W’Bank Approves $486m Credit for Nigeria’s Power Sector Moves against illicit financial flows Obinna Chima, Bayo Akinloye with agency report The World Bank has approved a $486 million credit facility to Nigeria for electricity grid improvements, the lender said yesterday. “The investments under the
Nigeria Electricity Transmission Project will increase the power transfer capacity of the transmission network and enable distribution companies to supply consumers with additional power,� Reuters quoted the World Bank to have said.
Africa loses $80bn annually
Nigeria’s dilapidated power sector is often criticised by economists for holding back the country’s economic growth. Businesses and households are subject to frequent blackouts, and many depend on their own generators that are expensive to run.
A recent report had pointed out that ineffective metering was a major problem to the success of power sector reforms in Nigeria, a report has stated. The report by Lagos-based CSL Stockbrokers Limited, noted that some consumers avoid paying for
power consumed through meter bypass, while others are made to pay for what they haven’t consumed through estimated billing by the distribution companies (discos). The report cited a new draft meter regulation proposed by the
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which stated that electricity customers can now acquire meters under a 15-year lease facility from the discos guaranteed by third party meter providers. Continued on page 11
Controversy Trails Launch of NAF's Indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ‌ Page 10 Saturday 17 February, 2018 Vol 23. No 8339
www.thisdaylive.com TR
UT H
& RE A S O
N250
N
Buhari Condemns Zamfara Killings, Orders Troops Deployment
Atiku: When human beings are falling like flies repeatedly, ambushed by savage mass murderers and killed in cold Killings getting worse under Buhari, says Governor Yari blood, I wonder what becomes of the sanctity of life Vincent Obia, Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari
yesterday in Daura, his country home, condemned the recent massacre of over 40 innocent persons in Birane village, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara
State. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the Zamfara massacre, saying he is appalled by the continued large
scale destruction of human lives by criminal groups. In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said
the President commiserated with families of victims of the heinous crime and directed security agencies to immediately mobilise and deploy operatives to vulnerable areas of the
state, and ensure that perpetrators face the full wrath of the law. The statement also said Buhari Cosntinued on page 6
INEC:UnderageVotinginKanoLG Election Will Be Fully Investigated Says incident ‘deeply disturbing’
Jonathan backs reordering of election sequence
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, vowed that the alleged incident of underage voting during the recent local government elections in Kano State would be fully investigated. Also yesterday, former President Goodluck Jonathan expressed support for moves by the National Assembly to re-order the 2019 general election’s sequence as contained in the recent amendment to the Electoral Act. The commission’s position was contained in a speech delivered by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at an “Election Project Plan Implementation Workshop� held in Lagos. Yakubu, who described the Kano incident as "deeply disturbing", said a National Commissioner from INEC would lead a team to Kano next week to probe the incident. He said that technical staff of the commission drawn from the Cosntinued on page 6
LADOL'S FACILITY TOUR... L-R: Managing Director, Chevron Nig. Ltd, Je Ewing; Managing Director, LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi; Deputy Managing Director, Total E&P, Musa Kida; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Managing Director, Total E&P, Nicolas Terraz, when the minister came on inspection tour of Egina FPSO platform at the integration site in LADOL Free Zone, Apapa, Lagos ... yesterday
Obasanjo: I Have No Regrets over Decisions I Took as President ‌Page 54
<285 :,// 72 6$9( &$1 *(7 <28 :+((/6
:LWK D IDPLO\ RI \RX KDYH WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR JHW D EUDQG QHZ FDU JHQHUDWRU D VHW RI IXUQLWXUH VFKRODUVKLSV ZDVKLQJ PDFKLQH IDPLO\ YDFDWLRQV GHHS IUHH]HU DQG D EUDQG QHZ KRXVH ZKHQ \RX VDYH LQ WKH $FFHVV %DQN )DPLO\ 6DYLQJV 6FKHPH 9LVLW ZZZ DFFHVVEDQNSOF FRP VDYHWRGD\ RU WKH QHDUHVW EUDQFK WR JHW VWDUWHG
ZZZ DFFHVVEDQNSOF FRP VDYHWRGD\
T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ͵˜ ͰͮͯͶ
4
:,7+ 7+( $&&(66 %$1.
32&.(7 021(< +$6b *21( Ś60$57ś <RXU FKLOGśV (DUO\ 6DYHUV $FFRXQW QRZ RƩHUV D XQLTXH FXVWRPL]DEOH 7HHQ 3UH SDLG &DUG DV D SUDFWLFDO ZD\ RI WHDFKLQJ PRQH\ PDQDJHPHQW
7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV DSSO\
FRQWDFWFHQWHU#DFFHVVEDQNSOF FRP
KWWSV HDUO\VDYHUV DFFHVVEDQNSOF FRP
T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2018
5
6
T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ˜ Ϳ˜ ͺ
PAGE SIX INEC: UNDERAGE VOTING IN KANO LG ELECTION WILL BE FULLY INVESTIGATED Voter Registry, Information and Communications Technology and the Electoral Operations departments, would join the National Commissioner in the immediate and comprehensive investigation of the Kano State debacle. Yakubu said that the commission would share the findings of the investigation with Nigerians, adding that it would also "interrogate the voter register nationwide in order to purge it of any possible ineligible registrants". INEC had earlier distanced itself from any culpability over the alleged participation of underage voters in the Kano local council election, saying the exercise was not conducted or supervised by it. However, Yakubu confirmed yesterday that the Kano state Independent Election Commission requested and was given a soft copy of the INEC voter register. Yakubu said: "Recent reports of violations by underage persons following the local government
elections in Kano State are deeply disturbing. It is true that the State Independent Electoral Commission had requested INEC for a copy of the voter register. I can confirm also that a soft copy of the register was made available to the state. The voter register in Kano State is the one used for the 2015 General Election. "In July 2016, INEC used the same register to conduct a State Assembly bye-election in Minjibir Constituency which has 78,210 registered voters spread across 126 polling units clustered in 11 Registration Areas (Wards). In that election conducted by INEC, no single incidence of underage voter was recorded. "What therefore happened in the last local government election conducted by the State Electoral Commission? Was the voter register actually used or not? The INEC boss also disclosed that the commission had concluded all actions relating to the 2019 election budget and that it would submit its budget estimates to the
National Assembly next week. "With the validation of the EPP at this workshop, and having concluded and validated the Strategic Plan and Strategic Plan of Action, work on the 2019 Election budget will be concluded next week. Immediately, thereafter, the budget will be presented to the approving authority for consideration and funding," he said. On the Commission’s position on the sequence of elections contained in the bill currently before the National Assembly, Yakubu said INEC's position at the moment is that the current timetable and schedule of activities released on 9th January 2018 is consistent with the powers of the Commission under existing laws. "We will study any amendments to the existing legal framework and take appropriate action within the ambit of the law," he said. On the controversies trailing the Continuous Voter exercise (CVR), especially the complaint about limited number of registration centres and infiltration by ineligible
voters, the INEC boss assured that measures were in place to address them. "We wish to assure Nigerians that all prospective registrants are carefully screened. Only legally eligible citizens will be registered. There are 1,446 registration centres nationwide. We are aware of the challenges citizens are facing at some of the centres. We have responded by deploying additional machines, staff and resources nationwide and already the queues are easing off in many of the congested centres," he said. According to Yakubu, “between July and December 2017, some 3,978,682 citizens were registered afresh nationwide; 135,127 unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were collected; while 166,073 requests for transfers and 334,086 requests for replacements of PVCs were recorded.” He said, “For the new fresh registrants, the gender statistics distribution shows 58% male and 42% female.” Also, in terms of the distribution
by States, Rivers State recorded the highest number of new registrants with 248, 831, followed by Delta and Lagos, 237,172 and 225,949 respectively, while Kwara, Gombe and Ondo recorded the lowest with 69,423 and 47,097. Jonathan Backs Re-ordering of Election Sequence In a related development, former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed support for the move by the National Assembly to reorder the 2019 general elections as contained in the recent amendment to the Electoral Act. Jonathan stated this when he received the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who led members of the National Working Committee, NWC, on a courtesy visit to the Headquarters of the Jonathan Foundation in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State. The former president said that it would help improve on the quality of persons elected into positions. A statement issued yesterday by the PDP National Chairman's
spokesman, Ike Abonyi, quoted the former President as having said that what the National Assembly did would help in the election of quality persons into various positions. "Holding Presidential Election first will affect the quality of persons that will emerge in other polls because of the bandwagon effect. "The ruling party the APC should see it from national and patriotic interests since laws are not meant for persons in power at a particular time,” the former president was quoted to have said. He also charged his party PDP to support and commend the National Assembly for the patriotic act. "I believe that PDP will return to power in 2019 if we continue to build confidence, especially as the ruling party has failed to meet up their promises and give hope to the people. "Propaganda may help you win election but can't help you govern and that is what APC has seen in the last 32 months.
personnel to confront these people from where they came from.” In his remarks, the Emir echoed Yari’s allegation, adding that but for the bravery of vigilante groups who confronted the bandits, the casualty figure would have been higher. The traditional ruler alleged that 600 bandits made attempt to invade Zurmi but were repelled by vigilantes. According to him, “They came on 200 motorcycles with three persons on each bike. Each of them was well-armed. We stationed 500 vigilante members who stood their ground and gallantly fought the bandits. Unfortunately, these same bandits turned their anger on travellers and other villagers on their way here; that was why we had 39 people killed. “These terrorists are known to us. Their major hideout is in a village called Kagara, very close to Bafarawa in Sokoto State, and a few kilometres from Shinkafi in Zamfara State. But despite several appeals to security agencies to storm the area, our appeals have failed. “I need to state here that majority of the weapons used by bad people in this country are brought in from this area. I
had reason to personally inform Zamfara State Director of SSS sometimes back of a large cache of weapons being brought into the country, but no concrete action was taken until the containers were moved away. “I am happy that other northern governors are here because we believe the solution to this problem lies in cooperation among all of you. “I don’t need to repeat here that we need a full battalion of soldiers here and in areas surrounding Maru, Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi LGAs.” The Emir said the people had been pushed to the limit and a negative reaction from them will have devastating consequences on the state. In his own comments, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State appealed to the people not to lose their patience. He sympathised with the victims and prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest. Other governors on the entourage were Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, and Umar Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State.
BUHARI CONDEMNS ZAMFARA MASSACRE, ORDERS DEPLOYMENT OF SECURITY assured Zamfara State Government, victims of the mayhem and residents of the state that the federal government would do all it takes to support security agencies with view to securing lives and property, not only in the affected state but across the country. "President Buhari restates his administration’s determination to put an end to the spate of senseless spilling of innocent blood in parts of the country, and calls for restraint to allow the nation’s security apparatus to stem the undesirable trend. The President prays that almighty God will receive the souls of the departed, and comfort their families," the statement added. THISDAY was also told last night that a number of strategic military actions had been approved by the President to curtail the killings in Zamfara. The source said: “The President has approved that the army division in Sokoto be upgraded to a full Brigade, which means that there will be more soldiers for the formation. The battalion in Gusau will be upgraded to a full Brigade and one of the battalions under the Brigade will be composed of Special Forces. The Battalion in Katsina is being upgraded to a full Brigade.” Atiku Laments Rampant Killings in Zamfara Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also condemned the latest massacre in Zamfara State during which scores of innocent people were forced out of their vehicles and brutally killed by unknown bandits. Atiku in a press statement also decried the killings in Rivers, Kaduna, Benue, saying that he is appalled by the continued large scale destruction of human lives by criminal groups. He said that he was concerned about the frequency of these hideous attacks by criminal gangs. The former Vice President said that the ease with which criminal groups have access to dangerous weapons in the country is worrisome and disturbing. "When human beings are falling like flies repeatedly, ambushed by savage mass murderers and killed in cold blood, I wonder what becomes of the sanctity of life", he said. Atiku urged for greater vigilance and stricter enforcement of ban on the proliferation small arms
and other deadly weapons in the hands of criminals. “Apart from identifying, arresting and prosecuting arms suppliers, there should be an intensification of efforts by our security personnel”. He extended his condolence to the Government of Zamfara State and families of the victims. The massacre at Birani, THISDAY gathered, occurred when the gunmen intercepted a Canter vehicle conveying bridesmaids and traders to the community market and slit the throat of the driver and then opened fire on the vehicle, killing everybody on board. The bodies of the dead, it was further gathered, were set ablaze by the killers. The bandits, a source said, then proceeded to the community market and shot indiscriminately at all in sight. The traders were said to have scampered for safety as the bloodthirsty gunmen continued their assault unabated. “They arrived in large numbers and on motorbikes intercepting and killing people who were either coming or going out of the village. About 41 persons were shot dead within a short period of time,” a resident, Hussaini Abdu, said. He added that a commercial motorbike rider conveying a woman and her three children was killed and his motor bike burnt. Police spokesman, Shehu, however, gave a detailed version of the incident in a statement in Gusau. According to Shehu, the violence started after hunters and local vigilantes mobilised and launched a pre-emptive attack on the bandits when they heard that the outlaws were preparing to attack their community. He claimed that instead of the residents to give the security operatives timely information to avert the attack, they decided to take the law into their own hands by going out to confront the gunmen. Shehu said: “On February 13, hunters from Birani Village of Zurmi Local Government Area intercepted and accosted a herder in the bush with some suspected stolen cattle and sheep. “The herder abandoned the animals and escaped into the bush, but unknown to the hunters, the cattle rustler went to Isah Local Government Area of Sokoto State and mobilised bandits to attack
the hunters. “On February 14, the bandits ambushed the hunters in the bush and there was a clash that led to fatality on both sides. “Police/Military and other sister agencies reacted by combing the bush and its environs to salvage the situation and discovered 18 dead bodies. The police spokesman said that the command’s intelligence unit had already embarked on investigation to arrest the perpetrators of the attacks. Killings Getting Worse Under Buhari, Says Governor Yari Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State yesterday lamented that Killings in his state were getting worse under President Muhammadu Buhari. He stated this when he led four other northern governors on a sympathy visit to the palace of the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in whose domain scores of people were recently killed. “I feel let down facing the people of this state whenever I remember the promise I made to them that when they elect President Muhammadu Buhari into power, these killings will end. But unfortunately, things are
now getting worse,” lamented the governor. The invasion of the communities on Wednesday night by bandits resulted in the death of 39 persons. The governor alleged that his administration alerted security agencies to the attack on communities in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state 24 hours before it happened, yet they failed to avert the invasion. He said security agencies in the area had failed to tackle the problem of cross-border banditry and terrorism bedevilling communities in the area. Yari said: “Whatever humanly possible that needed to be done, we as a government have done to mitigate this disaster. But it does appear that security agencies are failing in their responsibilities. “As such, I urge you security agencies to up the ante so as not to lose this war. If you let us take issues on our hands, anarchy will reign, which is not what we hope for. “On this particular incidence, we had intelligence reports 24 hours before it happened that the bandits were grouping and ready to attack. I alerted the security agencies, but unfortunately they sent inadequate
L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima amongst others shortly after receiving in audience APC Governors in his Daura Katsina home ...yesterday
T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2018
7
8
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺͶ
NEWS
News Editor ÒË×ÏÐßÖË ÑÌß ;Ϳͽ ̙sms only) Email ËÒË×ÏÐßÖ˲ÙÑÌß̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×
FOR BETTER SERVICES ... L-R: Head, Market Development, Inlaks, Abiola Ogunsakin; Senior Sales Manager, Fiorano Software, Ajith Hegde; Executive Director, Inlaks, Olufemi Muraino; Solution Architect, Fiorano Software Harish TV; and Sales Manager, Financial Business, Inlaks, Oladimeji Giwa, at a Breakfast Business Seminar on Digital Transformation in Banking organised by Inlaks in partnership with Fiorano Software, held in Lagos
Obasanjo: I’ve No Regrets over Decisions I took as President Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa Despite strong criticism of some controversial decisions he took as Nigerian leader, former President Olusegun Obasanjo Friday in Kaiama, Bayelsa State, said he was not remorseful over any decisions he took while in office. Obasanjo, who also inaugurated several projects to mark the sixth year anniversary of the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration, noted that though he was not perfect as a leader, he nevertheless did his best for the country, given the time and resources available. Aside his controversial third term agenda, which he has repeatedly denied, Obasanjo ordered the military invasion of Odi, in Kolokuma/ Opokuma local government, which
led to the levelling of the whole community, following the killing of security operatives by militants from the region. Addressing students of the Ijaw National Academy, a free tuition, free boarding secondary school, the former President argued that all decisions he took were informed by the information at his disposal at the time, maintaining that many times, some aides also had habit of blocking leaders from seeing the real picture of things their domain. “What is it I didn’t do in office that I now want to do? Do what you can defend before God, man and conscience. With the knowledge, resources and facilities that I had, there is nothing that I did not do. None. “If I had more resources, then I
think I would have done differently, but with what I had and the resources at my disposal, l would say no, I did all that is humanly possible when I was President. I was not perfect, only God is. Also bear in mind that people you work with will make sure you don’t see all things. If that happens, who do you blame? “Some of them will do everything. What is important is that you must not have regret. I do not have any regret about things I did when I was in government or in any leadership position I have held. No regret,” the former President said. Obasanjo who conducted the official opening of the Aquaculture village, the Glory Drive, named after him, the Specialist Hospital, the Bayelsa Diagnostics Centre, the Drug Distribution Centre, part of which
was dedicated to the memory late Professor Dora Akunyili had earlier visited the Bayelsa state Traditional Rulers Council led by King Alfred Diette-Spiff. He argued that despite all the theories on leadership in the books, what he has found most useful was his own belief that the “fear of God” trounces them all. “If you are a leader that fears God, the chances are that you will be good. If you do not fear God, forget it. A leader has to have knowledge, be a team worker. They are very important. You must fear God”, he added. He suggested that the younger generation should be accommodated in the nation’s political leadership because “although they are future leaders, tomorrow might not come.
"We have to make allowance for them where we have to make allowance for them but we must make provision for them. We must make accommodation for them because they are not only the leaders of tomorrow. "Their leadership must start from today because if we leave them only till tomorrow, they will be left waiting for tomorrow that may never come. Today, must be their time; let us accommodate them, let us make room for them, let us carry them along”, Obasanjo advised. He, however expressed hope in the future of the country, stressing that “By now, I would have committed suicide if there is no hope in the future of Nigeria” On insecurity, Obasanjo who was uncharacteristically restrained
in answering many of the questions put to him insisted that one of the things Nigeria needed to achieve and do well to be stable was the issue of security. He lauded Governor Dickson on ensuring relative peace and security in Bayelsa, stressing that he was shocked by the rapid transformation which the governor had brought to bear on the state within six years. The former leader urged other states in the country to emulate and understudy Dickson to find out how he achieved the feat. "One of the things that struck me about your (Dickson's) administration is the relative peace that you have maintained in the state. I do not know how you have done it; maybe we should all come to learn under your tutelage.
Okorocha’s Wife, Son in-law Fingered in Plot to Impeach Imo Deputy Gov
Ugborodo Crisis Deepens As Community Leaders Trade Allegations On Sabotage
Amby Uneze inOwerri
Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Sequel to the open endorsement of his son-in-law and Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha as his successor, strong indications emerged yesterday of impeachment move of the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere by the kitchen cabinet of the governor. Madumere is seen as the main opposition to the governor’s plan to install Nwosu who is also from his Orlu Senatorial zone. Investigations reveal that the wife of the Governor, Nneoma Rochas Nkechi Okorocha and Nwosu, who had been reported to have received “induced” endorsements across the state, especially from unemployed youths, are alleged to be behind the plot that has reached an advanced
stage. Reacting to the allegation, chief press secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo dismissed it as of no substance , stating, “of what political value will the impeachment of the Deputy Governor now add to anybody or organisation in the State at the moment? According to reliable sources, the governor’s wife and other collaborators in the plot to make Nwosu the next governor of the state come 2019 at all cost perceived the Deputy Governor as a major obstacle due to Madumere's clean record and gentility. The source stated that Mrs. Okorocha's grouse against Madumere was not unconnected with his popularity, which is said to be giving Governor Okorocha sleepless nights.
It was said that the pressure on the Governor coming from various quarters including powerful people from within and outside the State insisting that right thing be done may have influenced the decision by the wife of the governor, her son-in-law to resort to impeachment move. This move according to the source is considered an only module to pave way to hatching out plan to foisting Okorocha's daughter's hubby on Imo people as Governor after his tenure. The State Ministry of Finance is said to have been given a marching order to mop up huge funds to lobby members of the House of Assembly. It was also hinted that a serving Commissioner would serve as a liaison with members of the House of Assembly from Owerri zone to bring the plot to fruition.
The crisis rocking the oil-rich Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local government area of Delta State took a new dimension yesterday with Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC) warning the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro not thwart the renewed peace in the Itsekiri area with the flushing out of suspected miscreants by the military last weekend. A member of UCMC, Mr. Alex Eyengho alleged in a statement made available to THISDAY that the Deputy Governor, an Ijaw man, was doing everything possible to withdraw policemen presently stationed in the troubled Itsekiri community. "From reliable information at our disposal, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro is the
number one enemy of Itsekiri and Olu of Warri. He is presently doing everything at the moment behind Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to withdraw the policemen presently stationed in Ugborodo to maintain law and order after the flushing out of criminal elements from the community", he alleged. Eyengho therefore called on Governor Okowa to call his Deputy to order immediately adding "The Army, Navy, DSS and other security agents should be on red alert and secure lives and properties in the area otherwise, we shall do everything to protect ourselves and defend the integrity and dignity of Ugborodo," they warned. But the Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro reacted distancing himself from the crisis in Itsekiri community. He described the insinuations
amongst the Itsekiris about his alleged tacit support to annex the community to Ijaws as unfortunate, baseless and wondered how the peddlers intended their followers to believe such lies. This latest development came up just as Delta State Commissioner of Police. Mr. Muhammadu Mustafa gave reason for the joint Military/ Police operation at the community where suspected militants and oil thieves allegedly held hostage. He said intelligence report revealed that youths in the area were being instigated by some self-acclaimed youth leaders to stage a protest against the presence of security men and gun boats deployed to the area. The Police Boss confirmed that the deployment of security operatives last Saturday was to rid the areas of hoodlums who use the bases for various nefarious activities.
9
FEBRUARY 17, 2 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
RingTrue
07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com
Yemi
Adebowale
For Now, NHIS Boss, Usman Yusuf, Should Return Home
B
y now, the reinstated Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, ought to have been asked to return home, if we are truly in a democracy. Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, had on July 6, 2017 suspended Yusuf over allegations of fraud against him. However, the Presidency reinstated him but failed to make reference to the accusations against him. Opposition to the recall of Yusuf pours from all corners of Nigeria. A truly democratic government must persistently abide by the wish of the people. Unfortunately, ours remains a crooked democracy. The key actors hardly respect the wishes of the people. This was exactly what played out in the reinstatement of the NHIS boss by President Muhammadu Buhari. Perhaps, our President was in a trance when he gave approval for this ignoble action. Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka alludes to this, saying “Buhari is in a trance based on so many unforced errors”. Public service rules are very clear about how to handle cases like that of Yusuf’s. Since he is under investigation, he should remain at home until the conclusion of the investigation. Adewole had earlier set up a panel to probe Yusuf’s transgressions and the panel found him culpable. He was subsequently suspended indefinitely by the minister. The allegations against the NHIS boss are weighty. He was mainly accused of violating procurement laws and dishing out contracts to cronies. Why should Adewole sweep under the carpet the purchase of a Prado SUV by Yusuf for N58 million shortly before the
Yusuf
last Ramadan, even though his approval limit was N2.5 million? Sources said a number of Prado SUVs were attached to his office, but the NHIS boss allegedly went ahead to buy a new one. Why should the minister overlook claims that Yusuf mismanaged about N919 million contributions of subscribers to the NHIS? Why should Adewole keep quiet about the alleged award of contracts worth about N1 billion by Yusuf to his cronies? This decision to recall Yusuf left me dumbfounded. Is this how Buhari will continue his war against corruption? This is evidently a mockery of his anti-corruption war. Besides, our
President has again demonstrated his clannishness and lack of respect for due process. Yusuf, who spoke in Sokoto on Thursday, remained insolent, saying that he was not corrupt; yet, his godfathers could not wait for the EFCC to conclude its investigation. The position of erudite lawyer, Yusuf Ali, (SAN) on the recall of the NHIS boss and the warped war against corruption aptly captures the frustration of majority of Nigerians with the Buhari administration. Ali said: “Nigerians deserved an explanation from the federal government. The President’s recall of the indicted NHIS official belittles the minister’s authority. The reason for which he was suspended is well known to everybody. It was well publicised. It was said that there was some money which he couldn’t account for and for which the EFCC was invited. Curiously, nobody has heard anything from the EFCC and the man was recalled. “So, I think the government owes us an explanation on why the man who was suspended by the minister was recalled by the Presidency. Why was it not the minister that recalled him? The problem about such a matter is that it would have been better if the minister recalled him because they are demystifying the offices of the minister. The reinstatement does not portend well for the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration. It has the tendency of sending a wrong signal. For all intents and purposes, it means that the anti-corruption body can do whatever it wants to do; the government is least concerned.” Another lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe,
added: “It is a total disgrace and an embarrassment. If I were the minister of health, I would resign and give them back their useless position. The President has undermined his so-called war on corruption for whatever reason, and it does him no credit that he is doing this. A man under his watch is accused of corruption and being probed, and you reinstate him. He has undermined that minister. And this professor (Yusuf) was so boastful, saying only the President could query him. That he (Buhari) would do this kind of thing no longer shocks me.” It is heartwarming that employees of the NHIS, under the aegis of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and the Joint Health Sector Union, are challenging the unconvincing reinstatement of Yusuf with protest. This must continue until Yusuf packs out of the headquarters of the agency in Abuja. The workers were spot-on when they said that Yusuf’s recall would thwart his ongoing investigation by the EFCC. Clearly, no staff will be willing to give evidence against a sitting CEO at the EFCC office. The leadership of the NLC and the TUC must rise and support the leader of the NHIS workers, Razaq Omomeji, to sustain the strike against Yusuf’s recall. Omomeji has vowed to sustain the protests until Buhari reverses Yusuf’s restoration. “Yusuf has bastardised the scheme and his return would only worsen affairs at the agency,” declared the leader of the workers. As for our President, I want him to reflect on a portion of late Shehu Usman Dan Fodio’s teaching that “the crown of a leader is his integrity, his stronghold is his impartiality.” My message to Adewole is a very simple one: Please, bow out honourably.
All the Noise about Worthless Positive Statistics The news in town is that Nigeria’s external reserves rallied to a new high of $42.8 billion on Tuesday. This is almost $1.8 billion more than the $41,092,672,948 in reserves as at February 8, 2018. The Central Bank of Nigeria is so happy telling us that the last time the foreign reserves hit the $40 billion mark was January 2014, about five months before the crash in global oil prices. The National Bureau of Statistics also wants Nigerians to know that inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), has dropped to 15.13 per cent in January from 15.37 per cent recorded in December, 2017. This week in Lokoja, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo claimed that the Buhari administration had committed the highest amount ever by any administration to capital development and projects in the
Osinbajo
country. So, how have all these fantastic figures impacted on the lives of hapless Nigerians
in the last 33 months of the Buhari administration? The answer is nil. This rising reserves have not translated into decent life for the masses of our people. Nigerians continue to be ranked among the poorest globally. Poverty, disease, hunger, mass sack still pervade our land while those in power regale us with these so-called positive statistics. Are these people in power unaware that the country’s unemployment rate rose from 14.2% to 18.8% in the third quarter of last year, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics? This should burden the authorities. Is this government really interested in working with data? Any serious government would have ensured a robust engagement of this unemployment figures. I am worried that Nigeria will soon
surpass India as the country with the largest number of people living in life-threatening poverty despite the fact that India’s population is almost four times that of Nigeria’s. Living in extreme poverty, going by the parameters set by the World Bank, means living on less than $1.90 per day, an amount that cannot guarantee even the token needs for existence. This is another insignia of disgrace that should task genuine patriots. Authorities at all levels in our dear nation should concentrate on pragmatic steps to pull more Nigerians out of poverty instead of celebrating statistics not impacting on the lives of Nigerians. Besides, the increase in reserves is due to the high price of crude oil, which is the only product that earns forex for Nigeria. This government and the CBN did not perform any magic on this. So, they should stop this nonsensical celebration.
Reordering of the Sequence of 2019 General Election I still can’t understand the grudge of the nine senators protesting against the amendment to Electoral Act 2010 and Electoral (Amendment) Act 2015, reordering the sequence of 2019 general election. The aggrieved senators stormed out of the upper chambers shortly after the adoption of the report of the Conference Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives that harmonised the two versions of the amendment bill. They even threatened never to allow the alteration to stand. This is preposterous. I listened to one of them, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, giving humdrum reasons for their opposition to the amendment. I am happy he did not say that the National Assembly breached the constitution with this action. These dissatisfied senators are clearly working for
the Presidency instead of the masses of this country. So, they are afraid that the reordering of the sequence would adversely affect the chances of Buhari in the 2019 election? Buhari has not told Nigerians that he would re-contest. Even if he does, I am sure that this reordering of the election sequence won’t be the major determinant of his fate. With the amendment, the National Assembly election holds first, followed by the state Houses of Assembly and governorship elections, while the presidential election comes last. Senator Abdullahi and his cohorts are pretending to be unaware that this country has had this type of election sequence in the past in which the Presidential election was held last. It was adopted in 1979, 1992, 1999, 2003 and 2011. When the sequence was reversed in the
2015 general election, it could not save sitting President Goodluck Jonathan. So, what is Senator Abdullahi and his allies talking about? I sincerely hope Buhari will append his signature to this bill. The National Assembly clearly has the needed majority support to override the president if he vetoes the bill. The fact that only nine of the 108 senators opposed the transparent amendment process speaks volumes. That was the precise message of Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi North) when he said: “Whether it would be assented to or not by the President, as far as we are concerned, it remains in the realm of conjecture for now; but if such eventually happens, we’ll know how to cross the bridge.”
Saraki
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺͶ
10
NEWS
In Brief Edo Plans Shelters for Libya Returnees
The Edo State Government has disclosed plans to construct permanent sheltersforreturneesofEdoextractionwhowerevictimsofhumantrafficking andirregularmigration.SecretaryoftheEdoStateTaskforceonAnti-Human Trafficking, Mrs. Abieyuwa Onyemwense, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists,inBeninCity,saidthatsuchafacilitywasnecessarytofast-track short,mediumandlong-termobjectivesofrehabilitatingandreintegrating thereturnees.Sheexplainedthatthestategovernmentalreadyhasarobust planonreintegratingandrehabilitatingthereturnees,whotheInternational OrganisationforMigration(IOM),theFederalandStateGovernments,had facilitatedtheirreturntothestate.Onyemwensenotedthattheapproach toreceivingthereturneesbythestategovernmentwerefar-reaching,which includesmedicals,paymentofstipends,capacitybuildingandprovisionof starter-packs,reunionwithfamiliesandregularmonitoringandfollow-ups.
Bayelsa Lifts Ban on Vaccination
WORKING HARMONIOUSLY... L-R: Anambra State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcemnt Agency Sule Momodu; State Director, DSS Anambra State, Isyaku Yusuf; Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Garba Umar and Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obaino after a security meeting in Awka, Anambra State recently
US Aviation Authority Revalidates Nigeria’s Safety Status Chinedu Eze
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has revalidated the Category 1 Safety Status given to Nigeria about eight years ago. The safety status has been revalidated few months after the body carried out successful audit of the country’s aviation industry. This was confirmed by a top
official from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) who told THISDAY that a letter conveying the revalidation was received by the Authority on Thursday. The official said that the approval had corroborated the confidence expressed by the Authority that Nigeria did well in the audit, which took place few months ago. The official also said that since
after the first certification, Nigeria had made tremendous progress in the area of safety, especially under the current Director General, Captain Muhtar Usman. Last August a team of inspectors from the United States FAA arrived Nigeria and re-evaluated the country’s aviation sector to try to find out whether it had maintained specified safety standards and closed safety gaps observed in the last audit.
The Category 1 safe ty Status allows Nigerian registered airlines to operate to the United States and since Nigeria obtained the certification in 2010 it has retained it because of progressive improvement in the country's safety standard. Some nations that had failed the audit in the past had to withdraw airlines registered in their country from flying to any city in the US.
Monthsafterplacingatotalbanontheadministrationofvaccinesonresidents of the state, the Bayelsa government said yesterday that it was lifting the restriction to allow the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), theWorld Health Organisation (WHO), and the state’s Ministry of Health commence this year's measles vaccination campaign in the state. The government had halted all activities relating to immunisation on all schools and public institutions in the state following rumours that swept through the state recently that the Nigerian military was purportedly administering a lethal vaccine which caused the monkey pox virus. Speaking on the matter, the Commissioner of Health, Prof Ebitimitula Etebu, in company with UNICEF and WHO officials, said the new measles campaign would take place in all governmenthealthfacilities,schools,housingestates,marketsandchurches from 1-13 March, 2018.
APC Refutes Kogi Chapter Sack
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the purported sack of its state executive in Kogi state. In a statement issued on Friday by APC 's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said the National Working Committee which had the sole power to suspend elected state executives had not approved any such measure. "Our attention has been drawntoastoryonaNationalTelevisionthattheStateExecutiveCommittee of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State has been suspended. We wanttostatethatthisactiondoesnotemanatefromthe NationalWorking Committeeofthepartyoranyofitsorganssoempoweredtodoso.Although thereareissueswithinthepartyinKogiStateandtheNWChasempowered a committee to investigate the issues and make recommendations. The statementsaidtheNWChasnotbeenappropriatelybriefedontheoutcome of the committee's work and therefore has not taken any decision. In this wise, we affirm that the State Working Committee of APC in Kogi State led by the Chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo remains the only recognised executive committee of the party in the State until the appropriate organ ofthepartydecidesotherwiseinaccordancewiththeprocedurelaiddown by the party constitution.
Robbers Kill Petrol Station Manager
Police Parade 45 Suspected Court Orders Police, Pastor to Pay N20m for Student's Murder Criminals in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
No fewer than 45 suspected criminals that have been terrorising Kwara State in the last two months have been arrested by the state police command. Parading the suspected criminals in Ilorin on Friday before journalists, the state police commissioner, Alhaji Lawan Ado said that, the suspects were arrested at the different locations in the state. He explained that, “I want to say that, 25 of these suspected criminals were arrested in connection with armed robbery while nine were arrested in connection with kidnapping activities in the state.” According to him, "the success recorded by the state police command at arresting the suspects was based on the technical intelligence information received from the members of the public in the state and this has helped the men of the state special anti-robbery squad in the state. "On 13/2/2018 at about 0730 hours, one Abdullahi Ibrahim on Baburu compound in Lafiaji in Edu local government council of the state reported at the Lafiaji police station that while sleeping in his house with his family, five armed men invaded his house and disposed them of the sum of N65, 000 and one Itel phone valued at N5, 500 and inflicted injuries on them. "After technical intelligence of the men of the state criminal investigation bureau, three people were arrested and they had confessed to the act." Ado also said that, a gang of
kidnapers and cattle rustlers that went away from Kwara State with over 200 cows were arrested. He said that they were arrested in Niger State where they had escaped to. Ado explained that the police from the Niger state command were able to arrest the suspects after his command shared with the Mokwa police station in Niger state, an intelligence about the movement of the suspects. He said that in the process of arresting the suspects, a police corporal, Machi Yusuf who is an operative of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), unfortunately lost his life. Ado said that the policeman died in an exchange of fire with the kingpin of the kidnap gang, Adamu Abacha. He said Abacha, after the clash, escaped to the bush and that while the SARS operatives were combing the bush for him, they found his dead body and an AK 47 riffle he buried there. The police commissioner said 233 cows were recovered from the gang and that six live ammunitions were retrieved alongside the riffle recovered from their dead boss. He said six of the gang members who were arrested would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded. The police boss also disclosed that two people among four suspected alleged to have kidnapped a man, Hassan Taiye, in his mosque in Chikanda in Baruten local government area of the state had been arrested.
Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia
An Umuahia high court has indicted the police and the pastor of a Pentecostal church for the death of a 22 year old student, Vincent Uwagbaokwu and ordered them to jointly pay N20 million as compensation to the family of the deceased. Uwagbaokwu was shot dead by police on the night of September 10, 2015 by a police patrol team invited by Pastor Martins of the Christ Empire International Church, Umuahia. The four man patrol team had invaded the family home of the Uwagbaokwus at Ohobe Afara, Umuahia North local government on the fateful night on suspicion that the deceased had stolen musical instruments belonging to the church. But in his judgment in suit No. HU/43M/2017, Justice Kenneth Okereke held that the respondents were guilty of conspiring among themselves for the cold blooded murder of the deceased, who was a student of Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo. He said that the respondents failed to justify killing the boy, who was not even the suspect in the alleged stealing of the church property and was not armed at the time the police invaded their home. "Vincent Ikechukwu Uwagbaokwu died an innocent man," he said, adding that till date none of those involved in the killing has shown remorse and apologised for taking the life of the boy. Justice Okereke said that the
judgment would serve as deterrent to policemen who feel they could take life at will just because they were armed. He also ordered that the pastor and all the policemen involved in the illegal operation should be arraigned in court for murder of the late student. Following the extra-judicial killing of the boy, his father Mr. Emmanuel Uwagbaokwu had filed a suit in conjunction with a human rights lawyer, Jude Nwaokoro, asking the court to declare that the extrajudicial killing was a violation of the deceased's right to life. In the suit number HU/43M/2017 the applicants had asked for five reliefs including N10 billion 'exemplary damage' (compensation), an enforcement of the deceased's fundamental right to life, and a declaration that the deceased was unlawfully and unconstitutionally killed by the respondents. The applicants also asked the court to order the police to tender public apology to the family of the deceased and award any other relief the court may deem fit. Pastor Martin is to pay the N20 million compensation alongside four police officers, namely, Ikechukwu Ogbonna (church deacon), ExSergeant Ogbonna Alieze, Sergeant Eyong Inah, Corporal Obi Chimbuike and Constable Okafor Ugochukwu. Speaking to journalists after the judgement, the lead counsel to the applicants, Jude Nwaokoro said that the judgment had resolved the issue of the violation of the fundamental human rights of the deceased.
Four suspected armed robbers including a female have been arrested by the Police in Bauchi state in connection with the killing of a filling station manager,UsmanSuleiman.ParadingthesuspectsattheStatePolicecommand headquarters yesterday, the Police Public Relation Officer(PPRO), Kamal DaittiAbubakartoldjournalists thatthe"suspectsstormed, attacked and killedthemanagerofKAMSUniversalConceptFillingstationalongBauchi-Jos road,UsmanSuleiman.Kamal,aDeputySuperintendentofPolice(DSP)said the four suspects also grievously wounded one Mohammed Salisu, 25, of Guru village in Bauchi Local Government and robbed them of their of GSM handsets.HesaidthehandsetsrobbedfromthevictimsincludeTecnoT401, oneLGMobileandSamsungSA.AccordingtoKamal,"Followingadiscreet investigationbytheoperativesattachedtoStateIntelligenceBureau(SIB) of the command, the following suspects were arrested in connection with thecase,OnyekaDavidakaSwag"m"27years,OnyekaOkeke"m"34years, HappyHenry"m"32yearsandGraceOtopa"f"24years".Intheirconfession, one of the suspects, Onyeka David who confessed to the crime said they stormed the area hoping to get money from the sales attendants.
