted among oil-producing states. The IGR in Lagos alone is bigger than those of

Ayorinde

32 states of the federation put together while its GDP is bigger than those of Kenya and Ghana combined, so much so that if it were to be a country, Lagos would be Africa’s fifth largest economy. This is Nigeria’s and West Africa’s commercial and creative hub. And equally important, if you look at the giant strides that the state has made in the last two years under Governor Ambode, with all the legacy and iconic projects that are lined up for commissioning throughout April and May, the need to have a grand ball becomes very evident.

Are there plans on how Lagosians across the state can be part of the celebration?

It’s a celebration for everybody, particularly in terms of attendance and participation. It’s a celebration for the people, especially to acknowledge men and women who have contributed to making Lagos the cynosure of all eyes. Think of all the activities lined up and the hundreds and thousands of Lagosians that will be involved and engaged and even businesses that will thrive. In addition, there are a number of symbolic events like the Special Executive Council session with former governors and the current exco members; a special Legislative Session at the House of Assembly with past and current lawmakers at the state and federal levels as well as a Special Judiciary Session to commemorate the state’s anniversary on how far it has come in justice administration.

At every point in time, the public will be involved and they are being kept abreast of the various activities through traditional print, broadcast and social media. The whole city is agog and not a single person is in doubt that Lagos is in a joyous, celebratory mood.

How will you summarise the journey so far for the state?

So far so good. The state has demonstrated its leadership position as the centre of excellence in Nigeria. More importantly, the state has made good use of the opportunity of always been blessed with capable and visionary leaders particularly since 1999. This is a state that stopped being the nation’s capital since 1991 but has had more development, arguably, in the last 26 years of not being a capital city. So it has been a great journey of vision and success. It is commendable that this is a state whose IGR accounts for about 70% of its revenue and whose budget performance has always topped 75% to 80% in the last three years. There is always another ladder of progress to climb. But no one would deny that Lagos has been an

ideal cosmopolitan city that has given hope and succour to many at a time that the country is experiencing some dire straits.

What is the future?

It is a very bright future for the state and we are grateful that we have a cerebral accountant who understands how to manage men and resources as the governor at these trying times. He has been committed to the Lagos State Development Plan, paying great attention to all the four pillars of development as they affect the economy, security and the environment. Yes, Lagos is now blessed as an oil-producing state, but we are not distracted by it. The aim of the Governor is to ensure that in the next two to three years, the state’s IGR will account for 100% of its revenue, so that we will hardly depend on the allocations from Abuja. In our strategic plan, this feat will provide the basis for our desire to grow the economy of the state to become Africa’s third largest in about three to four years. That’s our own Vision: 20-20.

The Governor’s sterling first two years in office has become a demonstrable evidence of what to expect in the next two years and beyond. This is an administration that is running a government of inclusiveness, making sure no aspect of the state is neglected in its developmental strides. This is an administration that is convinced that the arts, entertainment and tourism as well as sports are veritable areas for job creation and youth engagement and is investing heavily in those sectors. This is an administration that pays high premium on security and is not only supporting the federal security apparatus but has blazed the trail in community security through the recently launched Neighborhood Safety Corps. Yet, this is an administration that is moving from a mega city to a smart city where technology will drive development, innovations and security. So when you hear the Governor speak about channelizing the waterways and expanding the jetties and our capacity for more ferries; opening a new BRT corridor along Abule Egba and Marina; proposing a 10-lane superhighway from Oshodi to International Airport; working towards 3,000 mega watts of electricity through an embedded power generation and distribution programme for the state and approving the creation of a Smart-city project within the Ibeju-Lekki area with a new airport, because a state with 21 million people that desires to be a tourism hub cannot run on only one international airport, you know that he is speaking about Lagos of the future. And the future that the Governor, like the founding fathers of modern Lagos desires is here already.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

POLITY Stallion Farms Lauds Buhari Agri-Business Agenda, Promises Increased Rice Yield Fadekemi Ajakaiye

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tallion Popular Farms and Mills Limited has assured an annual increase in locally farmed rice from 450, 000 metric tonnes to 1.5million tonnes, using integrated rice value chain and enhanced milling activities, Group Director Hapreet Singh has affirmed.

Mr. Singh made this pledge in Abuja while acknowledging IBCA - ‘Outstanding Projects and Business Leaders of the Year Award’ recently conferred on the company for its remarkable role in integrated rice value chain and enhanced local rice production.

He said the company decided to increase farmed rice yield to compliment President Muhammadu Buhari agri-business agenda to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production, and also applauded Chief Audu Ogbeh agrarian backward integration initiative.

“Our vision has always been to preserve and enhance rice production in Nigeria by ensuring genetic integrity of seeds, encourage scientific agricultural practices and promote world-class processing techniques to emerge as industry benchmark for product quality,” he added.

Mr. Singh thanked IBCA, (Inside Business Commendation Award) for creating a platform to acknowledge real positive change makers in the agric sector, where Popular Farms & Mills was distinguished as outstanding projects and business leaders of the year.

“We owe this accomplishment to President Muhammadu Bu-

Mazi Ohuabunwa presents agric sector outstanding plaque to Singh

hari’s leadership aptitudes and agri-business agenda,” Stallion Farms & Mills director said.

Stallion Popular Farms and Mills Limited began farming activities in Nigeria 10 years ago.

Adding that the farm would leverage on the impulse provided by the Federal Government through its transformation agenda, Mr. Singh said Stallion has already established integrated agricultural operations such as world-class rice mills at strategic locations to promote milling and paddy cultivation in captive areas to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production.

A farm division of Stallion Conglomerate, Popular Farms and Mills Limited produces premium varieties of rice from locally farmed paddy, currently branded

and marketed nationwide as Royal Stallion Shinkafa, Tomato Aroso and Super Champion.

The company has also established collection centres across rice producing states in Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi to not only help farmers embrace modern farming techniques but also focus on distributing farm inputs through farmers cooperatives and associations to ensure rice revolution in Nigeria.

The agrarian establishment however promises to safeguard timely provision of certified seeds, fertilizers, advisory irrigation and crop management as well as buys back mechanism to help farmers get good and profitable yields especially during

harvest.

IBCA - Outstanding Projects and Business Leaders of the Year Award is an initiative of Inside Business Magazine in recognition of remarkable contributions to economic growth and sustainable development.

Former Economic Summit Chairman and Chief Executive Inside Business Magazine, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa who presented the award congratulated Popular Farms and Mills for displaying demonstrative commitment towards Federal Government’s concerted agenda in rice production, saying “You have not only supported the country’s agrarian objective for self-sufficiency in rice production but also worked tirelessly with local governments to ensure food security.”

Babalakin Appointed UNILAG Pro-Chancellor

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hairman of The Resort Group, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has been appointed as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). His appointment was announced in a statement issued by the Federal Government yesterday.

This is coming about three months after Babalakin was appointed, specifically on January 6, 2017, as the Chairman of the 16-member Federal Government Committee to Renegotiate the 2009 Agreement the government signed

Babalakin

with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff

Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Associated & Allied Institutions (NASU).

Babalakin will be coming to UNILAG with a wealth of experience drawn from his position as a former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) between 2009 and 2013.

As the Pro-Chancellor of UNIMAID, Babalakin was also the Chairman of the Committee of ProChancellors of Federal Universities in Nigeria and the Chairman of the Implementation Monitoring Com-

mittee of the Agreements entered into in 2009 between the Federal Government and the various unions in the universities, including ASUU, SSANU, NAAT and NASU. While announcing his appointment as the Chairman of the Federal Government Committee to Renegotiate the Agreement with ASUU and other unions, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in a statement then had said Babalakin merited the chairmanship of the committee because he was adjudged as the best Pro-Chancellor at the time of the negotiations in 2009 and headed the Agreement Implementation Committee.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

FEATURES Ambode

Raising the Bar in Infrastructural Development for Lagos

Last week, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State inaugurated the Neighborhood Safety Corps and also commissioned roads and bridges in a move to improve security in the state and ease the pains of commuters. Samuel Ajayi writes

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Accolades without Barriers… athaniel Ajayi, a resident of Abesan, a sleepy community in northern part of Lagos, did not mince words in going down memory lane: “I was born in 1993 here in Abesan, I had always dreamt that one day the kind of development I see in Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikeja will take place here. Today our governor has made my dream come true.”

Nathaniel was speaking at the inauguration of the link bridge at Abesan to ease transportation headaches in that area. Young Nathaniel can now feel that those infrastructures that he thought were hitherto exclusive preserves of Victoria Island and Ikoyi are now in his neighbourhood.

Before him, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s political leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, had praised his protégé. His words: “Akinwunmi Ambode has reflected that he is clearly a thinker and doer. I want to say thank you because experience is a great teacher and I am experienced. I am on the spot and I have watched things in Lagos since my tenure ended. I was worried hell when you (Ambode) took over, not about your credibility, character or capacity, but because however wise or smart a man is, if there is no resources to back the ideas, production would be zero, progress would be zero. When you (Ambode) took over, I know you inherited a burden of debt.

The debt profile of Lagos was high, I was wondering how you will re-engineer and face the challenges to make progress. Today, I can see your report card, you have scored well, and you have shown prudency especially in the judicious use of resources of the state.

You didn’t disappoint us. Ambode is silently achieving, meticulously planning, religiously executing and brilliantly giving results for Lagos State.

The difference in the statuses of Nathaniel and Tinubu shows that the impact of Ambode as a governor cuts across social and economic boundaries. And that was why these adulations came in a week when Ambode was busy commissioning projects and inaugurating some bodies. On March 27 this year, Ambode launched the rebranded Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps to ensure security of lives and property in all the communities in the state and two days later, on 29th March to be precise, he inaugurated various road projects and bridges in the hitherto forgotten Aboru and Abesan communities.

At the official launch of the rebranding of Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps held at Agege Stadium, a total of 177 Salon cars and vehicles equipped with necessary communication gadgets, 377 motorcycles, 377 helmets, 4,000 bicycles, metal detectors for ensuring that illegal weapons are not smuggled into public places, among other operational equipment were handed over to the Corps by Ambode.

Ambode said the move was another giant step towards enhancing security all over the State and a vital part of the ongoing efforts of his administration to reform the security and justice sector.

The governor who had on August 15, last year, assented to the law that created the Neighbourhood Safety Corps said the Corps had been designed to provide a second layer of policing in order to ensure that the State and communities are more secure.

He acknowledged the fact that the Nigerian Police had been very supportive to the state government especially in fighting crime, but

that the need for the Neighbourhood Corps arose from the identified security challenges confronting the state due to huge population, adding that the members of the Corps would complement police especially in areas of community policing.

“Let me, however, make it abundantly clear that the Neighbourhood Safety Corps is not in any way in competition with the regular Police Force. In actual fact, they are expected to assist and complement the Police by providing useful intelligence for crime prevention and to facilitate the arrest of perpetrators of criminal activities in our communities,” Ambode said.

