Saturday 26th May 2018

OPEC, Russia Mull Easing Supply Limits to Rebalance Oil Market Curbs pushed crude prices to their highest since 2014 NNPC seeks quick execution of capital tasks Chineme Okafor in Abuja with agency report Member countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their major ally, the Russian Federation are considering

relaxing the 2017 limits they imposed on their oil production levels to rebalance the oil market, and increase their output in the market to about 1 million barrels per day (bpd).

Reuters reported yesterday that Saudi Arabia, Russia and their

counterpart from the United Arab Emirates met in the Russian city of St. Petersburg to review the terms of the global oil supply pact that has been in place for 17 months, ahead of a key OPEC meeting in Vienna next month.

Sources informed Reuters that

the meeting indicated they were ready to ease supply curbs that had pushed crude prices to their highest since 2014 despite oil prices losing more than 2 per cent by yesterday from the price advantage it had gained.

According to the news agency,

while the energy ministers of these countries met and discussed an output increase of about 1mbd, Brent crude futures were down by $1.77 at $77.02 a barrel yesterday, having hit their highest since late 2014.

It equally reported that U.S.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $68.84 a barrel, down by $1.87.

OPEC and a group of nonOPEC producers led by Russia started withholding output in Continued on page 6

Finally, Buhari Receives 2018 Budget from National Assembly ...Page 55 Saturday 26 May, 2018 Vol 23. No 8437

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Ekiti 2018: Army, Police Can’t Rescue Fayemi from Defeat, Say Fayose, Wike The will of the people must be allowed to stand, says Jonathan Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The governors of Ekiti and River States, Ayodele Fayose and Nyesom Wike respectively, yesterday said the deployment of soldiers and police won’t save the candidate of the All Progres-

sives Congress (APC), Dr Kayode Fayemi, from being disgraced in the July 14 governorship poll.

Fayose insisted that the “poor performances” of the Buhari’s administration had substantiated the fact that there was no alternative to the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) in the running of government at the centre.

The governors spoke in Ado Ekiti during the inauguration of the new Governor’s office; former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was also present.

Wike did the official inaugura-

tion and he was supported by his counterparts from Akwa Ibom, Mr. Emmanuel Udom, that of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dakwambo as well as Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu .

Fayose, who spoke before the inauguration of the edifice insisted

that the APC candidate for the July 14 election and former governor had never won any election in the history of the state.

He said: “Oni won the election but Justice Ayo Salami gave it to Fayemi. They want to bring him back now; I want to say that they

will fail.

“The Pharaoh deployed every weapon against the Israelites but they ended up in the Red Sea. That is how election will be because it was a divine mandate for Governor Continued on page 6

Oshiomhole: Buhari´s Achievements Will Guarantee Victory for APC We'll win more states and National Assembly seats

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Immediate past governor of Edo State, and Chairmanship hopeful of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements would propel him to victory in 2019.

Oshiomhole, who declared this while addressing leaders of the APC in Edo State, predicted that despite the effort being made by the opposition to misinform Nigerians about the activities of the APC-led government, the APC would win more states in the governorship election and more National Assembly seats.

He said the campaigns for 2019 general elections would be interesting because his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), would reveal to Nigerians how the alleged looting of the nation’s treasury during the 16 years reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), plunged Nigerians into poverty, “which the APC government under President Buhari was making effort to

eliminate.”

According to Oshiomhole, who recently received the endorsement of President Buhari and the APC caucus in the Senate and House of Representatives to succeed Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as the National Chairman of the APC, “it is our task as party activist to painstakingly explain to our people in the rural areas who dug the hole that led to what we are experiencing today as a nation and the effort by President Buhari to gradually pull us out of that hole to the surface and begin to push and uplift us upward to that level in which every Nigerian will have to say I am a proud Nigerian.”

He continued: “Poverty is not an act of God; it is the result of our economic history. And when you look at the numbers of how much was stolen under the watch of Jonathan as President and the revelations made, the kind of money that was diverted under the PDP regime under President Jonathan, those monies if distributed by 180 million Continued on page 6

CALL TO SERVE ...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) receives former Inspector General of Police, Mr Musiliu Smith at the State House in SUNDAY AGHAEZE Abuja ...yesterday

Court Closes Metuh’s Case on Alleged N400m Fraud Without Suspect, Lawyer ...Page 6

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Buhari Says Osinbajo's Seat Threatened by Women Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in the State House, Abuja, in his characteristic manner, jokingly said the seat of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was under threat.

The president cracked the joke when he received a group of female parliamentarians from the 36 states of the federation who had paid him a courtesy visit.

The female lawmakers had

alleged that women were being marginalised in the nation's scheme of political affairs, noting that in each of the two chambers of the National Assembly since 1999, there is usually only one principal officer at a time.

Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, said Nigerian women henceforth, demand the emergence of women as vice-president from subsequent elections, beginning from 2019.

She also sought to extract the president's commitment to the demand, stating that any commitment the president made right there “will become policy and subsequently law."

She insisted that “whenever the President is a man, the Vice President should be a woman.�

Ativie also demanded that in each of the three senatorial seats in each of the 36 states of the federation, a woman senator should always emerge from the

next general election.

According to her, in the House of Representatives as well, “where there are nine House of Representatives members, the men should take six and leave three for women�.

Responding, Buhari in a humorous tone, said it was unfortunate that the VicePresident was not present at the meeting to witness the threat to his seat.

However, he added in the

same humorous manner that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, would convey the women's demand to him. “It is a pity that the VicePresident is not here, but I am sure the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will brief him that his position is threatened," Buhari said.

The President, however, expressed appreciation to women for the support they

gave to him throughout the four times he ran for president's office, recalling a report on how women usually queued up to vote for him during the periods.

On the submission that his commitment would easily become a policy and subsequently a law, the President said he was not "as powerful as you think" adding that such a request could only be treated by fiat by a military head of state.

Court Closes Metuh’s Case on Alleged N400m Fraud Without Suspect, Lawyer Fixes July 3 for Channels TV to play DVD of alleged prejudicial statement Alex Enumah in Abuja The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday closed the case of former Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh standing trial on alleged N400m money laundering charges.

The closure was sequel to the absence of Chief Metuh and his counsel at the trial on two consecutive occasions, since Metuh's fall in court and subsequent admission at the National Hospital, Abuja.

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, in a bench ruling on an application by the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, seeking

an order of the court closing the case of the first defendant (Metuh) said the court had adjourned the matter till yesterday for the cross examination of the 11th Defence witness, Oladeji Bamidele and expressed worry over the absence of the first defendant and his counsel in court.

He stated that the court had, on January 25, 2018 granted Metuh's application dated January 19, 2018 to call additional seven witnesses to the nine he had already called and ordered that the seven witnesses should be in court at all times to give evidence, as the court will not grant any other adjournment in the matter at the instance of the first defendant.

While noting that the order of the court, which was not appealed against subsists, Justice Abang noted that neither Metuh nor any of his counsel was in court for the trial yesterday and that no reason was given for their absence as well as to state why the matter should be adjourned.

"The first defendant (Metuh) has abandoned his defence and the absence of his counsel shows lack of interest in the defence of the first defendant.

"The first defendant is also not in court to call any of his witness to give evidence in the matter.

"The only option the court has now is to close the case of the first defendant. I rely on Section

6 (b) of the constitution to close the case of the first defendant.

"I cannot manufacture an application for adjournment for the first defendant, therefore, the case of the first defendant is now closed", Justice Abang stated and slated July 2, 2018 for the second defendant (Destra Investments Limited) to open its defence in the matter.

Meanwhile, in the same proceedings, one Kelechi Nwaiwu, announced representation for Channels Television, which was summoned to appear in court yesterday to show cause why the station should not be asked to play the video recording of the Sunrise daily programme

of Channels Television, where an alleged prejudicial statement was made by one Ben Chuks Nwosu, a counsel in Metuh's legal team.

Nwaiwu told the court that the station was not only represented in court but has also filed an affidavit showing cause and an unedited DVD of the Sunrise daily programme of the station aired on May 22, 2018. Justice Abang commended the prompt response of the Channels Television, by producing the unedited DVD of the programme, even before it was asked.

The Judge adjourned the matter till July 2, 2018 and ordered Channels Television to be in court on July 3, 2018 with

their equipment to play the DVD of the programme in the open court to enable the court determine whether the station allowed its station to be used to broadcast prejudicial statement, to misinform the public on a pending matter before the court, thereby bringing the court into disrepute.

Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited are being prosecuted by the federal government for allegedly receiving the sum of N400 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (rtd) and using same to fund political activities of his party during the 2015 general elections.

Ekiti people for anything . He is a leader who speaks truth to power, in fact Fayose is a leader and he has done well for his people.

Speaking on education, Jonathan said: “Any leader who wants to encourage his people must encourage the education of the youth. If you don’t encourage the youths, they will be exploited .

“As youths, you have to be aware that we are operating a knowledge based economy, so you must be proficient in the use of computer, this you can’t compromise if you want to fit into the 21st century economy. “At a time, Ekiti was becoming low in ranking in education, we were surprised but through effective leadership of Ayodele Fayose, there was improvement�.

EKITI 2018: ARMY, POLICE CAN’T RESCUE FAYEMI FROM DEFEAT, SAY FAYOSE, WIKE Kolapo Olusola�.

Wike said Fayemi was not coming to Ekiti to contest election but only coming with the rigid mindset to rig election. “They are not coming to contest, because they know they can’t win.

What they wanted to do is to rig and the good people of Ekiti must resist this. Your votes is your power and don’t allow them to steal it�, he said.

Fayose said that the last convention that produced the National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus was not by mistake, saying the choice of the Rovers State born party leader was made to save the PDP from impending doom. “Let me say that with what we are seeing Nigeria today, it was glaring that Nigerians had not found alternative to PDP; today, they are regretting for voting APC. “Since I came on October 16, 2014, I have not committed Ekiti to one Naira debt. I left N10.4 billion cash in the coffers of Ekiti when I left in 2006, but today, the story has changed. “I can say without fear of contradiction that over 70 percent of the infrastructures in Ekiti were built by me; I want someone to controvert this.�

On the anti-graft war being waged by President Buhari, Fayose said:

“Our country has no problem of corruption. They said they are visiting the past, let them probe up to the military era, because it has to go down the line. “We have had enough of blame game under Buhari. Everyday, they shout Jonathan; they better face the reality that they were only affected by incompetence and lack of capacity to deliver and stop blaming past leaders�.

Reminiscing on the June 21 governorship election, Fayose said: “They said you rigged election for me after open acceptance by Fayemi that he was rejected by Ekiti electorate. “They went to Supreme Court, I defeated them. They said when President Buhari comes he would take Ekiti. If you like bring Army, police, I don’t care. The God of Israel is our strength and we shall be victorious.�

Fayose promised that he won’t be a burden on his successor or interfere in how he governs the state, saying, “I won’t come here to be a burden to you (Olusola).

I will only come here to support you. Let me also say that I am not going to the Senate. I will return to my village in Afao Ekiti after leaving office. “Ekiti people must be determined, because you want to cross the red sea. They are bringing a man who put us into debt. We

are going to be paying one billion naira monthly as debt repayment till 2036. “This election will go peacefully. Ekiti people, don’t worry yourselves. I decided to take Olusola and Deji Ogunsakin for the joint ticket because they are youths and I believe in action and not in mouthing.

The Will of the People Must be Allowed to Stand, Says Jonathan Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in his remarks warned President Muhammadu Buhari to stop labeling Nigerian youths as lazy while urging him against deploying state machinery to rig the July 14 governorship election in favour of his party, the All Progressives Congress(APC).

Speaking while inaugurating the 1.2 kilometres long flyover built by Fayose in Ado Ekiti Friday evening , Jonathan described Fayose as an exemplary leader and loyal party man, who has done the PDP proud in all facets.

He said: “ I don’t believe anybody can defeat the PDP in Ekiti if election is going to be held. I want to advise President Buhari not to deploy power to truncate Ekiti election. “Though as a president, you have the power but don’t do that because of posterity. History

will record whatever you do and the power of a leader is determined after leaving office and not when he is in the office. “The will of the people must be allowed to stand at all times, because power belongs to them and we must respect their verdict through the ballots�, he advised.

On the statement credited to President Buhari that Nigerian youths are slothful, Jonathan retorted: “Nigerians youth are not lazy, I don’t believe that, because I have worked with them closely. They are great people with great potentials who should be celebrated by any leader. “As leaders, we must make sure we present a country that will make us proud and not to use our country as a negative example in Africa to the outside world. “The idea of portraying Nigerians negative manners had occurred on two occasions under this present government.

These are mistakes we should not make. “I want to thank you for your supports for the PDP since 2015 and we expect you to do more in the coming governorship election�

Speaking further, Jonathan added: “Fayose will never compromise the interest of

OSHIOMHOLE: BUHARI´S ACHIEVEMENTS WILL GUARANTEE VICTORY FOR APC Nigerians, each of us will have a swollen pocket. “And we must help our people to appreciate that the challenge of rebuilding a house that was rocked beyond foundation, to build complete new foundation cannot be an overnight work.

What is important is that there is a commitment to refix and the President has broken new grounds which may not have been amplified to a level that the rural people can see them. Once upon a time, growing up, we were

told that the Army’s finances are beyond probe and that whatever a general has stolen, it was for good, you cannot question. “But this President has subjected the military to accountability. Some persons who were untouchable before are being touched. So, that fight against corruption, I am happy that even other African heads of states under the umbrella of the AU, have acknowledged President Buhari as one African President that has proved his sincerity to

fight corruption. And I think even recently, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth also had very kind word to say about the leadership of our President on the war against corruption. “We are preparing ourselves in getting the truth ready so we can engage. In Edo State, those who participated under the PDP philosophy of share the money; those who collected money for either their campaign or their personal interest, they are now being called to account for it.

“So, I am very confident that we will win the next general election, have our President re-elected, have more governors elected under our platform, have more of our party members elected in the states and National Assemblies so that come February next year, we will not only form a federal Government, we will have overwhelming majority in the National Assembly, such that the capacity to govern on the part of the executive will not be weakened by a tight margin in the National Assembly.�

OPEC, RUSSIA MULL EASING SUPPLY LIMITS TO REBALANCE OIL MARKET 2017 to tighten the oil market and prop up prices. Global crude supplies have since then tightened sharply over the past year because of the OPEC-led cuts, which were further boosted by a dramatic drop in Venezuelan production.

Reuters however noted that the near-doubling in oil prices over the past year has sparked concerns among top consuming nations such as China and India that the rally could weigh on economic growth.

According to the report, OPEC’s Secretary-General, Mohammad Barkindo, said the idea of increasing output came following a critical tweet from U.S. President, Donald Trump, who said last month that OPEC had ‘artificially’ boosted oil prices.

Also, speaking in St. Petersburg, Saudi Energy Minister, Khalid al-Falih, said any easing of restrictions on pumping levels would be gradual to avoid a shock to the market.

In a related development, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has stated that it would partner with key government departments and agencies to ensure that execution of its capital projects in the 2018 budget are quickly executed.

NNPC said in a statement from its Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, that following the passage of the 2018

budget by the National Assembly, its management would do most of the front-end work by liaising with relevant government officials to see that its budget is signed off on time.

The statement quoted its Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, to have said at a top management meeting where its first quarter (Q1) performance report was reviewed and its 2017 operations closed out, that the corporation would evolve measures to implement its 2018 budget effectively.

Baru, who reportedly charged participants made up of all the Chief Operating Officers (COOs) of the Autonomous Business Units (ABU) and Managing Directors of Strategic Business Units (SBUs), as well as Heads of Corporate Services Units (CSUs), to focus more on the implementation aspect of its report, explained that the NNPC needed the cooperation of all relevant government agencies to get its capital budgets signed off on time. “I want us to look at the performance side very closely and channel our contributions on that.

Now that the budget is almost ready, we need all the various departments to get the relevant documents to enable us secure approval for implementation of the capital projects. What we will now do is to commit and get the approvals,� said Baru.

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PRESSING FOR INCLUSION ...

President Muhammadu Buhari (M) Flanked by the Chairperson of the Conference of Nigeria Female Parliamentarians (CONPEPA), RT Hon Elizabeth Ative, Chief of Sta Mallam Abba Kyari, SGF Mr Boss Mustapha, ICT Manager, Hon Maria Ude. Others are Welfare OďŹƒcer, Hon Uju Onwudiwe, Hon Mariam Garba Bagel, PRO, Rt Hon Ngunan Addingi, Hon Blessing Okwuchi Nwagba, Hon Justina Obadiah Nkom and others during an audience with the Conference of Nigeria Female Parliamentarians (CONPEPA) held at the Council Chambers State House in Abuja

Rivers Govt Dares SARS Commander, Fakorede over Threat to Sue It, Newspapers Davidson Iriekpen The Rivers State Government has dismissed the threat by the Commander of the State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), Mr. Akin Fakorede to drag it and newspaper organisations to court for libel over advertorial allegedly smearing him.

It said the threat was a joke of the century, promising that such a suit would be welcomed as it would afford it the opportunity to expose him and show to the world that he is a disgrace to the Nigeria police and a threat to lives and democracy.

A couple of newspaper

organisations had recently published advertorials from the state government where it exposed the report of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicting Fakorede over his conduct in the rerun elections conducted in December 2016 in the state.

Angered by the publications, the SARS commander threatened to sue the state government and the newspaper organisations.

But in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Emma Okah, said the state government stood by the various publications

complained about by Fakorede.

It described the SARS commander as a man whose love for power had deeply blinded him to the point of selling his integrity and compromising his commission as a senior police officer.

Going philosophical, the commissioner likened Fakorede to the proverbial satanic pig that eats the crops of the farmer and still waits in ambush to attack him instead of running away.

He said the state government was eagerly waiting for the court processes, daring him to put his reputation to test.

Okah said the state govern-

ment would stand shoulder to shoulder to the assistant commissioner of police and his sponsors in defence of the rights of Rivers people to freely choose who would represent them through free and fair elections as other Nigerians were entitled to.

"Rivers State Government is eagerly waiting for the court processes and we dare Fakorede to put his reputation to test" Okah said, noting that the image of the SARS commander was not worth a piece of tissue paper. “Fakorede is taking advantage of the rising moral decay in our society as otherwise, in an ideal

situation; his likes ought to rot away in jail for the atrocities of polluting the electoral process in an alarming scale,� he said.

On the demand for the sum of N2 billion as compensation for libel, Okah described Fakorede as a gold digger whose reputation had evaporated and wondered the basis for such a laughable claim. “The Rivers State Government reiterates that Fakorede is not a fit and proper person to be a Nigeria police officer of any rank by virtue of his direct involvement in crimes bordering on election rigging, violence, and assaults on the

bodies and sensibilities of some Nigerians,� he insisted.

The commissioner said even though nobody was infallible, the minimum course of sensible conduct expected of Fakorede against the background of the wrong he had inflicted on the state was to apologise and seek God's face.

He noted that the hollow threat of litigation was far below expectation. “Certainly, a hollow threat of litigation is far below expectation.

We expect that he will heed this advice and act well by treating Rivers people with deserving respect and dignity,� he said.

UN Donates $2m to Tackle Cholera

IPOB: No Going Back on May Outbreak as Atiku Calls for Intervention 30th Sit-at-Home Paul Obi in Abuja

This is as former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, called on the Federal Government and its relevant agencies to come to the aid of scores of persons affected by cholera outbreak in Mubi, Adamawa State and Wulari settlement in the Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.

The funds which would be disbursed by the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund is geared towards supporting the response to a deadly cholera outbreak in Yobe State, north-east Nigeria, that could affect thousands of people.

According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), since the beginning of the outbreak, which was officially declared in four local government areas on 28 March, a total of 404 cases and 15 deaths have been reported, representing a 3.7 per cent case fatality rate. The United Nations and its partners activated

an immediate emergency response in the affected communities in support of the State Ministry of Health.

However, additional resources are needed to ensure that the outbreak is contained, especially ahead of the rainy season when the risk of outbreaks and spreading of water-borne diseases is higher.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon said the funds would enable humanitarian partners to provide safe water to over 1.6 million people, improve sanitation for thousands in the affected communities, and boost the technical and human resource capacity in hotspot areas so that cholera could be detected early and treated promptly. Raising awareness of how to identify, prevent and treat cholera is also a key part of the response to the outbreak.

He said: “Cholera outbreaks can potentially impact and kill thousands of people, especially

women, children and men who are living in overcrowded places such as camps for internally displaced persons. Surveillance and early detection are key to limiting the number of fatalities and the spread of the outbreak. “Acting swiftly is pivotal if we are to prevent high mortality rates.

These funds will help the UN and partners strengthen the capacity of community health personnel and equip local health facilities with diagnostic and treatment equipment as the rainy season gets underway and access to some of the affected localities might be impacted by flooding.�

He observed that "the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s north-east, that has spilled over into the Lake Chad region, is one of the most severe in the world today, with 7.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2018 in the worstaffected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, and 6.1 million targeted for humanitarian assistance.

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has said it was not backing down on its proposed sit-at-home protest slated for 30th May 2019.

The group said the protest would start on the evening of 29th May, and that no human or vehicle was expected to be seen anywhere in the entire south East Nigeria and some other towns that had been marked out for a lockdown.

A release by the media and publicity secretary of the group, Emma Powerful said anyone or vehicle seen on the road would be marked as enemy, and would be treated so.

Part of the release read; "May 30th sit-at-home order is sacrosanct and shall be observed annually until the end of time.

30th of May 2018 will witness a total lock-down of South East, South South and selected states

and cities across Nigeria.

"A two minute silence will be observed at 12 noon on the 30th to ponder and reflect upon the courage and patriotism of the brave men, and women that willingly sacrificed their lives to preserve what is left of our race today.

"We must remember, reflect and ponder over the pain and suffering of over 1 million innocent Biafran children deliberately starved to death by the Nigerian government as a result of an evil policy to wipe out an entire race of people from the face of the earth."

He said not only will heroes and heroines of Biafra of the class of 1967 to 1970 be honored in the finest traditions of IPOB, but other victims of sectarian violence, Fulani terror herdsmen, Boko Haram and state sponsored extra judicial killings would also be remembered.

"We shall continue to remember our heroes the way every other single civilised society and world remembers their war heroes. It will take an extraordinarily high level of insensitivity, Not only will our heroes and heroines of the class of 67-70 be honored in the finest traditions of IPOB, other victims of sectarian violence, Fulani terror herdsmen, Boko Haram and state sponsored extra judicial killings will also be remembered.

"We owe it to our glorious dead to honour their bravery, heroics and sacrifice that ensured that South East and South South remain to this day an area untainted by Islamic dominance.

The only entity in West Africa to have such distinction. We cannot repay them enough for what they did for us. Therefore, we must honour them," he concluded.

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In Brief EFCC Grills Yero over N700m

The Kaduna office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday interrogated a former governor of the state, Mukhtar Yeroforaboutfourhours. Yero,achieftainofthePeoplesDemocraticParty (PDP) was invited by the commission over N700 million campaign funds released to Kaduna State during the 2015 elections. Yero who arrived the commission's office by 9:00am on Friday accompanied by his supporters, leftthecommissionatabout1:30pm. Yero'sspokesman,YakubuLere,said his boss was invited in connection with the N700 million campaign funds released to the state by the PDP headquarters in 2015. Lere said Yero was invited to the Kano office of the EFCC over the same issue two years ago and was granted administrative bail. “At that time, he explained during the interrogationthattheN700millionwasPDPmoneysenttohimasthethen governorofKadunaStatetofinance2015generalelectionwithinstructions, which he judiciously followed.

Humanitarian Doctors Kidnapped in Benue

PEACE ACROSS FAITH...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, addressing Muslim faithful during Jumat prayers in Enugu, yesterday. With him is his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo (4th right)

Alleged $793,800 Bribe: NJC Insists Court Judges’ Estacode Paid in Naira Akinwale Akintunde

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has told an Ikeja High Court that judicial officers received other allowances besides salaries and that estacodes were paid in Naira and not in foreign currencies.

An official of the NJC, Ramatu Hassan Ahmed, who is the 13th prosecution witness in the going trial of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and a former EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN) disclosed this yesterday, at the resumed trial of the case before Justice Hakeem Oshodi.

The duo are standing trial on a 30-count charge bordering on perversion of the course of justice,

graft, unlawful enrichment, providing false information to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and forgery.

The EFCC had alleged that about $793,800 passed through the judge’s domiciliary accounts between 2012 and 2015. The judge allegedly used the money to buy a house in London.

In the charge, the anti-graft agency insisted that the defendants also allegedly committed an offence on May 24, 2015, when they conspired to pervert the course of justice with the sum of N5 million.

The said sum, according to the EFCC, was reported to have been transferred to one Nigel & Colive Limited.

The commission maintained that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was the sole signatory to Nigel & Colive, adding that both defendants conspired to pervert the course of justice, in contravention of the provisions of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The EFCC alleged that the N5 million paid by Obla, through his company’s account, was to restrain a public officer from acting in exercise of her official duties.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was equally alleged to have made a false statement to the EFCC that she was on admission at one Gold Cross Hospital at Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi in Lagos, which statement was later found to be false.

The anti-graft agency insisted that the offences were contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011, as well as the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

The two defendants had pleaded not guilty.

At yesterday’s proceeding, Ahmed, who was subpoened by the EFCC enumerated the role of judicial officers as found in the code of conduct for judicial officers.

The witness told the court that though judges receives allowances such as estacodes other than salaries, such allowances were disbursed through the individual courts.

ICRC Builds N1.1bn Water IDP’s Rape Report: Stop Living in Denial, HURIWA Blasts FG Project in Maiduguri Michael Olugbode, in Maiduguri

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) is building its biggest project on the globe in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, North East Nigeria.

The project, a water works, is believed would cost the humanitarian organisation N1.1 billion and scheduled for completion and handling over to the Borno State Government in the next five months.

Conducting journalists round the project site at Alhamduri area of Maiduguri on Thursday, the ICRC Head Sub-delegation, Maiduguri Office, Beat Mosimann said the project was constructed in close partnership with the Borno State Ministry of Water Resources.

He said the plant on completion was expected to serve about 150,000 people living in Alhamduri area of Maiduguri and its’ environs.

Mosimann said: “The construction at Alhamduri includes a groundwater-extraction and processing facility that will supply the existing local water distribution network in the area. “On completion, the facility will have a daily production of approximately nine million litres

of safe drinking water per day. It is one of the biggest urban water projects in the world.�

He revealed that: “The construction works are being undertaken

by CGC Nigeria Ltd and funding, under the supervision and management of the ICRC in partnership with the Ministry of Water Resources of Borno State. “On completion, the water works is to be run and maintained by the Borno State Ministry of Water Resources.� “So far, approximately 40% of the overall construction work has been achieved. The project is planned to be completed by the end of October 2018.�

Speaking to journalists at the project site, the Borno State Commissioner of Water Resources, Dr. Zainab Gimba said the project was started by the present state government when it was sworn in about seven years, but since the Boko Haram crisis took so much of the state resources, it had to be abandoned.

She said with the state government having dug 12 of the needed 15 boreholes needed to provide the water source for the water works, the ICRC took over the project from them.

A humans rights group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has thrown its advocacy weight behind the recent investigation

by Amnesty International which uncovered widespread sexual violation and exploitation of internally displaced girls in the North East by the military.

It therefore asked the government to stop living in shameful denial but to thoroughly investigate the massive allegations and punish the offenders, wondering why Nigeria would institutionally continue to stick to old fashion obstinacy and empty deceits embellished with false national pride instead of adopting and complying with global standards as practiced in all other nations as mechanisms of resolving proven cases of Human Rights breaches. “We are seriously worried that since 1979 or thereabout when some unruly soldiers stormed the then 'Kalakuta Republic' shrine of the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti in Ojualegba Lagos State and slaughtered members of the audience and the mother of the musician, up until the recent extra-legal killings of hundreds of civilians belonging to the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and Shiites Islamic movement, the Nigeria Army has refused to change and embrace the demands of professionalism to investigate damaging

allegations through uncompromising mechanisms and apportion sanctions to indicted operatives appropriately in line with extant military and civilian laws against those who have committed grave human rights violations,� it said.

In a statement made against the backdrop of the recent report by the United Kingdom founded international non-governmental organisation- Amnesty International, indicting soldiers for compelling girls and women in the internally displaced persons’ camps in the North East of Nigeria to give them sexual gratifications in exchange for the relief materials donated by the federal government and international non-governmental bodies, HURIWA lamented that both the Civil and Military authorities had rejected the findings even before any form of investigations were carried out.

The National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf said HURIWA was worried that the fundamental rights to dignity of the human persons as constitutionally guaranteed, were wantonly thrown away to the dogs by the current Nigerian government in its irrational and fallacious bid to extend a clean bill of health to the military institution as if the military was made up of Angels who were infallible.

Two medical doctors and two other staff of APIN, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Abuja, were on Tuesday kidnapped in Benue Statewhileontechnicalhumanitarianmissiontothestate. Thevictimswere saidtohavebeenkidnappedalongwiththeirofficialvehiclewhiletraveling betweenKatsina-AlainKatsinaAlaLocalGovernmentAreaoftheStateand Makurdi,theBenueStatecapital,atabout4pmonMay22withoutanytrace oftheirwhereabouts.Theyweresaidtohavebeenassignedbytheirorganisation to render a technical support to some primary healthcare hospitals in KatsinaAlaLocalGovernmentArea. Sourcessaidtheyhadcompletedtheir assignment in Katsina Ala and were on their way to Makurdi when gunmen waylaid and abducted them. Although both Benue State Government and BenueStateCommissionerofPolice,FataiOwoseni,weresaidtobeawareof theincidentandweremakingeffortsfortheirrescue,nomeaningfulprogress has so far been recorded

Masari Donates N2.5m to Fire Victims

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State on Friday donated N2.5 million to the victims of last month's fire outbreak that engulfed about five shops at the Funtua GSM market, in Funtua local government area of the state. He said the gesture was to ameliorate the effect of the devastation on the victims. According to him, the state government as well as wealthy individualsandbusinessorganisationswouldnotfoldtheirarmstoseethe victims suffering as a result of the inferno. Donating the funds on behalf of thegovernor,theExecutiveDirectorofthestateEmergencyManagement Agency(SEMA),Dr.AminuGarbaWaziri,saidthepropertylostatthemarket worth N5 million and the state government had earlier vowed to pay 50 per cent, hence the donation. He said, “With this donation Sani Abdullahi received N500,000, Mansur Mashakur N480,000, Yusuf Ya'u N750, 000, UmarIbrahimN300,000,whileBashiruIsaN400,000�.GovernorMasari said theassistancemightnotmakeupwhatthevictimslosttothefiredisasters, adding that it could help them reboots their lost wealth. “This assistance is to ease the suffering of the victims.

Nigerian Military OďŹƒcers Visit Finland

Adelegationof24officersfromNationalDefenceCollege,Nigeria,iscurrently inFinlandforaweek-longprogramme,aspartoftheirGeo-StrategicWorld StudyTour.The theme of the study tour that spans from 19 May to 26 May, isSocialSecurityandNationalDevelopmentinFinland:LessonsforNigeria.

ThegroupishostedinHelsinkibytheMinistryforForeignAffairsaswellas other ministries and the Finnish Defence Forces. As part of their extensive programme,thedelegationhasbeengettingacquaintedwithdifferentaspects of Finnish society, including internal security and immigration issues, the comprehensive Finnish social security system, as well as Finland's foreign policy, Finland's contribution to international crisis management, and the workthatFinlanddoesintheareaofbiosafety.OnMonday,thegrouphadthe opportunitytovisitNokiaCorporation.WhileinFinland,thedelegationhasthe chancetomeetwiththeircounterpartsattheNationalDefenceUniversity, aswellasvisitingtheGuardJaegerRegiment,whichisoneoftheregiments training Finnish conscripts.

Police Recover Gombe Assembly Mace

PoliceinGombeFridayafternoonsaiditrecoveredthemissingmaceofthe Gombe State House of Assembly that was taken away during plenary by fourAPCmembers.TheStatePoliceCommissioner,ShinaTairuOlukolu,who briefed Journalists said the Inspector-General of Police had also issued a marchingordertotheCommandfortheemplacementofsecuritymeasures onthepremises.HeexplainedthattherecoveryofthemaceFridaymorning was as a result of pressure mounted by the Police on the APC legislators whoabandonedthemacebythepremisesoftheNationalIndustrialCourt, opposite the Gombe State Police Command. According to him, the Police workedcloselywiththeAPCPartyleadership,HouseofAssemblyleadership aswellasothersecurityagenciescomprisingtheArmy,SSSandtheNSCDC which prevented the APC legislators from taking away the mace outside Gombe. In his words, "the pressure consequently made them to abandon themacebytheNationalIndustrialCourtGombeStateanditwasrecovered earlythisFriday(25/05/2018)morningbythePolice.Themaceistherefore today being handed over the Speaker for retention and use.

African Brand Congress Holds Awards

InanefforttomakeNigerianandAfricanbrandsgreaterandcompetefavourably around the world, African Brand Congress (ABC), would be organising its fourth edition of the African Brand Leadership Merit Awards event on Thursday,31stofMay,SpeakingtojournalistslastTuesday, thechiefexecutive officerofABC, DesmondEsorougwesaid,“Weconsidereachprojectasan opportunity to create a brand fingerprint for business outfits.� He revealed that the ABC, an annual ‘Fiesta to Best Brains’ was behind most successful and sought after African Brands. “It is meant to stimulate, motivate and excite the creative lobe of kind of thinking and exercise that we use in our workshop.�EsorougwestatedthattheCongresswasdesignedtoeducate, engageandinspirebrandmanagersandprofessionalsinthepursuitofbest practice in brand building and value creation. He said: “It is an appropriate platform for all brand owner and industry players to discuss how brands in African can increase their global competitiveness.

T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY MAY 26, 2018

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COMMENTARY

PROCEEDS OF CORRUPTION AND POVERTY Recovered funds should be used to lift the quality of life of the average Nigerian, writes Ayo Oyoze Baje

A

s the ping-pong blame game over corruption charges unfolds between two former military generals - incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and erstwhile counterpart, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo –what matters at the end of the day is that the cause of justice be served. That such public funds brazenly stolen be recovered back into the national till, and the culprits be made to pay for their crimes against the Nigerian state. And more importantly, that such funds be judiciously utilised to lift the quality of life of the average citizen.

The significance of this clarion call is hinged on the fact that successive administrations have made promises in this regard but much more has been said than done. Indeed, discerning Nigerians are tired of being regaled daily with the reeling out of humongous sums of money so far recovered from thieves of state. The issue took a new dimension when the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration went to town to list the names of the public treasury looters (without any of their members) and the huge amounts of money recovered.

For instance, according to reports, from Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Petroleum Minster alone, stupendous sums of money were allegedly recovered. From NIMASA came 578,080 pounds sterling, while the sleazy Ikoyi cash haul stood at $43,449,947, 27, 800 pounds and N23 million. Some others include N449.6m from the Lagos shop cash, N1.8 billion traced to ex-Naval chiefs and N500 million Paris Club funds amongst several funds.

But peeved by what it calls a one-sided listing of corrupt politicians, Reno Omokiri, the spokesman to former President Goodluck Jonathan made public his own list to include some of the ministers serving under the current President Buhari-led administration. Some, he claimed surreptitiously used such funds to facilitate some top-notch APC political helmsmen into positions of power. The funds so stolen, he insists come from the same treasury and belong to our country.

Why then should they be excluded from the infamous list? That is some food-for-thought.

Be that as it may, one can only imagine how much of the mindboggling funds could have assisted Nigerians to enjoy stable electric power supply, build stable infrastructure, act as catalyst for job and wealth creation, ensure food security and provide quality education and healthcare delivery to the citizenry.

What about taking care of the over 10 million school-aged children that are currently out there turning into denizens of the street? What about the need to stem the rising wave of human trafficking and the ever-increasing urge of the youth to travel outside our shores in search of the elusive greener pasture? What about reining in the monster of kidnapping for ransom, spates of bloody armed robbery attacks, the Boko Haram insurgency and sundry crimes with their roots in pervasive poverty across the land?

It would therefore do this country a whole world of good if President Buhari implements his recent promise to channel the $320 million Abacha loot recovered from Switzerland to the poor. With only a year to go to the end of this tenure, and the political campaigns

IT WOULD DO THE COUNTRY A WHOLE WORLD OF GOOD IF PRESIDENT BUHARI IMPLEMENTS HIS RECENT PROMISE TO CHANNEL THE $320 MILLION ABACHA LOOT RECOVERED FROM SWITZERLAND TO THE POOR

inching closer by the day, the time for him to act is now! But how best can this be done? That is the million-naira question. The first sure step is to have a credible database to rely upon. Answers should be provided to those in need of financial assistance and sustainable livelihood on the basis of age, gender and educational qualification.

Others include entrepreneurial needs and the cost implication to provide the enabling environment for them to start jobs that would make them self- dependent.

There are some vulnerable members of the society such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, the aged, orphans, victims of terminal illnesses, the blind and the helpless deformed citizens who should be catered for by the government. There should be well articulated social buffer security system to meet their daily needs as it obtains in Germany.

Truth be told, however, we are not doing enough in this direction.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) should be well funded and equipped with the requisite machines and personnel to do so. The next step is to fully engage in public- private partnerships that would galvanise industrialisation. No nation, as erudite economist Professor Francis Ogbimi would always insist, can grow without the citizens of productive age being actively engaged in local production of goods and services instead of over reliance on massive importation.