Lions Clubs to Spend N27m on Measles
As part of efforts to combat child mortality in Nigeria, the Lions Clubs International is to spend N27 million to combat measles in the southwest region.TheGovernorsoftheLionsClubInternational,District404B2,Chief Samuel Ayobola and District B1, Mr.Oyewole Oyewumi , said this at a press conference inAdoEkitionFriday.Theinternationalphilanthropicorganisation also berated those hiding under the guise of cattle rearing to kill innocent Nigerians, describing “the killings as not only senseless, but criminal and ungodly”.Speakingatapressconferenceheraldingthecommencementof the district’s convention tagged : Ekiti Kete: ‘Serving the world in harmony’, Ayoboladisclosedthattheclubisenteringintopartnershipwiththenational primary healthcare development agency in the six states of the region to drive the programme. He said the organisation would partner with all the governments of Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo states to draw personnelthatwillprosecutetheprogrammeand toconduct wideadvocacy campaign to sensitize the populace ahead of time.
Mrs. Felicia Olujoke Ope passes on The death has occurred of Mrs. Felicia Olujoke Ope, diedonJanuary5,2018,aged88years. Shewill be buried on Saturday, Feb. 24 after a church serviceatIjebuAnglicanDioceseChristChurch, Odosenlu-Alaro,viaIjebu-Odeat11am.Internment followsimmediatelyatthechurchcemeterywhile entertainmentofguestsholdsatAlaroCommunity High School, Itamarun. She is survived by children,grandchildrenandgreatgrandchildren, including DeaconessOmorinmolaAdeyinka, Mrs. Olabisi Deji-Folutile, Editor, Saturday Punch, Mrs. Owoyemi Ogunleye and Mrs. Tola Henry-Oni.
(neeOdusami). She
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺͶ
11
NEWS
Controversy Trails Buhari's Launch of NAF Indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Paul Obi in Abuja Controversies have continued to trail the launch of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) indigenous operational Unmanned aerial vehicle by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Kaduna State. This is as former one of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s aides, Mr. Reno Omokri accused Buhari of repackaging and launching a programme his principal launched on December 18, 2013, when his former boss unveiled the first ever made in Nigeria drone built by the Nigerian Air Force in Kaduna and asked. Why can’t the Buhari government stop lying? Why must they be so dishonest? According to some insiders, the launch of the aerial vehicle by President was merely a repackaged programme of the Jonathan's administration. The launch has also attracted criticisms across social media platforms with many tagging the launch as 'project theft.' Conversely, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya explained that there was no any trace of conflict in the project. He said: "It has become necessary to clarify certain misconceptions, which followed the announcement,
by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), of the induction of its first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by President Muhammadu Buhari. "To set the records straight, while GULMA UAV is indeed the NAF’s first indigenous UAV, the newly inducted TSAIGUMI UAV is the first indigenous OPERATIONAL UAV. Both UAV types are the outcomes of Research and Development (R&D) efforts of a team of NAF Aerospace Engineers. "NAF’s foray into UAV development commenced in 2008, when its student officers, who were undergoing postgraduate studies in aerospace engineering programmes at Cranfield University, UK, chose UAV development as their research project. "The student officers produced the AMEBO UAV as part of their project and it had neither autopilot nor Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability. Adesanya stated that "by 2013, the NAF developed an experimental UAV, codenamed GULMA, which was then unveiled as the first indigenous UAV. It is noteworthy that Gulma UAV was a technology demonstrator used to gather performance data on UAV systems. "Consequently, in September 2015, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, directed the NAF’s R&D Team to build an
FOR SECURE NIGERIA ... L-R: Senator Representing Bayelsa central, Senators Emmanuel Paulker; Senator Representing Lagos East, Senator Olugbenga Ashafa; and Senator Representing Kano North, Senator Jibrin at the two-day National Assembly Security Summit held at the NAF Conference Centre Abuja, on Feiday operational UAV, codenamed TSAIGUMI to be used in the Northeast and other theatres of operation in Nigeria. "The data gathered from the Gulma prototype was subsequently applied
in the design of the operational UAV, known as Tsaigumi, and inducted into service on 15 February 2018. Although the Tsaigumi UAV was manufactured at the Air Force Research and Development Centre at
W’Bank Approves $486m Credit for Nigeria’s Power Sector Cont’d from Pg.1 It recalled that NERC had proposed a business model for the licensing of Meter Services Providers (MSP) who would provide for the financing, procurement, installation, maintenance and replacement of electronic prepaid meters for end-users of electricity. According to the document, customers would make payments to MSPs through the collection account of the discos or through the vending platform for all meters supplied by the providers. According to a report published by NERC on its website, out of 7,476,856 total number of registered customers as at August 2017, only 3,451,611 (46%) were metered. Therefore, CSL noted that, with this development, Nigerians, who previously did not pay for meters (at least on paper) would now pay for their own their meters and would not be allowed to remove them when moving houses. “We believe NERC is going this way, as previous efforts to ensure adequate metering have all failed. “Ineffective metering remains a major drawback to the success of power sector reforms in Nigeria. “While some consumers avoid paying for power consumed through meter bypass, some other consumers are made to pay for what they haven’t consumed through estimated billing by discos. Discos have been largely unsuccessful with metering their customers,” it added. The report stressed that effective metering view would be a step ahead in solving the myriad of problems embattling the Nigerian power sector. “Though previously supposed to be unpaid for, many end customers in a bid to avoid the bureaucracy associated with getting meters have paid N50,000-60,000 (US$138.9-166.7) to get their own meters. “If by this draft regulation, getting meters can become a seamless process and less cost heavy (as payments are to be made piecemeal over the 15-year period of the lease), we believe it may enjoy some level of success,”
it added. Nigeria and global organisations, including the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank Group, have agreed on high-level collaborations with other African countries to check Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in Africa. The African continent reportedly loses about $80 billion annually to illicit financial flows A major resolution reached at the ongoing Platform for Collaboration on Tax (PCT) Conference in New York is that Nigeria and global organisations, including OECD and the World Bank Group, have agreed on high-level collaborations with other African countries to check IFFs in Africa. The Head of OECD Global Forum on Exchange of Information, Ms. Monica Bhatia, who disclosed this at the PCT Conference, stated that automatic information sharing had been adopted as part of proactive steps to curtail the IFFs from the African continent to developed countries.. “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specifically says that we must significantly reduce illicit financial flows by the year 2030. A lot of efforts are ongoing to achieve this and support developing countries to end the IFFs,” Bhatia said. A statement issued by Mr. Oluyinka Akintunde, spokesman of the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, quoted her as affirming, in her address at the conference, that the IFFs are problems that urgently require global focus and actions towards the realisation of significant developmental progress for Nigeria and other developing countries. Adeosun said: “The IFFs are driven by the desire to hide illicit wealth, hide the proceeds away from the public eye and law enforcement agencies and also conceal the ways and means by which illicit wealth was created. This makes it difficult to trace the associated money flow. “Developing countries, including Nigeria, collect significantly
lower levels of tax, as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), than wealthier states. This is partly because the income and wealth being created, is taken out of the country illegally, without being taxed.” Quoting the report of former South African President, Thabo Mbeki’s High-Level Panel on IFFs, the minister said Africa loses US$80 billion annually to IFFs, with a significant percentage of the loss coming from Nigeria. She disclosed that the Nigerian government had engaged a leading international Asset Tracing and Investigation Agency (Kroll), to trace and track illicit flows and assets. The minister added that Nigeria had signed the Multilateral Competent Authority on Common Reporting Standards, which allows for exchange of financial account information. The country, according to her, is expected to effect the first exchange by 2019 as soon as the domestic legal framework was completed. She added, “Nigeria has adopted the Common Reporting Standards and the Addis Tax initiative aimed at improving the fairness, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of the tax system. “Furthermore, as part of open government partnership Nigeria has included in the national action plan a commitment to establish a public register of beneficial owners. "To this end, the Corporate Affairs Commission, the custodian of Nigeria's company registry, is pursuing relevant amendments to the Companies and Allied Matters Act to comply with global standards,” the minister stressed. As part of measures to tackle IFFs, Adeosun called for the tightening of Nigeria’s tax codes and tax laws that encourage tax avoidance as well as strengthening of the tax system to make it more efficient. Advocating more responsibility on the part of destination countries of illicit financial flows, the minister advised that beneficial ownership registers should be established to allow authorities track money in
financial investigations involving suspect accounts/assets held by corporate vehicles. She further called for the elimination of safe havens that provide incentives for transfer of stolen assets and illicit financial flows abroad, and also the development of a supportive, efficient and speedy process for returning assets to originating countries. On the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) introduced by the federal government in June 2017, she explained that the tax amnesty was targeted at increasing the taxpayer base, raising revenue and regularising the tax status of many Nigerians. She noted that the scheme was aimed at raising at least $1 billion and bringing in four million new tax payers into the tax net. “We are using technology to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the programme. Project Light House is using advanced data mining and data analytics techniques to: identify tax defaulters, establish their tax liabilities and send notifications. “The system-wide computer software, which drives Project Lighthouse, aggregates data from multiple sources such as bank accounts, land registry records, company registration data, tax filings, customs’ records, asset ownership records, among others, to identify, profile and track tax evaders,” she remarked. The PCT Conference is a collaborative initiative of the OECD, the World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations (UN). The inaugural PCT Conference, which has as theme “Taxation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, is focusing on the opportunities and challenges for taxation and its role in supporting the SDGs. It covers practical aspects of tax policy and administration, as well as encourages an open change of experience and views on how to ensure taxation policy and practices can improve SDGs outcomes.
NAF Base Kaduna, the Team had to collaborate with an overseas facility to produce the moulds. "Tsaigumi UAV, which is capable of day and night operations, has an operational endurance in excess of
10 hours, a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km. "It has a maximum take-off weight of 80kg and its payload comprises an electro-optical infrared camera system as well as weapon hard points.
EFCC Quizzes Enugu APC Chairman over N20.4m Party Fund Christopher IsiguzoinEnugu The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday quizzed the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye over alleged misappropriation of N20.4 million campaign funds. The arrest further deepened the crisis rocking the party in the state as the embattled chairman identified Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama and Special Adviser to the President on Judicial Reform, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku as the masterminds of his travails. Nwoye's invitation by the anti-graft agency was sequel to a petition by the Enugu APC women leaders Forum led by Ngozi Okoli and Rose Ogbonna as President and Secretary respectively accusing Nwoye of misappropriating the said campaign funds. Nwoye had, following the invitation, reported to the Enugu zonal office of the anti-graft agency by 10am on Thursday, whereupon he was subjected to several hours of interrogation. He was however released on bail by 6:47pm same day. Nwoye told newsmen shortly after leaving the EFCC office that the duo of Onyeamah and Ibekaku were behind his arrest vowing however that he would not yield to their main goal which he said was to plunge the party to monumental crisis. He claimed that his offense was that he once called for the sack of the minister for anti-party activities, while Mrs. Ibekaku was fighting him because she felt he was a stumbling block to her senatorial ambition. Nwoye insisted that the allegation of financial misappropriation against him was untrue and a trumped up charge by his traducers, who were seeking his removal as chairman of the party in the state. He said he was initially invited to Benin, Edo State office of the EFCC,
before the invitation was re-routed to Enugu for lack of jurisdiction. “I was invited by EFCC... Upon investigation I came to find out that it was falsehood orchestrated by Juliet Ibekaku working in consonance with Minister of Foreign Affairs in an attempt to remove me from an office I was elected. “And once again, we were there from around 10am, until about 6.47pm. She (Ibekaku) connived with a Minister who is not a politician to attempt to change the party structure and when that failed, they connived together to put together a fraudulent claim, a malicious claim so that we will be maliciously prosecuted, the end of it is that we shall seek justice,” he alleged. Nwoye said that on reaching the EFCC office he was confronted with a petition written by two faceless individuals who were not members of his party. “They used the names of two individuals, they had the name of a lawyer, who put together a two-page petition with the name of petitioner one Ngozi Okoli and another Rose Ogbonna, of Enugu APC women leaders Forum. There is no such forum; our constitution does not recognise the body known as women leaders forum. “So they used those two individuals and alleged that I was given money to purchase vehicle for women, vehicle for youths, and vehicle for state secretary and I embezzled the money. And they claimed that the money came from the National Secretariat and it was N20.4 million and it was given to me with directives to do that. “Of course no such thing took place, but because I believe in the system, we believe that the system we put together will have to work for us. The wheel of justice grinds slowly, but those who sponsored it, who orchestrated it, will someday come to answer”.
12
Ϳ˜ ͺ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
COMMENTARY
ZUMA, ANC AND FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA Cyril Ramaphosa is South Africa’s new President, writes Tayo Ogunbiyi
I
n spite of his initial grandstanding, it was obvious that the days of former South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, in power are numbered. The moment the country’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) formally asked him to resign, discerning watchers of events in the Madiba nation knew that it was a just a matter of time before Zuma says his final goodbye. The ANC’s decision to recall him without delay followed marathon talks of the party’s top echelon. Jacob Zuma, 75, had at the outset agreed to step down, but only in the next three to six months. The tenure of Zuma, who has been in power since 2009, has been stained by corruption allegations. Zuma had resisted pressure on him to quit since last December, when he was replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa as leader of the ANC. From the body language of the top hierarchies of ANC, it was obvious they urgently wanted Ramaphosa to come in as the President of South Africa. Considering the fact that the ANC has majority in parliament, it was apparent that it was not going to be easy for Zuma to defy his party’s demand for his resignation. In as much as he was not legally obliged to comply with the party’s request, the situation cast serious aspersion on him as it indicated his party’s loss of faith in him. If he had remained defiant to the extent of allowing the parliament to proceed on passing a vote of no confidence in him, it would have been a humiliating experience not only for him but for the party as well. Faced with almost similar dilemma, his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, resigned in 2008, also after a power struggle with his deputy. His deputy then was, of course, Jacob Zuma. Like every other political party, particularly in Africa, ANC has been engulfed in deft power struggle which has had grievous implications on the socio-economic and political landscape of the rainbow nation. The peak of the struggle clearly manifested in the decisive move of the party to ditch Zuma. Zuma’s nine years in office have been dogged with lots of controversies. He has severally faced calls for resignation after it was found out that he has misused 246m rand (£13.73m) of taxpayers on the upgrade of security in his country home. The total spending amounted to eight times the estimated present-day value of securing the home of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president. The discovery was a blow to Zuma, whose presidency was characterised by copious scandals. While his village lacks access to electricity and potable water, Zuma’s country home project demonstrates audacious affluence. He was equally accused of uncanny arrogance of power and gross insensitivity as his neighbours were ordered to move home without proper authorisation, thereby costing government millions in public fund. Zuma was also indicted of conflict of interest by engaging his private architect who earned a mind boggling 16.5m rand (£922,796) from the project. Zuma, a past Robben Island convict and a polygamous Zulu conser-
OFFICIALS WHO PUSHED FOR MR. ZUMA’S EARLY EXIT HAD ARGUED THAT THE LONGER HE STAYED IN POWER, THE HARDER IT WOULD BE FOR RAMAPHOSA TO REBUILD THE ANC BEFORE NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN 2019
vative, is no alien to scandal. He was exonerated of rape and became president after more than 700 corruption, fraud, money-laundering and racketeering charges against him were dropped on technical ground shortly before his election in 2009. As it is typical in Africa, the government’s own investigation cleared Zuma of wrongdoing on the basis that the improvements in Zulu’s homestead were necessary for security reasons. It, however, remains illogical as to how ‘improvements’ which included construction of a visitors’ centre, amphitheatre, cattle enclosure, marquee area, extensive paving, new houses for relocated relatives and a swimming pool are required to improve security. In 2016, the country’s highest court ruled that Zuma debased the constitution by failing to pay back government money spent on his private home. In 2018, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that he must face 18 counts of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering relating to a 1999 arms deal. He has been linked to the wealthy India-born Gupta family allegedly involved in several shady deals with Zuma. The damage that Zuma has done to the image of the ANC is, no doubt, massive. The party which used to be the leading and most popular party in South Africa is gradually losing its prominence among the country’s electorate. This much came to fore during the 2016 local elections when it polled a 54%, its worst result since 1994 when Mandela became the first black President of South Africa. Analysts have affirmed that it is, indeed, the fear of doing poorly in the 2019 election that spurred ANC top echelons to desperately push for Zuma’s exit. It was evident that South Africans were fed up with Zuma’s amateurish style of handling major issues in the country and could further express their anger in the 2019 elections by massively voting against the ANC. Indeed, some ANC party leaders confirmed that Mr. Zuma was being dismissed because he was damaging the party’s electoral prospects. Officials who pushed for Mr. Zuma’s early exit had argued that the longer he stayed in power, the harder it would be for Ramaphosa to rebuild the ANC before national elections in 2019. It is thus clear that Ramaphosa has a lot of work to do. One, he needs to unite his heavily divided party. This becomes imperative considering his slim margin of victory over Mr. Zuma’s chosen successor at the December 2017 ANC Conference. Second, he will have to move fast to boost a declining economy and persuade South Africans that their wellbeing would improve under his ANC government. Only time will tell if Ramaphosa, a billionaire business man, who has been Deputy President since 2014, has all it takes to reposition the ANC and also improve the fortune of his country. Since he became party leader last December, he has spoken compellingly against corruption and he is famous among ANC leaders as a reformer. The months ahead will certainly decide whether he can actually walk the talk. Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos
THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE
Ehizuelen Michael Omoruyi argues that the Belt and Road Initiative can help deepen economic cooperation between China and Nigeria
W
hen I first set foot in China, Xiamen city to be precise, in late 2007, it was a year before the Beijing Olympic Games and six years after joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the world was beginning to understand China’s importance. During that period, we were taught in school that thousands of years ago the Chinese civilisation make imperishable contributions to development. During the evolution of this brilliant multi-millennial civilisation, brave Chinese workers collaborated with neighbouring Asian nations, Africa, and Europe to create a path of building a productive relationship. This path paves way for the Chinese to strengthen their relationship with all these nations as well as established trade and cultural exchanges. The path of friendship created by the Chinese has favoured the relationship between the Chinese civilisation and the civilisation of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Thanks to the Chinese, for sharing their knowledge and know-how with other regions. During this period, there was the circulation of artistic and commercial products among people of diverse cultures; and silk was the subject of attraction. Therefore, the routes taken by these brave merchants from diverse regions were later referred to as the Silk Road. The Silk Road was just a trade and business route among multiple and diverse people from Asia, Europe, and Africa. In the 21st century, the Chinese have reintroduced the Silk Road which is now the new development paradigm shift where a “handshake” is replacing a “handout”. I refer to the initiative as a “handshake” because it creates an opportunity to work, share, prosper and succeed together; unlike “handout” where one party is dependent on the other for assistance. China calls the initiative the project of the century; this project has become largely synonymous with China’s growing role in facilitating globalisation and cooperation in the international community. As the West steps back from global leadership, China is stepping forward and remark-
ing the map of the global economy through the Belt and Road Initiative. The initiative is comprised of two main components: the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Over 60 nations from Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Europe are taking part in the initiative. Nigeria will play a key role in the direct role out of the initiative in Africa if membership is extended to the country. Nigeria is a regional economic and selfdetermined powerhouse that is strategically located in Africa and which will enable it to take advantage of booming demand across the continent and other parts of the developing world. On top of that are large and growing population and an entrepreneurial spirit. Since independence in 1960, the country adopted and maintained a policy of political neutrality in foreign relations. As a result Nigeria has been inspired to become active in Africa through its foreign policy on significant international issues. Mckinsey Global Institute (MGI) showed that, over the next 15 years, Nigeria has the potential to become a major global economy. Besides the population, the nation is resource-endowed. By 2030, more than 34 million households, with more than 180 million people, are likely to be earning over $7,500 yearly, making the nation aspiring consumers. This implied a potential rise in consumption from $388 billion yearly to $1.4 trillion – a prospect that is already attracting investments by multinational consumer-goods producers and retailers. MGI estimates that by 2030, the country could expand its economy by over six per cent yearly, with its GDP surpassing $1.6 trillion – moving it into the global top 20. In the wake of a stable Naira and increased investment inflows, Nigeria’s stock market emerged one of the best-performing globally; delivering returns in excess of 40 per cent. In terms of doing business, Nigeria rose to 24 places on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking and earned a place on the list of top 10 reformers globally. A related myth is that the country’s economic growth is unstable, with large
and unpredictable shifts in performance from year to year. As Nigeria has diversified its economy and detached public spending plans from current oil prices (part of a 2004 budget reform), it has become increasingly stable, both economically and fiscally. Indeed, 2010-2013, in “re-based” terms, GDP has grown by steady 6-7 per cent, owing more to rising productivity than a favourable demographics. Furthermore, 2017 has been a progressive year for Nigeria, following a real GDP contraction of 1.5 per cent; the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts that growth will reach 2.1 per cent in 2018. Due to the nation’s economic and political credentials, the country’s importance in Africa is arguably strategic. Last February 10, 2018 marked the 47th anniversary of Sino-Nigeria diplomatic relations. During this period, Nigeria has played a central role in increasing China’s engagement in Africa and as such, the drivers of Nigerian actors in China’s engagement matters, not only because this drive motivates the process, but because they determine the nature of the relationship. The relationship has borne rich fruits, but just as Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi said during his visit to Abuja in January, 2017: “Compared with the size, population and market of China and Nigeria, the two nation’s cooperation still have a large potential to be deepened”. Slotting Nigeria into the Belt and Road Initiative can act as a platform to deepen the cooperation. So, considering the development strategies of Nigeria and China, it seems that they are highly matched, and the deepened cooperation has great opportunities to make China and Nigeria greater. Although Nigeria’s economy continues to diversify and economic growth is now being driven by multiple sectors including hydrocarbons, renewable energy, telecoms, technology, and fast moving consumer goods power, the Nigerian government is still eager and working hard to take the diversification of its economy, reduced poverty and train more skilled personnel who are able to shoulder
the responsibility in this new era to the next level. Meanwhile, China, through platforms like Belt and Road Initiative shows its robust readiness to share its experience and achieve common development with other nations. With the latecomer advantage, Nigeria can introduce most advanced management cutting-edge technology and experienced talents in all fields from China, thus leapfrogging the pitfalls China once faced and attain similar growth status. Over the past decade, China has become a major economic partner of Nigeria. Trade between China and Nigeria was augmented from $2 billion in 2005 to $6.5 billion in the first five months of 2017, an increase of 33 per cent over the same period. The volume represented 7.6 per cent of the total trade between China and Africa and 36.4 per cent of total trade volume between Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). China’s investment in Nigeria grew by 27 per cent in 2016, China has already invested or financed over $22 billion worth of projects in Nigeria, while more than $23 billion worth of projects are ongoing. Accompanying the investment, China’s technology management and experienced personnel have also entered Nigeria which greatly boosts the diversification and development of Nigeria economy. Nigerians have a strong enthusiasm to welcome Chinese investment which they see as one of the pillar improving domestic economy. Nigeria has all the required qualities to become another world manufacturer, and China has the willingness and ability to support Nigeria to realize its potential. The building of Nigeria’s Lekki Free Trade Zone possesses some economic significance with the aim of cutting down Nigeria’s dependence on imports. China and Nigeria need to find a platform and mechanism to effectively conduct their cooperation and this is the very role the Belt and Road can play if membership is extended to Nigeria. Omoruyi is the Executive Director of the Centre for Nigerian Studies at the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, China
13
Ϳ˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
INSIGHT
Are we getting there?
Sokoto and the Monster of Water Scarcity
N
ext to carbon, water is the most important element on earth. Water plays a central and critical role in all aspects of life – in the national environment, economy, food security, production, and in politics. The inadequacy in the supply and access to drinking water has only recently taken centre stage in global reflection as a serious and threatening phenomenon. Communities and individuals can exist even for substantial periods without many essential goods but human being, however, cannot survive a few days without drinking water. Water is much more than just a basic human need. It is an essential, irreplaceable element to ensuring the continuance of life. It is intrinsically linked to fundamental human rights such as the right to life, to food and to health. Access to clean drinking water as described by the United Nations General Assembly is a necessity and a basic human right. While the United Nations recognised access to drinking water as a basic human rights, signifying that every living human must be accorded the right to an easy access to safe drinking water, the availability of the former still poses a serious threat to majority of Sakkwatawa, many of whom confront daily the situation of an inadequate water supply and the very serious resulting consequences. In our rural communities today, the challenge of accessing clean drinking water is enormous as women and children are seen all over trekking long distances to fetch water from streams, ponds and local wells, most of which are contaminated and unsafe for consumption. In the so-called Sokoto city, a large proportion of people still lack access, thus compelling those who can afford it to dig boreholes indiscriminately, an act which constitutes its own tragedy as it undermines the water table and threatens future supply of the commodity. Those who can’t afford it relied on commercial water vendors for supply.Sokoto is richly blessed with abundant water resources but largely untapped. In spite of the abundant resources, both the state and local governments have failed to successfully harness these resources to ensure a sustainable and equitable access to safe, adequate, improved and affordable water supply to the common man. Many people living in the state particularly in the rural communities are currently facing an enormous hardship because water supply is neither sufficient nor safe. For several people living in state, water scarcity is rapidly becoming an issue crucial for life and, in the broad sense of the concept, a right to life issue. In the absence of water from piped supplies and protected wells, millions of people living in the state are forced to consume what is available - unhygienic and contaminated waters largely from local vendors, wells, streams and ponds. Thus, directly endangering the social well-being of the people and giving life to several forms of waterborne diseases as well as adding another burden on the state public health service since water remain one of the major primary drivers of public health. While the state capital city is facing a decline in supply, the rural areas are even not in the picture. The state government is giving less or no
Can the APC Reign for 60 Years?
I
t was Vincent Ogbulafor, former Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman who betrayed a fatal flaw and said the party would rule Nigeria for 60 years. Rochas Okoroacha, Imo State governor, also once succumbed to the flattery of hubris in declaring that the All Progressives Congress would rule the country for 24 years. The crux of this piece is to test the plausibility of Okoroacha’s declaration in the Petri-dish of today’s political realities. In 2008 when Ogbulafor made that insufferable statement, he failed to see the future from a crystal ball. At the time, the PDP had 28 states as well as the centre in its firm grip. But it became gluttonous; obese with pride, and ignored the potency of a rising opposition and its capability to forge partnerships for a lethal onslaught. The APC, the opposition party, was not a discredited assembly – at the time. Nigerians had grown wearily thin from the PDP misrule; hence many of them gave mortar to the APC for a mortal assault on the ruling party. The APC tactically rode on the wings of the mass discontent and sealed the doom of the PDP in 2015. And the touted 60-year reign ended. One thing was fundamental in the sinking of the PDP armada, and that is, a fierce opposition, which had not been tested with federal power. The untested, the underdog holds uncanny fascination. However, the present political realities – as seen from my crystal ball – show that the APC may rule the country for 24 years - as Okoroacha boasted – or even 60 years. Why? The PDP today is an impotent opposition party. It lacks the fiery dragon to give the APC the kind of fire the current ruling party gave it in the Usama A. Dandare, Sokoto build-up to the 2015 presidential election. The PDP has also been tested with federal power, but it failed in handling it. So, there is no underdog fascination here. It failed in its management of temporal power. So, what different can it sell to Nigerians? It had its time in the sun; in fact, 16 years in the sun, but I doubt Nigerians would want an “encore”. T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R Although there is mass discontent under EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU the APC government now, there is no “fierce DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE opposition party” to ride on it to power – MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO except a discredited one. This gap has caused DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI the mushrooming of extra-political movements EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN such as the Coalition for Nigeria, the RedCard Movement and the Nigeria Intervention Movement. These movements have one goal – to sink the APC and the PDP in the abyss of oblivion. But the potency of their goal T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D is doubtful. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA As it is - as seen from my crystal ball – the GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, only force that can stop the APC is the APC. ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI I believe the wrangling in the party can do DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE what no opposition party or movement DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI can do. But this is worrying for me because SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO Nigeria cannot afford another long rule of CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI impunity, lack of direction and purpose. DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO Fredrick Nwabufo, fredricknwabufo@ TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com yahoo.com priority to rural water supply. Local government councils often do not have the funds to make necessary improvements and can instead be compelled to use short-term solutions which cannot be maintained by the communities which need them. The gospel truth is that the water infrastructure currently available in Sokoto State is suffering from severe neglect as both successive regimes did very little in this regard while the present administration has totally failed to maintain the existing infrastructure not to mention of establishing new ones. In essence, Sokoto State is today existing with neither a standard water plan nor policy despite the huge resources allocated to the sector annually. Billions enough to provide adequate drinking water for the entire North-West region have been spent so far on the state water sector since the return of democracy in 1999, yet the problem continues to escalate, forcing millions to live with the monster of water scarcity. What the foregoing denotes most eloquently is that the problem of water scarcity currently ravaging Sokoto State is a serious issue that must be tackled. The government, at every level, should invest more in the provision of drinking water for the people. Provision of standard water infrastructure, upgrading existing ones and proper water management is therefore perhaps the most important requirement for solving water scarcity in the state. More attention must be given to coordination and cooperation between all actors in the water industry at all levels.
14
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 17, 2018
SUPER SATURDAY
GODBLESS UBIEBIFAYEN
Building a Successful Band is a Life Sentence He is one of Nigeria’s accomplished live band musicians. Growing up with a rather tough father, childhood was rough, tough and penal for him. Today, he’s grown into a man who appreciates the strict training and his first love: music. As a young man, he could chase any woman in her tracks. Now, he’s become a more devoted husband to his wife and father to his three children. In this interview with Adedayo Adejobi, the dynamic Godbless Ubiebifayen talks about why he might someday be a pastor, why going to university was a big deal and how his wife makes the difference I’m Grateful My Wife is in My Life, If Not, I May Have been Worse than This
T
ake us back in time into your childhood.
My parents gave birth to my younger brother and I. I am like Michael Jackson who really never enjoyed childhood. My parents were very strict. The only time we had the privilege to play was when we were in school and my father knew when we would close. We walked from Kavajina Primary School, Warri, to the house, and my parents knew the walking distance. So if we came home minutes later than expected time of arrival from school, to the Warri main market where he worked as a trader, it meant trouble. I am like Michael Jackson who really never enjoyed childhood. My parents were very strict. The only time we had the privilege to play was when we were in school and my father knew when we would close. We walked from Kavajina Primary School, Warri, to the house, and my parents knew the walking distance. So if we came home minutes later than expected time of arrival from school, to the Warri main market where he worked as a trader, it meant trouble. He bought two stools so when we returned from school, we joined him at the market where he traded and did our assignments. My father never joked with education. He was a disciplinarian. My mother is the opposite of my dad. Even when she whipped us, we won’t feel the pain because she was very calm. We called my dad the general and so sometimes my mother reported us to my dad. Now, my children call me general too because when the ‘general’ is around they behave. We grew up under a disciplined umbrella. What kind of a child were you? I was the very calm one while my younger brother was the stubborn type. My mum told me I loved Bournvita a lot.
Ubiebifayen and Amaikah
What’s your relationship with your mother and your brother? While growing up, my father liked my brother more because he believed he was cleverer. I wasn’t jealous as I took my younger brother like my pet. I love my mum because she is very nice. She never complained. Growing up, I never liked my dad not knowing that I’ll grow up to realise all he was doing was to put us on the right track. Now that my children do some things, I look at them and laugh. But if it was my dad in my shoes now, he would have whipped them mercilessly. I really went through torture. My dad thought that’s the only way to discipline a child. I have learnt better and corrected the likelihood of same mistake with my children.
You must have been a hard young man for your dad to have been tough on you? I was a naïve child doing things out of ignorance, but my father never understood that. I don’t flog my children all the time. I must have warned my children severally before flogging them. It’s better dialoguing with your child then lashing them all the time. My father never understood that because of the ancient style of training a child. What’s your relationship with your children? My girls are closer to me whilst the guys are closer to their mom. But I tend to balance everything. You have been married for how long and how will you describe your marital life? I grew up in Warri as a chronic Casanova until I met my wife. I’ve never spent two months with a girlfriend. I and a friend, now a Pastor, attended Urhobo College in Warri. We were music ambassadors in school always representing the school at music competitions. I sang and my friends rapped. I sang on purpose knowing full well that I’m blessed with the voice by God. I was like the 2face and Michael Jackson of those days. We came first each I went for competitions and the girls were always outside waiting for me. I grew up having the girls at my beck and call. When Iwent left Warri, my dad wanted me togo to the University of Ife to study Music, but I got wind of VictorUwaifo’s School of Music. My dad liked him and welcomed the idea. The advantage of school of music is that after completing Grade 8, I could go to University of Ife to start from 200 Level. After Grade 8 and waiting to go to Ife, I chose to come to Lagos for a demo at Ark Records in Ikeja. In that studio, I was told they needed a singer who would be doing backups for people coming around for demo. I was and the studio owner fell in love with my voice and I was immediately employed. There I met Yinka Davie and Manny Eke. I had problems with my dad after I finished from the music school and told him I wasn’t interested in going to the university. He disagreed with me. I left Warri to Lagos not knowing anybody. I stayed with Jerry Fatuase whose father had a house in Anthony Village but his father didn’t want him to study music. I was kept away from his father despite the fact that I slept in their house, in the afternoons though. My experience brings me to love the song ‘Ojuelegba’ by Wizkid. I once slept under Ikeja Bridge and Ojuelegba Bridge for two weeks. It was a big deal for me so I didn’t go to Ife. All I wanted was music. Going to the University of Ife would waste my time. Asides backing up, I learnt sound engineering, playing the bass guitar and music production. From the studio I joined Onyeka Onwenu.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ BRUARY 17, 2018
15
SUPERSATURDAY I GREW UP IN WARRI AS A CHRONIC CASANOVA UNTIL I MET MY WIFE…
I am like Michael Jackson who really never enjoyed childhood. My parents were very strict. The only time we had the privilege to play was when we were in school and my father knew when we would close. We walked from Kavajina Primary School, Warri, to the house, and my parents knew the walking distance. So if we came home minutes later than expected time of arrival from school, to the Warri main market where he worked as a trader, it meant trouble. I am like Michael Jackson who really never enjoyed childhood There I met Zubi Enebili; he was back-up artist for Onyeka then. When he left, I was opportune to work with Onyeka for a year and half. I joined a friend call Jerry who turned pastor. I wonder why all of them turned pastor maybe someday I’ll become a pastor too. I later joined Sharp Band and stayed for five years as lead vocalist. I then left to start my own band called Eboni Band in 1998. Share your experience in the last 20 years? These twenty years have been a pot-pourri of the good, the bad and ugly. It’s been an interesting learning curve. I think the classic story is that, no matter what age you are, no matter how prepared you are, to have great success at anything is as hard to survive, probably harder, than failing at something. There had to be a lot of work to maintain the course, to maintain a fan base, to maintain a business. A successful band is a life sentence. One of the things that have kept us grounded is that we surround ourselves with people who are as passionate about music as we are instead of money and fame. How did you meet your wife? When I started the Eboni Band, I needed a female backup singer as opposed to our all-boys affair in Sharp Band. My wife came in and a particular day at a gig I was tired, so I told her to sing. When she sang it was awesome. Although had not started dating her. Her litmus test was Maria Makeba’s song amongst other South African songs and she delivered it well, despite living in the noisy Ajegunle. I was endeared to her for that singular act. Being a Casanova, I developed genuine interest in and asked her out. Meanwhile her father is a pastor. As a teenager, before she could join my band, I had to go and see her father. He wanted me to sign a contract to assure him I’ll take good care of her because of the night shows she’ll be exposed to performing at. Somehow we started dating. Knowing full well that I play for an elitist crowd and they could make advances at her, I then made up my mind, went to her dad and we got married. We both have three kids. My wife is more than helper. How will you describe her in five words? She is loving, beautiful, funny and stubborn. I am a Leo and she is Virgo. We share the same month of August. Who is the more stubborn? My wife is very stubborn. She doesn’t consider me at all. What she wants is what she wants. Who offends more? We both offend ourselves and I apologise more. If my wife apologises, I will go on my kneels to thank God. She doesn’t feel she is wrong. If not music, she would have been a lawyer. She knows how to argue and apologise with an excuse. She is loving, soft, with a good heart and doesn’t want trouble but the contrasting balance is the stubbornness (laughs).
Ubiebifayen and Amaikah Will you say you are fulfilling in marriage? In 12 of marriage, I am fulfilled. When I entered the marriage institution, the first five years, it’s was like regret. I have gone to the court twice to seek divorce. But I thank my wife for holding on. She is beautifully built. That’s why I said she’s more than a helper. What changed your mind? My knowledge of God and discovery that women are beautiful creatures changed everything. In the last one year what have you done to solidify the marriage? I am not romantic. She complains, but has taken me for whom I am. Maybe why I am not romantic is because I was once a Casanova. Growing and environment up affect people like me having being tortured for years. Where will the romance come from? My marriage is built on understanding, respect and fear of God. There are rumours that you and your wife are no longer together due to your alleged sexual proclivities outside marriage, a reason why she’s not seen in public gigs with your band. Is that true? That’s not true. She’s still very much with me. She now performs as an artist. She also recorded a song recorded with Flavour titled Ikut. Whenever I have a gig and she’s free, she comes around. When you see your children, what do they remind you of? I love my wife and that is what they remind me of. Every time I see my children, I love my wife the more. Not all trees bear good fruits. My children are problem-free.
Your job endears women to you, how do you cope? As a chronic Casanova, my wife and I courted for five years before we got married and she saw hell. I did everything in her presence. I was non-challant. I wasn’t thinking we would get married, so when girls waited for me after gigs, I went with them. Sometimes, I cuddled them in her presence. Even when we got married, these things lingered a bit. I met God and I am thankful. I’m grateful my wife in my life, if not, it would have been worse. Her presence in the band has crippled the Casanova in me. I now respect her presence a lot. I’ve become a better person. If you are not doing music, what else will you doing? If I wasn’t doing music, I’ll be a trader, because my father traded in materials. That could pass as my second option. What dictates your sense of fashion? I wear anything that I like. I don’t go with names. If the quality is good, I buy them. I like casual a lot. I wear suits when I have corporate functions. What’s the next level for Eboni Band? I am planning to own a restaurant in Lekki, so my fans will experience and access me easily. I am also planning to release some songs. When you look at the quality of music by other musicians, what’s you take? I am not happy. Although it is trending but I don’t like it. If you listen to at South African music, the beat and every other thing is there. Nigerians does not have an identity. If you ask a DJ to play you 20 Nigerian songs, they all sound the same. They are making money but no identity. 2face and Asa stand out though.