He said special hotlines have also been created direct to the Executive Secretary and senior management of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency for easy communication with communities in the event of any crime.

“Any valuable information given to the Corps will attract handsome rewards from the state government. I therefore call on all Lagosians to join hands with us to say a final NO to crime in our state. All these equipment have been made possible through the judicious use of tax payers’ money and funds from the State Lottery Fund for good causes.

Please continue to pay your taxes for a better Lagos,” Ambode admonished.

The governor, however, charged the Corps not to indulge in brutalising citizens, but that they should exercise lot of restraint, patience, understanding and maturity while carrying out their duties.

Ambode said in order to further strengthen security, a new executive bill to regulate employment of domestic workers and security guards would soon be forwarded to the state House of Assembly, explaining that the bill, among others, will prescribe regulations for the set of workers and other details to monitor their activities.

The governor also handed over four vans fitted with Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs) to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the State Police Command.

A Lease of Life for Abesan and Aboru…

Just two days after this event, Ambode moved to Aboru and Abesan communities in Alimosho Local Government. Here, he commissioned brand new roads and bridge built by the administration.

Popularly referred to as Tinubu’s country, Alimosho was further electrified on the fateful day as they received the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to commission the projects to mark his 65th birthday.

It was a political carnival-like atmosphere as Tinubu, alongside other eminent Nigerians, graced the occasion. These include Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat Adebule; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Chief Femi Pedro; Senator representing Lagos West at the upper legislative chamber, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola; Senator Ibrahim Kazaure from Jigawa State; Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa; members of the Lagos State Executive Council, lawmakers and other political big wigs.

Ambode recalled his visit to the Aboru area in March 2016, saying that aside the state of the road which was totally unacceptable, there were reports of series of deaths and fatal accidents caused by the presence of a valley, adding that he immediately directed that work should commence in the area.

“Exactly one year after, we are here to keep

our promise to the good people of Aboru, Abesan and other communities and reaffirm our commitment that no community or area will be left behind. Every Lagosian counts.

We are a government of inclusion.”

He said the 480 metres bridge linking Aboru to Abesan, both in the Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council of Alimosho Local Government Area would significantly ease the burden of travel between the two communities by reducing travel time and eliminating the risks associated with its non-existence.

Ambode said aside the bridge, additional adjoining inner roads to create an efficient road network that will aid connectivity permanently were also constructed.

He listed the roads to include Church Street, Giwa Street, Victor Fagbemi Road, Ogunfayo Road, Ogundare Street, Salami Kazeem, all totalling 5.5km with drainage, walkways and street lights, adding that the road network would ease the pressure on the Abeokuta Expressway and links residents with Iyana Ipaja, LASU-Iba Expressway.

Another Round of Road Projects…

Ambode also flagged off the turning of sod for the construction of a network of roads within the boundaries of Lagos and Ogun States, saying that it was in honour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as the brain behind the 21st century Lagos.

These roads include Ikola Road with Odo Obasanjo Bridge: 6.4km (from Ipaja/ Command to Ilo River); Ogunseye Road which is1.75km (from Ajasa/Command to Ikola Road);Oko Filling Road which is1.5km (from AIT to Ilo River); Osenatu Ilo road which is 620m (from Ibari Road to Ilo River); Amikanle road which is 3.1km (from AIT to Ogunseye Road); Aina Aladi road which is1.9km (from AIT to Ilo River) and Aiyetoro Road with a bridge which is 1.4km (from New Market/Ishefun Road intersection to Ilo River).

He, however, appealed to the residents of the communities to cooperate with the contractors so as to enable them deliver the network of roads not later than the scheduled completion date.

A ‘Birthday Present’ for the Leader…

And since the occasion fell on a day after the 65th birthday of the National Leader of the APC, Tinubu said Ambode had given him a good birthday present with these feats.

“You have given me a birthday present.

This is a great opportunity for me to be very proud again. Therefore, if we can continue in this direction of infrastructural development in the manner Governor Ambode is moving, Lagos will soon match international states or country anywhere in the world,” Tinubu said.

For 24 year-old Nathaniel, Ambode must have made his day just as he gave a birthday present for Tinubu.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

PERSPECTIVE How the CBN Protects Our Sabotaged Economy Arize Nwobu

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ow well has the CBN fared in nearly two decades of re-positioning the banking sector and economy in the global village? Arize Nwobu, an assistant director with the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, writes that in spite of the activities of economic saboteurs of the Nigerian economy, the unwillingness of the average Nigerian to pay taxes as well as the uncanny penchant to consume foreign goods, the CBN led by three innovative governors, has been proactive in the art of development banking while supporting policies that encourage less foreign consumption, citing its current Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) for local rice production as a step in the right direction.

Beyond the economic recession, the Nigerian economy is characteristically obstinate and resistant to guidance or discipline. It is a paradox, an economy brimming over with both natural and human resources, but marked by a vicious cycle of poverty.

Presently, all macroeconomic indices have turned hostile to the welfare of citizens. In January, 2017, inflation rate spiked to 19 per cent before it dropped to 17. 78 per cent in February, unemployment rate (which measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force) rose for the seventh straight quarter to 13.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2016, reported to be the highest level since 2009.

Poverty rate stands at 62.6 per cent with almost 100million people living on less than a US$1 a day, reinforcing a vicious cycle of poverty, while the Misery Index, measured by the sum of inflation, unemployment and lending rates, minus year-on-year(y-o-y) per capita GDP was at 49.5 per cent( before the drop in inflation rate to 17.78 per cent), from 47.7 per cent in 2016, and ranked Nigeria as the fourth on the global index, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The Nigerian economy can also qualify as one of the most sabotaged in the world and the sabotage is virtually on all fronts, perpetuated largely by Nigerians, but sometimes in collusion with foreigners. Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening the economy, polity or corporation, through subversion, obstruction, disruption or destruction. To sabotage is to undermine, countermine, counteract and weaken, destroy or hinder normal operations and the perpetrators are known as saboteurs.

Some of the economic saboteurs include unscrupulous and unpatriotic law enforcement agents at the borders and other gateways who collude with contrabandists for selfish gains, greedy and covetous political class who appropriate a lion share of scarce state resources to themselves to feed the need of their egos and perfidious propensity for conspicuous consumption rather than channel same into the economy to stimulate growth, and treacherous government officials at Ministries and Agencies who betray trust and outfox, circumvent and countermine State policies for filthy lucre.

Others include opportunistic thieves, criminal syndicates and militants who attack and destroy state infrastructure, the elite and powerful businessmen and women who get

Godwin Emefiele around to genuflect at Presidential courts and corridors of power to obtain questionable waivers and concessions to rake in stupendous profits, but would hardly pay commensurate taxes into state coffers.

In a recent press report, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, noted, ‘’ It is a pity that Nigeria has one of the lowest tax regime ratio globally at six per cent. The only country that is lower than us is Oman. We have so many wealthy entrepreneurs who have managed to develop habit of not paying tax, we need to correct that’’.

Next, are banks that mobilise enormous government funds at virtually no cost but would not lend to the real sector to catalyse production and generate growth and employment, instead, would rather go roundtripping at the foreign exchange market.

There are also a majority of Nigerians who have the uncanny penchant to consume foreign goods and services, and importers who hide under the cloak of freedom of choice, to fritter away the nation’s foreign reserves by importing even the most basic items that can easily and readily be sourced or manufactured locally to generate employment and expand the economy.

As noted by a former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Obadiah Malaifia, ‘’Nigeria became the largest importer of rice and all sorts of worthless Chinese goods, from pirated mobile phones to substandard steel products and dangerous baby foods. We became in effect, a country that consumes what it does not produce and produce what it does not consume-the junk yard of the world’’.

Between January to July, 2015, CBN spent about US$5 billion defending the Naira, with an average of N1.3 trillion spent on imports annually and about N100 billion expended on the importation of toothpicks, milk and furniture in the first quarter of 2015. To curtail the trend, CBN had to exclude 41 of such items from the Interbank foreign exchange market in 2015 in order to preserve the reserve and encourage local production.

In defence of the policy, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele remarked: ‘’Before we decided to place them on the exclusive list, we thought about them and we felt these are items that can be produced in this country

and that as long as we continue to import them, it would be difficult for our people to look inward,’’ adding, ‘’there is need to change the economy’s structure, resuscitate local manufacturing and expand job creation’’.

In the past twelve years since 2004, three successive Governors of the apex bank, namely Professor Chukwuma Soludo (20042009) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (2009-2013,now the Emir of Kano), and the incumbent, Godwin Emefiele (2013 to date), have evolved ‘’tough’’ policy measures which created significant impact on the financial landscape, economy and polity.

Amid stiff opposition by vested interest groups, Professor Soludo, successfully implemented the banking consolidation exercise within the set timeline, a development which transformed the banking industry for the better. The exercise was necessitated by persistent illiquidity, poor asset quality, weak corporate governance, insider abuses, unprofitable operations, over-dependency on public sector funds and weak capital base of banks, among others.

In a treatise, Ezeoha (2007), and Adekoya and Oyatoye (2007), noted that ‘‘most banks operated with a capital base of less than US$10 million before 2004. The largest bank as at 2004 had a capital base of US$240 million, compared to the US$526million for the smallest bank in developed countries which its capital base is larger than all of the Nigerian commercial banks put together’’.

In his address on July 6, 2004, Soludo noted among other things, that ‘’the Nigerian banking system today is fragile and marginal, our vision is a banking system that is part of the global change, and which is strong, competitive and reliable. It is a banking system which depositors can trust, and investors can rely upon’’.

The succeeding CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, assumed office in 2009 in the middle of the global financial crisis and anchored his reform blue print on four cardinal objectives, namely, establishing financial stability, enhancing the quality of banks, ensuring that the financial system contribute to the real economy and enabling solution evolution.

From a vantage position as a risk expert, he saw the underbelly of some banks post Soludo’s consolidation exercise and acted.

In an interview with Financial Times of London, Sanusi said, ‘’there was no choice but to attack the many powerful and interrelated interests who were exploiting the financial system’’.

Thereafter, the banking industry has remained strong, resilient and with minimal corporate rascality in the system, and for effect, CBN launched a corporate governance project to eliminate ambiguities and help stakeholders be up to par with global best practices.

But, among the three CBN Governors, the incumbent, Godwin Emefiele, seem s to be the most challenged and arguably, the hardest working, in view of the present state of the economy. Some analysts believe that Emefiele, like President Buhari, assumed office at the ‘’wrong time’’.

But, also, like President Buhari, Emefiele has remained focused and resolute in the face of adverse economic developments which have kept him and his team under high pressure. From around N190/ to one

US dollar in May 2015, the Naira plunged to as low as N560/US $1 in mid-February 2017, a development which elicited public uproar, with some calling for Emefiele’s resignation, but the apex bank Governor seemed to know what many did not know- the artificiality of the underlying causes of the development; namely, acts of sabotage by speculators, those hiding illegal monies and people desperate to transfer illicit gains out of the country at any cost.