As one has canvassed for long, issues that bother on poverty alleviation through job creation and ensuring that the average Nigerian has food on his table, is best achieved with politico-economic restructuring. With so much concentration of funds at the centre, the ordinary Nigerian especially at the grassroots is far removed from the efforts at the federal level.

For instance, the claim by the presidency that 8,260,984 pupils, drawn from 45,394 public primary schools in 24 states are being served free meals daily under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme though noble is not making the desired effect.

But why, one may ask? The answer is simple. It would have made more positive impact if the states control their resources as they would be better placed to identify the critical areas of need than the federal government does.

By and large, the socio-economic challenges we are bedevilled with go beyond shedding more heat than light on corruption charges.

Yes, it is good to know who has stolen what but what would put a permanent smile on our faces and in our pockets too is the direct effect such recovered funds have on the average Nigerian. From Shomolu to Sokoto, from Maiduguri to Mushin and from Uyo to Oyo, Nigerians deserve quality leadership.

Nigeria is abundantly blessed with natural resources such as oil and gas, solid mineral deposits, vast agricultural potential and places of tourism attraction, all enough to provide quality wellbeing. Our leaders should act right. We cannot continue to stand by the Atlantic shore and be washing our hands with spittle.

REVITALISING THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Kehinde Akinfenwa argues the need for the government to give more attention to the health sector

P

rimary health care as conceptualised by the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978 is a grass root approach towards universal and equitable health care for all. The model was to address the main health problems in communities all over the world in order to achieve universal health care by providing accessible, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services. It is the ďŹ rst level of contact of individuals, families and communities with the national health system.

Since Nigeria was among the 134 signatories to this historical proclamation, a strong health-care development strategy was initiated with primary health system as the cornerstone. Before then, the country has struggled to develop its health system, policies made to establish and expand health care infrastructure placed emphasis on curative medicine rather than preventive medicine. However, with Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti’s appointment as the Minister of Health in 1985, the Nigeria health structure was redesigned to accommodate the implementation of the policy. The adoption of the scheme that started with 50 local governments in 1985 was a significant milestone in the nation’s health sector.

The launch of the first comprehensive National Health Policy in 1988 further strengthened the collective will of government to provide accessible health-care facilities across the country and by 1990; the scheme has expanded to the grassroots across the country. The scheme devolved responsibility of PHC to local government areas, which catered for the health needs of over 90 per cent Nigerians and achieved universal child immunisation of over 80 per cent.

In ensuring the sustenance of PHC agenda, the National Primary Heath Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) was established in 1992. The agency placed emphasis on preventive medicine and health care services at the grass root, ensured exclusive

breast feeding practice, introduced free immunisation for children, encouraged the use of oral rehydration therapy by nursing mothers, made compulsory the recording maternal deaths, encourage continuous nationwide vaccination and pioneered effective HIV/ AIDS campaign. This laudable scheme became a model for other African countries to set the course for their future.

Some 40 years after and rather sadly, Nigeria is among third worst in the world based on certain health indicators. In his recent visit to Nigeria, Bill Gates reminded us that the best way to lay the foundation for sustained prosperity is to invest in human capital. To him, deliberate investment in health, education and opportunities prepares the future of a country.

Bill Gates was critical about collapsed health system in the country as he frankly affirmed that Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth with the forth worst maternal mortality rate in the world ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Chad. He said one in three children is chronically malnourished, deprived of a diverse diet and the services of a strong primary health care system.

During his discussion, Gates highlighted six key features of functioning primary health system as adequate funding, good facilities located in the right places, skilled and dedicated health workers, ample stock of essential equipment and medicines, patients who know about the system and want to use it and a mechanism for collecting the data needed to improve quality Regrettably, government investment in the country’s health sector is a mirage; its financial commitment to the institution betrays the standard of a progressive society. Barely 3.9% of its budget is allocated to healthcare, while the country majorly depends on donors and NGOs to finance its health projects and management of diseases are left in the

hands of foreign partners. Unfortunately, our dwindling national income is set to make us ineligible to access some of these development assistance and loans that the country has been depending on to fund the health system.

More so, the increasing brain drain and deficiency in the workforce is perhaps the biggest cause of the deplorable health indices in major parts of the country. While many have lost faith in the country’s health system by seeking solace with other facilities outside the shores of the nation, others engage the service of privately owned health institute that harbours the best hands in the country.

A key element of public policy is the promotion of good health in order to attain broad economic growth. An effective and functional health system is the foundation for a resilient economic system and having a functional and effective primary health system should not wait for economic recovery; substantial investment in health and human capital development can herald economic prosperity.

However, increasing domestic resources for management of PHC will provide acceptable level of health care services throughout the country because primary health care is not only curative but also preventive, thereby helping the government to pay less and improve on national wealth creation.

In achieving this, government must embark on an intensive public health management campaign which involves a comprehensive review of the primary health care scheme and developing policies suited to the social needs and economic conditions of the people especially those at the rural areas. The three levels of government must combine and mobilise resources to guarantee effective public health service throughout the country.

Through massive advocacy and community mobilisation, the people should be integrated into the system and encourage them to participate actively in finding solutions to their health challenges and

guarantee the sustainability of health programmes.

The federal and state governments must however assist the local governments to intensify the campaign against certain primitive socio-cultural determinants hindering positive health seeking behaviour among vulnerable Nigerians, especially the illiterate, poor and rural dwellers. The preferred resort to traditional medicine should be discouraged to pave way for the holistic development of the system.

There have been repeated reports of abandoned PHC project all across the country especially in the North East and North Central where majority of the people are deficient in quality health facilities and as such subscribe to repulsive health practices.

Government must therefore have renewed interest in the management of these abandoned projects for their effective utilisation.

Above all, equitable distribution of resources, especially work force is essential for sustainability of heath programmes. Statutorily, a PHC is expected to have one or more doctors, a pharmacist, a staff nurse and other paramedical support staff to provide outreach services. Conducive working environment for medical personnel is necessary for improved and appreciative health care system. In order to achieve a seamless experience, rural health workers must not be denied the relevance their urban counterpart enjoy, this would not only encourage migration of urban health workers to rural areas but also reduce the mass migration of rural dwellers to the city.

Beyond the allocation of resources, government must also invest in health research to facilitate strategic and operational planning and evaluation of PHC. Medical intelligence and surveillance represent a very useful component in the health care system. It helps to periodically identify health related problems and their determinants in order to evolve ways to solve them.

Akinfenwa is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

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INSIGHT

When will the agony end?

Guarding Against Deadly Food Additives

Nigeria and Failure of Leadership

I

n Nigeria, there are many problems aficting the nation. Such problems include grinding poverty, insecurity, abuse of tribalism, abuse of religion, corruption, poor political leadership, weak institutions, indiscipline, cultism, sabotage by foreign organisations and individuals, lazy academics, soft indecent social media content, dysfunctional infrastructure, compromised media, ideologically dead political parties, dead or dying cultures and values, life-exterminating environment, unnecessary hype for gender unlimited freedom and human rights and so on. After interrogating these troubles, late Professor Chinua Achebe in his small, simple, succinct and powerful book: The Trouble with Nigeria (1983) came to the conclusion that Nigeria’s worst enemy is poor political leadership.

But former President Olusegun Obasanjo, General T.Y. Danjuma (rtd) and Dan Agbese are of the view that corruption is the trouble. The duty of this article is to present the debate and explore the policy implications for Nigeria.

According to Achebe, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership�.

Leadership here refers to former Nigerian heads of state and deputies, ministers, National Assembly members, governors and deputies, state assembly members, local government chairmen and councillors and judicial officers at all levels of government.

There are two key responsibilities that place the affairs and wellbeing of Nigeria squarely on the shoulders of political leadership: they must protect and implement the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; they must formulate policies for the wellbeing of Nigeria.

In fact they are directly and indirectly responsible for the management of Nigeria’s national interests. Therefore political leadership has the highest responsibility over and above every other one in Nigeria. They have overriding influence and authority in directing all affairs of Nigeria. Consequently, the entire Nigerian life depends or rests on their success or failure as administrators or managers of the ship of state.

What we have been witnessing so far in Nigeria is a failure of political leadership. This failure manifested in the Western crisis in the First Republic that led to the imprisonment of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and operation wetie. On 15th January 1966, the military coup of late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu accused the political leadership of being “10 per centers�, that is, corruption. It manifested in the too many killings of Nigerians in riots or military coups with tribal undertones.

All these culminated in the sacking of the First Republic, creation of states, the civil war and the growth of export of natural resources of a major means of financing federal budget, thus abandoning agriculture which used to be the main stay of the Nigerian economy. Poor political leadership led to building of social, political and economic structures that are merely ego serving and non-economically productive nor technically manageable by Nigerians.

Not too long late Prof Claude Ake (1981) described Nigerian economy as disarticulated because there was no relationship between the oil sector and the manufacturing sector. In Political Science, when a county depends mainly on income from natural resources, in due time such resource becomes a “curse� because the “Dutch Disease� would have set in where most of the country’s labour would have been directed at the natural resource sector thereby neglecting the rest sectors, productivity falls, unemployment sets in and grows faster, inflation rises steadily, high national debt stock, while petro-dollars would be lubricating other non-productive luxury goods. Corruption grows faster in a mono-natural resource-based economy.

Okachikwu Dibia, Abuja

F

ood additives are chemical substances added to food to enhance and improve its avour, texture, colour, appearance, taste, consistency and other qualities of concern during production or processing. Food additives can be grouped based on their functions into acids, acid regulators, anticaking agents, antifoaming agents, bulking agents, antioxidants, food colourings, colour retention agents, emulsiďŹ ers, avours, avour enhancers, our treatment agents, glazing agents, humectants, tracer gas, preservatives, stabilisers, sweeteners, caffeine and other GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe). While some of these provide nutritional beneďŹ ts or improve food safety, others are known to pose potential health risks and cause serious harm to human body when taken in large doses. Food additives can be harmful or harmless depending on the quantity used for production or processing.

For the purpose of this write-up, attention will however be centered on flour treatment agents (e.g Potassium bromate) and sweeteners (e.g. Saccharin) used as additives in the baking industries. Flour treatment agents are used to increase the speed of dough (a thick malleable substance obtained by mixing flour with other ingredients) rising and to

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

improve its strength and texture. Enzymes, yeast and mineral salts are dough conditioners added to improve dough strength. Flour bleaching agents are added to flour to develop gluten (a protein found in wheat responsible for elastic texture of dough and helps to glue food together) and also make flour appear whiter because freshly milled flour is yellowish. Oxidising agents, reducing agents and emulsifiers are other good conditioners used in baking.

Among other food additives, potassium bromate, an oxidiser used for strengthening and enhancing the elasticity of dough is commonly used because it is cheaper and readily available than other additives. Potassium bromate comes in white crystals or powder. The use of potassium bromate in flour milling and baking in Nigeria was banned and removed from list of permitted food additives in the early 90’s because toxicology study revealed that it can cause cough and sore throat when inhaled. Among other health hazards, high dose consumption of bromate may lead to kidney damage as it is said to be a carcinogenic toxin too. Despite this ban, some baking industries still use this toxin called bromate as additives. It is also proven that some sandwich bread, burger, snack chips and pizza may contain potassium bromate. Food improvers and flour treatment agents approved by law that can serve as healthy alternatives to potassium bromate include Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), glucose, ammonium persulphate, ammonium chloride and amylases. Some experts argue that the baking process changes harmful potassium bromate to harmless Potassium bromide leaving no trace in the finished product but a residual amount of the bromate still remains if not baked long enough and if too much of the additive is used. So for safety purpose, the use should be avoided because of the potential harm it can cause.

A sweetener called sodium saccharin is a non-nutritive, artificial, sweet-tasting synthetic compound used in food, pharmaceutical products and drinks as substitute for sugar.

Saccharin is regarded as a no-calorie sweetener because it is not broken down during digestion. It is 200 to 700 times sweeter than regular sugar so only a small amount is needed to deliver same sweetness as sugar and also because it has bitter or metallic aftertaste at high concentrations.

Kayode Ojewale, an Industrial Chemist, wrote from Idimu, Lagos

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NEWS

Travel Agents Sold N503bn Tickets in 2017 Chinedu Eze

The President of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA), Bankole Bennard said that members of the organisation sold tickets worth about N503 billion in 2017.

Bennard said that it showed that travel agents contribute significantly to the nation’s GDP, which is the downstream of the aviation industry, noting that the sub-sector was pivotal in the economy of Nigeria but regretted that the National Bureau of Statistics does not capture this huge market in its records.

The NANTA President said the humongous amount of money generated from these sales gives inkling to how much the airlines made from Nigeria and how much was repatriated from the country.

Bennard made this known yesterday when he held a press conference to announce the forthcoming launch of Nigeria Travel Practitioners Identification Card (NTPIC) on June 26, 2018 at Land Mark Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos.

He said the identity card was necessary to put an end to the fraud worth billions of naira by people who impersonate travel agents and use it to defraud

travelers who pay money to them without getting any ticket. “We are not working in isolation of this. We are working with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA). NANTA works in collaboration with some other travel agencies around Africa.

We work with Kenya Association of Travel Agencies (KATA) to cover East Africa, Association of South African Travel Agencies (ASATA) to cover South, Morocco Travel Agency in the North and NANTA in the West. When this was mentioned to KATA, they said it was a laudable idea and they too will implement it,� he said.

The NANTA president also said the association decided to embark on the project to ensure the government understood the worth of the sector and to sanitise the industry of all fraudsters and fraudulent activities. “We realised that some people now use travel agencies as a means of human trafficking and defrauding intending passengers.

We are saying we are not going to let this continue but we are going to show to the rest of the world that a private sector can get itself well organised and other sectors can learn from it. “If we are able to know the total number of travel agencies

TAKING STOCK ...

L-R; Managing Director/CEO, Nestle Nigerian Plc. Mr. Maurcio Alarcon; Chairman, Mr. David Ifezulike; and the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mr. Bode Ayeku, at the Company’s 49th Annual General Meeting held at Muson Centre, Lagos, yesterday‌.. SUNDAY ADIGUN

in Nigeria, empirical data can be drawn from it and government can plan effectively for this sector. The government of today

is showing a lot of interest in small and medium enterprises and we are part of it. We are doing all these because we are

concerned about bringing sanity to the industry which we find ourselves,� he added.

Bernard explained that if the

private sector could organise itself to implement a project as important as this, then it deserved support from everyone.

JOHESU JustiďŹ es Call to Sack Health Minister Northern Group Asks Buhari to Call IGP to Order SegunAwofadejiinGombe The lingering rift between the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), took a twist as the unions are calling for the immediate sack of the Minister for unfair treatment.

Rising from its northeast zonal consultative forum meeting in Gombe yesterday, the national general secretary of the allied health professionals and a national leader of JOHESU, comrade Obesesan Oluwatoyin accused the Minister of bias in handling issues in the administration of the Ministry.

He said the Minister had lost all it takes to head the ministry of health, thus, denigrating the position through his unfair actions.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, Comrade Oluwatoyin said the Minister of health should be blamed for their refusal to return to work even as he reiterated their

resolve to continue with the strike action until President Buhari intervened in the matter.

According to him, "the Ministry of health has placed itself to work against this Government, we are calling for the sack of the Minister of health because he has shown that he is incompetent in the administration of the Ministry".

He explained that the Ministry and the unions had met severely but that the Government was not responding, "The Minister is not responding, he is talking as a Doctor forgetting that he is father to all. What we are asking is simply that the Federal Government should make sure that they implement the agreement they signed with us on 30th September, 2017".

He denied insinuations that they were in rivalry with Nigeria Medical Association saying, "there is no rivalry between JOHESU and NMA, our problem is with the Federal Government".

He explained that, “the thing is that whatever the NMA says, the Minister comes to the negotiation table and re-echo it, which means, they are together working in tandem to make sure that they block us from getting what we are getting. If the Minister had not been reechoing what the NMA had been saying, we would not have joined issues with the NMA".

"The Minister came out openly to say that JOHESU wants to collect what the Doctors are collecting. What we want is that the Doctors salaries be transcribed to our own salary. The Minister has refused to obey over ten court judgments in favour of JOHESU. The Minister is partial’" he emphasised.

He stated also that the Minister of Health must not necessarily be a medical Doctor as was the case in many developed countries including the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Deji Elumoye in Abuja A political pressure group in Nigeria, the Concerned Citizens of North Central (CCNC), has called on President Muhamadu Buhari to call the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to order over his flagrant disrespect for constituted authority Rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja during which it assessed the situation in the country as it affects its members and the geopolitical zone, the group was particularly worried about the above- the- law proclivities of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) According to a statement issued by Messrs Safiya Agwuai and Ishyaku Hassan on behalf of the group after the meeting the IGP, in his conduct and utterances, has consistently demonstrated that he was incapable of operating within the ambit of the rule of law.

"We recall his deliberate flouting of

the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari at the peak of the crises in Benue State, evidence that no one is spared as he decides to ride roughshod on the sensibilities of everyone who has the misfortune to cross his path even if it is the President himself. His disrespect for constituted authority, especially the National Assembly, is seen by the electorate who voted them into office as a rude slap in the face.

"It is from this standpoint that the CCNC urges the President to call the IGP, who is beginning to behave like an elephant in the house, to order. It noted that this is a democracy and agencies like the police owe themselves a duty to be submissive to the authority elected into office by the people, the ultimate custodians of the sovereignty.

"His disrespect of the National Assembly may have led to the show of shame at the hallowed chambers of the Senate during which some hoodlums, in veiled connivance with the security agency, and in a rare show of bravado,

stormed the Red Chamber and stole the Mace, the symbol of authority of the legislative body. The CCNC is particularly disturbed that up and until now, none of the miscreants who desecrated the Senate chambers has been arrested let alone being prosecuted and this in spite of assurances by the President himself.

The CCNC used the opportunity of the meeting to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to make good his promise that all the bandits that perpetrated that heinous infraction will be brought to deserved justice," the group further explained The CCNC further alleged that the IGP is planning to frame up the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki "and want the President to take this allegation with the seriousness it deserves because it follows a trend that is emerging. Senators Shehu Sani and Emmanuel Bwacha among others are presently suffering the IGP’s capacity to blackmail and intimidate.

SDP Berths in Abia,Vows to Uproot PDP in 2019 Sokoto Uncovers 6,000 Ghost Health Workers Emmanuel Ugwu inUmuahia The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has berthed in Abia State with the promoters saying that the party was the best alternative to provide good governance for the people of the state come 2019.

Leaders of the party believe that the SDP “is untainted� and therefore in a good stead to upstage the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and take over the government house Umuahia after the 2019 general election.

To popularise the party and build it to compete effectively in the political arena, the convener and interim leaders of the party has embarked on advocacy visits to prominent Abia people to drum up support for the party.

Former minister of foreign affairs, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, who receive the SDP leaders at

his country home in Ovim in Isuikwuato local government of Abia state, endorsed the party and advised the promoters to make SDP truly democratic.

Nwachukwu, who was a PDP chieftain but retired from partisan politics in 2014, said that the bane of all the main stream political parties, especially PDP and APC was imposition of candidates and impunity hence SPD should avoid making the same mistakes. “There is nothing like returning candidates unopposed in a democracy; the most popular person should be fielded for elective positions,� he said, adding that even when only one person stands for a particular position party members should still be allowed to cast votes to ratify the ticket.

He called on youths of Nigeria to rise and take their destiny in their own hands by contesting for elective

positions, noting that the nation needed generational change as the old order had woefully failed the people, and has brought sufferings, underdevelopment and crisis. “The old generation has not done well; if it had done well there won’t be Boko Haram, herdsmen menace, kidnappings as well as other terrorist and criminal activities pervading the land,� he said.

Chairman of the steering committee of SDP in Abia, Hon Chidi Nwosu said that the party was endowed with credible leaders that would develop Abia State, adding that it was high time the people of Abia rejected PDP and other parties and embrace SDP. “SDP has arrived in Abia. We are going to recreate Abia and provide for eh citizens all that they need to live a meaningful life and realise their potentials after years of misrule, corruption and impunity.

Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto

Sokoto State government, Friday said it had uncovered no fewer than 6,000 ghost health workers in the health sector in the state.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal made this known at the commencement of Reproductive, Maternal, New Born Child and Adolescents Health Plus Nutrition Programme (RMNCAH+N) at Gagi primary health centre, Sokoto.

He said the 6,000 ghost health workers were uncovered after a verification exercise was conducted on 13,000 health workers in the state. According to him, the money saved from this would be used in recruiting new 400 health workers across the state.

He said this was in view of the need to improve maternal and child health care across the state.

Tambuwal emphasised that his

administration accorded priority to the health sector, considering the role of women in the society.

He called on women to go for ante-natal care for the sake of their health and unborn children.

"Our pregnant women should avail themselves of the various programmes introduced by government to get ante natal care. This is very necessary so as to avoid complication during child birth," he stated.

He commended traditional leaders and the Sultanate Council for their contribution towards the development of the health sector in the state.

In her remarks, the Wife of the Governor, Hajiya Mariam Aminu Tambuwal, said the Maryam Mairo Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Initiative (MMAWT) , embarked on outreach with emphasis on pre and postnatal care services, hypertension,

screening and treatment which would be rolled out in all the 23 local government councils.

According to her, the foundation would distribute Magnesium-partum hemorrhage and Chlohexidine for preventing neonatal sepsis and Mama kit for ante natal.

She said the Foundation would be collaborating with Plan International in distributing 2,000 mobile handsets to Community Based Health Volunteers in the state.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, said 2440 Community Based Health Volunteers were recruited to cater for pregnant women across the 244 wards in the state. " As you are aware, 10 women were recruited in each of the 244 wards and they will go house to house to cater for pregnant women and those that delivered new babies.

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MAY 26, 2͸͹΀ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

Pulling Back Nigeria from the Precipice For me, the biggest sin the Buhari administration has committed against this beautiful country is its blossoming seed of division. This country has never been this divided. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was apt when he remarked in August 2016 that, “at no time in our history, except probably during the civil war, has Nigeria been so fractured in the feeling of oneness and belongingness by the citizenry.” Unfortunately, things have gone from bad to worse. Brothers are rising against brothers. There is so much hatred in our beautiful country because President Buhari wittingly set his clan against the rest of the country.

For example, he brazenly tells the rest of the country to surrender their lands to his kinsmen for grazing in this modern era of ranching. Our President’s clannishness is frightening. The most terrifying is about the leadership of our security agencies.

I often shed tears whenever it dawns on me that almost 100 per cent of the heads of our security agencies are from just one sub-section of this country. I cringe each time I look at the list. Let’s go: DirectorGeneral, Department of State Security Services, Lawal Daura; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Burutai; Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar; ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigerian Customs Service, Retired Colonel Hameed Ali; Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mustapha Abdallah; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammed Babandede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, AVM Mohammed Usman; Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Muhammadu; Inspector General of Police, Idris Abubakar; Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali, Minister for Interior , Abdulrahman Dambazau; Controller General of the Nigeria Prison Service, Ja’afaru Ahmed.

Mr. President, how does this list smell?

Does it smell pan-Nigeria? It is bad enough that they are all from the north. It is even worse that they are all Muslims. In a country where religion remains an issue, concentrating the security apparatus in the hands of one tribe and one religious group is a betrayal of trust of those Christians and southerners who voted for you and an

Juxtapose all these with the vote of confidence President Buhari passed on the army chief, Tukur Buratai last Thursday and you will agree that something is clearly wrong somewhere. This vote of confidence is preposterous despite the glaring ineptitude and obvious bias of our security chiefs. This was what influenced the protests this week by Catholics across the country affront on our constitution. Catholic bishops have repeatedly stated that these lopsided appointments into key security positions had created a sense of a loss of belonging in many parts of the country, hence the constant cries of marginalisation, agitation for secession and calls for restructuring. For me, this is the main reason killings and abductions across our country have persisted. Our biased security chiefs simply look the other way while the killings persist.

This is why Fulani militias persistently pummel the rest of the country despite Buhari’s avowal to stop the killings. On Tuesday, Fulani militias resumed their reign of terror in Benue by killing two people along the Naka/Makurdi Road while they were returning from the burial of the Catholic priests and 17 parishioners killed earlier by herdsmen. The deceased, riding on a motorcycle, were ambushed and slaughtered by the herdsmen. Naka/Makurdi road has been abandoned for a long time due to the negative activities of herdsmen along this federal highway. Governor Samuel Ortom confirmed these recent killings while receiving in audience the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, saying “Killing is still ongoing. Just on Tuesday, two people

returning from the burial were killed.”

The ineptitude of the security chiefs has also exposed states in the North-west to attacks by bandits. Just on Tuesday, bandits returned to Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State where the home of the Commissioner of Youths, Sports and Skills Acquisition, Abdullahi Gurbin, in Gurbin Bore village was attacked. Thereafter, they abducted his wife, three children and three other relatives.

Juxtapose all these with the vote of confidence President Buhari passed on the army chief, Tukur Buratai last Thursday and you will agree that something is clearly wrong somewhere. This vote of confidence is preposterous despite the glaring ineptitude and obvious bias of our security chiefs.

This was what influenced the protests this week by Catholics across the country.

Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, remarked: “The central message of the protest is to stop killings in Nigeria; call on the federal government to be alive to its duties of protecting lives and properties and set agenda for true national discourse among others.

“People today feel a sense of helplessness and hopelessness in their homes especially when the signal they are getting is that they do not have enough personnel to secure every inch of this nation. We ought to have intelligence agencies that will act to prevent attacks and to nip the attacks in the bud.

“Our sorrows have been compounded by the fact that no one has been held responsible, no one convicted for the murder and destruction that has turned responsible people into internally displaced person.

We urge the president to intervene in this problem in a more divisive way in order to save the country from tribal or religious war; we say all of these with due sense of patriotism for our nation Nigeria, because we believe in the strength and unity of Nigeria.”

For the Cardinal of the Abuja Catholic Diocese, John Onaiyekan, Nigeria is in a state of emergency and well-meaning Nigerians must unite in fighting “the great evil that had befallen the country.” He added that if murderers were allowed to continue killing, “it would come to a time when people will begin to use other means of self-defence.”

The leader of the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben

Reflections on Buhari’s Accolades for Abacha We will always remember the late General Sani Abacha as a brutal, corrupt, inept, Godless and purposeless leader, who sent so many Nigerians to early graves.

Abacha’s killer squad remains indelible in our memory. This wicked General ran one of the most crooked governments in the world to the extent that a British school, University of Wolverhampton, once ran “Abacha thievery” as a module in one of its courses. Surprisingly, our President does not give a damn about the atrocities of this evil man because he built roads and bridges. Speaking at the villa on Tuesday when he hosted the phony Buhari Support Organisation (BSO), led

by Hameed Ali, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Buhari said that regardless of what anyone thinks about Abacha, “it must be remembered that subsequent civilian presidents spent billions of Naira in infrastructure, yet, have had little to show for it.” He added: “No matter what opinion you have about Abacha, I agreed to work with him… the PTF roads we did from here to Port Harcourt, to Onitsha, to Benin and so on... On top of other things in education, medical care and so on.” So, building of roads and bridges can now be used to justify the assassination of opponents and massive looting of Nigeria’s treasury by this beast? Abacha is our President’s hero. This same Buhari told the nation years back that Abacha did not loot Nige-

Abacha

ria’s treasury. Buhari in June 2008 gave the late dictator a clean bill of health in Kano after a remembrance prayer marking the 10th year of his death. He said there was no basis for accusing Abacha of corruption: “Ten years without the late Abacha, the said allegations remain silent because there are no facts. All the allegations leveled against the personality of the late General Sanni Abacha will remain allegations. It is 10 years now; things should be over by now.” He added that rather than maligning Abacha, the late ruler deserved to be praised for initiating developmental ideas

that moved the country forward.

But 10 years after, after Buhari denied that his former boss looted the treasury, his government last month announced that $322.5 million was returned to Nigeria by the Swiss Government as part of funds looted by the late maximum ruler. What a country! Wonders will never end in Nigeria. Abacha is believed to have stolen nearly £5 billion while in office, out of which over $1 billion had been recovered from various sources around the world.

Our President’s friends are indeed mind-boggling people. He spent over an hour with another of such incredulous friends, Ali Modu-Sheriff, last week Thursday at the Villa. President Buhari and the former governor of Borno State met behind closed-door with Sheriff sneaking out after the meeting which took place in the president’s office. This is the first time both men are meeting since the notorious Sheriff was ousted as PDP’s caretaker committee’s chairman. He had earlier met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa on September 22, 2017.

Sheriff apparently went to brief Buhari on the good job he did for the ruling party, by helping to destabilise the opposition party.

I guess he would be making demands and asking for proper remuneration for a job well done. This man, who has a lot to tell this country about the rampaging Boko Haram, is busy dining with our President.

Judgement day is around the corner.

Fasoranti added: “Nigerians are at a crossroads; we are tired of the killings, kidnapping going on across the country and the President is mute about it… We are dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the country. The country is not being run properly. Look at the killings in the North.

The President is very silent about it. We are all Nigerians. If he can keep silence about the killing of his people, that is bad enough.”

The task of taking back Nigeria won’t be an easy one. The opposition must form a genuine coalition, otherwise, all their effort will be in vain. The priority is now one, as stated by Obasanjo, adding, “If we do not join hands to repair this country now, it will collapse and this could be disastrous.”

Fasoranti agrees saying, “it will be the joy of everybody to present a formidable team to confront the evil government that is there now.”

These opposition figures must also face the fact that it is not much about the platform, but the quality of candidate they can put forward as Presidential candidate.

This country needs a leader capable of restoring our feeling of oneness, and returning us to the good old days when we see ourselves as brothers. Nigeria needs a leader capable of rising above ethnic and religious sentiment; a detribalised leader that will see every Nigerian as the same, whether Christian, Muslim, northerner or southerner. We need a leader who is physically and mentally fit. This is the sort of candidate opposition figures must jointly put forward to pull back out lovely country from the precipice. By now, they ought to have settled for one, with a long queue behind him. I am convinced that this beautiful country will be one again by 2019; a country where love, peace and unity will dominate.

Boss Mustapha’s N64m Website I quivered while listening to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, justifying the N64 million expended on FG’s upgraded website “aimed at bringing governance close to the people.” I wonder how many people have access to the internet in our penurious country. That aside, Mustapha wants Nigerians to believe that the cost of training staff for the website and acquiring computers were responsible for the high figure. Haba! N64 million for a website? This is preposterous. If it costs this much to establish an “enhanced interactive website,” then, only governments, big corporations and wealthy individuals will be able to own one. This is clearly not the case in practical terms. There are so many high quality interactive websites owned by ordinary Nigerians that cost less than two per cent of what Mustapha spent on his voodoo website. Most public officers take Nigerians for fools, while trying to justify ludicrous spending. I doubt if they even think deeply before talking.

It is shocking that the SGF was justifying N64 million on a website amid so much unemployment, hunger, poverty, disease and malnutrition in our dear country.

Mustapha

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

Plus

LOUD WHISPERS AUTO GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND FASHION FILE MEMOIRS

pg. 20 pg. 26 pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 43 pg. 50

Adesimbo Ukiri I Want Avon Healthcare Known as a Value-Adding HMO

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 26, 2018

PLUS

I Don’t Want Avon Healthcare to Be Big and Empty

She wants Nigerians from all walks of life to have access to affordable and effective healthcare services. Adesimbo Ukiri, the Managing Director and CEO of Avon Healthcare Limited, oversees all aspects of the company’s operations and under her, Avon HMO has become one of Nigeria’s leading healthcare maintenance organisations. A trained lawyer and Sloan Fellow of London Business School, Ukiri has over 20 years’ experience in the FMCG, telecommunications and healthcare. She shares with Adedayo Adejobi the remarkable story of Avon, the highs and lows of penetrating Nigeria’s health insurance industry Birth of Avon HMO

“W

e started October 2012 and open to the public for operations in January 2013. But w formally entered the market we in July y 2013. So, we can say y we are five years old. We entered the market knowing g that we wanted to be different and with a resolve to set new standards and to change the landscape of health iinsurance in surance in Nigeria. We knew i wasn’t something that could it b bee done alone. At the launch, we sspoke poke to stakeholders, and with a collaborative approach all the stakeholders could feel the value that we were adding to their organisations. g The industry y has been in existence for ten years or more and not a lot had happen.

We came in with skills, creativity and insight. We didn’t need to have that many hospitals as we wanted to ensure each hospital we partnered had ample population to make the business worth the while. So that meant we couldn’t g give every enrolled member of our schemes a hospital p that they had been using before. Our ideas were disruptive. We also believe in paying y g hospitals a fair tariff and on time. Historically, hospitals p used to g get p paid may y be 60 to 90 days after they had already rendered service to an enrolled subscriber.

But we pay them within 30 to 45 days of receiving their claims. It’s been a strain on us because suddenly expectations are now high. What we discovered so far is that most Nigerians pay when they see value.”

Creating shift in HMO management Giving insight on how the industry has had a paradigm shift on how Nigerians buy health insurance, she notes: “Not many individuals think of buying a health insurance plan. It’s been an uphill task trying to convince corporate organisations that the value you pay for is the value you get. Avon HMO is big on granular data about utilisation, so every company that, for instance, has a relationship with us; we can show you your data of the past five years. I was speaking with a company this morning and trying to tell them why their premium had to be increased and they were pugnacious. And I told them I can show them their data of hypertensive people in the company which increased by 116 per cent. The number of people with diabetes increased as well and I started reading out the data to them. I told them they couldn’t pay me the same because their people are getting sicker.

“These are some of the challenges we face. These years in business have been interesting because we are trying to break a pattern which has seen HMOs continuously offering lower prices, and the cycle of bad service keeps going on.

With over 70 licensed HMOs – if we had stronger and stricter regulations, I don’t think there would be more than 10.

There are good and bad apples. Recently, there were some HMOs that had their licences publicly withdrawn. If we had a more effective regulator, Nigeria would

These a are some of the challenges we face. These Thes years in business have been interesting because we are trying to interes break a pattern which has seen HMOs conti continuously offering lower prices, and the cycle of bad service keeps going go on. With over 70 licensed HMOs – if we had stronger and H stricter stri regulations, I don’t think there would be more than 10.

T There are good and bad apples.

Recently, there were some HMOs that had their licences publicly withdrawn. If we had a more effective regulator, Nigeria would have grown in

MAY 26, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

19

PLUS We Are Using Skills, Creativity, Insight to Set Avon Healthcare Apart have grown in coverage and effectiveness of the health insurance industry.

We’ve had clients that could not renew the premiums because they couldn’t pay. It’s better to be known as the HMO that delivers value and have a smaller portfolio than have a large portfolio and still be unable to pay hospital claims. It might take time to build the brand we want to build and get really big. But it will be consistent growth that will be sustainable. On the other hand, we have had better experiences with selling to individuals and families and smaller companies rather than larger corporate, because the people who are paying are the people who are enjoying the service.

On the whole, we’ve had better success, retention and understanding of the pricing from individuals than we’ve had from larger companies.”

Surviving in a difficult industry In spite of the challenge her firm has had to deal with, her determination to be different remains unshaken. When quizzed about pricing, especially on the premise that an average Nigerian does not have access to quality health care, she analysed the situation thus: “The first thing is to look at how much the health plan really cost. Most of the health care needs as well as in most developing countries is all at a level of primary care in terms of medical attention that a visit to a hospital or health care facility would sort with the first level kind of treatment. Ailments like malaria, cold, flu, upper respiratory infection, typhoid, etc, are the heaviest burdens we carry. Others are non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes which are skyrocketing daily but they can be managed. They get more complicated and costly to manage so most of the health plans we have will cover all of these and will cost more on annual subscription. What this market is yet to get to is the ability of people to get to pay on a monthly basis.

That would open the access more but the risk there is that most people, if they pay for the next three months and don’t fall sick, they’ll stop paying.

“As the industry matures, it is inevitable, and we hope to be one the first organisation to offer people the opportunity of affordability to pay intermittently. The strength of our business comes from having reserves because it helps us absorb the shocks of huge and unforeseen medical claims.

If someone who has diabetes suffers a heart failure, it will cost you much if you are not an HMO that has reserves.

By the time two people have cancer, one has heart failure, the HMO is finished.

We look beyond today and that’s why we are building the business so that we meet claims payment of next year and beyond. The market doesn’t make it easy. But we also commit ourselves from day one that the financial metrics for measuring financial capabilities, strength and resilience that are applied to HMOs in other parts of the world, are our benchmark. Any HMO that’s financially viable has no reason not to pay hospitals their capitation before the first of every month. We pay before the first of every month.”

Is it HMO or PPO? For the avoidance of doubt, Ukiri sheds light on the difference between Health Management organisation (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organisation ( PPO): “A PPO is a preferred provider organisation and the first major difference is that with an HMO, once you register to a health insurance scheme, you are tied to what is called a primary care provider and they operate a tight referral system. So, if you are registered to an HMO, you have to choose a hospital to your primary care provider. Any health needs that you have must be such that you have to contact your primary health care pro-

Elumelu , Adesimbo and Awele

It’s an industry with extremely slim margin and that is why you find many HMOs in financial strains unable to pay hospitals.

The global earnings before interest and tax, a financial matrix for HMOs is between six per cent and ten per cent – almost everything you take as premiums.

However, the trick is in the volume and in Nigeria we haven’t achieved the volume. It is a great time to become a CEO because we are at the threshold of a rainfall and we are praying for it. If the market unlocks over two to three years it will be phenomenal vider first who will then refer you if it’s something he or she cannot handle. For instance, if you are a pregnant woman, and you need to see a gynaecologist, your primary health care provider will have to refer you first to one. But with a PPO, you can just get up and say I want to see a gynaecologist without the need for a referral – you are not tied to a particular primary health care provider.