IRefusedtoGototheVarsityBecause of Music…And Dad Didn’t Like It
16
T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ͵˜ ͰͮͯͶ
Plus My Exciting Journey from UN to CBN
LOUD WHISPERS AUTO GLOBAL SOCCER TEENS CONNECT FASHION FILE INTERVIEW
pg. 20 pg. 26 pg. 29 pg. 38 pg. 43 pg. 46
18
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 17, 2018
PLUS
The Moghalus
Nigerians Too Docile, Tolerant of Bad Governance
No jetlag. Always on the move: from Cambodia to Arusha, there was always a mission to accomplish. From New York to Switzerland, there is no mountain too high for him to climb. Like a constant eastern sun, he’s always rising to the occasion. A strategic thinker and global player, he has witnessed, first-hand, how adversities metamorphosed into successes –from the Rwandan genocide to the Cambodia civil war. A banker, economist, risk manager, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is a man of many parts; an inventive soul and patriotic Nigerian. Driven by the need to chart a new course for the country, he has founded the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation – a think and do-tank. In this interview with Azuka Ogujiub, Moghalu talks about his time working for the United Nations, the Global Fund and the CBN. He also reveals the things that make his family tick
Y
ou have had a career that spans across the globe. Please tell us more about it. I have been a lawyer; a journalist; a United Nations diplomat; a central banker; political economist; an entrepreneur; and a university professor. Who knows? It might just be that I’ve not finished yet! Although I studied Law as my first degree, master’s degree in International Affairs at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA was interdisciplinary. The Fletcher School was the first exclusively graduate school of international affairs in the United States, established in 1933 jointly by Tufts and Harvard universities. I studied a combination of international law, diplomacy, and international economics and political economy. I can’t overstate the importance of my Tufts education. It enabled me to think in a certain way and to understand the real world – because in reality all these subjects
are interconnected. Of course, my further education in risk management, macroeconomics, financial management, leadership, strategy, was also helpful in handling various responsibilities as my career progressed. Later, I obtained a doctoral degree in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. My family was another major influence. My childhood was international; my late father, Elder Isaac Moghalu, was one of Nigeria’s pioneer Foreign Service officers. We lived in Geneva and then in Washington DC, where he was posted in the mid-1960s. So, my dad naturally supported my interest in an international career as I was growing up. I remember that, as a young boy and a teenager, I always read the ‘World News’ section of the newspapers first before reading anything else. When did Nigeria realise that the financial meltdown was going to hit us back then with you as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria? I think it took the appointment of Sanusi
Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for Nigerians to realise that our financial system had been severely affected by the global financial crisis. The CBN under Governor Chukwuma Soludo also had to contend with the serious damage that had been done. But I think they tried to handle it in a different manner so as not to affect the confidence of citizens in the banking sector. But under Sanusi’s leadership, we took a different approach: disclose but act to restore confidence at the same time. I think this approach worked. Remember that 90 banks had been consolidated into 24 banks under Prof. Soludo’s consolidation exercise which raised the minimum capital for banks from N2bn to N25bn. The purpose was to make the banks stronger and get them to lend to the real economy because many of them were simply boutique firms mainly into currency trading and round-tripping. But we saw later that ‘big’ was not always the same as ‘strong’. About eight to 10 banks out of 24 were wobbly due to their over-exposure to loans
to oil businesses that went bad after the global crisis created a recession that led to a crash in the oil price. They had lent a lot of money to customers to buy shares in the Nigerian stock market. But this market also collapsed as foreign investors withdrew their investments in a ‘flight to safety’ as global financial markets collapsed. Several banks were also heavily exposed to lending to the federal and state governments – and the government’s revenues dried up as oil prices crashed. In short, the sector was swimming in a sea of, what in finance we call, ‘toxic assets’ (systemic bad loans). But the problems in the banking sector were not just because of the global financial crisis. Even more important, from what I saw when I joined the apex bank, risk management and corporate governance in the commercial banks were extremely weak. The CBN conducted what we call a ‘stress test’ and found out that some systemically important banks were in fact tottering on the edge of collapse. Millions of Nigerians would have lost their life’s savings if those
FEBRUARY 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
19
PLUS What Nigerians Must Learn from Rwanda We abolished ‘universal banking’ by getting the banks to divest all their non-core banking businesses. This was a way to manage risk in the banking system because having banks that could do several other financial businesses at the same time under one roof increased the risk of depositors’ funds being used to shore up such businesses. I was responsible for the supervision of all the commercial and merchant banks in Nigeria, the development finance banks, AMCON, finance houses, and bureaux de change through the various departments in the FSS directorate that reported to me. I had to give final approvals before anyone could be appointed the chairman, a non-executive or executive member of the board of directors or the managing director of any bank in Nigeria. Of course, as a deputy governor of the CBN I was also a member of the board of directors of the bank and a member of its monetary policy committee. Overall, I think it is beyond any dispute that the reforms we executed restored stability in the financial system. No bank failed. No Nigerian lost a kobo of his or her savings despite the distress their banks faced. We made sure of that outcome; unlike the failed-banks crisis in the 1990s in which many Nigerians lost their deposits.
banks had failed. The total financial damage would have been about N1tn if CBN had let that happen. It was at this point that I was brought back from Geneva and appointed Deputy Governor of the CBN in charge of Financial System Stability to lead the execution of extensive reforms in the system. Sanusi had been a risk management expert in some of the commercial banks before becoming CBN governor. He was interested in my background in risk management and corporate governance; my international exposure, and he also felt that my not having worked in the domestic banking industry was an advantage because it would help me make more independent judgments and impose ‘discipline’ without the complications of previous relationships in the sector. So, how did you help to stabilise the financial system? I led the team that carried out the extensive reforms that stabilised Nigerian banks. First, we had the National Assembly pass the law that created the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria. The whole point of creating AMCON was that it would be a vehicle to absorb and manage the toxic loans of the affected banks, leaving the banks with a clean balance sheet which would help restore confidence. We also used AMCON to bring the Negative Asset Value of several banks which were below zero up to zero before investors could come in and invest in the banks and before some mergers and acquisitions of banks took place. I led corporate governance reforms in the banking system. We also introduced structural reforms such the new banking model which established different categories of banks with different capital requirements instead of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ uniform capital requirement that was not working out very well. So, global Nigerian banks with subsidiaries abroad had the highest capital requirement of N50bn, national banks needed to have minimum capital of N25bn, and regional banks required N10bn in capital. I was passionate about protecting Nigerian financial consumers from the excessive bank charges imposed by many banks. My team ensured the recovery and refund of about N14bn to bank customers while I was at the CBN.
What was your experience working with the United Nations? I joined the United Nations Secretariat after my master’s degree at The Fletcher School in 1992. First, I was posted to the UN peacekeeping mission in Cambodia for one year. The mission was headed by UN Under-Secretary-General Yasushi Akashi of Japan, who is also an alumnus of The Fletcher School. After Cambodia’s civil war was ended through negotiations steered by the UN and the major world powers, the UN ran the country as a ‘transitional authority’ for a year. We then organised and conducted elections and handed over to the newly elected government. In 1993, I was appointed a Political Affairs Officer in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) at the UN Headquarters in New York. I worked and learned the ropes of international diplomacy under great superiors such as Kofi Annan of Ghana, then the Under-Secretary-General and head of DPKO, who later was elected UN SecretaryGeneral; Iqbal Riza of Pakistan; the Assistant Secretary-General, Hédi Annabi (of blessed memory) of Tunisia; Elisabeth Lindenmayer of France; Dmitry Titov of Russia; and Shashi Tharoor of India. While serving in New York I was Desk Officer for Somalia, Rwanda, and Angola. I learnt the art of conflict resolution and nation-building. I learnt from working under Mr. Annan how to manage teams made up of diverse nationalities, cultures and ethnic groups. In 1996, I was posted to the UN Mission in Croatia, based in the country’s eastern Slavonia region, as Political Adviser to the Head of Mission, the United States Ambassador, Jacques Paul Klein. I wrote the strategic roadmap document for the UN’s achievement of its mandate including national elections and the re-establishment of Croatian authority over the Serb-held areas of eastern Slavonia, and I was the UN Representative on the Electoral Commission. From Croatia I moved to the UN International Tribunal for Rwanda based in Arusha, Tanzania, in 1997 as legal adviser and spokesman for the international tribunal. We prosecuted the former political and military leaders that planned and executed the Rwandan genocide of 1994 – because justice for crimes of that scale was necessary if full national reconciliation was to happen in Rwanda. From that assignment I saw why and how rule of law matters for national unity and development. The impunity practised by these leaders when they were in power had now been met with accountability. Those leaders were all convicted and sent to prisons in various countries based on agreements we had negotiated with those countries. Many Rwandans and people all over the world hailed this development. At the time this was unprecedented in Africa. Later on, of course, we had the trials of Charles Taylor of Liberia and Hissène Habré of Chad. Apart from your time in Arusha, did you have other assignments? After Arusha I switched from political and legal affairs to international development finance in my UN system career. I responded to an advertisement in The Economist and was headhunted (by Odgers Ray &
Berndtson based in London), appointed with a promotion and posted to Geneva, Switzerland as Head of Global Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in 2002. With this senior appointment I attained full diplomatic rank in the UN service, with full diplomatic privileges from the Government of Switzerland. While I was at The Global Fund we took the Fund’s assets to the level of $20bn. I was a member of the Risk Management Committee of the Fund and helped develop its risk management framework. The Fund had social investments in the forms of grants to over 140 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Nigeria. I represented the Fund and mobilised political and financial support for it from the G-8 countries during G-8 Summits, the U.S. Congress, the UK Government, other donors and, developing countries. I spent six years in this assignment and attained the highest career rank of director in the UN system. Where did you go from there? In 2006, Annan appointed me as a member of the high-level Redesign Panel on the UN Administration of Justice System. We were based at UN Headquarters in New York for six months on special assignment. I worked with other members of the panel: retired Australian supreme court judge, Mary Gaudron; Canadian appeals court judge, Louis Otis; Egyptian international law professor and former judge ad hoc at the World Court at The Hague, Ahmed ElKosheri; and former Peruvian foreign affairs minister Diego García Sayán. We consulted the member countries of the UN and the management and staff union (labour union) in the UN. The nominal rank attached to the special assignment was that of Under Secretary-General, the highest political rank in the UN other than the secretary-general and his deputy. We overhauled the accountability, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution framework governing the management and staff of the UN around the world. The UN General Assembly adopted our report and recommendations with much praise, and adopted a resolution ushering in fundamental changes in the UN internal justice system that are still in place today. This assignment was the highlight of my nearly 17-year career in the UN system. I returned to Geneva and the Global Fund. In January 2009, I resigned from the UN system and founded my risk and strategy consultancy, Sogato Strategies, in Geneva. We soon attracted important clients doing transactions or investments in Africa such as the Swiss bank, UBS, and the Swiss agro-chemicals multinational, Syngenta. I was having a good time when Nigeria called me in late 2009 for national service. What do you think Nigeria can teach other countries and what can we learn from the countries you have lived in? Nigeria has much to teach other countries. We remain a vibrant and dynamic country in spite of the many challenges we face. Our movie and music industries are globally renowned. Our Diaspora is on the cuttingedge of their professions in many countries around the world. On the other hand, we also must learn from other countries that only our citizens can change their own political and economic destiny by exercising our voting rights. We are too docile and tolerant of bad governance in this country. Poverty should not be an excuse to tolerate the poor state of our economy, health systems and infrastructure. We need to learn to use our democracy to better our lot by selecting the right kinds of leaders. It is not enough to merely survive day to day. We must make progress. We also need to learn from more mature countries and democracies about how to manage our ethnic and religious diversity. Are there lessons Nigeria can learn about national healing and reconciliation from Rwanda? You’ve written some books in that line. Yes, my very first published book was titled “Rwanda’s Genocide: The Politics of Global Justice”. Rwanda offers a very powerful lesson about how we can shift the narrative from one of negativity (the genocide) to one that is positive (Rwanda’s economic and developmental progress since the horror of the genocide). Rwanda has confronted its history through the gacaca courts and reconciliation progress and moved on. Ethnic identification is banned
in all Rwandan state documents. I think in Nigeria we are avoiding confronting our national history and using it as a lesson learned so we can avoid future mistakes. And the rule of law remains an illusion in our country. Speaking of books though, I think my third book, ‘Emerging Africa: How the Global Economy’s Last Frontier Can Prosper and Matter’, a roadmap on economic development and transformation, is my most important work to date. Having come out of the recession, what do you think is Nigeria’s economic outlook? Nigeria’s economy is in very bad shape despite the technicality of coming out of recession. Nothing has changed fundamentally for the better. We are still dependent on oil for 90 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings. Our fiscal revenues still depend on crude oil earnings and our fiscal policy is weighed down by massive and unproductive recurrent expenditure. Poverty rates are at 60 per cent. Electricity and other infrastructure are still scandalously weak after 57 years; healthcare is in shambles, and so are education and human capital development. We still have multiple exchange rates in our economy coupled with inefficiency and corruption. What’s there to crow about if not just that some people want to keep worshiping the gods of small things and make a lot of noise about small movements in GDP growth that is not inclusive? There is a difference between economic growth, economic development, and structural economic transformation. We need to begin to focus on holistic development which dwells on the overall quality of life and the strength of our institutions. What specific steps need to be taken to stimulate the economy? We need to focus on stimulating the economy through job creation, fiscal, monetary, and forex policies that bring capital into the economy. We need to stop foreign borrowing and develop a more efficient tax collection system that taps into the informal economy in order to get more revenue and stop mortgaging our future through foreign loans. I have called for the creation of a massive public-private partnership venture capital fund to invest in small businesses that create jobs. The Federal Government’s N500bn social intervention fund is a waste of Nigerian people’s money. It should be scrapped and the money invested in such a venture capital fund, which should be managed by the private sector part of the partnership. There will be a slight improvement in GDP growth but not the fundamental paradigm shift in our quality of life that we need so badly. A lot of things should have started in 2015 immediately this present government came into office. Our politics remains a big problem because its logic is not aligned to real economic development. Two, we do not have an overarching national vision that drives economic policy and management. And three, we seem set to continue with oil dependency for the foreseeable future – in reality. This will expose Nigeria to another round of negative economic shocks in the not-too-far future. Surely, if we have better political leadership, we can have a very different future. With your career spanning various countries and continents, how have you kept the home front going? I think it has given my children a broad view of the world while understanding and still being proud of their identity as Nigerians. For example, my kids have native level fluency in French from our time living in Switzerland and France when I was serving in the UN system. When we arrived in Switzerland I insisted they should go to Swiss schools where everyone spoke French and very little English, instead of international schools where English was the dominant language. That decision paid off. Sometimes, when they want to ‘conspire” against their mother and me, they speak ‘deep’ French instead of English or Igbo. They also have friends from all over the world from the various countries we lived and where they went to school. Apart from God, my late father shaped my worldview. My mother, Lady Vidah Moghalu, a retired dietician and now a full-time Christian evangelist, was the bedrock of our domestic family life when I was growing up. In my adulthood, my wife – Maryanne Moghalu – gave up her early career as a
20
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 17, 2018
with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)
LOUD WHISPERS
Oloyede, JAMB Registrar
Jamb, Its Spokesman and the Snake I really do not like being harsh on this page, but this JAMB spokesman, Fabian Benjamin has really annoyed me. While Nigerians are trying their best to understand this more-than-ridiculous tale, he has come out to tell us while receiving a cache of antisnake venom from Senator Shehu Sani, who is on a small break from his continued ‘’fight’’ with my lord in Kaduna, that we should stop trivialising the incident. The action of the senator obviously lost on him did not show this our spokesman of all time that Nigerians can only show their frustration with his highly inept organisation by cracking jokes and attempting to laugh off this incident, or what else can we do? What he also has failed to realise is the fact that when you are faced with something this incredulous, you immediately surpass the highest level of anger and can only laugh or cry. When your anger has surpassed the highest level you can only laugh na. Or what else can you do? This coming on the back of all the public adulation JAMB has received with the kind of revenues they have been generating is only just sad. This spokesperson should cover his face with his boxers Note: The alleged case happened years ago. Shame on JAMB, shame on the system that condones this and may the sorrow of the very poor candidates, who had to beg and borrow to buy forms only for a snake to come and ‘’chop’ the money be the lot of this inept and obviously corrupt officials. By the way, Mr. Benjamin did you pass JAMB? Adenuga Is My Paddy If you have not read the well-written journal recently released by this chap on his attempt to buy Chevron in the Netherlands then something must be wrong with you o. You see, Nigerians do not read and that is why we are being taken over by snakes. By the way, do we remember the late Tunji Braithwaite when he was contesting in the Second Republic and was talking about rodents and cockroaches? We were all laughing. Paddy came out with a smooth flowing description of his attempt to acquire this huge asset without the knowledge and support of his legendary father. I connected to this story very powerfully and have run to my friend Lanre Alfred to see how he can give me access to Paddy. That was not a story of failure, that was a visionary struggling to make an independent mark when he could have just relaxed on the lap of luxury he was fortunate to be born into. Ever since his story came out, he has been pilloried by lower people. People with no real intellect and who surf the dark corridors of the social media to carry out their cyberbullying. For me, this is a story of courage, determination and self-actualisation that should be celebrated. This is another bobsleigh story and Nigerians should embrace such heroics. Paddy, you now has my respect and God bless you. Keep the fire burning, some of us are looking up to you. Pele, next time come and try to buy Oando, you just might succeed. Big Brother Nigeria: Of What Use? So on Sunday, my children as usual seized the remote control thereby forcing me to sit through a very boring session of the Big Brother House. It was what they have called in-house party. What I saw made me sad. Our young people revelling in uncensored debauchery egged on by corporate Nigeria and dancing to the music of the devil. You see this Big Brother phenomenon really does not contribute to anything meaningful in our society. There is in an urgent need for a
Tinubu
Ajimobi, Oyo State Governor
Saraki is the Third Force Ever since the legendary OBJ made his proclamation on the need to create a third force that would steer the nation’s polity away from the geriatric-led structures, all sorts of characters have emerged forming comedic associations that have only served to distract us. As a celebrated political scientist, I have taken a deep look at this issue and have come to the conclusion that to make any serious inroad with this vision, Bukola Saraki must be immediately drafted into this emerging third leg. Before I am led to the gallows to be hung or burnt on the stake, let me explain myself. You see, if and when the incumbent declares his intention to seek re-election, you will agree with me that Buhari is not a Jonathan but a rabidly popular candidate especially in the North where he can muster mighty votes. He has around him up to this morning as I write, very strategic and influential people. People like Tinubu, El Rufai and the like who understand how to secure votes and garner support, not just paper Tigers. Finally he has the power of incumbency with all that comes with it. So you see all these other small small names being bandied around who do not have electoral value beyond the pages of newspapers will only serve to offer Buhari a dainty walk in the park towards re-election; forget all the letter writing and statements by our forever leaders OBJ and IBB. I have not seen any serious candidate that the third force will be throwing into the ring. And here comes Olubukola Saraki. Apart from his clean shave, I am really not in his corner, but fact is this: our Senate President ticks all the boxes right now to give the President a good run. Me, I can die for a robust competition. Not that I think he can defeat the incumbent, but I know for a fact that today, he presents the only force that can take the fight to the President. What we need as a nation at this point
recalibration. So taking a group of youths into a sequestered environment, with hormones raging what you get is sexual tension and abrasive behaviour which at
is not a measly re-election process that does not have the incumbent sweat and fight for his seat. We need real competition, debate for debate, strategy for strategy, real sweat so that when he emerges, he will know that he worked for it and did not get it on a platter of Gold. This I believe would slip into his policies for he would have learnt how not to take the people for granted. The only problem is if Saraki himself is interested. Let me tick some boxes: he is relatively young, comes from the North central where he has considerable influence and I believe is holding a possible consensus leverage in the struggle between the North and South if we eventually meet a gridlock. He also has a firm grip on the Senate thereby can very easily fan out his soldiers across the country for mobilisation. As a past two-time governor and Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, he can also leverage that. Also, we are yet to see a more experienced and intelligent politician in this emerging third force o. So you see a Buhari/ Saraki contest will generate the kind of frenzy that would keep Nigerians on the edge of their seats, biting their nails, giddy with excitement as the gladiators battle it out in the trenches, creating excitement and strengthening the political process as they criss-cross the nation legitimately seeking our votes. I tell you guys, remember I read Political Science in the great University of Ibadan and I attended all classes o, except the ones that held on Thursdays because I was usually on my way to Lagos to come chase this my wife that has today kicked me out of the other room, so I know what I am talking about, it is not all these Nollywoodtype posters and sound bites on social media. This is a game for the big boys, real gladiators. Nigeria and Nigerians need this battle, our democracy needs it, let’s get it on.
times get aggressive and violent leading to the misguiding of the millions watching and following their every hedonistic debauchery. This is sad. Daily we are assailed by stories
Mudi
of body parts being violated, drunken revelations and a total loss of sense and sensibilities. The corporate sponsors and even the platform promoting this evil should have a rethink and I really do not understand why the NBC keeps encouraging this year in, year out. The question on my mind and that of millions of parents all over the nation is: of what use is this Big Brother show? Please SHUT IT DOWN NOW! Bola Tinubu’’s Reconciliation Team – My Advice If you had asked my advice before accepting this onerous task I would have asked you not to accept it. But as usual, you switched off your phone and sneaked into Abuja to go receive the hemlock. This is the issue I always have with you sir ever since I appointed myself your unofficial adviser, you never take my calls. How am I going to perform my task when you almost never speak to me? Anyway the deed has been done and all we can do now is to try to make the best of the situation. You have a lot of work ahead of you, from Rivers to Kaduna to Oyo State. If you are not careful, this work will distract you from the main battle which is 2019. My advice is for you to first start with Oyo, those ones are easy to control since they are within your immediate sphere of influence. The Minister of Communication can be summoned to Bourdilon and given a real talk after all, if he is going to achieve anything in Oyo he will need your structure. This Oyo own will boost your morale as you head up to Kaduna. This one na fight of the intellectuals no be Amala talk o. So you will need professors of Political Science to accompany you to Kaduna because the English you will hear can give you headache. This is an ideological fight mixed with egoistic posturing that will serve a very hard nut to crack. But don’t worry, you can do it, are you not the Jagaban. The Rivers own na roforofo. This one na motorpark fight and you will need all of your wits with bulletproof vests around you to even dent it. These people no dey gree o and Amaechi comes as stubborn as they can possibly come. This his re appointment as the DG or Buhari’s campaign organisation would further fuel his ego to the point I see you guys still struggling to resolve the matter beyond 2019. Anyway, I wish you luck, there is nothing prayers cannot solve. I truly wish you luck, you for just refuse the appointment, Buhari no see easier appointments like leader of the bobsleigh team to the winter Olympics give you. My lord, the Jagaban of all time, God will continue to be with you. Mudi of Morocco Since this Warri boy came back from Morocco where he was guest to the King of Morocco, we can no longer touch him o. Before this trip, the only Morocco Mudi knew was the one at Shomolu near the Army sports camp that leads to Bajulaiye Road. Mudi, the influential cultural ambassador with his own mouth has told us of how he was received by the King’s protocol team and proceeded to be given the very best in royal treatment involving rides in stretch limousines, stay in exquisite hotels and royal tours across the wonderful historic sites that litter Rabat and Casablanca. Now Mudi is untouchable, does not even greet people on his street again and will be walking around speaking Arabic. Kai, this was enjoyment for my brother. Please my advice to anybody trying to visit him is to go with an Arabic translator otherwise you will not be communicating as Mudi now talks in Arabic, forgetting his native Urhobo dialect. Mudi don go o. Welcome back bro.
21
FEBRUARY 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
SPY GLASS AJA
PETER OBAFEMI KEEPS LOW PROFILE For some time now, many have expressed concerns about Peter Obafemi, a businessman. Some are wondering what he has up his sleeves now. This may not be surprising as he seems to be keeping a low profile after he suffered a huge electoral loss in 2014. It will be recalled that he was managing his business when he was lured into politics. He had contested the number one job in Ekiti State in 2014, but lost to the incumbent, Ayo Fayose, in the primary. A source disclosed that the USbased businessman, who was left broke afterwards, might have bade farewell to politics, as he claimed that many betrayed his trust. He started out as a businessman in 1985 with Budget TV and Appliances Rental Service Store on Central Avenue in East Orange, New Jersey. Subsequently, he became a consultant in the opening of Heritage Spas on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. It is also on record that between 1985 and 1988, he owned one of the largest Western Union franchises in the state of New Jersey. He later made the Lagos-Atlanta direct flight possible with his Ritetime/ World Airways until 2005.
BIANCA OJUKWU’S NEW MOVE When beautiful Bianca Ojukwu was named ambassador to Spain by former President, Goodluck Jonathan, it was greeted with mixed feelings. While many described the appointment as a compensation of sorts for the Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu clan, some concluded that it was an opportunity for the beautiful lady to serve her fatherland. On assumption of office in Spain, she displayed her brilliance as she carried out her assignments, which many had thought would be too
with BAYO ADEOYE .... 08054680651 email: bayoolunla@gmail.com
overwhelming for her, with ease. This, we gathered, endeared her to Nigerians in the country; and in no time, she received awards from many that found her a worthy Nigerian ambassador. That is not the story though, as she has since left the post after she was recalled at the inception of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Spyglass gathered that the lightcomplexioned beauty is nursing the idea of representing her people at the National Assembly in 2019. The idea was said to have been sold to her by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State. This we gathered, is in appreciation of her assistance for his victory at the last governorship election in the state. Already, both the governor and Ojukwu are said to be consulting with top political stakeholders in the state.
EYIMOFE ATAKE , A STAR IN THE LEGAL FIRMAMENT@60 Come Tuesday, February 20, Dr. Eyimofe Atake, SAN, will turn 60 in a blaze of glory. How would someone begin to write the story of the legal luminary, who began to display his intelligence and leadership quality right from childhood? He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria after 12 years of being called to the Bar at the age of 41. The equivalent of an English Queen’s Counsel. Little wonder, many look forward to celebrating his birthday and have promised to honour him with their presence at the bash. Although a source revealed that despite his astounding success in life, the Senior advocate has proved that he is not one to make noise about birthday celebrations. Today, he is a shining star in the nation’s legal firmament. He is not a pushover when it comes to legal matters. He is a brilliant mind and even a delight in courtrooms. Undoubtedly, he sits atop one of the biggest law chambers in Nigeria. Besides, he is one of the few businessmen in Nigeria who can rub shoulders with top businessmen around the globe. Many years after he floated his business, he resolved to pursue his dream on a global stage. Though it looked an impossible task at the time, he has succeeded in engraving his name on the hearts of his compatriots. He attended Copford College, Colchester, Essex. where he was a school prefect, house captain, athlet-
ics captain, table tennis captain, and played football and rugby for the school. He was at the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London); and Darwin College, University of Cambridge, where he obtained a doctoral degree in Law.
FLORENCE ITA-GIWA’S HUMANENESS It was John Hagee, founder and Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church, who said, “Man’s greatness is not the number of servants he has, but the number of people he serves.’’ To say that Florence Ita- Giwa has dedicated her life to the service of humanity is like stating the obvious. The former member of the Senate has proved to the world that no joy is equal to that of serving others. Her service to her immediate environment is almost unequalled. She is widely acknowledged to have positively impacted her society. As a philanthropist, she is well loved by people and is well admired by the womenfolk, generally. When she started years back, many of her traducers sneered at her, saying it was all for political gains. But years after she left office as a government official, she has not looked back, as many children as well as widows from her town, Bakassi in Cross Rivers State, have benefited in no small measure from her benevolence. Spyglass gathered that she expends millions of naira every year for the education of the less-privileged she brought out of Bakassi, many of whom school abroad. Interestingly, as she turns 72 on Monday, the dominant thought on her mind is how to give back to humanity with her “War Against Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery.” It was also gathered that, in celebration of her birthday, friends would host her to a dinner in Beirut, Lebanon.
MIDNIGHT CITY TAKES LAGOS BY STORM In November last year, Midnight City Lagos, Nigeria’s first online, night food delivery platform, was quietly launched in Lagos. Three months later, it has picked up and gathered so much steam, that it has become the go-to website (www. midnightcity.com) for many people who live on Lagos Island, particularly in Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island, Oniru, Banana Island and Ikate
FLORENCE ITA-GIWA
BIANCA OJUKWU
EYIMOFE ATAKE
TOBENNA OZIM Elegushi axis. They are open to take orders from 9pm to 5am Nigerian time. Midnight City Lagos is the brainchild of a young man, TOBENNA OZIM, a 22-year-old graduate of Computer Science from the University Of Essex, in the United Kingdom. According to Tobenna, Midnight City Lagos, provides 39 different meals ranging from Shawarmas to small chops and local Nigerian dishes like Ofada rice and sauce. “We also do burgers, and sandwiches, and a variety of other meals. We recently started selling deserts and bottled cocktails,” he adds. We gathered that even though most of his patrons are the young upwardly mobile people, more and more adults are getting to make their orders too. Dan Akpovwa, Chairman of Abuja Inquirer as well as popular actor, Richard MofeDamijo (RMD), and ace Comedian AY Makun have all ordered food from Midnight City Lagos. Other regular celebrity patrons are Runtown, Burma Boy and Don Jazzy. Dan Akpovwa said, “I am very intrigued by the whole experience. I was in Lagos and was staying at a leading Hotel on Lagos Island. It was past midnight, I was hungry and the hotel Room Service had closed. Then the I remembered RMD had told me about Midnight City Lagos. I ordered for their signature Club sandwiches and shawarma. My order arrived in 30 minutes, hot and fresh. This delivery guy was very polite too. The cost of the food was so affordable, I gave more tip than what I paid for the food.” Tobenna said, “Our aim is to supply the demand of food at hours you would prefer it conveniently delivered to your door step. What really sets Midnight City apart from others is the fact that you can stay in the comfort of your home at night and have food delivered to you”.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚͜
22
Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‘
͸Ϳ͸͞ͺ΀͚͞Ϳ͝Ϳ Ă?Ě‹Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ë? ÞÙĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă?ÑÑ̜ÒÙÞ×ËÓÖ˛Ă?Ù×
LOTA CHUKWU
Being Featured in Jenifa’s Diary Gave My Career the Biggest Boost ÙÞË Ă’Ă&#x;Ă•ĂĄĂ&#x;Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ×ÙÎĂ?Ă–Ëœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? ÙãËÖ ĂœĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ă—ĂŁË› Ă’Ă? ÑÙÞ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂŒĂ“Ă‘ ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă• Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ËŞĂ? Ă“Ă‹ĂœĂŁ ̙ͺ͸͚̚͟˛ Ă’Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă’Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă‘Ă“ËŞĂ? ͽ͸ Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă˜ĘŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁË› ÙÞË Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ę¨ĂžĂ˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă”Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă•Ă“Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă&#x;Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœË› Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ åÓÞÒ Tosin CleggËœ Ă?Ă’Ă? ÞËÖÕĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? people, so I basically just moved my offline personality online and, so far so good, it does the trick for me.
Acting has always been a part of me have always been interested in acting since my secondary school days. After I got into the university, I started planning how to become a professional actress, and after graduation, I decided to work on myself to become a better actress. That was when I registered at the Royal Art Academy to help improve my acting skills.
I
Aside from acting, I enjoy writing I also love doing yoga because it helps me relax and always helps me keep in shape. I believe it’s important to maintain a good physique and not just let myself go. So, I always try to eat healthy and do a lot of Yoga because it helps me keep in shape. I recently launched my food show called, Lota Takes. Lota Takes is a food and lifestyle show where I get to share my knowledge about food. I really enjoy shooting my food show because it comprises of two basic things that I enjoy doing. I get to stand in front of the camera, and I also get to cook.
Being featured in Reminisce video alongside Odunlade My team was contacted for that role and on the day of the video shoot, I was on set at Amen Estate. I almost didn’t make it, but thanks to Reminisce and Clarence Peters for being patient. Although I was late (Journey from Amen Estate to the mainland coupled with the heavy traffic on that day), but it was a great experience. Everyone involved had a great time. Reminisce wrote a great song, which I like, Clarence did a great job, Odunlade as usual was awesome.
I surround myself with amazing people, friends and family alike My family consists of my parents and four kids. I am the last born of the family, so I enjoyed all the benefits that came with it. I grew up in Benin City. I spent the most of my life in Benin, until acting brought me to Lagos. I had my primary and secondary education in Benin. I proceeded to the University of Benin to study Agricultural Economics and Extension Services.
I wouldn’t want to say one movie in particular gave me that big break Every project I have worked on has contributed to who I have become today. The combination of all of them made me who I’ve turned out to be today. I’m thankful for all the opportunities; working with amazing cast and crew; they’ve all taught me more. The major boost in my acting career is featuring on Jenifa’s Diary, the journey has been unbelievable and I’m happy to be a part of it.
Actresses I admire The way they delivered their roles and their personality off the screen made them my role model. Rachael Oniga, Joke Silva, Omotola Jalade, Funke Akindele, and a host of other actresses; they all made me love acting the more.
So far so good, it’s been a good run for me in the industry I have had the opportunity to feature in some great movies like The Arbitration, Falling, Iyore, Fine Girl and, most recently, Displaced and Royal Hibiscus Hotel. What sets me apart from other actors I believe every one of us has those individual features that make us exceptional and unique in our own way. I’ve personally learnt to flow well with those I’ve met along my acting career. One of the things that I believe has made me come this far in the industry is the ability to work with anybody. I respect everyone in the industry without passing my boundaries, because everyone is watching. Challenges and successes Every project I work on is
Ch k Chukwu
always success for me, because I always give in my best. I have faced a few challenges working in the industry but those are the things that make us stronger. Acting has always been a part of me, it’s something I’ve always loved doing and I knew I had to get better at it.
I keep learning every day in the industry; I love where I am now and can only hope for the better. The social media buzz Honestly, I believe I am really easy to communicate with even before I became a public figure. I find it easy to interact with
Looking for More Movie Credits As I achieve these goals, I set new ones. So, how far I can go is determined by how quickly I achieve the goals I set for myself. I plan to be a successful actress, both locally and internationally. I look forward to featuring in multiple award-winning movies and with the top names in the entertainment industry. Over all, I hope to have more movies to my credit, and get recognition for my effort. As I stated earlier, cooking is one of the things that keeps me going, and I really enjoy doing Yoga because that’s how I keep fit and relaxed and, for your question on my cooking, find out if I am a good cook. We can bring the next episode of Lota Takes to your home for you to be the judge of that.
23
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚͜
Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‘
͸Ϳ͸͞ͺ΀͚͞Ϳ͝Ϳ Ă?Ě‹Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ë? ÞÙĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă?ÑÑ̜ÒÙÞ×ËÓÖ˛Ă?Ù×
MY STORY STAKERRS FEST CELEBRATES AFRICAN STARS IN FASHION, ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS,TECHNOLOGY Kenny Ogungbe, Efe, Joe El, Kaffy and more will attend SKAKERRS Fest, which is an iconic gathering of global entrepreneurs from around the world on the continent of Africa. The sole purpose of the gathering is for networking, inspiring and educating budding entrepreneurs in African states through the stories and lessons of men and women who rose from struggles of passion for socioeconomic relevance to becoming phenomenal entrepreneurship giants; contributing landmark values to the growth and development of the African economy and societies at large. The President/Founder, Mr. Adewale Hassan, said: “The event will feature CEOs from different industries such as sports, entertainment, fashion, media, manufacturing and much more, telling their stories, sharing the pains of their beginnings and providing insight that, perhaps, will lessen the error margin and strengthen the weak ends of budding entrepreneurs whose future rise and success form part of the key objective of the event.
HARRY ITIE
I’m A Huge Fan of Kemi Adetiba Ă‹ĂœĂœĂŁ ÞÓĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă?Ăœ åÓÞÒ Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÚÙÚĂ&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂĄËœ Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÚÖËĂ?Ă’ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ͺ͸͚Ϳ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ?Ë› Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ ÙÎĂ?Ă‹Ă?ĂžËœ Ă’Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă˜Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ăž åÓÞÒ Tosin CleggËœ Ă’Ă? ÞËÖÕĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;ĂžËœ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăœ
“Among others, envisioned as an annual rendezvous, the event will celebrate African true business heroes and address obvious developmental and growth challenges confronting rising entrepreneurs, with a target of empowering at least 10 budding entrepreneurs for a quantum leap in their industries during this maiden
edition.� STAKERRS FEST is slated for 17th of February at Landmark Event Center, Victoria Island, Lagos and will commence by 10:00am prompt. According to the organiser, Stakerrs Communications Ltd, this will be the biggest entrepreneurship event of 2018 as it looks forward to converging over
GOSPEL ACT, TOSIN BEE TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM One of Nigeria’s leading gospel names, Tosin Bee is set to release a second album in a few months. The spiritfilled and power-packed act has proven him, both locally and internationally, with so many major performances, hit singles, opening acts and a lot more. Tosin is renowned for his style of music - Contemporary African Gospel, graced with percussions and soullifting melody. The album will feature some big names in the global music scene. The One Hallelujah artiste is here to stay and make a lasting impact in the industry.
SOUTH AFRICAN LEGEND, YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA MAKES NOLLYWOOD DEBUT IN ‘JJC’ South African music legend and BET award winner, Yvonne Chaka Chaka has just made her debut in a Nollywood movie, and went as far as cutting her hair for her role in the movie titled ‘JJC’ (Johnny Just Come). The hilarious comedy movie was shot in Lagos and South Africa and features other stars like Emmy Award-winning Thuso Mbedu, Joey Rasdien, Nancy Isime, Vuci Kunene, Thando Thabete and American Actor Quincy Giles. The movie is produced by Diamond Groove Pictures led by award-winning filmmaker, Elvis Chucks and it is expected to hit cinemas on March 16, 2018.
H
ow did you start out?
Harry Itie is a mass communication graduate from Covenant University. I started out blogging in 2007 when I was still in the university and I got my first major TV job with TVC in 2012.
Becoming a renowned TV presenter, how has the journey been and what have been the challenges?
It has been an exciting journey. I have learnt a lot about myself, and I have evolved since I started out. The major challenge I think with being on TV is that after a while, people begin to expect a lot from you. That is something I have to always wrestle with. However, it has been a great journey, and I am optimistic of what the future holds.
Tell us about your Podcast and your YouTube channel?
The Harry Minute is a weekly podcast that is all about pop culture commentary. I like to discuss our pop culture intersects with everyday life, and it’s great to have an outlet to share my opinion. As for my YouTube channel, I am still growing it. The plan is to be able to document my life and the experiences that I have as a way to enjoy the journey.
Who are your role models and mentors?
In Nigeria, I am daily inspired by Kemi Adetiba. I was a huge fan of Sundays at the Seaside and I listened religiously for the longest time. I love how her career has evolved and how she has maintained her excellence. I also love IK, Arit Okpo and Lydia Idakula Sobogun. On the foreign scene, Ryan Seacrest is my biggest inspiration. From just a presenter he has become this media entrepreneur. I am also inspired by Oprah, Jason Kennedy and Jimmy Kimmel.
Where do you see yourself in ďŹ ve years?
In five years, I want to have evolved from just a presenter and TV producer to running my production company. I want to be able to create content not just for TV but also for the big screen. Most importantly, I want to have advocacy platforms that I can use to preach the message of equality for all, and social justice.
24
T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ͵˜ ͰͮͯͶ
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 17, 2018
25
EXPRESSION
MEDIAGAFFES
All Manner, Not Manners
EBERE WABARA
“W
HY waste another year at home doing nothing? When you can enroll for Salem Pre-Versity College” (Half-page advertisement signed by an anonymous Registrar, DAILY SUN, February 7) ‘Versity’ for Varsity? This is a foretaste of the quality of education this Lokoja institution will impart to its unfortunate students! “VIO reads riot act (the riot act) to erring officers” (Abuja Metro, February 7) The next five blunders are from a fullpage advertorial signed by Umeh Kalu (SAN), Hon. Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Abia State, DAILY SUN, February 7): “The House Resolution was complied with by the Governor resulting to (in) the swearing-in (swearing in) of….” “The National Judicial Council further advised the State Government to swear-in (swear in)….” Phrasal verbs abhor hyphenation. “The power of the National Judicial Council to mete out disciplinary measures on (to) erring judges is not in contest.” “We cannot therefore jettison but embrace and abide whole-heartedly the wise counsel of these eminent Twenty-Five (25) men and women constituting the council.” AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers: abide with “…the regime of crime with many youths taking to kidnapping and all manners of vices.” (DAILY CHAMPION Opinion Page, December10) Right: all manner of vices. “Menace of under-aged voters” Get it right: underage voters. Never “overaged” players or “matured” politicians.