A pragmatist, Emefiele is inclined to solving problems in a practical way rather than by having fixed ideas, theories and ideologies. Between mid February and early March, CBN made six critical foreign exchange interventions which jolted speculators and strengthened the Naira. The first intervention was with US $417 million (Tuesday, February 21, 2017), next was with US$231million (Thursday, February 23, 2017), and US$180million (Monday, February 27, 2017).

Others are US$380 million (Friday March 3, 2017), US$367million (Monday March 6, 2017) and US$100million (Tuesday March 7, 2017). And the rate crashed to N380/US$1 in the ‘’Parallel market’’ so called.

According to the Acting Director, Corporation Communication, CBN, Isaac Okorafor, the interventions are to fund the commercial banks with enough foreign exchange to cater for the request of customers to meet Personal Travel Allowances (PTA), Business Travel Allowances (BTA), Medical and Tuition bills.

The CBN Governor is averse to ‘’freeing’’ the Naira and has continued to retain the MPC at 14 per cent as a strategy to checkmate inflation, citing Egypt which freed her currency and inflation rate spiked to 30 per cent.

As an advocate of CBN’s involvement in development banking, Emefiele has continued to complement the efforts of the fiscal authorities by pushing in the areas of creating mass employment, conserving scarce foreign exchange, and has met with several stakeholders in the ailing production sector in a determined move to turn around the decline experienced over the past decades in areas such as textile, palm oil, wheat and rice, among others.

Under his watch, CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) is making impact especially in local rice production. The apex bank set aside N40billion, out of the N220billion earmarked for Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises(MSME) for farmers, at a single digit interest rate of 9 per cent, and small holder rice farmers will get between N150,000.00 to N250,000.00 to enable them procure seedlings, fertilizers and pesticides.

Out of the N40 billion, N4.9billion, reportedly, was disbursed to 78,581 farmers in Kebbi State which has an abundance of rice paddy, and each farmer got N218, 000 to enable them cultivate a hectare of land to plant three times a year, two dry season cropping and one rainy season cropping, a development which is said to have generated a total of 570,000 direct jobs and a harvest of 1 million tons of rice.

With a projection that local rice production would reach 2.730 million tons, CBN has set a target for the exportation of rice before the end of 2017.

– Arize Nwobu, Assistant Director/ Head, Research and Technical, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers wrote via arize.nwobu@cisnigeria. com. Tel; 08033021230.

Ebonyi First Lady to Receive Award for Widow Empowerment

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bonyi State First Lady, Mrs. Rachel Umahi will be rewarded with a prestigious humanitarian award by Women 4 Africa, a United Kingdom based-organisation focused on celebrating and empowering Africa and its women by supporting and celebrating their role in their communities.

Mrs. Umahi would be recognised for her outstanding work in advocating and creating a better life for widows

in Ebonyi State and also for her continuous fight to end female genital mutilation. Since its launch, the women 4 Africa has grown in influence and impact, leading the way in recognising and honouring the accomplishments and contributions of women in African community development. According to the Women 4 Africa spokesperson, Mr. Sam Onigbanjo, Mrs. Umahi is a beacon of hope in the fight towards ensuring a better life for widows in society and her commitment to helping women in

need by empowering and fighting for women.

“She has distinguished herself as a prominent First Lady who has displayed a strong mettle and capability to perform as a leader,” added Onigbanjo. The event which is slated to take place at the Kensington Centre in London on the 20th of May 2017 will see a number of successful African women rewarded for their hard work towards the development of their society .

Rachel Umahi

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •April 8, 2017

mediA & mArketing

Winners Emerge at Corporate Communications Maiden Awards

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KASIE ABONE 08057511558 (sms only)

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roup Head, Communications and External Affairs of Access Bank, Mr. Amaechi Okobi has emerged the winner of the Corporate Communications Professional of the Year in the maiden edition of Corporate Communications Awards organised by Sesema PR. The event, which held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, was to celebrate outstanding achievements in Nigeria’s Corporate Communications industry.

Expectedly, Indomie noodles “You like no other” campaign and Union Bank clinched “Campaign of The Year and “Best Rebranding Project” awards.

Obviously excited Okobi, lifting his laurel high above his head, expressed himself thus, “Winning the maiden Corporate Communications Award is the sweetest credible honour to receive.

Alima (Attah, founder of Sesema PR) wherever you are, thank you. My team that made me look good, it is about me and them; thank you.”

Okobi was named champion through a voting process by the public, and industry professionals, as well as nominations by members of the Advisory Board.

Other winners were Jago Milk, “for the winner in you”, best use of video award; Wedding party- Elfike Film Collective, best use of PR in entertainment award; Keex Tribe (Jide Ipaye), best use of PR in SME and Funke Akindele, best use of individual PR award.

Other winners were Francesca Uriri, founder, Leading Ladies Africa and PR Manager at Weber Shandwick who won the Alima Atta Excellence award.

Also speaking at the event, the Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan African University, Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, who is a member of the advisory board, expressed excitement at the award. He said that as an educationist the importance of recognising hard work cannot be overemphasised. He, however, express regret that despite the fact that a lot had happened in the communication industry, particularly with many companies incorporating it as independent departments, not many communications pass through the department. He added that people who are capable of passing on the essence of the organisation, its values to both internal and external audience were needed to drive the Corporate Communication Departments of an organisation.”

The Advisory Board is made up of; Mrs. Habiba Balogun – Lead Consultant, Habiba Balogun Consult, Omasan Ogisi

L-R: Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Amaechi Okobi; Access Bank Corporate Communications Head-Corporate Communications professional of the year awards winner and Mrs. Tampiri Irimagha-Akemu; Organiser of the Corporate Communications Awards (CCA) 2017 held over the weekend at Oriental Hotel, Lekki Lagos

- GM Corporate Affairs MTN NG, Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe – Editor in Chief, TW Magazine, Emeka Oparah- Director, Communications and CSR Airtel NG, international partner: Jennifer Hardie – CEO, International School of Communication/ Pinnacle PR (UK&UAE), Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University and organiser Mrs. Tampiri Irimagha Akemu – Managing, Director, Sesema Public Relations and from various industries including the media, academia and Corporate Communications. Winners were presented with an attractive plaque in recognition of their outstanding achievements in Corporate Communications.

Speaking at the event, Sesema PR Managing Director, Ms. Tampiri IrimaghaAkemu said, “The CCAs identified and rewarded the very best in Corporate Communications. The award event

will be an annual feature of Nigeria’s corporate communications industry,” She added.

In attendance were industry players such as Yomi Badejo-Okunsanya; Group CEO CMC Connect, Anudeep Sharma; Marketing Head Sosaco Nigeria Ltd, Otega Ogra; Group Head corporate Communications BUA Group, Usman Imanal; Corporate Communications Manager; Stanbic IBTC, Irene Kayoma; Payporte Head corporate strategy, Toyin Egbebi; Corporate Communications; Ericsson, Dooyum Okwong; Marketing communications and Customer Experience Manger, Letshego, among others. The award event brought together eminent personalities for an evening of fine music, networking and gala.

The CCAS also featured a competition for young graduates- The Corporate Communications Pitch Competition (CCPC). Deniran Oghenemine, a gradu-

Goldberg Excellency Tour Competition in Benin City

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isc Jockey (DJ) Kingsley Amhas and Nathaniel Iyayi, a Rapper have emerged winners of the grand prize of N250,000 in the Goldberg Excellency Tour competition for DJs and free style artistes in Benin City, Edo State.

The competition in Edo languages, which was organised by Goldberg, also known as “Your Excellency,” was held at the Play, House, Okhoro road, Benin City, recently.

It was part of efforts at promoting the culture of the people of Edo State in line with Goldberg’s 3-point agenda of culture, respect and enjoyment.

The competition, which started with audition of five DJs, thirteen rappers

and four singers, was later streamlined to five, comprising of a DJ and rapper as a team for the finale on March 25, 2017.

The second position with the cash prize of N150,000 was won by DJ Eze John, nicknamed Viroxz and Markuz Obasehan; while DJ Bright Osaromore and Destiny Okoedo, also known as Black G, claimed the third position and settled for the One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000) on offer for the slot.

The other two teams, DJ Amandin Osahenrunwen (Amando) and Okungbowa Endurance (Spanky B) as well as DJ Egualeona Daniel and Endurance Isaac got Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) each.

Speaking at the finale, the Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout

Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Agu, said the Goldberg Excellency Tour is aimed at promoting the rich culture of the people of Edo State through traditional DJ and Free Styling competition. He said the tour which kicked off in Abeokuta, moved to Ilorin, Ikare Akoko and Ado Ekiti before the edition in Benin City, and that the next place on the agenda is Oyo town in Oyo State.

According to Agu, the Goldberg Excellency Tour is coming on the heels of the unveiling of Goldberg lager beer as “Your Excellency” in 2016 and it is in line with the brand’s unique credentials that position it in a class of its own, away from its peers in the market.

ate of Business Administration from the University of Benin emerged winner in the IT/Digital aspect of the CCPC, while Steven Aghalu, a graduate of Mass Communication, also from the University of Benin emerged winner of the PR aspect of the CCPC. The winners were presented with cash prizes of N130,000 each and a six-months paid internship at Sesema Public relations.

O’Naturals Beauty Salon Commended

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eneral Manager, Professional Products Division, L’Oreal, Sub-Saharan Africa, Christian Nyassa, has commended the management of O’Naturals Beauty for its professionalism and excellence in promoting natural and healthy hair styling in Nigeria.

On a recent visit to the Lagos-based company, Nyassa said their professional approach at promoting and ensuring healthy natural hair of its clients is worthy of commendation and recognition.

The recognition is coming on the heels of their numerous efforts to raise the standards of natural hair styling and natural hair care through creative and healthy hair professional tips, advice and counselling.

Also speaking, O’Naturals Beauty cofounder and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Omozo Ehigie expressed happiness at the commendation, saying its vision went beyond meeting the physical needs of customers, which is beautiful hair, to dealing with how they could achieve healthy hair goals.

She added that the recognition would support expanding its salon locations in addition to offering training and support progammes to aspiring natural hair stylists and hair care professionals.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL8, 2017

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MARITIME BITS

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JOHN IWORI 08057763164

R-L: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello congratulating the President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Mr. Greg Ogbeifun shortly after the formal inauguration of the the newly elected executive council members of SOAN in Lagos...recently PHOTO: GBENGA ABE

L-R: Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Customs Area Controller (CAC), Eastern Marine Command (EMC), Comptroller Usman Kankara Bello assisted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Rivers State Command Controller, Comptroller Aminu Yerima decorating one of the newly promoted junior officers, Abubakar Mohammed with his new rank at the EMC Headquarters, Port Harcourt…recently

Stakeholders Flay Midstream Discharge, Illegal Vessels Stakeholders in the maritime industry have flayed the Minister of Transport, Right Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and the Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Ibrahim Hammed Ali (retired) for the illegalities in Nigeria territorial waters.