Its disadvantage is that nobody is coordinating your care. Another difference is that once you sign up with a PPO, you are able to use other hospitals outside the network of the PPO. For instance, with an HMO we contract an HMO with a network of hospitals and you are given access to hospitals within our network. However, in case of emergency or you travel somewhere we don’t have a hospital for you, you can still use the hospital and we’ll refund you.”

Avon’s niche

On cases of unprofessionalism and negligence in some private hospitals, she says: “As a brand, the way people experience us is never through us directly.

We are only as good as the services the hospitals provide on our behalf and in our name. There’s a dedicated department manned by Doctors and nurses. The first step is at the point of choosing which hospital to sign on. We have an accreditation process with an in-house quality assurance department the head who is a doctor. The department is responsible for accrediting hospitals that form our network. There’s a check list and standards that any hospital on our network should have. So they visit the hospital and talk to doctors on duty. They would go into their theatre to see what they have and score them. They put it all together and there’s a final score that a hospital gets. If a hospital attains the minimum score, it’s then accredited and added unto to our network. There are, however, different levels of accreditation we give depending on the capability of the hospitals. After accreditation we sign a contract. After we issue management protocols based on WHO standards. We also have case managers who go to hospitals randomly to check on our enrolees when they are on admission. They go through their note to check if the disease management protocol has been adhered to. It’s rare to see any of enrolees on admission and a case manager is not managing actively.

In addition to that, we also have continuous education with hospitals. We have publications we produce and share with our hospitals bi-annually, educating them and sharing knowledge. We also have a provider quality forum where all hospitals and medical directors discuss challenges and share knowledge and experience.

We work with private and government hospitals. No exclusivity.”

Unravelling myth of HMOs ‘free money’ Against the backdrop of the myth that HMOs make ‘free money’, Ukiri counters: “I know why people say that.

People tend to say that because of the NHIS. At the initial point of this industry taking off, the head of state then said and made it compulsory for all civil servants to subscribe to NHIS and the payments were not deducted from their salaries. So, the federal government was paying for the civil servants. The money was paid to NHIS with federal ministries and agencies

were allocated to HMOs. HMOs having couple of hundreds of thousands of federal civil servants and managing same on behalf of NHIS left the impression that HMOs are ‘eating the national cake’. We don’t have NHIS brief. But we’ve had to compete for the private companies or individuals, and have had to prove value in order to get people to part with their money. So there’s no ‘national cake’ for us. The challenge is how to ensure many more people are seeing the value.”

Medical tourism and health insurance in Nigeria Reacting to the federal government’s plan to sanction civil servants going abroad for treatment thereby cutting down on medical tourism, she states: “If the government can follow this through, it would indeed be a positive thing for us because the truth is we have the skilled manpower in Nigeria. Medical tourism has taken our capital out and when those funds are within our system, it makes the quality of our service step up considerably and gives us ability to offer more in our health plans.”

Ukiri adds: “It’s an industry with extremely slim margin and that is why you find many HMOs in financial strains unable to pay hospitals. The global earnings before interest and tax, a financial matrix for HMOs is between six per cent and ten per cent – almost everything you take as premiums. However, the trick is in the volume and in Nigeria we haven’t achieved the volume. It is a great time to become a CEO because we are at the threshold of a rainfall and we are praying for it. If the market unlocks over two to three years it will be phenomenal.

Unlocking it requires proper regulatory frame work, new legislation, a commendable and effective regulator who is also passionate about achieving a universal health coverage and ensuring operators are financially capable and technologically enabled to achieve great heights for this sector.”

So, what is the future of HMO in Nigeria? She simply responds: “Like the rest of the country, it might get hard before it gets better. I foresee a situation in which hopefully we do get a regulatory frame work we are hoping to have; what will come with that is a tougher operating environment. A lot more will be expected of the HMOs when the right and efficient regulatory frame work is in place.”

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 26, 2018

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

LOUD WHISPERS

Banire

Muiz Banire: Are We Fighting or Not? The flurry of statements credited to this mustachioed titan is confusing me.

Are we fighting Tinubu or not? So that we know what to do. One moment you are doing parallel congress, the other you are said to be issuing statements hailing the almighty lord of Bourdillon. This is making us here in Shomolu to be confused.

Are we fighting or are we not fighting?

There is really no time to be prancing around like the thugs in Oshodi who will pull their shirts, break bottles, shout to high heavens, run around the place and will still not throw one single blow. If you are not ready for the war, please just quietly go back to your village and allow us to continue in our eternal servitude.

Abi, did we complain to you? If you are ready, then come out and declare and let’s know what is happening. You cannot be making all these whimsy sounds and still be the National Legal Adviser na. You will resign first and then we will all know that this is war. My brother, untill then, all this na shakara. When you are truly and really serious, let us know and then we will know what to do. For now, all we are seeing is a chicken in the ring. Jagaban for life.

Moshood Mustapha : - Let’s Do This Ok, Mustapha is a great guy. He used to, until very recently, serve the Senate president as his special adviser on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Protocol and Special Duties. Today, he has thrown his hat into the ring wanting to serve the great people of Kwara. From what we are seeing recently, Kwara seems to be in turmoil, with all sorts of agitations from all sides of the political divide. My humble thinking is that these issues are being artificially orchestrated to rattle the Senate president as we move towards 2019 and that is why a calm and effective administrator with the kind of experience and wide network garnered from his years in the National Assembly would go a long way in positioning Kwara. I support him simply because he comes with credibility after serving the people of Kwara in different capacities and enjoyed tremendous goodwill thereafter.

Going through a brief communication pack that was sent to me by his people, I sensed a deep understanding of the issues that bedevil Kwara, hence my initial support for his candidacy. But let me state categorically that this support could and would be immediately withdrawn if as we trudge on, I sense a derailment from the vision. Although, I do not see this happening because of the astuteness of this prominent son of Kwara. I will still remain on alert. The wahala would be convincing Segun Adefila, the rabidly passionate Kwaran who worked for my defeat at the last Command presidential election and who today I have discovered carries one of the deepest political minds in this country. Kai, you cannot defeat Segun in a debate o. Anyway, on Moshood I stand for now.

Mustapha

Fayose

Obasanjo – You are Wicked!

“If he cannot read the threevolume book, he should detail his aides to do so and summarise the chapters in a language that he will easily understand.’’

This is a statement credited to the lord of host and defender of the universe, the great and immortal Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in his response to the perceived barb reportedly sent his way by President Buhari in a quip to some funny people who came to visit him. In the said speech, Buhari was said to have mocked some leaders who claimed to have spent $16 billion on power and yet we remain in darkness. Kai, this statement was said to have really pained Baba Iyabo who was playing a game of ‘ayo’ when some busybodies told him about it. Kai, he immediately summoned this Kehinde Akinyemi person and dictated this acerbic response. You see my problem with this response is the fact that oga was now alluding to our inability to read, simply because we had small problem with

The Duke Finally Meets Gov. Fayose So my madam says we should move to Magodo. My people, I have been crying since then. All the houses we have been seeing is like N2m per annum and with the current recession or did they say it is over, na only N600,000 dey my pocket.

Anyway, this Sunday afternoon as we were driving round the place looking for a befitting accommodation suited for the Duchess(2) –please don’t ask me any

our certificate before entering the army and during the last elections.

This is not fair na. This is what in Shomolu is called ‘ebu ira’. Instead of addressing the main issue you are now going to say I cannot read.

Is that the issue? What happened with the $16 billion and why are you still using generator in your house in Ota? Yes, I saw two very big powerful Mikano in your house o last time I was there. So my dear Buhari, I think in your response, you too should go below the belt.

Oya, ask him why his tribal marks are all over his face or did he fight tiger?? Yes na, shebi he has said you cannot read, oya you too give am too. Please this is not work for Garba Shehu or Femi Adeshina, let’s go for Basket Mouth to draft the statement o because baba can yab o and I think he has Ali baba on his side. Let the games begin.

Meanwhile let me go buy fuel for my generator, we still no get light o.

Eight years of Baba and how many years of Buhari. Na wayo Government we dey! as Fela talk am.

questions about the figure two. Don’t kill me for my mother, I gravitated towards the ones that looked cheap and tacky and will cover my money. That is how they took us to one building beside Governor Fayose’s house in Magodo. I was excited because from the bedroom, I could look into Governor Fayose;s backyard. I even saw two women pounding yam and wondered if I would be invited for lunch.

All of a sudden, there was a flurry of activities. Policemen running everywhere,

Oshodi

tyres screeching. Kai, I thought DSS has finally struck o. But why would they wait till I was here before striking. Didn’t they know that my mother is a widow?

Which kind problem be this? Well, as the commotion intensified, I told my madam, to go under the bed and stay calm, that everything will be OK. That let me go and neutralise just one agent. All I needed was one gun and that will be the end of the whole wahala. She looked into my handsome face and believed me. She said, darling be careful. So from the window, I counted six mobile policemen and four plain-cloth cops wearing cheap suits. I smiled, this would be easy. I removed my shoes, folded my pants and started the stealth move of a tiger. As I came out of the door, moved towards the fence, to jump and drop into the forest in an attempt to run towards Shomolu (shebi woman wey no dey hear word, na wetin dey happen be this. She say if not Magodo she will not live in Lagos. This na the Magodo na, dem don come pick Fayose and with my last N600,000 in my pocket I come dey crossfire. Me I have escaped; in war, dem no dey kill woman, na IDP camp dem dey put them. I will go and visit her. For now, na Shomolu get me.)

But as I was about to move, I heard one of the people say, His Excellency is in the car and we are about to move. Kai. I stopped.

I went back to get the madam and told her that I have neutralised the people and that the Governor wanted to meet us to seek permission to move. So, we went to his front gate, his people greeted us politely and calmly told us that since the governor was in his car we could no longer see him, but we could wait by the gate to wave at him. That was how I stood with madam, clutching the N600,000 tightly. You know say the man dey owe teachers’ salaries, I cannot cry, waving at Governor Ayo Fayose as he drove past. He waved back and did not stop. If only he knew it was the Duke of Shomolu standing, he would have stopped. But the guy waved me past. No problem. As soon as he passed, I brought out my money and counted my N600,000 complete o. I cannot cry, you know these people have juju. Please who get N600,000 house for Magodo far from Fayose house?

Demola Oshodi – Where is the Party?

Suave and neat aide to the Asiwaju, Demola Oshodi, will clock 50 anytime soon.

I hear they want to do surprise party for him. Me, I have no problem with that, all I am putting forward now is that nobody should say that it is because it is a surprise party they will not serve afang there o.

If that will be a problem, let them tell me now o so that I can come with my own afang. I don’t want to come and fight in my bobo’s party o. Great guy and likable, let me invite my readers to join me at the party. I am sure it will be somewhere in Alausa and colours for the day will be purple and pink. Please come with your food and drinks o. I no really trust this Demola guy. Happy birthday bro.

21

MAY 26, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

SPY GLASS

with BAYO ADEOYE .... 08054680651 email: bayoolunla@gmail.com LEO STAN EKEH

LEO STAN EKEH’S LATEST GROUNDBREAKING MOVE

While you are still discussing the reported acquisition of Konga by the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, Spy Glass gathered that the shrewd businessman is, again, set to launch another business that will further affirm his dominance in the business climate in Africa .

A source disclosed that the Imo Stateborn billionaire was still keeping it close to his chest, adding that “when this new business is finally executed, it will not only shake the business firmament, but will further give him an edge over his competitors and boost his profile.”

Apart from being a giant in innovation and technology, Ekeh is also an astute businessman with decades of successes under his kit.

By virtue of his rare accomplishments, he is one of the few businessmen who have written their names in gold.

The string of industry awards that litters his ornate office is evident of his success story in the sector. So far, it can be said that providence has been fair to him, especially when you consider his intimidating resume, international connections and riches.

He is one of the few Nigerian businessmen who can rub shoulders with other businessmen around the world. He was honoured in the Extra-ordinary Businessmen category by Silverbird Group in March this year.

The Zinox Group is a technology company that built Nigeria’s first internationally-certified computer systems and has substantial stakes in ICT in Nigeria.

LUCKY OMOLUWA’S LOVE FOR GOLF

When you mention the name Lucky Omoluwa, what comes to mind is business. But beyond his exploits in the business world, what many do not know about him is his love for golf. He is passionate about it, so much so that he emerged the youngest member of the Board of Trustees of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, which is chaired by Gen. I.B.M. Haruna.

Omoluwa became a professional golfer between 1969 and 1970 at the Ikoyi Golf Club. From 1970 to 1985, he was at Kaduna Golf Club as a professional golfer and was saddled with supervision and operations, including teaching and

LUCKY OMOLUWA

THEO DANJUMA

TOLULOPE AGBEYO

training.

While in Kaduna, he ensured that he made the game popular. Golf, which was hitherto the pastime of a few rich and famous people, was embraced by many people in the state. He changed the trend by advising military officers to take to golf. He also checkmated the bureaucracy encountered in importing golf equipment by encouraging Dunlop to flood the state with golf equipment at affordable prices. In fact, he ensured a 38 per cent discount from every set purchased by golfers.

He was also instrumental to the construction of three military courses namely, Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, the one inside the vast territory of the Command and Staff College and the Minna Cantonment Golf Club.

His company, Pinnacle, has sponsored many golf competitions, chief among them are the annual Pinnacle Golf Tournament, which holds at IBB Golf Course Abuja, and KADINVEST Pinnacle Communications Pro-Am Golf Tournament, which holds in Kaduna Golf Club (KGC).

disadvantaged positions.

Last week, the shrewd businessman and politician shared rams, cows, beverages and food items to some Muslims in his Ibadan Southwest/NorthWest Federal Constituency in Oyo State, who are currently observing the one-month Ramadan fast.

As a practising Christian, many find this singular act very commendable, especially because it preaches religious tolerance.

Though it is being alleged in some quarters that it was politically motivated, those who know him better say that he has always religiously shown love to Muslims in and outside the community, even before he launched his political ambition.

Interestingly, from all indications, his political aspiration is gathering momentum, considering the fact that he has been shown massive love by his constituents, who have reportedly promised to show their appreciation for his kind gestures over the years come 2019.

TY DANJUMA’S SON SET TO WED

HONOUR FOR TOLULOPE AGBEYO

Just as it happened last year when businessman, Theophilus Danjuma’s first son, Ishaya, walked down the aisle with his bride, Agbani Darego, another of his son, Theo, is ready to follow suit, as he recently proposed to his girlfriend, Louise Green.

It was also gathered that the handsome young man has been dating beautiful Green for three years before they concluded to take it to another level.

Though the wedding date is not yet been announced, it is being said that it will be the talk of town for a long time as both families are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure a successful wedding ceremony.

ROTIMI AJANAKU’S ACT OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE

Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku, also known as Don Dino, is known for his humaneness.

His actions speak volumes about someone who is always ready to lift his fellow human beings who are either experiencing some pains or in some

ROTIMI AJANAKU

Without a doubt, Tolulope Agbeyo, the founder and CEO of Botosoft Technologies, is becoming a pacesetter in the sector, where he operates.

Those who have been following his stories with keen interest in the past years are quick to say that he has taken after his father, a philanthropist and consummate entrepreneur, Dr. Tope Agbeyo, Chairman, Cornfield Group.

It is a fact that his brilliance and industry, rather than his father’s fame, have taken him thus far.

Consequently, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to enterprise development and innovation on the continent, he has been recognised at home and abroad.

Indeed, as proof of his brilliance, professionalism and strides in the industry, Tolulope, who holds a master’s degree in Innovations, Entrepreneurship and Management from the Imperial College, London, was recently announced as one of the honorees of the Most Influential People of African Descent, (MIPAD) Class of 2018.

MIPAD is a unique global list that identifies, in total, 200 outstanding

PE

individuals under 40, with 100 in Africa and 100 outside Africa in the Diaspora.

The initiative is essentially keyed into building a progressive network of civil society actors to come together and support the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015 -2024, as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/237.

Tolulope, who also sits on the board of Cornfield Group and Media Concepts gained this recognition, having been identified as a high achiever of African descent in the private sector.

This latest feat didn’t happen by accident; he is a man with consistent penchant for carving a niche market for his business.

He has a long history of highly effective service delivery and providing valueadded products and services. He recently opened another office in Nairobi, Kenya for his Botosoft Technologies, an awardwinning security solutions company.

ABIODUN ODUKOYA UNVEILS PLANS FOR FASHION SHOW Top fashion entrepreneur and boss of AB Rollings Clothiers, Abiodun Adenegan Odukoya, is a man full of pragmatic ideas and beautiful dreams.

Over the years, one of his dreams is to rule the fashion world and also inspire budding clothiers.

In line with his dreams, he is set to thrill his numerous clients with some avantgarde collections at the forthcoming Open Mall Fashion Show at the Lagos City Mall, Onikan, Lagos.

Odukoya plans to dazzle intending couples as well as others with ceremonial and wedding attire that will definitely catch their fancies.

Also to be debuted are formal attire made of either 100 per cent cotton or pure wool or a combination of both, in addition to evening suits and jackets made of fabrics - conducive for our kind of weather and environment.

Tagged #OMF3, it will feature 15 iconic fashion designers and performances from 10 sensational Nigerian artistes.

Speaking on the event, Odukoya said: “This event will feature exhibition area where people can buy fashion items at very discounted prices.”

ABIODUN ODUKOYA

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 26, 2018

SUPER SATURDAY PRINCE HARRY-MEGHAN MARRIAGE When American Adventurism Meets British Conservatism Rather than a clash of traditions and expressions, the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is regarded as a symbolic and significant blend of two different lives, cultures and history – one steeped in White supremacy and the other in emancipation. Bayo Akinloye writes

Prince Harry and Meghan coming out from Church service

T

he marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has been aptly described as a blend of American adventurism and British conservatism –for good reasons. The marriage is the 76th wedding among members of the United Kingdom’s Royal Family in recorded history. The ceremonies turned out to be a fair share of deeply rooted British symbolism, traditions and perhaps, the American dream.

Though the royal wedding had come and gone, the symbolism and significance regarding Prince Harry and Meghan’s nuptials are worth examining.

For a swirling couple of days Meghan and Harry had to ride the storm of bad press and scandalous conducts on the part of the bride’s family –with a Thomas Markle described as an opportunistic father and Meghan’s half-sister as a hell-bent party pooper. In the end, only her mother made the wedding.

In absence of the bride’s father, Harry’s father, Prince Charles, accompanied Meghan up the final aisle. He saved the day in some way because Meghan’s father refused to show citing ill-health as reasons.

Meghan’s veil was both a political and personal statement. Meghan represented the Commonwealth and her home state of California by incorporating flowers representing each one with a flower on her veil. The hand-embroidered 16-foot train required seamstresses to

wash their hands every half hour, according to Kensington Palace.

In 1619, the first captured Africans arrived in the British colony of Janestown, Virginia. Three hundred and ninety-nine years later, a descendant of AfricanAmerican slaves and sharecroppers from North Carolina and Alabama delivered the sermon at a British royal wedding.

In a historic and intriguing move for the royal family, Bishop Michael Bruce Curry became the first AfricanAmerican to have served as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, an offshoot of the Church of England in the United States and part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Curry started and ended his sermon quoting Martin Luther King and preached of the power of love: “We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that we will be able to make of this old world, a new world.”

In between, he also referenced slavery, colonialism, and poverty, all while standing in the heart of the former British Empire. His sermon was steeped in the oratorical tradition of black American preachers, which would have elicited some interesting reactions from the royal family.

It is also symbolic, even though to a small measure,

to note that while the wedding invitation cards, and the company that made them, are English, the ink used was American. The cards and ink are a poetic symbol of Harry and Meghan themselves; a complementary fusion of two countries, two cultures, and two backgrounds.

The sermon was followed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir’s rendition of “Stand by Me.” The hit 1961 blues song is not only about enduring love, but a powerful rallying cry for racial justice and unity.

Originally performed by American singer-songwriter Ben King, the song rose in popularity during the civil rights movement. It has been covered by more than 400 artists, including Otis Redding, John Lennon, and Tracy Chapman.

In 2015, “Stand By Me” was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” enough to be preserved in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. The song, an alluring one for a wedding ceremony, smacks of hidden and poignant political meaning.

The wedding came at a time of racial discontent in the United Kingdom. From the rise in hate crimes following Brexit to the Windrush scandal, discrimination against Britain’s ethnic minorities has come under sharp focus.

While anti-racist leaders in the UK gave a warm response to the wedding ceremony, they also warned against

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Y 26, 2018

SUPERSATURDAY PRINCE HARRY-MEGHAN MARRIAGE: WHEN AMERICAN ADVENTURISM MEETS BRITISH CONSERVATISM

attaching too much meaning to the wedding.

Is this the beginning of the end of a monarchy steeped in white supremacy?

Many think only time will tell. They feel, as things stand, the wedding is a personal expression and that it does not reflect the belief and traditions of the monarchical establishment.

On Harry’s invite list were ushers Tom Inskip and Guy Pelly, while Army comrades who he served alongside in Afghanistan also made the cut. All three of Princess Diana’s siblings attended – Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Earl Spencer, as well as his daughter Kitty. A fleet of glamorous pals including tennis ace Serena Williams alongside her Reddit founder husband, Alexis Ohanian, Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, and stylist Jessica Mulroney all showed up.

Several of Meghan’s Suits co-stars flew over for the big day – Patrick Adams, who plays her on-screen love interest, was joined by his Pretty Little Liars actress wife Troian Bellisario, Rick Hoffman, Vanessa Ray, Gina Torres, Gabriel Macht and Sarah Rafferty. Two of Prince Harry’s former flames, Cressida Bonas and Chelsy Davy both scored invites. George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, James Corden, Tom Hardy, Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford were all spotted at the service too.

Long-time royal friend Sir Elton John, with husband David Furnish, was at the ceremony and is believed to have performed a mini concert for the happy couple at their reception following the nuptials. David and Victoria Beckham, long-time friends of the royals who have both been honoured by the Queen made the short trip to Windsor.

US TV titan Oprah Winfrey was one of the surprise names to attend. Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and his wife, Princess Mabereng, who have worked alongside the Prince and his charity Sentebale since 2006, also attended. Other surprising names at the grand event included pop star James Blunt and his wife Sofia, rugby ace James Haskell and his fiancĂŠe Chloe Madeley, soul singer Joss Stone, and rugby legend Sir Clive Woodward and his wife Jayne Williams.

Most political figures were not invited but former Conservative Prime Minister, John Major, was a guest at the wedding, with wife Norma, as he was appointed as a special guardian over both Princes William and Harry following the death of their mother, Lady Diana, in 1997.

In addition to the US President Donald

The wedding came at a time of racial discontent in the United Kingdom.

From the rise in hate crimes following Brexit to the Windrush scandal, discrimination against Britain’s ethnic minorities h has come under sharp focus.

While anti-racist leaders in the UK gave a warm response to the wedding ceremony, they also warned against attaching too much meaning to the wedding

Trump missing at the occasion, a whole host of political big names including former President Obama, his wife Michelle, and Theresa May did not make the cut. While David Cameron, then the Prime Minister, attended Prince William’s

wedding in 2011 - the situation was different for Prince Harry’s.

A Kensington Palace spokesman had explained prior to the event: “It has been decided that an official list of political leaders – both UK and international – is

not required for Prince Harry and Ms Markle’s wedding. Her Majesty’s Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household.�

24

POLSCOPE Gov Wike, 2019 and the Courts

G

overnor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is surely one of the vocal governors in the country. Beside the outgoing GovernorAyodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Gov Wike will rank as the highest critic of the present administration. It is not for nothing. He belongs to the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ousted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). But that is not all that fuels his engine of criticism.

His major political rival, his former boss, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, is not only a cardinal personality in the APC, he (Amaechi) represents the greatest threat to his governorship experience. It therefore follows that hitting the APC as frequently as possible should be to weaken the fibre of the party, if not in the entire country, then in Rivers State.

Long before now, the battle line had been drawn.

The 2015 political duel, ended in Wike’s favour and today, he is the sitting governor. Two factors helped him at the time. The then president, Goodluck Jonathan was (like) his godfather. And that probably made all the difference. The federal might tilted to his favour.

That is why the high-scale violence that preceded and characterised the election in Rivers State just went like that: not revisited. The apparatchiks of government facilitated the election of the governor.

Governor Wike Under a new dispensation, Gov Wike is not sure the same facilities and circumstances that aided his victory at the time will still be there for him. So much ahead of time, he is already raising all the red flags and alarm he can raise.

Not long ago, he raised the alarm that the federal government was planning to give him the Alamieyeseigha treatment outside the country, wherein he’d be accused of warehousing some hard currency in his hotel apartment abroad and thus a ground to arrest him.

Recently too, he has been crowing about a particular police officer, whom he said, an INEC report had indicted and was then posted away to Gombe State, and that the same police officer has been re-posted to Rivers, suspecting that he has been brought back for a given mission, not unrelated with the 2019 political contest.

Surely, Rivers State will be one of the flashpoint states as it is very likely going to be an epic battle ground. Too often, elections in Rivers hardly go free and fair, especially now that the state is so torn along party lines, what with the intra-party feud rocking the All Progressives Congress in the state.

Further to the alarms he had raised, Gov Wike penultimate Wednesday obtained a Federal High court order forbidding the Police, the DSS and EFCC from searching any of his houses. It was such a curious order.

As a governor, Wike is already protected from prosecution under section 308 of the 1999 constitution, as amended. So why did he have to specially approach the court last year seeking an injunction that will forbid the three security agencies from searching his houses?

What did he hide or store in his houses which he does not want people to know or find out? Searching a house does not necessarily amount to being prosecuted. So, what are in those houses that must not be searched? Why is Wike afraid?

Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, in his case with then Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had indeed established the fact that a sitting governor could not be prosecuted, but could be investigated.

So even if searching Wike’s houses amounts to investigation, it will yet be right in the eye of the law.

Indeed, that Justice Ahmed Mohammed granted such a prayer even makes it more curious.

Is the judge saying, for instance, that if the governor decides to store in any of his houses enough arms and ammunition and other weapons of mass destruction (before, during or after the 2019 polls), the houses should never be searched? Do the houses also have immunity?

Or, still in the realm of hypothetical argument, if kidnappers chose to use any of the governor’s houses as a hideout for kidnapped victims, they should remain ensconced therein without the police or any body searching such houses?

I think it is a dangerous blank cheque order that could be a lethal weapon in the hands of an unguarded handler.

Yet agim during the week, Gov Wike raised an alrm that he has reports that there were plans by the federal government to assassinate him. That was heavy and direct. He claims he has intelligence report as his source of alarm, but he will not substantiate such a serious allegation.

Is he merely taking the liberty of his immunity to just say whatever he likes, to put the nation on edge? The allegation of a plot to assassinate a sitting governor, by the federal government, is more than mere political buccaneering. But do people take Wike serious? Not likely.

Surely, the days and months ahead are bound to be politically foggy.

But all institutional agencies, including the judiciary, have to make conscious effort to clear the fog on the landscape.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ 2018

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com 08053069356

Canticles...

Has Saraki Bettered or Battered the Image of the Senate Institution?

H

ave you noticed that the eighth senate has been bumping from one controversy into another on a near consistent basis?

Controversy? How do you mean?

Just what it means. Have you not been following the rounds of scandals and controversies that have literally defined the image of the senate in the last three years?

You have to understand the genesis of those so-called controversies. It is being orchestrated and escalated by those who are enemies of democracy. Those who are opposed to the independence of the legislature. Otherwise you’d agree that it is one of the most stable senate leadership we have had in recent times.

Did you say stable? Ok, stable but rot-ridden!

Your language is rather extreme.

No, it is not. I will cite some examples. Look, there is no leadership of the senate that has been so scandalized, battered and reduced in the eyes of the right thinking members of the public, as this one under Dr Bukola Saraki. It is scandal and controversy all the way.

Starting from the manner by which he was elected, it looked like a stolen crown and that has dogged the credibility of the senate leadership.

That’s not correct sir. The senators elected the man they wanted. The leadership was not elected by soldiers or market women, but the senators themselves. The problem is that some persons wanted to dictate, from outside, who should be what. But the senators said no, and asserted their lawful rights and elected their own leaders without coercion. That’s what happened and some people cannot just live with that. Simple!

That is not the whole truth.You forget the trickery and crude craft that preceded that so-called election?

Anyway, was it the outsiders that also generated the accusation of false asset declaration controversy which has remained like a yoke on the neck of the senate president all these three years? Have you not seen the degree of distraction that endless trial has caused the senate as a legislative institution? Is Saraki not literally dragging the senate on the mud he created?

Have you not seen how scores of senators will be shuttling between the red chambers and the Code of ConductTribunal every time Saraki is appearing at the tribunal?The business of law making for the entire country has to be put on hold, just so the lackeys of the senate president can have opportunity to demonstrate their solidarity which is counted as loyalty. Don’t you see how he runs the senate like an emperor? How demeaning can the institution be subjected!

Come to think of it, what remarkable law, capable of changing the fortunes of ordinary Nigerians, would you really say has been passed under the Saraki’s leadership in the last three years?

Ahhhh, be grateful, even for little things. Have you forgotten the seemingly jinxed PIB? That under Saraki , the Bill has finally been passed? (hissing) PIB?The one they fractionalised? How many portions of the broken PIB has been passed? Do you know they have not even transmitted the PIGB to Mr President? Of what effect is the fragment they have passed? Gosh, stop being gullible! It’s all motion, no movement, Otherwise, you’d ask whether the oil and gas sector is now better administered or not. My brother, with this eighth senate, it is legislative abracadabra: the more you look, the less you see.

And you say we should be grateful. Really? We should be grateful that they collect N13.5 million and another N700, 000 as salary per month, while the minimum wage of the ordinary Nigerian worker remains N18,000?

Suddenly, you have forgotten that the senate used to be a chamber of banana peels. You have forgotten how the leadership used to frequently change, like a woman’ s bra, Under Saraki, the leadership has been stable. And you are failing to see it as a proof of leadership adroitness powered by transparency and inclusive governance.

Trans-what?Hmmmmm.You have no idea how that red chamber runs. It is anything but transparent. It is anything but inclusive. It is quasi-cultic.You will need a deepresearch to know the hundreds of diverse tendencies that manage to get cobbled together in the senate.

I give you another example of how its acts have belittled it as an institution. Recall all the rave about the CG of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (retd), not wearing the Customs uniform? What eventually happened?

The old man has continued to run the Customs with

his Babaringa outfit, with the small bunch of his white goatie beard to boot.What did the senate do?

Recall also that the Senate had once invited Prof Itse Sagay to explain an opinion he expressed about the senators.The learned prof, snubbed the senate and till date nothing happened.

Have you also forgotten how on two occasions, the present acting (?) Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had appeared before the senate for confirmation, and how he has been rejected twice, yet he continues to function and even throw some of its members (likeSenators Peter Nwaoboshi and Jonah Jang) into prison?

Have you forgotten the recent face-off between the Senate and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris? How the latter shunned the senate’s invitation thrice, and the senate passed a whimperish vote of no confidence on him declaring him (albeit illegally) as being unfit to hold public office both in Nigeria and abroad? What has changed ever since that illdeclaration was made?

Nigerians know that the IG was invited essentially because Saraki felt his Man Friday, Senator Dino

Saraki Melaye, was maltreated by the police, and so the police institution must be grilled and guttered, as a revenge.

Next, was the entire senate being shut down so one of their own (the sick-but-active- on-twitter Dino), can be visited in the hospital. Can you not see that the senate is fast becoming like a hungry toothless bulldog?

What is worse, the recent quashing of the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta central, has further opened the senate to ridicule, betraying the fact that the senate has been over-reaching itself in too many ways. Don’t forget that Senator Ali Ndume, earlier suspended by the same Saraki-led Senate had also defeated the red chambers in court over the illegal suspension. I am sure if Senator Shehu Sani was not in Saraki’s camp, he would have been suspended for daring to reveal, in an interview, what the senators earn.

Do you know Saraki does not allow pro-PMB senators, his perceived enemies, the chance to speak during plenary? How dictatorial can a presiding officer be!

It has become a senate of anything goes, one filled with vexatious shenanigans. Clearly, the red chambers under Saraki has been reduced to a Circus show of lousy comedy and faux pas, especially as the court threw out the stay-of-execution application against the recall of Omo-Agege.

The awe and aura of honour associated with the Senate are gradually being pulled down.

On the contrary, many discerning Nigerians have continued to hail the political sagacity of Senator Saraki, commending how he has been able to weather all the adverse storm welled up against him, in such a way that he has continued to remain relevant in the political algebra of this country.

I don’t know what you term as sagacity. Is thesenate institution about the political life of Saraki?

Pray, what is the sagacity of passing the 2018 budget in mid-May, more than six months after it had been presented by the executive, and after padding the budget with over N500 billion? By passing the budget in the middle of the rainy season, how well can the budget perform? Sagacity my foot!

All we ask is that the legislature be left alone. The external interferences are too many. The senators love their president.

And that should be it. Those who don’t like it should wait till another round of election. That is the recommended temperament of democracy.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 26, 2018

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EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

Uncountable Nouns

EBERE WABARA

T

HE NATION ON SUNDAY of May 20 displayed grammatical hypocrisy: “The president should call the group to order for double standards (standard) and flouting our laws” “Rangers’ boss picks holes on 3SC” I also pick my own holes in (not on) this headline.

“TIME Magazine commends Nigeria over (for/on) containment” “…was the outcome of the series of meeting (meetings)” “…Assure (Assure Nigerians) Boko Haram will be defeated” “The source said further that…are (were) now firmly in control of the military.”

“Lassa fever scare in Delta as FMC cordons-off (cordons off) emergency ward” “…the population of the estate has increased considerable (considerably)” Finally from THISDAY of March 20 under review: “Heat free (Heat-free) curls” SATURDAY INDEPENDENT of March 19 circulated a potpourri of misapprehensions: “Buhari’s administration is been (being) sabotaged, says cleric” “Irri community seeks for support” Yank off ‘for’ Wrong: electioneering campaign; Right: electioneering or campaign “Siasia clamours for Nigerians (Nigerians’) support” Vanguard of March 18 disseminated a few solecisms starting with this banner: “CNS indicts major oil companies in (for/ on) oil theft” Yet another lexical crisis: “…that the police was (were) supporting the impeached speaker of the House….” “…at the expense of majority (the majority) of other members of the House”

BY

“He said the police cannot (could not) be dragged into the mess….”

“Underfunding, bane to (of) poly education” Still on National Mirror under focus: “…incessant strikes actions….” Education Today: incessant strikes “Truancy among professors and other senior academic staff often percolate (percolates) down the academic hierarchy….”

“Modibbo meets delegates, promises all inclusive (all-inclusive) government” “Obiazor relishes Super Eagles (Eagles’) call-up” “Group insists PDP, APC should pick Christian (Christians) as flag bearers) in 2019” The way to go: standard bearer “We express these fears, knowing fully well the nature of ….” This amounts to illtreatment of the English language. Right: knowing full well “The NFF still have to decide on the outcome of some matches” ‘Federation’ takes a singular verb.

“What is good for the goose can’t be bad for the gander. “ I do not understand the use of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ instead of ‘sauce’ in this instance. “…but LifeStyle will not hesitate to remind you about (sic) one of the qualifying criterion for this jamboree…” Singular: criterion; plural: criteria. In addition, ‘remind you of…’

“An alleged hike in school fees has created a row between the management and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of…. “PTA means Parent-Teacher Association.

“The donation of vehicles and communication gadgets provide a good beginning. “ The donation … provides.

“Fear of robbers keep lawyers away from courts” Fear of robbers keeps…

“CBN intervention bouys naira” (BUSINESSDAY, March 21) Get it right: buoys.

“You must be matured and in love with

jazz music.” (DAILY TIMES, March 21) Just ‘mature’.

The next three errors are from NTA Network News of May 21: “….who presided at the occasion?”

NTA correspondents should be civilized: the preposition that goes with ‘occasion’ is ‘on’ (not ‘at’) “He said that the ministry intends to restore back…“ ‘Restore back’ shows unintelligibility. With ‘restore’, you cannot have ‘back’. We should not use words we do not understand their meanings (or implications). The English language has evolved from the old period to the modern era. Therefore, journalists must avoid Anglo-Saxon expressions.

“Each of the stadia was provided with practicing pitch.” It is not the pitches that practise as implied in the statement.

Therefore, the sensible phrase ought to be ‘practice pitch.’ Lexical and semantic appropriateness demands this line of thought.

“Captain…wedded former Miss… in Lagos over the weekend with pomp and pageantry. “ (THISDAY, March 20) ‘Pomp and pageantry’ is not an accepted phrase.

The standard expression is ‘pomp and circumstance’ or ‘pomp and ceremony.’

It can simply be left as ‘pomp’. If you do not remember these forms, rephrase. At least, you can always recollect that the Nigerian creation (pomp and pageantry) is uneducated.

“Truely, Jos is a home of peace and tourism.” (DAILY NEWS, March 21) Correct form: truly “This development is unlike in some states where education have (sic) died a natural death…” (DAILY CHAMPION, March 21) Indeed, education has died in Champion House!

“SINCE the corruption of political crisis in neighbouring Chad….” (Source: as above) This way: eruption “PUBLIC affairs analysts of the most

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

diverse persuasions are agreed on one thing: the world is at a crossroad. “ (Source: as above) This way: at a/the crossroads (not crossroad) “It is therefore, (sic) noteworthy that the AU has now seen the wisdom in pooling the resources of member-states together to prevent ugly incident (sic)… “(NIGERIAN TRIBUNE, March 21) When resources are pooled, there is no need for ‘together’.