BY
“NASS will re-open Bakassi issue” (THISDAY Headline, December 30) This way: reopen. “Ugwueze goes to the alter” (SATURDAY Vanguard Headline, January 6) Highheeled: altar. “Imo: Late arrival of materials mar election in Oguta LG” A recurring case of subject-verb disagreement: Late arrival of materials mars (not mar). It has nothing to do with “materials”, but “late arrival”. “In the past, such leaders have (had) plundered the common wealth and infected the environment with the demon of greed and avarice.” (NIGERIAN Tribune, December 11) “The electorate streams (stream) out tomorrow at the beginning of a voting exercise that will ultimately ease out….” There are two types of Persil brands in the market, apparently imported by private individuals (are there public individuals?) who thought there are (were) openings in Nigeria’s detergent market.” (Vanguard, February 11) “Large turn-out signpost rescheduled Imo polls” (BUSINESSDAY, February 12) Get it right: turn-out signposts. “No other country in (on) this continent throws up the kind of absurdities that we have in this land.” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, January 8) “Such persons should be declared persona non grate (sic).” (Source: as above) At the crossroads: personae non grata. “If he were still in power, the former governor would have been immuned (immune) to….” (DAILY Sun, December 11) “Thirdly, corruption was not limited to the outgoing governor but involved his cohorts at the corridor of power.” (Nigerian Tribune, December 11) Africa’s executive robbers: in the corridors of power. “Even though I wanted to see him, he advised against it on the ground that I could get into trouble….’’ (Sunday Champion,
January 7) The verdict: on the grounds. Still on the above edition: “The state Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has 36 chapels out of which seven chapel officers, all duely (duly) nominated and some of the.…” “…arrogating the powers of the National President and the Central Working Committee (CWC) on (to) himself and.…” (THE GUARDIAN, December 11) “…the reduction on the external debt and investment in social infrastructures and equipments.” (THE PUNCH, December 11) The last word in the extract is uncountable, just like these: stationery, bedding, cutlery, jewelry, gossip (as an act)…. “Why is President Muhammadu Buhari dragging his foot (feet/heels) on probing treasury looters…?” “…abolish the federal agency and realign it into (with) mainstream government machinery.” (NIGERIAN Tribune, December 11) “Thugs in Imo State lay siege on electoral materials” (Sunday Champion, January 8) This way: lay siege to (not on). “They had a second wind between 1964 to 1985, though they did not know it.” (Source: as above) A recurring error: between 1964 and 1985 or from 1964 to 1985—no mix-up. “I must confess from the onset that I am not a protagonist of military rule.’’ ((DAILY CHAMPION, May 11) Get it right: from the outset (in this context). “The boss and his secretary will continue to have intimate official connection, in spite of gossips.” (DAILY CHAMPION, December 11) ‘Gossip’, as an act, is uncountable. But, with reference to those who talk idly and backbite, inflection of the word is allowed. “But ours is quite different, judging by the experience with regards to the activities of the elected….” Either of these: as regards or with regard to. “The industrial sectors of the economy
ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948
have to invest in information technology, the type of which would stimulate the necessary (could it have been unnecessary?) inputs to produce good results.’’ In British Standard English, which strictly applies here, ‘input’ is non-count, but countable in the usually informal American English, which, of course, is a corruption of the formal version. “The elitist Ikoyi Club, established in 1938, sometime ago celebrated its Diamond Jubilee amid pomp and pageantry.” (DAILY CHAMPION, December 11) Standard expression: pomp and ceremony (or circumstance) or just pomp. The expression, ‘pomp and pageantry’, is a perversion of the English language. “Staff Reporter…takes a peep into the nation’s recent past and notes that it is a past whose scars will remain for sometime.” (THE GUARDIAN, February 11) Right focus: for some time. “One of the suspects said his intention was to warm (worm) his way back to the country.…” “…gunshot wounds he received in the hands of armed bandits….” (DAILY CHAMPION, January 11) Reporters who don’t appreciate the magnitude of ‘banditry’ should play ball with ‘armed robbery’ ‘Banditry’ is simply criminal violence, involving sophisticated weaponry. So, in the interest of morphological sanity, delete ‘armed’. The next catachresis is from the Sunday Vanguard of January 7: “The chairman of the occasion quickly acknowledged it was not easy to launch a book after Chidi has (had) launched it.” “Two failed banks chiefs get bail” Towards a better use of language: bank chiefs. The plurality of ‘banks’ had been taken care of by ‘chiefs’, in line with syntactic sequence.
Of Tinubu and Kano’s 5million Votes for Buhari
T
he insensitivity of Nigeria’s predatory political class seems to know no bounds. As the 2019 elections inch nearer, some actors are already ever losing sense of decency and throwing scruples to the wind in the race for relevance, power and political office. It is along this line that disturbing incidences of sycophancy, hypocrisy, and other such characteristics unbecoming of sane adults are exhibited with reckless abandon. The desperation by members of this class to outdo each other in the display of these despicable traits is a sure prelude to a possible compromise of the electioneering process. Nothing exemplifies this more than the currently trending video of under-aged voters captured vigorously thumbprinting ballots in the just concluded council elections in Kano State. The controversial images which have put the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the defensive flooded the social media just at the same time the Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, boasted that he would gift five million votes to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential elections that the incumbent is yet to declare interest in. Speaking at the swearing-in of the newly elected chairmen and 484 councillors, Ganduje said the ‘landslide’ victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls was an eloquent message that Kano is locked down for the ruling party. He was quoted thus: “The overall number of votes scored by the APC candidates is more than what President Buhari scored in 2015 general election, that is to say that if eventually he agreed to contest 2019 general election, I assure you, we will give him five million votes.” Recall that in the 2015 presidential election, Buhari got 1.9 million votes from the state under the supervision of then governor, Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is now in a bitter political conflict with his successor. Whilst those 1.9million votes have remained a stain on President Buhari’s victory in 2015, given that under-aged voting and ballot-stuffing were alleged to have occurred, the new enforcer in Kano has announced gleefully to take the notch higher. Ganduje’s indecorous boast, which coincides with the offensive images of child-voting and other electoral malfeasance in last week’s council polls, reinforce the need to critically interrogate the 2015 votes from Kano. But importantly, it is raises the alarm about a possible electoral heist in 2019. Especially given that INEC is now running from pillar to post trying very hard to extricate itself from the very shameful revelations. “As far as the Commission can ascertain, they (images) relate to a local government election conducted at the weekend, and over which we have no legal control or responsibility whatsoever,” a statement by Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, Director, Voter Education & Publicity of INEC quipped. If this incidence is not comprehensively investigated and concrete steps (including remedial and proactive) taken to reassure Nigerians of the integrity of the electoral process ahead of 2019, then the country can as well kiss bye-bye to a free, fair and credible general election. And that would of course, be tantamount to the triumph of the rabidly selfish
PEOPLE2PEOPLE WITH
OKE EPIA Telephone (sms only): 07059850016 Email: resourceman.oke@live.com. Twitter: @resourceme
Tinubu
interests of political buccaneers over and above those of the suffering masses. The sad part is that the impending macabre dance in Kano will likely be replicated in different parts of the country where various masterminds and enforcers are already mobilizing to seize the advantage ahead of poll’s day. In any case, it is hard to tell if any of the actors now strutting the stage and engaging in various political maneuverings actually have the interest of the people at heart in spite of the professions of their mouth. When Asiwaju Bola Tinubu says to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to join the retirees’ club and desist from distracting President Buhari with well-deserved criticisms, it is not because the former governor of Lagos State and enforcer of South-west politics, is keen on the best interest of Nigerians. Tinubu, the national leader of the APC, emerged from a meeting with President Buhari during
the week and told journalists that the two ex-Heads of State should not have criticized the incumbent in the manner they did recently. “We should let our former presidents join retirees’ club and take pensions, but they can participate in our politics if they are interested,” he said, adding: “It is a free world, but this freedom is not served a la carte, but they should allow us to move our country forward. It is a challenge to every Nigerian.” One wonders if it is the same Tinubu who praised Obasanjo to high heavens when he led a delegation to Ota farm to bestow on him the title of ‘navigator’ of the APC in the build-up to the 2019 polls. By Tinubu’s double standards, Obasanjo’s bashing of then President Goodluck Jonathan was a patriotic duty but now that the tide has turned against Buhari, the ex-president is now a distraction to democracy. Basking in the delight of his new appointment as reconciler-in-chief of a fractious APC, the Lion of Boudillon, told the world that the ruling party would emerge victorious in 2019. Hear him: “We have a better chance and we are strongly determined to prosecute election in a most transparent and democratic manner and we will win.” The tone of finality in Tinubu’s confidence boast is another demonstration of the insensitivity of a political class that has held Nigeria in the jugulars for decades. The Nigerian people hardly matter. This is why in spite of the blood-letting and violence by herdsmen, kidnappers, militants and highway robbers in parts of the country, what would matter to politicians now is how to win the next elections. Nobody wants to speak truth to power; most actors want to be politically correct by hiding the stark reality from the President as far as the various ills and hardships plaguing Nigerians are concerned. This is why a politician like Shehu Sani stands out among the lot. The Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, in a recent lamentation appealed to people with “privileged” access to visit Aso Villa to remind the President of the alarming rise of insecurity in the country. Sen. Sani said this recently when he brought the issue of another round of killings in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of his State to the attention of the Senate. Hear him: “I think we have lost the essence of our being in government. Every day, this country is becoming a theatre of war. You see bodies of victims killed, dismembered and shared on social media. There is nowhere in Africa today where you see these ghastly pictures and images being shared every day. I am deeply concerned that the essence to which we should be in government and address those very important issues has not been given the required attention as they should be.” He called upon “all men of good will in this country to rise up because we are living in self-denial. A denial in the sense that those who are supposed to speak the truth to power have taken in an attitude of silence and many of them are burying themselves in politics. It is time to put politics aside and focus on the issue of insecurity. People that are privileged to move to the villa should please spare us the time of telling the truth to the people in power that things are getting worse and there is a need for us to do what we need to do.” ––Epia, Publisher of OrderPaper NG, tweets @resourceme.
26
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺͶ
Lexus Becomes Principal Partner of The Melbourne Cup
A
Interior of the new Jaguar E-PACE
Jaguar E-Pace is Wired for Modern Life As JLR clinches Company of the Year Stories by Bennett Oghifo
T
he new Jaguar E-PACE, which sale began from February 16 (this week) will offer all of the latest Jaguar technologies, according to the automaker. Along with the intuitive in-car technologies, E-PACE will also be available with Jaguar Land Rover’s range of powerful, efficient Ingenium engines, as well as innovative new driveline technologies. Every E-PACE features the latest generation of Jaguar’s Touch Pro infotainment system as standard. Natural voice control technology, a 10-inch touchscreen interface and a customisable home screen make interactions with the system quick, simple and highly intuitive. The 21:9 super-wide format display includes multi-tasking functionality, allowing media to be shown in the main screen while a side panel can show navigation data. This powerful infotain-
ment system is also available with a choice of two premium audio systems developed with Meridian, including an advanced 825W Surround Sound system boasting 15 speakers. Customers can additionally select a 12.3-inch full-colour digital TFT instrument panel with the ability to tailor the display to show different information, including satellite navigation mapping. E-PACE also offers a next-generation Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) Head-Up Display technology. The system can project large, full-colour graphics onto the windscreen directly into the driver’s eyeline, providing essentials information such as speed, navigation directions, engine speed data, and the cruise control settings, at a glance. E-PACE is also the only vehicle in its segment available with an innovative wearable Activity Key. This waterproof wristband can be used to let drivers to lock the main key inside the vehicle when enjoying outdoor pursuits such as running, cycling, or scuba diving.
E-PACE is fully equipped to integrate with the digital lifestyles of modern families. A total of are up to four 12-volt charging points and five USB connections are available throughout the cabin, ensuring that mobile devices can always be powered. Under the bonnet, E-PACE is endowed with the full range of powerful and efficient Ingenium petrol and diesel engines. The 221kW Ingenium petrol turbo engine powers E-PACE from 0-100km/h in just 6.4 seconds, before reaching an electronically-limited top speed of 243km/h. For customers who want the ultimate efficiency, the 110kW Ingenium diesel engine model returns consumption of only 5.6 litres per 100km and carbon dioxide emissions of 147g/km. Anine-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive are standard on each E-PACE, and it can also be had with Active Driveline all-wheel drive – a technological first for Jaguar.
Three Trophies for Kia at 2018 iF Design Awards
K
ia Motors has won three prestigious 2018 ‘iF design’ Awards, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for striking car design. The new Kia Stinger fastback sports sedan, Stonic compact crossover and Picanto city car were each awarded prizes in the ‘Product Design’ category. 2018 marks the second consecutive year in which Kia has won three iF awards, and the ninth consecutive year the company has received an iF award. This latest hat-trick of awards brings the manufacturer’s total number of iF design prizes to 15. The Stinger, designed at Kia’s European design centre in Frankfurt, Germany, marries classic gran turismo design with a spacious and cosseting interior. Taking inspiration from the grand tourers of the 1970s, the Stinger features elegant fastback proportions and a muscular ‘coke bottle’ shape down its flanks, highlighting its rear-wheel biased power delivery. Also designed in Frankfurt, the Stonic, Kia’s debut compact crossover, offers a striking and bold exterior design, combined with an elevated seating position and practical SUV format. It is the most customisable Kia ever made, offering buyers a wide choice of twotone paint combinations and interior colours. The third-generation of the Kia Picanto – Kia’s smallest car – brings a youthful and energetic character to the A-segment. It boasts a distinctive new design and a high-quality, high-tech cabin, with huge potential for customisation. Despite its compact dimensions, the Picanto’s intelligent design makes it one of the most spacious cars in its class. iF design Award 2018: 6,400 submissions from 54 countries Since it was launched in 1953, the iF design Award has become one of the world’s most important prizes for excellence in design. The
L-R: CEO Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr. Jacky Hathiramani; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; and Mrs Bolanle Ambode, at the 2018 Lagos City Marathon… recently
award has its origins in the ‘Formgerechte Industrieerzeugnisse’ (Good Industrial Design) product shows initiated by the Hannover Messe, and is now one of the world’s largest design competitions. In 2018, companies from 54 countries submitted 6,402 products to be judged by an independent international jury of 63 design experts. iF design awards are presented across seven categories: Product, Packaging, Communi-
cation, Service Design / UX, Architecture, Interior Design, and Professional Concept. Kia’s new models have been honoured in the Product Design category. The official presentation ceremony for the 2018 iF design Awards will take place on 9 March 2018 at BMW Welt in Munich. A selection of the winning products will also go on display at the iF design exhibition in Hamburg’s HafenCity.
ustralia’s premier racing club, the Victoria RacingClub(VRC),hasannouncedtoday global luxury lifestyle brand Lexus as the new Melbourne Cup principal partner. The new five-year sponsorship agreement includes the naming rights to the Melbourne Cup Race, Melbourne Cup Day, the Melbourne Cup Tour, the Melbourne Cup Parade and the Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw. It will see the coveted Lexus Design Pavilion take up front-row positioning as the headline marquee in Flemington’s exclusive Birdcage enclosure. This alignment builds on the successful 14-year partnership between Lexus and the VRC, which has seen the luxury automotive brand create exhilarating entertainment, culinary and design experiences since 2003. VRC chairman Amanda Elliott said the club was delighted to welcome Lexus as the new principal partner. “As the custodian of Australia’s greatest sporting and cultural icon, we are incredibly pleased and thrilled to link the Melbourne Cup with a visionary luxury brand like Lexus,” Mrs Elliott said. “Sharing this extraordinary event with Lexus is something we are really looking forward to.” Newly appointed Lexus chief executive Scott Thompson said the brand was thrilled to build its association with one of the world’s greatest sporting events. “The A$6.25 million Lexus Melbourne Cup is a truly spectacular event and the focal point of the Melbourne Cup Carnival,” Mr Thompson said. “Lexus is honoured to be announced as the naming rights partner - the VRC perfectly aligns with our values of exhilarating experiences, innovation and sophistication,” he said. “Together with the VRC, Lexus will continue to push the boundaries to pioneer exciting touchpoints and events for patrons on and off course. We look forward to driving the Melbourne Cup Carnival to even greater heights.” While a racing event at its core, the carnival transcends traditional sporting events with its unique combination of sport, fashion, entertainment, hospitality and business. Last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival was one of the most successful ever. There were strong ticket sales, large broadcast deals with more global partners, and greater digital interaction with fans. The attraction of Flemington to sponsors continues to grow and there has been a new focus on customer experience with the introduction of new precincts, including the highly successful Park precinct and Cup Day Festival at Barangaroo.
Lexus Becomes Principal Partner of The Melbourne Cup
T
he German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), this week, published the findings of tests conducted on the BMW 320d ED (Fuel Consumption Combined ltr/100 km 4.3–3.9 (4.1–3.8), CO2 g/km 113–102 (109–99)) confirmed that the vehicle examined fully complies with all legal requirements. The tests were carried out following criticism of the car’s emissions’ performance in Dec. 2017 by the environmental lobby group “Deutsche Umwelthilfe” (Environmental Action Germany). Klaus Fröhlich, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development, explained: “As a matter of principle, BMW Group vehicles are not manipulated and comply with all respective legal requirements. Our diesel engines are clean. The public and policymakers can rely on that – and, most of all, so can our customers and employees.” The findings of the latest KBAtests once again confirm what has been repeatedly proven by numerous official reviews conducted by authorities worldwide: The BMW Group has no illegal activities or technical provisions of any kind that influence the test mode for recording emissions. This naturally also applies to the recently criticised BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition – as proven by the results of extensive test-bench and road testing. With regard to BMW Group vehicles, TÜV Süd already confirmed back in 2015: “The NOx figures (…) for all vehicles tested are within the technically explainableandexpectedtoleranceand,intheopinion of TÜV SÜD, demonstrate very robust emission performance.” Specifically, this means that the effectiveness of the emissions control systems required for exhaust gas treatment fully reflect typical customer driving behaviour. There is no intervention (“manipulation”) of any kind that could influence vehicle emissions. The KBA test results also suggest that the emissions readings criticised by “Deutsche Umwelthilfe” resulted from forced driving situations and flawed executionoftests,andarethereforenotrepresentative. Fröhlich: “The KBAtest findings show quite clearly that the vehicle examined was not manipulated.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺͶ
27
What It’s Like to Drive a 1,000-HP AMC Javelin That Cost a Half-Million Dollars
M
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Name of new High-Bodied Vehicle to be Rolls-Royce Cullinan Stories by Bennett Oghifo
T
hreeyearsagointhepagesofTheFinancial Times, Rolls-Royce announced to the world that it would create an all-new, high-bodied car that would redefine luxury travel by making it Effortless, Everywhere. Since that day the world has waited, anticipating the arrival of this mouldbreaking new Rolls-Royce. Today, the wait is almost over as Rolls-Royce confirmsthatitsnewmotorcarwillbecalledCullinan. “The name Cullinan has been hiding in plain sight since we revealed it as the project name some
years ago,” comments Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce. “It is the most fitting name for our extraordinary new product. Cullinan is a motor car of such clarity of purpose, such flawless quality and preciousness, and such presence that it recalibrates the scale and possibility of true luxury. Just like the Cullinan Diamond, the largest flawless diamond ever found, it emerges when it is perfect and exists above all others.” The story of how this new Rolls-Royce came to be named Cullinan is itself one of the pursuit of perfection. Like the diamond, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has undertaken a fascinating journey. From the searing deserts of Africa and the Middle East to the freezing snows of the Arctic Circle; from the grassy glens of the Scottish Highlands to the
towering canyons of NorthAmerica, the designers, engineers, craftspeople and artisans of the House of Rolls-Royce have shaped, tested and polished this unique motor car to eliminate any flaw and make it Effortless, Everywhere. “We were inspired by the epic processes, over many millennia, which went into the creation of the Cullinan Diamond. The name embodies the many facets of our new motor car’s promise. It speaks of endurance and absolute solidity in the face of the greatest pressures; it tells of rarity and preciousness and it alludes to the pioneering, adventurous spirit of The Hon. Charles Rolls and the engineering innovation of Sir Henry Royce; and, of course, it speaks of absolute luxury, wherever you venture in the world” continued Müller-Ötvös.
anufacturers go from boom to bust. And sometimes, in a matter of just a few hours, things can go from burnouts and giggles to pleading mea culpa to two very uninterested Forestry officers, as was the case when we got behind the wheel of the Ring Brother’s hyperbolic 1,000-horsepower 1972 AMC Javelin. The day started on a high. My wife and I are almost done with the adoption process and that morning we had signed our last piece of paperwork. The final hurdle before we would begin to receive calls for a bouncing bundle of joy being placed in our warm care. My wife left the meeting for work, while I rode a new Indian Scout back home for a cup of coffee, a quick snuggle with our dogs, and to switch shirts from tastefully dapper to “let’s get this party started!” as was obviously necessary for the drive. An hour later with my coffee finished, the dogs thoroughly snuggled, and my t-shirt (a Team O’Neil-sourced shirt labeled “Blah, Blah,Accelerate!) bitchin’, I hopped back onto the Scout and headed off on a hundred-mile journey to my date with the Ring’s latest creation. For those unaware of the Ring Brothers and their body of killer creations, the brother’s hail from Spring Green, Wisconsin, a town no bigger than a Costco parking lot. There’s maybe 600 people total. A number that’s routinely outsized by the power of the machinations that streak and smoke the streets of their tiny hamlet. And while horsepower continues an upward trajectory on each build, so does the anal retentiveness of the most minute details.As is the case, every new build is greater than the last, and the Brother’s Ring’s latest sculpture, a 1972 AMC Javelin dubbed “Defiant,” isn’t about to buck the trend. According to Jim and Mike Ring, nothing on the car is stock. Everything has been touched in some small, or in the case of its engine bay, large way; the latter of which now houses a Wegner Motorsports 6.2-liter Dodge Hellcat motor.
Hyundai, Sonata Recognised for Long-term Ownership Value by Kelley Blue Book
H
aving already been recognized for its innovative design and leading safety features in recent months, the all new Hyundai Sonata now has been awarded Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own award for the mid-size class. Furthermore, Hyundai was named the top brand overall, highlighting its continued emphasis on not only a great customer experience, but industry-leading ownership value for its customers. Based on Kelley Blue Book’s 5-year Cost to Own data for new cars projected over their initial five-year ownership period, the awards highlight brands that go beyond the initial purchase and provide
excellent value for car buyers. Both the Sonata in the mid-size class and Hyundai overall showed significant savings when considering ownership realities such as insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs and expected fuel costs. “The fact that not only the Sonata, but Hyundai overall, is being recognized highlights our focus on making every aspect of vehicle ownership better,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “For the Sonata, it’s yet another indication that the redesigned all new model is pushing the boundaries of what can be expected. For Hyundai as a whole, it highlights our view that quality driver experience includes value over time.”
2017 Hyundai Sonata
Does Seat Belt Really Save?
O
n Monday, the 12th of February, 2018, I had a very interesting discussion or better put, a fruitful recount of the number of people who were involved in road traffic crashes and died .These victims whose dreams and aspirations were cut short we concurred, could have been alive had they buckled up .During the discussion, I was compelled out of frustration to ask my colleague one of the most foolish question ever-does seat belt really save? It is that same question that I have chosen as my heading for this week’s piece. I am hoping that my choice of re-recounting the experiences of some victims which I had earlier used on this column will drive home my pains and frustration and also my desires to see every driver and passenger buckled up always despite the reservations of some on the value of the seat belt. Let me kick-start the gist first with the pathetic story, a very senior colleague of mine told me some years ago of a friend of his who died as a result of a brief error in judgement towards the seat-belt use. According to his story, his friend had gone out with a girlfriend on a certain Friday night. After some drinks, it was time to leave, and the friend obviously thought, and probably spoke it out loud, ‘well, it’s a Friday night, no pestering law enforcement agent on the road to jaw-jaw on
SAFE DRIVING with
JONAS AGWU
amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491
seat-belt.’ Note that this man had hitherto been known to be highly compliant to the practice of belting up. But, unfortunately, this particular Friday took a different turn. Even when his girlfriend advised him to use his belt, the man refused. And so, tipsy, (outright drunk?) he engaged gear and drove off. But the girlfriend, smart girl, decided to use her own seat belt. And that’s probably why she’s still alive. Because on approaching the big round-about by the Area 1 Junction in the FCT, the man had a crash and died. The girlfriend was alive to tell the story of what had transpired. Tie this to another story involving a colleague’s brother-in-law, who is a military Officer. He had just rounded up from a late night assignment, and, obviously fatigued and sleepy, was driving home without using his seatbelt. On his way, somewhere in Lagos, he lost control, ran into a pavement, bounced back to hit a stationary vehicle, which acted as a wedge
to finally stop him. But not before the force had snapped his head forward to crash into the windscreen, with his chest hitting the steering. Fortunately, he is still alive to tell the story by himself. There is also the story of the man whose tragedy I captured in a piece I titled , HOW I KILLED MY DAUGHTER. An excerpt reads thus,’’ sir, I killed my own daughter, my Jewel. It was my entire fault. She could have been alive today if I had insisted that she buckle up at the rear just like her mother and I did in the front seat. His self confession hit me real deep beneath my cord. I barely managed to hold tears rolling down my cheek for fear that I might further break him down. I don’t have a daughter but I do have sons whom, like every parent I love dearly with my whole life .I know the pain of losing a loved one; the kind of pain I felt when I lost my parents and brother; I therefore can imagine the pain of losing your cherished daughter through your own fault. I listened captivated as he went on explaining how they set out on a journey to Ekiti from where they were billed to travel to Lagos for a Uk Visa. But every dream was cut short along this busy corridor where as they were driving at a speed he couldn’t tell, there was a tyre burst and the car somersaulted severally and threw his pearl off .When the car finally came to a stop, he told me, he came out
and rushed to his daughter; Pamela who had sustained severe head injuries and died immediately. Although, he continued his journey after, but it was without his ten year old daughter who from our few minutes discussion, he cherished and loved dearly. The second leg of the journey was done with him seated as a passenger as he was too heartbroken to drive. As they set out in a vehicle driven by his friend’s driver, all my thoughts were on the trauma and pain and regrets he will go though for years. How does a father forgive himself for causing the death of his lovely daughter? It will take only God to heal his wounds and make him live again for his other children if there are others and other members of his family. But as I ponder on this tragedy, the question I keep asking is why do parents toy with the safety and life of their wards? Why do parents drive above the speed limit when they have precious family members with them? I say so because I know that Pamela could have been alive maybe with some bruises or fractures if only the speed at which the vehicle was going was common sense speed based on the high traffic volume, and the fact that every family member was in that vehicle? I pray that other parents who read though this piece will pause and ponder on how safety conscious they truly are especially when driving with their family in the vehicle. They should equally ask themselves why they play lip service to the use of seat belt by both front and rear seat passenger including the use of child restraints for children below twelve years.
28
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀
FAMILY HEALTH with
Are Herbal Teas Really Helpful?
T
he body goes through a lot of bashing, pushing as we go through our life processes. We encounter most of this at one time or the other. These could cause our bodies to lose some vital nutrients and functions. And in so doing, there is a need to give the body a helping hand. And this could be in various forms, and one of the most popular is through the consumption of herbal teas. What then are herbs ? Herbs are plants with savoury or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring food, in medicine, or as fragrances. Culinary use typically distinguishes herbs from spices. Herbs refer to the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), while spices are usually dried and produced from other parts of the plant, including seeds, berries, bark, roots and fruits. Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, and, in some cases, spiritual. General usage of the term “herbâ€? differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs; in medicinal or spiritual use, any parts of the plant might be considered as “herbsâ€?, including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, root bark, inner bark (and cambium), resin and pericarp. They to plants or parts of them, including grasses, flowers, berries, seeds, leaves, nuts, stems, stalks and roots, which are used for their therapeutic and health- enhancing properties. What are the beneďŹ ts of herbs? Fresh herbs not only add flavour without calories, they may also serve up health benefits as healing foods. Herbal medicine has been used as kitchen medicine for thousands of years, and while our body’s response to these natural treatments has not changed, we now have more global choices than ever, There is no substitute for competent medical care and routine checkups. However, to avoid disease and live strong, a good diet and sensible eating is critical. A basic knowledge of how food and herbs can help what ails you is key to your sensible eating plan. BeneďŹ ts of Herbal Teas Herbal tea is made by steeping the flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, stems, and petals of a multitude of plants and flowers. The herbal teas come in hundreds of different varieties, some common and others that are more obscure, and depending on your area of the world, different types will be more widely available. The health benefits of each type of herbal tea depend on the composition, which may be a single ingredient or a combination of different herbs and flowers. Another name for herbal tea is “tisaneâ€?, although this is less commonly used. Herbal teas are all the rage for the many medicinal qualities they are supposed to possess. It’s claimed they can help with everything from easing a cold and indigestion to fighting infection and nausea. But when choosing a herbal tea remedy, make sure you pick the right one. While fruit flavoured teas - such as rosehip, apple and orange - tend to be delicious, they are developed for their flavouring more than anything else. Herbal teas on the other hand, such as thyme, peppermint and ginger have greater therapeutic virtues. Fruit teas tend to be blended from synthetic ingredients, but herbal teas often contain real herbs. This means they make effective remedies if drunk at least three to four times a day. If the label mentions real herbs then the quality will be good. Avoid any teas with artificial flavourings. The best quality herbal teas tend to be organic. BeneďŹ ts of Drinking Herbal Teas Drinking herbal tea is highly recommended for people who want to naturally improve their health while enjoying a delicious and refreshing brew. Unlike coffee and standard tea (black, white, green, etc.), most herbal teas do not include caffeine. Most herbal teas offer some variety of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, but the specifics depend on the particular herbs and plants that you choose. Common health benefits include relaxing the body and mind, aiding sleep disorders, reducing inflammation, easing the pain, protecting against common diseases, boosting the immune system, optimizing the digestive system, detoxifying the body, and stimulating cognitive function. r %JVSFUJD -BYBUJWF Diuretics and laxatives help eliminate toxins rapidly from the body, relieving stress on the gastrointestinal system, kidneys, and liver. The best
Herbal teas are all the rage for the many medicinal qualities they are supposed to possess. It’s claimed they can help with everything from easing a cold and indigestion to ďŹ ghting infection and nausea. But when choosing a herbal tea remedy, make sure you pick the right one. While fruit avoured teas such as rosehip, apple and orange - tend to be delicious, they are developed for their avouring more than anything else. Herbal teas on the other hand, such as thyme, peppermint and ginger have greater therapeutic virtues
diuretic teas include dandelion, hibiscus, green, hawthorn, and juniper teas. r #PPTU *NNVOF 4ZTUFN 4UJNVMBUJOH UIF JNNVOF TZTUFN XJUI BOUJPYJEBOUT and vitamins, helps prevent infections, protect against oxidative stress, and lower the risk of chronic disease. Excellent immune-boosting herbal teas include elderberry, echinacea, ginger, and licorice root teas. r 3FEVDF 4MFFQ *TTVFT 4PNF UZQFT PG UFB BSF BCMF UP CBMBODF OFVSPUSBOTmitter levels, reduce anxiety and promote sleep through sedative effects. The best choices for sleep problems include valerian, kava root, chamomile, and lavender teas. r "OBMHFTJD 1SPQFSUJFT 1BJO SFMJFG JT DSVDJBM GPS QFPQMF XIP TVGGFS GSPN chronic discomfort, or those recovering from illness, surgery or injury. Top analgesic herbal teas include allspice, bergamot, chamomile, eucalyptus, and kava root teas. r "OUJ JOĂĄBNNBUPSZ 1SPQFSUJFT 3FEVDJOH JOĂĄBNNBUJPO DBO IFMQ FWFSZUIJOH GSPN gastrointestinal distress and arthritis to headaches and hemorrhoids. Herbal teas like peppermint, ginger, turmeric and eucalyptus teas are great for inflammatory problems. r 3FMJFWF 4USFTT "OYJFUZ 4PPUIJOH TUSFTT BOE BOYJFUZ DBO BMTP IFMQ MPXFS levels of depression, boost energy, and lower the incidence of inflammation and chronic disease in UIF CPEZ %SJOL LBWB SPPU WBMFSJBO 4U +PIO T 8PSU and chamomile teas to lower stress levels. r 1SFWFOU $ISPOJD %JTFBTF Antioxidant capacity can help eliminate free radicals and prevent oxidative stress in the body, which lowers the risk of cancer and chronic disease. Herbal teas that are high in antioxidants include peppermint, rooibos, thyme and nettle teas. r "JE JO %JHFTUJPO Indigestion, cramping, bloating, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea can be eliminated with herbal teas, particularly varieties like dandelion, chamomile, cinnamon, peppermint and ginger teas. r #PPTU #SBJO )FBMUI 1SFWFOUJOH PYJEBUJWF TUSFTT JO UIF CSBJO XIJMF BMTP boosting focus and concentration, can be achieved by adding rosehip, ginger, mint, rooibos, and dandelion teas to your healthy diet. There are various popular teas, and they are listed below (SFFO 5FB +BQBOFTF HSFFO UFB MFBWFT TUSFOHUIFO UJTTVF DFMMT found all over the body, and so protects the body from ageing. This is because green tea is high in antioxidants - compounds produced in the body that protect the cells from damage such as pollutants. 1FQQFSNJOU Atraditional remedy used for nausea and vomiting. By stimulating bile production in the gall bladder, peppermint breaks down fat in the digestion system, thus relieving nausea. 4U +PIO T 8PSU 4U +PIO T 8PSU JT BO FYUSBDU PG B TNBMM ZFMMPX ĂĄPXFS commonly found in Britain and Europe. It is a mild anti-depressant and shown to be an effective treatNFOU GPS 4FBTPOBM "GGFDUJWF %JTPSEFS 4"% 3FDFOU NFEJDBM SFTFBSDI TIPXT UIBU 4U +PIO T 8PSU IFMQT XJUI depression by raising chemical levels in the brain. 'FOOFM A Mediterranean herb that has anti-spasmodic
BOBO BODE -KAYODE
lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, ͸΀͸ͽ͝͝Ϳͺ͝ͽ͞
properties. This means it works on relaxing the intestinal muscles and is particularly good for constipation, colic and flatulence. Fennel is also a good detox because it is a diuretic - meaning it creates the urge to urinate. This helps to clean the kidneys and so rid the body of impurities, which then promotes a clearer skin. $IBNPNJMF The small golden buds of chamomile give many people relief from mild insomnia. Chamomile is the principal ingredient in many ‘sleepytime’ tea blends. This is because chamomile contains tryptophan, an amino acid known for its tranquilizing effects. When taken as an infusion, these properties act as a relaxant in our bodies and help to promote sleep. /FUUMF A British herb that is good to take when feeling run down. This is because of its rich mineral content. Nettle is a good source of iron, calcium and silica. Iron produces red blood cells, essential for energy. Calcium and silica are important for building bones, hair and teeth. (JOHFS Ginger is an excellent remedy in the early stages of an infection because, as a warming spice, it can promote a fever and hasten healing. Ginger’s warming effects are also said to relieve rheumatic aches and pains by widening the blood vessels and stimulating circulation . -FNPO 7FSCFOB -FNPO 7FSCFOB MJLF DJUSVT MJRVFVST TVDI BT 1PJSF 8JMMJBN BOE $BMWBEPT BSF traditionally used in France as a digestive aid. This is because the citrus content helps to break down fats in the digestive tract. &MEFSĂĄPXFS The white blossom from the Elder tree is a traditional cure for colds. It is an effective decongestant because it helps clean the nasal passages of catarrh. It is also a good diaphoretic - meaning it encourages the body to sweat. Naturopaths believe that viruses are unable to breed in a raised body temperature. &DIJOBDFB 5FB Boosts the immune system, protects the skin from infections, and eliminates inflammation in the body. 3PTFIJQ 5FB 7FSZ HPPE GPS UIF JNNVOF TZTUFN EVF UP IJHI vitamin C levels, and can also detoxify the body. 5VSNFSJD 5FB 4UJNVMBUFT BOUJPYJEBOU BDUJWJUZ JO UIF CPEZ QSFvents cancer, soothes inflammation, and promotes good digestion. In as much as herbal teas are beneficial, they are to be consumed with much caution. I would suggest that you must engage the advice of a qualified nutritionist and your physician , if you have any health challenge or on medication. Side Eects of Herbal Teas Herbal teas do come with certain side effects, due to the potent effect of the active ingredients, potential allergic reactions, mistaken identity of herbs, excessive consumption or drug interactions Toxic Herbs – While the majority of herbs are safe for human consumption, in moderate amounts, certain toxic herbs are easily mistaken for perfectly safe ingredients. For example, foxglove can be deadly CVU MPPLT WFSZ TJNJMBS UP DPNGSFZ 4JNJMBSMZ XBUFS hemlock can be fatal if ingested but looks almost identical to elderberry, which is a popular ingredient in herbal teas. Do not collect wild herbs for teas and tisanes unless you are trained in herbal arts or are extremely confident about your knowledge. Most herbal ingredients are readily available in natural health stores. Allergies – Herbal teas span a wide range of plant genera and families, meaning that many potential allergic reactions are possible. Allergic reactions can range from mild stomach upset or inflammation to breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, TLJO SBTI BOE PUIFS NPSF TFSJPVT TZNQUPNT 4QFBL to your doctor or an allergist to determine your allergies before exploring new herbal teas. Moderate Use – Herbs are used because of their powerful active ingredients and chemicals; in moderate amounts, they are generally safe, but excessive consumption can lead to toxicity and negative side effects. In most cases, small amounts of tea (1-2 cups per day) are more than enough to enjoy the tea’s health benefits. Drug Interactions – If you are currently taking any medications, it is best to check with your doctor before adding herbal teas to your health regimen. Many herbal teas have hypotensive, hypoglycemic, sedative, and anticoagulant properties, which can be dangerous if you are already using medication that has similar effects.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 16, 2011
GLOBAL SOCCER A
WEEKLY PULL-OUT
FA CUP Q'FINAL AT STAKE
10.02.2018
Oghenekaro Etebo Set to Rescue Las Palmas
PAGE. 29
30
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀
Set to Rescue Las Palmas Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă?ËŞ Ă‘Ă’Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă•Ă‹ĂœĂ™ ĂžĂ?ĂŒĂ™ Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ËÞÞĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ ̋͟͟ãĂ?Ă‹ĂœĚ‹Ă™Ă–ĂŽ Öã×ÚÓĂ?Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ÑÙËÖĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă? Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă™ ͺ͸͚͞˛ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁËœ ĂžĂ?ĂŒĂ™ ×Ùà Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă—Ă‹Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ë› Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂž ĂŽĂ“ĂŽ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă‘Ă™ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ–ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă’ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă–Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂŒĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ĚłĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă“Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ë› Kunle Adewale ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÒÙå ĂžĂ?ĂŒĂ™ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂ— Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă‹ ͺ͸͚΀
L
as Palmas has confirmed that Oghenekaro Etebo has been invited for Super Eagles friendly matches against Poland and Serbia. The Super Eagles are scheduled to play five preparatory matches before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia; however, Nigeria’s football body has sent a letter to the Spanish side for the first two matches. A statement on the club’s website stated: “Etebo has been summoned by Nigeria for the two friendly matches that the African team will play in Poland, March 23 and against Serbia in London, March 27.� It further stated that the club
Etebo celebrating with teammate
will comply with FIFA’s rules: “In accordance with the provisions of the FIFA regulations on the 'Statute and Transfer of Players', UD Las Palmas will release the player so that he can travel to Poland, since he must join with his team on Monday, March 19.� Etebo, who moved during the summer transfer window, declared he did not come to Las Palmas to sit on the bench, and has backed up his statement with impressive performances. Etebo was the standout player at the Estadio Gran Canaria on his La Liga debut for Las Palmas against Malaga penultimate Monday night's relegation battle. The Nigeria midfielder stood out in the middle of the park with his dynamic movement, effective
ball distribution, tactical discipline and his high energy level. Speaking after completing a sixmonth loan switch to the Canary Islands-based team from CD Feirense of Portugal, the 22-yearold didn't mince words about his objectives at the club. "I'm ready to play, but it all depends on the coach. I'm ready, I'm fit, I did not come to be on the bench, but it all depends on the coach," he told Las Palmas' website. "I am comfortable as an extreme. I came to help the team. I do not care if I score or if I assist, what I want is for my team to get the three points." Reacting to Etebo five-star performance against Malaga on Monday night, former Nigeria
international, Friday Ekpo, said he was not surprised. “He is one of the most consistent goal poachers to have emerged from the country in recent years. When he was at Warri Wolves, he justified his shirt. So, why should anyone be amazed that he is doing well and also returning to the national team . His greatest strength is his consistency and humility,� the former Shell of Gabon told THISDAY. At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in spite of Nigeria arriving few hours to kick-off, Etebo went on to equal a 44-year old record after scoring four goals in the team’s opener against Japan. After the four-goal feat, Oghenekaro stated that he would prefer being an Olympic gold
31
FEBRUARY 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
GLOBAL SOCCER Bayern, Wolfsburg Clash Live on StarTimes this Weekend
E
xciting football league continues this weekend with unbeatable live matches from the Bundesliga season as Wolfsburg battles it out with Bayern Munich at the Volkswagen Arena today by 3:30 PM on StarTimes (Channel 254 and 245). Wolfsburg will attempt to snatch three points from Bayern Munich when they go head- to- head today. Current table topper, Bayern with 56 points from 22 matches will battle it out with Wolfsburg who have gathered 24 points from 22 games. Bayern Munich's midfield mestro Thiago Alcantara is set to make his comeback away to Wolfsburg after nearly three months out with a muscle injury where the Bavarians boast an 18-point lead at the top would give him some useful game time as he works his way back to full match fitness. Bayern Munich could be crowned Bundesliga champions for a sixth successive time, and 27th overall, as early
as Matchday 24. A repeat of 2012/13's historic treble triumph is also on the cards, with Bayern through to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 and DFB Cup semi-finals and among the tournament favourites. Hamburger SV will also host Bayer at the Volkspark Stadion by 3:30pm African time on the same day. Brands and Marketing Director at StarTimes, Qasim Elegbede expressed his delight saying "We are pleased to bring the Match day 23 experience to our subscriber as Wolfsburg trashes it down with Bayern Munich to retain its place as the number one on the Bundesliga table this weekend on StarTimes.” StarTimes is a leading digital-TV operator in Africa, covering the entire continent's population with a massive distribution network of 200 branded halls, 3,000 convenience stores and 5,000 distributors.