They specifically slammed Amaechi and Ali for their failure tackle midstream discharge and illegal vessels since they were appointed over a year ago.

THISDAY checks revealed that there are extant policies requiring that every vessel reports at a designated Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) port prior to calling at any particular private jetty.

The extant laws also provide that midstream cargo discharge operations are illegal in Nigeria.

However, these provisions in the extant laws and protocols are not strictly enforced by the parasatals under the supervision of the Ministry of Transportation which has its headquarters at Dicharima House, Abuja often look the other way while these illegalities continue unabated in Nigeria territorial waters. The NCS under Ali’s

watch is also a culprit nin this regard.

The stakeholders’ maintained that it was the failure of Amaechi and Ali to show leadership that has made the ministry and the NCS to squarely address the anomalies in Nigeria waters over the years.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) expressed dismay over these anomalies.

The union which is the umbrella body of maritime workers in the country raised alarm over alleged illegal and unregulated discharge procedure of vessels that berth in Nigerian waters.

According to MWUN which stated this ahead of its recent biennial conference in the Akwa Ibom State capital, Uyo, alleged that these vessels are being discharged illegally without the required labour-related offloading standards being enforced on them by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Besides the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Maritime Academy

of Nigeria (MAN), and the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), the NPA are under the supervision of Ministry of Transportation where Amaechi superintendents as the minister.

Though many illegal jetties operate in the country, the labour union alleged that the worst of these anomalies are committed at the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) base in Apapa, Lagos State and the Bonny Channel in Rivers State.

The immediate past President General of MWUN, Comrade Tony Emmanuel Nted, stated that the rising cases of vessels discharging at Nigerian seaports without being monitored pose security dangers to the nation.

His words: “The law of this country is clear on who should discharge a vessel when it is berthed at the ports. That job is carried out by only registered dockworkers. Can you imagine that when industrial chef called at LADOL, its contents and all the cargoes on board were discharged from the vessel by the crew of the ship. To make matters worse, the crew of the

NCS Impounds N250m Worth of Contraband

AMCON Yet to Settle DSC Staff Salary Arrears, Benefits

Contraband worth over N250 million have been impounded by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C, Owerri, Imo State.

The service also recovered the sum of N48, 742, 845 as underpayments from consignees in the zone. The seizure of the items was in furtherance to what the service called its “unflinching mission to protect the wellbeing of citizens of Nigeria” through the performance of its statutory roles and responsibilities.

In a statement, the service said its hard work and efforts paid off with 17 seizures of various contraband with duty paid value (DPV) of N112, 617, 700 in the month of March.

Within the period under review, it also intercepted and detained a huge consignment of medicaments worth N178, 209,310 in DPV. “This brings the sum of DPV for seizures and goods in detention made in March 2017 to N250, 951,010”, it said.

According to the statement which was signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the unit, Chioma Onuoha, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), FOU, Zone C, Owerri, Comptroller Mohammed Garba, made this known while giving highlight of the activities of the zone in the period under review.

Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Garba noted that rice topped the list of seized items in March with a total of 2,455 bags with a DPV of N77, 558, 800. Also seized were 1,266 foot wears with DPV of N6,076,800, 307 used tyres with DPV of N3,789,600, 100, used shoes with DPV of N8,100,000 and 40 bales of used clothing with DPV of N5,280,000.

The CAC also revealed that the unit also made seizure of 3 vehicles with a DPV of N4, 050, 000.

On the medicaments intercepted in the Agbor axis of the zone, Garba said these include 268 cartons of Tramadol, 202 cartons of Pullegra, 36 cartons of Reall Octra, 928 packets of Tramadol.

He said a sample of the various medicaments has been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for tests and verification while the consignment is being held for further investigations.

Conducting newsmen on a tour of the government warehouse in Benin City, Edo State where some of the seized items were kept, Garba noted that the nefarious activities of smugglers endanger the health and safety of Nigerian citizens, affects the economy, and even pose a threat to national security.

Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is yet to settle salary arrears and benefits to workers of Delta Steel Company (DSC), Aladja, Delta State, the workers of the firm have said.

The employees said this was contrary to the speculations in some quarters that they have been fully paid.

The workers in a statement signed on their behalf by Mr. John Okari noted that since October 2011 till this moment, staff affected by the retrenchment exercise is yet to get their full payments.

The statement said: “No staff can categorically state what percentage or proportion of the total arrears/ benefits has been paid so far as to whether it is 22.5 percent or 25 percent. AMCON conducted a staff audit of the salary arrears, benefits, gratuities translating to N3.2 billion covering October, 2011 through May 2012 when AMCON came to take over the company. However, since October 2011 till this moment, no staff has been given any form of letter of retirement, retrenchment, dismissal, rationalization, or downsizing. This simply implies that all staff salaries, benefits, PFA staff monthly savings are ongoing but AMCON did not handle it this way”.

According to the statement, AMCON has refused to capture and pay staff back their unremitted PFA monthly pension savings from their meagre salaries, staff gratuities, death benefits to the proxies of late staff, their co-operative funds, shareholding of staff and so on. Various bodies including the NLC, Delta State Government Committee on DSC Affairs, local unions (ISSSAN/ SEWUN), elders and pressure groups had intervened to no avail. Several meetings had been scheduled by

the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to resolve the issues involved but both AMCON/Premium Steel and Mines Limited absented themselves from all these meetings.

Continuing, the statement said: “The outstanding 75 percent or 77.5 percent of the N3.2 billion cannot just be wished away by DSC staff. Some of the implications of AMCON’s posturing on this issue include the death of several staff, so many children of staff dropping out of school, since fee payment had gone beyond their reach, teenage/adult prostitution, hooliganism, cultism, drug experimentation and addiction, insanity from frustrations, robberies and youth radicalism have taken the centre stage.

Through this medium, the attention of all Nigerians is sought by DSC workers for intervention as all previous efforts have not yielded any positive result for them”.

“If AMCON had no sinister motives, why did she conduct the fragmented payment exercise in Peemos Hotel in Warri instead of Steel Township where the audit exercise was peacefully conducted in 2015? Why was staff not communicated through any communication medium formally about his payment exercise? Why are there so many discrepancies in the computation as staff on the same salary grade level were paid different amounts? Why was the exercise conducted and supervised

by Dr. Joseph Nwobike’s cronies who flew the kite of this exercise way back in November, 20157. AMCON did not negotiate any 25 percent of the total N3.2 billion workers outstanding dues as “full and final payment” with the ISSSAN and SEWUN who are the legal/recognized workers unions and if he did, he should tender proof or evidence to the effect.

vessel were mostly foreigners. It is an Act of Parliament. It is statutory. It is the law of the Federal Government that said nobody other than a registered dockworker is allowed to work inside the port terminals, jetties and even in the bonded terminals.

“But today, many of the operators are violating these laws. How can LADOL allow a vessel berthed in its base to be discharged by the crew member of the vessel? Aside the fact that it deprives Nigerians of jobs, it also constitutes security concern because the crew of the vessels are foreigners who would not raise any alarm if they spot any dangerous cargo on board the vessel during discharging. Dockworkers are Nigerians and owe the country a duty to raise alarm if what they are offloading contains dangerous cargoes, but the crew members of the industrial chef are not Nigerians. Who knows what were discharged.

After we protested, LADOL agreed to pay our dockworkers their rightful due but the deed has been done. The vessel has been discharged.

Accolades for Onne Port Manager South South Independent Newspaper Publishers Association has honoured Onne Ports Manager, Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar with the “Astute Administrator” award in the maritime industry.

The award is coming on the heels of an earlier award conferred on him by Maritime Media Limited, publishers of Shipping World Magazine.

The media organisation declared him as “The Most Customer Friendly Port’’, in the country.

Abubakar also received a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) in an impressive ceremony which took place recently in Lagos.

Presenting the award at Onne NPA’s office recently, the Chairman of the association, Prince Charles Umejie said the group decided to honour the Onne Port Manager because of his track record of achievements and commitments to duties in the maritime industry over the years Umejie observed that the award was slated to be presented to Onne Port Manager last year in Asaba, Delta State during the association conference but noted that his busy schedule did not permit him to attend personally for collection hence they had to honour him in his office.

He said the group decided to visit him to make the presentation because of the high regard the group have for him for believing in one united and Indivisible Nigeria.

“Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) that you work for is key and strategic for the wellbeing of the nation. You believe in one united Nigeria.

The strength of our country lies in NPA, where you work and contribute your quota”, he said.

He described NPA as key to economic revival and survival of the nation, considering the role it plays as a major revenue earner next to oil.

“We in South South Independent Newspaper Publishers Association are partners. We are working to ensure synergy and to appropriately disseminate information to the Nigerian public on port activities within Onne Port”, he said.

He expressed his appreciation to Abubakar for being positively disposed to interface and collaborate with all stakeholders in order to deliver on the goals and objectives of the NPA. He enjoined Abubakar to update them on what he met on assumption of office, the goals he hoped to achieve, and what challenges he met as he assumed duties.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • APRIL 8, 2017

POLITY

Civil Society Groups Condemn Attempts to “Kill the Legislature”

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group of civil society organisations on Thursday marched “against an attempt to kill the legislature,” while urging Nigerians to rise up in defence of democracy and condemn the latest affront against the National Assembly by “executive boy.”

The group at a rally held at the premises of the National Assembly to show discontent over the Executive/Legislature faceoff, warned that any attempt to “intimidate lawmakers and undermine the independence of the legislature,” will spell doom for

democracy.

A statement jointly signed by Ariyo-Dare Atoye, Co-Convener, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC), Jude Chijioke Ndukwe Convener, Movement for the Advancement of National Transformation (MANTRA) and Prince Deji Adeyanju, Convener, Concerned Nigerians. reads: “Today, we march against the attempt to kill the legislature and undermine democracy in Nigeria as it has become highly imperative for us to be vigilant about the relentless insistence of anti-democratic forces to bring

You Still Have a Lot to Contribute, Tinubu Tells Oshiomhole

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our highly cherished freedom and democracy to their knees.

“While we insist that the National Assembly (NASS) open its books for public scrutiny and ensure transparency in all its activities, make laws that would improve the lives of the people they represent and repeal any law that serves only the interests of a few highly placed citizens to the detriment of a majority of the people, we call on the executive and its agents to respect the rule of law guiding its working relationship with the National Assembly.

“It therefore becomes ours and the responsibility of every patriotic and democracy loving Nigerian to protect and defend our hard earned democracy against those trying to return us to the very dark days of the military era.

“We wish to state that Nigerians are very much aware that the current onslaught against the National Assembly is nothing but just a puerile battle for 2019, and nothing based on good governance or interest of the people!