“New TV station to take-off soon” (VANGUARD, March 21) Just delete the hyphen to form a phrasal verb.

“The hopes of millions of our countrymen are centred around us.” (THISDAY, March 21) ‘Centre’ admits ‘on’, ‘round,’ ‘upon’… never ‘around’.

“Unclaimed properties of accident victims” ‘Property’ in this context is noncount. It can only take the plural form if buildings and acres of land are involved – or scientific references.

“This unrestrained blood-bath follow (follows)….”

“Yes, Nigerians love to eat traditional meals with their bare fingers but that is not to say we cannot provide foreigners with cutleries.” (Tourism & Hospitality, March 21) ‘Cutlery’ is uncountable.

“Villagers beseige hospital for free treatment” (DAILY NEWS, March 21) Right: besiege “In this way, life expectancy bulges as the chances of contacting diseases considerably diminish.” (Source: as above) Nobody contacts a disease…‘contract’ is the word.

“The progressive social option implicit in President Buhari’s analysis is affirmative action aimed at eliminating or drastically reducing poverty.” (Source: as above) ‘…an affirmative action.’ Articles are not optional in count words.

Obasanjo and The Buhari Clap-back

A

s the 2019 elections draw close, the lines are beginning to fall in unpleasant places for many in the political loop. This includes but not limited to aspirants, godfathers, political party apparatchiks, navigators and ex-navigators alike. The days, weeks and months ahead hold plenty of drama that will excite the polity and incite jugular jibes as played out between Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari during the week.

The latter took a calculated swipe at the former while hosting a cluster of supporters at the presidential villa in Abuja. Buhari rehashed an existing but hardly validated accusation that the administration of President Obasanjo spent $16billion on power with only colossal darkness to show for it. Not one to take a blow below the belt without a (dis)proportionate response, the former president fired back querying, “is it not beneath the dignity of the exalted office he holds to join the chorus of beer parlour gossips?

How can a president who has all the information at his beck and call degenerate to this level?” Not done, the ex-president caused his spokesman to issue a scathing rejoinder thus: “We believe that the President was re-echoing the unsubstantiated allegation against Chief Obasanjo by his own predecessor but one, while it is doubtful that a President with proper understanding of the issue would utter such, it should be pointed out that records from the National Assembly had exculpated President Obasanjo of any wrong-doing concerning the power sector and has proved the allegations as false. We recommend that the President and his co-travellers should read Chapters 41, 42, 43 and 47 of My Watch for Chief Obasanjo’s insights and perspectives on the power sector and indeed what transpired when the allegation of $16 billion on power projects was previously made. If he cannot read the three-volume book, he should detail his aides to do so and summarise the chapters in a language that he will easily understand.”

This falling out between Buhari and Obasanjo was predicted in this column when the signs first appeared in the public space. When in 2016 Obasanjo openly criticized the Buhari administration in an abrupt disruption of a period of political romance from the pre-2015 elections, I projected the trajectory of sour relations that would culminate in a total breaking of ties. From that public criticism to a virulent disparagement earlier this year, the Ota farmer has since become the arrowhead of the opposition within Nigeria’s

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Obasanjo

Buhari

mainstream political establishment to Buhari’s bid to retain the presidency in 2019.

Until now, the incumbent had restrained his lieutenants from frontally taking on his predecessor in what many interpreted as respect to military hierarchy drawn down from their days in service. But having broken that bound by hitting hard at Obasanjo, Buhari has willy-nilly opened the floodgate for his band of supporters to follow suit. The father figure of opposition to Buhari has now become a target of ravenous rants and tactless tirades from the Buhari camp. And since the

gloves are off, Obasanjo, a time-worn warhorse known for roforofo fights is likely to respond in similar if not worse fashion. The theatre is now open and it will be long before the curtains are drawn.

The battle between both men will on one hand bring orgasmic excitement to an increasingly tensed political environment in a manner which allows for the occasional ventilation transitional periods like this require. On the other hand however, it portends a possible descent into a realm of die-hard or do-ordie politics that has the potential of further pushing Nigeria down the dangerous precipice on which she is already dangling. And if that is not checked, the country risks an inevitable slip into a consuming abyss.

Somewhere in between though is the hidden value that can be gained from the presidential punches in that it presents an opportunity for some disclosure of the deep institutional rot plaguing the country. This disclosure will be valuable if it eventually serves the purpose of correcting the wrongs of the past, including the application of sanctions, rewards and restitutions as may be desirable.

Otherwise, it will end up as another item of scandalous discourse that further muddles up the public space with more dirt, hurt and hate. Like the late literary icon, Chinua Achebe said, it can open our eyes to know where the rain began to beat us and thereby provide a leeway to navigate an escape from the storm.

As the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) admonished, President Buhari should go beyond alleging that Obasanjo misappropriated $16 billion and institute a holistic probe of the power sector. “We expect President Buhari to institute a full-scale public inquiry into the spending on power by former President Obasanjo’s administration. This will give teeth to his anti-graft war. His administration’s concentration on one particular administration, while leaving the ones before the former President Goodluck Jonathan government has been the reason for our doubt of the sincerity in his war against corruption.

Therefore, if the President knows what we don’t know, it is time to prove to Nigerians that he is really fighting corruption.”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) also offered a similar advice to Buhari.

In a statement by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization demanded that the matter be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation. I align myself with this position.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚͜

New Tech to Aid Search for Spaces in Busy Car Parks

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he stress of searching for elusive empty bays in busy car parks may one day be a thing of the past, thanks to new “collaborative parking� technology being tested on the streets – and in the car parks – of Milton Keynes, in

Jaguar E Type Concept Zero model that was unveiled last year

Royal Wedding Car: Harry and Meghan’s E-Type Jaguar Stories by Bennett Oghifo

A

fter the Royal Wedding ceremony, newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle drove away from Windsor Castle in a Jaguar E Type Concept Zero to the evening celebrations. Here is everything you need to know about the car.

The newlyweds travelled to their destination from Windsor Castle behind the wheel of a Jaguar E-Type, which Enzo Ferrari famously described as “the most beautiful car in the world.�

However, this version of the iconic vehicle was the reborn Concept Zero model that was unveiled last year.

It is a zero-emissions battery-electric powered version of the 1968 car.

Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said at the car’s launch in September 2017:“E-type Zero combines the renowned E-type dynamic experience with enhanced performance through electrification. This unique combination creates a breathtaking driving sensation. “Our aim with E-type Zero is to futureproof classic car ownership. We’re looking forward to the reaction of our clients as we investigate bringing this concept to market.�

It not only looks like the classic E-Type but it also boasts performance that beats the specs of the original car.

The car can race from 0-62mph in just 5.5 seconds, which is about one second quicker than a Series 1 E-type.

It’s totally original in specification, apart from its 21st century state-of-the-art powertrain and modified instrumentation and

facia – although these are also inspired by the original E-type.

LED headlights are also used to achieve energy efficiency. Again, they adopt the styling theme of the original Series 1 E-type.

Its 40kWh battery can achieve real world range of around 170 miles on a single charge.

Eagle-eyed viewers also noted that the car was left-hand drive, which many believe was a nod to Meghan’s American heritage.

Prince Harry drove Meghan to the evening celebrations which were hosted by the Prince of Wales.

Guests at the black-tie celebrations dined on posh burgers, rum cocktails and candy floss among other and treated to music perofmrnaues by Elton John, DJ Sam Tootle and Actor Idris Elba who got behind the decks.

the U.K. Drivers can spend, on average, more than a day each year looking for parking spaces, according to a new study commissioned by Ford – and the new technology, being tested this week, displays a “crowd-sourced� map of available spaces, specifically in formal car parks. * “We understand how much wasted time and unnecessary stress is caused by searching for parking spaces in towns and cities,� said Christian Ress, supervisor, Automated Driving Europe, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “With our research into ‘collaborative parking’, we see an opportunity to hand that time back to drivers, helping them enjoy happier, healthier and more efficient journeys.�

Ford is among project partners to have developed “collaborative parkingâ€? and other vehicle-to-infrastructure technologies as part of the UK Autodrive project – a ÂŁ20 million government-sponsored programme taking self-driving and connected-car technologies from the test track to the streets. With parking spaces in towns and cities across Europe increasingly difficult to find, it is hoped technology like this could help. ** “Collaborative parkingâ€? is powered by data from the parking sensors of vehicles using the car park. This informs the map that shows which spaces may be free – and can also incorporate data from the car parks’ own monitoring systems. Previously, as part of UK Autodrive, Ford and partners have showcased systems that warn when emergency services vehicles need to overtake, and when cars unseen up ahead – perhaps hidden by a bend in the road – brake suddenly.

All new Cars Must be Fitted with 11 Safety Measures by 2021, EU Demands

T Changan CS35: Reinventing Entry Level SUV E (Source: Express)

merging from the stable of Changan - one of China’s oldest and largest auto manufacturer, the Changan CS35 compact SUV demonstrates aptitude and versatility of an urban-styled crossover with strong stance, smooth-styling-details that predates the automaker’s 32 years’ experience in building and selling passenger vehicles in its 156 years’ industrial history.

Currently ranked No. 1 among Chinese automobile brands with annual sales volume of three million units, no fewer than 8,500 new Changan vehicles are sold daily in 6,000 sales and service facilities in more than 60 countries.

The aptitude Changan is undoubtedly, a tech-savvy automotive giant with extensive investment in advanced research and innovative technologies – a commitment that has reinforced its partnership with global R&D organisations.

The CS35 according to Changan was borne out of the automaker’s desire for advanced research and innovative technologies through the formation of global R&D (research and development) partnership agreements with renowned European, American and Japanese automakers.

Built with superbly striking features including six-way manual adjustable driver seat, four-way co-driver seat and eye-catching attractions such as front/rear fog lamps, shark-fin antenna, leather seats, multi-functional steering wheel, rear parking sensors, ABS/EBD with brake assist among others, the CS35 is yet unmatched by archrivals in the small SUV segment. “Changan applies new technologies to provide hi-tech, high quality and fashionable automobile products for the customers and this is why the ‘V’ logo, which epitomizes ‘Victory’ and ‘Value’, is committed to building world class automobile enterprise and creating value for customers,� the automaker affirmed. The Changan CS35 also won

The Changan CS35 compact SUV sequence of international design honours especially forstylingandcuttingedgeenvironmentally-friendly design concepts.

In 2015 for instance, Changan won the National Science and Technology Progress Award, reaffirming Changan’s commitment to the advancement of technology and innovation through R&D. The company’s R&D capability was ranked No. 1 in the Chinese automobile industry for eight years, benchmarking world’s leading companies with high standard laboratories, averaging 16 fields.

Why is CS35 tick?

Italian Chief Designer Dambrosio Luciano who designed the CS35 attributed the uniqueness its

design and exceptional value additions such as the interior package-type capsule design that centers on the driver, with ultra-quiet cabin as well as rich molding levels. According to him, the CS35 was intentionally styled to outclass rival marques in capability and value addition coupled with several other attractive features such as front dual-SRS airbags and anti-theft alarm; six-speaker audio system, front reading lights, front and rear headrest, power windows, remote key control among others.

Other eye-catching features include front/rear fog lamps, strong and elegant black/silver multifunctional luggage rack, sunroof, leather seats, rear parking sensors, front dual-SRS airbags and anti-theft alarm etc.

he European Commission wants it to be mandatory that all new cars to be fitted with eleven safety features by 2021 in bold new plans.

All new cars will be fitted with a package of safety systems, which are designed to reduce the risk of accidents, if European lawmakers are successful.

Driver assistance safety systems have become increasingly more prevalent over the past decade and can help to improve safety for the driver, passengers and other road users.

Included in the proposal is autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assistance and fatigue monitoring systems.

AEB works by monitoring the road ahead and then automatically applying the brakes if it detects that the driver has not reacted in time.

It is believed that the new measures could save around 7,300 lives over the next decade and 38,900 serious injuries. Another feature that could be introduced is an ‘over-ridable intelligent speed assistance’. This system would work in conjunction with traffic sign recognition cameras and a car’s speed limiter, to automatically set a car’s top speed based on the road speed limit.

The ParliamentaryAdvisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) executive direction, David Davies, has said that the new rules would be a “free lunch� for the Government as they would “not require Government spending.�

It also added that the introduction of these systems could save the Government billions of pounds as there is it would require no investment.

David Davies, PACTS executive director said: “It will be excellent value for money as road collisions and casualties have huge social costs – ÂŁ36 billion in 2016 for the UK. “Road deaths and serious injuries in Europe and in the UK have declined little since 2010. This could bring casualty numbers down substantially.â€?

The Commissions stated that the features have the potential to compensate for one of the main causes of road accidents - human error.

In addition to this adoption of these systems will pave the way for when the roads become more densely populated with autonomous vehicles.

Despite the demand for the new high-tech after systems to be included on every new car, the Commission said that it should have ‘little or no impact’ on the overall cost of a vehicle.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚͜

27

Kia Motors Runs ‘Green Light Volunteer Week’ to Celebrate Founding Anniversary

K

The Ferrari SP38, one-o car by the automaker

The Ferrari SP38, new Creation from One-Off Programme Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he Ferrari SP38, the latest offspring from Ferrari’s One-Off programme, has been unveiled at Fiorano where, after the ceremonial handover to one of Ferrari’s most dedicated customers, the car was immediately put through its paces in a series of hot laps.

Designed by the Ferrari Design Centre on the chassis and running gear of the 488 GTB, this unique car reflects the specific vision of a client with a deep passion for racing. The

result is a model that can be driven both on road and on track, while at the same time expressing all the beauty and innovation inherent in Ferrari’s road cars.

The all-new bodywork, in a newly conceived three-layer metallic red, marks a radical departure from the language aesthetic of the donor car.

The twin-turbo, twin-intercooler set-up of the award-winning 488 GTB inspired the team to reference the mighty F40 as an icon from which to instruct the project’s general direction.

Compared to the 488 chassis, the visual mass of SP38 appears concentrated over the rear

wheels as the wedge design sharply stretches towards the front.

In plan view, the strongly tapered nose expands towards muscular wheelarches, giving the car potency and agility. Specific inset headlights were designed to be as thin as possible, with the mandatory DRL (daytime running lights) units relocated to add character and functionality to a slim bumper lip reminiscent of the 308 GTB. On the side, the defining air scoop of the 488 GTB is completely concealed where the sheet metal folds in on itself from the low beltline on the door and into the rear wheelarch and three-quarter light.

ia Motors Corporation is celebrating its founding anniversary with a series of volunteer activities across the globe.

Kia’s ‘Green Light Volunteer Week’ which runs until May 30, will see thousands of its employeesaroundtheworldvolunteering in their local communities.

In South Korea, Kia employees are taking part in a ‘Green Light Card’ campaign. Volunteers from Kia’s manufacturing and R&D facilities, as well as the company’s global headquarters in Seoul, have been handing out ‘Green Light Cards’ to children to promote road safety awareness and prevent traffic accidents.Affixedtochildren’sschoolbags,theGreen LightCardactsasahigh-visibilitysafetysign,reflecting the light from car headlamps to make students more visible to drivers when crossing roads. “Giving back is in the heart of our business, it forms partofourcorevalues.Tocelebrateourongoingglobal CSR projects, alongside our international operations, we’ve created the Volunteer Week - to continue our great momentum of giving back to communities all over the world. This Volunteer Week will have activity in our home country of South Korea and is being expanded across the globe to form a mass festival of corporate social responsibility activities,� said Kyehwan Roh, CSR management team leader.

More than 1,000 Kia employees have created 80,000 Green Light Cards for school students at over 600 elementary schools across South Korea, and are helping to pin the cards onto children’s bags. Kia plans to extend the Green Light Card program to all elementary schools in South Korea, distributing the Green Light Cards to approximately 600,000 first graders by 2020.

Kia’smanufacturingplantsinEurope,China,Mexico and the U.S. are also participating in the company’s 2018 ‘Green Light Volunteer Week’. 700 employees of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) – the company’s NorthAmerican production base – have volunteeredtotakepartina‘CANFOOD’campaign, donating canned food to a charity which feeds lowerincome residents in the nearby community.

Beer Sectoral Group Launches Phase 3 Drive Alcohol-free Campaign

T

he Beer Sectoral Group (BSG) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has launched the third phase of the group’s responsible drinking campaign, tagged Drive Alcohol-Free.

The BSG is made up leading brewing companies in Nigeria with members operating in seventeen breweries located in various parts of the country. Members include: Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and International Breweries Plc. The Drive Alcohol-Free campaign is part of the Group’s strategy to continue to enlighten consumers, especially commercial drivers, on the need for responsible consumption of alcohol. It is designed to improve safety on our roads through reducing the incidence of drinkdriving and the chances of alcohol-related road crashes.

I

do not know what your experience has been this year since the rains began. I know that for some road users and even non road users, it has been weeping and wailings while others have laughed off their near miss experiences. My candid advice irrespective of your own tale is that there is the need for us to be cautious.

While some have had their experience on the road while driving, my catch this year is the sad story my staff told me about the experience of a family who lost three sons as a result of the rains.

According to her story, the sad event happened on the 30th of April between the hours of 3pm and 6am at a village called Gada in Jos East local government area of Plateau state. The three boys the story continues were sent to the farm to do some work. On their way home, the rains came down heavily. Thunder struck, burnt and killed the three boys who are the entire same father; but two belong to the first wife while the third belongs to the second.

Apart from Jos in Plateau State, there were ugly reminders on some hazards likely to be faced by motorist especially those who rarely heed our warnings during such period. These hazards occurred on May 5th this year when obstructions occurred as a result of fallen trees caused by windy rainfalls along the Lagos Ore expressway. These obstructions occurred on various por-

The campaign is part of BSG’s efforts to motivate behaviour change among consumers who are yet to imbibe the attitude of a responsible approach towards alcohol particularly with regard to their work.

It is targeted at commercial drivers and riders; private car owners/drivers; young people with access to drive cars; as well as other road users.

The first phase of the campaign was launched in 2014, and an evaluation of its impact so far on drivers, which was conducted by an independent research organisation, is very encouraging.

The theme of the campaign is “Think of Safety!

Think of Your Family� with a rider, “Say No to Drinking and Driving.� The current phase of the campaign is running on selected radio stations and outdoor billboards in some major streets in cities and highways across Nigeria.

Drive Alcohol-Free campaign hits the streets

Driving in the Rain Tips SAFE DRIVING with

JONAS AGWU

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

tions of the road; the first was along the Lagos ore road 33km from lagos to ore; the second was at onipetesi,36km from Lagos to ore while there was another along the Ayetoro/Adewinle axis,44km from Lagos to ore. If you thought the windy rains were done with the cited ones, let me inform you that there were damages caused at Oniaraga axis, 47km from Lagos to ore, at Oni-tea axis-52km Lagos to ore while the last was the fallen trees after Oni Bridge, 57km from Lagos to Ore. Kudos to the Federal Road Safety Command at Ore, and Ajebanmidele who swiftly sought the assistance of Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited in clearing the obstructions using their pay loader. These obstructions brought to the fore the wisdom in ensuring that your headlamps are on so as to be seen and to be seen by others which will be discussed in the course of this piece. As I go on, please remember that driving

under special conditions such as the rainy season requires extra care, concentration, discipline and consideration.

While working on this piece which I hope would run for weeks, I went on the net to sample hazards in other climes and what I found out is that in a country like the United State of America, snow and ice which are not common features in our clime are not really the most deadly; instead it is the rainy season that creates the most hazards. Rain in the US causes more driving fatalities than snow in 39 of the 50 States. Car crashes caused by rain, snow, fog or wind are the deadliest weather hazards and kills about 7000 yearly as contained in a report compiled by the Auto Insurance Centre based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data covering crashes between 2009 and 2013..The report noted that “Even though winter conditions do generate their share of accidents, wet conditions are generally more common in many areas. And drivers are often less cautious than they might be with winter conditions,� said James Koermer, a meteorology professor emeritus at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, who was also not involved in the report. Other experts share the same that rain is a surprising high factor to worry about especially in the Southern States where rains makes the road rather slicker especially if it has

not rained for a while and oil residue builds up, impairing visibility As we have entered another season of rainfall, we need to take necessary precautions to avoid road traffic crashes and possible deaths .Driving in the rain, like I said is more difficult and hazardous.

I once ran a research finding conducted in 1988 which found out that the amount of light required to see at night doubles every thirteen years. That is, at 20years of age, you need 100% of light to see, while at 33years, you will require twice the amount of light used to see at 20.I can testify to this finding based on interactions with friends whose sight has been affected by age.

The preponderant age of drivers on our roads would fall within the second category and most of these drivers within the context of our economy cannot rank among drivers on balanced diet and sound health care. It therefore means that a good number of our drivers because of other factors peculiar to us would not even fit into the 1988 conclusions

by Olson and Sivac. The vital lesson however is that we cannot play down the place of visibility which is why it is safe to drive with your light on when it is raining and at night. Anytime visibility is poor, endeavor to have your head lights on.

To be Concluded

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚΀

Legal Battle Looms in Royal Gardens Estate, as Homeowners Reject Conversion of Green Areas Homeowners in Royal Gardens Estate in Ajah, Lagos are distraught that they are not getting a fair deal from Trojan Estate Limited, the promoters of the high-proďŹ le facility, or from Broll, their facility managers. They have vowed to sue the promoters if they convert the estate’s 38,400sqms green areas to residential plots. Bennett Oghifo reports

T

he homeowners, who go by the name, Royal Gardens Estate Residents Association (RGERA), said they have been trying without success to get the recognition and attention of Trojan Estates Limited, promoters of the estate. They complained that they are never consulted before decisions that affect them directly were taken.

The executive members of the association are concerned that the 10 or more green areas on the property measuring 38,400sqms are being prepared for sale as residential plots.

THISDAY has been trying since May second to get Trojan and Broll to comment on these issues. Broll promised to discuss the issue and sent their publicist, Sesame PR, to make further promise to get back after discussions with the promoters of the estate and with RGERA. They have yet to do so as of press time.

Regardless, the association presented a screenshot of what they were promised, including the green area that convinced them to buy into the estate, claiming all that is being taken from them.

A letter the Vice Chairman of RGERA, Mr. Sylvester Ekpen, attached to the screenshot of the promise, reads: “Dear All, please find below for your information and retention.

These screenshots were taken from the www.royalgardensestate.com website on 23/11/2015 at 9:18am. Thank God for the wisdom to retain these representations.

During RGERA’s discussions with Trojan/ Broll on the RGE Service Agreement, we mentioned that they will be required to provide the facilities promised during the marketing phase of the estate. A few of them were mentioned. They promptly denied and asked for evidence. Once we mentioned to them that the specific details were still on their website, they shut down the website next day. That website has remained “temporarily unavailable� since then :) “Marrying the screenshots with the attached Estate Layout where the legend clearly shows a total of 38,400 sqm (shown in deep green) represents “Parks & Playground/Green Area�. It will be interesting to see how they can possibly appropriate these sections to their sole benefit. Regards, Sylvester Ekpen, RGERA VC.�

The executive members of the association, the Chairman, Mr. Gus Wiggle, the Vice Chairman, Mr. Ekpen, the Secretary, Mr. Henry Onaga and Mr. Tafa, who briefed THISDAY on the situation, said they would defend the rights of all homeowners in court.

They said, “We are dealing with three entities, Solar Gardens, Trojan Estates and the appointed facilities management company called Broll. When they developed this estate, they made a lot of promises, conducting some of us on tour of the estate.

They showed us clear delineation (layout plan), called the estate’s masterplan- very wonderful idea on paper. They promised us that we are going to have 24 hours light and that we are not even going to have generator.

Those of us who built first were told not to have private water reservoirs and no security houses/gates. “We thought we were going to have a kind of Eldorado here, because we were made to believe that once you subscribed to this estate, things will be taken care of.

They showed us clearly that this estate will be a residential estate and not commercial, except for the crèche, school, which were to cater to residents. Outside the estate, we have the church and the mosque and in front of the estate at the first embankment/setback, there is a huge area on the right where they will build a shop/mall/business district that will be fashioned like the Shoprite where you have everything shop. On the left to the main

Royal Gardens Estate

Royal Garden Estate main entrance, Ajah, Lagos

gate, there is going to be a recreation centre, a sports complex, a club house, football field, swimming pool and all that, but no sooner than people subscribed to this, the beat of the music began to change. “Gradually, we began to see that the intention was different from what we were told. First of all, they ensured that each of us signed a sublease that empowers them to appoint a facilities management company and that company will then enter into a service level agreement with us on how the services will the rendered and what we will pay, but ever since then, we discovered that they do not want to be accountable for anything. “The facilities management company they appointed always comes to announce to us what they want to do and scarcely accommodate our input.�

They said initially, they were not connected to the national electricity grid and that because they were few, the company provided generators that gave them light for 13 hours- 7pm to 8am. “At that time, our service charge was N200,000 per annum, but as more people came in 2015, they unilaterally increased it to N350,000/annum. So, we protested to the court that we ought to agree with them before they do anything and agree on the quality of service. We said we are not even

bothered about the amount but we should hold you accountable. We want to see value and that cascades to every quantifiable service that you brought,� they narrated.

Speaking further, they said the facilities manager could not come up with a service agreement and that the association had to come up with a service level agreement which, after much deliberation, was agreed upon by both parties but that the company did not sign the agreement. “In December last year, we received a notice that they are increasing our service charge of 2018 to N400,000. We asked how they arrived at that amount, because they did not consult us, but they ignored us. “They removed powering the common areas, street lights, etc, from the service charge, which was part of what we paid for previously, and they threw us into darkness when we refused to pay the new charge. We told them unless they signed the service level agreement we will not pay anything. We wondered why they are increasing the service charge when the population in the estate is increasing.�

Another contentions issue is that plot owners and those who have not completed their buildings were being billed N300,000 as service charge. “If you leave your plot undeveloped for 10 years, when you eventually come to build, you will pay the company

N3 million just to have access to start work.�

They stated that the company has refused to discuss with them, adding that they have thrown the estate into a lot of confusion and suffering.

Another issue they raised was bill for electricity bill. “Now, they said they are not contributing anything toward powering the estate and we are still on bulk metering which we all know is illegal by National Electricity Commission’s (NEC’s) standard. “Eko Disco sees us as a cash cow, because there is no way we can monitor the bills they give us. What they tell us is that there are common areas, but this is ridiculous, because the lighting of the common areas is curiously taking as much current as what we consume with all our gadgets. “The bills we are getting are ridiculous, even estates that are twice our size in terms of occupancy do not get those kinds of bills.

What happens is that if we don’t pay, they will cut us off and this is causing a lot of disharmony.�

They said they do not know the exact number of residents in the estate, because Trojan refused to give them that data and that “they have consistently frustrated us from forming an association. Up till today, they don’t write us as an association; they would rather write our chairman or our vice in their personal capacity.�

They also said the residents rejected a town hall meeting called by the company, insisting that they address them through the executives of the association.

They alleged that Broll refused to disclose the amount of electricity they consume individually to enable them understand how the company arrived at the bulk amount they charge the residents. “Residents said they want to be connected to the national grid and metered individually but they are frustrating it.�

The association executives also said they have been having security breaches in the estate, alleging, “because we heard they don’t pay the security company regularly. People’s cars have been taken away, people have been attacked in their homes, and people come in here without authorisation.�

They said the estate has first rate facilities that no other estate could boast of but that the issue was that “they want to keep people in servitude in perpetuity so that everything you work for you give to them, which we are resisting.�

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

...GOING FOR BROKE PAGE. 29

26.05.2018

Alex Iwobi

No Personal Target at Russia 2018

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚΀

Iwobi struggling for possesion with Argentine's Zabaleta

No Personal Target at Russia 2018 Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÚÖËãĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ‹Ă˜Ă• Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ó×ÚËĂ?Ăž Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă“Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ëœ Ă–Ă?â ĂĄĂ™ĂŒĂ“Ëœ Ă?Ă‹ĂŁĂ? Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă?ĘľĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ë› Ă?ĚłĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž ËÚÚĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ę¨ĂœĂ?Ăž ÞÓ×Ă?Ë› Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ăž åÓÞÒ Kunle Adewale, ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÚÖËãĂ?ĂœĚłĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ÚÖËã Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă“Ă? ÞÓ×Ă? åÓÞÒ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ăœ

A

s the kick-off of the 2018 World Cup draws nearer, Arsenal and Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi, is hoping that Nigeria would make an appreciable performance just as he expressed delight to be play for the Super Eagles at the Mundial. “We hope to do well at the World Cup, though I am not setting any personal target for myself but rather excited at playing in the Mundial for the first time,� Iwobi said.

His father, Chuba, corroborated his opinion, saying there was no set target for his son to meet: “I am not setting a target for him, but I am convinced he would go out there and do his best. He won’t come back from the World Cup with any regret or look back and say I could have done more. He is going to bring success to the team. I believe Nigeria has a good team and will do well.�

Iwobi indeed expressed his regret that the tenure of his mentor-Arsene Wenger at Arsenal had come to an end. He stated that he was emotional after his side defeated Huddersfield Town1-0 in their last Premier League fixture which was also Wenger’s final game in charge of the Gunners.

Iwobi who was named in the starting line up as in Wenger’s last game and was in action for 72 minutes before he was substituted said: “I feel depressed that Wenger was leaving the club after 22 years in charge.

I had exciting moments with him but I am also look-

ing forward to working hard with whoever is coming to take over from him.�

Iwobi was, however, not bothered by league finish as he took to his official Twitter account stating his disappointment at the departure of the manager who gave him an opportunity in the first team: “Good to end the season with a win! Emotional and knowing it’s the boss’s last match, was only right it was a win.

Love to our fans for all your support this season.�

Expressing the same view, his father said: “Every good thing has an ending. Wenger had been there for 22 years, he is a remarkable manager. As a family, we are very grateful because he gave Alex his first opportunity at Arsenal. Going forward however, the reality is gone and what Alex is trying to do is work with the new manager. He’s gotten the natural talent and the ability to play the arsenal way. I’m very confident that he would still be relevant to the team.�

Chuba, however, regretted that his son and indeed Arsenal would not be playing in next season’s UEFA Champions League. “I feel bad that my son would not be playing in the Champions League next season having failed to book a top-four place in the premier league but I believe strongly that the new season would be better for the Gunners,� Chuba said.

On when he really realised that his son could really make a career in football, Chuba said he started taking Alex to the field to train as early as when Iwobi was 18 months, adding that his son showed great

promise of becoming a great footballer at a very early age. “I grew up in a footballing environment. My dad, my uncle and my whole family love football. I played with a local team named Chuba Akpom; so I grew up with a footballing life,� Iwobi said.

Against the backdrop that Iwobi’s decision to play for the Super Eagles as against the Three Lions of England was influenced by his uncle and former national team captain, Austin Okocha, Chuba said Alex’s decision to star for Nigeria was strictly his.

He said Alex’s decision to dump England for Nigeria was strictly his own decision. “All I did was to support him, and I believe he took the right decision,� Chuba said.

Iwobi admitted that deciding to play for Nigeria and not England was not an easy one considering the fact that he had lived in England for almost all his years, but said it was strictly his own decision really without any external influence.

Iwobi, who was born in Nigeria, said: “Ordinarily I would have loved to play for England since I have played for all the under-aged teams up to the U-19.

My dad also told me a lot of things about the honour and pride that goes with playing for Nigeria. So I thought a lot about this and decided to play for Nigeria,� he said.

Iwobi was last Saturday unveiled as the brand ambassador of LG electronics on a three year deal, at the company’s showroom in Lekki, Lagos.

31

MAY 26, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Omeruo Celebrates'Taste the Goal' with Football Fans The Sports Center of Yaba College of Technology in Lagos hugged the sporting limelight last Sunday and the feelings will linger in the minds of several football fans who had a rare opportunity to meet one-on-one with World Cup-bound Super Eagles' strongman in the defence line, Kenneth Omeruo. In this report, Femi Solaja writes on the nostalgic feelings of most of the youths at the 'Taste the Goal' project. It was a unique privilege to play against the Chelsea Loanee!

W

Iwobi being congratulated by Super Eagles teammates

...ready to work with Arsenal new manager “LG would not have beckoned Alex if they didn’t think he would add value and I'm assuring them that they’ve made the right decision. He has been given the platform to contribute his quota, which is sending message to the youths in the country and making them know that every dream is achievable,” Chuba said.

Iwobi was honoured at 2018 Best of Africa Awards held in London in April. BoA is an award to honour and celebrate the philanthropic endeavours and achievements of African-born football players.

When he moved from the Arsenal Academy to play among Emirates big boys, some felt he was just riding on the back of his uncle, Austin Okocha’s name and the legacy left behind at the club by former Super Eagles star,

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

Get Past Kenneth to Taste the Goal ith the World Cup fever already gripping the Nigerian populace, leading pizza brand, Domino’s Pizza had announced the launch of a consumer engagement campaign tagged ‘Taste the Goal’ to excite, inspire, and sensitise its teeming consumers and fans of the Nigerian national team towards the Mundial in Russia.

The weekend programme was planned to coincide with exactly one month to June 16th World Cup opening match between Nigeria and Croatia.

The event which had several youths in attendance was aimed at inspiring optimism among consumers and fans of the national team. But more importantly, put them in right frame of mind to support the team in the first three group stage matches and perhaps as the tournament progresses with Nigeria still in the race for the converted trophy.

Several young ambitious youths were delights to watch as they engaged the defender who is, aiming for his second World Cup appearance after the Brazil 2014 debut.

The Kasimpasa Football Club defender, engaged consumers in a series of experiential and activation games to inspire consumers and fans to anticipate a successful outing of the national team at the world cup.

Top of the games is the pitch-planned ‘Get Past Kenneth to Taste the Goal’ game in which consumers are given the opportunity to dribble Kenneth Omeruo to score a goal and get rewarded by Domino’s Pizza! It was a tall order as many failed but few made it.

All the participants and spectators had a wonderful evening but the organisers assured consumers that 'The Taste the Goal' campaign would run from now till after tzhe World Cup. "I am delighted to be associated with this campaign which is aimed at sharing the excitement of football with family and friends with a fresh Domino pizza," he remarked.

Kenneth Omeruo would be championing the campaign with several activities such as Meet & Greet at some viewing centres, mystery delivery of pizza to fans, day out with two fans, and special appearances on

Nwankwo Kanu during his time at the north London club. However, Iwobi has proved doubters wrong as he did not only become one of the fans favourites at the Emirate Stadium, but was singled out for praise by Coach Arsene Wenger on several occasions.

Iwobi has been right in the mix for the Emirates Stadium side having made an impression in his breakthrough season.

“I saw in him quality of vision, quality of give and go, of movement.

He can break the lines with a pass and individually as well, so there's a lot in the locker. Overall, he's only 22 years old so you could see that he has gained in confidence now. He can take people on much more and he has gained power as well. It's interesting what he has done. Throughout every age group he's played, he's been far and away the best player and sees Arsenal as more or less a continuation of that. He feels very comfortable in his surroundings and seems to have an innate sense of how he can influence matches,” the French coach had told the club’s official website.

Continuing, Wenger said, “What I like is his love for the game, his passion for the game and his hard work. Those things together, in our world, are a big quality and so I think he has interesting ingredients.”

Iwobi made his official debut for Arsenal in their Capital One Cup fourth round tie against Sheffield at Hillsborough Stadium two years ago.

He had earlier had a taste of firstteam football during the tour of Singapore and made the bench for the Capital Cup One clash with Tottenham Hotspur in the third round.

Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo

radio programmes.

World Cup Goal As Omeruo looks set for second appearance at the World Cup finals with Russia 2018, he assured Nigerian football fans that the priceless World Cup trophy was within the reach of the team should Nigeria start the campaign against Croatia on a positive note.

According to him, " everywhere you go, people talk about Messi, Modric, Aguero and Rakitic but nobody is talking of the components that made the present crop of Super Eagles players. I think it's a huge advantage for us as a determined side and to the best of my knowledge, Nigeria will be the talking point after the group stage matches all through to the last phase of the tournament," Omeruo assured.

In his pre-tournament assessment, the FC Chelsea Loanee analysed that " the most important match of Super Eagles is the opening tie against Croatia and not the last match with Argentina.

"The moment we get the results in our first two matches with Croatia and Iceland, we will be going into the final group match against Argentina with lots of confidence and perhaps repeat the last result we secured against them in the friendly match late last year.

"You will recall that we had already qualified for the World Cup as at the time we faced them in the last friendly match and we all know the outcome of the tie right there in Russia late last year. The logic is that the moment we pick maximum points in the opening games, it will spur the team to greater height.

"Since Super Eagles debuted in 1994, I want to say the other generations of the team had laid a solid foundation and have taken us away from being mere participant or second round qualification bar, but real contender for the trophy," he assured.

The defender, who hopes to return to England next season form Turkey commended the technical crew for the harmony that had existed within the team in the last few years.