Mourinho Rubbishes Strained Relationship with Pogba
J Etebo outpaces a Colombian player during 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil
medalist to being the tournament’s top scorer. But little did he know he had achieved a greater accomplishment with his four goals - a 44 year old record set when West Germany’s Bernd Nickel scored four goals against USA in Munich was equaled. “Thank God it has happened, but what I’m most excited about was the victory. I’m very happy because it was a great joy, although it wasn’t easy due to the stress and all that. If I had scored but we lost, it’s not going to be too fantastic. I’m happy we’re topping the group, and I’m really happy about the goals. I didn’t expect it at all. I’m not going for personal glory but team glory, which to me means winning gold. Without the gold, it’s going to be painful because achieving that is important for me, for Nigerians and for my team-mates,” he had told FIFA. com then. In Etebo’s first ever Nigerian Premier League match as an 18year old, he scored a hat-trick and at the end of that season, he finished as the league’s secondhighest goal scorer. “I’m not that perfect but I believe, like my coach says, once you get a chance, its better you convert it because you don’t know when you’re going to get another one. I’m not a special striker or fantastic goal scorer, but it’s better to be at the right place at the right time to score good goals,” he said. During the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal, the qualifying tournament for Rio 2016 for the continent, Etebo finished as the tournament’s top marksman. Etebo made his international
debut in July 2013 against Cote d’Ivoire in a 2–0 loss in Abidjan during the 2014 African Nations Championship qualification campaign. In the summer of 2014, he went on trial at Italian Serie A side Udinese and was to be offered a contract after impressing, but a fee could not be agreed with Warri Wolves, so he returned to Nigeria. In December 2015, he helped the Nigerian U-23 Team to the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Senegal; finishing top scorer with 5 goals, including a brace in a 2–1 win against Algeria in the final. In 2016, he won the Most Promising Talent of the Year award at the CAF Awards in Abuja. He joined CD Feirense as a free player after his contract with Warri Wolves FC expired at the end of the 2014/15 season. Etebo has regularly caught the eye throughout his career, right from making his professional debut for Warri Wolves in the 2012/13 Nigeria Professional Football League season, and it was only a case of keeping him on the right track and ensuring he remained focused on the bigger picture ahead. Despite experiencing two major setbacks in his young career failure to make the Super Eagles' 23-man squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship and to complete a transfer to Udinese of Italy in 2014 - Etebo has not been deterred. Instead, he continued to improve. After helping his new club to a 1-0 victory over Malaga on his debut, he is unhappy as they failed to secure the maximum points
ose Mourinho says any speculation the relationship between him and Paul Pogba has broken down are "lies". Recent reports have suggested Pogba is unhappy with the position he is being asked to play in by Mourinho, while others have linked him with a move to Real Madrid in the summer. However, when asked about this speculation, Mourinho said: "I think you are nice with your words because when you say a lot of speculation, you should say a lot of lies. "I can speak on Paul's behalf without any kind of problem. He accepts he's not been playing well in the last few matches, but that's all. "It's a big lie that our relationship is not good. It's a big lie that we don't communicate. It's a big lie that we don't agree with his position and his dynamic within the team. "The team needs him at a good level and
when he isn't the team is not as good. So be objective and say what we all know - in the last couple of matches he didn't play well. Period. "The majority of the things you can read and listen to - don't be nice, be objective and say lies." Mourinho acknowledged Pogba preferred to play on the left of a midfield three in a 4-3-3 formation, whereas many argue he has been playing in a deep midfield role as part of a 4-2-3-1. However, Mourinho insisted that was not the case, and Pogba has been given opportunities in his favourite position. He said: "It's quite ridiculous to speak about his position. I would like somebody to tell me in which position they think Pogba played against Newcastle. "We played with Matic, Lingard on the right side of Matic and Pogba on the left side of Matic.
L-R: Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc. Franco Maria Maggi; Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc. Jordi Borrut Bel; President, Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick; and MD Pamodzi Sports Marketing Mike Itemuagbor at the Official Partnership kickoff between the Nigerian Football Federation and Nigerian Breweries, held at the Nigerian Breweries Headquarter in Lagos, yesterday PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN
against Jose Angel Ziganda’s side in his second game. “Tough game last night against a good team. Disappointed not to take all three points but pleased with another clean sheet and point away from home. Our fans were brilliant once again,” Etebo posted on Instagram. Playing the full game, the playercould do little as Las Palmas settled for their 15th draw in the Spanish top-flight this season which leaves them in the relegation zone. Etebo will be looking to help his side bounce back to winning ways when they take on Sevilla today, February 17.
G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE
32
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀
FA CUP
HuddersďŹ eld Target First Qâ€™ďŹ nal in 46 Years against Manchester U ÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ÞÞĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÓ×Ă?Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ͚̋͸ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ě‹ ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂĄĂ?Ă‹Ă?ÞÖĂ? Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽËœ Ă&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă–ĂŽËœ ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž ÞåÙ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă’Ă™ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă• ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă&#x;Ăš Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÚÖËĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? ͚ΠͿͺ Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă‹ĂŽ Ă™Ă? ÞÙÎËã˪Ă? Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă Ă“Ă–ËŞĂ? Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ăž
HuddersďŹ eld players celebrating their victory against Man United
H
uddersfield are targeting a first FA Cup quarter-final since 1972 as they look to beat Manchester United on home soil for the second time this season. The Terriers have won their last two games 4-1, including a surprise result against in-form Bournemouth. Steve Mounie is hoping to continue a run of three goals in his last four games, but manager David Wagner knows it will be difficult to repeat Huddersfield's memorable 2-1 win over United from
October. He said: "The priority since day one has been the Premier League. This doesn't mean we don't like to be successful in the other competitions as well. We will not worry about this situation. It is our present for our fans that we play Man Utd in the fifth round of the FA Cup at home - the oldest competition in the world. "It's a great occasion, a great situation, a great moment even if we have some injury problems. It's the cup so we can play this game with all the freedom we have against one of the biggest names in world football at
the John Smith's Stadium." Huddersfield Town defender Scott Malone believes the club's Premier League win over Manchester United earlier this season will be a confidence boost as they aim to topple Jose Mourinho's side in Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round match. Huddersfield pulled off a shock 2-1 league win over United at the John Smith's Stadium in October but fell to a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford earlier this month. "We've got Manchester United for the third time this season... we are all looking forward to it," Malone told the club's
Barca Face Dilemma in Eibar Visit
B
arcelona coach Ernesto Valverde faces a dilemma before his side's potentially tricky trip to in-form Eibar to day, having watched his side's seemingly unassailable La Liga lead cut to seven points from 11 in the last two weeks. The advantage would normally give the coach room to rotate his squad in order to keep his side fresh for the visit to Chelsea in the Champions League three days later but tiny Eibar's consistency means such a move risks his side falling closer to second-placed Atletico Madrid. Eibar hail from a town of 27 000 inhabitants in the Basque region and are the smallest team in the top flight. Five years ago they were in the 80-team regional third tier. They have overcome a rocky start to the season to grow into genuine con-
tenders for a European spot, rising to seventh place in the standings by losing only one of their last 12 games. That run has included impressive 5-0 and 5-1 thrashings of Real Betis and Sevilla respectively as well as victory over highflying Valencia. They have also developed a knack for edging tight games, snatching a 1-0 win at Leganes in their last outing with an injury-time goal. It is a remarkable turnaround from their dismal form at the start of the season when they lost seven of their first 11 games, although coach Jose Luis Mendilibar said his side had barely altered their style, which is based on pressing high, no-nonsense defending and frequent crosses into the opposing box. "We've changed nothing, we don't care which team we play, we'll keep doing what we believe we do well," the coach said. "It's easy for any analyst to see what we do in every game, we change hardly anything so it should be easy to play against us. It's
extraordinary to be in this position at this stage as no-one would have expected that when the season started." Barca have found it easy to play against Eibar, winning all seven of their games since the side were promoted and thrashing them 6-1 at the Nou Camp last September. Lionel Messi seems to enjoy playing them too, having scored 12 goals in six meetings, including four in the last fixture. The Catalans remain the only unbeaten team in Europe's top five leagues but head to the tiny, 7 000-capacity Ipurua stadium following unconvincing draws against Espanyol and Getafe. They will be boosted by the return of first-choice centre backs Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti, however. Atletico Madrid have won their last three league games and will be looking to keep the pressure on Barca when they host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, while champions Real Madrid visit Real Betis.
website. "They're a good side and put you under a lot of pressure. We've played a deep block against them twice now, beat them at home and lost away. It'll be interesting to see what we do Saturday as there's no points to play for. We want a good cup run and we are going into the game to win it." Jose Mourinho concentrated on the form of Paul Pogba in the build-up to the game, calling reports of a breakdown between himself and the France international as lies. "It's very difficult to put me in a position where I have to criticise my players," said Mourinho when quizzed on Pogba's lack of form, which saw the ÂŁ89m midfielder dropped when United last faced Huddersfield a fortnight ago. "It is my problem; it is the player's problem. A big lie that our relationship is not good, a big lie that we don't communicate, a big lie that we don't agree with his positions and his involvement in the dynamic of the team. So, be objective and say what we all know - in the last couple of matches he didn't play well. Period. End of story."
Ă“Ă?ÞÒ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ TODAY SheďŹƒeld Wed Brighton West Brom HuddersďŹ eld
v v v v
Swansea City Coventry City Southampton Man Utd
12:30 15:00 15:00 17:50
SUNDAY Rochdale
v
Tottenham
16:00
Man City
19:55
MONDAY Wigan
v
33
Ϳ˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS
L–R: Rear Commodore Navy Sailing Club, Mr. Emmanuel Agha, Former Vice Commodore , Navy Sailing Club, Navy Capt. Dayo Ogunniran, Representative of FOC, Western Navy Command, Commodore Patrick Yekwe, Commodore Navy Sailing Club, Navy Capt. F. K. Daramola (Rtd) and former Vice Commodore SOD Mayaki, during the Navy Sailing Club Annual FOC West Boat Race 2018 at the Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos... recently
L-R: Ayomide Kuti, Red House captain, Ademide Adebanjo, Yellow House captain, and Alvin Onrioha, Blue House captain display their trophy at the Beehive School 2018 Sports Competition
Over 1,000 Athletes Battle for Honours in NOGIG 2018 Over 1000 athletes representing 13 companies in Nigeria's Oil and Gas sector will compete in the 2018 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games beginning tomorrow at the Chevron Recreation Centre, Gbagada, Lagos. At a press conference to herald the start of the games, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Aminu Zaria said 11 sports, which includes, football, squash, table tennis, scrabble, chess, snooker, swimming and golf. Others include basketball, 100 metres dash and the 4x100 metres relay will feature in the week-long event expected to end February 24. According to him, “the events will run simultaneously in four locations which include Chevron Gbagada,
Ikoyi Club 1938, Lakowe Golf Club and the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Zaria also said that this year's games witnessed an increase in the number of participating companies. “These include NNPC, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Total, Erotone and NCDMB. Others include DPR, SEPLAT, NLNG, DPR, PTI and OVH,” he said, promising that there were indications that the number will be greater in subsequent editions. The 2018 Oil and Gas Industry Games is the 17th in the series and has grown from a single-sport to a multi-sports event. Also speaking at the press conference, Vice President of the LOC,
Alex Onumbu said there was more to the games than prizes. “What we get out of these games, in terms of participation cannot be quantified in monetary terms,” adding that NOGIG provided a platform for interaction and connectivity among players in the industry across board. The games end at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on February 24, with the final of the football event between Chevron and Exxon Mobil. Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode will be the special guest of honour at the grand finale. Also expected at the final are the Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung, among other dignitaries.
Cadbury Partners NFF, Super Eagles Cadbury Nigeria Plc, manufacturers of TomTom, has expressed delight to partner the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) as the ‘Official Candy of the Super Eagles.’ In a statement, the Company’s Corporate and Government Affairs Director for West Africa, Mr. Bala Yesufu said now is the time to give the Super Eagles the maximum support they require to excel in football, Nigeria’s favourite sport. Yesufu said: “Tom Tom, the leading candy brand from Cadbury Nigeria is proud to be associated as ‘Official Candy of the Super Eagles.’ We appreciate the leadership of the NFF for their moderation in arriving at this partnership
initiative and we hope to live up to our part of the deal.” According to the President of the NFF, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, the partnership with Tom Tom was too good to be turned down as the brand has demonstrated a champion’s spirit over the years. Pinnick added: “The Nigerian Football Federation is pleased to enter into this worthwhile contract as Tom Tom has done so much for Nigerian football over the years. “Candies are for champions. The Super Eagles remain a champion team and Tom Tom is also a champion candy. I strongly believe the company will enjoy the new experience even better than
its previous romance with Nigerian Football Federation.” The press statement said further that Mr. Mike Itemuagbor, Chairman of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, the sponsorship agency, noted that Tom Tom from Cadbury and his company have the responsibility to ensure that both organisations derive fulfillment from the relationship. He opined further: “The agreement is for a period of three years in the initial period, and renewable. It makes Tom Tom the ‘Official Candy of the Super Eagles.’ All other details will be made known at the official contract signing ceremony soon.”
18 Schools Set for PwC Chess4Change Tourney Eighteen schools have indicated their readiness to vie for honours in this year's edition of the PwC Chess4Change tournament. The tourney which is in three phases, according the organisers, is slated between February 4 and May 15 in the state. Speaking at a press parley on Tuesday, the Principal Partner, PwC, Mr. Pedro Omotuamhen, emphasised the commitment of company to the Chess4Change program, stressing that they are also committed to development
of students in the state. He added that expansion of the program to other schools is to enable the spread of the benefits of the program to other communities in the state. The Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh who was at the event commended PwC and the Ministry of Education for their contribution to the success of the Chess4Change Initiative. He also expressed his delight at the concept of merging education and sports stating that he would recommend it
for the commission’s programmes. “Chess is not just a game, but an educational and developmental tool," Tandoh pointed out. The new schools invited for the 2018 PwC Chess4Change program are; CMS Girls Senior Grammar School, Bariga; Ajayi Crowther Memorial Grammar School; Eva Adelaja Senior Girls Grammar School, Bariga; Euba Junior Secondary School, Mushin; Immaculate Heart Senior High School, Maryland; and Unity Junior High School, Oshodi.
Lagos Dissolves Boards of State Sports Associations The Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved with immediate effect, the dissolution of the 36 State Sport Associations excluding the State Football Association under the supervision of the Lagos State Sports Commission. The dissolution, according to the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku
Tandoh, becomes necessary to enable the state government to rejig and reposition the activities of all the sports associations in line with the vision of the state becoming the sports hub of Africa. The sporting associations which boards were dissolved are athletics, badminton, baseball, boxing, cricket, cycling, chess and darts.
Other are, fives, football, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, karate, Kick-boxing, kung fu, tennis, rugby, rowing and yachting, scrabble and shooting. Also included are, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tug of war, weightlifting, wrestling, volley-ball, golf, deaf sports, para sports, traditional sports, triathlon and sports medicine.
Yellow House Tops Beehive School Inter-house Sports Yellow House has successfully defended its position as the best house in Beehive School as it emerged champions of the school’s 2018 inter-house sports competition for the second year in a row. The house topped with a total of 28 medals consisting of 12 gold, 10 silver and six bronze medals. Red House came second with 29 medals made up of 11 gold, seven silver and 11 bronze medals while Blue House was third with six gold, 12 silver and five bronze medals, while Green House was fourth with 22 medals -five gold, five silver and 12 bronze medals. The event, which was held at the school’s newly constructed sports arena, witnessed a large turnout of parents, invited guests and pupils from schools around the Ikeja environs, who participated in the schools invitational relays. Pupils took part in various track and field events such as the 25 metres and 50 metres race for the nursery section while the primary pupils took part in the 100metres and relay races, high jump, sack race and filling the basket event. There were also field events like high jump, long jump and taekwondo demonstration by the children. Speaking at the event, the school’s PTA chairperson, Mrs. Bridget Elesin said, “Watching our children compete and have fun brings us the true joy of learning that education goes beyond just reading. Thanks to the proprietress, Mrs. Latifat Dosunmu and Beehive management for providing the facilities and developing sporting programmes that our kids enjoy being part of.” Speaking at the event, the proprietress Beehive School, Dosunmu restated her commitment to developing well-rounded children that can compete with their peers globally and promised investment in facilities to ensure that the pupils can develop their potentials to the fullest.
'Captain Okunbo at 60' Pro-Am Invitation Golf Tournament Ends Today The weeklong golfing activities at the Captain Hosa Okunbo at 60 Pro-Am Invitation Golf Tournament holding at the Benin Club golf course, Benin City will come to end today. The golf tournament which teed-off on Monday February 12, featured about 300 professional and amateur golfers who came from different golf clubs across the country for the event put together by the Benin Club Golf Section in honour of the philanthropist, who also is the patron of Benin Club. The chief host of the tournament, Kingsley Ehi Okunbo, the MD/CEO of Vision Air Products, expressed satisfaction at the turnout of golfers taking part in the tournament that teed-off in honour of Captain Hosa said the tournament has lived up to expectation. Okunbo remarked that earmarking the sum of five million naira as prize money for the professional golfers was the highest in the history of the professional golfers in Nigeria, adding that various other prizes would be awarded to all those who distinguished themselves at the event. Meanwhile, part of the activities outlined for the closing day is the amateur men handicap 0-17 and ladies handicap 0-28 follow in the same order while the professional final match day tee-off immediately which will eventually lead to the closing and presentation of prizes later in the evening. “We have witnessed competitive golfing actions since Monday when the caddy category through Tuesday while the professionals tournament takes centre stage on same day for their final match. “So, today, being the final day, the guests ladies and special guests will open the day tee-off by 6.30am, just after the amateur men handicap 0-17 and ladies handicap 0-28 follow in the same order while the professional final match day tee-off immediately which will eventually lead to the closing and presentation of prizes later in the evening.” MD/CEO Kaydees said.
34
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺ
COVER Femi Falana
Buhari’s Government Sabotaging Anticorruption War Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, in this interview with Bayo Akinloye says that while corruption continues to fester under President Muhammadu Buhari administration, it could not be compared to the rot that occurred under former rulers Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Ibrahim Babangida
irst is the herders-farmers crisis; it appears the security agencies are stretched and thus are unable to handle the ongoing violence in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, and others. Some think, as claimed by Governor Ortom, that the security agencies and the federal government are complicit in the killings going on. What is your honest assessment of the issue? The nation is largely ruled by ignorance, incompetence and arrogance on the part of the ruling class. Since 1999 the country has witnessed avoidable ethno-religious and communal clashes. We have witnessed insurgency, militancy and herdsmen’s attacks which could have been prevented by the government. Each of these crises has confirmed the failure of intelligence and incompetence of the government. It is simplistic to reduce the violence in Benue state to the complicity of the federal government alone. It goes beyond that. Governor Samuel Ortom once revealed that 1,878 people p p were killed in herdsmen / farmers clashes from 2013-2016. In September p last y year about 723 Fulani herdsmen were kill d iin reprisal tt k In I Plateau Pl t St t killed p i l attacks. State over 3,000 were killed in 10 y years. In Zamfara State over 2,000 p people p have been killed. According g to Senator Marafa, not less than 5,000 women have been raped p by bandits. The p post election violence in 12 Northern States and Akwa Ibom in April p 2011 claimed 864 lives. These figures g exclude killings g by y terror g gangs gs and killer squads q set up p by y some state governors, armed robbery g yg gangs, g kidnap pg gangs g and other criminal gangs. g g Life has become totally y value value-less in the country. y In very y many y cases of unlawful killings g and violent attacks the police p made arrests but the suspects p were hardly y brought g to justice. ustice. That is why y the killings g have been on the ascendancy. y Apart p from the attacks traceable to herdsmen in Benue State there have been killings g by y militia groups g p and other gangs. g g While it is true that the state government g is not in control of the police p and other security y forces is the Attorney-General y of the State not in charge g of p prosecution of criminal elements? I am aware that the police p arrested scores of criminal suspects p in all the attacks. Why y were the suspects p not tried by y the State government? In the latest attacks, the police g p and the army y have arrested over 100 people. p p I can assure y you that they y will go scot free and the killings will continue. What do y you think is the solution: anti-open p grazing law, ranches, or cattle colonies? I have shouted myself y hoarse over the lasting g solution to the crisis. Nobody y has chal chal-lenged g the solution which is the establishment of ranches. Ethiopia, p Mozambique, q Botswana and other African countries have solved the problem of animal husbandry. p y With ranches, Botswana is the largest g p producer and exporter p of meat in Africa. The first ranch, the Obudu cattle ranch was established in Nigeria g in 1951. Later the Ahmadu Bello regime g founded a ranch in Mokwa, now in Niger State while the Obafemi Awolowo regime set up a ranch in Akunu,
now in Ondo State. Under the Yakubu Gowon regime the Audu Bako regime in Kano State had the best ranches in the country. Currently the Nigerian Army has set up a ranch in the Federal Capital Territory. In 2014 the Jonathan administration sent a number of young men and women to Botswana to study the development of ranches. They trained, returned home and were made redundant. That regime made available N100 billion for the establishment of ranches. The fund was diverted by some state governments. By 2016, the Buhari regime announced that it was going to establish ranches. and claimed that 11 states had provided 55,000 hectares for the ranches. But not a single ranch was established. At the height of the crisis, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe came up with the provocative pet project of cattle colony. Happily, the Miyetti Allah Breeders Association has dissociated itself from cattle colonization. President Buhari also kicked against the idea. But the Miyetti Breeders Association should be encour encouraged g to o ob ob--
tain loans from the banks to establish ranches. Majority of the owners of the cattle are very rich. They should be made to own ranches. We must stop sending cattle rearers to the street in this age and time. With ranches, the animals will be fatter. They will produce quality meat and milk. The cattle rearers will live in the vicinity of the ranches and have schools for their children. It is the height of primitivity on the part of any government to dispatch young men to the street to rear animals. You are risking their lives by allowing them to bear AK47 rifles. Does it bother you, sir, that each time there is tragedy or scandal in Nigeria, the government’s response is to set up a panel or committee to look into the matter with the law enforcement agencies appear to wait for the government to tell them when to act, where and how to do so? It bothers me. Hence, I have decided to challenge the culture of impunity with respect to the killings. For instance, I have asked the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to produce the reports of police investigation into the killings that have occurred since 2011. I have also written to the Nigeria Bar Association to compel its members who are attor-
neys-general of the federal and state governments to prosecute all the suspects who were arrested by the police for engaging in unlawful killing of people. I am sending the reports of some of the judicial and administrative panels which investigated the killings to the appropriate authorities. We just cannot allow murderers to go scot free while the relations of those who have been killed are frustrated in their search for justice. The President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s critics think the A PC government is displaying the same symptoms of governance that the former President Goodluck Jonathan regime showed. What’s your thought on that? The criticism is not unfounded in view of the composition of the APC. The leaders of the national assembly, a substantial number of legislators, ministers and governors were in the Peoples Democratic Party who migrated to the APC a few weeks before the 2015 general election. With respect, the APC was a special purpose vehicle for changing the federal government in 2015. No more, no less. No commitment to any ideology or principle. The leaders of the APC cannot agree on restructuring or federalism. Nigerians had relied on the personal integrity of candidate Mohammadu Buhari and the change agenda of the APC. Of course, unlike the Jonathan regime, the APC administration has, to a large extent, won the war on terror. But the gain recorded in the north east region has been lost in other parts of the country where insecurity has taken over. No doubt, the Buhari administration declared a war on corruption. But the regime is currently sabotaging the war through the questionable reinstatement of highly corrupt public officers. Apart from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission other anti-graft agencies have been tactically castrated by the Senate which has refused to confirm the members of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau. The national assembly has also failed to pass the bills for the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Court, Whistle Blowing Bill, Proceed of Crime Bill etc. The Buhari regime has not mobilised and involved the Nigerian people in the fight against corruption. Hence the people have not joined issues with the legislators on the refusal to pass the necessary bills to fight corruption. By reinstating and retaining corrupt public officers the regime is encouraging corruption to fight back. The APC controls the majority of the members of the national assembly. Yet the assembly is dedicated to the frustration of the war against corruption. Out of the 21 states controlled by the APC only Kano state has an anti corruption agency. Is it an irony that the PDP government in Ekiti state is trying to set up an anti corruption agency? Some have said it is shameful that state governors in the South, comprising the East, West and South-South, have failed to condemn the herdsmen menace, especially in Benue and Taraba. What do you think about that? It is a shame that all the 35 state governors have allowed the federal government to usurp police powers in Nigeria. Mind you, the Constitution has not created the federal govern-
FEBRUARY 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
35
COVER Buhari’s Government Sabotaging Anti-corruption War ment police force but the Nigeria Police Force. Section 214 of the Constitution provides that the President cannot appoint or remove the Inspector-General of Police without seeking the advice of the Nigeria Police Council. The principal function of the Nigeria Police Council is the organisation, administration and supervision of the Nigeria Police Force. Who are the members of the Nigeria Police Council? The President, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and the 36 state governors. But since 1999, the 36 governors out of a body of 39 members have allowed the President alone to control and supervise the Nigeria Police Force. It is on record that in the appointment and removal of all the Inspector-Generals of Police the advice of the Nigeria Police Council has never been sought. Neither has the Council intervened in the administration, organization and supervision of the Nigeria Police Force. Never! So the state governors could not have done much in policing their states. So far, so good, how has the government performed in terms of fighting corruption? In 3 years, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered over N750 Billion, and properties worth much more. It has also recently succeeded in the conviction of a few politically exposed persons. The regime has implemented the BVN policy, the TSA policy and Whistle Blowing policy. The Chief Justice has ensured the creation of Special Judicial Divisions to hear and determine corruption cases. To that extent, the Buhari administration has recorded more success than previous regimes in the fight against the menace of corruption. But as far as I am concerned, the regime has not addressed the root cause of corruption which is the peripheral capitalist system operated imposed on the country by imperialism. The system encourages tax avoidance, capital flight, total profit repatriation by foreign companies, dollarization of the economy, mass importation of goods including those that are locally produced, indiscriminate duty waivers, reckless award of contracts etc. It is a system that has produced a few billionaires in the midst of poverty stricken millions of people. President Obasanjo said that he measured the success of his economic programme by the fact that he produced 25 billionaires. President Jonathan said that his economic programme succeed ed because some business men once flew their jets to Kenya while he was there on a State visit. Even though President Buhari is not as lousy as the two ex-rulers the situation has not changed. The point I am struggling to make is that an economic programme that generates poverty and mass unemployment of youths cannot meaningfully fight corruption. A civil servant who knows that his or her gratuity and pension will not be paid several years after retirement may be tempted to steal public funds. If the government seriously wants to fight corruption it has to fix the economy and promote the welfare of the people. The mortgage system has to be organized to build and sell houses at affordable prices to the citizens. The health insurance scheme has to be managed to provide health insurance to all employees in the public and private sectors. The bank interest rates have to be reduced to the neighbourhood of 5 percent. In your view, reviewing the inaugural speech President Muhammadu Buhari gave on May 29, 2015, do you think he has performed as he pledged to do, so far? People who know President Buhari say that he is a man of integrity. The electorate voted for him on that basis. So far, he has not been accused of involving himself in corrupt practices or primitive accumulation of wealth like his predecessors. But members of the cabal of power mongers who are close to him have been accused of abuse of power, corruption and breach of due process. Since the President chose his friends you cannot exonerate him from the allegations associated with the cabal. It is a case of tell me your friend, I tell who you are. His wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari was the first person to alert the nation that a cabal had hijacked power from the President. For instance, the President says he is now a democrat. But a democrat must ensure that court orders are obeyed. The President says he believes in the rule of law. But why does he allow officials of the government to engage in impunity by disregarding court orders? Or why should a democratic leader allow people who are persecuted in Cameroon to be abducted and handed over to their executioners? I believe that the President has the golden opportunity to distance himself from shady and corrupt people. Otherwise, his integrity will be ruined by them.
Falana
In your view, reviewing the inaugural speech President Buhari gave on assuming power in 2015 do you think he has performed well as he pledged? In fairness to President Buhari he concedes that he has not met the expectation of the electorate. However, the government has blamed its inability to perform on the ruination of the economy and the looting of the treasury by the PDP regimes from 1999 – 2015. Having been in power for almost 3 years Nigerians are no longer prepared to accept excuses or trading of blames. In fact, the patience of Nigerians has been lost due to the decision of government to treat certain corrupt public officers with kid gloves. Whereas President Buhari had pledged to fight official impunity, the menace is on the increase. Laws are breached with disdain. Court orders are treated with contempt. Indiscriminate arrests and detention without trial by the police and other security agencies have continued unabated. The infrastructural decay has not been addressed. Unemployed is on the increase while kidnapping and armed robbery are on rampant. Hence, Nigerians have not seen the change promised by President Buhari and the APC. Some think the Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for Nigeria Movement is a circle of same uninspiring politicians and so-called leaders. What do you think? It was Olisa Agbakoba who set up the Third Force or the Nigerian Intervention Movement. So the idea was stolen from the Agbakoba group. With respect, the Obasanjoled coalition is a movement for disgruntled members of the PDP and APC. To confirm my categorization, the leaders of the coalition are ex-pdp chairman, Colonel Ahmadu Ali and ex-governor Olafinsoye Oyinlola who has not call it quits with APC. But the members are entitled to enjoy their freedom of association and freedom of expression. So let the security forces not harass them. Chief Obasanjo is yet to appreciate that Nigerians are not looking for politicians whose ideas have expired. In the words of former President Obasanjo, the members of the Coalition are not the messiahs that Nigerians are looking for. Recently, you were quoted to have described Buhari and Obasanjo as ‘birds of a feather.’ Is that correct? Will you say Buhari has institutionalised corruption as you alleged Obasanjo did during his reign? Both are retired Generals. Both declared a war against corruption. President Obasanjo was the Petroleum Minister, so is President Buhari. For 8 years President Obasanjo had three Yoruba Inspetor-Generals of Police namely Mr. Musiliu Smith, Mr. Tafa Balogun and Mr. Sunday Ehindero. The Director-General, Mr. Kayode Are who was in the saddle for 8 years is an Owu man like President Obasanjo. The CBN governor was Mr. Joseph Sanusi. Even the Chief of Staff was General Mohammed, a Yoruba man from Kwara State, the Press Secretary was Dr. Doyin Okupe.
But President Obasanjo later expanded the government to reflect federal character. He is asking President Buhari to also reflect federal character in the security forces and the government in order to give members of the ruling class a sense of belonging. It has nothing to do with the masses who are on the receiving end of oppression and exploitation. Let these Generals not think that our memory is so short. I never said that President Obasanjo institutionalised corruption. It was General Babangida that did that successfullu. His new breed politicians colluded with him to annul a presidential election which almost led to a civil war. With the imposition of the imperialist inspired Structural Adjustment Programme General Babangida wiped out the middle class. Under him official corruption became the directive principle of state policy. President Obasanjo equally had a number of young men and women in his government who aided him to manipulate and fix election results. Together with the young people in his government the assets of the nation were sold through blind trusts. Even though the era recorded the sale of a barrel of oil at over $120 the nation’s energy sector, roads, hospitals etc were not fixed. Did the government not generate darkness for the nation with the sum of $16 billion. Majority of the elements who engaged in the criminal diversion of the public funds were young men and women. So, it is not about age but ideas. There are old people with revolutionary ideas. To build a new nation we need the experience of old people and the energy of the youths. Therefore, we need political parties and political movement founded on ideology, whose vision will be clearly set up. We need discipline political parties like the African National Congress in South Africa which can withdraw its officials from the government. How can Nigeria avert bloodshed in 2019 general elections? Since government has become the easiest avenue for personal enrichment politicians have become very desperate for power. But with the rising consciousness which is exhibited in the social media, the days of godfatherism may soon be over. Millions of young men and women have registered to vote in 2019. With the determination of Nigerians to participate in the democratic process we are not likely to witness any orgy of violence. The security forces are familiar with the dark spots all over the country. They are going to be mobilised to prevent violence. In any case, movement of persons and goods will be restricted on election days. I am confident that the Nigerian people will not allow violent politicians and their ilk to disrupt the elections. Can Nigerians get Buhari out of power in 2019? If yes, how can they do so? I am not in a position to predict what will happen in 2019. Some pastors have already engaged in that diversionary exercise. I am however sure that there are political groups
that are determined to make the election issue based. Some politicians are going to insist on restructuring. But young people will demand job creation, the rural people will demand poverty elimination, the human rights community will demand a commitment to the actualization of the fundamental objectives in Chapter II of the Constitution. Other interest groups will make specific demands from the political class during the electioneering campaign. No doubt, the APC and PDP have zoned the presidency to the north. But there are southerners who are going to run for the presidency. Majority of the 68 political parties that have been registered by the independent national electoral commission will field presidential candidates from all over the country. Which northerners do you think can successfully pick up the gauntlet? Atiku Abubakar? Sule Lamido? Aminu Tambuwwal? Or, is it Emir Muhammad Sanusi? Some of the people you have just mentioned have not indicated any interest in the presidency. Frankly speaking, I cannot recommend any candidate whose programme or ideology has not been unveiled. In the interest of the development of the country let the media start promoting programmes instead of big names and size of the pockets of politicians. Do you think as some have argued that it’s time Obasanjo, IBB, and Buhari left the centre stage? To the extent that these retired Generals have vested interests in Nigerian enterprise they cannot voluntarily quit the centre stage. It is the APC regime that has given them room to manipulate the consciuosness of our people. But they will soon be rendered irrelevant in the affairs of the nation. I know one of the groups which is determined to ask these two gentlemen to answer questions on the disappearance of $12.4 billion from the central bank and the $16 billion earmarked for the energy sector. Another group is not bothered about 2019. It is dedicated to mobilise Nigerians to challenge police brutality, official impunity and criminal diversion of public funds. One group wants to ensure that some reactionary legislators are not reelected. The 2019 general election is not going to be business as usual. Some people have said that by default a northerner must emerge as Nigeria’s President in 2019. Do you agree? It is almost certain that President Buhari is going to ask for a fresh mandate in 2019. The electorate will judge him on the basis of his performance in office. I am comvinced that APC will not find it easy to ride to power. At the same time the Nigerian people will not go back to a rogue regime. As for Generals Obasanjo and Babangida they won’t go far this time around. The alternative perspective that Nigerians are looking for has excluded both of them. But they should continue to convey the frustrations of Nigerians to the presidential villa through letter writing and public speeches.
36
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺͶ
FAIRGROUND
Limitless Fun at Wazobia FM Soca in Naija Carnival
with
AZUKA OGUJIUBA
azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com
H
ave you ever been in a place where, for no particular reason, you just feel energized and full of life from within? That is the kind of energy and lively feeling at the Wazobia FM Carnival. The level of fun, even before the event started, was 360; from the beautiful red carpet to the well-organised vendor spots to the liveliness from the stage with a mix of good music from DJ MoonLait. The 2-day carnival held on the 3rd and 4th of February, was full of life, fun, and everything exciting that comes with a carnival. The hosts were Yaw, Lolo1 and Igos (the prince of Wazobia), who kicked off the event with some exciting dance competitions- they brought out dancer s in the attendees. Not to forget the parade, led by the SOCA dancers, in the two days of the carnival, which started all the way from Etim Inyang Crescent down Muri Okunola Park. The carnival was attended by the Ccommissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos state, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Tourism, Arts and Culture , Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, Director of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Otunlana Saidat Olaitan. The carnival never ran short of performing acts, from music to comedy and show of Lagos State rich cultural heritage and all. The crowd was cracked up by A-list comedian: Basket Mouth, Funny Bone, MC Abbey, Pencil, Ushebe, Julius Agwu, Still Ringing Baba Kay, just to mention a few. Phyno, Skales, Small Doctor, MC Galaxy, Sound Sultan, Korede Bello, Ratata Nation of Wazobia fm thrilled the audience to a memorable carnival. The children were well taken care of, parents had nothing to worry about, there was children’s corner with their famous bouncing castle, video games and other loads of kids fun stuffs. Football fans were not left out of the equation, as there was Sports Village with Femi and the Gang, bringing live matches from premiere league to La Liga and the just concluded CHAN. It goes without saying that the Wazobia FM Carvinal was all shades of fun and the carnival has distinctly created a platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Lagos to Africa and the world at large. The Wazobia FM carnival was proudly supported Indomie, Nobel carpets, Lush Hair and Samsung.