“We can no longer afford the luxury of these unnecessary distractions. While the executive concentrates on attacking the national assembly, they left their guard open

and allowed meningitis to avoidably claim hundreds of lives of Nigerians who depended on them for action against such diseases. This is absolutely unacceptable!

“This unholy attempt to kill our legislature must stop now!

“Need we remind all those working to undermine the legislative arm of government that this arm is the bastion of democracy and the pedestal on which every democracy, whether presidential, parliamentary or any other form of democratic government stands, and that any attempt to weaken it is an attempt to subvert democracy?

“No one should attempt to kill the national assembly simply because they do not like the faces of one or two persons there or simply because of the fact that they are doing their job. Doing so would just be like asking to kill the judiciary for freeing, discharging and acquitting Chief Mike Ozekhome, Elder Godsday Orubebe, Justice Adeniyi Ademola and others in quick succession.

“We will therefore not be surprised if the Sagays, Falanas and other cronies of the executive arm start to cast aspersions on the judges and call for mass actions against the judiciary for doing their job.

and hard work.

“From the shop floor of the textile industry, you pulled yourself up by the bootstraps and through consistent courage, integrity and fidelity to truth as well as the best interest of Nigerian workers, you rose through the ranks to establish yourself as easily the most outstanding national labour leader of contemporary times. Your successful trajectory from trade unionism to party politics is indeed a unique one, made more notable by your emergence as elected governor of Edo State.

“I most certainly speak the minds of millions of members of our great party when I say that your outstanding performance as two-term governor of Edo State from 2008 to 2016 remains a reference point and a source of pride to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Apart from skilfully steering the ship of state and charting the course for Edo, the ‘heartbeat of the nation’ for eight years, you demonstrated your innate leadership endowment by identifying, nurturing and handing over to a worthy and capable successor well placed to take Edo to greater heights from where you stopped.

“At 65, you still brim with energy, dynamism and vibrancy while your mind continues to bubble with ideas ever so useful for national development.

L-R: Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; Chairman, Access Bank Plc, Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga; former MD, Bank of Industry, Dr. Evelyn Oputu; Founder, Inspired Women of Worth and CEO/Vice Chairman, Fine and Country West Africa, Mrs. Udo Okonjo, at the iWOW annual Global Possibility Summit, held at the Civic Centre, Lagos...recently

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Mr. Viano Reinart; and President, Maritime Security Providers Association, Captain George Allily, at the Nigeria Estonia Business Meeting on Maritime Security in the21st Century, Lagos... recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

R-L; The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Benjamin Adeyemi Olabenjo; Managing Director, Chemicals and Allied Products (CAP) Plc. Mrs. Omolara Elemide; Chief Financial Officer, UACN of Nigeria Plc. Mr. Abdul Bello, Director, Management Systems Certification, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mrs. Oluremi Ayeni; and the Executive Director, Corporate Services, UACN Plc. Mr. Joe Dada at the commissioning of the new state-of-the-art automated paint in-plant tinting factory in Lagos...recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R Founder, Leading Ladies Africa, Francesca Uriri; Head, Strategic Communications and Media, Union Bank Plc, Omotola Oyebanjo; Keynote Speaker / Founder, Idiscar, Amina Oyagbola; and Founder Leap Africa, Co-Founder, AACE Foods, Ndidi Nwuneli, at the leading ladies Africa 100 Women Gala in Lagos.

L-R: Head, Brand and Communications Fets Limited, Adebimpe Adejumo; Founder, Style House Files and Heineken, Lagos Fashion and Design Week, Omoyemi Akerele and Head of Marketing, Fets Limited, Timilehin Ayeni, at the 2017 Lagos fashion and design week exhibition...recently

ormer Lagos State governor and All Progressives Congress national stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has congratulated the immediate-past governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for turning 65, saying the former governor still has a lot to contribute to the nation.

Oshiomhole clocked 65 on Tuesday, April 4. Tinubu said Oshiomhole has attained an “impossible-to-ignore status of eminence” in the country.

In a letter sent to Oshiomhole and personally signed by Tinubu, the APC national leader said: “My dear Comrade, It is a great pleasure for my family and I to join your teeming admirers and well-wishers to rejoice and thank God with you on the commemoration of your 65th birthday on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

“Your journey on this terrestrial sphere so far has been a truly remarkable and inspiring one. Surely, you are not to be counted among those who were lucky either to be born great or to have greatness thrust on their laps on a platter of gold. Rather, you have attained an impossible-to-ignore status of eminence in our immensely blessed country in your three scores and a half years through sheer determination, perseverance, resilience, commitment, discipline, focus

PHOTO NEWS

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •April 8, 2017

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NEWS

In Brief

PensionLiability Inter-ministerial C'ttee

PresidentMuhammaduBuhari,hasapprovedtheconstitutionofaninter-ministerial committee on pension liability to reconcile outstanding pension liabilities and proffersolutionstothelingeringproblems.Theconstitutionofthecommittee camebarely48hoursaftertheMinisterofBudgetandPlanning,SenatorUdoma UdoUdomahintedthatthefederalgovernmentwouldconstituteaspecialcommitteetoreconcileconflictingfiguresonpensioners'claimsandevolvecreative measurestoraisefundstowardsresolvingthehugepensionliabilitiestoworkers.

ChairedbytheMinisterofFinance,Mrs.KemiAdeosun,othermembersofthe new committee include a representative of the Secretary to the Government oftheFederation,representativeoftheHeadofServiceoftheFederation,the Accountant General of the Federation, Director General of the Budget Office, Director General of Pension Commission (Pencom) and Director General of PensionTransitionArrangementDirectorate(PTAD),whowillalsoactassecretary.

SuspectedCar Snatcher Arrested

FOR DRUG-FREE SOCIETY...

L- R: State Commander NDLEA Anambra State Command , Sule Momodu and Commander Aminu Kano International Airport, Ambrose Umoru during NDLEA Command Summit in Jos

N1.05bn Subsidy Scam: Court Jails Rowaye, Company 104 Years PaulObi inAbuja Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Gudu, Abuja, on Friday, April 7, 2017 convicted and sentenced Jubril Rowaye, an oil marketer, to 104 years imprisonment over N1.05billion subsidy fraud charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. In the landmark judgment that lasted about five and half hours, Rowaye was convicted along with his company, Brilla Energy Limited, and another firm, Alminnur Resources

Limited, to which the permit to import 10,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) into Nigeria was issued in 2011.

Rowaye and Brilla Energy Limited were arraigned alongside Saminu Rabiu and his company, Alminnur Resources Limited, on October 17, 2012 on a 17-count charge of conspiracy and fraud.

However, the charge was amended following the demise of Rabiu, who died on October 7, 2014 after the prosecution had closed its case with 12 witnesses, in order to delete his name as a defendant in the suit.

The other three (Rowaye, Brilla

and Alminnur) were subsequently re-arraigned on February 12, 2016.

After diligent prosecution of the case by counsel to EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, Justice Banjoko convicted and sentenced Rowaye on 14 out of 17 counts preferred against him by EFCC. On Counts 1 and 2, Rowaye and the two oil companies (Brilla and Alminnur) were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each without option of fine.

According to EFCC Head of Media and Information, Wilson Uwujaren, "on count 2, which bordered on how the convicts fraudulently obtained over N1.05billion from the Petroleum Sup-

port Fund as payment for importation of 10,000 tonnes of PMS, the judge ordered the convicts to pay by way of restitution the sum equivalent to the loss sustained by the victim, which is the federal government.

"On Counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16 and 17, the three defendants were sentenced to 7 years imprisonment with option of fine of N5million each. The court, however, discharged Rowaye, Alminnur and Brilla on counts 12, 13 and 14.

“The sentences are to run concurrently, while the penalty sentencing are to run consecutively”, said Justice Banjoko.

$232m Needed to Tackle Food Insecurity Southern Kaduna Attacks: SOKAPU Raises in Lake Chad Basin, Says FAO the Alarm over Imminent Starvation Michael Olugbode The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on Friday stressed the need to immediately scale up its intervention in four Lake Chad Basin countries of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon to address the case of 3 million food insecure people due largely to the Boko Haram crisis.

The organisation which lamented that its budget of US$ 232 million in the next three years (2017-2019) was largely not met by financiers, said in Nigeria alone US$ 191 million was required to save 2.5 million people the Boko Haram crisis had made food insecure.

The Director General of FAO, Prof.

Jose da Silva, who was in Maiduguri at the organisation's financed farms for internally displaced persons (IDPs) where he was asked for further assistance by farmers, later at a press conference said the organisation was in dire need of

finance in order to immediately arrest poverty and starvation in the Lake Chad Basin.

He said that the targeted beneficiaries in Cameroon was 200,000 at a cost of US$ 13.8 million in the next three years with Niger needing US$ 11 million to cater for 155,000 with Chad have 120,000 people and financial need of US$ 12.5 million.

Silva who arrived in Maiduguri on Friday after an earlier visit to Ndjamena, the capital of Chad, said to curb the crisis in the Lake Chad Basin, four strategic framework needed to be employed; “food production is enhanced and the nutrition gap is reduced; opportunities for income, jobs and livelihood diversification are improved; sustainable peace, natural resource management and resourcebased conflict reduction including at a cross-border level are promoted; and food security analysis, coordination and information management are ensured”.

JohnShiklaminKaduna The Southern Kaduna People's Union (SOKAPU), an umbrella body for ethnic nationalities in the Southern part of Kaduna State has raised the alarm over impending humanitarian crisis, if urgent steps were not taken to assist victims of attacks by herdsmen in the area.

The southern part of Kaduna state had in recent time, come under massive attack by herdsmen, leading to loss of lives and destruction of property, prompting the deployment of security personnel to the area by the federal government in December last year.

In a communiques issued at end of a stakeholders summit at Bajju Town Hall, Zonkwa, headquarters of Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, SOKAPU said victims of the attacks, many of whose homes and farm produce were destroyed

by rampaging herdsmen, were facing hunger and starvation.

"It is eminently and poignantly clear that there will be huge humanitarian crisis in Southern Kaduna communities through starvation, diseases, lack of shelter et al with children, women and the vulnerable worse hit, if urgent humanitarian assistance is not extended to the hundreds of thousands of surviving victims silently dying of dearth of basic essentials of life in the homes of their equally distressed hosts" the communique said.

The communique was jointly signed by the National President of SOKAPU, Mr. Solomon Kaptain Musa, a lawyer and the General Secretary, Comrade Anto Ambi Ogah.

According to the communique, since last year crops were not harvested as the herdsmen destroyed farms, adding that as the rains approach, "farmers cannot return to prepare their farms.