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚΀

Champions League Final

Real Madrid, Liverpool Go for Broke Ę°Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? ĂžĂœĂ™ĂšĂ’ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ÍşÍ¸Í¸Í˝Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? ÑÙËÖĂ? ĂŽĂ™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă? Ę¨Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ù×ÚĂ?ĂžĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂšĂ™Ă™Ă– ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ÞÙÎËã Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĘľĂ?×ÚÞ ÞÙ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă–Ă? Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ĂšĂ? Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ? Ă‘Ă™ Ă’Ă?ËÎ̋ÞÙ̋ÒĂ?Ă‹ĂŽ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž ͚ͺ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ù×ÚĂ?ĂžĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŒ Ě‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă‹ĂŽĂœĂ“ĂŽË› Ă’Ă? ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă‘Ă“Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÙãĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ę¨ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŒ Ă“Ă˜ ÙÚĂ?Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ‹ ÞÙ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“Ăš ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂœĂ™ĂĄ

L

iverpool will face Real Madrid in today’s UEFA Champions League final. The Merseyside club, who have won the European Cup five times, beat AS Roma in the semi-finals to advance to a showpiece clash against holders Real Madrid, while Real edged past Bayern Munich in the semis, are hunting a hat-trick of Champions League triumphs after winning the competition in both 2016 and 2017.

Despite continued European success which has brought the club to the brink of an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League title, many still retain doubts about bestowing the title of "great" on Zinedine Zidane's team.

The sense that individual quality and moments of brilliance get them through, rather than tactical nous and performances as a cohesive unit, persists.

Zidane himself admitted as much."Tactically I'm not the best coach, the press say it themselves," the Frenchman told reporters at the club's media day. "But I have the drive and passion and that means a lot."

Making history It's almost a perfect description of what this Real side has become in Europe over the past five years; not always the best team on the pitch but somehow always finding a way to win.

Last season, they became the first team since AC Milan in 1990 to retain the European Cup, and the first in Champions League history to do so.

You have to go all the way back to 1976 -- to a truly great Bayern Munich side which had the likes of Gerd MĂźller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Franz

Beckenbauer -- to find a team that won in three consecutive years.

The team standing in the way of an historic "three-peat" is Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, arguably the antithesis of this Real side.

"These are kind of, I wouldn't say dysfunctional teams, but these are teams that have a very uneven balance of quality," German football journalist Raphael Honigstein told CNN Sport of this year's finalists.

"Real Madrid have a fantastic midfield, have great guys up front and also have some wonderful players at the back, but collectively don't really play that well together.

"They have very high individual quality, slightly low collective quality and slightly low tactical quality as a team."

Liverpool's strength, conversely, comes from the team being greater than the sum of its parts.

Players, such as Dejan Lovren, Jordan Henderson and Loris Karius, who had previously struggled significantly for Liverpool, are now excelling in Klopp's system.

"Collectively they are quite strong and they play in a way that makes fairly ordinary players pretty effective," Honigstein says. "But they're lacking quality in key areas.

"They have the quality all up front, so I think that kind of uneven distribution will only benefit the game as a spectacle."

Ronaldo vs. Salah Ronaldo and Salah have been central figures in the two most prolific attacking teams in Champions League history.

This season, Liverpool's front three of Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have scored a record 29 goals, eclipsing the previous best of 28 set by Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema during Real's victorious 2013-14 campaign.

But while Liverpool's attacking trio have

shared the load in front of goal this season -- Salah and Firmino have 10 goals and Mane has 9 -- Real are heavily reliant on one man.

Ronaldo has 15 goals for Los Blancos in this season's competition, with Benzema a distant second on four. Left-back Marcelo is the team's third-highest scorer with three goals.

"Liverpool have a more even distribution of goals than Real Madrid have," Honigstein says. "They obviously have one way of scoring and that's through Cristiano and if he's not there, they have to work a little bit harder.

"Whereas with Liverpool they have a variety with the three guys up front.

"So I don't necessarily think it will be a straight shootout between Salah and Cristiano, but of course if one of them has a good game then it becomes immediately more difficult for the other team to win."

Salah, Mane and Firmino have terrorized opposition defenses, both domestically and in Europe, all season, playing a scintillating brand of attacking football that has drawn praise from all over the world.

Few teams have been able to withstand the dizzying exchanging of passes, or keep track of the fluid interchanging of positions and Honigstein believes the deadly trio are like nothing Real's defense has faced this term.

"I think Liverpool are very, very hard to defend against," he says. "The players are kind of uncontrollable when they start running at you so I think they will pose the kind of questions and problems that Real Madrid have not come up against this season, with perhaps the slight exception of the PSG game and two games against Barcelona.

"But even this Barcelona are not quite as

fluid as this Liverpool team are when they attack. "It's one thing to watch these guys but once you're up against it there will be a moment of sharp intake and Real Madrid thinking: 'Oh my god, what is going on here?' "And while they may not panic, maybe they can unsettle them enough to maximize their opportunity."

Regardless of the result on Saturday, the debate as to whether this Real side deserve to be added to the pantheon of greats will continue.

But should they win their fourth Champions League title in five years, it will become increasingly difficult to deny them a place.

ĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă–Ă‹ĂŁĂ?ĂŽË? Í˝ Madrid wins: Liverpool wins:

2 (4 goals) 3 (6 goals)

ͺ͸͚͟˚͚ͽ Ă’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă?ÞËÑĂ?

Liverpool Real Madrid

0-3 1-0

Real Madrid Liverpool

ÍşÍ¸Í¸Î€ËšÍ¸Î Ă’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? Ę¨ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă•Ă˜Ă™Ă?Ă•Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Real Madrid Liverpool

0-1 4-0

Liverpool Real Madrid

͚Π΀͸˚΀͚ Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ăš Ę¨Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Liverpool ÓâÞĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ë? Ă?Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ë? Ă“Ă—Ă?Ë? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ë?

1-0

Real Madrid

Real v Liverpool NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv 7: 45pm Milorad MaŞić (SRB)

33

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚΀

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

with KUNLE ADEWALE 08111813082

L-R: Managing Director Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani, LG Electronics Brand Ambassador, Alex Iwobi; and Head Corporate Marketing Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Hari Elluru, during the unveiling of Alex Iwobi as LG Electron- SNEPCo MD representative, Olaposi Fadahunsi, anked by Shell sta who took part in the 2nd SNEPCo/NNPC Tennis Tournament in Ikoyi Club last ics Brand Ambassador on Saturday

Astymin Boosts S’Eagles World Cup Dream As part of its efforts at ensuring the Super Eagles make an appreciable impact at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Astymin is joining millions of soccer loving Nigerians to cheer the team get past its previous record to the final stage of the tournament for the first time with the launch of its ‘One Goal One Million Naira, Campaign.

According to the campaign, every goal scored by the Super Eagles at the World Cup would attract a sum of N1m to the scorer.

Speaking at the company’s corporate headquarters in Ikorodu Road, Lagos on Thursday, the company's Executive Director,

Sales & Marketing, Mr. Olugbenga Olayeye, said: "All they have to do is score as much goals as possible.

This is our own way of supporting the Super Eagles. Astymin 'One Goal One Million Naira' World Cup campaign is an off-shoot of the brand's 2018 #Go The Distance' campaign that emphasises the need for Nigerians to strap up their full potentials and be the best they can in every area of their endeavour.

"Astymin is much more than just the most trusted brand of Amino Acid. We are committed to ensuring that Nigerians are physically and mentally active and healthy in order to be able to reach for their various

life dreams,� Olayeye said.

He said futher that, Astymin shares the passion of Nigerians for football and the desire of the country’s national team to excel at the World Cup. “Astymin symbolises good health and excellent performance, which is why we are encouraging the Super Eagles to give their best and go the distance,� he said.

The campaign is however not for only the Super Eagles players, but soccer-loving Nigerians have also been given opportunity to win mouth-watering prizes by participating in a special World Cup quiz competition and match predictions.

Niger, Bayelsa Win 20th Milo Basketball Championship Father O’Connell Science College Minna, Niger State and St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, have emerged champions of the 20th edition of the Milo Secondary School, Basketball Championships in the male and female categories respectively after the grand finale which held at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium in Lagos, penultimate week.

Last year, Government Secondary School, Minna won the 19th edition of the championship for the male category. The school returned to the 20th edition as defending champions and carted away with the first prize position but with a new name of Father O’ Connell Science College Minna.

The boys from Niger state defeated their counterparts from Gen. Muritala Muhammed College, Adamawa state, 60 – 59 to lift the trophy. The fiercely contested match had spectators on the edge of their seats as the game went down to the wire with just a point between the two teams. The game was tied in the second and third quarter with 28 – 28 and 41 – 41 respectively.

Unlike the male category, St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa state outclassed the girls from Yejide Girls Grammar School, Ibadan Oyo 47 – 31 to retain the title in the female category. The Bayelsa girls have won the trophy back to back for the past 5 years, taking the trophy home in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Speaking at the event, Managing

Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nestle Nigeria, Mauricio Alarcon, expressed his delight to be part of the 20th edition of the Nestle Milo Basketball Championship. He stated that Nestle believes in helping to improve livelihoods of individuals in the communities where the company operates. “As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of Nestle Milo Basketball Championship, we celebrate the alumni who today play in the Nigerian National Team, in European Leagues, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Some of them are here today and we celebrate them,� Mr. Alarcon said.

The Paradise, Coca-Cola, Partner International Pairs As preparations for the 2018 edition of the annual International Pairs golf competition gather momentum, The Paradise, Abuja, has thrown its weight behind the event as one of the main sponsors. Also backing the competition is Coca-Cola.

Revealing this in a chat with newsmen during the week, the Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Golf Development Company, (FGDC) Remi Olukoya said, "The Paradise’s decision to partner FGDC in this year’s event was as a result of the new initiatives that the organisers have initiated to make the competition a national affair.

He said unlike the previous editions where winners were

chosen from a one-leg tournament, this year’s event would be taken around the country to reflect its true national status, offering sponsors better mileage.

He added that the coming of The Paradise, Abuja and Coca-Cola, therefore was a big boost for the event and would make it more competitive.

Olukoya also confirmed that FGDC was working very hard to get other corporate outfits involved in the championship, adding that before the zonal qualifiers start, other sponsors would have come on board.

Already, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos have been scheduled to host the regional qualifiers before the final

billed for Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The winning team in Uyo would be given an all-expense-paid trip to the world final in Portugal where they would compete with teams from Caribbean, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United States and Wales.

Since its inception 20-years ago, more than half a million amateur golfers from over 30 countries have competed in the exciting, friendly and hugely prestigious event.

Former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Esosa Ojomo are the defending champions.

2018 FAB- 5- Football Competition Ends Today Two hundred and forty pupils from 20 Local Government education areas, featured in the 2018 FAB- 5- Football competition which kicked off on Friday and ends today at the Campos Mini Stadium, Ajele, Lagos- Island.

Project manager of the FAB-5 Football Challenge, Dare Amokeodo, said the two- day grassroots football competition, which coincides with the children's day celebration, provides ample opportunity for the pupils to exhibit their talents as the tournament's Most Valuable Players would have the chance to join FC Bescola, Lagos.

During last year's edition, Amokeodo, said the trio of Bunmi Adebayo, Ikotun Afeez and Gafaru Ahmed, were among the players who impressed Bernat Villa, technical director of FC Bescola, and are actively present at the competition where 16 public primary schools battled for the trophy.

To him, the Fab-5 Football Initiative, which started in 2012, is a platform designed for promoting education through sports participation at the grassroots.

It includes a mini football competition, scholarship activities and the opportunity to attend the FC Bescola Lagos mentoring programme.

The Fab-5 Football Initiative, which is supported by Indomie Noodles, Lagos State Sports Commission, FC Bescola Lagos, Ntel, SSM, and Goal.com, is also supported by the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB.

Star Brings Shining Moments at Eagles/Atletico Match Nigeria’s premium beer brand and the official beer partner of the Super Eagles, Star Lager Beer, on Tuesday thrilled fans with football and music spectacle at the Star Fan Park in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as the Super Eagles of Nigeria battled Spanish Football Club, Atletico Madrid FC in an international friendly game.

Thousands of excited Super Eagles fans in Uyo thronged the Godswill Akpabio Stadium to watch the National team, take on the newly-crowned Champions of the UEFA Europa League.

Designed to bring excitement, energy and entertainment to Nigerian football match venues, Star Fan Park fuses music and football, offering great live performances and special appearances from Nigeria’s biggest music stars at different venues around the country, including DJ Neptune and DJ Big N who went head to head in a friendly match-up at the Uyo venue.

As MC Laugh Up entertained the audience with his witty jokes and football banter, fans participated in exciting Star-themed games and a raffle draw, with the winners awarded instant prizes, including refrigerators, generator sets and flat screen television sets among several others.

Speaking to the media, the Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Franco Maria Maggi said, “We take pride in delivering highly engaging and memorable moments to our consumers nationwide, and we are determined to keep upgrading football viewing experiences for Nigerian fans. We have a few more exciting activities lined up for fans in the coming weeks through our ‘Nigeria United We Shine’ campaign, and we are truly delighted to be part of this national support for the Super Eagles and Nigerian football in general.�

LG Electronics Signs Iwobi as Brand Ambassador LG Electronics last Saturday officially signed on Nigerian international, Alex Iwobi as its official brand ambassador at a ceremony in the company’s showroom Lekki Lagos.

Speaking at the unveiling, Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Taeick Son, said: “The choice of Alex Iwobi went through a thorough process and in the end, we zeroed in on him, going by his antecedent in the field of play and most importantly how he is generally perceived as a player

around the globe, we have no doubt whatsoever that he is the right face to represent the brand, and at the end he would do us all proud.

Responding Iwobi said: “For me, this is a rare privilege and honour to be the brand Ambassador of a renowned electronics giant as LG Electronics, I must say I am indeed happy and I will continue to do my best in the field of play which obviously was what attracted the brand to me in the first place and secondly, as an ambassador of the brand I will

continue to perform in ways that connect with the performance of the brand in millions of homes.�

Speaking in the same vein, Managing Director Fouani Nigeria limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani, was full of praise for the player. He said, “I am particularly happy this deal has been sealed today which for us brings in a unique opportunity for both Alex Iwobi as our ambassador and LG Electronics as the brand, this collaboration would obviously pay off in the long run.�

L-R: Regional Sales Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mr. Goran Slavic; Legal, Public Aairs and Communication Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mrs. Sade Morgan; Representative of 1st Place Winner (Lightning Class), Mr. Paul Gillett; Representative of 1st Place Winner (Hobie Class), Lynn Obray and National Sales Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mr. Dan Fratila during the NBC 2018 Lagos Yacht Club Boat Racing Competition held recently

34

T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍşÍžËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

EVENTS

V

eteran journalist and publisher Ide Eguabor last weekend handed over his daughter Anita to her heartthrob, Ajibola Odukoya, in Holy matrimony at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos. Guests were later hosted to a reception at Harbour Point Wilmot Road, Victoria Island. Here are some of the guests that graced the occasion.

Photographs by Kolawole Alli

The newly weds, Mr. and Mrs. Ajibola Odukoya

Parents of the Groom, Mr. Deji Odukoya and his wife, Idowu

L-R: Father of the Bride, Ide Eguabor and Mrs. Franka Omoyegbagbe

R-L: Former Governor of Edo State, Mr. Lucky Igbinedion and Mr. Nosa Igiebor

L-R: Former Director General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof Bola Akiterinwa; Publisher, BusinessDay Newspapers, Mr. Frank Aigbogun and Managing Director, ThisDay Newspapers, Mr. Eniola Bello.

Sir Olu Okeowo and his wife, Adejoke

L-R: Mr. Ohi Alegbe and Mr. Ehi Braimah

L-R; Mrs. Maria Fatayi-Williams; and sponsor of the wedding,Mr. Alfred Okoigun and his wife, Julie

L-R: General Cecil Esekhaegbe and Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka Pemu.

35

T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍşÍžËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

EVENTS

L-R: Otunba Adedoyin Ogungbe and his wive, Dolapo and Chief Mrs. Mojisola Dokpesi

L-R: Mrs Adeola Yesufu and Mrs. Olabisi Arogundade

L-R: Engr. Kenny Saka; Father of the Groom, Mr. Deji Odukoya and Otunba Duro Osiyemi

Basorun Buluro Bamidele and Mrs. Afolake Buluro

L-R: Engr. Biodun Akinsanya and Dr. Bayo Adepetun

L-R: Mrs. Folake Aluko; Chief Tunde Aluko and Chief (Mrs.) Biodun Aluko

Hon. Gbolahan Funso; Mr. Tunji Saka and Mr. Isaac Alofoje

R-L: Admiral Joe Aikhomu, Chief Ben Ikimi and Chief Festus Ighalo

L-R: Chief Tony Borha; Chief Biodun Borha and Dr (Mrs.) Adesua Atanda

L-R: Mr. Bisi Olatilo; Senator Gbenga Asafa; Chief Gbenga Obasa and Otunba Steve Anifowoshe

L-R: Fati Thompson, Aisha Odulana, Helen Onyibe and Tokunboh Awoniyi

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚͜

FAIRGROUND

Mode Men Black Night 12

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

I

t was an elegant evening in Abuja as Mode Men Magazine celebrated its 12th anniversary, recently, with their annual ‘Black Night’.

The magazine took the event to the capital city of Abuja, at QUO Lounge with the support of Verve Cliquot. The personalities on the cover of the new edition; Mohammed Mijindadi (MD of GE Gas) and Ifeanyi Orajaka (CEO of GVE) were present as the magazine was unveiled. The publisher (Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa) had great things to say about both men and stressed how important it was for young Nigerians to make an impact in their various sectors.

Guests were treated to champagne, small chops and good music. One lucky guest went away with a pair of earphones courtesy of Bang&Olufsen, while two guests went home with fragrances courtesy of TheShankStar as best dressed for the night.

All guests received goodie bags with various items from Quo, MODE MEN and the ShankStar. It was fun-filled evening for those in attendance.

Abdelazziz Saidu, Leye Titiloye, Ozav Ukonga and Abubakar TB

Lami, Weynet Sidi and Hauwa Abbass

Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Tobi Olanihum and Godrey Ogbechie

Ifeanyi Orajaka, Abubakar TB, Mohammed Mijindadi and Hauwa Abbass

Abdulkareem Baba-Aminu and Veuve Cliquot models Joy Idoko and Tinuola Adigun

Annabelle Ejimofor and Chika Okoro

Leye and Hilda Titiloye

Mohammed and Halimah Mijindadi

Veuve Cliquot models with Suleiman Shuabu and Abubakar TB

Moses Adoga

Veuve Cliquot models with Kachi Onyemelukwe

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚͜

37

by OMOLOLA ITAYEMI omolola.itayemi@thisdaylive.com 08054699602

TRAVEL&LEISURE

Park Inn By Radisson‌Creative Getaway with a Dierence ÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă— Ă‹Ă—ĂŒĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă—Ă™ĂšĂ™Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă‹ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ÞÓĂ? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă•ĂŽĂœĂ™ĂšËœ Ă‹ĂœĂ• Ă˜Ă˜ ĂŁ Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂŒĂ?ÙÕĂ&#x;ĂžĂ‹Ëœ Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂœĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂŁ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ™Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă?Ëœ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă?ÓÞã Ă–Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Omolola Itayemi Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹ ÞåÙ̋ÎËã Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ăž ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?ÙÕĂ&#x;ÞË

U

nlike any other hotel in the vicinity, the Park Inn by Radisson has historical leanings to as far back as the 60’s. Formerly known as Ogun State Hotel, the then later Gateway Hotel, was very popular with both locals and visitors. Abeehive of activities in the state, little surprise, many songs of Yoruba genre in that Era had mentions of it.

For those who have never been to Abeokuta, Park Inn by Radisson is located close to Kuto market, just as you turn the roundabout to your left. Despite on-going construction work around, it offered no deterrent to guests judging by the array of cars on the premise even on a week day.

DAY 1 The Warm Welcome A smooth drive from Lagos made it a worthwhile trip, and thanks to little traffic, well-tarred roads and boiled corn by the roadside. I and some travel writers arrived to a warm welcome, we were received by the hotel management with VIP trappings.

With our lugage in the hold-all area, lunch was next. Park Inn by Radisson prides itself on aesthetics and that’s no fallacy, from beautiful paintings at strategic points to well-designed ceramic vases for sale. Sumptous dishes, both local and continental on display, something enticing for every palate.

Sightseeing in Abeokuta After our meal, we took off for some sightseeing and our tour guide the very funny and witty Mr. Abdulrazak was amazing, he knows his onions and he took us through some major attractions in the city, we went to a number of places and most prominent of them was the Ransome Kuti’s Family House situated along NEPA Road, via Isabo, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The rain cut short our ‘short’ but eventful outing and off we went to the hotel.

Under renovation, the Kuti Family House set to be turned into a monument by the Ogun state government.

Abeokuta has many historical attractions and guests visiting as tourists will find that Park Inn by Radisson is well situated and close to some historical sights and sports venues in Abeokuta.

Kuto market is close by, so is the Ogun State Cultural Center, the MKO Abiola Stadium is just across the road, while the Abeokuta Golf Course, is just a couple of kilometers away.

Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and a wildlife resort are in close proximity and the Olumo Rock and Itoku Adire (tie and dye) market are less than an hour away.

Behold, Park inn by Radisson, Abeokuta

welcome note from the General Manager of Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, Mr. Kayode Aina After lunch, we headed towards the swimming pool area where our tie and dye instructors were set and ready for us, the exercise involved some of the hotel staff too.

Day 2 Day two offered the opportunity to see firsthand attempts made to improve our education.

Reading is one of the key elements of education, in the same vein, one of the biggest challenges facing education in third world countries like Nigeria, is the fact that the reading culture is on a sharp decline. It is against this background that one must commend the management of Park Inn by Radisson, Abeokuta, Ogun State for its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, which is the sponsorship of the secondary school debates competition in Ogun State.

The project, which is being executed in partnership with Kola Obadimu Jnr.’s Play House, has since led to the discovery of some amazing talents amongst the participating secondary schools.

The maiden edition of the school debates had 20 secondary schools in Ogun State competing, and it ran between November 2017 and February 2018.

The competition was won by Victorrotti Private Secondary School, Abule Olokuta, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The culmination of the competition was a recently held seminar tagged ‘Education and

Students of various schools in Ogun State at the debate competition ‘Education and the Nigeria Child’

the Nigerian Child’, at the hotel’s banquet hall, and had in attendance journalists from various media houses. Speakers at the seminar include Mr. Bayode Treasures-Olawunmi (Guinness World Record in the longest marathon reading aloud for 122 hours), Professor Kolawole Adebayo (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta) and Mr. Victor Ganzallo.

In his speech at the event, the general manager of the hotel, Mr. Kayode Aina disclosed that the support the hotel is giving the school debate initiative is their own contribution towards reawakening the reading culture amongst our secondary school students, creating a healthy competitive spirit in them and also helping to nurture their public speaking skills.

Back to the hotel As soon as we got into the lobby, check-in was thankfully swift and we were allotted our rooms. We went to relax a bit before moving on to the next activity on the itinerary, the facility tour, followed by lunch then a “Do It Yourself “ Adire (tie & dye) workshop.

Former NAN Editor Inaugurates Homebaze African Cuisine in South Africa

Facility Tour You can host up to 350 attendees in the hotel’s 4 meeting rooms, The deluxe main banquet hall can sit 350 delegates in a conference setting, while the three meeting rooms can hold up to 26.

The hotel has three meeting rooms which can sit 10 – 26, the auditorium which doubles as the cinema can sit 306, while the ballroom can take 220 people at a (banquet setting).

Breakfast is complimentary and it is served each morning at the RBG Bar & Grill restaurant, it is largely self-service but with Ă la carte options.

The hotel also has a main bar, an open bar, a well-equipped gym, and a swimming pool.

While room service is 24 hours, the RBG operates from 06:30 – 22:00, the main bar from Noon – 23:00 and the pool bar from Noon – 19:00.

The room On entering the room I was greeted with a thoughtful welcome card, and most importantly, a mini workstation where I could comfortably work on my laptop, fast wifi and a number of power points where I could charge easily. A

Foremost African restaurant group in South Africa, Homebaze African Cuisine, is set to open an outlet in June, this year, in Johannesburg’s Sandton City, one of the largest retail complexes on the African continent.

Founder of the Homebaze group, Kenn Ayere said this would be the first time authentic African meals would be served in Africa’s richest squaremile-and-a-half top mall.

Located in the Legacy Corner section of the Complex, Hombaze African Cuisine, which was established in 2003, has been in the forefront of promoting traditional African meals in South Africa.

Ayere, a former Bureau Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Southern Africa, said he was delighted at the opening of the new branch in Sandton City which is the busiest mall in the country and a major tourist destination.

According to him, “Nelson Mandela square is the heart and pulse of financial power and glamour in Africa’s richest square, where tourists are drawn to visit the statue of the global icon

Nelson Mandela located at the square.�

He said that Hombaze was set up to, among other things, provide Africans and tourists with traditional African delicacies in upmarket environments.

Ayere stated that Chinese, French, Italians, Portuguese, Greeks and others have exported their meals to virtually all parts of the world and wondered the reasons African meals should be found mostly in run down parts of town, indecent places and served in unhygienic environments.

He said that since its inception, Hombaze had hosted top government functionaries, Royals and celebrities from across the world. He also declared that the it enjoys top ten rating of African restaurants in South Africa. “We remain the only African restaurant that serves meals from the different regions on the African continent. Our client base is quite broad and varied. We serve a broad variety of Nigerian dishes and people from diverse backgrounds have developed a great liking for meals like Egusi, Dodo and Jollof rice’’ said the journalist-turned-

entrepreneur.

He commended the Legacy management for granting the Homebaze group a retail space in the prestigious complex, saying it confirms the acceptability of the brand in the country. He pointed out that Africa has the best meals compared to the offerings from other continents.

Ayere appealed to the Nigerian government to ease the exportation of raw food items to South Africa, to meet the needs of the increasing population of Nigerians in the country and assist African food chains succeed in business.

He recalled that Hombaze African Cuisine had been honoured by the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission under Otunba Gbenga Runsewe for promoting Nigerian cuisine in the Diaspora as well as the South African government for being an entity owned by a foreign national that is contributing to national development, among others.

According to him, Hombaze has established outlets in parts of Johannesburg and the capital city, Pretoria, since its inception 15 years ago.

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚΀

PERSPECTIV E

How Nigeria’s AGF is Hell-Bent on Helping America to Extradite Nigerian Lawmaker John Uli

T

he intrigues in politics can be fierce. The mudslinging and smear campaigns can be gruelling. The political arena is often not for the faint-hearted.

Fighting in the political arena, however, offers an opportunity to excel, to serve one’s fellow citizens in the best way possible. When he appeared on Nigeria’s political stage, it was not to flex his financial muscle, but to extend his hands of generosity to thousands of Nigerians within his reach –to do in larger measure what he has always done. He works selflessly for his community, constituency and the common good of his home state, Ogun State, and fatherland, Nigeria.

Today, however, he has become of the most hunted law-abiding citizens in the country. Today, in cahoots with the Americans, the Nigerian government is plotting to extradite one of its humane, humble and philanthropic senators.

Since 2015, the government of Nigeria –being led through the nose by the attorney general of the federation –has been working against Buruji Kashamu, the lawmaker representing Ogun East senatorial district, by any means possible.

In a 2016 letter emanating from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Nigerian government had surreptitiously approached the American government through the US Embassy in Nigeria on how best they can ship out Senator Kashamu from Nigeria to America. Why should a Nigerian government and its minister of justice seek to abrogate the fundamental human rights of one of its distinguished senators? Why is the attorney general bent on having Kashamu extradited to the US? Why will the attorney general and his lieutenants in the Ministry of

Kashamu

Justice continue to drag the name of a sitting senator through the mud?

In that letter, the attorney general coached the American government on how best Kashamu can be forcibly shipped out of Nigeria. Like a subservient individual, the Nigerian government wrote the American ambassador: “In thanking Your Excellency, the Ambassador of the United States of America for the valuable cooperation, I am to avail this opportunity to renew the assurances of the highest consideration and esteemed regards of the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and

Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.�

That was after providing the strategy that the federal government felt would nail the distinguished senator.

In 2015, two judges of the Federal High Court, Justices Okon Abang and Ibrahim Buba, in separate rulings had nullified the provisional warrant of arrest obtained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the senator. The judges had also restrained the NDLEA from arresting Kashamu in furtherance of extraditing him to the US. The federal government will not

give up as it got a ruling quashing those orders. But for a distinguished lawmaker, who believes in unwavering political activism, inalienable rights to freedom and fundamental human rights, Kashamu had approached the Supreme Court asking it to enforce his rights.

Without fear or favour, one can conclude that the appellate court erred in law and caused a miscarriage of justice by ruling against earlier rulings. For any honest Nigerians can see from the senator’s affidavit before the Court of Appeal –which was full of facts –shows the conclusion of a plot by the Attorney General of the Federation using the instrument of state to abduct and transport the lawmaker to the US to face alleged offences in respect of which he had earlier been exonerated.

I am sure that the public is not unaware of the AGF’s grand scheme. In the letter cited earlier, the honourable minister of justice further urged the US government: “I, however, wish to state that for any fresh application for extradition of the same person to be properly filed in court, at this moment, the United States of America will have to submit a fresh request for his extradition, since the earlier request has been dismissed by Justice Kolawole.�

As a neutral onlooker in the ongoing saga, I will join millions of other conscientious Nigerians to tell and warn the Minister of Justice to avoid being used by some interests to punish an innocent and philanthropic Nigerian –also a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – in a bid to satisfy the desire of some political opponents or external forces whose interests are purely to seek and gain political advantage.

Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta –ULI, a Public Affairs Analyst wrote in from Abuja

Planned Tariff Hike On Alcoholic Beverages: Coalition Takes Protest to NASS Kunle Adewale

coalition of non-governmental organisations comprising the Business Renaissance Group (BRG) and Sustained Development Collective (SDC) have called for the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki’s urgent intervention to reverse the planned increase in excise duty on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products by the federal government.

The group which staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly (NASS) on Tuesday maintained that the astronomical increase in excise duty was bound to endanger the sector if not reviewed and reversed.

The group displayed various placards with inscriptions such as “Support Local Industries: No to Killer Taxes�; “Save #Made In Nigeria Wines & Spirits. No Killer Taxes�; “Senate Save us from Killer Taxes�; “FG Please Don’t Kill Our Local Businesses�; “President Buhari please save our jobs, #No to The Tax Hike� among others.

Presenting a letter to be delivered to the Senate President, President of

Kemi Adeosun

BRG, Mazi Omife Omife, said: “We are calling on the minister of finance

to revert the tax increase on wines and spirit. This is because if it is executed it will lead to businesses closing up.

It will lead to job losses and thereby aggravate the security situation in the country. If this people are displaced from their jobs, some of them will resort to ugly vices like thuggery, armed robbery, kidnapping and other criminal activities.� “We have made every effort to talk to the Minister of Finance and her officials but unfortunately they were not forthcoming. We had a meeting with major stakeholders who wanted to intervene, but still the Minister of Finance or her officials were not forthcoming. “We had a press conference in Lagos and Abuja and yet nothing has happened that is why we asking the Senate to intervene,� Omife said.

The letter was received by Mrs Amina Musa, an officer of the Department of Sergeant At Arms, National Assembly for delivery to Saraki.

The Federal Ministry of Finance recently announced an amendment to the existing tariff, excise duty on locally produced wines, spirits, as well

as tobacco products which should take effect from June 4, 2018.

The current excise at 20 per cent for spirits amounts to N31 per litre while the new excise as announced by Mrs Kemi Adeosun amounts to N200 per litre of spirits and N150 for wines. This indicates an increase of over 500 per cent.

Also speaking during the protest, National Secretary, Sustainable Development Collective (SDC), Dr Ike Ikegbunam said: “Our point is very clear. There should be a reversal of the tax increase.

The increase in excise duty is affecting our companies adversely. A lot of companies are folding up.

A lot of companies are moving to Ghana and using Ghana as their corporate headquarters. We are talking of foreign investments, of pulling these resources back into Nigeria. You cannot do this when you try to scare investors away with these tax policies. What we are doing is part of our efforts to ensure that sanity prevails.

A lot of thing will go wrong unless the issue of this excise duty increase is addressed.�

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PERSPECTIVE

Why Atiku’s Candidature is Becoming Appealing Chidiebere Nwobodo

H

itherto, many of my friends on social media and beyond, who understood me as a veteran political pundit had been inundating my inbox and phone lines, with the request to know my stand on 2019 presidential election, especially as it relates to choice of candidate. My sincere answer had been that I would make up my mind after major political parties must have conducted and concluded their primaries. I never gave it a second thought.

But few days ago, I had a paradigm shift.

After a painstaking, meditative thought process, I decided to take a stand; even before presidential primaries of major political parties. I did a brief research on the presidential aspirants and came out with this conclusion: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the path way to victory in 2019!

The million-dollar questions that will be racing through the minds of my readers at this juncture are: why Atiku? Is he not too old to run? Why not a younger candidate?

Is Atiku not corrupt? Why this “desperate� man? Can Atiku even travel to United States? Why???

Before I marshall out mind-illuminating and unbiased answers to the above questions, without running the risk of prejudice, I will like to provide a background understanding to the political monster & dilemma Nigerians are going to confront in 2019.

Next year’s presidential election will be a different ballgame all together from what was obtained in 2015. Nigerians will deal with a government that has exacerbated the woes of this nation for the last three years, yet keep blaming the past for its gross incompetence and cluelessness. Nigerians, desirous of drastic change, will confront a President Buhari who has demonstrated through his actions and inactions that his only purpose of being in power, is just for the sake of it and lures of office. He has removed every doubt whether he has what it takes to rework Nigeria.

Opposition candidates will run against President Buhari who had made up his mind to re-contest in the face of contrary advice from prominent Nigerians, and will be ready to muscle any voice of dissent using the instrumentality of state institutions, just to cling to power at all cost. The PDP and other opposition parties have to go into this electoral battle with an APC---a ruling political party whose oxygen of survival is share propaganda and witch-hurting of opposition elements. And the list goes on.

Why Atiku? From my investigations and profiling of intending presidential

Atiku aspirants in the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former vice president of Nigeria, is the only candidate that President Buhari’s handlers dread like sheep fear lion. His emergence as the PDP presidential candidate will herald the fiercest political royal rumble in the contemporary history of Nigerian politics.

He is the only presidential hopeful (amongst already declared aspirants) that will give President Buhari a good run for his money.

He has been in the political trenches battling titans for decades.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the only aspirant that has formidable political machinery across the six geo-political zones of the country. He is a political veteran par colossus with huge financial war-chest. He has enormous political goodwill among the political class, though misunderstood as “corrupt� and “desperate� by a section of the masses, who fell under the strong windstorm of propaganda ignited by those who detest Atiku’s cult-like fellowship among the political elites.

Is Atiku corrupt? Like most Nigerians, Atiku Abubakar is not without blemish; he is not a saint either. One thing that is still counting for him is that, he has not been charged, indicted let alone convicted on any known corruption case both in Nigeria and outside the shores of the country. Atiku

was a victim of jungle justice in the court of public opinion; of which was instigated by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, whose inglorious Third Term bid was scuttled by group of democrats led by Atiku Abubakar.

Waziri of Adamawa was not given fair hearing in the court of public opinion.

I think his epic political battle with his ex-boss Obasanjo, colored his perception and masqueraded his real personality.

If Atiku is as corrupt as most of us were meant to swallow hook, line and sinker, he would have been enmeshed in a lot of corruption trials with EFCC long before now, especially when juxtaposed with his age-long presidential ambition, which cut across several administrations. Atiku is a victim of oligopolistic tendencies of Nigerian post-civil war Military Establishment who has monopolized the nation’s presidency. An Atiku Abubakar presidency is a nightmare to the cartel of retired military generals who sees him as too “powerful� to be teleguided.

Is Atiku too old? As much as I remain an advocate of youth in governance, we should also not take it out of context. Youthfulness is not the only required quality for performance and service delivery. And old age is not the only perceivably weak point that makes a leader to fail, unless in a pathetic situation where senility and fragility sets in.

It may be good to recall that the worst (permit the use of my language) performing governor in Nigeria today is the youngest of them all---Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. President Donald Trump became US number one citizen at the age of seventy years. President Buhari is seventy-five (at least official figure).

Has President Buhari’s age been the reason for his perceived failures? No! Has Yahaya Bello’s age been an advantage to him in transforming Kogi State? No! Is Trump being negatively effected by his age? No! One of the best performing governor of the biggest state of California in America is Jerry Brown. Incidentally, he is the oldest at age 81. He is six years older than President Buhari, yet doing wonderfully great! My argument is; a dunce is a dunce irrespective of his age! Atiku’s age is experience embedded in numbers not otherwise!

Can Atiku travel to America?? This is one of the funniest and dumbest question I have seen some gullible Nigerians asked.

From my research, Atiku was never barred from going to United States neither was he declared wanted by FBI or CIA. He was simply DENIED visa! If US Embassy can deny an average Nigerian visa, who says they can do that to an Atiku Abubakar?

Or are we implying that one automatically becomes a “criminal� if his visa application is rejected by US Embassy?

Billionaire Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich missed FA Cup finale between Chelsea FC and Manchester United club at the Wembly Stadium, as a result of United Kingdom’s Home Office Department inability to renew his visa. Can we say in all honesty that he was “banned� from UK? Or is he now “corrupt�?

Come to think of it; must Nigerian presidential hopeful visit America before becoming president? Is Nigeria an American colony? Are we not undermining our sovereignty? Did Donald Trump pay homage to Nigeria before being elected US President?

Please let us focus on serious issues of national significance not mundaneness.

Is Atiku really desperate?? I have heard this story of desperation for so long, but I will do justice to it today. I am not a protagonist of political “Jumpology�, otherwise known as cross-carpeting. Atiku has featured as a member of three political parties since 1999; namely PDP, AC & APC. But one striking factor of note is that, he has only appeared in the presidential election ballot paper only once---when he contested as Action Congress candidate in 2007.