The SOCA dancers from Trinidad and Tobago with Wazobia FM OAP’s Igos, Lolo 1 and St. Shaggi
Girls on parade at the event L-R Mrs Aramide Giwanson, Special Adviser, Arts and Culture, Mr Steve Ayorinde, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture and a guest at the 2018 Wazobia Carnival held at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island
Children having fun at the event
Agere
Queen of the event
Presenter
Cultural dancers performing on stage
37
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺͶ
FAIRGROUND
Trinidad and Tobago Explores Lagos Tourism
A
10-mandelegationfromtheRepublic of Trinidad and Tobago is set to explore the tourism benefits of Lagos through a cultural exchange process and other initiatives that will benefit the country and Lagos. This was disclosed by the leader of the team, recently, during a courtesy visit to the management of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture at Alausa, Ikeja. The team led by Mr. Kyle Lequay was in Lagos for the 2018 WAZOBIA FM Carnival, which featured Soul Calypso (SOCA), a popular genre of music performed in Trinidad and Tobago and for a Cultural Exchange with Nigeria. According to Mr. Kyle Lequay, the visit was an initiative to enhance carnival product and culture exchange across borders as tourism business has become a big global business. He said unity in the sector is about accepting diversity in cultural heritage and potentials of countries. While welcoming the group, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said “the Ministry is the Cultural mouthpiece of the Lagos State Government and tourism is the heart beat of His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State, who has ventilated his desire to make the State the tourism hub of Nigeria and one of the top five tourism destinations in Africa.” Speaking further, the commissioner reiterated the support the State has given to the entertainment industry to promote genres such as Fela Anikulapo’s Afrobeat brand of music which has gone beyond borders just as the Calpso music. He said the Lagos Marathon race is a component of tourism to showcase Lagos State as the most tourism friendly city in Nigeria. He informed the team that the Muri Okunola Park, the venue for the WAZOBIAFM Carnival would soon be transformed into a befitting arts arena with series of arts and entertainment events.
Mr. Fola Adeyemi, Mr Steve Ayorinde and Mrs Aramide Giwanson
The government, according to the commissioner would support this with the construction of arts theaters across the State. Ayorinde informed the visiting Trinidad and Tobago nationals that formulation of the Lagos state tourism master plan is already at advance
stage and that it would be fashioned to harness the socio- economic benefit of tourism for the State and make it private sector driven. The tourists were accompanied to the ministry by Mr. Serge Noujaim, the Chief Executive of WAZOBIA FM, and were received by its
management, which included Mrs. Aramide Giwanson, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Arts and Culture, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and heads of agencies, departments and units in the ministry.
Ambode Ready for Innovation to Drive Lagos Tourism
L
agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is ever receptive to innovations in driving and achieving optimum development in the state, especially in the creative industry, hospitality management and the entire tourism value-chain. The State Government realised early that tourism is one of the pillars of the creative economy, which could turn the IGR of any country around and this is why the Lagos State Government is determined to use the creative economy for revenue generation, outside oil and gas. The state, therefore, will deploy innovation, technology and globally tested resources to achieve its goal in marketing her tourism assets. This is part of the reason the state is putting together a 15-year tourism master plan alongside other innovations. This was disclose recently by Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture when the promoters of Tourism Innovation Development Advantage paid a courtesy call to his office to seek the support of the Ministry for its forthcoming conference on virtual tourism marketing. The commissioner affirmed the support of the Lagos State Government for the hosting of the 2018 ‘tida’ conference and the launch of virtual tourism device for
tourism promotion in the state. The endorsement, according to Mr. Ayorinde is purely hinged on the fact that the innovation aligns with the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in the use of technology to drive business and leisure visitors to Lagos State and further expand the market for the consumption of made in Lagos creative ideas, products and services. Speaking through its leader, Mr. Femi Lawson, the ‘tida team said the choice of Lagos State for the launch of the device was borne out of recognition for the position Lagos State occupy as the emerging tourism hub of the nation and the large tourism market available for exploration in the state. He said ‘tida’ was set for development of ideas that would add value to tourism promotion through Tourism Insurance, Infrastructural tourism and the virtual tourism device that would help to market Nigeria tourism potentials domestically, and help to increase the traffic of international tourists into the country. In his welcome remark, the Commissioner said the 2016 hospitality income index reflect a gross increase as a result of the various entertainment events and show, especially the eight day One Lagos Fiesta (OLF) of which the economic benefits cut across institutions in the creative and entertainment sector.
He said the State is aligning with the virtual tourism technology to communicate to Lagosians the experience and the fun available locally rather than go overseas. On the proposed release of Lagos Tourism Event Calendar, Mr. Ayorinde said the idea would help tourists plan their movement around the major tourism events that would happen in Lagos this year. Business and leisure travelers with the aid of the event calendar can explore the beauty of Lagos and take away something memorable during their visits. He said prior to the release of the Lagos State Tourism Master Plan, the Ministry would convene a tourism summit for operators in the tourism space to share ideas and collaborate to achieve a privatedriven Lagos master plan which would provide the template for any government to work with. As part of the reengineering to be introduced in the new plan, the State government is looking at the possibility of setting up a Tourism Promotion Council to regulate and drive tourism affairs in the State. Present at the meeting are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Arts and Culture, Mrs. Aramide Giwanson, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Fola Adeyemi and the Director, Tourism Promotion, Mrs. Oni Adama.
Akinwunmi Ambode
Toyin Abraham Takes the Ghost and the Tout to Cinemas in May
N
ollywood actress and producer, Toyin Abraham will storm the cinemas on May 11 with her latest movie titled ‘The Ghost and the Tout’. This follows the wide acceptance of her blockbuster movie, Alakada Reloaded, which ranked as the highest selling indigenous movie ever at the cinemas. The movie follows the story of a young and vibrant lady, Isila (Abraham), who grew up in the core of a ghetto. An unforeseen event sends her world into a series
of drama involving a murder case and a mystery from a forbidden spiritual event. Left with no choice, Isila journeys on a mission to unravel the truth to get her life back on track and in turn free a ghost from the restlessness of his soul. Written by Abraham, Produced by Biodun Stephen and Directed by Charles Uwagbai, ‘The Ghost and the Tout’ starred talented actors like Chiwetalu Agu, Dele Odule, Femi Adebayo, Rachel Okonkwo, Sambasa Nzeribe, Chioma Akpotha, Omowunmi Dada, Chigurl, Ronke Oshodi-Oke and more. It also stars
talented Instagram sensations like Josh2funny, Cute Abiola, Bobrisky, Lasisi Elenu, Oshisko Twins,Iya Ibadan and more. The producer said, “This is not just an extremely hilarious and entertaining movie; it cuts across all spheres of our lives and realities. It deals with the several emotions that can be felt by any human, and how we let these emotions define us.’ She further stated, “This movie has so much to give and it is suitable for everyone to watch, both old and young. This movie will blow everyone away and I am confident that the audience is going to love it.”
Toyin Abraham
38
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž FEBRUARY 17, 2018
TEENS
CONNECT
Cornea Transplant: How a Blind Nigerian Teenager Regained Sight
S
Story by: NKECHI IBENEME ixteen-year-old Bose Jinadu was born with bilateral congenital cornea opacity, which left her with a blurry vision. With the little vision Bose had, she managed to attend school and was a student of Molaks High School at Rogo, Ishaga – a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria until 2016 when she lost what remained of her sight – she became blind. This forced her to quit school. She was then in JSS 2. Narrating her ordeal during those dark years, Bose, whose parents are poor and could not do much to help her case, had this to say: “I was very sad and depressed. I‘d lost hope and cried every day. I couldn’t go out on my own and school was out of it. I became really, really sad and depressed.� The blindness changed Bose’s life and almost thwarted her dreams until a Good Samaritan opened a vista when she went through a cornea transplant last November at the Eye Bank Nigeria. Today she has regained her sight, though in one eye. The other eye is damaged beyond redemption. Nevertheless with the restored vision, Bose is happier and she plans to return to school. And guess what? She wants to become an eye doctor. She wants to help people with eye problems in future. “I am very happy now. I can go to nearby shops to buy things for my mum and I have hope of returning to school. I am very grateful to Alhaja (the Good Samaritan) and the doctors that helped me to regain my sight. If it’s possible, I would love to become an eye doctor to help people in future. Life can be really difficult for somebody when he loses his sight,� Bose pointed out. Cornea is the clear tissue covering the front of the eye. Through it, light passes to the eyes to create vision. But, if the cornea becomes cloudy or opaque from disease, injury, infection or poor nutrition, vision is drastically reduced or completely lost. According to the Eye Bank Nigeria, more children and young adults are affected by cornea opacity. The good news, however, is that the replacement of a damaged cornea with a healthy donated human cornea through a surgical procedure, can reverse cornea blindness. The bad news, the Chief Medical Director of the eye clinic, Dr. Mosunmola Faderin, noted is that Nigerians have yet to fully embrace the act of donating their cornea or other vital organs at death. This is adversely affecting restoring
vision to cornea-blind persons. She said, “Though there are trained, highly qualified cornea surgeons and hospitals with facilities to do the transplant, there are no eye tissues because of lack of donation, and cornea can only be legally sourced through donations. We don’t buy; it’s a crime to sell.� The Eye Bank Nigeria, housed within the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), is a non-governmental, not- for- profit organization established in 1973. The vision for the bank was nursed by Chief Dr. Olaseinde Akinsete, a foremost ophthalmologist, who along with two of his friends, were the first set of doctors to do cornea grafting in Nigeria in the late 1960s. Akinsete, driven by vision and passion, sent a proposal to the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, for the establishment of an eye bank in Nigeria. Upon approval, he drew up the cornea graft decree, which was signed into law on May 5, 1973 as Decree 23. However, despite the approval being given in 1973, the centre did not begin operations until around 2003/2004. At Akinsete’s 75th birthday, he said he wanted to see his dreams of an eye bank actualized. He requested that every birthday gift to him that year be monetised. At that time, he was the chairman of the executive council of the Nigerian Society for the Blind and was also a former president of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria. The two organisations came together to set up the eye bank in his honour while Lagos State donated the space which houses the bank to date. But from 2004 to 2008, nothing happened. Therefore, the organization decided to embark on what it called, ‘Seeing is believing campaign.’ By this, Faderin said they had to source for corneas from donor countries like India and America to demonstrate the efficacy and importance of the procedure to Nigerians. This according to her did not do the expected magic. However, the organization recorded a breakthrough in 2010 when it had the first Nigerian to donate his eyes. “It was a pathetic story. The man was assassinated two hours after he left home and we were called by his family to come and harvest his eyes because he was a donor. Being the first donor case, the bureaucracy encountered was too much and by the time we were given the go-ahead to harvest the eyes, it was already over 24 hours – if a donor dies, the harvesting must be done within 18 hours. “After the approval was given, we didn’t want to use the cornea anymore Bose
39
FEBRUARY 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
but his children were crying and begging us to use it because their father had made them promise to give it out should anything happen to him. We reluctantly used it and by the grace of God, the two people that received the corneas are seeing today,” she recalled. Faderin added, “In 2012 also, Dr. Akinsete’s wife passed (away) and she gave her corneas too. Since then, we haven’t had any donations. About 60 old people have signed to donate their corneas at death, but the challenge is, if their families don’t get to inform us within the stipulated timing of 18 hours, there’s no way we would know of their demise and we can’t go knocking on doors.” Speaking on the reluctance of Nigerians to donate their corneas and other vital organs at death, Faderin pointed out that once a dead person is interred, within one month, everything is gone. She disclosed that the first organs to disappear after death are the eyes: they usually melt away within days after a person’s death. Encouraging Nigerians to donate their corneas at death, she narrated an experience she once had when she travelled to India in search of corneas. “While in India, a woman of about 62 years had just died and the doctors were called in for the harvesting of her cornea being a donor; I went with them. On seeing me, the deceased’s son asked the Indian doctors what a black woman was doing with them. They told him that I was a doctor from an eye bank in Nigeria, who had come to learn and to see if I could get corneas to help people with cornea challenges back home. “So, he asked them if it was possible for his mother’s eyes to be taken down to Africa and they agreed. The guy, crying, hugged me and said, ‘Thank you: even though my mother is dead, I am happy that with you, she will be giving sight to someone in faraway Africa. So, in her death, she would be giving life to someone else.’ It became my own mantra that: in death, we can give life,” the doctor narrated. The Eye Bank Nigeria currently gets its supply of corneas from eye centres in the United States of America – free – where she and some of her colleagues were trained. The challenges they, however, face is the high processing fees (testing the blood and other details plus shipment) and the high cost of optisol-gs used in preserving the corneas. Her biggest challenge is the Nigeria Customs Service. When she ordered the cornea grafted on Bose, she alleged that the Customs officials had insisted she should go through a clearing agent despite having a document indicating an approval from the Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service to bring in corneas free of charge. She said that it got to a stage she told the officials that she was going to leave the cornea but that it must not expire, threatening the officials with a lawsuit law suit if it did. A harvested – unused – cornea lasts for a maximum of 14 days. Throwing more light on the need for Nigerians to embrace cornea and other organs donation at death, Faderin stated that most of the donor forms abroad now have portions where the donors are asked if they want their organs sent abroad and most of them are saying no. She fears that with time, Nigeria may not get corneas from overseas again, urging Nigerians to do away with the superstitious beliefs about organ donation at death and be their brother’s keeper. “Kenya just started cornea grafting long after us. They harvest about 200
Dakore - Eye Bank Ambassador
corneas every year. They are also an African country. Why can’t we in Nigeria do something?” the doctor wondered. To donate, a person is given a form to fill and afterwards given a card which they are encouraged to carry about in case of an accident. Donors are also encouraged to tell their family members of their decision so that family members can carry it out his or her will at death. On how they get funding for their operations, Faderin stated that they usually go cap-in-hand to some wellmeaning Nigerians for support. Thus far, the clinic has enjoyed support from Ikoyi Club, Yoruba Tennis Club, Island Club, and Chief Folorunsho Alakija. To further intensify its sensitization campaign, the Eye Bank Nigeria recently unveiled actress, Dakore Egbuson Akande as its ‘Donate a cornea’ campaign ambassador.
Dr. Faderin
40
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 17, 2018
Ϳ˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
41
42
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 17, 2018
THE ALTERNATIVE with Reno Omokri
Jammeh
Mugabe
Zuma
Buhari
Jammeh, Mugabe, Zuma, Buhari?
T
he news that the South African President, Jacob Zuma was resigning with immediate effect came as a bolt of lightning on Wednesday the 14th of February. It was a Valentine’s Day special for all of Africa. Apparently, to stave off a vote of no confidence in him by his own party, the African National Congress, Zuma, quit the stage while the ovation was lowest. In the space of just a little over a year, Africa got rid of some of its worst-performing leaders (if you can call them that). First Jammeh, then Mugabe, and now Zuma. The funny thing is that Zuma was one of those that negotiated Mugabe’s exit, not knowing that he was giving a dress rehearsal to those who would also plan his own exit a mere three months later. But is the domino effect over? With Presidents Obasanjo and Babangida’s vote of no confidence in the incumbent Nigerian President Buhari, I see him going the way of the other gerontocrats who have recently fallen from grace. The thing is that both Presidents Obasanjo and Babangida represent President Buhari’s primary constituency, the military. Anyone, like Bola Tinubu, who is whispering sweet nothings to the President’s ears that the duo are of no consequence is a court jester that will lead the President to his political Waterloo! But the vote of no confidence does not just end with the duo that Tinubu wants to consign to the retirees’ club. On the same day that Zuma resigned to avoid a
What the Senate did by reordering the order of the 2019 elections is similar to what the ANC did to Zuma. It is a vote of no confidence. It is a RED CARD to Buhari. A sign of his rejection by his own party, which also happens to be the majority party in the National Assembly. Africa’s time to boot out failed leaders seems to be NOW! And the President is such a silly politician. He does not have the clout that Obasanjo has, neither does he have the charm that Babangida has. He is such a clumsy political operative. Look at how obviously he played his hand in the Senate
vote of no confidence, the Nigerian Senate voted to reorder the order of the 2019 elections to make the Presidential elections come last instead of first. Anyone who knows Nigeria, knows that this spells doom for the President. His attempt to intimidate his fellow Fulani brethren who is the Senate President, has failed woefully. And as a Fulani well versed in Pulako, Senate President Bukola Saraki is determined to get his pound of flesh! What the Senate did by reordering the order of the 2019 elections is similar to what the ANC did to Zuma. It is a vote of no confidence. It is a RED CARD to Buhari. A sign of his rejection by his own party, which also happens to be the majority party in the National Assembly. Africa’s time to boot out failed leaders seems to be NOW! And the President is such a silly politician. He does not have the clout that Obasanjo has, neither does he have the charm that Babangida has. He is such a clumsy political operative. Look at how obviously he played his hand in the Senate. Is it a coincidence that on a day the Senate was to debate the reordering of the 2019 elections, the EFCC charged Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s son with fraud? And is it another coincidence that it was the same Senator Abdullahi Adamu, whose son has been arraigned just that morning, that led the pro-Buhari Senators to walk out after the reordering passed? Buhari used Senator Adamu’s son to control him. Yet even with that blackmail, all he could get were just 10 votes from 10 senators led by Adamu. Such a thing would never have happened to Obasanjo or Babangida. The election time table will be reordered and the inept, clueless, Stone-age dictator in Aso Rock will be booted out in 2019. And to Tinubu, who said Presidents Obasanjo and Babangida are yesterday’s men and should join the retirees’ club, I have a question. What of Buhari? At least going by his ‘football age’ he is the same age with Babangida. We are not talking of his real age. Just his official age. So he too should join the club! Why does Tinubu still speak from both sides of the mouth at 65? Tinubu called Presidents Obasanjo and Babangida ‘yesterday’s men’! Has he forgotten how he led APC leaders to beg Obasanjo to help them ‘navigate’ their way to victory in 2015? Who is more ‘yesterday’ than Buhari? Is Bola Tinubu so desperate that he would believe the puerile lies he is being told by the Buhari gang that they will hand over to him? Bola Tinubu should ask himself if there would even be a Nigeria to hand over if President Buhari gets a second term. In his first term, things have gone so abysmally wrong that it is certain that Nigeria cannot survive another four years of such an unmitigated disaster. According to the African Development Bank, in 2017, 18 African countries grew their Gross Domestic Product above 5%. Nigeria was not one of those nations. Yet we led the pack in 2014. What has happened between 2014 and 2018? Buhari happened. The Naira has lost 85 percent of its 2015 value, going from N195 to $1 on May 29, 2015 to N365 to $1 today. That is one Naira for every day of the year.
According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, 10 million people became unemployed in the last 2 years which is an increase of 150%. Inflation jumped from 9.5% in 2015 to 17% in 2017. But nowhere else has the Buhari administration failed so spectacularly, as in the area that was expected to be his natural area of strength. Let us look at some facts. On December 24, 2015, President Buhari said Boko Haram was “technically defeated”. On December 7, 2016, he said Boko Haram was “finished”. On December 24, the same Buhari said Boko Haram was “crushed”. A year later, Buhari requested for $1 billion to defeat Boko Haram and today Buhari says Boko Haram’s “days are numbered”. Which one is it Mr. President? Now today (Wednesday February 14, 2018), we learn that a Federal Government Team has been negotiating with herdsmen and they have graciously agreed to a ceasefire! Yes! You read me right. Ceasefire! Can you imagine the Nigerian Government delegation to Benue saying herdsmen have ‘agreed to ceasefire’? What nonsense! Should killer Fulani herdsmen be agreeing to a ceasefire or should they be arrested and made to pay for their mass murders? What has Buhari turned Nigeria into? What is so special about killer Fulani herdsmen that the Buhari administration’s Technical Sub Committee on herdsmen crisis should be negotiating with killers? Killer Fulani herdsmen should be negotiating with army bullets not a Federal Government committee! Why didn’t they negotiate with IPOB? Why didn’t they negotiate with kidnappers and armed robbers? Sending Buhari back to Daura is the only solution to the herdsmen crisis. And that is why I want to end this piece with a plea. Everyone knows Buhari cannot win a free and fair election. But in a situation where his handpicked INEC board makes it very easy for children in the North-west to get PVC yet hard for adults in the South to get PVC, it is possible. Pause from watching #BBNaija and do everything to get your PVC. Reno’s Nuggets Neither my children nor I have any European names. We all proudly have ONLY African names (Reno is Itsekiri). The attitude Africans ought to have is that neither they nor their children should bear Western or non-African names since Europeans and non-Africans don’t bear African names. And don’t believe the myth that they will lose opportunities due to African-sounding names. America elected a man named Barack Hussein Obama. It does not get more ethnic than that. Streatham in the UK elected a Member of Parliament called Chuka Umunna. Also don’t be fooled by theories that Westerners will never be able to pronounce African names. Is your name more complicated than Schwarzenegger or Xiaoping? If they could pronounce those names, they can pronounce yours. If they can’t pronounce it, it is because they don’t want to!
43
FEBRUARY 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
FASHION FILE
PARADIS AW18
Collection entitled
“Each One Teach One”
44
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 17, 2018
FASHION FILE
By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com
“Each One Teach One”
P
aralleling its views on the current societal state and the millennial generation, with the demeanour of the world in 1968 and the era of baby boomers, 3.PARADIS’ Fall / Winter 2018 collection entitled ‘Each One, Teach One’ is an open reflection on the powerful voice and movement of a generation. Layered with references and symbols, 3.PARADIS’ collection is a poetic marriage of fabrics, finishes, shapes and details and heavily influenced by the 1968 youth counter culture and revolutionary ideas of the past and the present. It focuses on topics which transcend the notion of time violence, oppression, freedom, power, unity, peace, love. ‘Each One, Teach One’ is not only an examination of the similarities between one era to another, but more so a prediction of the upcoming uprising of the millennial generation; a present day revolution. “As it was before, so it shall be again” For the lookbook, we decided to make a parallel with the work of Irving Penn, a very popular photographer during 1968, Irving Penn. The goal is to display our new collection as a metaphor of us Millennials being being in charge of the world of tomorrow as baby boomers did. We highlighted this by revisiting the series of corner photography by Irving Penn and re-interpreting them through the lens of photographer Fabien Montique, a millennial kid. By limiting the space with two corner-assembled wood panels, we created a refuge for our models. With this lookbook, we are recreating our own classic, being a voice of the new generation. Journeying back to our roots, 3.PARADIS aims to inspire youth and the upcoming creatives similarly to how we have been inspired by the older generation, the label stated
45
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺ
MARKET PLACE áÓÞÒ ×ÙÖËÌËÕÏ ËÝÒÙÑÌÙØ˛˛˛ ͻͻ;ͺ
L-R: Social Prefect Girl, Iganmode High School, Ota, Akume Treasure; Group Public Relations and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Tope Ashiwaju; Chairman, Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Iganmode High School ,Ota, Mayor Hakeem Amodu and Assistant Head Boy, Iganmode High School Ota, Ebhodaghe Benedict during the presentation of Science Laboratory Equipment to the school by Indomie in Ogun State recently
Representative from Oxfam, Saratu Abiola, Head of Agriculture Division,ECOWAS ,Ernest Aubee and President, National Association of Nigerian Traders, NANTS,Bar Ken Ukaoha at a training and workshop organised for media professionals on Agricultural Policy Instruments by NANTS in Abuja ...recently
Indomie Shows Commitment to Education in Ogun Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie Noodles, has restated its commitment to education in the country as it reached out to a secondary school in Ogun State with educational equipment worth millions of naira. The beneficiary, Iganmode High School, Ota, Ogun State was presented with a complete set of science laboratory equipment to enhance learning and students’ participation in science-related courses. Presenting the equipment, Group Public Relations and Events Manager of the company, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, stated that the initiative, in addition to fulfilling the com-
pany’s core Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR objective, was also part of its effort in complementing government endeavours at boosting learning in the state especially in the area of science and technical education. He also urged the teachers of the school to see to effective utilisation of the equipment to serve the purpose for which they were donated most especially as the company expected to see a significant improvement in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) result with respect to science courses.
Ashiwaju revealed further that the company was looking at investing in other social projects that would benefit nearby communities. In his remark, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Chairman of the school, Mayor Hakeem Amodu, expressed appreciation to the company and also urged parents to encourage their children to take full advantage of the facility for their advancement which would eventually see the environment produce more science graduates. “Iganmode High school is indeed very lucky for this kindness. Considering the
Presence Fero Mobile Lions Club Supports Over 6000 in Expands in Nigeria with Six Months Royale Y2 The International Association of affected. During the World Sight Shortly after mobile phone brand, Fero Mobile wooed the market with Royale X2 device, the brand has strengthened its presence in the country with a new device, branded Royale Y2. Quite different from its previous launch, the latest device boasts of a 2GB.RAM which supports multiple apps and games without hitches. Introducing the product to the press in Lagos, Director, Fero Mobile Nigeria and Emerging Markets, Phiroze Seth stated that the new device exemplified the capabilities of the phone-maker and its continuous efforts at helping consumers achieve more in terms of work and leisure. “We have packed a lot of cool features into the device to ensure that it is not only useful for work but also a great lifestyle companion. “We have also put so much quality and class at ensuring that it exceeds the expectations of the tech-savvy Nigerian youths. The Royale Y2, like every other smartphone from the company is designed to give users excellent experience at an affordable price.” The latest is a mid-range device with premium features. It runs on the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system with a quadcore processor that supports multi-tasking at super-processing speed. It boasts a 13MP rear camera for quality photos and an 8MP front camera that captures stunning pictures even with low lights. The device also features a 5.5-inch HD IPS display screen which adds colour to its performance as well as 75% less light reflection for excellent readability under sunlight while its 3.900MAH battery guarantees long hours of gaming, video streaming and internet surfing on one full charge.
Lions Clubs, District 404B2 has vowed a heightened impact on the society in order to meet and surpass the objectives of the group. The District Governor, Lion Asiwaju Ayobola Samuel made the promise at a gathering where he was presenting his six months’ leadership report to group members. According to him, the clubs under the district had not fallen short of expectations between the period under review, a feat he attributed to God’s faithfulness, members’ zeal to serve humanity and cooperation from the society. Highlighting the association’s achievement so far, Samuel stated that the club had succeeded in touching over 6000 lives, almost meeting the targets and expectations for the service year. “We have successfully carried out projects that have impacted positively on the lives of the people. The most remarkable of them was the free medical mission held in conjunction with Mercy International Medical Mission, an NGO based in Maryland, USA. In all, 3000 people enjoyed free blood pressure, eyes and diabetes screening and testing. “About 1600 free eye glasses were distributed, while drugs were given out free to those who have eyes problem and those who are diabetic. More so, the clubs succeeded in sponsoring 20 cataract surgeries and as part of the package, dental screening was equally carried out on 300 people while we also attended to those in need of treatment. “We have also been able to successfully observe special days like World Diabetes and Sight Days with relevant activities that would benefit those
Day, 40 glucoma surgeries were sponsored and not less than 100 White Canes were distributed. By and large, we have given priority to the implementation of the global five key challenging areas of Lions Clubs International (LCI). In addition, we have successfully marked the HIV / AIDS Day in December 2017, with enlightenment rallies, distribution of advocacy materials such as handbills and fliers and organised sensitisation lecture. “Furthermore, we broke a new ground by organising the first sickle cell programme in the history of the Multiple District. It is also necessary to put on the record, the unprecedented success recorded during the ‘Peace Poster Contest.’ We came 2nd and 3rd in the competition involving other four Districts in the Multiple District,” he said. The DG who noted limited membership and funding as some of the challenges constraining the district stated that such would not stop the good works of the club in serving the people . “Notwithstanding, we hope to achieve more in the next six months. Our plans for the remaining part of our tenure is to review our strategies and focus more on where we have not done well enough. “We will address the remaining two of the key challenging areas, which are environmental protection and paediatric cancer. We also plan to organise a joint districts convention that will remain unbeaten in the history of similar events in Nigeria. The remaining six months will be used to rededicate ourselves to the service of our District and the less privileged,” he concluded.
worth and value of the donation, no doubt, the school laboratory will be second to none in the whole of Ota Zone. On behalf of the parent-teacher association and students, I am saying a very big thank you. ” Earlier in his welcome address, the school principal, Mr. Olalekan Akinosi also thanked the benefactor, adding that the donations would go a long way in changing the face of the school. He urged other private investors to emulate the company as government alone could not shoulder the whole responsibility of the state.
Coca-Cola Sponsors New Youth Development Initiative Beverage company, Coca-Cola Nigeria, has demonstrated its interest in boosting the profile of Nigerian youths in a new move geared towards their career growth. The firm which is sponsoring the Global Management Challenge (GMC) initiative, expected that such a move would further enhance the intellectual capability of the country’s largest group beyond their academic pursuit. The Global Management Challenge is the largest Strategy and Management Competition in the world. It is the largest international event based on business simulations, with more than 500,000 university students and company managers participating in it throughout the world. The competition which is a virtual business simulation kicked off recently at the University of Lagos and has 80 students with not less than a CGPA of 4.30 across different departments from the institution sponsored by the beverage company who will later compete for the team to represent Nigeria in the upcoming international final coming up in Dubai in April. Speaking during the contest, Public Affairs and Communications Manager of the company, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, congratulated the students for being privileged to partake in the life-changing programme as he emphasised that the initiative would further prepare them for the future. “Doing the right things requires knowledge, understanding and experience. This competition will offer the perfect synergy between knowledge, intelligence and the right experience to be good managers in the future. I will like everyone involved in this great competition to open their minds as this will be very helpful not just in school but also in the future,” she said. Also speaking, the company’s Head of Customer and Commercial Leadership, Peter Ekunkoya stated that the company was committed to empowering and providing youths with basic life and business skills to thrive in their endeavours, hence the initiative.
46
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 17, 2018
INTERVIEW Odili
It’s Uncharitable to Blame Buhari for Nigeria’s Problems Paul Odili was the chief spokesman for former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State. Recently, he defected to the All Progressives Congress. He speaks with Ugo Aliogo about the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and Delta State politics
W
How will you assess the leadership of Delta State over the years from Ibori to Okowa? Do You think the resources of the state have been put to utmost use? If no, what do you think could have been done differently? I hate to get involved in the issue of what happened in the past and begin attributing blames here and there. However, if one is to be objective every administration since Ibori has its strong points and weaknesses, including the Uduaghan government that I served in and definitely the current one. For the sake of the interest and wellbeing of the people of Delta state, one might say far more should have been done. That, however, does not rule out that there are not some things to be picked out as good though. But we just need to get Delta state firing on full throttle. As of today, it is not.
hy did you leave the PDP for APC? PDP lost its way, we could not fit into what the party became despite doing our best to ensure the victory of the party at all levels. Suggestions were received with hostility; we saw a lot of suspicions. Frankly, it became completely an unwelcoming place. We were marginalized to a point that if we wanted to continue to contribute to the political development of our people, we needed to find an alternative platform. APC as a party was open and welcoming and willing to listen to suggestions on how to do things better. We also saw that APC has a strong desire to do well for our people and the country. A great number of Nigerians and the opposition believe that President Muhammadu Buhari’s handling of the economy led to the recession. What do you think the president did right and wrong? I am happy that the economic crisis of the past is gradually receding and we are gradually seeing growth. It is uncharitable to blame President Buhari for the recession. How is he at fault? He came at a time oil prices were collapsing and oil production was falling at the same time. From 100 dollars to 34 dollars or so a barrel, from 2.3million barrels of crude oil production to roughly eight hundred thousand barrels of production. There were no savings of any sort. No buffer. Foreign reserves had fallen to I think 24 billion dollars, barely enough to ensure we continue to service imports. It is I say again uncharitable to blame President Buhari. Have we forgotten that shortly after assuming office many states could not pay salaries and he had to give a bailout to states to enable them to pay salaries? The federal government even before he assumed office was borrowing to pay salaries of federal civil servants. I find it difficult to fault the man. And what was the money used for? Nobody can say definitively. Was it used for infrastructure development? No, if it was the situation might have to be different. I really don’t know how the President can be blamed. Some say he should have acted quicker. In what sense, I am not certain. Here is a country that was importing virtually everything. From rice, palm oil, corn, toothpick and every other consumable and the oil prices that fund those imports were collapsing, what do you expect will happen? Let’s stop deceiving ourselves and listening to useless propaganda. Nigeria economy was not a productive one structured to cater to the needs of the people. This man came at a time we were in a hole and even digging ourselves deeper into the hole and he stopped us from further digging and to start filling the hole we were digging. For me, that is even an achievement. President Buhari is a serious-minded leader and that is why I support him. Do you think the past administrations did enough to prepare Nigeria for the future, with over-dependence on crude oil earnings?
Odili
The answer is obvious. The money was flowing into the coffers and flowing out at the same time. No savings and no strategic national programme and projects to wean us out of crude oil dependence. The result was the oil shock that spiralled into the economic contraction that caused the recession. If refineries were working, perhaps we would not need to spend so much on importing fuel, if electricity supply was stable, industries would be operating at higher efficient level, if the railways system was in place and operating, movement of goods and service would be cheaper and affordable, and we can go on and on. Without these basic national infrastructures, the economy was primed to collapse. People say o! before money was flowing, I agree it was. But was it flowing from any serious productive activity? We know the answer. It was not. We were importing, importing and importing everything under the sun. So no there was no plan to ease us off crude oil dependence. Comparing the government of Emmanuel Uduaghan in which
you served with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s, do you think the latter is on the right track? You cannot compare the two. Obviously, the two administrations have different agendas. The previous administration said its focus was to build an economy less reliant on oil and to invest in sectors that will ensure this happens. The current administration has a different agenda and from all appearances, the programs of the two administrations have not quite complemented each other and the result is that the state is not moving in a definable path. Mark, you each administration is free to prioritise its objectives and so Okowa’s administration can be explained that way. However, compared to the approach by President Buhari who has taken over is going ahead with many projects and programmes he inherited from the previous administration, fine-tuning them as he deems fit, I am not so sure that the current Delta administration is doing same. I see more of a total break. And so we see massive outcry by the people. The outcry by the people in Delta state is deafening.
If they have failed in your opinion, why do Deltans continue to vote for them and their candidates? Look, when a ruling group has been in power for nearly 20 years as in the case of Delta state, you might say well the people are supportive of them and that can be a valid argument but from what we can see today, I feel such a setup is unnatural. Democracy is such a dynamic process that sometimes even for the sake of boredom the people can kick out an administration that was doing well just to try other options. Do you remember what happened to the Second World War British war-time leader, Winston Churchill? He led the British people through the world war and it was clear that the outcome of the second world war would have been different had he not been the premiere of Britain. But do you know that as the war was ending in 1945, he was thrown out office? He was defeated! How can it be but it happened? He came back a few years later but the people exercised their sovereign right and that is what is important. And I think in Delta we need to see change, the people need to vote in a different party and then be in a position to evaluate the two. What magic formula must APC adopt to wrest power from the PDP in Delta State? APC as a party must very quickly come together and make a decision as to which part of the state should produce the candidate for the governorship. That is one. Secondly, the party must undertake serious grassroots mobilization. It must sell its programmes to the people. Then the party must ensure it is fair to all and create level playing field. If the party can do that, its chances are bright. To wrest power from PDP is a tough one, make no mistake about it. To dismantle a party that has been in power continuously for 20 years demands cohesion, hard work, the unity of purpose, sacrifice and determination. If APC can muster these, then its chances are very good. Fortunately, the electoral process has significantly improved. There is a measure of credibility in the process and we are trusting INEC to continue to improve all aspects of its process, to rebuild public confidence and ensure a free and fair contest.
47
FEBRUARY 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
INTERVIEW
Nigeria Needs a National Ambulance Scheme – Megwara A national ambulance working in tandem with the Fire Service as first responders to accident victims is the global standard that needs. That is according to Kingsley Megwara, General Manager Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest Scheme (ASPIMS). He tells Nduka Nwosu how ASPIMS template can be useful for a national ambulance scheme
Y
ou have been an advocate of a national ambulance scheme. What does this involve? The idea is that what is going on here in Abia and in Lagos State can be replicated elsewhere. Life is precious and must be protected. The presence of ambulances on our roads will help to protect accident victims. I want other states in particular the southeastern states to replicate our experience. We are one of the few states that have ambulances positioned strategically in anticipation of emergencies. At interstate levels, accident victims must be given prompt first-aid treatment. The Abia experiment in my opinion needs to be replicated in other parts of the country with possibly a unified centralised organisation. I am a strong advocate of a national ambulance scheme designed to take care of accident victims all over the country. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is doing a tremendous job given its exposure and capacity. With a national ambulance commission supporting its activities and exclusively devoted to accident victims, we will be serving the people better whenever the unexpected happens. Are you saying the FRSC does not have what it takes to salvage accident victims on highways? Quite frankly speaking, I do not think it does. What it has today compared with what is needed is stale and meagre. Check state by state on the number of ambulances available to the FRSC. I would like you to carry out an investigation and see how many ambulances, state by state, are being utilised by the FRSC. What obtains in its fleet today is very insignificant compared with what ideally should be on the ground for an effective, result-oriented organisation. There is something called response time which relates to the number of ambulances that should be on the ground and close to the scene of an accident to be an effective first responder. If your response time ought to be seven minutes and it takes you 17 minutes to arrive at the scene of an accident, you probably would have lost a life or lives as often is the case. Life is precious and it has no duplicate. The corps members are doing a wonderful job compared with the tools available to them. They could do better with enhanced facilities at their disposal but the concept of a national ambulance scheme should be the game plan in addressing the issue of road accidents on expressways. Does it suggest that except Abia and Lagos states, other states do not have what it takes to provide ambulance services? They should if they want to. In Abia it is all about equitable management of scarce resources for which the Okezie Ikpeazu administration is known. If we are able to do what we are doing in Abia State relative to our bottom of the ladder allocations, every other state in the federation can do the same and in certain instances even better. No price is too much for saving lives. Governor Ikpeazu recently increased the fleet from six to eight. Yet we know we will be comfortable with at least 35 given the frequent breakdowns of these ambulances. Government alone cannot provide the needed budget and we are calling on Abia philanthropists and corporate organisations to come to our aid.
drunk driving is one of zero tolerance. What global template can drive the national ambulance concept? If you take the US as an example, every city is fully equipped with an ambulance service and this should be the norm for us going forward. Both the ambulance and fire service should aspire at best practices on a global level. In the US for example the ambulance and fire service work together. Once there is a fire alert, the fire service squad is accompanied by the ambulance team. Ghana is doing well in this regard and if we can do same here, we will reduce by 60 per cent, accident and death rates in the country. If the Federal Road Safety Corps is properly equipped, it will go a long way in helping to reduce the accident rate on our expressways. It is all about quick response and this will entail having ambulances everywhere. Most accidents become fatal because there is no help to victims who usually pass out owing to excessive bleeding. Quick response saves lives especially when supported by ambulances strategically stationed to assist victims for evacuation to the trauma centres. Megwara
Quick response saves lives especially when supported by ambulances strategically stationed to assist victims for evacuation to trauma centres like in Abia How will the repair of federal and state roads add value to what you are doing? The Minister of Works visited Abia State recently to see for himself the death trap called federal roads, more specifically the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road which stretches through Abia and the Ikot Ekpene-Aba Road. Both roads are patchy and laden with craters and pot-holes. They constitute the number one death trap roads in the country and the only time the roads can be repaired is the dry season. The deplorable state of these roads has been over-stressed with the high carnage associated with it. Their repair would largely reduce the accident cases we deal with on a daily basis. We keep campaigning against drunk driving. People need to know that when you go out partying and drinking, the person driving should not be allowed to meddle with alcohol because it impedes your judgment. This is the way it is done in every civilised clime. You will often hear the popular expression of I can handle it after six or seven bottles of beer. That is not true because a drunk man on the steering is a potential time bomb. The end result of a drunk on the pedal is catastrophic, a pack of mangled bodies and bleeding souls including children, adults and entire families and this is happening as we speak. So you need to see those who have lost loved ones because of a drunken driver. Alcohol impairs judgment and our appeal is that people should take heed of the advice against drunk driving. Our campaign against
How can Abia and Lagos help other states? I know the Abia State Commissioner for Health has made a presentation to the Honourable Minister of Health showcasing the Abia experiment with the ambulance system and successes so far recorded. The idea of this presentation is to help formulate a national ambulance that will champion the cause of state driven ambulance services. When people see Abia ambulances at work on the expressways it becomes clear this is doable and can be replicated nationwide. Can you tell us about Abia’s new trauma centre? The trauma centre which is nearing completion was the initiative of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who was once the General Manager of Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest Scheme (ASPIMS), succeeded by two others before my coming on board. He had the bigger picture of a global best practices trauma centre supported by a fleet of ambulances all working to save lives of accident victims on the high ways. He therefore decided that rather than go to regular hospitals for the first response of accident victims it would make sense to first and quickly respond to the needs of such victims before rushing them to hospitals. The idea was to have a modern, world class trauma centre attached to ASPIMS as a first responder to accident victims. The centre is meant to be an exclusive treatment centre with a state of the art equipment comparable to any other, with the right personnel always on hand to respond to the needs of victims. When I came on-board I saw the vision the governor had for the trauma centre several years ago and I jumped at it. It is about 75 percent completed. We are working hard to see that this dream trauma centre of the governor is actualised in 2018. It will play the big role of receiving accident victims with a quick response to their treatment. The Abia medical personnel in the Diaspora have indicated interest to spare some of their time to help answer our call to offer some humanitarian work. The same goes for the US-based Seven Days Adventist Church Medical Outreach, which had expressed this interest while the governor
was here and we want to tap into that goodwill. I am not a doctor by the way but on the side of management I am here to ensure the dream of the governor in driving this project to a world class standard is accomplished. You can count on our ability to hire the best personnel wherever they are. Will there be a partnership with the state’s ministry of health? The Commissioner for Health has already visited the premises and of course anything that addresses the issue of health is under him. There will be a synergy and partnership with the Ministry of Health which will act as the lead manager of the centre. The trauma centre will be a part of ASPIMS. The governor is very passionate ensuring that the standard of trauma centres in such cities as London, New York, Paris et al will be replicated here and I will continue to work towards the realisation of this objective. Do you think cases of road crashes have reduced? The statistics usually go up during the festive periods with so much vehicles on the roads and peak at Christmas and New Year. Interestingly, the 2017/2018 end of year festive season offered something new for a cheer. The accident rates went down with our strident campaigns against drunk driving particularly the commercial drivers. Sadly we still recorded gory accidents especially on New Year eve, indicting drunk drivers. We will continue to awaken the consciousness of our drivers that it is wrong to drive when drunk. Is your exposure in the US useful in your present assignment? Exposure is always a value added for a state or national assignment of the type I am currently engaged. The exposure I had in the US for 25 years prepared me for a job I did not dream of doing. Managing 291 staff whose job is to prevent or minimise accident rates, people who are committed to advancing the cause of safety on the roads, was hardly part of my playbook of success back home. You have to have the passion for it to work. Seeing it work in the US galvanised my interest in making it work here. Additionally many of our brothers in the Diaspora have been giving me their advice including those whose jobs are associated with ambulance services. I would say we have what is needed to bring about Ikpeazu’s vision of bringing safety to our roads through the ASPIMS and the establishment of a world class trauma centre in the state is being realised. Looking at the indices of judging the performance of state chief executives, Ikpeazu has surpassed others. In two years, he has constructed more roads in the state than anybody who has been the governor in the same period. We are proud with the record he is bringing to bear on good and deliverable governance. He has said repeatedly he would not do a job of N50 million and use N50 million to publicise it. Abia remains the first state in the federation with a home-grown healthcare delivery system and the ambulance sector service is second to none. The state Ministry of Health has a team of doctors and nurses who visit homes in towns and villages to render healthcare to senior citizens. This is innovative. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has surpassed the expectations of the Abia electorate given available scarce resources.