3 Die, 8 Injured in Ekiti Auto Crash as Abia Arrests 267 Suspects EmmanuelUgwuinUmuahia and VictorOgunjeinAdoEkiti Tragedy struck in Ekiti State yesterday, as three persons were reportedly killed and eight others seriously injured in an auto-crash which occurred on Thursday night at Akonosan , a suburb of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

This is as no fewer than 267 crime suspects have fallen into the dragnet of the Abia State Police Command

over the last eight months, the commissioner of police, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade has said.

A DAF truck and an 18 seater Toyota Hiace, according to the state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) Mr. Ismail Kugu, were involved in the fatal accident Kugu said , "a Road Traffic Crash occurred around 6:30p.m while it was raining, though we got the information late due to bad network

caused by the heavy downpour.

"Before our arrival at the scene of the accident, a state ambulance Service had picked some injured victims, but we were able to rescue others.

"Two vehicles were involved, a DAF truck with Lagos registration number, EPE 73XU and an eighteen seater Toyota Hiace bus with Ekiti number, EFY 30XA. "The total number of people involved were 18 including those

in the truck, consisting of 12 male adults and 6 female adults.

"As of this morning, three people, two males and a female had died, while eight were seriously injured."

He said the accident was due to break failure which caused truck driver to lose control of the truck.

The FRSC boss disclosed that those that lost their lives and were injured in the accident had been taken to the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) in the state capital.

Luckhasrunoutonathree-manCar-snatchinggangastheoperativesofthepolice teamattachedtothe LekkiConcessionCompany(LCC)arrestedamemberof thegangwhileattemptingtodispossessamalevictimofhisvehicleatgunpoint.

The incident occurred at Oniru intersection, Lekki, Lagos, on Friday morning. It wasgatheredthatthethreearmedrobbersattemptedtosnatchaToyotaCamry Saloon Car, marked EPE 685 CP (Lagos), from its owner at Oniru intersection, alongLekki/EpeExpressway,untiltheLCCDedicatedPolicePatrolTeam,anarm ofthecompanysetuptocomplementtheeffortsofsecurityagentsattackling crimes,especiallyattheLekki/EpeExpressway,ledbyInspectorAdebisiAbraham respondedtoadistresscall,engagedtherobbersinashootoutandarrestedone oftherobberswhiletwoothersescaped.

MusicTour, Laffta FestShowsinAwka, PH

Awka,AnambraStatecapital,andtheGardenCityofPortHarcourtarenowbilled tohostthetwomegashows,theGloMegaMusicNationwideTourandtheGlo LafftaFestcomedyShowrespectively,organisedbyGlobacom,nextweekend.

TheGloMegaMusicTourwillholdatMarbleArchAwka,onSaturday,April15,while GloLafftaFestwilltakeplaceonSunday,April16,attheAztechEventCentre,Port Harcourt.Globacomsaiditdecidedtoorganisetheshowstothankitssubscribers acrossthecountryfortheirloyaltyandsupportfortheGlobrandovertheyears.

TheGloMegaMusicConcert willbeheadlinedbyNigeria'stopmostmusicians suchasOlamide,Timaya,Runtown,Di'Ja,andOmawumi,whiletheGloLafftaFest willfeatureAfrica'sfunniestcomediansincludingGordons,Basketmouth,Bovi, SalvadorfromUganda,Bash,ArinzeBabaandPrincewill.

Oyotunji Cultural Fiesta

No fewer than 150,000 Nigerians will be attending the Oyotunji cultural fiesta holdingintheUnitedStatesofAmericanlaterintheyear.TheOloyotunjiofOyotunji AfricanVillage,Sheldon,SouthCarolina,USA,ObaEgunjobiAdefunmiIIdisclosed thistopressmenonhisarrivaltoNigeriaatMuritalaMohammedInternational Airport,LagosonThursday.TheculturalfiestaisanannualeventthatwouldattractmillionsofvisitorsfromacrossAfricanregion,includingNigeria,theUnited StatesofAmerica,andtheentireSouthAmericancontinent,inalandmarkcultural, economicandtourismnetworkingevent.Itsoughttopromoteculturalties,tourism, educationandinvestmentbetweenSouthCarolina,USAandAfricaatlargemost especiallyNigeria.

Foundation Honours Teachers

MeadowHallFoundation,anon-profitorganisationspecialisingonimprovingthe educationalfortunesoftheNigerianchild,hasannounceditsannualmerit-based InspirationalEducatorAwards(INSEA),aimedatelevatingtheteachingprofession andmotivatingschoolteachersandeducationalleaderstostriveforexcellencein theirprofession.AsubsidiaryofMeadowHallGroup,TheInspirationalEducator Awards (INSEA), a merit-based award organised by Meadow Hall Foundation (MHF),issplitintotwocategories;TheInspirationalTeacheroftheYearAwardand TheInspirationalHeadTeacheroftheYearAward.TheInspirationalTeacherofthe YearAwardisaimedathonouringteachersdedicatedtoimpartinglife-longlearning intheirstudents.Thisawardrecognises,rewards,andpromotesexcellenceinthe teachingprofession.Acashawardof₦1,000,000.00willbegiventoaresourceful, caringandinnovativeteacherwhohasmadeaninspirationalimpactonhisorher students and community.The Inspirational HeadTeacher of the Year Award is aimedathonouringheadteachers(head-teachers/headmasters/headmistresses/ principals)dedicatedtoachievingoptimalschooleffectiveness.Thisprestigious awardrecognisestheimportanceschoolleadershaveonoureducationalsystem.

3AAuctionsSellsAssets

Nigeria'spremiergeneralauctionhouse,3AAuctionHouseLimited,willnextweek putonauctiondifferentassetsincludingcars,artworksandproperties.According toAbimbolaAkingboye,themanagingdirectorandchiefexecutiveofficerofthe company,thefirstauctionwillbethatofcarswhichwilltakeplaceonthe8thof AprilattheHavenEventCentre,IkejaGRA,Lagoswithvehicleinspectionstarting from7aminthemorning.“Weareexpectingclosetoathousandcarsupforbuyers tobidon.Interestedbuyerscanstartinspectingandcheckingthevehicleswithor withouttheirmechanicsby7amwhiletheauctionproperbeginsat10am",hesaid.

HollandiaYoghurtOffersNourishment

ProducersofHollandiaYoghurthavesaidthatitprovidesnourishmenthigherthan mosthealthdrinksinthecountry.AstatementbyChisaid,“Forcloseobserversof communicationcampaignsinNigeria,onecommercialthathasignitedconversations recentlyistheHollandiaYoghurtCommercialcurrentlydeployedonTelevision, Radio, digital and Out of Home.The campaign titled ‘Nourishing Goodness for EveryMoment’carefullyreinforcesHollandiaYoghurt’spropositionasabrand that brings happiness and enjoyment to every moment of life. “The message is simple. Whatever your occasion or moment, whenever you need nourishing goodness,thereisaHollandiaYogurtjustforyou.

HannahAkande PassesOn

The death has been announced of Mrs. Hannah Mojisola Akande. She died on Tuesday, November 30, 2016 at the age of 70. She will be buried on Saturday, April15,2017attheChristApostolicChurch,Iresi,OsunstatewhiletheWake-Keep serviceholdsatAyoAdewaleStreet,Abija,OsogboonFriday,April14,2017.The deceased,accordingtoastatementfromthefamily,wasaretiredcivilservantand trader,issurvivedbyherhusbandandchildren,includingMr.OlumuyiwaAkande, CorporateAffairsManager,SIFAXGroup,Lagos.

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NEWS

Jibrin Apologises to Buhari for Demanding for His Resignation Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Worried the flaks his comments drew over his call for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari, the suspended House of Representatives member representing Kiru/Beneji federal constituency, Jibrin Abdulmumini Kofa, has apologised to the President.

Jibrin’s apologies came two days after some people from his constituency trooped to the Kano state secretariat of All Progressives Congress (APC) office, denouncing his controversial comment. " What I said was misconstrued and blown out of proportion. I, Jibrin Abdulmumini Kofa,

a member representing Kiru/ Bebeji federal constituency, I am apologising to President Muhammadu Buhari, the party leadership, Kano State Governor, Kano people and all Buhari supporters across the country", he intoned.

He however insisted that the crowd was rented and not representing the true constituents.

Before receiving some members of his constituency, at Kofa ward, he led worshipers at Karofi Friday Mosque in Kofa, praying for President Buhari.

"May Allah give him the strength to rule successfully. And May He give him good health and the country in general," he prayed.

The Chairman of the APC from Kofa ward, Bala Shuaibu, presented a letter of confidence to Honourable Abdulmiminu, dismissing that those who participated at the state party secretariat calling for Kofa's head as "...mere rented crowd and hired opportunists who were merely looking for cheap popularity."

Shuaibu further added that, "We are giving you our total and unflinching support as our member at the National Assembly. We are re-endorsing you sir."

He claimed that what he said in his tweeter handle was not reported in details, which gave room for unnecessary

misinterpretation of his sincere comment.

He stressed that, "I know those who were responsible for blowing this out of proportion."

According to him, those who were behind his travail were the ones that he fought tooth and nail for the betterment of the country, insisting that, "... none of them is fighting against corruption in the hallowed chambers than me.

"I was in the United Kingdom when the thing happened. What I did was to rush down home in the next available flight.

I want show them that I am still with my people. And they support me all the time," he concluded.

FG Sets Up Inter-ministerial C'ttee on Pension Liability Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the constitution of an inter-ministerial committee on pension liability to reconcile outstanding pension liabilities and proffer solutions to the lingering problems.

The constitution of the committee came barely 48 hours after the Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma hinted that the federal government would constitute a special committee to reconcile conflicting figures on pensioners' claims and evolve creative measures to raise funds towards resolving the huge pension liabilities to workers.

Chaired by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, other members of the new committee include a representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, representative of the Head of Service of the Federation, the Accountant General of the Federation, Director General of the Budget Office, Director

General of Pension Commission (Pencom) and Director General of Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), who will also act as secretary.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Akpandem James said the committee was to review and reconcile all pension liabilities of the federal government and make recommendations as to what portion of the liabilities could be funded through budgetary appropriations.

It is also to suggest creative ways of funding the balance and has four weeks to conclude its assignment and report back to the President.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and his Finance counterpart, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, appeared before the House of Representatives on Thursday where they informed members of Buhari's approval for the setting up of the committee.

Osinbajo Expresses Satisfaction with Work at Abuja Airport Kasim SumainainAbuja

TIME FOR HONOURS ...

L-R: Former MD of Shell, Chike Onyejekwe; Chief Jim Nwobodo; VC of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University, Prof. Fidelis Okafor; Mr. Peter Obi; and Dr. George Muoghalu during the 8th convocation ceremonies of the University at Igbarian, yesterday

Ita-Giwa Formally Dumps PDP for APC Bassey Inyang in Calabar Former Special Adviser to the president on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has formally decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ita-Giwa , one of the foremost politicians from Cross River State , was registered on Friday in her political ward Ati Ema, Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State, by the party’s ward chairman, Mr. Inyang Okon.