Between an Atiku who contested only once and President Buhari who ran for president for four consecutive terms, and had just declared to run for fifth time, who is actually DESPERATE? As a matter of fact, the then candidate Buhari ran severally on the platforms of APP, ANPP, CPC & APC yet those insufferable hypocrites never referred him as “desperate� but will always Crucify Atiku.

In 2011, hundreds of Nigerians died in the North as a fall out of presidential election of which then candidate Muhammadu Buhari lost. The infamous speech of “dogs and baboons soaking in blood� is still fresh in our memory, yet Atiku is the political desperado in Nigeria. It is on record that no Nigerian has died as a result of Atiku’s presidential ambition. Then, where is the desperation story coming from? Many Nigerians misunderstood Atiku’s readiness cum eagerness to rework this ailing nation for desperation. It’s unfortunate.

As a bouncily cosmopolitan, maverick entrepreneur, liberal-minded Muslim, and pan-Nigerian in nature, an Atiku Abubakar candidacy is becoming increasingly appealing to many Nigerians of my nature.

The so-called saints had ruled this country severally, but nothing has changed. It is time to reinvent the wheel of the nation’s progress and awaken the sleeping giant of Africa, by entrusting Nigeria’s destiny onto the leadership fulcrum of an economic enigma and political colossus like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Frank Nneji: the Man Imo Can Trust Frank Kintum

I

was privileged to meet Mr. Frank Nneji, over 20 years ago, courtesy of Thisday newspaper where I served as Motoring reporter and later Assistant editor before moving on to other endeavour in 2006.

My editor then, Mr. Eniola Bello, the man who taught me practical print journalism, (now the Managing Director of Thisday newspaper), had summoned me one hot afternoon, and on get to his office, he gave me a direct responsibility-going forward, you are to take charge of the newly created Motoring Pages. This was how my sojourn from the crime/telecoms beat to transport beat started.

In the course of my assignment, I met a lot of people. But one among the prominent personalities that is difficult to relegate to the sub-conscious is the Managing Director of ABC Transport Plc, Mr. Frank Nneji. So I write about Frank and ABC Transport from an experience of over 20 years.

Frank stood out because of so many qualities both in his private life and his business relationships. He made a mark where so many ventured and came out bankrupt.

Coming from a humble beginning, Frank was head bent to succeed where others failed, he was ready to show others how to make better the road transport business in Nigeria.

Frank’s ABC Transport Limited, which later became a Public Liability Company (Plc), was the first to set up a corporate structure.

The company remains a delight of reporters

Nneji because where the CEO is not available, there is usually a Communications Manager always at hand to respond to questions.

ABC Transport was the first road transport company to welcome its passengers to all the terminals with warm cups of tea or coffee (I wonder why it was stopped) after a night trip.

Though the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) only commenced the enforcement of compulsory speed limit for commercial vehicles about a year ago, this has been the tradition in ABC Transport from inception.

The company, as a matter of safety policy, ensures that all its vehicles are installed with speed limiters, no wonder, year after year, it kept driving home with bags of safety awards from different places. Seat beat? This is another safety measure not compromised by ABC Transport.

Another wonderful introduction by ABC Transport, which all others have now copied is insurance cover for all passengers on board. This was one policy that was warmly embraced by discerning road transport passengers.

One cannot forget the scheduled departure policy of ABC Transport. I recall vividly that when this policy was introduced by the company, other transport companies laughed at Frank, that it is not sustainable, wondering how he intend to recoup his investment by plying buses on schedule even when they are barely filled to capacity. But it paid off eventually because passengers were quick to appreciate this and flooded the company’s terminals.

Frank was also quick in seeing the mix between passengers and hospitality. Hence, he was among the first to build not just a hotel, but a budget hotel for passengers behind the Utako, Abuja ABC terminal. He even went a step further to offer short stay for the rooms,

enabling passengers to use the rooms to freshen up for an hour or two after a night journey before going for their businesses.

ABC Transport scored another milestone when a couple of years ago, Frank decided to float the company in the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Today, ABC Transport Plc remains the only road transport company in Nigeria quoted in the stock exchange. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that 25 years after, Frank has been able to take ABC Transport to greater heights from six buses to over 500 buses moving passengers in Nigeria.

Beyond ABC Transport, Frank lives a very modest life. I know that even with the soaring popularity of ABC Transport, it took him some years to abandon his old Mercedes Benz saloon for a more modern car. Even when he went for the modern car, it was not one of the premium brands, except unknown to me, the premium brand was hidden in his garage and driven once a week to church.

For the over 20 years I have known Frank, I have never seen him with cash (could this be the reason why some say he does not spend?).

Nonetheless, I have also noticed that he supports so many good initiatives even beyond his native Imo state.

The FRSC, Lagos State University, Federal University of Technology, Imo, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport among others are some of the few organisations I know Frank has touched positively. He is said to be the biggest employer of labour in Imo state aside the government.

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ͺ;˜ ͺ͸͹΀ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 26, 2018

THE ALTERNATIVE with Reno Omokri So Buhari’s Role Model is Abacha, a Common Thief!

B

eing half literate is like a piece of meat being half-cooked. From the outside, the meat looks cooked. It is only when you taste it that you realize that the cook was not cooked through.

This is the problem with Muhammadu Buhari. The President does not like to read. If he was a reading man, he would not have made the statement he did about $16 billion being wasted on power projects by the Obasanjo-led administration.

The President had said while playing host to the Buhari Support Group as follows: “One of the former Heads of State between that time was bragging that he spent more than 16 billion American dollars, on power. Where is the power? Where is the power? And now we have to pay the debts.”

The figure of $16 billion does not exist and it is sad that a President, with records available to him can make such a reckless accusation, especially when the facts are available to him if he would only read!

Since President Buhari is so enamored with Nasir El-Rufai, the manipulative Governor of Kaduna State and uber Buhari sycophant, I would like to quote from an interview that El-Rufai gave on October 17, 2009.

In that interview, entitled ‘My Grouse With Yar’adua, El-Rufai said: “When Yar’Adua came in, he made statements while receiving Oby Ezekwesili in her new capacity at the World Bank to the effect that he believed that the amounts spent by Obasanjo were wasted. He came up with a figure of $10 billion. When his own Senior Special Assistant (Engr. Foluseke Shomolu) wrote him a memo to the effect that the figure quoted was inaccurate, the president fired him. Very conveniently, the House of Representatives began a probe of the NIPP under Obasanjo and sensationalised it.

The National Economic Council also had a committee under Governor Suswan of Benue reviewing this NIPP. After a year, both committees were not able to establish any wrongdoing against Obasanjo and in fact confirmed that the actual amount spent was not $10 billion, but actually a fraction of that amount (less than $6 billion committed and $3 billion actually disbursed - the exact amounts quoted by Engr. Shomolu).”

If the report of the various committees that investigated these allegations are too long for a President who prefers to read cartoons as his own spokesman admitted, then perhaps he can spare the 25 minutes it would take him to read his protégé’s interview.

But the question that discerning Nigerians should be asking is why is Buhari bringing this up? After all he and Tinubu once begged former President Obasanjo to be their ‘navigator’. Did they not know he was a crook when they started their bromance with him?

Last year on Obasanjo’s birthday, President Buhari

But the question that discerning Nigerians should be asking is why is Buhari bringing this up? After all he and Tinubu once begged former President Obasanjo to be their ‘navigator’. Did they not know he was a crook when they started their bromance with him?

Last year on Obasanjo’s birthday, President Buhari called him a statesman ‘with commitment to good governance’. Today, he is hinting at probing Obasanjo’s alleged $16 billion power project contracts just because Obasanjo is against his reelection. This is just vindicating my stand that we have war on Corruption opposition!

Buhari called him a statesman ‘with commitment to good governance’. Today, he is hinting at probing Obasanjo’s alleged $16 billion power project contracts just because Obasanjo is against his reelection. This is just vindicating my stand that we have war on Corruption opposition!

As long as you are on the President’s side and praising him, all your sins are forgiven like Musiliu Obanikoro.

But the minute you get a bout of conscience, your old real and imagined sins are dredged up.

On this matter of Obasanjo however, President Buhari has met his match. I like Obasanjo’s response to Buhari.

Trust Baba Iyabo. He said, inter alia that: “If he (Buhari) cannot read the three-volume book (My Watch), he should detail his aides to do so and summarise the chapters in a language that he will easily understand”.

Buhari is an ungrateful ignoramus for saying he is paying Obasanjo’s debt. Obasanjo did not spend $16 billion on power. Obasanjo actually paid ALL our foreign debts and left a total reserve of $67 billion.

Thank God it was an All Progressives Congress Senator that got up on live television and revealed that this administration has borrowed more money in three years than the Peoples Democratic Party borrowed in 16 years, yet what has been the impact?

Imagine a man like Buhari, who has not initiated, started and completed any project in three years (beside the helipad he built for his personal use in Daura) attacking men who initiated and finished thousands of projects.

The President’s comments overshadowed an even more important issue which very few journalists appear to have picked on.

The Buhari Support Group, whose visit excited the President and moved him to indict Obasanjo, is led by the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service.

A serving Comptroller General of Customs heading the Buhari Support Group without resigning, a serving Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission publicly wearing a Buhari re-election lapel pin on live television is how low the Buhari administration has taken Nigeria.

At that same event, the President also lavished praise on former head of state, General Sani Abacha.

What type of anti-corruption crusader chooses Abacha, a proven thief, who was also a blood-thirsty buffoon, as his mentor? When I schooled in England, my university had a module on Abacha’s thievery. This is the man Buhari aspires to be? The man who exiled Tinubu and NADECO! Abacha’s killer squad killed many Nigerians during his reign of terror including Kudirat Abiola, Chief Alfred Rewane, Major General Shehu Musa Yar’adua (rtd) Bagauda Kaltho, Sola Omatsola amongst others, yet this is the very same man a democratically elected President like Buhari praises as his mentor. A murderous thief! Are we then surprised that there are killer squads of herdsmen going round Nigeria killing people? Like mentor like

mentee!

What was the point of Chief MKO and Kudirat Abiola’s sacrifice if Abacha is today the hero of our President? Why stop at Abacha? President Buhari should also declare Anini and Shina Rambo as national heroes. How unfortunate for a nation when a thief is the President’s role model.

In the year 2000, Osinbajo, then the Attorney General of Lagos, prosecuted members of Abacha’s killer squad including Hamza Al-Mustapha, who was sentenced to death for Kudirat Abiola’s murder. In the year 2018, Osinbajo’s boss, President Buhari, eulogizes Abacha as his hero and mentor. Can someone help me ask Osinbajo, what he is still doing in this wicked government?

On the same week that the Buhari administration charged Shekarau to court for ALLEGEDLY looting N950 million, the head of the government, was busy praising Abacha, a man that has been CONVICTED for looting over $5 billion. Buhari charges small thieves and worships big thieves!

This is the same Buhari, whose government brought back, reinstated and double promoted Nigeria’s biggest ever thieving civil servant, Abdulrasheed Maina. How can anybody in their right minds believe that Buhari still has integrity?

And this is the man who wants Nigerians to re-elect him next year? A man who thinks Nigerian youths are lazy, who thinks Nigerians are criminals (as he told the Telegraph of London), who goes about telling international investors that his country is corrupt?

That is why he has surrounded himself with people like Lai Mohammed and Garba Shehu.

Lai Mohammed said President Buhari’s re-election in 2019 will be easy because the APC has kept their campaign promises. Can someone remind Lai that he is meant to be fasting during Ramadan and that fasting is not just abstaining from food, it includes abstaining from lies! Lai, fear God!!!

Why should Lai Mohammed still Lie even in Ramadan when he is meant to be fasting? The name Lai is not enough for this remarkable liar! We should just add Linus, Liability, Lion, Liebaran and Lieraba to his name.

Someone that lies during Ramadan that Buhari has fulfilled his campaign promise can never be trusted to ever tell the truth!

And as for Garba Shehu who told me to tell my friends in the PDP that they are not coming back to power, my response to him is that he should buy a mirror and what he will see is the face of PDP. Garba Shehu was Special Assistant on media for years during the Peoples Democratic Party administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Garba did not resign from that government.

In fact, Garba Shehu was affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party for 12 good years. He was in the PDP for more years than he has been in the APC. He was in the PDP longer than I, Reno Omokri, have been associated with the PDP. Garba Shehu cannot deny this because his office was opposite mine at the Presidential villa between 2003 when I returned from the United Kingdom and 2005 when I went to the US. Garba shehu used to craft very strong anti-Buhari press releases for the PDP during his 12 year sojourn as a PDP member, which included years spent as SA media under Obasanjo. Now he crafts press releases for the same man he once attacked against the same people he once praised! Garba is the epitome of AGIP - Any Government In Power. I am the epitome of loyalty. There is no basis to compare myself with him. I follow my conscience. Garba follows his stomach.

Let me stop here for now and continue to observe the unraveling of Buhari. I warned Nigerians but they never listened. Sadly, the man had to ruin the nation before my fellow countrymen saw him for who and what he truly is - a pretender who used subterfuge to get to power.

What can separate Abacha from the love of Buhari?

Certainly not the over $5 billion Abacha stole. Certainly not the people Abacha killed. Certainly not the June 12 Mandate that Abacha frustrated by throwing Abiola in jail where he died. Nothing can separate Abacha from the love of Buhari.

Reno’s Nuggets It is a mistake to think time is going. Time is not going.

Time is here until the world ends. It is you that is going.

You don’t waste time. Time is infinite. You waste yourself. You are finite. It is you that grows old and die. Time doesn’t. So make better use of it. And one of the worst things to do with time is comparing yourself to others.

A cow eats grass and gets fat but if dog eats it, it will die. Never compare yourself with others. Run your race.

What works for one person may be what will kill you.

Focus on the gifts and talents God gave you and don’t be envious of the blessings He gave others #RenosNuggets

MAY 26, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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FASHION FILE

Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru-Demuren launches lingerie and line, Sablier

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 26, 2018

FASHION FILE

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

Tolu ‘Toolz’

P

opular media personality, Tolu ‘Toolz’ OniruDemuren recently launched Sablier (“Sab-LeeAy”), a premium fuller bust lingerie line. Sablier – which is French for ‘hourglass’ – was created to cater to the often overlooked plus-size market.

Toolz who reflected on her experience growing up as a full-bodied woman further detailed her journey towards accepting her body shape and size.

“The journey to accepting my body hasn’t been easy. As a curvy girl, you tend to feel out of place – my body type wasn’t the hot thing back then. I just didn’t fit in,” she said.

“I want ladies, irrespective of their size or body types, to be confident and love themselves, and essentially embrace their beautiful, because beauty is from within and is not dependent on what society dictates.”

She further explained that it took her some time to come to a breakthrough about seeing herself through a lens of body positivity. That change in perspective was something she wanted to share, but not just through words.

Toolz who took a course in lingerie and swimwear design at the prestigious and award-winning London College of Fashion to get in-depth knowledge of the lingerie market, reiterated that her struggle to find brands that cater exclusively to her body size was a motivating factor in creating the Sablier brand.

“A huge part of my personal journey was finding clothing, lingerie and apparel options that catered specifically to my needs as a curvy woman. I didn’t find a lot of options in Nigeria, and most often would shop when I travelled,” she said.

“It’s only natural that I take on the challenge of providing comfortable but attractive options for plus-size African women who struggle with finding brands that cater to them.”

Shoot Details Creative Direction: Caroline Chinakwe Photographer: @emmanueloyeleke Hair provided by: @lautresshair Hair styled by : @haircraft_ Make Up: @iamdodos Shoes: @gbemisokeshoes Models: Praise, Britney and Loveth (from Plus Sizee Fashion Week Africa) and Toolz

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... ͸΀͚ͽͽ͚͚͝΀Ϳ͟

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Girish Sharma; Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Bolanle Ambode; Group Public Relations and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Tope Ashiwaju; Head of Marketing, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Manpreet Singh and Coordinator, Indomie Fan Club, Faith Joshua with Indomie Fan Club Children at the 2018 Indomie Children’s Day Celebration in Lagos

Territorial Sales Manager, Total Nigeria Plc, Charles Atiomo; Managing Director, Phillipe Torres; Maintenance Supervisor, Adedeji Kola and Marketing Division Territorial Training Manager (West), Ehimen Joseph, during the company’s Top Service Campaign in Lagos‌recently

Consumers to Pay More for Telecom Service as CBN Eects Levy on E- transactions The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, has frowned at the move by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, directing all banks to effect the collection of 0.005% levy on all electronic transactions into a National Cyber Security Fund account within the CBN. This is in fulfilment of the Cyber Crime Act (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) 2015, Section 44, which requires the collection and remittance of levies for National Cyber Crime Fund.

Although the legislation served as part of government efforts to strengthen cyber security in the country since the funds will be applied towards establishing an enabling environment and formulating general policy, including awarding research and graduate training grants in the cyber security field, the

association warned that the inherent economic risk in the imposition of the levy especially as it affects telecom operators, consumers and the sector at large, far outweighs the revenue it would generate for the government.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the association at its corporate office in Ikeja, Lagos, its President Olusola Teniola, pointed out the that GSM service providers and all telecommunication companies; Internet service providers; banks and other financial institutions; insurance companies as well as the Nigerian stock exchange would be affected by the latest development.

He stated that in addition to extra cost it would add to businesses which will ultimately be passed to consumers, implementing the act would cripple, if not render useless, government and private sector efforts

to speed up the broadband penetration in Nigeria. “ATCON has a mandate to protect investment in the telecom industry from undue pressure from the government in the form of yet additional burden on our members that are already overtaxed by all tiers of governments. “We believe that any premeditated actions that are capable of killing the telecoms industry must be eschewed by all tiers of governments in Nigeria as the perceived benefits of imposing this levy on aforementioned businesses have the direct capability to erase if not destroy the achievements that have been made since the sector was liberated, he said.

Teniola further clarified that the association had tried fruitlessly to engage the CBN in a

Children Task Indomie 9mobile Restates Commitment on Children’s Day to Health Sector As a way of expressing its passion for children, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Noodles, under the auspices of its Children Fan Club has hosted youngsters across the country in an elaborate party, making this year’s Children’s Day a memorable one for them.

Like Oliver Twist, children in an exciting spirit, asked for more of such initiatives from the children-friendly brand.

This year’s occasion which had in attendance over 100,000 pupils from across various schools in the country was graced by the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode.

The children had a swell time involving themselves in various brain-developing and merry-making activities such as quiz and dance competitions, including bumper car, carousel, the rockets, the pirates’ ship, the spinner, the tea cup, disco ride, the air bicycle, cartoon shows, cultural performances and face-painting.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Ambode praised the corporate commitment of the company over its child-friendly disposition while she enjoined the children to be good citizens of the nation. “You must always obey your parents and teachers, respect your elders, be humble and read your books. If you can do this, you will inevitably become good leaders someday,� she said.

Also speaking, Chief Operating Officer of Dufil, Mr. Girish Sharma, who described the First Lady as mother of all, thanked her for making out time to be present at the event to felicitate with the kids and instil morals in them. “We place utmost value on children as many of our brands are synonymous with kids. We believe that one of the best responsibilities we can undertake is to celebrate this great day with the Nigerian kids. Without the kids, we can’t exist.�

Group Public Relations and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, stated that the Indomie Children’s Day celebrations was an annual activity that the company had consistently marked for a decade and the reason is not far-fetched, as it has remained a passion of the company to show appreciation and love to the children, who happen to be the brand’s core loyalists.

dialogue on matters affecting operators with regards to sourcing for foreign exchange to purchase the needed equipment.

He noted that the association believed that the formulation and implementation of policies were not properly coordinated in the sense that while some government agencies were working towards migrating all government services online, others are working towards discouraging people from making use of electronic channels via this obnoxious levy. ‘We therefore advise government to review the directive which would affect some macro-economic elements such as loss of employment while operators would have to increase prices to cover the collection, processing and pass on these costs to 150 million subscribers,� he added.

Maltina Accepts Entries for 2018 Teacher of the Year Non alcoholic beverage brand, Maltina,from the

stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc ,has encouraged qualified teachers from both public and private schools across the federation to apply for the 2018 Teachers Of the Year Award.

This was as the firm flagged off the 2018 edition of the Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year initiative in Lagos yesterday. According to the company, the award being an initiative of the Nigerian Breweries Plc-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund was meant to recognise teachers and bring back the dignity in teaching profession in the country.It has so far produced three winners who emerged from Anambra (2015), Akwa Ibom (2016) and Delta States (2017).

Speaking at the flag off ceremony,Head of Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Lagos, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren maintained that teachers were invaluable drivers of societal norms and the teaching profession must be adored to attract the best and the brightest.

Osarenren, a former Commissioner for Education in Edo State, noted that if Nigeria must be saved from the menace of de-motivated, unqualified and incompetent teachers, it must find a career long professionals who are willing to do the job for their passion and not because it is the option available.

On his part, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Jordi Borrut Bel reiterated that the award was not meant for every state but every state that put forward exceptional teachers adding that the contest will be more intense this year.

Represented by the Company’s Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr Kufre Ekanem, Bel added that the initiative was hinged on the realisation that teachers seldom get the recognition they deserve in spite of the pivotal role they play in determining the quality of education.

Last year winner , Mr Felix Udochukwu Ariguzo also urged the government and other corporate organisations to emulate the gesture of the sponsors as well as improve the standard of education in the country.

Entries for the 2018 edition of the programme opened on Friday, May 25, 2018 and will close on the 2nd of July 2018. Interested teachers are advised to download application forms from the Maltina website – www. maltina-nigeria.com.

L-R: General Manager, Powergas, Sumeet Singh; Chairman, Powergas Nigeria, Deepak Khilnani; ComThe grand prize is N1 million and another N1 million mercial Consellor, Austrian Embassy, Nella Hengstler; CEO, European Technologies for Africa, Johann every year for the next five years, a development trainRieger and Managing Director, Powergas, Pulak sen, during an event to mark the partnership deal ing opportunity abroad and a block of six classrooms between Powergas and Austrian on Clean Energy Solution Transport, CEST,in Lagos recently. built at the school where the first prize winner teaches.

Telecommunication company, 9mobile has strengthened its commitment to the health sector by distributing free insecticidetreated nets to communities in Lagos State to mark 2018 World Malaria Day. According to the company, it was not happy at the level of malaria prevalence in the country which presently stands at 71 per cent as pointed out by FCT Health Secretariat .

Also, World Health Organisation, WHO, on World Malaria Report revealed that there were 216 million cases of malaria in 2016, up from 211 million cases in 2015, hence the need to intensify efforts to defeat the illness.

Speaking, Acting Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Oluseyi Osunsedo noted that the present figure indicated the need for raised awareness and renewed commitment for the prevention of the killer disease. He added that sleeping under insecticide-treated nets was one of the most cost-effective malaria prevention strategies, while the free nets provided by

the company would ensure that more families are protected from the deadly disease.“As we say at 9mobile, ‘We are here for you, we are here for 9ja’; we live this ethos by constantly demonstrating our unwavering commitment to the development of Nigeria. What we did in some communities in Lagos, epitomises our commitment. “This is not just about our customers, it’s about the well-being of Nigeria and Nigerians. As a caring brand, we are passionate about the people and we will continue to seize every opportunity to appreciate the love and support we have been receiving from teeming Nigerians over the past nine years,� he said.

Residents of the communities, who were visibly elated by the gesture, commended the company for the gesture while stating that malaria scourge was a major problem in the communities.

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Ogosu and other community leaders at the Federal High Court, Lagos, recently‌

As Oil-ravaged Ejama Community Agonises, First Bank, Shell Play Dodgy Legal Game After First Bank of Nigeria Limited guaranteed to pay N17billion judgment debt (now N122 billion) to oil spill-ravaged Ejama-Ebubu Community in Ogoni land, Rivers State, on behalf of its client Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, the story is apparently mutating into a dodgy legal maze while late Ken Saro Wiwa, who spoke up and died for the same cause, watches from his grave. Louis Achi reports

nce a pristine paradise, today, dark brooding clouds hang over her future - or lack of one. Eons ago, a generous conspiracy by geography and geology blessed the Ejama-Ebubu Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State with huge crude petroleum reserves.

But decades later, another conspiracy of insidious geo-politics, quirky federal energy policy template and predatory foreign oil exploration and exploitation practices have turned this gift into a curse.

That is the sad, unfolding story of this land of unfulfilled promise - Ejama-Ebulu of Ogoni land.

This case actually started way back in 1991. It was originally instituted at the Rivers State High Court, Nchia Division, by six indigenes of Ogoniland against the Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Netherlands, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United Kingdom, Ogosu and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited. sum of about N17 billion. SPDC then Significantly, the plaintiffs alleged that it appealed the judgment and of course was the same case that led to the Ogoni the guarantee which was accepted by struggle championed by the late Mr. Ken the court was the stay of execution of the Saro Wiwa. judgment pending the outcome Shell’s Almost 20 years later, in 2010, ten appeal. Note that the bank guarantee mettlesome indigenes of Ejama Comwas specific to the outcome of the appeal munity in Ogoniland, on behalf of their Shell took and terminates there. If Shell ravaged territory seized the bull by the had won, the guarantee lapses even if the horns. Again, they sued Royal Dutch community had gone to Supreme Court, Shell Plc, Netherlands, Royal Dutch Shell the bank would no longer be liable to Plc, United Kingdom, and SPDC at the the terms of the guarantee. And if Shell’s Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for appeal fails at the Court of Appeal level, devastating oil spills that occurred when the was obligated by its own guarantee to Shell operated in the community. pay the judgement sum plus all accrued Apparently moved by the community’s interests. Unfortunately for the bank and horrific plight as well as adduced facts, fortunately for the community, Shell’s the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt appeal failed at the court of Appeal. in 2010, awarded N17 billion against The bank has been putting all sorts of Shell for the devastations its operations impediments on the way of the commuwrought in Ejama-Ebubu. Bankers to nity getting the benefits of the judgement Shell, FirstBank guaranteed to pay this by claiming Shell is taking the case to the sum if Shell’s appeal failed at the Court of Supreme and therefore has refused to Appeal. honour the very guarantee it gave for the The bank equally voluntarily fixed 25 judgment sum. The community meanper cent interest charge on the principal while, stated that by its calculation and

computation of 25 per cent interest charge on the principal sum of about N17 billion, carried out by a chartered accountant, what was due to them is now N122 billion and counting.

As at press time, Shell, First Bank, CBN are still filing one motion or another to frustrate a ruling by a Federal High Court on the matter to garnishee the account of First Bank with the Central Bank of Nigeria to force it to pay the judgement debt plus interest to Ejama community.

What Ejama Community wants‌ The Ejama community is completely at sea striving to make sense of why the First Bank is reluctant to pay the money when it was the body which voluntarily pledged to undertake the payment of the judgment debt should Shell lose at the Court of Appeal on December 20, 2012.

On June 6, 2017, Shell’s appeal was unanimously dismissed at the Court of Appeal with a N300,000 cost. Part of their processes to recover the judgment debt from the bank is the contempt proceedings they have instituted against the Chairman of the bank, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika for the court to commit her to prison for refusing to pay them the money. Earlier in the week, Justice Buba adjourned the case to determine which applications would be heard first.

From THISDAY checks and sighting of the guarantee dated December 17, 2012, the First Bank had declared that: “Pursuant to the foregoing, the bank hereby guarantee to pay to the respondents the judgment sums only if the aforesaid appeal to the Court of Appeal fails and the appellants become liable in law to pay the judgment sums therein. “The guarantee and the bank’s liability thereunder shall be subject to all due process of law and payment by the bank under the guarantee will only be made upon receipt by the bank of the respondents’ written demand accompanied with duly certified copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, stating that the judgment sum is due and payable by the

appellants in the matter. “This guarantee shall become operative and enforceable from the 17th day of December 2012 and shall remain valid until 14 days after the determination of the aforementioned appeal at the Court of Appeal, after which it shall terminate, whether or not the original bank guarantee is returned to the bank for conciliation, provided however that the guaranteed shall immediately lapse and become void if the appeal is successful. “This guarantee is limited to the specific judgment sums specified above, it is not a continuing guarantee and shall not extend to any other sum payable by the appellants to the respondents neither shall it extend to any other transaction between them. This guarantee shall be governed by and subject to all the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and shall not be construed to fetter or limit the constitutional rights of the parties, including their right of appeal.�

But in a statement by its Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, resonding to a related publication by THISDAY, she expressed confidence that the courts would dispense justice in the cases in line with constitutional obligations.

In her words, “FirstBank is a responsible and law-abiding corporate citizen with the capacity and character to, on a consistent basis, meet its obligations as and when due. The events culminating in FirstBank’s issuance of the said bank guarantee at the request of Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited as well as all matters arising therefrom and associated therewith are subject matters of different lawsuits including Suit Nos. FHC/OW/CS/C4/2017, FHC/L/NJR/1/2018 and Appeal Nos. SC/511/2017 and SC/731/2017 which are ongoing. We are confident that the various courts will dispense justice in the cases in line with their constitutional obligations.�

Of interest here is that she did not disown the guarantee issued by her bank.

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SPECIAL REPORT Why then is the bank dilly-dallying on its commitment? The language of the guarantee is voluntarily issued is very explicit, and written in the English language. Not in Hebrew. The bank was not forced to write. It must have worked with Shell to put the guarantee together before affixing signatures to it.

Shell’s double game‌ Meanwhile within the week, Shell arrested the judgment in the suit by Ejama community against it (SPDC) and First Bank Limited before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over their alleged failure to pay N122 billion (previously N17 billion) judgment debt to the community as ordered by a Federal High Court.

Shell’s surreptitious new move seemingly flies in the face of earlier specific understanding it reached with the affected community, FirstBank, the High Court and eventually settled by the appellate court way back.

Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, was to have delivered judgment in the contempt proceeding initiated against First Bank over its alleged refusal to honour the bank guarantee it provided on behalf of Shell and the garnishee order nisi made by an Owerri division of the Federal High Court in respect of the bank guarantee.

But, Barrister Chucks Igbenedion, one of Ejama community’s counsel, drew the attention of the court to the matter and Justice Buba noted that he had communicated to counsel that Shell had filed a fresh motion, which effectively arrested the judgment, but promised that same would be heard on Friday (yesterday) and judgment delivered. Even that was unfortunately not to be .

It could be recalled that Justice Buba, then of the Port Harcourt Division of the court, had in his judgment in 2010, awarded N17 billion to the representatives of the Ogoni people. Since then Shell has done everything to frustrate judgement benefit reaching the community.

Now lets do a parallel with what BP handling oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in the United States of America in 2010.

It should be recalled that on April 20, 2010, the oil drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, operating in the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded and sank resulting in the death of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon and the largest spill of oil in the history of marine oil drilling operations. Four million barrels of oil flowed from the damaged Macondo well over an 87-day period, before it was finally capped on July 15, 2010. On December 15, 2010, the United States filed a complaint in District Court against BP Exploration & Production and several other defendants alleged to be responsible for the spill.

This move resulted in the recordsetting settlement with BP Exploration & Production for an unprecedented $5.5 billion Clean Water Act penalty and up to $8.8 billion in natural resource damages.

Many legal minds and environmentalist believe that were it in Nigeria, BP would have handed out laughable tokens as settlement without even the benefit of natural resource damage assessment and restoration planning.

Ex-British Envoy’s take‌ Meanwhile, in an interview with this reporter, former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pockock, denied that Shell is involved in dodgy business practices and uses the same operational standards as it does in Europe.

He also conceded that, like any other oil companies, Shell has been responsible from time to time for leakage and spills of their own which they attempt to address.

His words: “I am not sure there is a huge disparity in approach to be honest with you. Shell is an international oil company. It governs itself or tries to govern itself by rules that meet international standards. It is subject to scrutiny by stock market, shareholders, and public opinion and these have a huge reputational impact and Shell is very conscious of that. “They have been here since 1956

Osagie Okunbor, SHell MD

Adesola-Adeduntan First Bank MD

Meanwhile within the week, Shell arrested the judgment in the suit by Ejama community against it (SPDC) and First Bank Limited before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over their alleged failure to pay N122 billion (previously N17 billion) judgment debt to the community as ordered by a Federal High Court.

Shell’s surreptitious new move seemingly ies in the face of earlier speciďŹ c understanding it reached with the aected community, FirstBank, the High Court and eventually settled by the appellate court way back

to Nigeria’s economy now and in the future. “Secondly, they are genuinely trying to be good corporate citizens. You are not in a country since 1956 and without developing a considerate network of local responsibility, obligations, etc.�

The emerging consensus amongst the local human rights community is that major and even minor oil spills and exploration operations get less regulatory oversight, less money for cleanup, and less scientific sampling to determine the spill’s environmental effects. And a gross negligence suit is far less likely to happen if there isn’t significant public interest or an official investigation.

and they have been through extremely difficult times including the Biafra war, etc, and the insurgency in the Delta in the early part of the century. They are a massive investor in this country. “They bring in things that Nigeria needs and are beneficial to this country; technology, skills, training, jobs, access to international market etc. and they do more than that. They actually contribute very large sums of money to development in the Delta. They are doing many things that one would normally expect the state - either state or the federal government; infrastructure, schooling, health. “They are faced by some extremely difficult circumstances. Firstly, industrial scale oil theft. Shell has been responsible as any oil company is from time to time for leakage and spills of their own which they attempt to address. But most of the environmental damage in the Northern Delta is caused directly by oil theft.

Pockock also conceded that there is no oil company that is completely innocent of some transgression. According to him, “So while am not suggesting there is no hydro carbon company that is completely innocent of transgression of some kind, what am saying is that I think from everything I have personally seen, and read is that Shell is firstly very important

The CBN’s dimension As the Ejama drama plays out, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has asked a Federal High Court in Owerri not to make absolute the temporary garnishee order it granted six chiefs representing the Ogoni community, compelling it to pay the sum of N122.53 billion on behalf of First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank).

CBN’s lead counsel, Professor Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), while responding to a new suit filed by the judgment creditors (Ogoni chiefs) seeking to commit FirstBank, its chairman, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, and managing director, Dr. Sola Adeduntan, to prison for alleged contempt for not paying them the sum of over N122.53 billion, stated that making the order absolute and compelling the CBN to pay out the huge sum would be against the interest of justice because the matter was still pending at the Supreme Court.

But in his response, Nwosu stated that the Ogoni judgment creditors were entitled to the benefit of their judgment and opposed all motions by the CBN, Shell and FirstBank.

In all, the Ejama Community are ready to ensure that every legal means is used to make it happen despite the frustrations being put on their way by First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Shell’s bankers.

Hon. Joseph Ogosu’s Insight Honourable Joseph Ogosu the “OneEbo Egbama-Eta� of Ejamah community in Ebubu, Eleme LGA, Rivers State shares the genesis of his community’s travail with THISDAY. His words: “Well the genesis of this matter is as a result of the pollution done to our farmlands. In 1971, there was a serious explosion of a Shell pipeline, so the whole spill went wide covering 255 hectares of land. Ever since, we have been in this battle for them to come and settle us. They devastated the whole Place, the forests, the waterways, our fishponds, everything was damaged there. “Most times, they come to do minor mediation without actually compensating the people. We have had so many judgments in our favour. First the customary court in Rivers State gave us N4 billion.

Shell denied that, saying the customary court has no jurisdiction over this matter, it is the federal high court. “We came into the federal High court, from 2001 till 2010 we had a judgment of about N17 billion and some fraction.

That money is running on interest and has now accrued to one hundred and twenty two (N122bn). We are still chasing it up till now. So that is why we are here.

First Bank guaranteed Shell over the pending matter in the court of appeal that if this judgment fails, (They gave us that guarantee to stand as surety for shell) fortunately, they lost. I think that guarantee is what we are pursuing now.

It has taken us from 1993 till now. We are still on this matter. “We need this honourable court to listen to us and ask whoever, whether it’s Firstbank, Shell, Central Bank, to quickly pay us our compensation. That’s why we are here.�

On the federal government’s promise to clean up Ogoni, the High Chief said the pledge was neither here nor there. “That Ogoni Clean up my brother is not something I will say here. It is more or less a political issue. Nothing has been done,� he clarified.

On the possibility of rancor coming into the Ejama community when FisrtBank pays up, he dismissed such a possibility.

His words: “We will not fight over this money. Everybody now in my place is praying for this money to come and we will use it to do so many things. There are so many things to use money for.

Describing the situation on the ground currently he told THISDAY that, “Our community is slowly dying. In the first place, you know ours is a rural community where the only source of our drinking water is the streams. That is also where we do our fish farming. So many ponds, farms, forests are wilting. All these places, if you get there, you will see.

Even the sand. The sand is like hardcore because of the fire. So many things have been damaged there. “We don’t have drinking water; the health of the people is deteriorating fast because of this hazard. Even borehole in my place now, there is a problem because no borehole is good again There is no depth you will get to and water comes out that you don’t have taste of oil. We are suffering and shell can’t even provide us common water. “They have done nothing for our community - the Ejamah people in Eleme local government, they have done nothing for us. We are classified under the Ogoni division because we are in the same senatorial district. This case is the Ejamah community against shell.�

Gutsy Nwosu (SAN) leads the charge One personality at the heart of Ejama Community’s search for justice from Shell is Lucious Nwosu a brilliant Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and lead counsel for the embattled community.

Through thick and thin, he has remained resolute and determined with his team of lawyers one of whom is Lawal Rabama.

Flowing from his passion for protection of the human environment Nwosu has always insisted that oil majors operating in Nigeria must also use European field operation standards because Nigerians are no less human. He insists that Shell dare not do what it is doing in Nigeria and getting away with, in Europe.