48
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 17, 2018
INSIGHT MedicalTraining and Odili’s Pioneering Efforts Last Saturday’s installation of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar as the Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, attracted from across the country, friends and wellwishersofthepromoterandformerRiversStateGovernor,DrPeterOdili.Olusegun Adeniyi whowastherereports
I
t was a roll call of who-is-who in both the bar and the bench in Nigeria as well as a collection of the finest in the profession of medicine at the PAMO University of medical sciences, the first tertiary institution in Nigeria dedicated solely to the study of medicine. Promoted by Dr Peter Odili, it is also the first private university in the state he governed between 1999 and 2007. Being a medical doctor and his wife, Mary, a Justice of Supreme Court, it was understandable that lawyers, judges and healthcare practitioners would dominate the occasion. But not to be outdone, there were also several politicians from across the country led by the former Kano State Governor and presidential aspirant, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who arrived the hall with several of his supporters, all wearing the trademark red cap. Expansive and serene, it was difficult for most guests to believe last Saturday that they were on the campus of a University that is yet to admit the first set of students. But the remarkable story would come from Odili, the founder and pro-Chancellor who attributed everything to “the outcome of two providential occurrences”: The first, a 21 acres land purchased from two families in 1989 for building a ginger processing factory and an infusion manufacturing plant--a project that never took off; and the second, an encounter with a ‘stranger’ in the course of a four-hour delayed flight at the Abuja airport on 19th December 2016. The said ‘stranger’, who challenged Odili to think about giving something back to the profession that made him, by way of a tertiary institution for the training of future doctors, turned out to be the Executive Sectary of the National University Commission (NUC), Prof Abubakar Rasheed. According to Odili, “Prof Rasheed has shown, through this project and the processes leading to this event, that there are still in this country, true patriots devoid of the primordial, divisive and selfish tendencies that have kept us down as a people over the years”. It is indeed remarkable that from conception to the realisation of the University which is starting with five faculties (Allied and Health Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical sciences), the whole process took exactly one calendar year. The first contact with the Executive Secretary was on 19th December 2016, a letter of intent was submitted a month later on 19th January 2017, the final inspection was done by the NUC on 19th July 2017 and the licence was granted by the Federal Executive Council on 19th December 2017. In his reflection Odili believes that providence played a significant role not only in the fact that the idea of farming for which the land was purchased was jettisoned but also for the interest of his wife in encouraging constructions for the training of traditional birth attendants before the premises migrated to a skills acquisition and youth/ teenage pregnancy reorientation and rehabilitation centre. At some point, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was also using the premises as one of their learning centres. So, by the time the idea of a University came, there was already a campus. Notwithstanding, Odili believes that the credit for the university goes to the NUC Executive Secretary for upholding the duty of care which, in his words, is rare within the Nigerian environment, especially since the man had never met him before and would gain nothing personal from him establishing a University. This made Odili to wax lyrical: “Prof Rasheed is a Northern Muslim. He is not in the medical profession. We had never met before and yet he walked up to me feeling that there was the possibility that I could contribute to the growth and development of the medical sector. He neither considered ethnicity, tribe, religion or geography. He just wanted what could bring about improvement for Nigeria and Nigerians in medical education, using his position as an opportune channel. Our country will be a better place if people like Prof Rasheed are given opportunity to serve in executive national positions”. However, even when Odili could not hide his admiration for the NUC Executive secretary, the day belonged to the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was accompanied to the ceremony by a large delegation from Niger State led by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and his wife, Fati, a retired Supreme Court Justice. Upon his investiture as the first Chancellor of the University, General Abubakar thanked Odili for the honour before adding that if the zeal, dedication and commitment that were deployed in the planning stages are employed in running the university, it will, in a very short period of time, become a world class institution worthy of emulation within and outside the country. PAMO University of medical sciences, the General promised, “will strive to address all these challenges as it aims to achieve global excellence in terms of teaching, research and community services. The university is set to produce graduates in different fields of medicine who are not only competent in their profession but also entrepreneurial, ICT driven and that are worthy in character and learning.” Explaining the rationale for such a specialized Univer-
L-R: Former Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Fati Abubakar, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), governor Nyesom Wike and Dr. Peter Odili and his wife arriving for the awards
L-R: Peter Odili, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and governor Nyesom Wike at Pamo University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt during the installation of the Chancellor of the University...recently
sity, General Abubakar said the “inability of our universities to meet up with the increasing demand for placement is more pronounced in the field of medicine and medical related programmes” while recent reports “have shown that less than five percent of qualified candidates are able to gain admission into medical programmes in all Nigerian universities.” He listed inadequate number of qualified medical practitioners and the rising emigration of the well-qualified few as part of the reasons for medical tourism with billions of naira “spent annually in foreign countries to treat ailments which could have been easily treated in Nigeria if there are adequately qualified doctors in the country.” Nigeria, according to General Abubakar, has been witnessing an increasing out-flow of students seeking tertiary medical education in neighbouring African countries such as Ghana, Uganda and Sudan and other countries outside the continent with disastrous consequences. “The last medical and dental council of Nigeria examination of foreign trained doctors saw 680 doctors sitting for the examination. The sad aspect of this however is the monumental failure rate of the foreign trained doctors in the medical and dental council professional qualifying examination as witnessed in the last examination,” he said. Praising what he described as a phenomenal growth in the number of private universities due to the increasing number of applicants seeking admission every year, the Nigerian former military leader said the enormous role being played by the private sector cannot be overemphasized. Besides, he added, “we should encourage more private our large population and a significant percentage of it being under 25, the demand for higher education is going to increase in the years ahead.” And with that, he
called on the NUC to, as a matter of urgency review the requirements for the establishment of private universities “Such a review will take cognizance of the nature of mono discipline and city based institutions like PAMO University of Medical Sciences”. Even though it was a solemn ceremony as one would expect of such occasions, there was a stand-by choir even though the Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, who was special guest, added drama to the occasion with his banters, first with the NUC Executive Secretary with whom he worked when he (Wike) was Minister of State for Education and then with the man holding the portfolio he left behind in Abuja, Prof Anthony Onwuka. In his speech, Wike bemoaned the fact that “because the carrying capacity of existing public tertiary institutions in the State is limited, majority of our children are unable to access higher education to actualize their educational ambitions.” While the licensing of private universities by the Federal Government was meant to address this challenge, the governor argued, none of the existing private universities was located in Rivers State until Odili’s intervention. “I can only at this stage envision what the people of Rivers State stand to benefit from this landmark venture which has set itself the mission to contribute to the global stock of medical knowledge and we are all quite excited about it, both as a Government and, as a people,” said Wike. Pledging that the River State Government would partner with the university, being the first private institution in the state, Wike announced a grant of N500 million to support the development of the school and its students. To consummate the partnership, and in what became a fitting end to the ceremony, Wike also pledged that the state government would sponsor 100 students annually in the school for the next five years.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚͜
49 by OMOLOLA ITAYEMI omolola.itayemi@thisdaylive.com 08054699602
TRAVEL&LEISURE
Who Needs a Travel Agent Anyway? ĂœĂ‹Ă Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂŁ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ? åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă‘Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă‘Ă“ĂžĂ‹Ă–Ëœ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă•Ě‹Ă“Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ù×Ă?ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă‹ Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÚÒãĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă Ă?Ă– Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă Ă?Ă– Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ě™ Ěš Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă Ă?Ă– Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă?Ă?ÚÓÞĂ? Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂŁ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă™Ă˜Ě‹Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă Ă?Ă– Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ě™ Ěš Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ËŞĂ?Ëœ Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ù×ÚÖĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁ ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă‹ĂœĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ Ă?Ù×ÚÖĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœË› Omolola Itayemi Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?ÞÓÑËÞĂ?Ă?
Y
earsback,alotofinternationaltravel and mostly local business travel to a large extent depended on travel agents and TMC’s who made reservations, purchased tickets andevenhelpedbookpreferredor choice hotels for some discerning passengers. While such travel still dependslargelyontheseagents,passengersarefast going down the do-it-yourself route; surfing the internet for cheap deals, embracing self-check-in, calling or going to airline sales offices to sort ticket issues out when the need arises. So where does this leave the traditional travel agencies whose livelihood solely depends on these functions passengers are choosing to do? In countries like India, Dubai or even London, you can’t buy tickets from direct offices of airlines except at the ticketing offices of these airlines at the airport or on-line, but not sales office in town leaving room for the travel agencies to sell. But that’s not the case here with airlines city sales offices littered all over the places except for some few like British Airways canvassing/proffering sales through the internet or their ticketing desks at the airport and their city office is strictly for administrative work. But travel agencies are not sitting pretty and waiting for mother luck to shine on them, aside some of the mega-agencies like Finchglow, HRG, Quantum and others who have over-time won big accounts and trust. A visit to the local and international airport, VFS (visa offices), most of the twentieth century malls and other choice locations will confirm this as scouts from travel agencies constantly barrage customers with different kinds of deals, from free hotel accommodations in three to five star lodges in exotic travel destinations to heavilydiscountedfaresoftickets(sometimeseven during peak or high seasons) if one patronizes their agencies for their travelling needs. For some of these scouts, accepting a business card or flier is all one needs to show interest but for others its runs deeper than a business card or flier. With apologies for taking your time and promising this exercise won’t take time, the scout proceeds to fill a mini-questionnaire form, asking questions from age, place of work, financial capacity to other demographics deemed important to them.Atiny part of the form with as generic number is given to you with a polite warning not to misplace it, just in case you are one of the chosen few winners. The methods of these agents in wooing passengers are too numerous to mention, thereby increasing their customer base with each passing day. But getting customers interest might be a lot easier than keeping them as some of these agents have come to find out. Ticketing agents at different airline desks all over the country are constantly faced with passengers who have been wrongly booked into travelling classes or given a reservation number of an unticketed reservation as a paid-for ticket and other travelling dilemmas. These situations are mild compared to passengers who have been sold promotional fares (usually cheaper but very restrictive in terms of date change and other penalties) as opposed to the normal flexible tickets which can be a huge albatross when flights are missed or flight time needs to be changed. Some of these tickets are so restrictive that one is better off buying a fresh ticket, not exactly a pleasant option for a passenger. The downside of this is that passengers are embracing the DIY (do-it-yourself) trend in favor of agents, going on the internet to obtain these tickets but even issues arise here too. While this is an added plus for airlines that get their flights sold out fast, agents lose-out in terms of commission. The registered agencies sometimes sell their LPO’s to unregistered IATAagents who use them for business. The downside of this is that if the passenger has issues with a ticket purchased by this LPO, which usually happen, the agency or TMC might not be able to help because you’re not on their database. Mrs Lola Adewole, Vice President, South East, NANTA(NigerianAssociation of TravelAgents) and CEO TIFAtravels admits there are bad eggs in everyprofessionandthetravelindustryisinclusive. ‘’My advise is always use an agent or TMC that is registered with IATAand be sure you’re dealing
Travel Agent
with a direct staff of that organization. They have moretoloseandwillbemoreprofessional.NANTA isaregisteredbodythatalsodealswithdisciplinary actions, if you feel you have been shortchanged by a TMC or an agency, please feel free to contact us with the facts and we’ll sort it out. We at NANTA have launched our Identity Card Scheme; every practitioner that is a travel agency must have an ID card, including both employers and employees. So, when people (gather around) you and you take theirnumbers,weverifywhethertheyareNANTA members. This is to enhance professionalism and reduce fraudulent operations in the industry,� she reiterated. Gainingpassengerstrust,Adewoleisofthebelief that travel management companies and travel agencies hold a key role in travelling. ’I believe we play a key role that cannot be swept under the carpet. We are very important even with the advent of internet and self-booking, most of us are present on line with our OTA’s. We advise on your itinerary and offer in depth advise from experience about penalties and restrictions on the kind of tickets you intend to buy which the internet cannot do. If you do have issues with your ticket, we can sort you out through our different systems linked to the airlines directly at any time of the day, even at night when the airline’s ticketing desks would have shut down for the day. We take you through all the facts and will advise accordingly.Also when you buy directly from the airline, chances are you might not be told about the restrictions on the tickets especially during their busy or peak periods but we do that. In terms of hotels and accommodations especially when travelling abroad, you need TMC’s or agencies to help with booking the kind of hotels you desire. Pictures lie and sometimes what you see on the internet might not necessarily be what you get. A travel agent would have a good knowledge of good hotels in that destination. You need the expertise of an expert to guide you through all these. I think in a lot of cases you still need their services, in addition to preventing costly errors, delays, and bummer hotels, a good agent will add surprises and a signature flair to a trip They’re also group and corporate travels, which can be very sensitive in terms of ticketing and accommodation;youcannotdothatontheinternet. We are the ones that can advise and work with that. We also manage your travelling budget. Some TMC’s are dealing with over 25 airlines, so we’re in the best position to advise. We go to the airlines on your behalf to get good deals because which is the tripartite agreement between the airlines, you and us. Still noble profession/Some good ones still exist. WithWakanow.com,formerlyNigeria’sforemost
OTAnow in troubled waters and having its IATA license seized, some school of thought still believe traditional TMC’s make seamless travel happen and are the mainstay of the travel industry even with travel technology growing daily. With over 6000 registered with NANTA, out of that we have a large number that are IATA registered travel agents are not as bad as their painted, we still have some reliable ones who have beeninbusinessforalongtime,earningpassengers trust and sometimes growing out of agencies to full-fledged airlines or airline representatives. Bell view airlines and Five-star agencies are some of such who grew from agencies to Bellview (now defunct) and South African airlines. According to Tosin of Travel Tribe, a TMC based in Lagos, Nigeria. “Yes there are bad seeds in any business, but the good ones far outweigh the bad ones. Yes we all need commissions to survive, but I would rather make my clients trip memorable and keep them than just collect the commission and act as an order taker. The trick is use an agent that is IATAcertified, a certified agency must have its own IATAnumber and not using others (a common staple with travel agents). Insist on this by sighting their LPO.Avoid onlineagentswithoutaconcreteaddress,connected to you by little more than a web address and a phone line, may be hard to track down later, when and if there’s a problem.’ ‘Most people have no idea of the value that a TMC can bring to the table. And, its wrong to go to your agent just when you are in trouble,
which is what we usually have to deal with. It is much easier to deal with, if it was my file in the beginning rather than trying to step in and help whenIamnotrecognizedastheprofessionalTMC on the booking.’ Meeting an agent face to face is still hard to beat when you have something complicated in mind... face-to-face is key. TMC’s also come in handy for long complicated trip to Asia or Australia for example, or for somewhere equally far-flung. The many time zones and linguistic and cultural differences you’ll be confronting can make booking such trips on your own too time-consuming to be practical. In addition to streamlining ambitious itinerary, it also makes geographic sense. As Adewole re-iterates, when traveling abroad to a new destination, having a travel agent who has actually been there is a huge plus. They can clue you in to decent restaurants and hotels, they would know what kind of documentation you would need to pass through customs, and give you the lowdown on attractions. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal taste: Some people find it rewarding to plan their entire itinerary, others are pressed for personal time and need someone else to step in and take care of the details. In the end, using travel agents still comes tops especially with our lives getting busier but remember trust, intuition and experience is key when choosing one. I personally will opt for a TMC/TravelAgency who is duly registered and has an online presence too, its two for a price of one.
TRAVEL NEWS FTAN Marks 20th Anniversary, Honours Members The Federation of TourismAssociations of Nigeria (FTAN) will mark the 20th anniversary of the creation of the association on February 27. As part of the activities, FTAN will honour some individuals that have contributed to the growth and development of the federation. In the beginning, tourism was under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the then minister in charge, Rear Admiral Sunday Areola, decided to set up a committee to look into the formation of an umbrella body for tourism practitioners in the country. The committee was headed by Mrs. Theresa Ezeobi, while Mr. Jemi Alade was the secretary. Current FTAN President, Alhaji Karim Saleh Rabo, while speaking on the anniversary, said it was very important for the federation to mark the milestone. He said the association was mindful of the role the individuals to be honoured played in the recent past and it was only proper that they should be recognised at this auspicious occasion. He said the awardees were just the first set, as FTAN would honour the second group later in the year. Those to be honoured in the ‘A’ category are: Rear Admiral Isaac Sunday Areola, Alhaji Tukur Mani, Mrs. Theresa Ezeobi, Dr. Franklin Adejuwon, Mr. Goodie Ibru, Mr. Charles Abel, Chief Mike Amachree, Alhaji Wada Yinusa, Mr. Tarzan Balogun, Chief Frank Nneji, Mr. Ogbeni Tope-Awe, Mr. Jemi Alade, Alhaji Munzali Dantata, Otunba Segun Runsewe, Chief Samuel Alabi, Chief Tomi Akingbogun, Mr. Ikechi Uko, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and Mr. Charles Ukomadu. Category ‘B’ award recipients are some “corporate friends� of FTAN and they include Eko Hotel & Suites, Sheraton Hotel, Hotel Rosebud, and Nanet Suites.
50
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ˜ ͺ
PERSPECTIVE
Why Obaseki’s ‘Wake and See’ Phenomenon Overwhelms Omorotionmwan Crusoe Osagie
T
he disgruntled Josef Omorotionmwan has declared war on Edo people, who in their candid assessment of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s performance, few months into his assumption of office, named him their ‘Wake and See Governor’. Obaseki did not name himself the “Wake and See” Governor, Edo people did. They were amazed by the rapid succession in which developmental projects were initiated and implemented. They woke up every morning to see previously impassable roads fixed and orderliness and serenity restored to previously chaotic parts of the metropolis. All these happened without any noise made in the media and Edo’s good people fondly named their governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the “Wake and See Governor”. The sobriquet has since assumed a life of its own in the hearts, minds and lips of Edo people, who appreciate the effort the governor is making to effectively reposition the state and the rapid progress made within a short period of time. However, there are a few stakeholders on whom Obaseki’s growing popularity has foisted sudden insomnia. It is not Obaseki’s fault that Omorotionmwan can no longer find sleep due to the governor’s popularity among his people but one thing is certain and that is the fact that in his mission to industrialise Edo State, the Wake and See sobriquet has come to stay. Obaseki’s commitment to wake and see projects and development in Edo State, is on a roller coaster to progress. Omorotionmwan and his co-travellers’ contention is not with Governor Obaseki but with the good people of Edo State,
Obaseki who coined the name in the first place. But a cursory look through the issues raised in his belly-driven, favour seeking treatise, shows a great deal of illogic perhaps due to failing memory and poor thinking. Did Omorotionmwan say that any local government area can declare its entire geographic area an industrial park? Why hasn’t he declared his own local government area an industrial park, if in his reasoning, all it takes to develop an industrial park is a mere pious pronouncement or a sweeping declaration? Edo people living around Nevis Street in
Benin City, Lucky Way in Oregbeni, Erediauwa Street in Upper Sokponba area, Oko Central, Ikpokpan Road, to mention only a few roads, including those that go to work, school and market in the 75 new Comrade Buses, the thousands of road users who have since endorsed the services rendered by officials of the revamped Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) and millions of Edo people across the three senatorial districts attest to Obaseki’s commitment to purposive leadership. Omorotionmwan must be deluding himself to think that Edo people do not know that each time he picks his pen to attack governors as he subtly admitted in his belly-driven treatise, his aim is not to ‘move any society’ any inch forward, but to advance his interest. His notoriety for blackmailing people is common knowledge. He deliberately did not mention the several benefits his blackmail earned him in the past, such as his appointments to the boards of government agencies and similar appointments extended to other members of his family, his wife and son inclusive. His resolve to serially deride the consensus of Edo people through blackmail is due to his inability to secure the kind of favours he has been used to in the past. An old trick. Indeed, Leopards don’t change their spots. The Obaseki-led government places high premium on people’s capacity to deliver result and add value to the collective task of developing our dear state and not some over-bloated sense of entitlement! The can of worms recently uncovered at the Edo Development Property Authority (EDPA) detailing Omorotionmwan’s alleged illegal
activities at the housing authority is perhaps the reason he would not stop writing about EDPA and portray it in bad light, even when home owners in the estates are thankful to the governor for rescuing the EDPA estates from snakes, filth and sheer lawlessness. Omorotionmwan is scared that he may go to jail. To jail he will go, if the evidence before the court find him guilty. He should save his fears for the judgement day. There is a popular maxim that when falsehood is allowed to blossom unchallenged, it could wear the toga of truth. For the record, Governor Godwin Obaseki has put in place the relevant structures that will guide the repositioning of non-performing and under-performing government enterprises. It is only in Omorotionmwan’s speculative and failing mind that government assets are being sold without recourse to the enabling laws. His assessment of the governor’s aides in gutter and unprintable language reveals his quality of mind. He can save his counsel for his aides when and if he is voted into an elective office. These are the reasons Obaseki will continue to overwhelm Omorotionmwan. Hard as he may try, the socio-political value of the “Wake and See” sobriquet cannot be degraded, not even by Omorotionmwan and those in his displaced unprogressive and faded political class. Their efforts are too feeble to make any impact on the solid reputation of performance which Obaseki has built with the great people of Edo State. –Osagie is the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy
Obaseki’s Efforts to Rein in Lassa Fever in Edo Crusoe Osagie
O
ne. Two. Three. The news came in small drops. Reports of high fever, deaths and mourning and then more deaths. Lassa Fever, a tropical disease that originated from Lassa, Borno State, had
resurfaced. Deaths from the disease grew in numbers, jolting Nigerians by the day. From Ebonyi to Nassarawa to Kogi, cases of infection and deaths spread. In Edo State, it was a peculiar case. The sleepy town of Irrua, which hosts the Irrua Specialist Hospital, where the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control is domiciled, may have witnessed outbreaks of the disease in the past, but this year’s case proved to be different. Records show that every year, Nigeria records at least 100 Lassa Fever cases, which often makes the institute at Irrua a Mecca of sort, as it is the only available centre for management of the ailment in West Africa. But this year, in January alone, over 80 cases were recorded in the center and the number of deaths was mounting across the country. A public health emergency was upon the people and the center became a beehive of activities. The people in the state – being the go-to place for sufferers of the disease – became scared, most panicked, waiting for help from the scourge that now afflicts them. It became a challenge of who should bear the burden. The Irrua institute was overburdened, a number of the equipment had gone bad; worse still, the borehole in the facility had gone under: no water. It was no longer a matter of responding to the emergency, it was a case of how quick can the authorities get a hang of the situation and deploy human and material resources to curb the spread. When he got wind of that the outbreak had spilled to Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki was one not to pass the bulk or dillydally. He immediately summoned an emergency executive council meeting and called in everyone in his cabinet, who is remotely connected with ensuring that the spread is checked in the state. At the meeting, an in-depth situation analysis of the outbreak was undertaken, detailing the state’s preparedness to confront health emergencies, availability of human and materials at the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control and existence of a mechanism to
Lassa Fever drive enlightenment campaigns. The Commissioner for Health, Dr David Osifo, who was mandated to report on the state of preparedness of the institute at Irrua came back with a gloomy verdict. He reported that much as the Institute had requisite manpower to contain the outbreak, critical equipment and resources had gone bad. It was gathered that the borehole facility at the center was faulty, and of the two dialysis machines available, one was non-functional. The fever puts a lot of pressure on the lungs, hence there was need for a ventilator, but the Institute didn’t have such a machine. After the EXCO meeting, a marshall plan was rolled out. The state government released N100m as first tranche fund release to contain the outbreak and reactivated its rapid response team and commenced contact tracing for confirmed cases of the disease. Its officials were working closely with the Lassa Fever Institute, Irrua, and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for case management and disease surveillance. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, speaking after the meeting, said that the prevention and control of Lassa Fever in the state was multi-sectoral “involving the Ministries of Health, Environment, Agriculture, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Information, who are working together to put measures in place that will
Lassa Fever Rat stop the further spread of the current outbreak.” According to him, “Edo State and some other parts of the country are currently experiencing the outbreak of Lassa Fever with significant proportion of the Local Government Areas in Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts of the state already involved in the outbreak while the others are at risk of being affected.” He cautioned residents in the state to keep their environment clean, eliminate rats from homes and communities, avoid bush burning that can drive rats into homes, protect their food stuffs and wash their hands properly and regularly. The approach was quite methodological. According to him, the measures taken to stem the spread include: “awareness and sensitisation campaign reactivated with the Ministry of Information and deployment of radio and television jingles on Edo Broadcasting Services radio and television; written letters to all the 18 Local Government Areas to intensify mass awareness creation and sensitisation; reactivation of the state rapid response team and the commenced tracing of all contacts with confirmed cases, among others.” He said all cases of Lassa Fever in the state are treated in specialised centres, chief among which is the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control in Irrua Specialist Teaching
Hospital, Irrua, which was established to treat Lassa Fever cases. An aggressive market storm was also activated. Information, Educational and Communication (IEC) materials were prepared and circulated in markets, with a team of canvassers who went to Oka, Ikpoba Hill and others in the Benin metropolis to sensitise the people on the spread of the disease and preventive measures to adopt. Similar campaigns were launched in the Edo North and Central axis of the state, where the incidence of the outbreak was high. Two days after the release of the funds and a marching order was given for the purchase of the equipment, two dialysis machines and a ventilator were procured and installed, the borehole at the centre was fixed and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) were available. This drastically led to the drop of infections, such that less than 10 cases were recorded by the second week of February, and the center was better prepared to check the spread. At the recent emergency National Council of Health meeting, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, commended the rapid response of Governor Godwin Obaseki to the Lassa Fever outbreak, noting that the state showed greater level of preparedness. Commenting on the performance of states in curbing the outbreak, he said, “Edo State Government is a good example and other states should emulate them.”
51
FEBRUARY 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
PERSPECTIVE/BOOK REVIEW
BBN: The Phony Moral Brigade is Out Again Linus Umunna
T
here is every chance that we all have friends or acquaintances, who are convinced they have a divine warrant to tell us how a piece of music should make us feel. Those so persuaded ignore the fact of differences in tastes and orientation. As a rule, they consider their own tastes divinelyapproved, not personal preferences. They are the moral brigade. I was not surprised to see members of the brigade back on the podium immediately the hit show, Big Brother Naija (BBN), returned on 28 January. They are easy to spot. They lurk on internet discussion forums or take spaces in the print media, acting like magistrates with the power to tell others what or what not to watch on television and what show sponsors should put their money on. The BBN, without fail, gets the moral brigade into fits of red-eyed rage and on the same limp arguments. In an article, Big Brother, Small Minds, published by a national newspaper on 13 February, one Eugene Enahoro, blamed virtually all the challenges of Nigerian youths, including unwillingness to launch street protests at every opportunity as well inability to dislodge older politicians from the scene and establish a “youthocracy”, on BBN. The view is not original to him. I have seen people blame the English Premier League for Nigerians’ reluctance to make bonfires and block the roads for fun. I consider this an insult. Young Nigerians have participated in many protests and keep doing so since BBN and the English Premier League started airing in Nigeria. The BBN, according to Enahoro, “is a clear example of the idleness, lack of focus and intellectual poverty amongst our youth”. He claimed that when the show debuted years ago, “those who watched it were written off as people who have nothing to do, watching other people doing nothing!” Perhaps, he was talking about himself and his ilk. I know
many people, who watched and were mightily entertained (their right). Social media platforms also provide an uncomplicated indication of how much interest viewers have in BBN. Further proof of that is the return of the show with other editions. Had it been rejected by the audience, the show would have been ditched after debut. These days, claimed Enahoro, housemates do nothing other than engage in “in immorality of the highest order and discuss the most mundane unintelligent issues.” I am yet to see hardcore porn on or naked violence on BBN. A few indiscretions, maybe, but I strongly suspect that the writer knows that the BBN House is not a monastery and the show is unscripted. I am equally aware that no one is forced to watch. And very importantly,those who consider goings-on in the house unsuitable for viewers of certain ages should take advantage of their education and use the time and channel blocking features available to prevent access. Those features are not decorative in purpose. If the writer wants activism-oriented reality show, one drenched in Marxist rhetoric and Bob Marley’s “Stand Up, Get Up” playing relentlessly as the soundtrack, he should come up with an idea and pitch it. Intelligence, it must be made clear, is not exclusive to politics and activism. Both platforms, DStv and GOtv, on which BBN is aired, offer programming for diverse tastes. They include news, movies, sports, religion and general entertainment. Simply take your pick and as they say on the street, “eat the rice and leave the stones”. It is curious that the writer can describe a show that guarantees the winner N25million and a brand new SUV as one with no real value. Well, it has monetary value. More than that, it has career advancement value. The careers of some of the previous housemates have been helped by their participation. Bisola Aiyeola, the first runner-up at last year’s BBN attended the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York as
an Ambassador of One Campaign Initiative, which advocates improvement of access to and quality of education for girls in Nigeria, especially in the Northern states. This followed her winning presentation on BBN, where she highlighted the barriers to girl-child education in Nigeria. In any language, what she did would spell “seminal”, a word the author may not be familiar with. She has also featured in a number of television commercials and is a celebrity, facts that obviously leave the writer baleful. Uti Unachukwu cannot be said to have been hurt by participation in BBN except in the mind of the author. Enahoro wants the N25million for the winner of a Mathematics or essay competition. I concede to him the right to hold his belief. What I find unacceptable is that he thinks that knowledge in Mathematics (and you can add other subjects of study) is the only means of being useful in the society. This is not the case. I do think every activity not deemed illegal is useful to the society. Jamaica is better known for its reggae and athletics icons than her poets and mathematicians. Brazil is better known for football than anything else. That is not saying that poets and mathematicians are inferior, but you cannot legislate preferences for people. Education is fantastic, but if the writer is sufficiently educated, he would understand that education does not have one strain and is not restricted to school subjects. Interacting with people of different backgrounds and performing various tasks at a single location for three months must count as education and must be considered useful for personal development. And for the authors’ education, some of the BBN housemates have second degrees. Many have first degrees. Branding them as unintelligent is reflective of the minds of the members of the moral brigade, not those of the housemates. And you can find intelligent people among those who have never worn
academic gowns. BBN sponsors, MultiChoice, remain among the biggest investors in education through the MultiChoice Resource Centres in over 400 public schools across the country. This fact is well known to except to the moral brigade. The sponsors’ support for journalism in Africa and in Nigeria through the CNN/MultiChoice African Journalism Awards, in the author’s bizarre world, does not come across as noble. Presumably, the organization’s support for Sickle Cell Society Nigeria also counts as less than noble. The author’s anger at the size of the cash prize on offer to the eventual winner is, to say the least, laughable. Top-tier actors, musicians, footballers and boxers, to name a few, earn more than professors, scientists or economists et al. That the chaps in the “noble” professions do not earn as much as those in the presumably less noble ones has nothing to do with how important their fields are to society. They are mightily important. The truth is that only the top actors, musicians, footballers and boxers are highly paid. The vast majority never get the jobs they seek. Very few top-tier scientists, educators, professors and economists are paid relatively little. Some turn their work into products and services that earn them eye-watering sums. Everyone’s remuneration is based on what someone is willing to pay them. They key is to find the right employer. Footballers get better paid than doctors because the clubs that pay their wages are not public corporations and they are ‘for-profit’ organisations. A footballer’s wages, for example, come from the deep pockets of a billionaire or a club with big-money sponsorship deals, massive ticket-sale and merchandise revenues as well as competition prize money intake. The author is unable to understand this, obviously. You don’t want to watch BBN? Stay off it and stick to what thrills you. Others want to watch, deal with it. –Umunna writes from Port Harcourt
Setting Agenda for Good Governance through Justice and Security Title: Security and Justice: The Pathway for Peace and Reconciliation in Nigeria Author: Ibrahim K. Idris Reviewer: Yemi Adebisi Publisher: Toprint Global Services Limited Pages: 291
N
igeria has passed through timeless seasons of brutality. Killings through insurgency, kidnap, robbery and general state of insecurity in the country have adversely affected the economic and sociopolitical growth of the country. The 18-chapter book under review, Security and Justice: The Pathway for Peace and Reconciliation in Nigeria, written by Ibrahim Idris, the current Nigerian Inspector General of Police (IGP), provides thorough and deep insights on long-standing contemporary challenges of the Nigeria nation. It addresses issues relating to fears of marginalisation, sectionalism and trust in the governance process. The first chapter examines theoretical and philosophical underpinning of justice with a view to providing an in-depth understanding of what justice is all about. According to Idris, in this all important book, regardless of whatever definitions different authorities might have given to the phenomenon called ‘justice,’ the subject is all about fairness. “Justice in the broadest sense is fairness. Justice cannot assure that every dispute comes out ‘correctly’ or that no mistakes are made, but it should be such as to ensure that the process by which decisions are made and goods allocated is fair and produces an acceptable result in general, even if a single case of justice fails.” He maintains that justice will only occur when both political power and economic opportunity are evenly distributed. Justifying Aristotle’s definition of justice as “the chief basis of the state producing the common good,” the author links him up with the concept of utilitarian “who sought the greatest good for the greatest number.” He also examines the works of various
philosophers like Plato, Cephalus, Thrasymachus, Glaucon among others. Considering Nigeria’s post independent era, the author spends quality time dealing with distributive and restorative justice. In the course of his analytical details, he posits that since citizens are fundamentally equal, reasoning about justice should begin from a presumption that cooperatively produced goods should be equally divided. The author also examines the issues concerning government security. As sensitive as this subject matter is in today’s Nigeria historical archive, readers could easily conclude that it is only an expert like Idris that can enlighten us on the state of the nation. In an attempt to fulfill this obligation thoroughly, the author raises such pertinent questions to drive home his comprehensive argument about need for justice in Nigeria. He stresses the significance of reconciliation in all forms of relationships, saying it is the process of finding a way to make two different views, ideas, facts, etc, exist or be true at the same time. This, according to him, will only thrive when there is
understanding, mutual respect of different opinions and views, sacrifice, compatibility, compromise, sincerity, objectivity, tolerance, forgiveness, humility, kindness and love. “Effective reconciliation is the best guarantee that the violence of the past will not return. If we can build a new relationship amongst us that is based on respect and a real understanding of each other’s needs, fears and aspirations, the habits and patterns of cooperation that we then develop are the best safeguards against a return to violent division.” He observes that in heterogeneous society like Nigeria, certain problems are visible, which include alienation, dismemberment and distrust; tribal conflict, religious conflict and disunion. The author says the heterogeneous status of the country explains the intractable ethnoreligious conflicts, mutual distrust and antagonism among other societal ills that are bedeviling her growth and development. He reminds the reader the fact that endemic insecurity, coupled with violence, wide spread unemployment, depravation and alienation among the populace are direct offshoot of a political system that has deliberately abandoned the course of justice and reconciliation. “Most developed countries of the world have made justice the pillar upon which their aspiration and technological advancement rest. Except, there is justice, equality, equity and fairness, people (citizens) may not be given equal opportunity to aspire and realise their potentials. Under this condition, acrimony, general disaffection and break down of law and order become the order of the day.” Reconciliation, in the eye of this author is a useful tool for striking a balance between opposing interest. He, however, warns that this is achievable in an atmosphere of justice where there is application of the same standard or yardstick as stipulated by the law to all, no matter their sociocultural differences. The author, in the third chapter, reviews the contribution of justice to reconciliation. He says access to justice is a charged concept that embraces the nature, mechanism
and quality of justice obtainable in a society as well as the place of the individual within this judicial matrix. The author traces the history of political violence, ethnic and religious crises to pre-colonial times in chapter four. Lovers of history would find most of the monumental researches made by the author holistically useful. After comprehensive historical details with dates and relevant references, the author submits that the Nigerian democratic system needs to be redefined with its policies reformed and repositioned for a system which will have an all-inclusive government that is willing to champion the yearnings and aspirations of all Nigerians. Nigerians witnessing the menace of Boko Haram coupled with attacks of Fulani herdsmen will want to recommend nothing but peaceable coexistence, regardless of their religious or ethnic differences. This author must have considered the consequences of this disaster in the fifth and sixth chapter of the book. Thinking aloud, the author imagined if Nigeria’s political system can prevent future conflict, discusses major conflicts in Nigeria’s political system and the economic consequences of the conflict. In an ethnically divided society like ours, can democracy be sustained? This perhaps was one of the conflicting issues that have given the author a nightmare as can be felt through his writing. The author advises that though in a divided society like Nigeria, people always try to promote and protect their own interest, democracy should create an avenue for the citizens to feel comfortable projecting their interests along nonethnic lines when they choose to do so. The author also uses the book to explain the rights of common citizens in the society including the impression of Nigerians about Police Force where the author belongs. “In Nigeria, the police force has been typically viewed as inefficient and corrupt. Far from it, most people failed to understand and even appreciate the challenges facing the police since the police is also a product of the society…”. However, he proffers solution to human right violation.