Ita-Giwa was officially received into the APC by the Chairmen of the Bakassi chapter of the party, Mr. Cyril Ene; former representative of the Cross River South Senatorial District, Prince Bassey Otu, and a host of prominent members of the party in the state.

Advancing reasons for dumping her former party , the PDP, ItaGiwa, fondly referred to as “Mama Bakassi,” within the nation’s political circles , said she pitched tent with the APC because she was desirous of functioning as a politician within a credible platform from where she could continue to contribute

meaningfully to the development of the society.

"Thank God for making today happen. I knew today had to happen. I thank the leadership of APC. In the past one and a half years I have not attended any meeting of any political party. It would be out of place for a woman of my stature to join a group of people that are fragmented. My stature in Nigeria, and my age cannot permit me to jump from faction to faction. It would make me look very small.

“There is no retirement age for politics. Nigeria needs experience.

As you grow older in politics you learn on the job and get better.

“I chose the platform of APC to continue my political life. As long as I am in this world I would not leave politics. APC in Cross River State has been too quiet. I fear nobody. If you are political party you have to make your presence felt. Now I am in APC that silence would stop, “Ita-Giwa said.

The former presidential aide who described President Muhammadu Buhari as a seriously misunderstood person, promised to support his efforts in rebuilding the nation.

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday disclosed that, the ongoing renovation works on the 3.6 kilometers runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was nearing 80 per cent completion, adding that he had no reservations about the quality of work done so far.

The VP, who was on inspection tour of the airport noted that having looked around and got information from the contractors, it "look as if things are going very, very well."

Osinbajo, who was conducted round the airport by the managing director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian (FAAN), Mr. Saleh Dunuma, hinted that, "we are told that we are now nearing 80 per cent and we are clearly on schedule."

According to him, "we expect to see that this will be completed without any delay whatsoever. We

have assurances from the contractors, consultants that we are clearly on schedule."

Speaking further, Osinbajo revealed that, "I have no reservations looking at all of these myself and after listening to the contractors, consultants and FAAN officials."

He explained that, a lot of work had been done and that, he heard the contractors were doing shifts for 24 hours.

"They have taken the job very seriously. We expect that the job will be completed on the 19th as promised."

Responding, Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Dunuma , said, “I will start with the overall completion which is 80 per cent as of today”.

Dunuma stated that the other critical elements of works were still ongoing, chief among them was the asphalt laying, which he noted was about 73 per cent.

Abia Guber: Group Alleges Politicians Desperate to Influence Court's Judgment Enugu Assembly Orders EEDC Out of State over Crazy Bills, Epileptic Supply A pressure group, Concerned your brother justices be aware of this Abians in Lagos (CAL) has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen to be wary of moves by some desperate politicians in Abia State who were moving around the apex court with the aim of influencing the outcome of the appeal between Okehukwu Ogah and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

Addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday, the Coordinator of the group, Chief Kenneth Uchendu said that the group was aware of desperate moves by some politicians who wanted to get justice through the back door.

According to him, a lady close to the CJN was recently approached by one of the parties to the suit with an offer running into several hundreds of millions if she could provide access to the CJN. "While we trust the CJN, we are however concerned that these desperate politicians will stop at nothing in his desperate moves to get justice at all cost.

"We are therefore appealing to your Lordship to endeavour to alert

desperate move."

However, the group refused to mention the names of the so called desperate politicians whom it accused of seeking to influence the course of justice.

The Supreme Court had already reserved judgment in the appeals against the judgment of the Court of Appeal upholding Ikpeazu's election as governor of Abia state.

The apex court fixed judgment for May 12 after Ikpeazu and his challenger, Ogah who are both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had argued their respective positions before the court.

Before the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Justice Okon Abang had ordered Ikpeazu to vacate his office as governor. The judge also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue Ogah with a certificate of return as the governor of Abia.

However, in a considered judgment the Court of Appeal set aside that judgment and found in favour of Ikpeazu. Ogah was dissatisfied and had appealed to the Supreme Court.

ChristopherIsiguzoinEnugu

Irked by what it called the outrageous billing and epileptic power supply, among other inhuman acts against electricity consumers in the state, the Enugu State House of Assembly on Friday asked the management of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to shut down its operations and vacate the state.

The lawmakers also asked electricity consumers in the state to stop further payment of over-bloated electricity bills, while asking that a state of emergency be declared in the activities of EEDC. Other states in the south-east including Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo were also asked to take drastic action against the company by declaring state of emergency against them.

They also ordered the chairman of the company, Sir Emeka Ofor and the managing director to appear before its six-man ad hoc committee to explain the company's activities in the state.

This came as hundreds of electricity consumers in Enugu state early on Friday staged a protest to the House of Assembly over incessant power

outage, outrageous billing, alarming tariff among other forms of alleged exploitative activities of the EEDC. The protesters who displayed numerous placards with various inscriptions, had called on the lawmakers, to as a matter of urgency intervene on the issue while also demanding for the exit of the EEDC. They claimed that the company since inception, had continued to make life unbearable for citizens of the state.

In adopting a five-point motion on matter of urgent important moved by Hon. Chinedu Nwamba representing Nsukka East State Constituency at a special sitting of the House, the lawmakers decried the activities of the Distribution Company, noting that rather than make lives meaningful for the people, it had continued to exploit the people.

The House urged the state government to liaise with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to validate the quality of the new metres they are currently supplying the public to know if the setting was commensurate with the unit consumption.

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Dogara Challenges Governors to Disclose How Security Votes, Council Funds Are Spent John Shiklam in Kaduna The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, on Friday challenged state governors to disclose how they spend security votes and the amount allocated to local governments.

Speaking at end of a retreat for the management of the National Assembly in Kaduna, Dogara who was reacting to earlier comments by Governor Nasir El-Rufai who challenged the legislature to make its budget public also challenged

governors to publish how they utilise security votes and funds allocated to local governments in the spirit of accountability and transparency.

The speaker disclosed that already, the bureaucracy had been directed to publish the National Assembly budget beginning from 2017.

“I will like to challenge him (El-rufai) to champion this cause for transparency in the budgetary process of the National Assembly to other arms of government.

“We want to see clearly how chief executives of states

are paid.

What do they spend monthly as security votes? And if they can publish what happens to local government funds under their jurisdictions. That will help our discussion going forward" the speaker said.

According to him, the national assembly was the most misunderstood institution in the country, stressing that no parliament in the world could win popularity contest and Nigeria’s National Assembly was not an exception.

"When, for instance, public

discussions on funding of the legislature are being made, the entire bureaucracy is often completely discountenanced, neither is any consideration given to the fact that this is a special bureaucracy saddled with a multitude of ‘masters’ who must be equally served in addition to service to the nation" he said.

The Speaker stressed that the Nigeria Civil Service will begin to record progress when it breaks away from its usual tradition to new ways of carrying out its functions and administration.

OUR STEWARDSHIP...

L-R: Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje; Chairman, Board of Director, Osaretin Demure; Company Secretary, Mr.Erhi Obebeduo and Executive Director, Mr. Adebowale Oyedeji, during the 27th Annual General Meeting of the bank in Lagos... yesterday PHOTO: Yomi Akinyele

Wike Threatens Royal Fathers Buhari Reconstitutes Boards of with Withdrawal of Recognition 19 Education Parastatals Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned that any traditional ruler whose number of registered voters fails to increase after the forth-coming voters registration exercise would lose his recognition by the state government.

He therefore directed traditional rulers across the state to mobilise their people for the exercise.

Wike spoke yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt when government-recognised Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, led by Eze Blessing Wagor, paid him a courtesy visit.

He stated that the voters' registration was vital to the promotion of democracy, adding that mobilisation for the exercise transcended party affiliation, hence the involvement of traditional rulers.

He said: “Go and mobilise your people for the voter registration exercise. Any community where the numbers of its registered voters fails to improve will have the recognition of its traditional ruler withdrawn.

“This has nothing to do with party politics. It is necessary because it will be used for development purposes.”

The governor charged the traditional rulers not to be involved in partisan politics as it will negatively affect them. He directed local gov-

ernment councils to build meeting halls for traditional rulers in their respective areas.

In an address, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Government-recognised Traditional Rulers, Eze Blessing Wagor (NyeWeli Isiokpo) lauded Wike for his outstanding achievements since assuming office.

He said the development projects of the administration which cut across the state have led to the people feeling the impact of government.

“From the performance of the governor, it is obvious that the people of Rivers State did not make a mistake by electing Governor Wike,” he said.

In a related development, Wike has declared that Nigerians had realised that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre has nothing to offer in terms of developmental projects, aside the circulation of lies.

Wike also stated that the APC fight against corruption was targeted at the intimidation of political opponents, as the APC only prosecute former PDP governors, while indicted Former APC Governors were allowed to roam freely.

The governor, who spoke yesterday when he granted audience to the Abuluoma Council of Chiefs, said there was no sincerity in the fight against corruption by the APC.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the boards of 19 agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education. Members of the board will run for a period of four years in the first instance.

In making the appointments, the President took into cognisance of the provisions of the respective legislation with respect to composition, competence, credibility, integrity, federal character and geo-political spread.

The Boards, consisting of the Chairmen and Members, will be inaugurated on a date to be announced soon.

The agencies and their Chairmen are as follows: (1) National Universities commission (NUC) – Prof.

Ayo Banjo (2) Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) – Chief Emeka Nwajiuba (3) National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration – Dr. Ekaete Obon Okon (4) Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) – Dr. Mahmud Mohammed (5) National Library of Nigeria (NLN) – Prof. Zainab Alkali (6) National Examination Council (NECO) – Dr. Abubakar Saddiq (7) National Commission for

Mass Literacy, Adult and NonFormal Education (NMEC)- Dr. Gidado Bello Akko (8) National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE) – Prof. Gidado Tahir (9) National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB) – Prof. Leonard Karshima Shilgba (10) Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) – Prof. Adamu Baikie (11) National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)Alh. Maigari Dingyadi (12) National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) – Sen. Mallam Kaka Yale (13) National Mathematical Centre (NMC) – Prof. Buba Bajoga (14) Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) – Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe (15) National Institute of Nigerian Languages (NINLAN) – Chief N. N Nnabuchi (16) Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) – Chief Paul Unongo (17) Nigerian French Language Village (NFLV) – Prof. Saliba Mukoro (18) National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) – Prof.

Modupe Adelabu (19) Nigerian Arabic Language Village (NALV) – Prof. O Oladusi

UTME: JAMB Suspends Registration for 2017 Mock Exams Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has suspended registration for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) mock exercise.

The Registrar, JAMB, Prof.

Ishaq Oloyede, in a statement yesterday, assured Nigerians, UTME candidates and their parents that all hands were on deck to ensure the smooth conduct of this year’s UTME exercise.

Oloyede noted that the interest of the candidates was foremost to the Board and there was no need for any apprehension regarding the purchase of forms and registration for the examinations.