There is little question that without his tenacity, the Ejama community’s push for justice would have been snuffed out by the powerful European oil giant – Shell and its bankers, FirstBank. Little wonder it was Lucious Nwosu (SAN) that drove the legal fireworks that led to payment of compensation to Odi community.

In the legal community, Nwosu is clearly setting the standards for environmental litigations and his distinguished peers are, not surprisingly, watching and learning. In an environment where the state is often accused of complicity by handling defaulting oil majors with kid gloves, more resolute fighters like Nwosu are needed.

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RIGHT OF REPLY

Re: One Appointment Too Many for Our Festus Keyamo Niyi Fatogun

I

read with amusement an article written by one Chief Ojike John Akiri entitled “One Appointment Too Many for Our Festus Keyamo� and published in your Newspaper, the Saturday edition of May 19, 2018 in which he greatly eulogized Festus Keyamo, SAN for his undying spirit in standing up for the downtrodden in the country. Chief Akiri justified this attribute of Keyamo and likened it to that of his late boss, the inimitable Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN of blessed memory.

The masses, he submitted, had long viewed Keyamo as their “new Gani Fawehinmi�. However, Chief Akiri inexplicably veered off course by engaging on an expedition of outright condemnation of the same Keyamo, the defender of the oppressed, for daring to accept his recent appointment as Spokesperson of President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election campaign. Let me pause here to lecture Chief Akiri on how he got it all wrong at this point, both in perspective and in history.

Firstly, when you are fighting for the masses, you are struggling to protect their interests. In doing this, one should be prepared to go to any length to achieve this. The mistake the likes of Chief Akiri are making is that they are equating “fighting for the masses� to opposing and abusing every single government in power. How that mentality came about in Nigeria, I do not know. This is because, shorn of all politics, would any reasonable person question the steel and determination that the Buhari regime has employed in going after those who have stolen our common patrimony?

Would anyone who is sincerely patriotic frown at the humongous recoveries of stolen monies this government has made?

Do these recovered monies not belong to the masses of this country? Is President Buhari recovering those monies on behalf of himself or on behalf of the Nigerian people? So, sincerely, do people like Akiri now expect people like Mr. Keyamo to lend their voices to those who oppose the recoveries under the guise of some warped theories of human rights, rule of law or “selective probe�?

Unfortunately for Chief Akiri, since he decided to use Chief Gani Fawehinmi as a standard bearer for lampooning Mr. Keyamo, then he just destroyed the very essence of his article and fatally cut the ground from under his own feet. If Mr. Akiri has read the Press Release by which Mr. Keyamo accepted the offer to serve, he would not have even picked his pen to write. Let me recall what Mr. Keyamo wrote: “In doing this, I take a cue from my revered late boss, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN who mentored me. Throughout his career, he also consistently and fiercely engaged every government in Nigeria and suffered as a result. Guess what? THE ONLY GOVERNMENT HE FULLY SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFETIME was that led by General Muhammdu Buhari in 1984 – 1985; and that was to the chagrin of some of his professional colleagues and fellow “radicals�. However, he saw what they did not see at that time, because when that government was overthrown by General Babangida, what followed was the worst era in our history in terms of institutionalizing corruption and political chicanery in Nigeria. In the 2007 Presidential election, my late boss again endorsed General Buhari in the following words: “When we talk of anti-corruption war, there is no way you will exclude General Buhari. I don’t want to hear what a political party is going to do, whether ANPP or PDP or NDP or which other political organization. Tell me who is leading the party, tell me who is leading the government, that’s my concern. It’s a matter of leadership. This is a serious election, very serious one�.�

Let me further educate Mr. Akiri also about what he does not know about Chief Gani Fawehinmi that he used as a standard bearer. All his life, in the fight against corruption by any Government, Gani supported the use of any means possible, even when there was a perceived breach of the

Keyamo

Unfortunately for Chief Akiri, since he decided to use Chief Gani Fawehinmi as a standard bearer for lampooning Mr. Keyamo, then he just destroyed the very essence of his article and fatally cut the ground from under his own feet. If Mr. Akiri has read the Press Release by which Mr. Keyamo accepted the oer to serve, he would not have even picked his pen to write. Let me recall what Mr. Keyamo wrote rule of law. When he supported Buhari’s regime in 1984/85, he got into trouble with the NBA because he supported the use of Military Tribunals to try and jail politicians and he refused to boycott those Tribunals on the directives of the NBA. He was blacklisted as a result. Again, during the Ribadu tenure as the head of EFCC, Gani supported the removal of Governor Dariye of Plateau State from office on the grounds of corruption by less than one-third of the members of the House of Assembly (just six of them) after the other members sympathetic to the Governor were hounded by the EFCC, arrested and suspended from sitting. He gave the same support to the removal of Ayodele Fayose from office in 2006 under the same circumstance as Dariye. In one of his famous response, when reminded of the Rule of Law in the fight against corruption, Gani, thundered, “Rule of What?!â€?. Fayose and Dariye are still alive today to confirm what I am saying for those who forget history so easily. A simple google search will also give you the result.

It is for this reason, Gani (the standard bearer for Chief Akiri) supported Buhari till his death. When Gani lost his dear mother in 2003, the ONLY past Head of State or President he invited to the burial in Ondo State was Buhari and Buhari

cannot afford to switch sides and begin to act or speak on the side of these looters.

His natural inclination is to find himself in bed with the man (President Buhari) that has been acknowledged globally as an honest leader. If you google to find any such description of any past leader in Nigeria, nothing comes up.

It would also be nice to remind the likes of Akiri about what some other “heroes� of the masses and those who fought for our democracy did in the past and are still doing today. Our own revered Professor Wole Soyinka was invited by the Military regime of General Babangida to be the pioneer head of the Federal Road Safety Corp. He accepted and served meritoriously. Our own Tai Solarin was invited by the same Military regime of Babangida to come and be the pioneer Chairman of the Peoples’ Bank. Tai Solarin accepted and served meritoriously. In both cases, they reasoned rightly or wrongly that they were protecting the interests of the masses by their roles. Do not tell me that those roles are different from that of Keyamo now.

You cannot say you do not eat beef but you eat the soup cooked with beef.

There are others, too numerous to mention, who fought so hard for our democracy and are today teaming up with Buhari’s Government or his party in different capacities. There are journalists like Babafemi Ojudu, Bayo Onanuga and obliged him and attended. If anyone does Kayode Fayemi. There are great student not now this side of Gani, just ask any leaders like Opeyemi Bamidele. Then there editor old enough, and you would be are the NADECO leaders like Asiwaju educated.

Bola Tinubu. I just googled Chief Akiri’s I have read some very funny articles name in relation to the fight for democracy since Mr. Keyamo’s acceptance saying if and the result was blank. I also googled to Gani were to be alive, he would have been turning in his grave and changed his mind see whether he campaigned for Gani he so loves in 2003 when Gani ran for President on Buhari and bla bla bla. Rubbish! We are and the result is also blank. here talking about what Gani ACTUALLY Let me also remind the likes of Akiri that DID and you are there saying WHAT YOU this Government was voted in by 15 milASSUME HE WOULD HAVE DONE!.

What people do not know is that to Gani, lion Nigerians. It is not a military regime that others served. It was democratically in the fight against corruption, all was fair. elected by the masses of this country. Mr. Therefore, all the examples Chief Akiri Keyamo stands with those masses. It is cited about some perceived breach of the only INEC that can tell us in 2019 whether rule of law like the release of the looters’ that support has dwindled or increased, list by this Government, the exposure of and not some self-conceited fellow in his Ekweremadu’s assets by some unconventional means etc, are all consistent with the bedroom.

Finally, Mr. Keyamo is not a coward like use of all means possible to fight corrupmany others who hide behind one finger tion. The very funny thing Chief Akiri and try and campaign for their preferred could not recall is that during Obasanjo’s candidates or parties using all kinds of regime, there was a weightier thing that innuendoes, like Akiri. He tragically gave happened than the release of the looters’ himself away as a stanch member of PDP list. It was a list of “corrupt persons� just when he used expressions like “our amicompiled and released by EFCC, (not for able National Chairman of the golden era public consumption alone like this one) but with a directive from Government that of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus�. He should have been clear from the outset that he was they were banned from running for any writing for PDP and that they are uncomkind of office. Guess what? Some of them fortable with the choice of Mr. Keyamo as were not even invited at all by the EFCC President Buhari’s re-election Spokesperto answer to any allegation nor did they know they were being investigated. Again, son. That was the same way a PDP thug in Awka also reacted sometime in April Akiri’s standard bearer, Gani, came out fully in support of that move. The younger after Mr. Keyamo’s appointment. It is a ones are free to google all these facts or sim- blatant lie that Mr. Keyamo was attacked.

Let me recall here what Mr. Keyamo told ply make their research in any old library Premium Times after the incident: with old newspapers. It was that kind of “First of all, the report was wrong; list that was used to disqualify people like nobody attacked me. There was no such Peter Odili, Rotimi Amaechi and Rahman thing. I went to do my normal legal work Mimiko from running for office under the in Awka; I went to defend some persons platform of the PDP. I did not see Akiri’s in Awka. When I was coming out of court, article at that time. there were large number of people and So, my dear Mr. Akiri, Keyamo’s open they were all congratulating me and support for President Buhari is even a were very happy with me. Then one milder form of the kind of support Chief Gani Fawehinmi gave him. Therefore, you known PDP thug in that area who is not a businessman, a known PDP thug, was at can see that Mr. Keyamo has not deviated one single inch from the path he laid out for a distance. He was just shouting that they will not vote for Buhari, they will not vote himself from the beginning and from the path set by his revered late boss, Chief Gani for Buhari. And some of the members of Fawehinmi. There is no single strand of in- the crowd said ‘Vote for your own choice consistency in the rich history of Mr. Festus now’. It was as simple as that. That was what happened and then I entered my Keyamo, SAN. True to his training, he has vehicle and left. There was no such thing been consistent, unbending, unyielding at all.� and uncompromising. His latest exploits Mr. Keyamo owes nobody any apologies as the Director of Strategic Communicaor explanation for his personal decision to tion for President Muhammadu Buhari stand by the man the corrupt elements and Campaign Organisation is borne out of a desire to be on the opposite side with those looters love to hate. Mr. Keyamo will only add to their nightmare. And that is consiswho have looted our common patrimony and who seek to return in 2019. He realizes tent with his position with the masses. He will only stand taller with the people after there is only ONE REAL opponent to the this assignment.

President and that opponent consist of –Niyi Fatogun, A Nuclear Engineer and those who partook of the grand corruption of yesteryears. So, even with all the human an IT Consultant wrote from Abuja. faniyi. fatogun@gmail.com foibles of President Buhari, Mr. Keyamo

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 26, 2018

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VINTAGE/TRIBUTE Chito Nwana

More Doctors on their Way Out of Nigeria

The Chairperson, Guild of Medical Directors (Abuja chapter), Chito Umenyi Nwana, is an American trained Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Medical Director ofTabitha Medical Center Jabi, Abuja. In a chat, which was more like an outburst of anger, feeling of neglect and reluctance on the part of authorities to tackle the problem, Nwana tells Stanley Nkwazema, that more doctors will be on their way out, crippling the already beleaguered system

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t is no longer news that Nigerian doctors are dumping this country in their thousands, running away from the crushing economic hardships for better opportunities outside this country. Even Ghana is becoming a destination of choice for these Nigerians.

Several reasons have been highlighted in the past as the causes. It however looks like there is no remedy in sight any soon.

Since 2015, different agencies of government within Abuja and other parts of the country have descended on private hospitals with duplicitous multitude of crippling taxes. The government through its agencies is making life difficult for health care practitioners and will ultimately force many to close. This will have a devastating effect on health care delivery in the FCT as private hospitals currently treat up to 70% of patients requiring health care.

The Chairperson, Guild of Medical Directors, Abuja chapter, Doctor Chito Umenyi Nwana agrees, saying, “It is a true observation that there is exodus; medical doctors, medical practitioners and other allied health workers are walking out in their large numbers. This is having a significant negative effect on our nation and the citizenry. From my perspective, I don’t think health is seen as a priority. I think that not being able to properly invest in the health sector is affecting us negatively. Nigeria is one of the countries that spend the lowest percentage of their budgets on health care. It makes no sense to me; this is a country where most citizens are not healthy?

“The private health sector suffers already from lack of hospital financing options, high cost of equipment and medical supplies.

So, it is quite unfair that instead of the government to support or partner with us, we are daunted by multiple taxation and levies, illegal collection and extortions, especially from the local government councils.

It seems that government and its agencies do not realise the vital importance of private hospitals in meeting the health care needs of Nigerians.”

Showing letters and threatening notices from various agencies, Nwana stated that private hospitals in Nigeria run under very small margins because their revenues are

Nwana

consumed by unnecessary government taxes which affect their standard of care and survival.

She said: “For instance Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) is a major culprit in this regard. We are regulated by what is called the FCT Primary Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC); they inspect and certify that you are able to practice or have the right things to operate a hospital. Then AMAC sends another team that has no expertise in this area telling you that they have to inspect

and you have to pay another fee. We pay to Abuja Environmental Protection Board very high fees (approximately N1million/ year for a 6 bed hospital) for solid wastes and then AMAC comes to harass you to pay for the same wastes. “So, are we to pay to both when only one of them can clear the waste? We have multiple taxes and levies that we categorize as non-operating expenses.

For example, tenement rate, environmental audit report, notification of environmental services/inspection, radio and television tax, signboard/advert fees, operational permit/ trade license (shop/kiosk) to mention but a few. These fees are in hundreds of thousands.

The worse part of it is that sometimes we are asked to pay to the private account of their technical partners which I consider fraudulent.

“Health establishments are being taxed to death by various agencies within the FCT in a manner that is guaranteed to force many out of business. The danger of this to the community is that it will not only further deplete the medical workforce but also diminish quality access to health care services. It is pertinent to emphasize the distinction between a purely commercial entity and private health facilities that render an essential social service.

“I listened to a political speech recently where some programmes that were set up to improve health care were highlighted. I was curious to know who the beneficiaries of these programmes were. There is no success in any programme until it is properly implemented to have its desired impact. We just have too many policies but no implementation. We also hope that legislation will come up that will protect the private health sector from multiple taxations. According to the reports, last year the Senate approved mandatory treatment for gunshot victims without considering the fact that this may not be achieved if the private facilities can’t afford to provide these services.

“This year, the Senate also called for a state of emergency in the public health sector without realizing that the key is private public partnerships. So you see some legislators are not even aware of the importance of the private sector that provides approximately 6070% of healthcare to the citizenry of Nigeria and especially the FCT. We were so relieved when we met Senator Mao Ohabunwa

(Chairman, Primary Health Care & Communicable Disease) who not only listened to us but understood our plight. He was quite concerned about the state of the health sector and promised to support us as we strive to provide quality care. He went further to lay our petition on the floor of the senate and we are expecting to be heard by the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee.”

Interestingly, Dr. Nwana is one of the medical practitioners that returned from the Diaspora: “I guess I went the opposite direction. It is going to affect us because we don’t have many specialists, and we don’t have that many doctors. Based on a recent report, there are only 72,000 registered medical practitioners in Nigeria of which only 35,000 are currently practicing in this country. Nigeria needs about 333,000 doctors to satisfy its healthcare needs and an influx of 10,500 new doctors annually to cater for the population growth rate. Of the current number of doctors serving here, 80 per cent have applied to work overseas.

“When I interview health professionals, I usually ask them where they see themselves in five years. More than 80 per cent see themselves either training or working abroad. Most of these doctors are super intelligent but they do not see a clearly defined career path so they seek it overseas.

This has led to significant brain drain in the medical field and reduced access to care for the population.

“It is important to note that to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), there must be enough health facilities to meet the needs of the population. At presently, Nigeria lacks adequate public and private health facilities and is unable to meet the need of its citizenry. There has to be better partnerships, collaboration and cooperation between the public and private sector to develop a system that will improve access to healthcare. It is however unfortunate that this important relationship is lacking in our country. Private health establishments are being overburdened by multiple taxation charges and levies that have forced some establishments to close or reduce their standard of care in order to remain open.”

Aregbesola: A Governor Forever Committed to the Masses Olumuyiwa Jimoh

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he month of May floods me with great memories. This is not just because of the great events that mark it out but because it heralds the rising into mother earth of a man of destiny, a man whose life has impacted and has continued touching many lives here and abroad positively. A quintessential leader and a proud son of Osun who has chosen to write his name in the annals state of Osun with great works and service to his people.

I have always held this opinion and have consistently found it to be true that the almighty God has a purpose for all that happens. He has a reason for creating certain individuals and at specific seasons because he is the God of purpose and seasons. It is therefore not by coincidence that God will chose this month in which the struggle for the emancipation of the globe from the gyres of oppression and enthrone a fairer world to bring into existence the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Last Friday, the 25th of May, he celebrated his birthday.

Governor Aregbesola was born into struggle and was thus baptised into a life that could as best be described as an embodiment of the struggle to emancipate the downtrodden. He was born refined in the furnace of the various life struggles. He experienced difficulties as a growing child having not been born with the fabled silver spoon but in a family of humble means. It was these circumstances that shaped his world view and imbued in him that singular determination and passionate commitment to serve the poor masses to

Aregbesola

lift them out of poverty whenever he finds the opportunity.

This has fortunately defined him and has become the building blocks for his governance activities and overall direction in state of Osun. He has been running a government that has not only transformed the state infrastructure wise, within the limited resources available to it, and the huge personnel cost thrust upon its lean purses which is one of the highest in the country, but has also

transformed the lives of the people as a firm believer in the power of the people to create and energise development in any clime.

In this amiable Governor, Osun and her people have recovered their lost glory and indeed have found a greater voice in Nigeria becoming a reference point in many instances.

His government has become a model of how best to deliver effective governance to a people within the context of meagre resources. He has shown exceptional creativity in this regard.

This is not surprising given his antecedents, beliefs and avowals as a growing person who is a strong believer in the people driven by rarefied thoughts of Marxist-Leninism.

He has become a proud scion of this school of thought in Nigeria as he has not betrayed its dictates in his governance of Osun State this past 7 years. He has practiced what he preached and state of Osun is clearly better for it.

His Governance of Osun has indeed rekindled the hope of the citizenry of Osun state and indeed others from other states of the federation on the promises which democracy holds for the progress of humanity. He is a man under whose guidance the state has acquired value for every Naira and Kobo it has spent in projects. He has refused to join the maddening crowd of looters but insisted that good governance must be delivered to his people. That explains the great achievements at minimum cost to the state.

It is therefore our duty to celebrate His Excellency’s birthday as a shining star of our democracy so that others in leadership position in Nigeria especially our Governors would be encouraged to emulate the virtues of this MAN, and provide impactful leader-

ship for their citizenry. That is our understanding of the thinking behind celebrating the lives of people and one of the ways of building democracy in Nigeria.

He is a man blinded to primordial sentiments. He is not ruled by where you come from and what religion you practice but believes in rewarding excellence and exceptional talents. He is not afraid of seeking out talents, nurturing them and encouraging them to grow and become better so that the community and the Nigerian project can become better served. This did not start today but has been part of his personality for a very long time.

Without sounding immodest, we would boldly say that Osun is blessed to have him as their Governor. His achievements as a Lagos Commissioner under the able leadership of Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu speak for themselves. They were the signature achievements of that regime and laid the foundation for the great standards which lagos state has become in the nation’s governance structure.

Osun indeed has a bright future all because of Aregbesola. We are proud to celebrate him as he marks his birthday.

He has provided guidance and mentorship to many young men and that explains the nature and number of young men who form the nucleus of his government. Providing opportunities for the youth and believing in their ability to perform has truly given many which includes people like my humble self to participate in the nation’s democracy and contribute positively to the nation’s governance.

– Honourable Olumuyiwa Jimoh is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly Representing Apapa 11 Constituency

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ 2018

MEMOIRS Elder Isaac Sunday Tapere

HowIBecameBoardDirectorofaBritish-Owned Company for Returning £10,600 in 1976 What will you do? You are living in 2019 and somebody throws a bunch of dirty sheets of newspapers out of the window of a car. It falls on your face. You hold it as you curse under your breath and squeeze into the shape of your fist in anger as if ready to hurl it as missile at the car. You feel some hardness in the piece. You open it and £10,000. What will you do? While thinking about what you will do, let’s go back in time and space.

It was 1976, a man who had suffered all his life –never got to know his father – bought goods worth some £12,000. But he was –mistakenly – charged £1,400. The octogenarian (who turned 80 recently), the man who was the beneficiary of that mistake, Elder Isaac Sunday Tapere, in this interview with Funke Olaode narrates what led to the episode and what resulted following that financial error. He also talks about how he rose from selling medicine on the street to becoming one of Nigeria’s leading manufacturers. Tapere’s TISCOL products are testimonials of his ingenuity, industry, honesty, and perspicacity, as he experienced travails and triumphs My father died when I was two years M old o

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was born in Owo in the old Western Region now in Ondo State on May 1, 1938. By the time I was born, my mother was a petty trader and a member of Christ Apostolic Church and my father was a carpenter.

Unfortunately, I only had faint memory of him because he died w when I was two years old. It was a blow ffor me and my sibling because my mother h had to fill the void he left. She had four cchildren who died at infancy before she eeventually had my immediate elder sister aand me. Of course, this was what pushed h her to CAC when the faith was brought tto Owo. Growing up as a fatherless child w with a mother who wasn’t economically b buoyant was tough. So as a child, the m mantle of responsibility fell on me early iin life. I can recall at age eight, I used tto fetch firewood and sell it. The money g generated from it would take care of ffeeding and my school fees.

Growing up was tough G

Owo was a primitive setting but we e enjoyed our normal life. There was no pipe-borne p water and other basic amenit ties.

We didn’t even know that electricity existed e but we noticed that the palace was always lit with generator at night. That a gave a glimpse that there is life beyond log cal c life we were used to. We were used to local lamp called ‘fitila’ and the gas lamp l only reserved for late-night parties. That o was w how we lived our lives as children.

For F me, it was a regimented lifestyle because after school, I would engage in b chores for my mum and sometimes go to c the t farm to get firewood for sale which I would divide into one kobo each. So it was w tough for me as a child. It takes perseverance, determination and commitment s to t be able to withstand the circumstances I found myself. But in this face of adversity, f something kept me going. It is hope. The s hope I had was that I would succeed with h hard labour. Again, I was a brilliant lad h in i school which made things easy for me academically.

I finished Standard Six in a flying colours. There was no money to fl further my education. f

My mother taught me honesty M

Elder Eld lder er T Tapere...recently aper ap ere e re rece cent ntlly

Despite being the only shoulder that I cried on, my mother tried her best and I c would w forever be grateful for her support.

W When I wanted to start primary school, s took me to the school where they she g gave her the list of needed items: exercise b books, chalk, slate, and one other thing.

M mother bought them and kept them My i my bag. When I was going to school, in s drummed it into my ear that ‘Sunday, she t things I have not given you don’t bring i into this house.’ Anytime I am coming it b back from school she would meet me b the door, turn my school bag upside by d down and count and ensure that there w nothing ‘foreign’ in it. This placed was

my feet on the foundation of transparency, integrity and accountability. I was not rascally. I could do all chores back then, helping my mother.

I aspired to be a trader

I was about seven years old when my mother enrolled me at St. Peter’s Christ Apostolic Church in 1954 in Owo. I was excited the day my mother enrolled me in that school because it opened a new phase in my life. It was a struggle going through primary school and the only aspiration I had was to go into trading. I knew quite well that going into tertiary education was a tall dream. I finished primary school in 1954 and joined the Medical Field Unit in 1955 with salary of six pounds and 10 shillings. We were 10 candidates employed by the Western Government in Owo.

Road to self-discovery

I finished primary school with distinctions. My only inspiration was either to be a priest or a teacher. I didn’t have any role model. But the road to self-discovery into the line of trading sprung up when I went to Ibadan in January 1955 looking for a job. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t find a job. Although a stationery store wanted to employ me as a messenger and offered me one pound and 10 shilling a month, I turned it down. Then another friend told me that I should ask my mother to send some money to me so that we could go into business of patent medicine. I wrote a letter to my mother in Owo to send me some money and she did. She sent me two pounds and 10 shilling. I bought a small box and purchased some medicine and would go to Aba Alade in Akinyele in Oyo Road, in Ibadan selling medicine in 1955. The business was doing well but I still felt my vision was bigger than being a hawker of medicine. I quit the job and came back to Owo and someone gave me a note to seek employment at medical field unit at GRA in Owo. I wrote an application to them and got a reply for an interview. The unit was to employ 15 young primary schoolleavers but decided to employ 10 and I was among the successful candidates. I was doing well but there was an inner voice telling me that I could do well beyond being a health officer. In Ibadan, one of my townsmen was selling medicine and had a shop where he sold branded products. I was fascinated by his lifestyle because he was making good profit. I had it in my mind that if I wanted to go into trading I would like to be like the man selling branded products. The inspiration to go into trading was further ignited.

Seeking greener pasture in Lagos

I resigned my appointment with Medical Field Unit in 1960 after six years and relocated to Lagos in 1964. Prior to that time, I had visited Lagos in 1960 when I came to pay deposit to Evans Medical on Lagos Island. I started with

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 26, 2018

MEMOIRS MY FATHER DIED AT 40, MOTHER AT 55, I BEGGED GOD TO LET ME REACH 60 My best moment was 1998 when I turned 60. The excitement was borne out of the fact that I never knew I would attain that age. My father died at age 40. My mother died at 55. I prayed to God that if He could spare me to attain the age of 60, I would thank Him. In fact, as an act of gratitude, l imported an organ for my church. And when I turned 70, I built a church for my community in Owo. Life, they say, is not a bed of roses. I have had my low moments when I lost one of my daughters – a medical doctor in the United States on April 2, 2016.

She was a brilliant young lady. It hurts but I take solace in the word of God

them as an agent in Owo buying their products. I didn’t have any financial backing. I knew that in business if you toe the path of honesty you would succeed. When I started earning six pound 10 shillings in a month as salary I cultivated the habit of saving two pounds every month with First Bank in Owo. At the end I was able to save £200 which I used as my initial capital to start my business. I paid £100 to Evans Medical and kept the remaining £100 for running around. I was buying all the products of Evans Medical and bringing them down to Owo to sell. By 1964, I relocated to Lagos to start my own business fully. I established TISCO with my name – Tapere Isaac Sunday Company. I started Tisco in 1970. Until that time, I was buying products from Evans Medical, GBO and Brian Munro Ltd. The business was booming. By 1970 I opened my trading store at No. 16, Church Street. In 1976, I built my sales office at Ilupeju a four-storey building named TISCO Nigeria Limited where I branded all the products in my name such as Tisco antiseptic, medicines, etc. At that time I was importing some of these products and would brand it in my name. I built my own factory in Akure in 1984. I was importing and repackaging it in my factory, including Sensodyne toothpaste. All the range of Tisco products is still alive in my factory in Akure. I didn’t have any prior knowledge or technical know-how but faith and determination played a key role in my case. I did not engaging in sharp practices when I started, so people embraced my products wholeheartedly. Again, when I went abroad l went to all my suppliers to learn and tap from their knowledge. I also attended a lot of seminars in America. In fact, in 1995, I won the American Visa lottery and currently I am an American citizen and I travel anywhere without stress.

Tapere with wife, Yetunde

How Brian Munro enlarged my coast

If I could turn back the hands of clock, I would have wished to acquire all the certificates. And this upsets me that I didn’t have the opportunity to go to secondary school or university. There was a time the then managing director of Brian Munro Ltd noticed that I wasn’t really happy. He looked at me and said, ‘Isaac, you look unhappy. What is the problem?’ I simply answered him that my lack of secondary and university education sometimes bothers me. The man said, ‘Do you know I never had my ‘A’ levels in England? I decided to go to the Second World War, came back and today I am a success story. Life is not a straight route but this gave me courage that one can still succeed. The lesson really is God has given me grace to be honest because his company later lifted me up. I was a customer to Brian Munro Ltd and bought some products from them. The goods were worth about £12,000. Unfortunately, the Brian Munro accountant wrote invoice of £1,400 with shortage of £10,600. This was 1976. At that time, I had seven staff working with me in Church Street. One of the employees – a lady – who checked the invoice discovered the disparity and brought my attention to it. I was driving a brand new 504 then. I picked my cheque book and drove down to Brian Munro’s office in Apapa. You know what? Satan, the propeller of evil spirit entered my car and was telling me that why I was disturbing myself that it was my gain because they would not know. I went to the then MD, Mr. Nigel Rapp, brought out my cheque and wrote the balance. When the owner of the business, Stanley Powell, returned they reported to him what had transpired. The man asked the secretary to call me on the telephone that I should come to Apapa. I went to see him and the man narrated what had happened between me and his company and I said yes. My honest gesture further confirmed my emphasis that not all Nigerians are corrupt that that there are many honest people in Nigeria. This man gave me a handshake and made me a director and I happened to be the first Nigerian director in that company in 1976. I am still on the board to date.

The lesson really is that honesty pays.

Tapere...third on the left with his colleagues at health personnel Tapere (left) with one of his late colleagues, Ojo during their service year as staff of Medical Field Unit in 1956

I never knew I would be 60

My best moment was 1998 when I turned 60. The excitement was borne out of the fact that I never knew I would attain that age. My father died at age 40. My mother died at 55. I prayed to God that if He could spare me to attain the age of 60, I would thank Him. In fact, as an act of gratitude, l imported an organ for my church.

And when I turned 70, I built a church for my community in Owo. Life, they say, is not a bed of roses. I have had my low moments when I lost one of my daughters – a medical doctor in the United States on April 2, 2016.

She was a brilliant young lady. It hurts but I take solace in the word of God.

Getting personal

I got married in 1967 to Florence Yetunde from Ajowa Akoko, whom I met through one of my auntie’s daughters who attended Christ School, Ikare. Incidentally, the lady and my wife-to-be then were roommates. The marriage is blessed with many children. Though I never went beyond primary school my children have made up for me. I had a medical doctor and an engineer; all of them are graduates even with master’s degrees.

Life at 80

The secret is contentment. I don’t bear grudges. More than anything, I listen to my body. If it asks me to sleep, I will sleep. If it asks me to sit, I will. My parents didn’t attain the age of 60 and some of my friends told me it was generic. I started meditating and wasn’t happy about premature death notion. I later realised that those who have parents who are close to 90 years can actually die young because God controls life of human beings.

Sometimes when you sleep you only know that you are alive when nature forces you to wake up maybe to

go and urinate or meditate. The lesson is that you are not the owner of your life. There is a supreme being somewhere who can take it at any time.

Life’s aspiration

Well, no man fulfils life’s aspiration and even at 80 it is about to be fulfilled because I still have some projects in the pipeline. I launched into some small businesses recently. I am trying to set up a job – a kind of empowerment – for youths in my locality. I have built a processing company. In fact, I am currently attending a training programme with Dizengoff Nig. Ltd, an Israeli company. I want them to train my people to know how to manage the business. This is going to be my relaxation in retirement. So as long as you are still living, aspiration continues. So I want people to remember me as someone who had interest in lifting other people.

Feeling the hand of providence

Honestly, in all of this I can see the hand of providence pushing me to be able to do what I have been doing. I believe in God because anytime I have any idea it usually ends up being a great reality. This tells us that there is nothing anybody can achieve without God’s hand in it. I remember when I bought the land where TISCO Plaza is in Ikeja many years ago, the spirit said I should develop it. And when God asks me to do something He would support me. So, for the upcoming ones who believe that until you have parents who have money that is only when they can make it, I tell people the story of my life at symposia that I came from a poor home and didn’t have a faint recollection of my father. But God helped me to succeed through hard work, honesty and uprightness. So, the only shortcut to success is hard work and not by cutting corners.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͺ͞, 2018

POLITY

Ogun APC Leads in Peaceful Congress Wole Elegbede

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nternal democracy is “sine qua non� to the health, growth and development of political parties. It entails adherence to the constitution of the parties, upholding the principles of justice, fairness, openness and transparency, as well as imbibing the culture of sportsmanship by members of the party especially after any election.

On Saturday, May 19, 2018, in line with the constitution of the party and its avowed responsibility of protecting the larger interest of democracy in Nigeria, the All Progressive Congress (APC) conducted state congresses across the federation.

The conduct of the congresses to elect the new state executive officers to manage the affairs of the party for the next four years had engendered a lot of interest in the country against the backdrop of the next general election in less than one year.

In Ogun State, congress was held behind the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta. Rev. Peter Obadan, who is a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, led the Congress Committee from the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

The teeming members of APC in Ogun State had reckoned with the role and intervention of President Buhari in making sure that the party followed the provisions of its constitution in the conduct of the congresses from the ward to the local government, state and national levels. As Governor Ibikunle Amosun pointed out at the venue, “we wouldn’t have witnessed this congress but for President Buhari.�

The venue of the congress was well-organised. Each of the 20 local governments in the state had its own canopy with

inscriptions boldly indicating their names.

Tags were given to them before entry into the venue, and no one was allowed by security personnel to enter without tag.

The transparent ballot boxes were placed under a canopy openly at the centre of the venue. It is imperative to underscore the successful conduct of the congress. The delegates filed out in an orderly manner to cast their ballot. The Congress Committee and the LOC, with the onerous task of sorting and counting of the ballots, did their work transparently and without fear, favour or reproach. On the whole, the conduct of the congress was peaceful and highly commendable.

Obadan, announced the result of the voting exercise with a former Senior Special Adviser (SSA) on Political Matters to the governor, Chief Derin Adebiyi, emerging as the newly elected Chairman.

Chief Adebiyi had, following his new assignment, tendered his letter of resignation as SSA to the governor. Alhaji Bashiru Fadairo and Hon. Patrick Ogunde were elected as Deputy Chairman and Secretary respectively. The results of the 32 other members of the state executive committee were also announced. The election was conducted in the presence of a delegation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security officials.

How was Ogun State able to organise a successful congress amid reports of the challenges faced in other states of the federation in the conduct of their own congresses? To start with, reports from the field indicated that Ogun State had the best organised and most peaceful congress in the country. Much of the success could be traced to the tact, tenacity and sincerity of purpose of the leader of APC in Ogun State, Governor Amosun.

Amosun had worked assiduously to promote unification and politics of inclusiveness within the party. Before now, suggestions had been made in certain quarters of a gulf within the party, especially between Amosun and one of the revered leaders of the party and elder statesman, Chief Olusegun Osoba. These suggestions had been dismissed. However, in order to show that APC in Ogun State remains one family, the governor consolidated upon his cordial relationship with Osoba. The unity within the party was further amplified by the presence of close associates of Chief Osoba at the congress, including but not limited to the former Deputy Governor under former Governor Osoba, Alhaji Adegbenga Kaka, Senator Akin Odunsi (who represented Ogun West in the Senate 2011-2015), Hon. Olumide Osoba (former House of Representatives member and son of Chief Osoba) and Hon. Abudu Balogun (former House of Representatives member).

Apart from Amosun and the aforementioned personages, other key APC figures present at the event were Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, the senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Kayode Tejuoso, the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Gbolahan Dada, former Senator Kola Bajomo, former Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, former Senator Lekan Mustapha, former Minister of State for Mineral Resources, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola, Member of House of Representatives, Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency, Mr. Kayode Oladele, Chief Doga Adewolu, Chief Femi Majekodunmi, Chief (Mrs.) Iyabo Ogunsan, Post-Master General of

the Federation, Asiwaju Bisi Adegbuyi, former Commissioner for Information Chief Kunle Elegbede, another former Commissioner for Information and House of Representative member, Alhaji Abdulateef Dele Ogunsiji, former Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr. Tunji Akinosi, Advertising guru, Mr. Remi Adetayo, Chairman of Ogun/Osun River Basin Development Authority, Mr. Sola Lawal, and former Housing Commissioner, Chief Daniel Adejobi.

In a short speech, Amosun thanked the members of Ogun State Congress Committee led by Rev. Obadan, the LOC, INEC officials, security agencies, government officials, delegates and the out-going members of the APC executive committee.

He opined: “This is the way it (the conduct of the election should be. It has been rancour free. It was more of a family affair. We in Ogun State should show the template and set example for others to follow. We have come to realise that our strength in this party lies in our unity just like the broom which is the symbol of our party. If you bend the broom together with the intention of breaking it, you cannot break the broom.

However, if you take only one stick of the broom, it can easily be broken, I am happy we have the spirit of give and take in our party, the spirit of developing the party and the spirit of knowing that the party bigger that everyone of us.�

The new Chairman of the party, Chief Adebiyi said in his acceptance speech that the success of the congress could be traced to the sterling qualities of Amosun.

He stated that new executive committee would pursue politics of inclusion, adding, “We will be firm and not tolerate indiscipline�.

L-R: Vice President, Brands and Marketing, Airtel Nigeria, Enitan Denloye; Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Ahmad Mokhles; Chief Creative Officer, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Lanre Adisa; and Executive Creative Director, Abolaji Alausa, during the presentation of awards won at African Cristal Festival in Marrakesh, Morocco to Airtel management team in Lagos yesterday

L-R: Head, HR and Administration, Nigerian-German Business Association (NGBA), Mrs victoria Francis; Director –General, NGBA, Gbenga Adebija; National President, NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), Mrs Modupe Oyekunle; and Executive Director, NNEW, Mrs Titilayo Eko, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigerian German Business Association and NNEW in Lagos ...recently

L-R: Executive Director, SIFAX O Dock, Major Henry Ajetunmobi; Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group, Mr. John Jenkins; General Manager, SIFAX Haulage and Logistics, Mr. Adewale Adetayo; and Executive Director, Human Resources and Administration, SIFAX Group, Dr. Mrs. Fola Rogers Saliu, at the commissioning and unveiling of 20 new trucks by SIFAX Haulage in Lagos...recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Alausa Mosque Manager, Mutiu Ogundepo; Chief Imam of Lagos Secretariat Central Mosque, Abdul-Gafar AbdulHakeem; Brand Manager, Lipton, Damilola Dania; and Brand Manager, Royco, Fatima Umar, during Lipton “Don’t Just Think; Do� Alausa Central Mosque activation in Lagos... recently

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 26, 2018

53

POLITY

Transforming Education: The Enugu State Example Nkem Ezugwu

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hrough steadfastness and a multidimensional approach, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor of Enugu State, is running with a vision of creating a globally competitive model learning centre in the state. He has so far given education a new momentum that has moved the state ahead from the deteriorating standard of education in the country.