52
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚Ϳ, 2018
POLITY
UNN, Sweden Partner on Innovation, Development Bennett Oghifo
T
he University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, said it has secured a partnership with Ideon Science Park and Lundavision, both of Sweden, that turn the institution into a formidable science and innovation hub in Nigeria This was made known in a statement by
the Director of International Collaboration, UNN, Prof. Kenneth Ofokansi. Prof. Ofokansi noted that the collaborations by the University were already bringing about new approach to ICT, industrial transformation, energy, agricultural revolution that highlights tractorisation and social entrepreneurship and innovation.
He explained: “The First Universitybased incubator-hub (Roar Nigeria), Lion Laptop Assembly line and Juawei authorized information Network Academy are the innovations already gaining moment in the University.’’ According to the Prof, the University would host an international workshop themed “Science Park and Innovation for
National Development� PSEN4ND, as part of the efforts to kick-start the partnership. He explained that the workshop scheduled for February 20 and 23, 2018 would deliberate and showcase the initiative, identifying and establishing pathways for domesticating the precepts and principles drawn from the Swedish experience.
Ologbese Hails Tinubu’s Appointment
T
he appointment of the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to head the Reconciliation Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by President Mohammadu Buhari has been applauded by the President of the Association of Good Leadership Advocates Peace Development Lagos, Prince Olusegun Ologbese, Describing it as a welcome development, Ologbese who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ogbese Maritime Services Limited stated that the move will ensure that peace is restored in the ruling party. He prayed that God in His infinity mercy will allow Buhari to listen to the voice of the party faithful since there was a big gap created by enemies of the president within and
outside the party. According to him, some party faithful believes that the problems in Buhari’s administration are caused by Tinubu. He stated that the association which was an off-shoot of the Concerned People of Lagos State was vindicated by the appointment of Tinubu as it had earlier enjoined Buhari to give the reconciliation of the party the seriousness it deserved. He said: “When we saw this evil mechanism to divide Buhari and Tinubu in order to bring the APC administration down, we did not hide it from Buhari’s aides, especially the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina. We called him severally to use all within his reach to make sure that wicked people did not divide
Buhari and Tinubu since it will have negative consequences. Whether Adesina delivered the message or not is not important. What is vital is that we did what we ought to do at the time by drawing the attention of Mr. President to it�. Ologbese noted that he and other members of the association knows President Buhari for a very long time now, adding that it was the reason they maintained that he needed a very vital and experience somebody like Tinubu by his side always. According to him, Tinubu has the capacity and wisdom to harmonize the interest of the contending interests in the party so that Buhari can concentrate on good governance without fear or favour. This is
what the enemies of Mr. President discovered and made them to bring a wedge between them shortly after the inauguration of the administration on May 29, 2015. The wedge resulted in a disconnection between Buhari and the people that supported him to be in power. Continuing, Ologbese said: “We thank God for his mercy to personally entered into Buhari heart to allow Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do the rescuing mission because the enemies have already handed over the instrument of destruction to the APC. They were only marking time for the final destruction of the party. He enjoined Nigerians to be patient a little by joining President Buhari to actualize his aims and objectives of making Nigeria great again.
L-R: Chairman of occasion, Chief Lanre Rasaq; chief host, Senator Gbenga Ashafa; SMEDAN representative, Mr. Majiyagbe Babajide; and best participant, Miss Areola Saidat Gbadebo, at the ďŹ nal day of the Entrepreneurship Seminar/ Skills acquisition programme for constituents of Lagos East Senatorial District sponsored by Senator Ashafa in conjunction with SMEDAN, in Lagos...recently
L-R: Corporate Aairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Kufre Ekanem; Customs Area Comptroller, Lagos Industrial Area Command, Festac, Oladunni Morenike; Corporate Communications and Brand PR Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Patrick Olowokere; and Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, Lagos Industrial Area Command, Festac, Ajuziego Maureen, during a courtesy visit of the Nigeria Customs Service to Lagos Brewery ...recently
L-R: Former Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Remi Babalola; Mr. Lateef Feyisitan of Alternative Capital, Partner/ Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Weco Systems International Ltd, Mr. Obinna Ekwonwa, during the 15th Centre for valves in leadership’s symposium in Lagos‌recently
L-R: Advisory Board Member, Jandor Foundation, Mr. Babatunde Onigbanjo; Central Coordinator, Mrs. Omowunmi Alli-Balogun; Founder/Chairman, Mr. Olajide Adediran; Jandor Foundation Ambassadors, Bimbo Thomas; and Abdullateef Adedimeji, during a media brieďŹ ng on the foundation’s support school initiatives, at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja...recently PHOTO: KOLA OLASUPO
53
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ, 2018
Reconstruction of Wharf Road Will be Completed by June, Says Dangote Bennett Oghifo
T
he on-going reconstruction of the Wharf road in Apapa, Lagos will be completed on or before the scheduled June date, the Chairman/President of AG Dangote, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has said. AG Dangote, a construction company is reconstructing the 2-kilometer stretch of the road with the use of concrete, and it has been contracted to reconstruct the Tin Can to Mile 2 to Oshodi Ring Road, using the same material. Aliko Dangote, who inspected the level of reconstruction work being done on Wharf Road, this week said, “There is great hope in Apapa with the reconstruction; AG Dangote is actually doing an excellent job, you know this road project is being funded by Dangote, Flour Mills and NPA. The quality of the road is very impressive and amazing; I thought we were doing just a normal road, even in Germany, you cannot find this road would last at least two generations. It is so solid that it can take any weight and traffic and they are doing a great job. If you look at the quality of work they are doing, it is not only the job but also the quality, so that we don’t actually leave here then after two or three years contractors will now have to come back. “I can assure you that once we leave this job, none of us here alive will actually see the end (the lifespan) of this road. That is how solid the road is going to be.” Dangote said there were quite a few challenges in the past because of the gas pipelines and electrical cables that were laid (on the right of way), but that the ministry’s engineers relocated them and that with this out of the way “this has actually given us
Managing Director A.G. Dangote Construction Company, Mr. Ashif Juma, Group Managing Director, Flour Mills Group, Mr. Paul Gbededo; and President/Chief Executive Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, during his visits to Wharf Road, Apapa, being reconstructed by his company... recently
time and we are now going to double our efforts to make sure that we work day and night so that this road will be delivered latest by end of June; by the end of June, the traffic here will be gone.” Dangote then appealed to the government to “remove all these taskforces all over the place and leave just the Police, LASTMA, and Federal Road Safety. These are the only three that we need and we are really going to write formally to the government to help us remove all these other taskforces. “This is a wrong place for the federal unit of Customs to set up a road block/check point. The issue is that some people don’t even understand how much money we are losing. If you quantify it in billions, it is 20 times the cost of this road every single day.”
He said there was need to decongest the area and to move the heavy duty vehicles off the bridges, stating that it was dangerous for trucks to be static on the bridge. “This is supposed to be passing weight and not static weight. So, I think we have to actually check the stability and credibility and strength of the bridges, because they have overloaded them and I’m a bit worried about them.” On the reconstruction of the Mile 2 stretch, he said his company would apply the same quality in executing that job, and that in another year, the work the government had done in making the roads better would become very obvious. He said the government had also promised that the trailer park by the Tin Can Port
would be ready about the same time the palliative work being done by AG Dangote were over. He, however, said the solution to the gridlock on the road was beyond the palliatives and that actual reconstruction would greatly improve the road. Dangote restated that the project was purely corporate social responsibility, explaining that he intervened to prevent the road from deteriorating further. “We try to do our best to contribute to development. If Dangote and Flour Mills had not taken the initiative, this road would have been like this for more years to come and everybody is losing money. “Even if some of us can actually afford to lose money, the smaller businesses will not be able to pull through all these. If you have one container and it is stuck in the port for days, you’ve been charged demurrage, you pay high fees, at the end of the day when you sell you goods, you’ll not be able to pay your loan. That is why I feel we need to do this, government cannot do everything, we need to also do our own bit. He explained that their intervention was not public private partnership, but CSR, adding that PPP was the way to go, as is done all over the world, so that government can concentrate on other areas of development like health, education, defense, among others. “It is difficult for any government to fund infrastructure and at the same time fund the daily needs of the people. “The current government has embraced PPP and are coming out with a very good model, like that of the road and I’m sure you’ll see a very big difference in one or two years.”
CBN Launches Uniform Mortgage Underwriting Standards for Bennett Oghifo
T
he Central Bank of Nigeria, during the week, launched a uniform system for use by all accredited Primary Mortgage Banks to provide loans for people in the informal sector of the economy. The system, known as Uniform Mortgage Underwriting Standards, was launched during a two-day meeting hosted, this week, by the Nigeria Housing Finance Programme (NHFP), an initiative of the federal government that is supported by a World Bank (International Development Association) loan of $300 million and implementation by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The meeting was attended by all managing directors of mortgage banks in Nigeria, officials of the NDIC, participating commercial banks, NMRC, FMBN and executives of CBN, among other stakeholders. The standards were developed as a collaborative effort between the Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria (MBAN), in conjunction with Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) and the NHFP. “The unveiling of the standards is expected to open a new vista to the housing market, which is predominantly composed of clients from the informal sector,” said the President, Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN), Mr. Adeniyi Akinlusi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Trust Bond Mortgage Bank Plc. Akinlusi said with the launch of the standards, “It is time for us to fold our sleeves and get cracking and get to work. What I mean by this is bringing into the housing market through the mortgage market- this is a bridge- for people to own houses and many people have been left behind. These are in the informal sec-
L-R: National Housing/Mortgage Finance Specialist, CBN, Adenike Fasanya – Osilaja; Head, Project Administration Team, Nigerian Housing Finance Programme, CBN, Adedeji Adesemoye; Executive Director, Special Insured Institution, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Joshua Etopidiok; Executive Director, Business Development and Portfolio Management, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Umar Dankane; and President, Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria, Niyi Akinlusi, at the launch of the Uniform Mortgage Underwriting Standard for the Informal sector of the Nigerian economy, CBN, in Lagos… recently
tor that contributes about 60 per cent of the GDP. They are left behind because, hitherto, we never had tools in terms of uniform mortgage underwriting standards to give them access to mortgages. Now, we have the tools and it is time to get to work; we are quite excited with this development because we know that all our members – 34 banks all over the country, can really engage with our environment and with the people there. The important thing for us is to see how we can reduce the housing deficit and make Nigerians proud homeowners.” The Chief Executive Officer of NMRC, Prof. Charles Inyangete, represented by the Head of Business Unit, said, “We are very delighted. We go out there we meet with developers, and most of the people we come across are those in the informal sector. When you talk about the infor-
mal sector, you’re not just talking about people who are low income. You’re talking about people who have plenty of money, who have little money, who are medium income earners, but don’t have structured salary scale system, like people who are self-employed.” She gave examples of tailors, who could have millions of Naira but have not placed themselves on a salary scale. “This is a welcome development. According to Mr. Joshua Etopidiok, Director, Special Insured Institutions Department of NDIC, which has oversight on the microfinance banks and primary mortgage banks, as at December 31, 2016, “it was evident that 41.6 per cent of the population are financially excluded, and by FSS 2020 we are expected to be doing an exclusion level of only 20 per cent.”
He said there was need to narrow the numbers, adding that the launch of the underwriting standards was a move in the right direction to fast-track the process of financial inclusion. About advocacy work to be done now that the underwriting standard had been launched, National Housing/ Mortgage Finance Specialist, CBN, Adenike Fasanya –Osilaja said, “the first thing was for policy to be in place; now we are going to push the message, capacitate the industry. So, we want to train the underwriters to understand that we don’t want to be too rigid in developing the character of a borrower. “These standards actually give multiple alternative documentation options. We want underwriters to be able to think and use common sense underwriting principles to determine a good borrower.” Head, Project Administration Team, Nigerian Housing Finance Programme, CBN, Adedeji Adesemoye said, “This is another milestone in transformation which we think will change the game, particularly bringing housing finance and access to home ownership to the people, who will ordinarily not want to come to the bank or who over time have been coming to the bank but because they are not in the formal sector, we have not been able to serve them.” He said this was another threshold in financial inclusion, providing access to those, who hitherto, have been an economic agent but have not been participating, as a result of the fact that they are not meeting the documentation. “We have worked on both the formal and informal underwriting standards under the programme, NHFP that I am managing,” saying there is also the housing microfinance that deals with incremental housing.
54
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚͜
DPR Shuts 96 Fuel Stations in Kano, Jigawa States Ibrahim ShuaibuinKano
L-R - The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and the UNWTO's Secretary-General, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, signing the Agreement on Nigeria's hosting of the 61st CAF Meeting, in Madrid, Spain, on Frida
Following the persistent scarcity of Premium motor Spirit (PMS) in the country, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Kano and Jigawa zone has sealed off 96 fuel stations over diversion of the product and hike in price. The DPR Operations Controller in charge of Kano and Jigawa states, Mr. Buba Abubakar told journalists on Friday in his office in Kano that the stations were sealed for diversion, hoarding, over pricing and under dispensing of the price which violate government directives. “We have embarked on an intensified surveillance to ensure that the product released to Kano and Jigawa states is sold in filing stations in the state and at the stipulated price. He also added that such effort was to ensure that the product meant for each fuel station in the state was
Buhari’s Government Sabotaging Anti-corruption War, Says Falana
All On, Others Sign
DOTTING THE LINES...
Bayo Akinloye
Human rights lawyer and anti-corruption activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has scored the President Muhammadu Buhari administration low on the Federal Government’s fight against corruption in Nigeria. Falana, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, said Buhari’s government was sabotaging the country’s anticorruption war. He said, “No doubt, the Buhari administration declared a war on corruption. But the regime is currently sabotaging the war through
the questionable reinstatement of highly corrupt public officers. Apart from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, other anti-graft agencies have been tactically castrated by the Senate which has refused to confirm the members of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau. The National Assembly has also failed to pass the bills for the establishment of the anti-corruption court, whistle-blowing bill, proceed of crime bill, etc.� According to him, the criticism
by the opposition against the ruling All progressives Congress is genuine. “The criticism is not unfounded in view of the composition of the All Progressives Congress. The leaders of the National Assembly, a substantial number of legislators, ministers and governors were in the Peoples Democratic Party who migrated to the APC a few weeks before the 2015 general election. With respect, the APC was a special purpose vehicle for changing the federal government in 2015. No more, no less; no commitment to any ideology or principle.
“The Buhari regime has not mobilised and involved Nigerians in the fight against corruption. By reinstating and retaining corrupt public officers the regime is encouraging corruption to fight back. The APC controls the majority of the members of the National Assembly. “Yet, the assembly is dedicated to the frustration of the war against corruption. Out of the 21 states controlled by the APC only Kano state has an anti-corruption agency. Is it an irony that the PDP government in Ekiti State is trying to set up an anti-corruption agency?� Falana added.
Obasanjo Launches Azikel ReďŹ nery Project All is set for the foundation laying ceremony of Azikel Refinery by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State today. The licence for the refinery was approved in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari shortly after assuming office. According to a statement issued by Corporate Affairs Services Department of Azikel Group and signed by its spokesperson, Mr. Austin Ebipade, the
privately owned refinery which is 65% completed is expected to take off by 2019 and would be the first of its kind in the country. The Azikel Refinery is managed by Azikel Petroleum Limited, a subsidiary of the Azikel Group, which is also in the business of Dredging, Aviation and Power. On work done so far, the statement noted that the volume of accomplished task in the phase I task referred to as the Outside
Battery Limit (OSBL) and the Inside Battery Limit (ISBL) was about 65% completed. The refinery is situated on a 19.9 hectares of virgin swamp forest, that is waterlogged and below sea level. The swamp land had been sand-filled and work has commenced. According to the President of the Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, the refinery when completed would address the issue of persistent scarcity of refined
products with the production of petrol, aviation fuel, kerosene and diesel. He said his belief in the role of the private sector in boosting the nation's economic growth informed his decision to embark on the venture which is projected to create hundreds of jobs in and outside the Niger Delta region. Prominent Nigerians including foreign investors are already in Yenagoa for the event which is slated to start by 11 am today.
Carpets Buhari, Security 'Hollandia Evap SatisďŹ es Consumers' HURIWA Agencies over Zamfara Massacre
Hollandia Evaporated Milk has been adjudged an “all-rounder milk�, given the taste, quality, and numerous nutritional benefits, which can ideally be used for traditional and non-traditional purposes. “For a brand that has positioned itself in the minds of consumers as the benchmark for quantity and quality in the evaporated milk category, Hollandia Evaporated Milk needs little introduction to consumers conscious of taking a highly nutritious milk for its health benefits,� said officials of the company. Offering premium quality at affordable prices, Hollandia Evaporated Milk is a great tasting and creamy addition to a breakfast cup of tea or coffee, or a bowl of cereal, pap or custard, as it provides excellent nourishment required for
the body before you set out for the day. It also brings out the taste when added to your favourite tapioca meal or milkshake, and offers added nutrition and taste when used in mixes for cakes, chin-chin, puff-puff and small chops batter. Hollandia Evaporated Milk which can be consumed with or without complement is rich in calcium and vitamins, and is packaged in handy pack sizes of 60g and 190g. The 60g “Pop-Pour-Throw� pack size allows consumers to avoid waste as the content is well within what can be consumed in one go, thereby eliminating the need for refrigeration. To address the growing desire for convenience by consumers, the re-sealable 190g “Pour-Cap-Keep� pack size provides consumers with the opportunity to store and re-use after opening.
A non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the failure of the nation’s security forces to end the intermittent mass genocide of villagers by armed hoodlums in Zamfara State. According to HURIWA, rather than President Muhammadu Buhari ordering surgical and comprehensive law enforcement efforts to crush the growing number of well-armed militias operating in Zamfara State and whose identities may be known to security officials, he chose to dilly-dally and chase shadows. HURIWA condemned the federal government for only decisively showing interest in launching intensive manhunt for the armed hoodlums when cases of cattle rustling were involved and wondered why the
special forces put together and inaugurated by the military has failed to protect human lives. "A serving Senator even accused his State governor of not doing enough to stop the killings but this strategic issue of safeguarding lives and property of the citizens has been politicised and when two elephants fight, only the grass suffer. Should innocent blood continue to flow in Zamfara State? “We have followed the ugly security challenges in Zamfara State in the last couple of years and we are shocked that the Nigerian state which showed the capacity to draw out some of these armed kingpins to ceasefire temporarily and stop cattle rustling cannot now be competent and capable of stopping the blood cuddling bonanza of mass killings of poor, innocent civilians.
Power Pact Chineme Okafor in Abuja
A Nigerian off-grid energy investment company, All On, on Friday disclosed that it had reached financial closure with three renewable energy firms to quicken access to affordable and viable energy sources in the Niger Delta, a region that holds all the hydrocarbon resources of Nigeria. All On is an independent impact investing company that was seeded with funding from oil giant – Shell, and it works with partners to increase access to commercial energy products and services for under-served and un-served off-grid energy markets in Nigeria but with a special focus on the Niger Delta. A statement from the company quoted its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Boer Wiebe, to have announced that it would provide equity and debt funding to Port Harcourt based Green Village Electricity (GVE) which is reputed as Nigeria’s leading mini-grid player. The funding arrangement would enable GVE expand the offerings of its clean energy solutions in the Niger Delta and across Nigeria. Also, All On said it made an equity investment in Lumos Global BV, in the form of a debt facility to facilitate a quick rollout of its Solar Home Systems (SHS) in the Niger Delta. It will also provide a convertible debt facility to another indigenous clean energy service provider, ColdHubs, to enable it expand its solar-powered marketplace cold storage business to new markets in the same region. The statement explained that these developments came barely three months after All-On announced its first set of transactions in Nigeria’s off-grid market, and two months after the firm and U.S. Africa Development Foundation (USADF) announced a $3 million partnership to expand access to energy for underserved and unserved markets in Nigeria. Boer, however said in it that: “The investments made in these energy solution providers further demonstrate our firm belief that off-grid energy is indispensable in the improvement of Nigeria’s energy narrative. It therefore deserves adequate attention and financial backing from both the public and private sectors.�
delivered and sold to the public at the stipulated price. Buba warned that ’’Marketers should respect the guidelines covering their operations. They should operate within the confines of the guidelines and ensure that those products given to them are sold to the public accordingly. “The government is doing everything possible to bring normalcy in petroleum product supply and I wish to appeal to the general public to have faith in the government because efforts are on to ensure availability of the product across the country. According to him, the supply of the petroleum to the Kano and Jigawa zone was not enough to cater for the need of the these states, adding that Kano needed 87 trucks while Jigawa required 33 trucks in the daily need of the supply. “’As of today, the daily supply 26/26 trucks and Jigawa got only 6 trucks, and the shortfall is about 30 per cent for Kano and 20 per cent for Jigawa State�. The operation controller assured that the DPR would not relent in its effort to ensure the supply of petroleum reach the consumers, warned filling station to always desist from diversion, hoarding of the products.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly known and addressed as ADEPOJU AREMU RASHEED. now wish to be known and addressed as AREMU RASHEED. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.
I formerly known and addressed as WILLIAM SOLOMON, now wished to be known and addressed as SOLOMON UDUAKOBONG WILLIAM. Error on date of birth was 30/06/1978 and the correct date of birth is 30/06/1980. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.
I, formerly known and addressed as NASSER ABUBAKAR KHALIFA. now wish to be known and addressed as AHMED KHALIFA ABUBAKAR NASSER. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed as IBRAHIM GANIYAT KEHINDE. now wish to be known and addressed as AYINDE GHANIYYAH KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I formerly know and addressed as WOBRI AHMED IDRIS, now wished to be known and addressed as WOBRI IDRIS, and my date of birth was wrongly Ç ĆŒĹ?ƊĞŜ Ä‚Ć? 1st of May 1984 instead of 20th of April 1984. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note. I, formerly known and addressed as EUNICE OMOLUWA OKOH now wish to be known and addressed as OMOLUWA EUNICE NKEM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.
53
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ϳ, 2018
Reconstruction of Wharf Road Will be Completed by June, Says Dangote Bennett Oghifo
T
he on-going reconstruction of the Wharf road in Apapa, Lagos will be completed on or before the scheduled June date, the Chairman/President of AG Dangote, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has said. AG Dangote, a construction company is reconstructing the 2-kilometer stretch of the road with the use of concrete, and it has been contracted to reconstruct the Tin Can to Mile 2 to Oshodi Ring Road, using the same material. Aliko Dangote, who inspected the level of reconstruction work being done on Wharf Road, this week said, “There is great hope in Apapa with the reconstruction; AG Dangote is actually doing an excellent job, you know this road project is being funded by Dangote, Flour Mills and NPA. The quality of the road is very impressive and amazing; I thought we were doing just a normal road, even in Germany, you cannot find this road would last at least two generations. It is so solid that it can take any weight and traffic and they are doing a great job. If you look at the quality of work they are doing, it is not only the job but also the quality, so that we don’t actually leave here then after two or three years contractors will now have to come back. “I can assure you that once we leave this job, none of us here alive will actually see the end (the lifespan) of this road. That is how solid the road is going to be.” Dangote said there were quite a few challenges in the past because of the gas pipelines and electrical cables that were laid (on the right of way), but that the ministry’s engineers relocated them and that with this out of the way “this has actually given us
Managing Director A.G. Dangote Construction Company, Mr. Ashif Juma, Group Managing Director, Flour Mills Group, Mr. Paul Gbededo; and President/Chief Executive Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, during his visits to Wharf Road, Apapa, being reconstructed by his company... recently
time and we are now going to double our efforts to make sure that we work day and night so that this road will be delivered latest by end of June; by the end of June, the traffic here will be gone.” Dangote then appealed to the government to “remove all these taskforces all over the place and leave just the Police, LASTMA, and Federal Road Safety. These are the only three that we need and we are really going to write formally to the government to help us remove all these other taskforces. “This is a wrong place for the federal unit of Customs to set up a road block/check point. The issue is that some people don’t even understand how much money we are losing. If you quantify it in billions, it is 20 times the cost of this road every single day.”
He said there was need to decongest the area and to move the heavy duty vehicles off the bridges, stating that it was dangerous for trucks to be static on the bridge. “This is supposed to be passing weight and not static weight. So, I think we have to actually check the stability and credibility and strength of the bridges, because they have overloaded them and I’m a bit worried about them.” On the reconstruction of the Mile 2 stretch, he said his company would apply the same quality in executing that job, and that in another year, the work the government had done in making the roads better would become very obvious. He said the government had also promised that the trailer park by the Tin Can Port
would be ready about the same time the palliative work being done by AG Dangote were over. He, however, said the solution to the gridlock on the road was beyond the palliatives and that actual reconstruction would greatly improve the road. Dangote restated that the project was purely corporate social responsibility, explaining that he intervened to prevent the road from deteriorating further. “We try to do our best to contribute to development. If Dangote and Flour Mills had not taken the initiative, this road would have been like this for more years to come and everybody is losing money. “Even if some of us can actually afford to lose money, the smaller businesses will not be able to pull through all these. If you have one container and it is stuck in the port for days, you’ve been charged demurrage, you pay high fees, at the end of the day when you sell you goods, you’ll not be able to pay your loan. That is why I feel we need to do this, government cannot do everything, we need to also do our own bit. He explained that their intervention was not public private partnership, but CSR, adding that PPP was the way to go, as is done all over the world, so that government can concentrate on other areas of development like health, education, defense, among others. “It is difficult for any government to fund infrastructure and at the same time fund the daily needs of the people. “The current government has embraced PPP and are coming out with a very good model, like that of the road and I’m sure you’ll see a very big difference in one or two years.”
CBN Launches Uniform Mortgage Underwriting Standards for Bennett Oghifo
T
he Central Bank of Nigeria, during the week, launched a uniform system for use by all accredited Primary Mortgage Banks to provide loans for people in the informal sector of the economy. The system, known as Uniform Mortgage Underwriting Standards, was launched during a two-day meeting hosted, this week, by the Nigeria Housing Finance Programme (NHFP), an initiative of the federal government that is supported by a World Bank (International Development Association) loan of $300 million and implementation by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The meeting was attended by all managing directors of mortgage banks in Nigeria, officials of the NDIC, participating commercial banks, NMRC, FMBN and executives of CBN, among other stakeholders. The standards were developed as a collaborative effort between the Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria (MBAN), in conjunction with Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) and the NHFP. “The unveiling of the standards is expected to open a new vista to the housing market, which is predominantly composed of clients from the informal sector,” said the President, Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN), Mr. Adeniyi Akinlusi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Trust Bond Mortgage Bank Plc. Akinlusi said with the launch of the standards, “It is time for us to fold our sleeves and get cracking and get to work. What I mean by this is bringing into the housing market through the mortgage market- this is a bridge- for people to own houses and many people have been left behind. These are in the informal sec-
L-R: National Housing/Mortgage Finance Specialist, CBN, Adenike Fasanya – Osilaja; Head, Project Administration Team, Nigerian Housing Finance Programme, CBN, Adedeji Adesemoye; Executive Director, Special Insured Institution, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Joshua Etopidiok; Executive Director, Business Development and Portfolio Management, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Umar Dankane; and President, Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria, Niyi Akinlusi, at the launch of the Uniform Mortgage Underwriting Standard for the Informal sector of the Nigerian economy, CBN, in Lagos… recently
tor that contributes about 60 per cent of the GDP. They are left behind because, hitherto, we never had tools in terms of uniform mortgage underwriting standards to give them access to mortgages. Now, we have the tools and it is time to get to work; we are quite excited with this development because we know that all our members – 34 banks all over the country, can really engage with our environment and with the people there. The important thing for us is to see how we can reduce the housing deficit and make Nigerians proud homeowners.” The Chief Executive Officer of NMRC, Prof. Charles Inyangete, represented by the Head of Business Unit, said, “We are very delighted. We go out there we meet with developers, and most of the people we come across are those in the informal sector. When you talk about the infor-
mal sector, you’re not just talking about people who are low income. You’re talking about people who have plenty of money, who have little money, who are medium income earners, but don’t have structured salary scale system, like people who are self-employed.” She gave examples of tailors, who could have millions of Naira but have not placed themselves on a salary scale. “This is a welcome development. According to Mr. Joshua Etopidiok, Director, Special Insured Institutions Department of NDIC, which has oversight on the microfinance banks and primary mortgage banks, as at December 31, 2016, “it was evident that 41.6 per cent of the population are financially excluded, and by FSS 2020 we are expected to be doing an exclusion level of only 20 per cent.”
He said there was need to narrow the numbers, adding that the launch of the underwriting standards was a move in the right direction to fast-track the process of financial inclusion. About advocacy work to be done now that the underwriting standard had been launched, National Housing/ Mortgage Finance Specialist, CBN, Adenike Fasanya –Osilaja said, “the first thing was for policy to be in place; now we are going to push the message, capacitate the industry. So, we want to train the underwriters to understand that we don’t want to be too rigid in developing the character of a borrower. “These standards actually give multiple alternative documentation options. We want underwriters to be able to think and use common sense underwriting principles to determine a good borrower.” Head, Project Administration Team, Nigerian Housing Finance Programme, CBN, Adedeji Adesemoye said, “This is another milestone in transformation which we think will change the game, particularly bringing housing finance and access to home ownership to the people, who will ordinarily not want to come to the bank or who over time have been coming to the bank but because they are not in the formal sector, we have not been able to serve them.” He said this was another threshold in financial inclusion, providing access to those, who hitherto, have been an economic agent but have not been participating, as a result of the fact that they are not meeting the documentation. “We have worked on both the formal and informal underwriting standards under the programme, NHFP that I am managing,” saying there is also the housing microfinance that deals with incremental housing.
TR
Saturday, February 17, 2018
UT H
& RE A S O
N
Price: N250
MISSILE Soyinya on Killings By Herdsmen “Can you imagine a minister of defence (Mansur Dan-Ali) opening his mouth to utter obscenities such as, ‘What do you expect the herdsmen to do if the path of their grazing route is blocked?’ We are talking about the phenomenon of human butchery. We are talking about the villages which have been depopulated…Why is this man still in office? What sort of government tolerates that kind of callous individual within its ranks?” – Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, chastising FG’s feeble response to killings by herdsmen.
PENDULUM DELE MOMODU
dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com
Before Nigeria Goes the Way of Rwanda
F
ellow Nigerians, I finally found my way to Kigali, Rwanda, two weeks ago. I had procrastinated and postponed that journey for too long, for no justifiable reason. I visit Nairobi quite regularly and could easily have travelled to Rwanda, as part of my trip, but it never happened because for once, I simply did not put my mind to it. My interest in Rwanda had been stirred by recent news and events in that country for some years now. I had heard and read so much about the amazing transformation going on in a country that witnessed one of the deadliest civil wars in 1994, just about the time Nigeria was going through the June 12, 1993 Presidential election crisis. Today, Rwanda has virtually recovered physically, even if not psychologically, from the scourge of that tragic, destructive and devastating war but our dear beloved country Nigeria is yet to come out of the after-effect of the political imbroglio which culminated in the death of the two prime actors in the June 12 1993 aftermath, Chief MKO Abiola and General Sani Abacha. My decision to travel eventually came from a simple flight from Accra to Lagos on RwandAir a few weeks ago. Sorry if I’m advertising the airline but I was pleasantly surprised to fly such a beautiful and brand new A330-200 aircraft belonging to a national carrier of a country that Buhari had been so ravaged by an internecine war . The crew was extremely warm, courteous and Kigali. RwandAir needs maximum publicity dutiful. There was no sign amongst them of the to market such a fantastic brand. I love the tribal warfare that had almost practically sunk availability of WiFi during the flight. Some major and sucked the country into the abyss. They were international airlines, including the much vaunted all smiles and interacted with one another like British Airways, are yet to have these feature on brother and sister. It was a remarkable throwback their flights yet those managing RwandAir have to Nigeria of yesteryears when there was no seen the vision and realise that this is one of the distrust or enmity between us even though we ways to enhance the travel experience of their faithfully clung to our tribal groupings. Back to passengers. I am very active on social media Rwandair! The food was excellent for a 45-minute and was able to communicate and update my flight. The journey was smooth and the timing social media accounts throughout the flight thus was spot on, unlike our epileptic airlines, where ensuring that I missed out on nothing during the entire flight. There was never a shortage of interminable delay is the order of the day. That was it. I was sold instantly on the champagne, but I indulged a bit requesting for Rwandan magic. I needed to experience first- one glass only before reclining and stretching hand what had changed and was making these out to catch a much-needed nap. The announcement by the Captain woke people tick and preform near miracles in the reconstruction and rejuvenation of their beloved me up and brought me back to reality as we country. I wasted no time in calling my ever- started our descent into Kigali. The crew went dependable travel agent, I call her Mrs A, and through the usual ritual of getting the cabins she booked me from Lagos to Kigali, Kigali to ready for landing. In minutes the massive plane Johannesburg, Johannesburg to Kigali and Kigali opened it flaps and landed perfectly. The plane to Lagos. To my surprise, the fare was very taxied to its parking bay in the small airport. reasonable and affordable. I made up my mind The door was swung open, by the crew and not to explore Africa more than anywhere else this by unknown forces, and we were told we could year with this Airlie and other African Airlines disembark. I was the first to leave, anxious to like Kenyan Airways and Ehtiopian Airways get to my hotel. I approached the Immigration who also have a very good fleet of aircraft and counters and was invited by an officer who dependable and reliable service and safety history. granted me visa on arrival. The visa cost 30 US It is a big shame that most of us have flown too Dollars and the process was easy and smooth. many times to Europe, America and Asia but No one requested for tonnes of documentation know practically nowhere in Africa. For as long or any gratification to get what was clearly my as RwandAir remains efficient and affordable, entitlement. I went to the luggage claims area after passing my handbags through x-ray machine. I I will remain its self-appointed Ambassador. The appointed day was very soon upon me. picked my suitcases and put them on a trolley I had no anxieties when packing and preparing which was free of charge. DJ Cuppy and I had spoken before my trip for the trip as I often have when flying abroad with some of our Nigerian airlines. The flight and she had mentioned a few good hotels to try. from Lagos to Kigali was wonderful. It arrived I readily settled for the Marriott Kigali. I walked with some passengers from Accra and picked out of the airport and located a taxi rank. I got those of us from Nigeria. We flew for a little a driver in little time and we drove to the hotel under four hours. The Business class was not about 25 minutes away. I did not regret my very full despite the fact that some Access Bank choice. The hotel was reasonably priced and executives were on the flight for their retreat in very comfy. I had a quick check-in, showered
and went straight to bed. I woke up in the morning to enjoy a sumptuous breakfast. I hired a car to take a tour of Kigali and enjoyed taking in the atmosphere of a battered but recovered nation. After two nights, I headed to South Africa and landed at about 2a.m. By 3a.m, I was in my hotel in Sandton. No unnecessary argument with the front desk officer, I was granted early check-in. Elsewhere, I would have been punished for arriving too early and advised to wait till 3p.m. but South Africa understands tourism. I settled to my meetings in Johannesburg and spent my two days well. One of my plans was to meet the aging and ailing Winnie Mandela, one of the greatest icons of the anti-apartheid struggle. Thanks to my friends, Ms Cebo Hlatshwayo and Mr Malcolm X, an appointment was arranged pronto. I had met Winnie Mandela about 14 years ago at the 70th birthday of Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion and remain one of her biggest fans till this day. We were minutes to her home in Soweto when we received a call that she was being rushed to hospital. What a shame, I soliloquised. We decided to go to a nearby restaurant to sample some local cuisine. I was humbled when Winnie called Malcolm from hospital just to offer her apologies to me. She promised to see me before flying out that night if the doctors released her to go home. Winnie kept her word and we met for about 30 minutes before I headed to the Oliver Tambo Airport to catch my flight back to Kigali. There is so much happening in Africa that I hope to capture in the books I’m working on. The story of Rwanda is one that I believe every Nigerian should study and understand well. It seems we did not learn much from our own civil war experience. At the rate, and the way, Nigeria is going, we need special prayers not to go the way of Rwanda. In case the story of Rwanda is strange to you, please, allow me to give you a quick summary. The genocide that rocked Rwanda is better left to the imagination. Like all pogroms the world over, it started with one ethnic group hating the other, in this case the Hutus hated the Tutsis with so much passion and venom. It is always difficult to determine the source or cause of such monumental dislike for a fellow human being. The situation gets worse when leaders who should discourage such malady actually encourage and partake in the orgy of violence. In Rwanda, the Hutu were said to have had a pathological hatred for the Tutsi. I stumbled on the Hutu Commandments and I had goose bumps all over me. I wondered why anyone would hate another being in such ungodly manner. Let me share some with you: “All Hutus must know that the Tutsi woman wherever she may be, is serving the Tutsi ethnic group. In consequence, any Hutu who does the following is a traitor: acquires a Tutsi wife acquires a Tutsi mistress acquires a Tutsi secretary or dependent All Hutus must know that our Hutu daughters are more worthy and more conscientious in their role of woman, spouse and mother. Are they not more beautiful, good secretaries and more sincere! Hutu women, be vigilant and bid your husbands, brothers and sons to come to their senses.
All Hutus must know the Tutsi is dishonest in business. His only goal is ethnic superiority…” Now, as if this is not bad enough, wait for this, my dear reader: “In consequence, any Hutu who does the following is a traitor: whoever makes an alliance with Tutsi in business whoever invests his money or state money in a Tutsi company whoever lends money or borrows it from a Tutsi whoever grants favours to Tutsi in business (granting of import license, bank loans, building parcel, public tender offers…) The strategic political, administrative, economical, military and security positions must be reserved for Hutu. The education (students, teachers) must be of Hutu majority. The Rwandan Armed Forces must be exclusively Hutu. The war experience in 1990 teaches us this lesson. No military man should marry a Tutsi woman…” This was how the Hutu clan brainwashed their own people. Isn’t this similar to what is going on in our own country? Politicians daily regale us with their predilection for restructuring on the basis of primordial tribal sentiments when the restructuring that this country needs is on a political, social and economic front, devoid of religious or ethnic considerations. Anyway, Rwanda exploded as the warmongering protagonists had wished and in no time, a million lives were wasted by blood-sucking bigots and jingoists. I was stunned when I visited the genocide museum. It brought home the grim reality of war in a way in which history books, documentaries and other works of art can never do. We must commend the government and people of Rwanda for preserving this important moment in the country’s history. Emmanuel, my driver, brought the reality home when he blatantly refused to enter the museum. I asked him why and his response was that “I have both my parents there…” I didn’t understand him at first. I thought they worked in the place. I prodded further, and he told me sadly that he lost his parents to the senseless war and they are buried in that museum. Perhaps if our country had preserved some of the relics and experiences of the Civil War that almost nearly tore us apart and led to millions of deaths, we would not be beating down what we should realise is a well-trodden path to destruction and perdition. I had tears in my eyes as I toured the well-kept monument. The tears were not only for Rwanda but for the unseen future of my country where ignorance and our unique ability to lose sight of history is leading us to a ruinous date with the destiny of war. My fervent prayer continues to be that reason and good leadership will prevail in Nigeria, and we will be brought away from the brink of the grave disaster, that our foolhardy leaders appear to be steering us towards. I bought many books, in fact every book written in English. It is one important history I cannot afford to ignore or forget. The lessons are of flaws in humanity leading to a human calamity. Those who are beating the drums of war should please cool temper. They will probably be the first to flee and disappear when the first shots of battle ring out. It is the ordinary man, woman and child that will suffer the most. Indeed, war is never a tea party …
Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja . All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com