He said: "It is our commitment as a responsive and responsible body to ensure that no willing candidate is left out and if there is a need to extend the registration deadline, the needful will be done.

"Meanwhile, Saturday April 8th , 2017 has been set aside for the Mock UTME. To seamlessly achieve this, the Board has suspended all activities relating to the registration exercise in any CBT centre from 8pm today being Friday 7thof April, 2017 and to resume on Monday 10THof April, 2017. This is to notify the candidates and the concerned stakeholders that there will be no sale of forms, registration and biometric capturing at

the various centres in which the Mock Examinations are taking place.

"This however does not preclude any candidate from going to banks, NIPOST, interswitch or Remita to procure pins for registration on Monday. This is to prevent any disruption of the process and conduct of the mock examination.

"The Mock Examinations for interested candidates taking place Saturday 8thApril, 2017 is intended to familiarise our candidates with the CBT systems and generally forecast the challenges that may be faced ahead in order to proactively address them. It is just a rehearsal for us and candidates who want to experience the situation to expect during the actual examinations," he added.

Oloyede stated that the sale of forms, registration and biometrics at CBT Centres are to be suspended from 8:00 p.m. today till Monday, April 10, 2017.

This notice, he said, is for the strict adherence of our officers and partners throughout the Federation.

"While wishing the candidates and officials participating in the examination a successful mock exercise, we once again re-assure the candidates that there is no need for worry or anxiety. The next one week we believe is sufficient to capture the remaining candidates as about 1,000,000 applicants have successful registered”.

Brutality: Ekiti Court Awards N20.25m Damages against Police Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ikere Ekiti, has awarded a sum of N20 million damages against the police over illegal detention and brutalisation of a 51-year old woman, Mrs Sola Aregbesola .

The court, in a judgement delivered

by Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi , also awarded another N250,000 cost against the police, which covers the expenses spent on medical treatment as a result of the unlawful detention and beating she suffered in the hands of the cops.

Aregbesola, a resident of Okebedo in Ilawe Ekiti, was beaten, tortured , wounded , chained and detained for seven two hours at Ilawe Police Station last year October over an issue that bordered on an illicit love affair between her husband and another woman.

The plaintiff was subsequently picked up by the police, following complaints lodged by her suspected husband’s mistress.

Before the arrest, the suspected mistress had attacked her by allegedly pouring hot soup on her face, which inflicted serious bodily injuries on her, causing deformation to her person.

Following this, Mrs Aregbesola had approached the court to ask for the enforcement of her fundamental rights, describing her detention as an abridgement of her rights .

During the trial, Aregbesola’s case was taken up by the Department of the Ekiti State Citizens’ rights in the Ministry of Justice.

The State lawyers, told the court that the police acted ultra vires by clamping her in detention for 72 hours beyond the stipulated 24 hours

recommended by the law over issue that were bailable in the face of the law.

In his judgement, Justice Ogunyemi, said : “considering the preponderance of evidence before this court, I declare the actions of the police against the Plaintiff as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

“I therefore found his prayers worthy of being considered and I awarded a N20 million damages together with another N250,000 covering the litigation expenses against the police”.

The court also told the police to be cautious in dealing with issues that had to do the rights of the citizens, saying “they must exercise restraint in their actions as enforcers of the law”.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MUFUTAU ODUMOSU, now wish to be known and addressed as MUFUTAU OLUWADARE ODUMOSU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS BIDEIN EBIKEWENIMO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EBEDEBIRI EMIOBOFABOPREGHA EBIKEWENIMO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT I FAROUK .A. Y. of Federal Housing Authority Abuja hereby wish to inform the general public of the loss of Certified True Copy(CTC) of Allocation and National Housing Fund Passbook (NHF) letter of House No 141, 32 Crescent Kubwa Phase 3, Estate Abuja. All effort made to trace the above missing document proved abortive.

Federal Housing Authority Asokoro Abuja and general public to please take note.

TR

Saturday, April 8, 2017

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Justice Okeke to EFCC

“A court of law reckons with hardcore evidence placed before it and not on speculations as to why the payments were made.”

– Justice Jude Okeke of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, dismissing the corruption suit filed against Justice Adeniyi Ademola by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

PENDULUM Dele Momodu

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

There is Life Outside Power

F

ellow Africans, I have often wondered about what is the matter with most African leaders and rulers that they love to cling to power, by fire by force, as if their very lives depended on it. An average African leader will never quit power voluntarily, and enjoy a standing ovation, as well as everlasting adulation, no matter the situation. He would rather subject his country to sorrow, tears and blood, just for him to remain in power. One of the earliest spiritual teachings I learnt as a kid was the Biblical aphorism: “The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh!” Whatever has a beginning must have an end. No matter how long you spend in power, you must quit one day, voluntarily, or involuntarily, when your time is up. And your time is up when the Law say it is, not when age or extraneous forces, like coups dictate truncate your heinous rule. Why then, you may ask, can’t mere mortals understand and appreciate this dictum and spare their people the agony of many years of misrule and sit-tight syndrome?

Let me emphasise that it is not how long you govern that matters but how well. Every leader must decide how he wishes to be remembered. It is pertinent for every leader to consider this and decide on what he can do very quickly to attract eternal grace and praise. Anyone who has studied the history of power would readily know how time flies indeed. Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo has come and left. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has come and departed. President Goodluck Ebele Goodluck has done his bit and retired. President Muhammadu Buhari has nearly spent half of his first term, just like that. This confirms my thesis about how quickly time evaporates.

But I’m happy to meet a man who has demonstrated that you come, you serve, you go. It has been a privilege for me to know and work closely with His Excellency, former President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, before he quit office and now that he has. He is an eloquent example of how a responsible leader should behave in power and afterwards. I met him shortly before he became the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana. Though a Member of Parliament and Minister at the time, he was reluctant to accept the position. I was invited to his home by our mutual friend, Mr Victor Smith, later the High Commissioner of Ghana to the United Kingdom. Mahama and I became friends instantly. I discovered a personable gentleman who did not see power as a big deal other than as a call to service.

As fate would have it, a man who reluctantly became Vice President would later be catapulted to the seat of President and Commanderin-Chief, without lifting a finger, after the unfortunate death of his boss and mentor, President John Evans Atta-Mills, of blessed memory. In a jiffy, and without much ado, he settled down quickly to serious work, and continued from where his boss stopped. He not only mapped out his priorities but he produced a road map to achieve them. He understood what Ghana needed to join the comity of other nations in the march towards superlative development and pursued his mission rigorously and vigorously.

He made infrastructure development the cardinal principle of his government and

Former President John Mahama of Ghana and former Obama strategist David Axelrod at The Institute of Politics, Chicago, last Monday

stayed glued to it stubbornly no matter how much others preferred stomach infrastructure.

He told his people the bitter truth at every point. He spoke what no politician would have said and what the citizens would not like to hear. Mahama was a man in a hurry to build a new Ghana. His dream was to surpass the commendable work of his predecessors, especially that of the father of modern Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Like all mortals, Mahama was not a perfect human being. He had his foibles but was rigidly committed to his developmental projects. He was accused of overlooking the excesses of some of his close disciples who were accused of corruption. Many expected him to spend time pursuing corrupt people, making heads roll and if necessary make blood flow. However, Mahama chose to concentrate on his goal of societal development through revamping the economy, infrastructure creation and firming up of institutional structures. He was content to leave the established enforcement institutions to tackle all the corruption once he strengthened the system. He said he knew it was not the job of the executive arm to prosecute and convict and so would not be distracted, or

bogged down by a job that largely belongs to other arms, especially the independent and impartial Police and judiciary.

Mahama worked as if he had a premonition of the electoral hurricane that would eventually blow him away, unmindful of his stellar achievements. He modernised the Kotoka International Airport monumentally. Built new regional hospitals. Added about 800 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. He pursued rural electrification with uncommon gusto.

Regraded many roads and established new ones. Upgraded many educational institutions and paid more attention to technical schools in order to train and graduate world-class engineers and artisans. He provided an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive. Access to data services became widespread in rural areas.

On the foreign scene, he opened up Ghana to all Africans who are now able to obtain visa on arrival without stress. He stabilised the Ghanaian currency, Cedis, and investors made Ghana a preferred choice because of its stability and tranquillity. He welcomed non-Ghanaians with open arms. He doused the perennial tension between Ghanaians and

Nigerians. He encouraged Nigerian businesses to blossom. As a gesture of genuine goodwill, he awarded the highest civilian honour in Ghana to the spirit of Africa, Dr Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Isola Adenuga, a business prodigy, who has quietly affected Africa with his closely guarded treasure.

As audacious as Mahama was in the area of infrastructure development, he was not able to balance this with putting cash in people’s pockets. The unemployed youths kicked, shouting that they preferred jobs. His explanation that infrastructure would lead to jobs fell on deaf ears. More hospitals, he enjoined, will employ more doctors, nurses, pharmacists,, health technicians, administrators, paramedics and so on; more schools would absorb teachers and students alike as well as the requisite support staff; construction would attract engineers of various disciplines, artisans and others. For him, it was only a matter of time before the jobs sought by the restive youths would come. The long and short of it was that he achieved his dream of modernising Ghana but lost his plum job. His humongous work will never be forgotten and he would always be remembered as Nkrumah II, as he is now fondly called. History has only repeated itself because Nkrumah the Great suffered a similar fate when he was similarly chased out of power. But Nkrumah became apotheosised only thereafter. Everything he did was criticised but the landmarks are there till this day.

Mahama has become a global citizen after leaving power. Since he handed over on January 7, 2017, he has moved from being a Ghanaian leader to being a much sought after international statesman. I’ve been greatly inspired by his meteoric rise on the world stage. I’ve travelled extensively with him in the last two and half months. The usual Nigeriaphobia has never affected our relationship. Mahama is a rare specie and a true Christian who practices the tenets of love. I’m proud to stand with him all the way. His speeches flow from his heart.

He speaks extempore and has the facts and figures in his head. We have spent the last one week crisscrossing the best of American institutions. He spoke and lectured, as the situation demanded, at Harvard, MIT, Boston University, University of Chicago, Chicago State University, The Institute of Politics, The Africa International House, and Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Former Obama strategist, David Axelrod, summed up the story of Mahama, when he climbed the stage to commend his speech at the Institute of Politics, Chicago, delivered to a packed audience of American scholars and influential leaders: “I don’t know what happened in Ghana but if a vote were conducted here, majority would vote for you.” Mahama’s speech was simply awesome. He captured and wowed his audience. The Question and Answer session was gripping. Mahama was honest and candid. He autographed his autobiography, MY FIRST COUP D’ETAT. It was such a glorious and victorious trip.

As someone said, Mahama has glamorised life outside power so much that no African leader should be scared of losing election and fearing what the future holds. If you have done well, the world will be your oyster!

Mahama’s own reaction continues to resonate: Your duty as a leader is to come, serve and go…” I concur.

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