Nigeria’s educational sector has waited for decades for a major government intervention needed to rebuild the capacity for high quality education in the country. In the absence of the needed intervention, educational standard has deteriorated from primary to tertiary levels of learning.

Nigeria lacks the basic requirements for building an excellent academic community.

Funding constitutes a serious challenge to educational development in the country and this has been the case even in the peak of crude oil earnings.

In a ranking of the world’s top 800 universities in July 2015, only one Nigerian university – the University of Ibadan made the list on the 601st position. Nigeria lags behind even in Africa’s ranking of universities. In the 2015 university web ranking of top 100 universities in Africa, Nigeria’s best entry was on the 31st position.

The poor and deteriorating quality of education in Nigeria was clearly unacceptable to the Enugu State Governor, who at the inception of his administration, took it upon himself to set an example for the nation a model of government intervention in the educational sector.

The Ugwuanyi-led Enugu State government defined a vision of making the state a model learning centre in the country and has since then run with a new zeal unmatched anywhere else in the country to make it happen.

The task was identified and a clear goal was set – which is to place education a level that is competitive worldwide.

An effective strategy for solution normally requires a clear understanding of the roots of a problem. Like a master craftsman, Ugwuanyi ensured a proper diagnosis of the problem of deteriorating standard of education in Nigeria and found that inadequate funding and lack of essential facilities are the significant variables.

He then gave the two critical areas the kind of attention never seen any time in recent memory and hardly matched anywhere else in the country.

A reinforcement of the educational foundation, he discovered, needs to be done at the primary school level and that became a key element of the new engagement. Ugwuanyi insists on the need to lay a proper educational foundation for pupils at that level. This informed his administration’s drive to reposition primary school education for enhanced performance. This is a message for the nation – that for any measure aimed at addressing the problem of declining standard of education to succeed, it has to necessarily begin at the primary school level.

Enugu State government, under Ugwuanyi has taken major steps to give primary schools development the priority accorded it under the millennium goals. World Bank’s grants are available for the development of primary

Ugwuanyi schools but most states aren’t keen about it because they aren’t willing or are unable to provide the counterpart fund.

The government of Enugu State ensured that the problem of funding did not hinder the attainment of the desired educational quality standard. The government sourced its counterpart fund for the World Bank’s grants for primary school funding through a term loan facility. With counterpart funding, the state’s Universal Basic Education Board gained access to the Universal Basic Education Commission fund.

This has enabled the state to overcome the usual problem of lack of funds for primary schools’ development. The state government has therefore been able to sustain effort in constructing new classroom blocks, renovating dilapidated structures, recruiting new primary school teachers and providing essential instructional resources, thus creating an effective learning system. It is the desire of the Ugwuanyi-led administration to raise the capacity for quality education at all levels within the state.

Ugwuanyi has so far sustained the drive to reposition primary schools in the state with a view to meeting the demands of the millennium. With improved funding, his government has attained great landmarks in renovating primary and secondary schools in the state and in procuring essential educational facilities, including computer facilities and electric power generators for public secondary schools.

Education is an essential tool for touching lives and recreating destinies of people and societies. This is precisely what Ugwuanyi has done with it so far in Enugu State. It is one step forward by the government of Ugwuanyi that

has registered grassroots impacts in Enugu State. A number of schools in dilapidated conditions have received facelifts across the state despite the revenue crisis that has hit government finances generally in recent years.

Government’s master plan for the development of education revolves around the provision of enabling learning environment to enhance teaching and learning at all categories of schools in the state. It is an integrated approach to lay a solid foundation at primary school level and ensure high quality rollout of graduates at tertiary levels of education.

In line with the broad strategy, the state’s ministry of education has taken steps to train secondary school teachers. This is a very important step, according to Ugwuanyi because “the teachers impart knowledge to the students and the update of their knowledge becomes necessary to keep abreast of the current issues in the profession”.

The ultimate goal of training teachers, he said, is to enthrone excellence at the secondary school level. Teachers’ training is designed to complement intensive rehabilitation of schools across the state and provision of instructional materials.

Government’s support to tertiary educational institutions in the state is part of the strategy to nurture quality graduates needed to actualize socio-economic development of the country.

Infrastructure improvement in the tertiary institutions is a key aspect of government intervention.

Institute of Management and Technology [IMT] Enugu has been upgraded to a degree awarding institution. The government of Ugwuanyi engineered the necessary machin-

Mojisola Saka: Making a Mark in Consumer Engagements

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here is a new class of highly educated and upwardly mobile career women making waves in the marketing communications sector. One of which and worthy of note is Mojisola Saka the current Chief Operating officer of Soulcomms Limited. She represents the “generation of the 360 degrees Marcomms expert” with her demonstrated expertise in consumer engagements & reputation management which over the years has won for her admiration from senior and upcoming colleagues as well as clients who have benefited from the fountain of her knowledge, deeply rooted strategic insights and

Bennett Oghifo

practical experience, such that it is hardly possible to list the front-row practitioners in the industry without a mention of her name.

Highly cerebral and very articulate, Mojisola’s approach to her job constantly reflects her personal philosophy of “standing and be known for the best”. This explains her penchant to strive to attain the highest standards for service delivery in strategic communications, engagements and messaging either on advertising, experiential, sponsorships, direct and social marketing or even in perception and reputation management which are her areas of competence.

At Soulcomms, Mojisola (the for-

mer banker), demonstrates a focused lead and strong commitment to the team. She runs an open door policy to ensure all are on the same page at every stage of a project the company handles, from planning to execution.

Her ability to lead her team from both the strategic and execution perspectives is extraordinary, the reason Soulcomms records one outstanding success after the other in every project it executes. This may however not be unconnected with her unending quest for improving quality of engagements, service delivery and international exposure in terms of training and working experience.

Mojisola Saka

ery for the realization of this objective. The governor has also provided financial support to the institution to meet its obligation for accreditation of some of its programmes by the National Board for Technical Education [NBTE] and to pay off salary arrears and boost staff morale.

Other decisive steps the governor has taken in the educational sector include the repositioning and revamping of the Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo where government has taken steps to ensure re-validation of old programmes and full accreditation of five new courses by NBTE. Government has released funds for procurement of workshop and laboratory equipment and other instructional materials required for full accreditation of all the institution’s academic programmes.

Ugwuanyi has made a special intervention at Enugu State College of Education Technical, which could not award certificates to its grandaunts for nine years due to non-accreditation of its courses. Government has provided the necessary facilities for the accreditation by the National Commission for Colleges of Education.

Ugwuanyi’s vision for education has an inclusive dimension designed to increase access to quality education. To this extent, he is opening up centres for non-formal secondary school education in the state to ensure that every individual is given equal access to education.

Target beneficiaries are children who have no opportunity of continuing their education after primary school. By this move, the governor has created a new opportunity for an increased number of people to go to school.

Beyond ensuring improved quality of school leavers, Enugu State governor has initiated an elaborate programme of entrenching entrepreneurial culture among the youth in the state after graduating from various institutions of higher learning. This represents a fundamental approach to addressing the problem of high rate of unemployment among university graduates in Nigeria and the resulting social evils arising from joblessness.

This step is expected to induce universities and other tertiary institutions in the country to take greater responsibility for vocational training of students. The message from what Ugwuanyi is doing at Enugu State is that the effort to address the problem in the educational sector needs an integrated approach that must involve fixing the breach from the classroom to the job.

Ugwuanyi is one state governor that has lived up to his claim that education is one of the four-point agenda of his administration. The role of government in the development of the educational sector is of primary importance.

How much importance that government places on education determines the quality of educational development attainable.

Nigeria’s poor ranking in educational standards even within Africa calls for a greater commitment to the development of education by federal and state governments as well as increased funding of the sector. If it can happen in Enugu State, it can happen in every state of the federation.

–Nkem, a public affairs analyst wrote from Ohodo, Enugu State

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ 2018

Salau

Afenifere, UPN are One Adedeji Salau worked with late MCK Ajuluchukwu in the Research Directorate of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) during the Awololwo era. The 71-year old politician, in this interview with Femi Ogbonnikan, speaks on the evolution of UPN and why it is desirable for the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, to identify with the party, ahead of the 2019 general elections, among others Many Nigerians consider UPN a regional party, because it lacks national spread.

Do you think it can make an impact in the 2019 general election? t is wrong to consider UPN or any other party in Nigeria a regional party, as every party has to satisfy a national requirement for registration as a political party. The UPN has members in all the states of the federation with their executive committees at the state, local governments and the ward levels. But the tempo of politicking is so low now because the APC government is starving almost everybody so much that the people have no time for politicking. We hope now that the coming general election will challenge people to change the government; the people will change the government and bring in a UPN government that is promising the four cardinal programmes of free education, free health services, rural integration and full employment.

Does your party have funds for the coming general elections?

How much is not enough for elections nowadays. We know the ruling party has amassed billions of Naira or even foreign monies from their foreign partners and sponsors. We are not competing on what they have in plenty with them but what they lack. They have plenty of money but lack credibility with failed promises. The late sage Awolowo once said there would be a time for the masses to fight for themselves. The time is now. The people will be directed by the party stalwarts to choose their representatives and delegates for the elections at all levels, plus donations by progressive elements and our members’ donation.

Isn’t it advisable for your party to enter into a coalition with one of these two major political parties that we have?

We are not considering joining any of the

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Salau discredited parties. Those of us who decided to resuscitate the UPN are frustrated by the lack of Awoist principles in all the parties.

These principles are honesty and dedicated services to the people.

Will your party ďŹ eld a presidential candidate in 2019?

Definitely, our door is open for all offices, including the Presidency. We already have one aspirant for presidency, talking seriously about his aspiration.

Is Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, supporting your party?

Afenifere is the reference pointer to Awolowo’s political movement in Yoruba land and indeed Nigeria. Naturally, Afenifere is supposed to be UPN. At its resuscitation, there was a communication gap. In fact, not too many people believe that the status quo in Nigerian could tolerate a principled party that carries Awolowo’s emblem. Now that the party is formed, it is meant to be taken over by the Awoists all over the country. We true Awoists have come a long way. We have our leaders all over the place; we have cultural affinity; and we do disagree among ourselves and like true democrats, we only disagree to agree democratically.

What has been the disposition of Afenifere to your party?

There is no true Afenifere person that will not like the UPN. We are the same people born by the same father, Awo, and political HID from Ikenne and we are lucky we still have our big uncles like Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Pa Reuben Fasoranti to keep showing the light for many years to come.

Recently, it was gathered that Afenifere was proposing to adopt SDP as a party for the southwest, how truthful is this?

The Afenifere cannot be compatible with SDP, except with UPN. The Afenifere and UPN did not collect a penny from anybody except from its members and financiers, like Rotimi Paseda from his personal donations. I want to make a correction, Afenifere, though is based in the South-West, its membership is all over the places in Nigeria and abroad.

And so, its endorsement will be more relevant to the UPN than any other party.

Moreover, the togetherness of Afenifere and UPN will be in continuation of the free education and free health services of the old UPN with their beneficiaries in millions as electorates. I want to give you the genesis of

the word, Afenifere. It was an acronym of the Action Group formed by Awo and his political associates. For reasons unknown to many, Afenifere did not appear during the more than five years of UPN because the UPN came up with its own apt acronym ‘Egbe Imole’ in Yoruba land and other acronyms in other languages like ‘Aske ‘ in Hausa. The name Afenifere resurfaced during the Abacha years. After the June 12 annulment, Abacha took over power from Ernest Shonekan and it dawned on the political class that another coup had succeeded in scuttling the June 12 agitation. And an enlarged meeting of Yoruba elders was called at Papa Ajasin’s house in Owo, Ondo State. By then, the late Chief Bola Ige had resumed his political activities which he suspended during his “Siddon dey look� period of the SDP and NRC, which the late Cicero of Ijeshaland described as two leprous fingers. In fact, he had held a meeting with patriots, like Chief Dayo Abatan, Ambassador Remi Farounbi, Kayode Akinsanya, among others, during which the name Afenifere was proposed. But the organisation did not take off beyond that meeting before this enlarged meeting in Papa Ajasin’s house. Then, at this meeting, Chief Bola Ige stood to make a motion. As Chief Bola Ige stood, he said at first, you brought Falae, ‘’a o mo eye tosu’’, literarily meaning, we do not know the bird that bred him. That is, we do not know from what political thought he came from but we voted for him. And again, you brought Abiola and we voted for him and that this had ended now. This time it must be made clear that this is Awolowo group, in name and deed and, therefore, I move that this group be called “Afenifere� and it was unanimously accepted and carried. So, Afenifere and UPN are one in Awo. The UPN can be invoked to continue the good deed in Awo and Afenifere, like the biblical three-in-one.

Lukman Mustapha

I’m Very Passionate about Kwara State Lukman Olayiwola Mustapha is a banker and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State. He is one of governorship aspirants of the PDP in the state. In this interview with select journalists, including Hammed Shittu, he speaks about his ambition, his chances, insecurity, among others Why are you in politics despite being well established in business? ’m very passionate about Kwara State and I have no other town, no other place that I can call my home than Kwara State.

Growing up, my first experience outside Ilorin was when I went to the university.

So, the zeal to make the community and state better has been there for decades. I must confess to you that in my own little way and within the capacity, I have been contributing to the educational development of the state, especially in providing support for indigent students. Apart from that, I’ve also been caring about the health of the people of the state and also I’ve been contributing to the basic things that we take for granted. That’s why we think that we should go into politics so that we will be able to leverage on our past record of achievement in our private capacity and to see how we can broaden the scope and how we can influence positive development and improvement in the lives of our people.

Why PDP? With due respect, I believe that PDP is a platform which we can use to showcase our seriousness in getting this done, and as I’ve said earlier, we want to be better than the current system and to cause a change. Also, the direct hegemony to the government in power is PDP and that’s why we are in it. We have been in PDP for a while, contributing our own quota to sustaining the party and making it a vibrant opposition party in the state. As I’ve said earlier, every democracy must have an opposition. It is the opposition that will keep the government of the day in check and that is one of the cardinal pillars

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Mustapha of every democracy and we believe to a large extent that PDP has been able to do this and it is our hope and desire to be in government and be in power in 2019.

What will be your agenda when you eventually become the governor of Kwara State?

Kwara State was created in 1967 on the same day with the likes of Lagos, Kano, Sokoto and some other states and since then, the state has witnessed growth in terms of

population, physical structure and all of that.

But in basic economics, growth is different from development. A nation can witness growth without development but a nation that is developing must ordinarily grow. We are still lagging behind on a number of issues and not under the illusion that we have not made any progress at all. We want to come up with a charter between us and the state; we want the state to judge us according to our charter.

We have five high priority areas, which are education, food and water, infrastructure and lastly, security. And that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t pay attention to other areas.

We also know that youth engagement is a major issue in Kwara State and also in the country as a whole. We are looking at how we are going to make the youths interested in becoming entrepreneurs in the areas of agriculture, provision of water, health facilities and so on and so forth. We want our people to be responsible; we want to have people of the state that are law abiding citizens and, most importantly, we want to cause a social orientation in our people, to make them see our value and our ethics and also if we are able to increase our economic base and provide institutional framework for people to be able to harness.

How do you handle remarks that you are a tool in the hands of Bukola Saraki?

Let me clarify something, there is no way you wouldn’t be tempted, one way or another. My party people know how I’ve been supportive in one way or another; they know how I feel about the continuous impoverished condition of the people in the state and how I feel about the situation in the state. I believe

it is part of all those political thoughts that I’m being sent by someone. But for me, it’s because they couldn’t get anything else to say about me, that’s why they started picking up talks because I worked with Saraki at Societe Generale Bank 30 years ago. Recently, I heard that I was dismissed from a bank, all these just to bring down my name. I’m not bothered, I’m ready, I’m prepared for this.

One thing I know is that I’m straight, and I’m still in the banking industry.

What is the situation in the Mustapha’s family in Ilorin over your ambition and that of your brother’s, Moshood Mustapha?

Let me start by saying that I thank God for the kind of family I have. My father is still alive and he’s a great man and a respectable man in the society, and when he talks people listen. Politics to him is something he has been doing for a very long time, and about two weeks ago, he turned 88, so he is an old man. Also about my brother, we love each other and you all know him very well and there is no denying the fact that we are in two different political doctrines and this doesn’t in any way affect our relationship as brothers but we have different political ideologies. We belong to different political camps and for me, politics is not about the Mustapha family and my relationship with my brother, it’s about the impact we make in the community that we are serving. It is a precedent in the family, my father and my grandfather belong to different political parties and also my father and his own brothers, so this shouldn’t cause any havoc in the family. I have an excellent relationship with my father.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍžËœ ͺ͸͚͜

Chivita Active Fruit Nectar Wins LCCI Brand of the Year

IN HIS VINEYARD ...

From left, Olori Ololade Adetokunbo Johnson, Trustee, Revd. Talabi Awaye, Cathedral Priest, Ven. Ebenezer Ogunbiyi, Cathedral Provost, Evang. Segun Olukunle, Cathedral Warden, Barrister Aderemi Adefarasin, Cathedral Legal Adviser, Mrs. Oyindamola Shodipo, Vestry Clerk, and Bro. Niran Somefun, Provost Warden, at the Inauguration of new officers of the African Church Cathedral, Ifako, Ogba, Lagos...last Sunday. Photo: African Church Cathedral, Ifako, Lagos

APC Congress Didn’t Hold in Rivers State, Says Abe A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has declared that there were no congresses of the party in the state.

This is as the senator called on Nigerians, to always remember that no matter how difficult things may seem, there was always something we could do to make it a little easier for those in greater need, especially the sick and less privileged.

According to Parry Benson, his media aide, Abe, spoke at a brief get-together to mark his 53rd birthday at his liaison office, Freedom House in Port Harcourt, where he said Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya remained the Chairman of the APC in the state as there were no congresses at all levels.

While urging his supporters to remain calm, the senator advised

party faithful to exercise caution on social media and stop insulting leaders and officers of the party.

He said, "Let me appeal to all, my supporters, and my opponents to stop attacking Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya on social media. He is still the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State. He has not resigned, and there has not been any Congress to remove him.

"When I spoke last time, I said that we have enemies within the party.

Some of them are there and some of them are here. Let me tell those who are there to stop the attacks.

And to those here, let's stop creating enemies for the party because if we create enemies, no one will vote for the APC." Abe, accompanied by his wife, Bariyaah, had earlier visited the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Ogale in Eleme

Local Government Area of the state, the Port Harcourt Children's Home, Borokiri, the home of the Elderly at Harbour Road and the Compassionate Home, Nkpogu, Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the Daughters of Charity Home of Saint Vincent de Paul, Ogale, the Senator thanked the Daughters of Charity for believing that for every living human being, there was hope no matter the sickness or condition.

Responding, the Local Superiorin-Charge, Sr. Stella Mbanu, who thanked Abe for coming to celebrate with them, took time to explain their activities as missionaries, as well as their sources of income.

Mbanu said, "In this environment, we have many homes. For example, HIV/AIDS, psychiatric, less-privileged and leprosy, but we depend on gifts from donors

to run the homes. The Daughters of Charity Home also depend on begging to meet the daily needs of the people in the homes."

At the Port Harcourt Children's Home, Borokiri, the Matron, Mrs. Gift Eke, thanked the Senator for coming to identify with the children, adding that each time people visit, it gives the children hope that they are not abandoned.

Speaking at the Compassionate Home, Nkpogu, Abe said, "The society is not whole until every vulnerable person in the society is made whole.

"The senator thanked Sister Pauline Broughton, a foreign medical missionary who has spent over twenty- five years caring for children with special needs in Nigeria promising to publicize the works and described her as our own "Mother Theresa" here in Rivers State.

Finally, Buhari Receives 2018 Shehu Sani Faction May Budget from National Assembly Dump APC Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari last night received the 2018 Appropriation Bill from the National Assembly seven months after it was presented to the federal legislature for appropriation.

The transmission of the budget to the Presidency by the National Assembly last night was in fulfilment of the assurance by Senate President Bukola Saraki on Thursday night that the 2018 budget would get to the Presidency yesterday.

Both the Presidency and the National Assembly spent substantial number of hours to tidy up the budget yesterday before it was eventually handed over to Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters.

Enang told THISDAY in a telephone conversation last night that he had received the budget from the National Assembly and was transmitting it to the president at about 8.30 pm.

He affirmed that the budget had left the National Assembly and was now in the custody of the executive.

Asked if he had handed over the budget to the president, the

president's liaison officer emphasised that the budget had left the National Assembly and he was transmitting it to the president at the time.

Although he did not state categorically that he had handed the budget to the president, "transmitting it now" clearly meant he was was taking it to the president.

"I have received the budget on behalf of the Presidency and I am transmitting it now," he emphasised.

THISDAY however, learnt that indeed, the budget got to the president last night.

Senate President Bukola Saraki had told journalists on Thursday night in the State House that the budget would unfailingly be transmitted to the President yesterday.

He said one week delay in transmitting the budget after it was passed on May 17, was caused by the necessity to harmonise both versions of the Appropriation Bill by both chambers of the National Assembly.

"I think that should have been done. We had to harmonise. It's just a slight difference. It had been passed yesterday (Wednesday). It was in the rules and proceedings of today (yesterday)."

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Senator Shehu Sani faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State may dump the party.

In a statement on Friday, the faction said the APC in Kaduna State had lost popularity and goodwill as a result of attempts by the Kaduna State government to force unpopular people on party faithful.

The statement signed by Matamaki Tom Maiyashi noted that the conduct of the party congresses and the local government elections have confirmed fears that the absence of credible and legitimate party leadership in the state will destroy its credibility and popularity.

The faction known as "APC Akida" (True APC) said "the congresses have exposed the contempt for popular participation

by Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his hand- picked choir.

"Our party has lost massive popularity and goodwill as a result of attempts to force the choices of an unpopular government on party faithful.

"Persons with responsibility have emerged who enjoy no support or legitimacy among party members,

and the futility that these people will deliver an electoral victory in the 2019 elections is firmly registered from the reactions of most people in the state" the statement said.

Maiyashi said the congresses had exposed the contempt for popular participation by the Governor and his hand- picked choir.

According to the group, the Local Government polls "showed the crude, incompetent and wasteful attempt to show a government in control where it had lost popular support through its serial antipeople policies."

The statement maintained that: "The attempts to cover up embarrassing setbacks and verdicts have not escaped the people. The elections would have been a strong warning to any administration, except the one run by Nasir el-Rufai which is quite comfortable in living with its own lies.

"It has become painfully aware that all efforts to halt the damage being done to our party, including many attempts by the leadership of the APC at zonal and national levels, are unlikely to reverse the decline in our party's capacity to live up to its promises made to the people in 2015.

Chivita Active Fruit Nectar emerged as Brand of the Year at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) 2018 Awards, held recently.

The LCCI annual award is to celebrate iconic brands and corporate institutions that have distinguished themselves. The event was attended by prominent business leaders across various sectors.

The LCCI’s Brand of the Year 2018 Award is seen as a befitting recognition for a brand that has maintained leadership through superior quality and an innovative approach to integrating active consumer lifestyle and their needs, and reinforces Chivita Active’s growing popularity as a high quality wholesome fruit juice and an enabler for a healthy active life.

Chivita Active is filled with the power of Vegetables and Fruits perfectly blended with the goodness of vitamins and fibre with no preservatives. It is currently one of the fastest growing and most happening juice brand, a benchmark of quality and innovation in the Nigerian juice market.

Speaking on the awards, Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muda

Yusuf, stated that the annual LCCI Awards recognised, celebrated and promoted institutions and brands that have exhibited the core values of best business practices, growth through innovations and have positively impacted the society. �Our Brand of the Year, Chivita Active, emerged the top brand in the highly competitive category following a pain-staking selection process, robust research and extensive market intelligence. The brand has grown through innovation and is positively impacting on society by encouraging consumers to embrace wellness through active health,� he stated.

Responding on behalf of Chi Limited, the company’s Managing Director, Deepanjan Roy, expressed appreciation for the LCCI’s Brand of the Year recognition to Chivita Active Fruit Nectar. “At Chi Limited, we have dedicated years of innovation and commitment to high quality products with the ultimate goal of customer satisfaction. The LCCI Brand of the Year 2018 Award to Chivita Active is a proof that our efforts are appreciated by consumers and that Chivita Active has become one of their favourite juice brands,� he said.

Muslims in Enugu Endorse Ugwuanyi for Second Term Muslims in Enugu State on Friday unanimously endorsed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwunayi for a second term in office for promoting peace, security, national unity and good governance in the state.

Rising from the Jumat prayers commemorating this year’s Democracy Day held at the Central Mosque, Owerri Road, Enugu, which was attended by Gov. Ugwuanyi in company of his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, Leader, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, among other top government functionaries, the Muslim faithful said they were pleased with the governor for his special love for the Muslim community.

The Muslins who offered special prayers for Gov. Ugwuanyi, Enugu State and the country at large, added that they were impressed with the governor’s humble disposition towards them and the entire people of the state.

They told Gov. Ugwuanyi that “no governor loves Muslims more than you�, stressing that they were solidly behind his re-election in 2019 and will vote for him massively.

Speaking, the Sarki Hausawa, Enugu State, HRH Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar Sambo, who is also a member of the state’s Security and Peace Committee, informed Gov. Ugwuanyi that “we have cause to thank Allah for the fact that you have established the most essential aspect of governance that is security of lives and property�.

Alhaji Sambo stressed that the Muslim community in the state had every reason to celebrate, saying “Allah has given us a man with humility, with love for all residents of Enugu State and a special love for the Muslim community�.

Alhaji Sambo disclosed that the Jumat prayers call for celebration in appreciation of “19 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria and three years of sustained peace and good governance in Enugu State�.

He thanked the governor for the

food items for the breaking of fast, saying: “You have handed Enugu State to the hands of Almighty Allah, and He says whoever entrusts in Him, he will lead his way and Insha Allah, Allah will lead your way�, he said.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as AMADI CHIWENKPE PROMISE, now wish to be called and addressed as IGWE AMADI PROMISE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JOEBRION JOHNSON CHIMA, now wish to be called and addressed as CHIMA JOHNSON PAUL. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JOHN EZE, now wish to be called and addressed as JOHN NDUBUISI ONYEAGHALA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as SODIK AHMED YEKINI AND YEKINI SODIK SAOBANA, now wish to be called and addressed as YEKINI SODIK HAMAD . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AMAWHE MARY OMOTEGHO, now wish to be called and addressed as FAYE MARY OMOTEGHO . All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

That MR ADELEKAN HAKEEM ADETAYO is the same person bearer MR AKIM AKANBI ADETAYO ƚŚĂƚ ĂĚŽƉƚ ƚŚĞ ÄŽĆŒĆ?Ćš Ć?Ğƚ ŽĨ ŜĂžĞ Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆŒ ŽĸÄ?Ĺ?Ä‚ĹŻ Ć‰ĆľĆŒĆ‰Ĺ˝Ć?Ğ͘ ĹŻĹŻ Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆŒĹľÄžĆŒ documents remain valid.The general public should please take note.

Saturday, May 26, 2018

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Price: N250

MISSILE Pa Fasoranti on Killings “Nigerians are at a crossroads; we are tired of the killings, kidnapping going on across the country and the President is mute about it. It will be the joy of everybody to present a formidable team to confront the evil government that is there now.”

– Reuben Fasoranti, leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, chastising the Buhari government.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

30 Years of Living and Working in Lagos (Part 4)

F

ellow Nigerians, it is now four weeks that I have been educating and entertaining you about my 30 eventful years as a journalist and businessman in Lagos.

My supersonic and meteoric journey was seemingly cut short by the three years I was forced to spend in exile, during the draconian government of General Sani Abacha. I ended my epistle to you last week at the point I arrived Accra, Ghana, in the evening of July 25, 1995.

Let me say it loud and clear, I fell instantly in love with Ghana. By the time I woke up the following morning, I had to do two things; find my way around Accra to locate and meet the few friends I had on ground and link up with my amazing friends in England who were already meeting, planning and raising funds for me to fly out of Accra to London. I remain eternally indebted to so many people, most of them much younger. They stood by me like the Rock of Gibraltar.

First, I headed to the Osu area of Accra where the Abiolas had a company headed by Dele Gbajumo, who took care of me and treated me like a king. Then, I meandered my way to find an old Ghanaian friend, Fritz Baffour who had lived in Nigeria, but returned home to become a famous man. He gave me an Akwaaba reception immediately we reunited, showed me round important places and introduced me to distinguished personalities. My love for President Jerry John Rawlings started from my short sojourn in Ghana. I was impressed by his work. Little did I know we’ll be good friends in the near future. I enjoyed those three days spent in Ghana but was truly troubled by the country I had left behind in the hands of some adventurous, blood-sucking soldiers. On the evening of July 28, 1995, I boarded a British Airways flight from Accra to London Gatwick.

At the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, I ran into the Editor-in-Chief of Tell magazine, Nosa Igiebor. We greeted warmly, as always. I soon discovered he was also heading into exile. Our flight took off and landed safely in London.

My friends were waiting anxiously for my arrival in London. I must say, I’m richly blessed by kind-hearted friends. They did everything humanly possible to ensure I did not feel too miserable. I stayed for several months in the home of Olugbenga and Ayo Olunloyo.

Olugbenga is the son of the great mathematician and former Governor of Oyo State, Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo. I felt completely at home.

Our friends came every evening from work to arrange barbecue and all sorts for me. The next headache was how to get my wife and first son, who was under one year old, out of Nigeria.

I urged my wife to take the NADECO route but the stubborn Christian insisted God would clear the way for them through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The risk was huge, but she went ahead. Meanwhile, I waited anxiously and with great trepidation on the other side and could not sleep all night, like a victim of insomnia. I left early for Gatwick Airport and waited with bated breath for my darling wife and adorable son. I saw many known and unknown Nigerians come into the Arrivals Hall having passed through Immigration and Customs, but my wife and son took almost forever in showing up. I had turned into jelly, shaking and sweating simultaneously. Telephones were not

Ambode that common in those days so I wasn’t even sure they were allowed to board the flight. I was about giving up and resigning to fate when they emerged from the belly of the airport. My innocent son was obviously enjoying himself on top of a trolley while his mum pushed him along with their luggage. The sight of them was such a great relief!

We left the airport thanking God, while my wife regaled me with the drama that unfolded as they headed to the boarding gate in Lagos.

They were stopped by security agents who stared at their passports for eternity. One of them asked if she was Dele Momodu’s wife and running away too, and she froze on the spot wondering if she should deny me like Peter denied Jesus but she kept mute. Then the unbelievable happened and the guys waved them off as if mesmerised by the Holy Spirit.

My wife would not let me rest about the efficacy of prayers and I’ve come to accept her as our prayer warrior in the family. I believe God will call us soon and our dream church will come one day. Anyway, that was how we settled in London.

I soon joined other dissidents in London that included, Bola Tinubu, Alani Akinrinade, Dan Suleman, John Oyegun, Bolaji Akinyemi, Wale Osun, Peter Obadan, Tokunbo Afikuyomi, and others. Life was tough and brutish. Many of us lived from hand to mouth and those who had something shared with others. We lived more like communists. I will never forget the interventions of Bola Tinubu in particular. I was a regular in his flat with access to his kitchen where I cooked and ate whatever was available, plus I gladly consumed his varied assortment of drinks. My friend, Orji Kalu, came around from time to time and made sure we met and had dinner either at his home in North Finchley or somewhere in the West End. He was kind and never abandoned me. Kalu and Tinubu even attended the christening of our second son in July 1996.

We spent months hoping against hope that some miracle would happen and Abacha would relax his grip on power. But it remained a pipe dream and mirage. Nothing of the sort happened. The winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Moshood Abiola, remained in detention and

solitary confinement. The worst soon happened, in many ways. Abiola’s beautiful and dutiful wife, Kudirat was murdered in cold blood on the streets of Lagos. The Ogoni Rights Movement leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa was sentenced to death and ignominiously hanged. Papa Alfred Rewane was shot dead in his bedroom. It was bad news galore. Almost on daily basis, terrible and tragic news came from home. We met fellow rebels occasionally at the Quadrangle, somewhere off Edgware Road and deliberated on strategies that can free Nigeria from servitude and oppression.

We did what we could. Meanwhile, my main offence, which led to me fleeing Nigeria, was that I was falsely accused of being one of the brains behind Radio Freedom, which later became Radio Kudirat. Though I had some information about its operations, I was not one of the operatives whilst I was in Nigeria. The main man then was Kayode Fayemi. I knew two other friends who were heavily involved in the clandestine project, Richie Dayo Johnson and George Noah.

I would later join them. I passionately ran the Yoruba programmes and got a lady to do some Hausa versions intermittently.

The biggest challenge was how to liberate the uncrowned President-in-waiting, Moshood Abiola.

We toyed with all manner of plots including meeting with Germans, by Bola Tinubu and I. The Germans promised they could carry out some Entebbe-like operation similar to the one by the Israelis in the days of Idi Amin Dada of Uganda. I must doff my hat to the commitment and dare-devilry of Bola Tinubu once he embarks on any assignment. I witnessed this first hand and hope to elaborate more in my autobiography later. He put in so much and his home in New Cavendish was a Mecca of sorts for most dissidents.

On a personal note, I had to fight a different kind of battle. How to look after my family. I must specially thank the British Government for the incredible support we were given. I’m not sure of a better and greater country when it comes to looking after refugees like us. I applied

for asylum and got powerful supportive letters from Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and Kayode Fayemi who both confirmed my status in the political struggle to the Home Office in Croydon.

Mercifully, I was granted full asylum by the British Government and was given refugee passports for myself and my family. Also, my cousin, Olusegun Fatoye miraculously spoke to me about finding something to do while domiciled in London. His idea and suggestion was that I should set up a magazine in London since that was my area of core competence back home in Nigeria. Not a problem. Trouble was where and how to raise funds. Our business plan showed we needed about £150,000 but if you sold our family, from first generation to the last, it was just impossible to raise that amount. And no bank was going to risk a loan on a brand new media company. My Uncle Chief Fatoye was God-sent as he scraped his account to drop the first £10,000 that launched Ovation. A few family members and friends scotched their accounts to bring out whatever they could put in. These were true believers in the dream that we could produce and deliver a world class publication.

We got a posh office in Docklands and this is another interesting story that must be told fully in the near future. The very day we moved in and we were having celebratory drinks, a bomb exploded next door. We all jumped up and started sprinting like Ben Johnson. “Abacha, Abacha, Abacha…” I screamed. I thought Abacha was on our trail to London. Unknown to us the bomb had been detonated by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). That was our baptism of fire. We were lucky that our building at Beaufort Court was bomb-proof and we were able to return the following week. The journey of how we assembled our team, did our best production, managed to print the maiden issue, the endless battle with bailiffs over our piling debts, and our eventual break and triumph are best reserved for my book. We give God all the glory for sustaining us.

A TOAST TO SIR SHINA PETERS AT 60 Here is a special tribute to one of Africa’s most gifted musicians, Sir Shina Peters, composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and Afro-Juju creator.

The story of our journey together is long and exciting. Our first encounter was a case of love at first time. He was launching his ACE album at the Railway Club in Ebute-Meta and I was asked to represent Concord newspaper, by our Managing Director, Doyinsola Abiola. It was a big carnival and that was where I met the footballer, John Fashanu, for the first time. Shina and I established a tight bond from then on. I wrote copiously about him in Weekend Concord which was the highest circulating paper at the time. I wrote the story that gave him the title SHINAMANIA for his second album. Shina was the craze in town.

He was the rave of the moment and we celebrated him endlessly. At a point, he was signed on by SONY Music where Keji Okunowo was Managing Director. I was appointed his public relations consultant. His biggest fan was Chief, Moshood Abiola, my boss and mentor.

During my wedding in December 1992, Shina

Peters was my Bestman. I actually had two Bestmen - Kunle Bakare was the other. We shared many fond memories at home and abroad.

Shina brought together a new group of what we called yuppies in town, Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Mohammed Gobir, Lanre Tejuoso, Segun Awolowo, Ayo Subair, Wale Otubanjo, Hosa Okunbo, Rotimi George-Taylor, and many others.

It was unlimited fun at the popular hangout in Stadium Hotel Surulere, Lagos.

Shina exploded like an atomic bomb on the Nigerian music scene. I’m not sure anyone else has been able to cause such volcanic eruption.

It a great tribute to the uniqueness of his music that he has succeeded in maintaining his stardom and he is still one of Nigeria’s iconic entertainers.

On May 30, 2018, my dear friend and Brother will be celebrated by the high society of Lagos, in a grand reception at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island. Let me hasten to warn potential gate-crashers, of which there will be many, that the bash is strictly by invitation.

Help me raise a toast to good health and prosperity for SIR SHINA PETERS AT 60…

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